Nine Provocations

  Madam Guo didn't like Gu Man at all, everyone knew this.

  It's probably because the fourth master of the Gu family sent someone to deliver a message on his way back from picking up his aunt, Mrs. Gu Yun, and something unexpected happened on the road, so they might have to stay in Tongzhou for a few more days. Madam Gu even specifically instructed Gu Man that he didn't need to go to her place to pay his respects during this time, and could just recover at home and attend the banquet on the day of the celebration, lest someone say she was being stingy towards the granddaughter of Old Master Wang.

  Gu Man pursed her lips and nodded silently in response.

  She had grievances in her heart, after all, she didn't do anything, and no matter what, she was still Old Lady Gu's own granddaughter, but Old Lady Gu treated her like dirt. Her original intention to please her was also dashed by half.

  Some people are destined to be born without fate, Gu Man thought, and she might be one of them with Old Lady Gu. In that case, there's no need to try so hard to please her - she won't appreciate it anyway. This old lady was incredibly stingy towards the second house, almost to the point of being eerie.

  So she just stayed in the Mingyue Building every day, exempting her from paying respects to Old Lady Gu. She actually calmed down, and Wang Shi was also afraid that she would catch a cold again, so she didn't ask her to pay respects either.

  She finally had time to carefully sort out the relationships in this family.

  The old master and the old lady are indeed a very strange existence, they are obviously illegitimate children, but they are extremely favored in front of the old lady, and have even surpassed the second master who was born to her.

  Two old masters... Thinking of this nominal biological father, Gu Man couldn't help but sneer. This guy is heartless and ruthless, except for fighting cocks and running dogs, he's always hanging out in the courtyard with various concubines, he's simply a useless waste that can't be lifted up. Gu Man would never put his hopes on such a selfish and self-serving piece of trash.

  Third Uncle is probably the only relatively normal person in this family. He doesn't like to argue with anyone and has a strong sense of self-respect. Working as an official in the Ministry of War, which is not lucrative or powerful, he still managed to get excellent results in the three-year evaluation by the Ministry of Personnel and will soon be transferred to the Ministry of Military Affairs. Third Aunt also has a straightforward personality, after separating from her family in her previous life, she lived alone and there were no rumors about any scandals.

  Fourth Master and Fourth Aunt Fang are typical money-worshippers, only recognizing money but not people.

  The Fifth Master and the Fifth Aunt are indeed the most troublesome people. In their previous life, they had vied for the position of heir, often tripping up their brothers, the Second and Third Masters, and plotting against the Second Mistress. They even went so far as to scheme against Gu Chengyu, but he cleverly dodged all their attempts. In the end, he became a trusted advisor to the new emperor and seized an opportunity to confiscate the Fifth Master's property without hesitation.

  She used the eastern room as a study, with her desk placed by the window. From the window adorned with crimson gauze curtains, she could see the lush Chinese parasol trees outside, especially when the summer sunlight shone down, it was golden and exceptionally beautiful.

  At this moment, she was supporting her chin and worrying about family matters. She knew that some things would be in vain if they couldn't be changed in this life, and such vanity absolutely could not happen.

  Pei Yin was waiting on the side, occasionally coming over to check if her stove was still hot or if she needed to add more tea. Pei Qin was outside in the bright room doing needlework with Qi Nian.

  She looked around and found that there were four second-class maidservants on the Mingyuelou, two teaching ayahs, and several other attendants, adding up to more than a dozen people. However, by her side, it seemed like only Peiyin, Peiqin, and Qi Ayah remained, while others serving as attendants were not satisfactory.

  She thought of these things and felt a little uneasy. The origins of these people were complicated, she couldn't keep them for too long.

  She was dazed, when she heard the sound of laughter and playfulness coming from outside. Immediately afterwards, the window was pushed open from the outside with a brush, and a round face appeared in front of Gu Man.

  Gu Man was shocked, and only then did she barely make out the little fatty in front of her, who turned out to be the eldest son of Madame Wu, the eighth-born Eighth Master Gu Chengdong. Only then did she remember that this little fatty was the little overlord of the house, and even the most arrogant Gu Qing would yield to him. Because he was really spoiled by the fifth branch and the old lady.

  Before he could react, the little fatty had already stretched out a hand with great difficulty and grabbed onto Gu Man's hair, shaking it back and forth while laughing and calling for others to come see.

  Gu Man only felt a sharp pain on his scalp, and instinctively stretched out his hand to grab the hand of Xiao Pangzi Gu Chengdong, staring at him with wide eyes, shouting: "Let go!"

  Although Gu Chengdong was only nine years old, he relied on being a boy and eating well, with great strength, and refused to let go, hehe, only staring at Gu Man and smiling.

  The commotion had already startled Pei Qin and Pei Yin, who hastily pushed open the door and entered. When they saw the situation in the room clearly, they couldn't help but feel their souls flying out of their bodies. Gu Chengzhong was tightly grabbing Gu Man's hair, trying to pull her outside, but Gu Man was also stubbornly resisting, using her left hand to press down on her own hair and her right hand to press down on Gu Chengzhong's hand, not letting him use force.

  Pei Qin hastily ran up to try and separate the two, but the little fatty was barely standing on the outer stone steps, so he had no choice but to lean his entire body against the window frame. His plump body in a robe was pressed into a ball shape, refusing to let go of Gu Man. Pei Qin was at a loss, so she could only try to coax him gently.

  Who knew he was so quick, seeing Pei Qiu stretch out his hand to pull him over, he followed the force and slipped in smoothly, and instead stepped on the desk and laughed loudly: "Really useless! Really useless!" As he spoke, he simply used both hands to grab onto Gu Man's hair, wanting to pull it all out.

  Even someone as good-tempered as Lian Po Yun couldn't help but get angry, and rushed over to grab him, no longer caring about the distinction between master and servant. "Let go! How can you say that Eighth Master came in here on a sunny day and hit our young lady?!"

  Gu Chengdong ignored her, and with one kick, he kicked her in the chest, sending her flying. He then turned his head and grabbed Gu Man's hair tightly, instantly pulling out a strand of hair. The pain made Gu Man stomp her feet, but unfortunately, she was at a disadvantage, being under him, while that dead fat guy was on top of the table, taking advantage of his physical superiority to pin her down. Even with Pei Qin protecting her, he still managed to pull out a lot of hair, leaving her scalp feeling burning and painful, as if it had started bleeding. Her anger flared up in her heart.

  Gu Chengdong didn't realize anything at all, he muttered a few more sentences and his hand approached Gu Man's head again.

  This time, however, Gu Man was prepared. She was furious and deeply resentful of Gu Chengdong's lack of humanity, which had been instilled in him since childhood. With a swift motion, she slashed his wrist with her hand, causing Gu Chengdong to let out a loud, pig-like screech.