Gu Yu was suffering greatly in my home. Finally, she could no longer bear it and came to me to complain. She entered my study holding a plate of fruit, placing it gently on the table but not leaving afterward. I looked up, puzzled, and inquired with my eyes what was troubling her.
Gu Yu seemed a bit flustered. She deliberately placed her hands in front of her body. I noticed the red marks on her hands. I knew they were from Aunt Zhang; I had told Aunt Zhang to discipline Gu Yu properly. Pretending not to see, I continued writing.
Seeing that I remained silent, Gu Yu took the initiative to extend her hands toward me. "Oh no, what happened to your hands?" I asked in surprise. Gu Yu quickly hid her hands behind her back. "It's... it's nothing," she stammered.
I set down my pen, grabbed her hands, and pulled her closer. "Tell me, who did this to you?" I demanded. Tears streamed down Gu Yu's face. "It's fine, Xuan Xuan, I'm really okay," she said with red eyes and a forced smile.
I pretended to be angry. "What’s wrong with you? Do you see me as an outsider?" I scolded her. "Tell me who did this to you, and I'll help you seek justice!"
Gu Yu was taken aback; she hadn’t expected me to respond this way. She hesitated before saying, "It... it was Aunt Zhang."
"Aunt Zhang? Why did she hit you?" I asked. Gu Yu lowered her head and whispered, "She... she teamed up with the other servants to bully me."
"They said they would kick me out of the Han family."
"Xuan Xuan, you have to help me."
"You are the best person to me in this world."
"If you don't help me either, I will have no one to rely on."
With that, Gu Yu burst into tears.
I quietly watched her put on a show.
Once she had cried enough, I finally spoke.
"They've gone too far; how could they treat you like this?" I feigned anger.
"I'm going to punish them right now and seek justice for you."
With that, I stood up.
Gu Yu quickly grabbed my arm.
"Xuan Xuan, don't go," she said, pretending to be concerned.
"They made a mistake without meaning to; don't hurt your relationship with them."
I nodded.
"Alright, I'll listen to you. I won't go."
Gu Yu sighed in relief.
I added, "Then let's wait for next time; I'll punish them then."
Gu Yu froze, her expression stiffening.
After a long pause, she covered her face and began to sob softly.
"Xuan Xuan, you really don't want to help me get justice."
"You said you would help me have a child, and I did that."
"You are just lying to me."
My heart ached as I held her close.
"How could I not help you seek justice?"
"But you have to be in the right."
"As long as you're in the right, I'll help you get justice."
Gu Yu stopped crying and looked at me suspiciously.
I smiled and nodded.
"Don't worry; I keep my promises."
I sat down on the sofa in the living room.
I held a cup of hot milk in my hands. Gu Yu stood behind me, a smug expression on her face. Uncle Cai, Aunt Zhang, and the other servants were gathered in the center of the living room. Everyone was present.
I took a sip of the milk and slowly spoke up. "Uncle Cai, Aunt Zhang, have you two been teaming up to bully Gu Yu?"
Uncle Cai and Aunt Zhang were taken aback, their faces filled with shock. "Madam, what do you mean by that?"
"How could we possibly bully Miss Gu?"
"We hardly even talk to her."
Gu Yu grew anxious. She quickly extended her arm for us to see the injury on her skin. "This is the evidence! You've been bullying me for a long time!"
"Xuan Xuan, you have to stand up for me!" With that, she began to sob again.
Aunt Zhang's face turned red with anger. "You're talking nonsense!"
"You clearly bullied the new servant on purpose; you fell while shoving her."
"The injury on your arm is from your own fall; it has nothing to do with us."
"If you don't believe me, you can ask everyone else."
Uncle Cai added, "Madam, if you don't believe it, you can ask them one by one."
"There are so many servants in the house; someone must have seen it."
"Just ask, and you'll know the truth."
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