"Crash!" Another cup with white and blue floral patterns hit the ground.
Jiang Yunsan was still not appeased, and she swept another teacup from the table to the floor. Whenever she thought of those looks of gloating or pity from the people at the Mansion of Duke of Garrison Commander, a fire of anger burned inside her, uncontrollable.
"Reporting to Second Miss, the Commandery Princess has come to visit," the maid waiting outside said cautiously.
"Not seeing anyone!" Jiang Yunsan was in a rage, in no mood to receive visitors, especially Jiang Lingzhen, whom she had always sought to surpass but never succeeded.
"Oh my, let's see, what has happened to the beloved Crown Prince's Side Consort?" No sooner had Gu Shengyin entered than she saw the disarray in the room.
Yes, she was here specifically to provoke Jiang Yunsan.
Upon seeing Gu Shengyin come in, Jiang Yunsan's expression changed instantaneously, "How did you get in?"
"Lv Yi! Did I not say to let no one in?" She turned to her own maid, who was behind Jiang Lingzhen.
Gu Shengyin waved her hand, signaling Lv Yi to leave. Lv Yi hesitated, and Gu Shengyin's expression turned cold, "What? Does my word not carry any weight in this Grand General's Mansion?"
Lv Yi hesitated for a moment. If she left now, at worst she would get scolded by the Second Miss later. But if she defied the Commandery Princess's order... Lv Yi shuddered with fear, knowing Her Highness the Eldest Princess would not let her off the hook!
With a humble posture, Lv Yi retreated and thoughtfully closed the door behind her.
Jiang Yunsan glared at her maid and turned her head to see Gu Shengyin looking at her with a smile.
"What brings Sister here?" She put on a smile, knowing it wasn't the time to break off relations with Jiang Lingzhen yet.
Suddenly, Gu Shengyin closed in on Jiang Yunsan, her words laced with malice, "I just wanted to see what it feels like to find out that the man you're to marry and a lowly maid were having a sordid affair."
"Oh, right!" Gu Shengyin continued as she looked at Jiang Yunsan, "Whatever thoughts you have, you can only suppress them in your heart and vent on a few servants, because, after all, you're just a concubine with no right to make a fuss."
Jiang Yunsan was momentarily speechless, never having expected to hear such words from Jiang Lingzhen's mouth. After a while, she sneered, "I thought you were truly as pure and harmless as you look, above the lowly affairs of the world. Turns out, it was all an act."
Gu Shengyin dismissed the accusation completely, looking around and choosing an untouched seat to sit down with graceful ease.
"I am not as good as you. Do you know? Seeing your face when you heard the news at the Mansion of Duke of Garrison Commander, how refreshing it felt in my heart? Did you feel as sick as if you had swallowed a fly? It was the same feeling I had when I saw you and the Crown Prince doing those disgraceful acts on the back hill of Qianlong Temple. Indeed, what goes around comes around! No one is spared by heaven!"
Gu Shengyin watched, satisfied, as Jiang Yunsan's face turned pale at her words.
"You actually know?" Jiang Yunsan had never imagined that what she thought was a well-kept secret was already no secret at all.
"I know much more than that," Gu Shengyin got up and approached Jiang Yunsan, her voice light and mocking by her ear, "Who pushed me down at the temple fair? What exactly was done to my horse the other day to make it hallucinate? I know all these matters clearly. Jiang Yunsan, you wanted to play, didn't you? Well, I, Jiang Lingzhen, will play along nicely with you."
Having said her piece, Gu Shengyin walked out without a backward glance at whatever expression lingered on Jiang Yunsan's face.