In the vibrant Water Pavilion, laughter resonated as Yang Xumei, sporting a bright smile, confidently piled a generous serving of grilled eggplant onto Gu Yanyan's plate.
"How is it?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Gu Yanyan took a bite, her face lighting up with enthusiasm. "Oh, it's incredible, as always! Xumei, you are the best!" she declared, thoroughly enjoying the rich flavours of the grilled eggplant.
"As long as you love it, miss," Yang Xumei replied, her heart swelling with pride at Gu Yanyan's reaction.
"You need to have some too." Gu Yanyan insisted, serving a steaming bowl of lotus root soup to Yang Xumei, her face radiating with a joyful smile.
"Absolutely," Yang Xumei responded as she reached out for the hot soup, careful not to burn her delicate hands.
"Haha! So, what do you think the Gu family will do about the missing goods from their storehouse and private vaults?" Yang Xumei asked, grinning as she blew gently into her bowl to cool down the delicious soup.
"About that..." Gu Yanyan said, thoughtfully stroking her chin while casting a playful glance at Yang Xumei. "Honestly, I have no idea." She laughed lightly after speaking.
"But miss, what about the gourds and servants who were captured by the officers from the criminal bureau?" Yang Xumei asked, concern filled in her voice for the captured servants and guards of Gu Residence for the interrogation.
"They were captured for interrogation; of course, they will be interrogated." Gu Yanyan replied casually.
"But miss, they are honest-" Yang Xumei tried to speak but was brutally cut off by Gu Yanyan.
"They are not." Gu Yanyan's firm eyes met Yang Xumei's curious ones.
"Since they served an evil master, they can't be seen as an innocent one, my good Xumei. They turned deaf ears when my mother cried for help, they turned a blind eye when Gu Tianhao and all Gu family members treated my mother as a stepping stone and killed her after their goal was achieved, they shut their mouths and refused to speak the truth when the Lin Family came to ask about the reason of my mother's death. They took money from Gu's family to keep silent. How can they be innocent ones, Xumei? Tell me, how can they be innocent ones?" Little Gu Yanyan recounted the sins those guards and servants from the Gu family had done. She screamed as she asked Xumei about their innocence and almost lost all her composer. Her little face turned red in anger, and her eyes blazing with the fire of revenge.
The scene became silent.
Other than the rustling sound of leaves outside and the chirping of birds, nothing was heard for a long while.
And then Gu Yanyan finally returned to her sane mind.
She put a piece of grilled eggplant and motioned Yang Xumei to eat.
"Sorry miss. I didn't consider that fact. I'm so stupid. I still have to learn so much from Miss." Yang Xumei said in self-approach as she picked the grilled eggplant between her chopsticks and put it in her mouth. Her mouth bulging with food, making her look cute.
"Look at little food grubber. Eat slowly. No one is gonna snatch your food from you. And yes, there are a lot of things that you still have to learn from me, for example, how to earn money and build a business empire using the Gu family's money." Gu Yanyan poked at Yang Xumei's bulging cheeks as she burst into laughter.
"Hahaha."
Yang Xumei could only stare at Gu Yanyan's little face glowing with laughter.
Putting down her chopsticks, Gu Yanyan met Yang Xumei's gaze, her playful demeanour shifting to seriousness.
"Whatever they choose to do is not our concern," Gu Yanyan stated firmly, directing her attention first to Yang Xumei and then back to herself.
"What we need to focus on is lying low for now. We'll make the most of our time at the Gu Residence until this investigation is resolved. Once those officers from the criminal bureau leave and the capital's scrutiny on the Gu family dissipates, we'll pack our bags, sneak away from Gu Residence, leave the capital behind, and establish our new home in a faraway place."
"Yes. You're right miss." Yang Xumei responded with conviction.
"Once we leave this place, we can establish our business empire and gain strength. We still have to collect evidence regarding the truth behind your mother's death and the truth behind your maternal grandfather and uncle's death too. We have to expose the filthy Gu family's evil deeds in front of everyone and make them pay. We have to take revenge for Madam, miss." Yang Xumei's eyes were already red as she spoke her last words.
She didn't know if it was because of the spicy flavour in her soup or because of the memories of all those years ago, but she couldn't stop her nose from feeling sour and her eyes from glistening with tears.
Gu Yanyan reached out her small, plump hands to comfort Yang Xumei by patting her back.
"Don't worry Xumei, we will let the world see the true colours of the great scholarly Gu family and get them punished by the law. We will snatch everything that they get from the Lin family and bring them back where they were before the Lin family offered them help. With nothing." Gu Yanyan declared with unwavering confidence, her eyes blazing with a fierce resolve to avenge her mother.
One week later...
In An Shui Hall...
The atmosphere in the An Shui hall was quiet and solemn.
Old Madam Gu was sitting in the main seat while other Gu family members had taken their respective seats.
Gu Tianshui was sitting on the right side of old Madam Gu while Gu Tianhao took the left one. Both madams took seats next to their husbands.
It's been more than a week since the robbery happened, but they still haven't found any clue. Forget about finding the culprit.
At this rate, they could already see the day when they would have no choice but to drop the case and forget about all their treasures and goods.