Gu Shengyin and her maidservants looked visibly shaken.
"Junzhu?" Hu Zhu's voice trembled with concern as she addressed Gu Shengyin. Although the engagement between her mistress and the Crown Prince was not widely known, her loyalty was unwavering. The Crown Prince's actions today were an unmistakable affront to Gu Shengyin's dignity.
Gu Shengyin's face remained pale. If she were still the original Jiang Lingzhen, she might have chosen to remain silent about such a scandal, refusing to inform her parents and even ordering her maidservants to keep quiet. But Gu Shengyin was not Jiang Lingzhen.
She clenched her fists tightly. Why should she let that shameless couple get away with this so easily?
When Wencheng Chang Gongzhu saw her daughter return, it took her only a moment to notice that something was amiss.
"Ah-Zhen, what happened? Did something outside upset you?" she asked, her face etched with concern.
The sight of her mother's loving expression caused Gu Shengyin's carefully maintained composure to crumble. Without a word, she threw herself into Wencheng Chang Gongzhu's arms and began to sob uncontrollably.
Wencheng Chang Gongzhu, always composed and dignified, was momentarily at a loss. Her only daughter, her precious pearl, had never acted this way before. Jiang Lingzhen was always calm and poised. Now, seeing her cry so bitterly, Wencheng Chang Gongzhu's heart broke.
No matter how much she coaxed and comforted her, Gu Shengyin refused to explain.
Gu Shengyin wasn't about to say that she had been personally wronged—she knew her silence would only deepen her mother's anger. While her reaction might have taken advantage of her mother's love, Gu Shengyin justified it by thinking of Jiang Lingzhen's original tragic fate and the impact on the Jiang family.
"What happened when you went out with the junzhu today?" Wencheng Chang Gongzhu turned a sharp gaze toward Hu Zhu and Lin Liang, her voice filled with authority.
The two maidservants knelt trembling before her. Fearfully, they recounted everything they had witnessed: the Crown Prince and Jiang Yunshan engaging in improper behavior.
"Absolutely disgraceful!" Wencheng Chang Gongzhu's tone was icy with fury. It was unclear whether her anger was directed more at the Crown Prince or Jiang Yunshan. "In the sacred grounds of the Buddha, no less! Such shamelessness—it's simply intolerable!"
Her heart ached as she looked back at her daughter. Gently, she drew Gu Shengyin closer. "Ah-Zhen, tell Mother the truth—do you truly care for the Crown Prince?"
Gu Shengyin blinked in confusion for a moment before shaking her head. Her tear-streaked face and reddened nose made her look heartbreakingly vulnerable as she whispered, "I… I don't know."
The original Jiang Lingzhen had felt affection for the Crown Prince, but only after marriage. Before that, her feelings were mild, little more than admiration. As Gu Shengyin, however, she felt nothing but disdain for him.
Relieved, Wencheng Chang Gongzhu exhaled softly. Her daughter's reaction made it clear that this was not an emotional wound but rather a matter of pride. The Crown Prince's actions had insulted her, yes, but there was no deep emotional attachment to complicate matters.
This realization made the situation easier to handle. If Ah-Zhen had harbored strong feelings for the Crown Prince, Wencheng Chang Gongzhu would have faced the painful task of dissuading her. But as things stood, she would ensure that her daughter was freed from any connection to such a man.
After giving instructions for hot water to be brought, she turned back to Gu Shengyin, who sat staring blankly ahead.
"Ah-Zhen, look at Mother," Wencheng Chang Gongzhu said gently.
Gu Shengyin hesitated but eventually met her mother's gaze.
"You are the daughter of Wencheng Chang Gongzhu, the legitimate child of the great General Jiang, and you bear the title of Langhua Junzhu granted by the Emperor himself," Wencheng Chang Gongzhu said firmly, her voice filled with pride. "No matter what happens, you have every right to hold your head high. People like the Crown Prince and Jiang Yunshan are not worth your tears!"
Her words were resolute, her tone unwavering, and in that moment, Gu Shengyin felt a warm surge of reassurance.
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