Jiang Yunshan's frustration reached a boiling point as she hurled another teacup to the ground. Shards scattered, but the destruction did little to soothe her fury. The mocking expressions and pitying glances she had endured earlier that day haunted her thoughts, fueling her anger even further.
"Second Young Lady, the County Lord has come to visit," a maidservant hesitantly announced from outside the room.
"I don't want to see anyone!" Jiang Yunshan snapped. Her temper flared at the thought of facing anyone, especially Jiang Lingzhen, the person she had always sought to surpass but could never overshadow.
"Oh my, I came to check in. Is everything alright, Crown Prince's esteemed consort?" Gu Shengyin's voice carried a thinly veiled tone of amusement as she entered, ignoring the mess in the room.
Jiang Yunshan's expression darkened. "How did you get in here?"
Turning sharply, she addressed her maidservant. "Lu Yi! Didn't I say no one was allowed in?"
Gu Shengyin dismissed the maidservant with a casual wave of her hand. "What's the matter? Are my words no longer respected in this household?" she asked with a cold edge.
Lu Yi hesitated but ultimately complied, retreating and carefully closing the door behind her. The unease in her demeanor reflected her fear of disobeying Princess Wencheng's daughter.
Jiang Yunshan shot a venomous glare at her departing maidservant, then turned to face Gu Shengyin. Plastering a false smile on her face, she said, "What brings you here, dear sister?"
Gu Shengyin's smile didn't reach her eyes. "I just came to check on you, especially after hearing the news about your future husband's... indiscretions with a maidservant."
Jiang Yunshan stiffened. Her forced smile faltered, replaced by a flicker of unease.
"Oh, don't worry," Gu Shengyin continued, her tone light yet cutting. "No matter how much it bothers you, you can only suppress it. You can lash out at others all you like, but in the end, you're just a concubine. Complaining isn't exactly in your job description."
The words hit their mark. Jiang Yunshan's carefully constructed composure crumbled, and she glared at Gu Shengyin. "I used to think you were as pure and innocent as your appearance suggests," she retorted, her voice laced with venom. "Clearly, it was all an act."
Gu Shengyin ignored the barb. Glancing around the room, she found an intact chair and seated herself with effortless grace. "Not as much of an act as yours," she replied smoothly. "Do you remember how your face looked when you first heard the news at Zhenguo Manor? It was delightful. Did it feel like swallowing a fly? Disgusting, wasn't it? Almost as disgusting as when I saw you with the Crown Prince at the back of Qianlong Temple, indulging in your... shameful little escapades."
The smug satisfaction in Gu Shengyin's tone left Jiang Yunshan visibly shaken. "You knew about that?" she asked, her voice trembling with a mixture of anger and fear.
Gu Shengyin leaned in closer, her gaze unyielding. "I know many things," she said softly, yet the weight of her words was heavy. "Like who pushed me down at the temple. Or who drugged my horse just days ago. Oh yes, I know exactly who was behind it all."
Jiang Yunshan's face drained of color. Panic flickered in her eyes, but she quickly masked it with defiance. "You have no proof."
Gu Shengyin's smile grew sharper. "Proof isn't always necessary. But since you enjoy playing games, let me assure you—I, Jiang Lingzhen, will play along. And I will win."
With that, Gu Shengyin rose from her chair, her presence commanding even in silence. She turned and left the room without looking back, leaving Jiang Yunshan to stew in her fury and fear.