Chapter 400: Calling For Help
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
While admiring and praising Gu Qingluan, it was inevitable that the others would also be mentioned.
Most frequently brought up were the Gu family, the Fifth Prince, and Duke Dingbei.
Everyone ridiculed how the Gu family had mistreated Gu Qingluan in the past and continued to show no remorse even after her remarkable return.
The enmity between the Fifth Prince, Duke Dingbei, and Gu Qingluan was also laid bare, exposing their ambitions for all to see.
When discussing these two, people couldn’t help but express their disappointment, and in many cases, outright anger.
If they hadn’t had malicious intentions towards Gu Qingluan, she wouldn’t have caused so much turmoil.
If the Fifth Prince had treated Gu Qingluan kindly, even if he couldn’t become the Crown Prince, his status wouldn’t have been diminished.
But alas, there were no “ifs” in this matter.
Apart from these discussions, Gu Lingxue, who was studying at the Qiankun Academy far away, was also brought into the comparison.
Back in the day, her unconventional entry into the Qiankun Academy had caused quite a sensation.
Subsequently, her performance at the academy earned her widespread admiration.
Someone even posed the question, “Who’s more formidable, Gu Lingxue or Gu Qingluan?”
The individual who asked this question was promptly drowned in a barrage of responses.
“Need you even ask? It’s undoubtedly Miss Gu Qingluan!”
“Exactly! What has Miss Gu Lingxue contributed to the Chengyuan Kingdom so far? Her achievements, when you think about it, aren’t all that impressive. She merely got into the Qiankun Academy, right? Many enter the academy every year, but how many can match Miss Qingluan’s abilities?”
“Stop comparing Miss Gu Lingxue to Miss Qingluan anymore! There’s absolutely no comparison. Miss Qingluan is on a completely different level! Comparing Gu Lingxue to Miss Qingluan is an insult to her!”
“That’s right! Miss Gu Lingxue is just a student at the Qiankun Academy, while Miss Qingluan’s son has already passed the selection trials and is about to enter the Qiankun Academy! Even at such a young age, he possesses such skills. Just imagine how remarkable Miss Qingluan must be! If she were to attend the Qiankun Academy, who among the instructors would dare to teach her? In my opinion, Miss Qingluan could easily become an instructor there!”
“Haha, you’re absolutely right! 1 strongly recommend that the Qiankun Academy invite Miss Qingluan to be a professor!”
Similar rumors were abundant.
Those who had once praised Gu Lingxue now switched their allegiance to Gu Qingluan.
These discussions naturally reached the Gu residence.
Since being defeated by Gu Qingluan in the selection tournament, the Gu family’s second branch had become much more subdued, staying at home and avoiding any public appearances.
They remained in seclusion, but news from the outside world, especially about Gu Qingluan, still reached them.
Previously, when Gu Qingluan had killed the Fifth Prince, the members of the second branch of the Gu family secretly rejoiced, waiting for retribution to befall her.
Little did they know that Gu Qingluan had emerged unscathed.
It wasn’t until the Dingbei Army rose in rebellion that they thought Gu Qingluan’s end had finally come.
However, the news that arrived was quite the opposite. Gu Qingluan received substantial rewards, was bestowed the title of Guardian Princess, and became a national hero, earning the admiration and respect of the masses.
As Gu Qingluan thrived, they suffered.
Now that Gu Qingluan was doing so well, it highlighted just how miserable their situation had become.
In the main hall, Gu Zhixin and his two children listened to the news from outside with gloomy expressions.
Gu Jinyue screeched in frustration. Her tongue had been cut out, rendering her unable to speak, and even her curses were incomprehensible to others.
As a result, her agitation grew, and her once charming face now appeared twisted and grotesque due to her deep-seated resentment.
Seeing his daughter like this, Gu Zhixin felt both heartache and helplessness.
He, too, desired revenge, but Gu Qingluan was growing stronger by the day, and anyone who opposed her inevitably met a grim fate.
Did they really have any hope of revenge left?
Bang!
Gu Jinrong’s tightly clenched fist struck the table with force.
“Dammit!”
Now that his cultivation had been crippled, revenge seemed out of reach, and he spent his days hiding at home, feeling like a useless failure. The resentment ate away at him, especially as he saw his enemies flourishing.
Gu Zhixin sighed deeply. “This Gu Qingluan is truly unfathomable. She can’t even be touched by a million-strong Dingbei Army. Our entire family is incapable of challenging her. In my opinion, we should keep our distance from her and abandon thoughts of revenge.”
“How can we just give up?” Gu Jinrong’s eyes, filled with bloodshot veins, burned with intense hatred. He refused to accept it.
He was against it!
He’d prefer death over witnessing Gu Qingluan’s success while he endured mockery.
“Do you have any other ideas? Look around, who has crossed her path and had a good ending? Haven’t you seen that even your eldest uncle doesn’t dare to confront her again?”
These days, Gu Zhicheng had remained hidden in the Gu residence, and the gates were tightly shut.
Gu Zhixin had sent people to inquire, but all he knew was that his eldest brother had gone into seclusion.
He believed that his elder brother was avoiding facing Gu Qingluan.
Perhaps his elder brother was planning to undergo rigorous cultivation, seeking to gain strength before seeking retribution against Gu Qingluan.
Now, they couldn’t find anyone to help them deal with Gu Qingluan.
Moreover, through their recent observations, it seemed that even if they had a chance, the outcome wouldn’t be favorable. Weren’t Duke Dingbei and the Dingbei Army a vivid example of this?
Gu Jinrong’s breath hitched, and the veins on the back of his clenched fist pulsed, trembling imperceptibly.
He understood this fact all too well.
But he couldn’t accept it!
“There must be another way!”
Beside him, Gu Jinyue shrieked, nodding in support of her older brother.
After a moment, Gu Jinrong said, “I’ll go see our grandfather! He’s been in seclusion for so long; he should be coming out soon! If Uncle can’t do anything about Gu Qingluan, our grandfather must have a solution!”