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Gu Zhicheng’s expression froze.

To save Wang Shi, they depleted the family’s savings, and the second master had to borrow money from the Yue family. Now, the household was in dire straits, barely making ends meet!

He couldn’t afford to hire Mr. Liu.

For the first time in his life, Gu Zhicheng felt the pressure of financial constraints.

He forced a smile and said, “Luan’er, we are all family, you…”

“Master Gu, have you forgotten what I said in the arena just now?” Gu Qingluan interrupted him.

Gu Zhicheng was once again silenced by her words.

Previously, Gu Zhixin held a grudge against his elder brother for favoring Gu Qingluan. However, after Gu Jinrong’s explanation, he finally understood Gu Zhicheng’s good intentions.

Gu Zhixin no longer wanted to see his brother groveling before Gu Qingluan, and firmly said, “Elder brother, let’s go! There are many talented people in the world. I refuse to believe that we can’t find a competent doctor to cure Rong’er and Jinyue!”

Gu Zhicheng sighed and bid farewell to Gu Qingluan.

Gu Zhixin and the others got on the carriage first.

Seeing that Wang Shi was also about to leave, Gu Qingluan smiled with a hint of playfulness. “Madam, don’t rush to leave. There are some accounts we need to settle.”

Wang Shi’s back stiffened, and she turned to look at Gu Qingluan, her eyes filled with caution.

Today, Gu Qingluan’s cruel methods genuinely frightened her, and she wanted to distance herself from this crazy girl.

“The bridal dowry my mother left, you’ve been holding onto it for over twenty years. It’s time to return it to me, don’t you think?”

A glint flashed in Wang Shi’s eyes, but she pretended to look clueless and replied, “Your mother didn’t leave any dowry.”

Gu Qingluan lowered her head, casually playing with her fingers, and asked, “So, did she not leave any dowry, or did the dowry disappear?”

Wang Shi quickly glanced at Gu Zhicheng, then let out a long sigh. “All, Qingluan, I won’t hide it from you anymore. Initially, your mother’s dowry was used to cover the family’s expenses. Recently, we encountered some troubles, and all our money was drained. Naturally, the dowry disappeared too. Isn’t that right, Old Master?”

Gu Zhicheng readily concurred, “Indeed, that’s correct. Actually, your mother didn’t have much dowry prepared to begin with. It wasn’t easy for your father to raise you up to this point…”

“Ha!” Gu Qingluan chuckled.

Her laughter sent a shiver down the spine, icy and penetrating.

Gu Zhicheng’s throat tightened, and he suddenly found it hard to continue.

“Have you ever taken care of me?” Gu Qingluan suddenly raised her head, her pair of limpid eyes resembling cold stars, freezing hearts and souls.

“For more than ten years in the Gu family, how much food and clothing have you given me? Can you confidently claim that you treated me well? Do you dare to tell my late mother, who rests beneath the earth, that you never mistreated me?”

In Gu Qingluan’s memories, from childhood to adulthood, the original host of her body lacked proper food and clothing.

She lived in a servant’s room, eating leftovers and even food the servants wouldn’t touch.

During her early childhood, a loyal servant from the Jun family secretly helped her; otherwise, she would have starved to death.

Later, when she could remember things, the old lady who took care of her passed away, and she had to work hard to support herself.

She faced beatings and scolding just to have a meal.

As she grew older, she took on odd jobs outside or gathered herbs in the mountains to sell.

This was how she slowly grew up.

For more than ten years, Gu Zhicheng had never genuinely cared for her.

When she was bullied, he never even bothered to ask.

This allowed those people to become even more audacious.

Aside from Gu Jinyue, the young mistress, even a senior servant in the mansion had the freedom to hit and scold her at will.

To avoid scolding and have food to eat, she did the most laborious work in the mansion, even less respected than the servants.

Gu Qingluan hadn’t mentioned these past events before, but these people seemed to pretend nothing had ever happened.

Now, Gu Zhicheng actually had the audacity to say that he had used up all her mother’s dowry to take care of her?