The more anxious one becomes, the harder it is to think clearly, and sweat begins to form on the forehead.

Ru Hua helped her out: "This little girl isn’t one of the usual attendants; perhaps she was instructed to come fetch someone, fumbling and unable to keep her words straight."

Ning Hong understood immediately and quickly shifted the blame onto someone else, hurriedly saying, "To reply to Old Madam, this servant heard from Sister Shi Hong by the First Miss’s side, who instructed to urgently request the Marchioness of Dingbei Marquis to hold back the Seventh Miss of Dingbei Marquis Mansion."

The implication was that she indeed couldn’t explain clearly.

Old Madam Gu stood up and said, "Since it’s your family’s First Miss who sent you, there must be something; let us go and see. If Treasure Bead caused any trouble and disrupted Old Sister’s good day, I hope for my sake, do not take it to heart."

Madam You also had to stand up, saying, "Let’s go and see what kind of trouble the Treasure Bead girl has possibly stirred up that frightened the First Miss so."

The rest followed suit, wanting to go see as well.

Madam You frowned, glaring at Ning Hong unhappily, whispering a few instructions to a maid beside her, who quickly went out to gather information and came back to report to Madam You quietly.

Madam You stopped Old Madam You, smiling and saying, "The nanny outside said the First Miss and Miss Gu Qi are at the Piano Room, accompanied by the children of the Song Family. They are all kids and often play together; disputing over some trivial matter is commonplace.

We all have come through our youth, haven’t we? Today is the day of the Old Ancestor’s celebration; perhaps I should go over to have a look."

Old Madam You said, "I must also go to see; our own children are used to some rough play, but Dingbei Marquis Mansion has only one girl, named Treasure Bead; she must not suffer any grievance. Also, it’s because the First Miss was anxious and had someone deliver such a report, who wouldn’t be startled to hear it."

Old Madam Gu said, "Hearing you all, I feel much more at ease, even though I know nothing should go wrong in the household, but as parents, how can one not check? If perchance the child truly stirs trouble, it’ll rely on the elders to resolve it."

Madam You laughed and said, "You old fellow, I know you love your daughter. In my manor, Treasure Bead can hardly cause any big trouble; rest assured, those little ones are new to matters, easily frightened over anything, and this is not the first time something’s been blown out of proportion."

The group chatted while heading toward the Piano Room.

Ning Hong, head lowered, led the way in front, feeling troubled inside.

The master’s orders were not fulfilled, how would it be explained?

Now escorting so many people to the Piano Room, when confronted, how can the lie be covered?

She wished the road were longer, but no matter how long, it reaches an endpoint.

The Piano Room eventually appeared.

No music could be heard from the piano but bursts of exclamations, sounds of items shattering, and shouting...

"What’s going on?" Madam You asked, unable to stay calm: "Hurry, hurry, help me in to see."

Before the words were finished, a rosewood round stool flew out, nearly hitting straight on.

"Stop, stop, everyone stop!"

Ru Hua hastily signaled the accompanying nannies to get everyone inside to stop.

Inside, a chaotic scene erupted: "Old Ancestor has arrived!"

"Madam You has arrived!"

Among them, Gu Baoshu’s voice was the loudest: "Why is my mother here, You Da, what have you done?"

Old Madam You set down her pouch, leaned on her cane, and was supported by Ru Hua and Madam You as she entered, followed closely by Old Madam Gu and Qin Yuan, with others trailing in as well.

The scene was a mess; the previously elegant piano room appeared as though swept by a whirlwind; only the stand holding the guqin remained upright, while everything else was in disarray.

Gu Baoshu and Third Young Master You stood in the center, looking quite bedraggled, yet both held clenched fists and still maintained their stances, ready to resume fighting at any moment.

"Gu Baoshu, you are a guest here, why are you fighting with the host?"

Old Madam Gu scolded sternly.

Gu Baoshu quickly retracted her fists, hurriedly smoothing down her skirt and standing up straight.

Qin Yuan hurried to drag Old Madam Gu, laughing, "Mother, it’s quite alright; it’s just a contest. I thought Treasure Bead had caused some great trouble."

Old Madam Gu’s angry expression softened noticeably.

Looking at Gu Baoshu, though refraining from speaking with the host present, their eyes were full of expectation: "Didn’t lose, did you?"

Gu Baoshu proudly lifted her chin.

Seeing her brimming with confidence, like a victorious rooster, Qin Yuan couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

Just as Old Madam Gu was about to speak, Madam You exclaimed, "Sanlang, what happened to your face, it’s swollen!"

Third Young Master Gu quickly turned his head to avoid Madam You’s hand, stepping back a few paces, "Mother, it’s nothing, Miss Gu Qi and I were just testing each other’s skills. It’s just minor injuries."

Madam You was distressed, wanting to examine him closely, while Old Madam You exclaimed, "Crown Prince!"

Everyone followed her gaze, only to see a group hiding behind the piano stand, obscured mostly by the chaotic curtains inside the room.

The Crown Prince, seeing there was no evading the situation, flashed a hint of embarrassment on his sickly face before finally stepping out from his hiding place.

His Jinxian crown was crooked, his dark clothes covered in plaster dust, but he maintained his composure, extending his hand lightly, "No need for formalities, Old Madam and the ladies."

"Old Madam Gu quickly inquired, "Crown Prince, is this... were you injured?"

The Crown Prince’s voice was a tad more urgent than usual: "I was not; you all arrived just in time, Sanlang and Little Sister Baozhu were fighting intensely, neither willing to concede; we nearly got caught in it."

Old Madam Gu immediately said, "Why did the child start fighting with Third Young Master You?"

The Crown Prince laughed awkwardly.

Then the Ninth Princess and others gradually emerged one by one from behind the rack.

All present: ...

The Crown Prince smilingly said, "I brought Little Nine here to celebrate Old Madam’s birthday; it wasn’t meant to cause a stir, alas, it did."

Madam You laughed, "Crown Prince and Ninth Princess are thoughtful, such grace and honor gracing our humble abode, truly we are thrice blessed."

The Ninth Princess eagerly moved forward, "Old Madam, my mother wished to come too, no need for such courtesy, Madam."

With continued flattery and thanks, no one mentioned the fight for a while.

Miss You quietly pulled Gu Baoshu aside, whispering, "I didn’t expect you could hold your own against my third brother; I suggest calling it a tie today, how about it?"

Gu Baoshu glanced at Third Young Master You standing nearby, displeased, "You Sanlang, You Da says we tied, but I disagree. In less than ten moves, you’d have been crying."