Then servants rushed to the main hall and carried Liu Shichu away. Shen Qianshan squinted and knew Liu Shichu was feigning illness. Liu Shichu didn’t know how to deal with Shen Qianshan’s threat, so he pretended to be ill to avoid being interrogated.
Gu Qiang stood still. It was beyond her expectation. But if Liu Shichu left, it had to be put off and nothing could be changed.
Shen Qianshan sighed heavily and leaned against the chair with a complicated expression. It seemed that he could do nothing about Liu Shichu’s trick.
Gu Qiang put her cup on the table, stood up, and said to Shen Qianshan, “Your Highness, shall we go now?”
Shen Qianshan never thought Gu Qiang didn’t care about what was going on at all. Now that nothing could be done to turn the tables, they had to accept it.
Then Gu Qiang rose and walked out. Though Shen Qianshan was reluctant, he had no choice but to walk out with her.
It was noon. When they got to the gate, it was very hot. They were greeted by the smell of something rotten, and the smell became increasingly strong. Gu Qiang’s heart sank to the bottom. The only way seemed to be blocked. If this chance disappeared, it was unknown whether they would figure out another method.
Shen Qianshan turned around and told Gu Qiang, “I’m free today. The solution didn’t work. Shall I send you back to the Prime Minister Mansion?”
Gu Qiang shook her head and responded, “I can go back alone. Now the capital is in disorder. Your Highness, you must have a lot of things to do. I won’t bother you. See you.”
Then Gu Qiang walked alone towards the Prime Minister Mansion. Looking at her back, Shen Qianshan didn’t feel good. He worried about her, but she was stubborn.
A breeze blew. Shen Qianshan said coldly, “Protect her. If she is attacked again, you’ll be in great trouble!”
Then he flew away from the gate of the Liu Family. Jin Ye, who rushed over in a hurry, was left there. He stood there helplessly and lowered his head pitifully. The refugees didn’t attack Gu Qiang. Even if they did, the duke would save her.
As a lady, why didn’t Gu Qiang learn needlework, paint, dance, sing or play a stringed instrument at home just like other girls did? She always came out. What was worse, she usually went to dangerous places. Jin Ye’s work was already difficult because it was not easy to follow Gu Qiang unobserved. Moreover, he had to protect the girl whose behavior was not conventional. Therefore, he thought his life was so hard.
After Gu Qiang returned to the Prime Minister Mansion, she went straight back to her yard. When she walked to the gate, she saw Gusu Liang sitting in the yard with clean clothes and listening to Ting Feng as if a teacher were giving a class.
Gusu Liang looked like a student. Seeing Gu Qiang back, they all stopped and went to greet her. Ting Feng told Gu Qiang, “My Lady, Prime Minister is back.”
The Prime Minister that Ting Feng mentioned was Gu Qiang’s father. He went to Shandong with Emperor to pray for happiness. They had been away for so many days, and the capital was afflicted with the disaster, so Emperor returned hurriedly.
After taking a rest and having a sip of tea, Gu Qiang headed for the main hall with Ting Feng.
Now that Prime Minister was back, Gu Qiang was his daughter and should go to salute him. On the way, Ting Feng whispered the latest information about Prime Minister Gu and the capital in her ear.
In summary, the imperial court had no money and had no choice but to investigate the corrupt officials in the capital.
The day would come sooner or later. When there was no money, a solution was necessary. In Gu Qiang’s opinion, these officials feathered their own nests when the imperial court was wealthy. Therefore, they should volunteer to do something when the imperial court had no money.
The Mansion of Prime Minister Gu was always the most renowned family in the capital. Even if the imperial court didn’t do anything openly, they would send someone to investigate the family secretly.
Soon Gu Qiang and Ting Feng arrived at the main hall.
Gu Qiang saw her father sitting on the host seat in the main hall and drinking tea. He looked sullen and a little scary.
Gu Qiang walked quickly and then kneeled on the ground, “Welcome back, father. You had a long and tiring journey. I was always worried about you.”
Prime Minister Gu put his cup on the table and looked at Gu Qiang.
Though Prime Minister Gu was far away, he heard of what happened in the capital, including something about his first daughter. Fortunately, the rumor was not unpleasant.
He withdrew his sullen expression and said to Gu Qiang, “Qiang, come here. Let me look at you.”
Gu Qiang bit her lips, stood up, and walked to him. He patted the nearby chair, signaling her to sit down.
After Gu Qiang sat down, she found Ye and Gu Zhihua kneeling in front of Prime Minister Gu and lowering their heads silently.
What was going on? Her father usually loved Ye, though he had no other choices actually. Was he play-acting?
Prime Minister Gu looked at the two women in front of him and said coldly, “I always thought you were smart. How could you give so much money to Empress in such a situation?”
While Prime Minister Gu rebuked Ye, his chest kept heaving as if it were going to explode.
Ye raised her head to look at Prime Minister Gu innocently and sobbed aggrievedly to explain, “I was praised by Empress. She said she would remember what we did. When choosing a husband for Zhihua, she would…”
“Shut up!” Prime Minister Gu banged the table. Gu Qiang trembled with fear and almost dropped her cup.
Prime Minister Gu stood up, pointed to Ye, and shouted, “She can marry anyone, can’t she? Does her marriage matter at this moment? Do you know what Empress will think of our family after you give her so much money?”
Ye looked confused and felt more aggrieved. She told Prime Minister Gu in a low voice, “If I please Empress, she will be nice to us for sure.”
Prime Minister Gu was almost crushed by Ye’s ignorance. He held his head and said, “Are you a fool? Recently, the imperial court is investigating official corruption. Don’t you know what it means?”
Ye frowned and looked at Prime Minister Gu puzzledly. Her reaction made him speechless. She used to be a smart woman, but now she was so stupid that he couldn’t help getting mad at her. In fact, Ye wanted to prove she did that for the interests of the family. How she wished Prime Minister Gu could understand her!
Prime Minister Gu turned around and looked at Gu Qiang for help. He said softly, “Qiang, explain it to her.”
Gu Qiang put her cup on the table, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and then looked Ye in the eye.
Ye was already unhappy after being rebuked by Prime Minister Gu. How could she stand Gu Qiang’s lecture? Therefore, she said to Prime Minister Gu coldly, “You have no idea about it. Empress asked all official madams and ladies to donate money. Last time, Empress held a party and all madams and ladies donated money, except Qiang.”
Now that Prime Minister Gu didn’t have a good impression of her anymore, why not drag Gu Qiang into the mire?
“Madam, my father means that your donation was not blamable when Empress asked for it. But now the imperial court is investigating corruption, and you continue giving money to Empress. Does it prove that our family is very wealthy? Aren’t you throwing ourselves into the net?” Gu Qiang explained slowly.
Prime Minister Gu turned around to look at Gu Qiang with admiration. It seemed that she had made great progress during the past days when they were separated. But it was just a trifle. His impression of her was deep-rooted.
Ye lowered her head and snorted coldly. Was the bitch giving her a lecture? When she entered the mansion, the girl hadn’t been born.
However, Ye changed her face instantly when she raised her head. She apologized to Prime Minister Gu tearfully, “Sorry, I was wrong. Don’t be angry with me.”
Then she began to play the woman and looked at Prime Minister Gu with pitiful eyes. Seeing that, he was not furious anymore and cooled down. After all, the woman did that for the whole family or perhaps for Gu Zhihua. Everyone was selfish.
Therefore, Prime Minister Gu waved and told Ye and Gu Zhihua, “You can go now.”
Ye stood up with Gu Zhihua, but she found Gu Qiang was still there. Prime Minister Gu returned after a long journey, but he wanted to talk with Gu Qiang instead of spending time with Ye alone. Did Gu Qiang get preferential treatment?
Ye was not glad about it. However, Prime Minister Gu disliked her now. She couldn’t say more.
Ye went out with Gu Zhihua quickly.
Prime Minister Gu turned around and said to Gu Qiang, “Qiang, I heard you fell into the water. Has your injury healed?”
His concern meant nothing to her now. Gu Qiang went through the toughest days on her own. Now she was fine. The concern from Prime Minister Gu was like a joke.
A person usually needed someone to send charcoal in snowy weather rather than giving an added grace to what was already beautiful. Therefore, what Prime Minister Gu said now was just small talk.
“Thanks for your concern. I’m fine.” Gu Qiang answered politely.
Prime Minister Gu wiped his mouth embarrassedly and continued to say, “Your mother is indeed partial to Zhihua, but she is also nice to you. I can see that.”