Without noticing Gu Qiang’s expression, Prime Minister Gu was joyful and told her, “Someone will pick up Zhihua to the palace. Qiang, you can go and visit it with her.”
Gu Qiang was confused about why Gu Zhihua could be allowed to go into the palace, but Prime Minister Gu didn’t explain the reason, and she didn’t think it proper to ask. She just nodded and responded, “I got it.”
Soon a beautiful sedan chair was parked at the gate. Gu Qiang put on clean clothes and got into the sedan chair with Ye and Gu Zhihua. The mother and the daughter almost danced with joy. Immediately after they left the Prime Minister Mansion, Ye turned around to look at Gu Qiang and asked in a low voice, “Do you know why we enter the palace this time?”
Gu Qiang turned around to look at Ye without any expression on her face. She didn’t respond to Ye, because she could see clearly that Ye and Gu Zhihua would probably enter the palace for a reward. She was accustomed to this kind of situation. Ye and Gu Zhihua could show off unlimitedly so long as they got a chance. Therefore, she looked at Ye silently.
Ye had predicted that Gu Qiang would have such an attitude. However, if Gu Qiang didn’t answer, she would seem to be flaunting if she revealed the answer by herself, so she was made speechless.
But Gu Zhihua couldn’t wait. She wagged her head and said, “She doesn’t know certainly. How could she think that the Liu Family…”
Before Gu Zhihua finished, Ye touched her leg immediately. Then, Gu Zhihua realized she might have a slip of the tongue. She shut up, lowered her head, and tried her best to restrain the happiness in her heart. Gu Qiang would know it sooner or later. Why make her feel terrible now? There would be many tormenting moments for her in the future.
Gu Qiang heard Gu Zhihua mention the Liu Family, of course. She was clear that Gu Zhihua probably had known what she did with Shen Qianshan before. Was it related to what happened this day?
Ye controlled her excitement in the heart along the way. When they arrived at the palace, the sedan chair entered through a side door and into the imperial garden.
They reached a pavilion in the imperial garden with servant girls. The Emperor and Empress were sitting there. Seeing Ye and Gu Zhihua, the Empress rose to greet them surprisingly. Before Ye saluted, she held Ye’s hand warmly, took her to the Emperor, and said, “Your Majesty, this is Mrs. Gu that I told you. She did a good job in the donation activity.”
The Emperor was in his early thirties. With a cup in the hand, he looked valiant and imposing. Without raising his eyes, he kept a straight face and fixed his eyes on his book. It seemed that he didn’t want to listen to the Empress. He merely said “H’m”, and then said no more.
The Empress might feel embarrassed. She drew Ye over embarrassedly and seated the latter next to her. Gu Qiang and Gu Zhihua were on their knees. Several people were around, more than ten of whom were maids. Gu Qiang raised her head carefully and saw Liu Shichu sitting by the Emperor to her surprise.
Liu Shichu was staring at Gu Qiang too. When meeting her eyes, he took his eyes off her immediately and pretended to be casual. The Emperor turned around and signaled the two girls to sit on nearby chairs. He closed his book and asked, “Which one is Gu Zhihua, the second girl of the Gu Family?”
Gu Zhihua stepped forward. Unable to control her joyful expression, she answered the Emperor, “Your Majesty, I am.”
The Emperor raised his head. The man in his thirties ran his knife-like eyes over Gu Zhihua, and he had a cold imperial aura.
The aura was mixed with a sense of alienation. Gu Qiang felt the gap between different classes for the first time.
The Emperor pointed at Gu Zhihua, turned around to look at Liu Shichu, and asked, “Mr. Liu, is she the girl you mentioned?”
Liu Shichu nodded and answered, “Yes, Your Majesty. She pleaded and discussed with me to donate food.”
Gu Qiang lifted her eyebrows. It was done by her, wasn’t it? Why did it turn out to be done by Gu Zhihua? At this moment, she seemed to know why Gu Zhihua and Ye couldn’t restrain their excitement on their faces.
The credit should be given to Gu Qiang, but Gu Zhihua got it. It was unknown what she and Ye did behind Gu Qiang’s back.
The Emperor nodded. He was clear about the fact that Liu Shichu was wealthy, but his situation was different. Liu Shichu used to be a businessman and just needed to pay enough taxes. Now that he was willing to donate some food in such a circumstance, he should be given a reward.
Gu Qiang looked up at Liu Shichu and wanted to ask him many questions, but she didn’t. The opportunity was gone, but it didn’t matter. She would have another one.
Liu Shichu seemed to know what was on Gu Qiang’s mind. After Gu Qiang left the Liu Family, Gu Zhihua and Ye dropped by. After a long discussion, the credit was given to Gu Zhihua. Of course, Liu Shichu could benefit from it, or he wouldn’t do it.
Undoubtedly, Gu Qiang was great. She was brave enough to see him and saved Ru. Liu Shichu appreciated her, but people had to bow their heads under the eaves.
It was a win-win situation. Liu Shichu believed his choice was right.
He thought Gu Qiang would give him a dressing-down or explain it to the Emperor. However, she just sat there quietly as if everything around were irrelevant to her. It made Liu Shichu look at her with new eyes.
The Emperor was satisfied with Liu Shichu’s answer. He turned around to look at Gu Zhihua and asked in an august voice, “You are only a girl, but you are concerned about the whole country. You’re out of the ordinary and should receive a reward. Tell me what you want.”
Gu Zhihua’s eyes lit up instantly. If she could choose…She looked back at her mother and seemed to ask for Ye’s advice.
Ye met Gu Zhihua’s eyes and felt excited. So long as the Emperor promised, they could ask for many things. It turned out that what she did was a good move. If Gu Qiang was given the right, she would get cocky.
Ye nodded and winked at Gu Zhihua. The opportunity was not always available, so she should ask for what she wanted most.
Gu Zhihua knelt on the ground and said tremblingly, slowly but firmly, “I want to marry the Third Prince.”
The Emperor kept a poker face. Hearing what Gu Zhihua said, he didn’t respond but turned around to look at the Empress. It seemed that she didn’t expect Gu Zhihua would have such a request. Looking at Gu Zhihua who was lowering her head and trembling on her knees, she parted her lips and asked, “You like the Third Prince?”
As the Third Prince, Shen Zhongbai was dashing and handsome. But the Empress heard that he was on good terms with Gu Qiang, and the Empress Dowager wanted them to marry. It seemed that Gu Zhihua fell in love with him too. Did the two sisters love the same man?
Gu Zhihua nodded shyly. The flush was like a cloud and set her face off.
The Empress glanced and found Gu Qiang sitting on the chair quietly with no reaction. Gu Qiang was most clear about what Gu Zhihua wanted. Gu Zhihua had been adoring Shen Zhongbai since she was a little girl. Marring him was the only dream in her life. Now there was a chance, and she would try her best to grasp it.
“Your Majesty, how to do with it?” The Empress asked.
The Emperor held a cup and tapped the table with fingers. It was acceptable to marry the woman to Shen Zhongbai. He was old enough to marry, but hadn’t had a wife yet. Though Gu Zhihua was not born of the legal wife of Prime Minister Gu, she had a high status in the family.
Therefore, the Emperor nodded and told the Empress, “I think it’s ok, but we need to ask Zhongbai for his opinion.”
The Empress hoped to help bring Gu Zhihua and Shen Zhongbai together. After all, Ye and Gu Zhihua did a good job in her donation activity.
“The Third Prince is just in the palace. I’ll have someone to get him!” The Empress winked at a maid behind her and the maid went away quickly.
Ye sat by Gu Qiang. She kept her back straight and was much higher than Gu Qiang, looking energetic.
It only took Shen Zhongbai the time for a cup of tea to come here. He was in light blue and his long hair was simply tied back. He looked languid. When he walked to the entrance to the pavilion, he saluted the Emperor while looking at people inside and then joked, “So many people are here, but how can the Gu Family sit together with the Liu Family?”
The Emperor seated Shen Zhongbai smilingly. After sitting down, Shen Zhongbai suddenly noticed Gu Qiang who kept silent as if she were not there. He felt surprised and said, “Qiang, you are here, too.”
Gu Qiang thought Shen Zhongbai would certainly not talk with her in the presence of so many people though he was flirtatious. However, he was still the same and greeted her before so many people.
Gu Qiang had to stand up smilingly, saluted Shen Zhongbai, and said respectfully, “Yes, I come here with the madam.”
Stunned by Gu Qiang’s salute, Shen Zhongbai said with a smile instantly, “Qiang, you know you don’t have to stand on ceremony in my presence.”
Gu Qiang remained smiling, but she thought coldly that it was Shen Zhongbai that should keep his distance from her in the world for the most.
The Emperor looked at the two persons, and his eyes became meaningful suddenly. Anyone could see that Gu Qiang was on good terms with Shen Zhongbai. However, Gu Zhihua asked to marry Shen Zhongbai. It might be somewhat related to Gu Qiang.