Gu Qiang knew if being obsessed with someone, a person would be incurable. Even a smart one couldn’t keep a clear head sometimes, let alone Ziyan who was not smart.
Hearing what Gu Qiang said, Ziyan flushed at once and then looked enchanted as if some good memories were brought to her.
“I have been fond of Brother Qianshan since childhood. The longer I know him, the more obvious his merits are. He is cooler, more imposing, and more humane than the Third Prince. Many people compare them and conclude Brother Qianshan is more excellent.” Ziyan said slowly while being lost in the good memory.
Gu Qiang lifted her eyebrows. What Ziyan said was contradictory because beauty was in the eyes of the beholder. She was not sure which man was better because it was impossible to judge a man’s heart from his face.
While Ziyan was enchanted by Shen Qianshan’s merits next to Gu Qiang, someone said suddenly, “What are you thinking? Did you eat yet?”
Gu Qiang turned around and saw Shen Qianshan who was just mentioned. He was dressed as before, looking clean and casual. So was his expression.
Ziyan came to her senses, darted to Shen Qianshan, and said softly, “Brother Qianshan, could you take me out for yummy food? I have stayed in the palace for a long time.”
It seemed that Shen Qianshan still couldn’t allow a woman to be so close to him, so he leaned back slightly, looked at Gu Qiang, and said, “Qiang, why not go out of the palace with us? Don’t worry about the Empress Dowager. So long as she takes medicine on time, there will be no problem.”
However, Gu Qiang shook her head and responded smilingly, “I need to stay with the Empress Dowager to observe how she is doing. Enjoy yourselves. Don’t mind me.”
Then Gu Qiang returned to the main hall. Now that Ziyan was so obsessed with Shen Qianshan, she would like to leave them alone and not to disturb them. She didn’t want to be in the way.
Ziyan didn’t know why Gu Qiang didn’t follow them, and she didn’t want to think more about it. She turned around and told Shen Qianshan, “Brother Qianshan, let’s go.”
Shen Qianshan stood still. The wind blew his robe, and his long hair fluttered in the wind. His face was expressionless. With a fondness for his fragrance, Ziyan buried her head into his arms, sniffed hard, and said sweetly, “Brother Qianshan, you smell so good.”
Shen Qianshan seemed to come to his senses now. He turned around to look at Ziyan and said slowly, “I allow you to be out of the palace for a few days. You have looked after the Empress Dowager for days and must be tired. You don’t have to come here in the following days.”
Then he intended to follow Gu Qiang to the main hall.
Ziyan was confused and didn’t understand his meaning until a few seconds later. It sounded like he was driving her away. She had looked after the Empress Dowager for so many days, during which he never showed up. However, after Gu Qiang came, he asked Ziyan to leave. Did he want to be alone with Gu Qiang? Was Ziyan in the way?
Ziyan caught up with Shen Qianshan, grabbed his sleeve, and asked unhappily, “Brother Qianshan, tell me the truth. Do you love her?”
Shen Qianshan paused and turned around to look at Ziyan’s eyes, swallowing back the words on the tip of his tongue. His response made Ziyan depressed, and she knew she was right.
Shen Qianshan was usually cold and unfeeling. Nobody could make him nervous and embarrassed and nothing mattered to him. However, his present response told Ziyan clearly that Gu Qiang meant a lot to him. When Gu Qiang was mentioned, the air around him became different.
Ziyan wasn’t sure if it was filled with sweetness. After all, she had never been treated specially by Shen Qianshan.
Shen Qianshan’s eyes sparkled for an unknown reason. Ziyan looked him into the eyes but didn’t know what to do next, so she took her eyes off him at once, lowered her head, and said, “If you love Sister Qiang, it doesn’t matter. The heart can’t be controlled, but you’d better consider her safety.”
Shen Qianshan had never seen Ziyan talking in this way. Gentle, less childish, and earnest, she seemed more attractive than before.
Shen Qianshan was softened, but he knew it was not because of love.
“Why did you say that?” asked Shen Qianshan.
Ziyan gave a wry smile. Such an adult expression looked strange on her face. Perhaps she was really grown-up, but Shen Qianshan was avoiding the fact that Ziyan had grown into an adult female.
“Too many women love you, Brother Qianshan, but you can’t be shared. Though all people in the world think you are great, they can’t own you. How many of them will be unreconciled to accept the heartbreaking truth?” said Ziyan.
She didn’t deny that she was the most unreconciled one. If these women knew who Shen Qianshan lost his heart to, how could they let Gu Qiang go?
Though it had to be accepted finally, the process was heartbreaking.
After a long silence, Shen Qianshan patted Ziyan’s shoulder and his cold face cracked into a bland smile. Then he left without saying anything.
Ziyan stood there until sunshine disappeared from her. She observed her heart carefully. It seemed that she was easily afflicted by a hint of pain and even her breath made her heart ache.
It was easier said than done to stop loving someone. It was unbearable to do it.
Gu Qiang stood at the door of the main hall, and her white clothes were fluttering in the wind. When she saw Shen Qianshan walking over, she returned to the side hall.
She stroked her chest. She was clear that it was not good to eavesdrop others’ conversation behind their backs, but she still couldn’t help doing it.
“Qiang, I hoped you could marry the Third Prince before, but you didn’t agree. Now I guess you love the Ninth Duke, don’t you?”
A woman said behind Gu Qiang in a cold voice. Gu Qiang was startled as if her affair were discovered on the spot.
Turning around, Gu Qiang found the Empress Dowager sitting on a chaise longue with a cup in her hand. She was blowing off the steam while looking at the leaves floating in the cup. She felt excited about finding a secret, which was shown by her smile.
The Empress Dowager was about fifty years old. Because she lived a wealthy life in the palace and took good care of her skin, she looked even more beautiful than Ye. She looked dignified and august, which was rare for a woman.
Suddenly the woman Gu Qiang saw in her dream came back to her mind. That woman was also august, but Gu Qiang couldn’t connect the woman to herself.
Perhaps she was too young to be so dignified and august, but she would be one day. It was just a matter of time.
Gu Qiang kneeled on the ground at once and responded, “Your Highness, please forgive me.”
The Empress Dowager was still smiling. It seemed that she was not irritated by Gu Qiang’s rashness. She said calmly, “Qiang, you look after me here and don’t need to stand on ceremonies. You are clever, and I like you.”
Gu Qiang looked up at the Empress Dowager on her knees and just met her eyes. Due to the serious disease, she looked sallow and moved sluggishly, but she was much better than the poor people out of the palace.
Gu Qiang recollected the refugees she saw out of the palace, their desperate eyes, and their bony bodies.
When a person accepted the fact that he or she was about to die, eyes would overflow with desperation. But the Empress Dowager was exceptional. It seemed that she knew she could survive and thus looked energetic, though her physical condition got worse.
“Thanks for the praise, Your Highness.” Gu Qiang lowered her head and responded reverentially.
The Empress Dowager had stayed in the palace too long before she had an interesting girl to talk with her, so she was cheered up and told Gu Qiang, “If you love the Ninth Duke, let me know. I will authorize your marriage.”
Gu Qiang shook her head instantly. She knew Shen Qianshan was nice to her and always gave her a hand when she needed help. However, she was also clear that he would be short-lived and might die at any time. If she married him, she would become a young widow, wouldn’t she?
Perhaps Gu Qiang reacted too violently. When Shen Qianshan walked in and saw that, his eyes glimmered, but he still said with a smile, “Qiang, do you hate to marry me so much?”
The Empress Dowager laughed and said, “Maybe Qiang is afraid that you won’t be loyal to her. Is that true?”
Gu Qiang gave a thin smile and recalled Ziyan’s resignation and expectation suddenly. The girl loved Shen Qianshan sincerely. Though she was only a young girl, she was persistent with her love, which touched Gu Qiang.
Gu Qiang didn’t know how long she had lost her expectation for love, which was beyond her reach. It was not easy for her to survive in a world full of traps. How could she expect romantic love?
Gu Qiang lowered her head to avoid eye contact with Shen Qianshan. His eyes were filled with something depressing.
She didn’t know why Shen Qianshan often helped her. Thanks to his help, she had a smoother life.