Shen Meng’s eyes were red. It was unknown whether she was close to tears or was angry.
The gatekeeper walked over, picked up the fragments around Shen Meng’s feet, and comforted her, “My Lady, don’t take it seriously. Miss Gu took advantage of her title of an infanta to throw her weight about and looked down upon others. We don’t need to be angry with such a woman.”
But Shen Meng shook her head and said slowly, “She is not as simple as you imagine. I’m sure she knows my secret. But how does she know it? Her brother knows nothing about it.”
When the woman heard what Shen Meng said, her face changed. Then she asked, “You mean the infanta knows what you have… How could it be possible?”
Shen Meng seemed to have a headache. She could accept Gu Qiang’s sudden appearance and her strange words. However, she couldn’t accept that thing. Just as Gu Qiang said, once others knew she had such a thing, not only herself would be hurt, but the whole Shen Family would be implicated.
Shen Qianshan was sitting in Gu Qiang’s room in the inn. She had been out for a long time. He didn’t know what she was going to do, but he didn’t follow her.
Gu Qiang didn’t like to be controlled. If she knew he wanted to control her, she must be angry.
Gu Qiang opened the door only to find Shen Qianshan had prepared tea for her. He said smilingly, “You’re back.”
Of course, she came back. Otherwise, where could she go? Gu Qiang didn’t expect Shen Meng was so persistent under a fragile appearance. But Shen Meng didn’t know what great danger she was in. If it couldn’t be handled well, Gu Huaian might be unable to escape from the disaster.
However, she wasn’t cooperative. Thus, Gu Qiang had to make a breakthrough at another person. That was Li Cangsi.
The Empress told Gu Qiang in the letter that Shen Meng has an astonishing identity. As the daughter of the wet nurse of the last emperor, she had an important testamentary edict. Its content made Gu Qiang scared. If it was true, the country would be completely different.
The Empress said Li Cangsi would catch Shen Meng, find the testamentary edict, and give it to Shen Zhongbai, which led to Gu Huaian’s death. If so, she needed to destroy the testamentary edict or topple Li Cangsi. Either was OK. Though the testamentary edict was important, it didn’t matter because she only cared about her brother’s life instead of the country.
Seeing Gu Qiang in a trance, Shen Qianshan stood up and said, “What’s the matter?”
Gu Qiang turned around to look at Shen Qianshan’s eyes. Suddenly, an idea occurred to her.
“Your Highness, how about the governor of Hongzhou?” Gu Qiang sat before Shen Qianshan and asked.
She was an infanta and it was reasonable to care about the people. Hongzhou was adjacent to the capital and not large. It was well guarded, and people had enough to eat and wear. It seemed to prove indirectly that the governor fulfilled his obligation.
“I don’t know.” Shen Qianshan answered faintly.
“If we can find the corruption record of the Hongzhou Governor, Li Cangsi will surely be pinned down.” Gu Qiang talked to herself.
Li Cangsi? He was the son of the Hongzhou Governor. Shen Qianshan didn’t expect Gu Qiang would know so much. What else did she know?
“If you want to know, I will send someone to investigate. You have been out for a long time and didn’t have time for rest. Take a good rest before dealing with these things. OK?” Shen Qianshan said.
But Gu Qiang shook her head firmly, “I want to see my brother.”
Shen Qianshan was clear that she didn’t care about her health at all. She couldn’t wait to see her brother. Shen Qianshan was confused, but she didn’t plan to tell him. Though he wanted to know it, he would like to respect her choice.
Shen Qianshan waved. Gusu Liang entered and told Gu Qiang, “Come with me.”
Gu Qiang saw Gu Huaian at an inn near Shen Meng’s house at night. He walked up and down restlessly in his room. The candlelight flickered and lengthened his shadow. The flickering light resembled his mood.
When he turned around and saw Gu Qiang, he sighed deeply. It was his affair. What made him most scared of was to involve Gu Qiang. But she was still involved finally.
“Why do you come here?” Gu Huaian sat down and asked.
“Brother, do you still remember what I told you?” Gu Qiang said coldly. She was eager to punch him. Why didn’t he listen to her?
Of course, Gu Huaian remembered it. However, the situation was different this time, and he had to come here. Moreover, it was his affair. Gu Qiang should not intervene.
“I do. but the situation is different from before. Qiang, go back now. Though the Prime Minister Mansion is not satisfying, it is not dangerous at least. You can’t stay here.” While saying, Gu Huaian approached to pull her away. But Gu Qiang shook off his hand and said with a trembling voice. He didn’t know how serious the consequence would be. It was related to his life. Gu Qiang racked her brains to protect him, but what did he do? He didn’t take his life seriously at all.
It was unreasonable. Gu Qiang was seized by anger, but she couldn’t vent it. Perhaps there was something he had to do.
“I told you not to leave the capital. Why don’t you listen to me?” Gu Qiang said.
Before Gu Huaian said anything, Shen Qianshan came in. Though it was completely dark outside, he didn’t care at all.
Seeing Shen Qianshan, Gu Huaian pushed Gu Qiang to him at once and said, “Your Highness, please take my sister back. She will be in danger here.”
Shen Qianshan lowered his head, smiled at Gu Qiang, and responded, “Now that she is here, you need to trust her. No matter what trouble you have, please believe us. There is no need to burden yourself alone.”
It seemed that Shen Qianshan stood on Gu Qiang’s side. Gu Huaian smiled resignedly. He wanted to protect his sister finally at the toughest moment, but it appeared that it was impossible.
“Does it have anything to do with Shen Meng?” Gu Qiang asked.
Gu Huaian parted his lips, but he didn’t give a reasonable explanation. Instead, he seemed to shake his head. Feeling weird, Gu Qiang asked, “Is Shen Meng different from any other woman?”
Gu Huaian kept silent.
Did he disbelieve Gu Qiang? She meditated and persuaded him, “I am the one you trust most in the world. Isn’t that true?”
The atmosphere was getting tense, and they were on the verge of a quarrel. Shen Qianshan took Gu Qiang’s hand, seated her on a chair, and told her calmly, “Qiang, calm down. Your hot temper can’t help solve the problem.”
She was clear about it. What made her angry was that Gu Huaian didn’t know how many people were protecting his safety secretly, and he neither knew Gu Qiang would have no one to rely on in the world and everything would be bleak if he died.
“It has nothing to do with Miss Shen, but I am worried about her. Now that you are here, let’s visit her, OK?” Gu Huaian suggested.
Gu Qiang squinted her eyes. With no more questions, she answered him, “Let’s visit her tomorrow.”
Then Gu Qiang stood up and returned to her inn. Shen Meng’s affair wouldn’t matter soon. After all, she didn’t believe Gu Qiang and vice versa. So long as Gu Huaian could be controlled, Gu Qiang didn’t want to meddle in Shen Meng’s affair at all.
The next morning, when Gu Qiang was washing in her room, Gusu Liang entered, placed the clean clothes on the table, and said, “Will you go to see Mr. Gu?”
Gu Qiang wiped her face with a towel. Then she leaned on the chair and sighed deeply. She was puzzled. Did Gu Huaian know Shen Meng’s real identity? Did Shen Meng want to reveal her secret? Anyway, it was Gu Qiang’s priority to stop Gu Huaian, wasn’t it?
Shen Qianshan needed to return to the capital to check the account books of the Hongzhou Governor for the past years. He had Gu Qiang sent to the inn of Gu Huaian in a carriage.
Standing at the gate and watching Gu Qiang’s carriage off, he didn’t feel good. He thought it was important, but he didn’t know which part was important.
Lifting the window in the carriage, Gu Qiang saw Gu Huaian walking away hurriedly. Immediately, she realized this situation was not as simple as she imagined.
“Park at the corner.” Gu Qiang told the driver, and he stopped as requested. Gusu Liang said, “My Lady, we have stayed here for a long time. If we don’t go back, Prime Minister Gu and Ye may feel unfair and will scheme something against you. Are you determined not to go back?”
Gu Qiang had stayed in Hongzhou for many days. She was usually strictly controlled in the Prime Minister Mansion. Gusu Liang didn’t expect Prime Minister Gu would hope his daughter was as ordinary as possible and married to nobody.
But Gu Qiang shook her head firmly and told Gusu Liang, “My brother must conceal something from me. He has prevented me repeatedly. It may have something to do with Shen Meng. I’m sure he will go to see Shen Meng, but she…”
Shen Meng would bring back luck. They were friends and it was natural for Gu Huaian to help her, but he should refrain from meddling in her affair, or he might lose his life.