Shen Qianshan took a sip of the tea with an awkward look on his face. He couldn’t maintain his usual calmness anymore. “Emm… Qiang?”

Apparently, he was not used to her new identity yet. He still couldn’t believe the empress suddenly became his own wife. How should he address her? Your highness? Or just Gu Qiang?

“If we can’t contact her, we won’t know anything about Gu Huaian’s situation. This is the most stressful thing right now.”

Shen Qianshan knew he shouldn’t add fuel to the fire now, but he didn’t really care. This was Gu Qiang’s obsession, not his. A person couldn’t be too selfish.

“According to my memory, Gu Huaian’s death was delayed for three days. Do you know about it? He still died… but it was delayed,” Shen Qianshan said cautiously, observing the empress’ expression. She was much stronger than before mentally after going through many things, but she was just a woman, after all. No one could accept so many tragedies in a row.

The empress’ hand was trembling while holding the cup, same as her lips. She had been through a lot since she was a kid, knowing that she was different than other women. Life taught her to never give up. Even when she lost her baby, she chose to live with the pain because there was no way back in her position, no matter how many hardships were waiting for her down the path. This was how she felt all the time, but right now, for the first time, she had the taste of despair.

How could she tell the young Gu Qiang that Gu Huaian was still going to die? If she couldn’t make it on time, Gu Qiang would lose her chance forever.

She stood up and started to pace back and forth in the room. It was apparent that she was stressed, but she still tried to pretend nothing happened. The more she acted this way, the more worried Shen Qianshan felt.

“Don’t be nervous. There has to be a way to do it,” Shen Qianshan comforted her, but she was not in the mood to listen to anyone.

In the other world, Gu Qiang was lying on her bed, having a high fever. Ting Feng had already taken out some winter blankets and wrapped her in, but she still felt cold.

Chui Xue brought Gu Huaian in. When he saw her hair cling to her face together with sweat, he understood the situation immediately.

“Let Doctor Li prescribe her some medicine first. We need a precious herb called Lingyu Grass for her quick recovery, which grows in Liuzhou near the capital. I will go there as fast as I can. Please make sure to take good care of her.”

Gu Huaian sat down next to Gu Qiang and gently caressed her head. She was burning with fever but still struggled up and grabbed his hand. She said while shivering, “You can’t go.”

“How do you know that herb can save my life?” Gu Qiang didn’t even know why she asked this question, but she still got up. Her instinct kept telling her to stop her brother, and she decided to follow her heart.

Gu Huaian held her in his arms and gently brushed her face with a towel. He smiled at her, “Stop worrying about me. Look at you right now. I think you should worry about yourself first.”

Gu Qiang took a sip of water and shook her head, staring at Gu Huaian with a firm look on her red face.

Gu Huaian put her back to the bed, took out a wallet from a pocket near his chest, and passed it to Ting Feng. He whispered to the maid, “When I’m not around, please make sure to take good care of her. I don’t want anything bad to happen again.”

Ting Feng took the wallet from him and secretly weighed it in her hand. There was a lot of money inside – Gu Huaian was really generous to his younger sister.

When Gu Huaian headed out, he ran into Shen Qianshan and Gusu Liang, rushing over.

“Mr. Gu, where are you going?” asked Shen Qianshan. They couldn’t let down their guard in this situation. After their investigation, all the clues led to someone inside the Prime Minister Mansion, and Ye was highly suspected. They had arranged their men to lurk here to find the direct evidence.

Gu Huaian opened the umbrella, held it above Shen Qianshan, and whispered to him, “I received a letter from Shen Zhongbai. He told me that a medicinal herb called Lingyu Grass can cure Qiang, but it’s outside the capital.”

Shen Qianshan froze for a second. Then he suddenly grabbed Gu Huaian’s arm and shook his head at him firmly. “You can’t leave the capital. Before Qiang’s memory recovers, you have to stay in the city.”

“Why?” Gu Huaian couldn’t understand Shen Qianshan and Gu Qiang’s insistence. He really wanted to save Gu Qiang’s life, but why did everyone focus on stopping him from leaving?

Shen Qianshan looked into the room and saw the flickers of the candle flame. Apparently, Gu Qiang’s situation didn’t get any better. After what happened before, he didn’t know whether he should show up in front of her or not. But he also knew that she needed him badly.

“Qiang doesn’t remember anything now, so I have to be the one to tell you this. Qiang told me that your life will be in danger if you leave the capital. She’s trying to save you in this way.”

Shen Qianshan had wondered for a long time why Gu Qiang could predict things in the future. She was even prepared for her amnesia. However, there was no time to think about it. All he could do right now was to keep everything in the way it went before she regained her memory. He didn’t want to let her down.

“What are you talking about? I’m no longer a member of the Gu’s Family, and I don’t have any enemy here. Who will kill me?” Gu Huaian found his words ridiculous and left immediately.

Shen Qianshan fell into deep thoughts for a while. Then he said to Gusu Liang, “Tell Jin Ye to keep Gu Huaian safe, no matter what it costs.”

Jin Ye was displeased by Shen Qianshan’s decision. He knew it was his master’s fault for what happened before, but he couldn’t accept that Gu Qiang chose to be with Shen Zhongbai, a married man. She already had a relationship with his master!

The whole world knew Shen Zhongbai wanted to get Gu Qiang. This man never held any good intention. It was miserable that Gu Qiang lost her memory, but this couldn’t become her excuse to hurt his master’s heart.

He didn’t care what others thought, but he had a high expectation for the girl his master chose. Otherwise, all Shen Qianshan’s efforts would be in vain.

Jin Ye knew it was actually not his master’s fault, but he was also aware that people believed what they saw with their own eyes.

“Master, Miss Gu hasn’t agreed to forgive you. Have you done too much by coming over and helping her protect Mr. Gu?” Jin Ye said awkwardly.

He knew his master’s temperament and the consequence of saying so. If it weren’t him, who worked for Shen Qianshan for years, his master would immediately kill the person who said things like that.

Hearing his words, Shen Qianshan turned around. His eyes looked even colder than usual on this chill, rainy night, and the anger was almost piercing. Jin Ye made a face nervously, feeling regretted poking the bear. He must have spent too much time with Gusu Liang, unconsciously affected by that fearless woman.

“When do I need you to teach me how to do things?” Shen Qianshan knew that Jin Ye said it with good intention. He was disappointed by Gu Qiang’s attitude as well. The most crucial thing in a relationship was mutual trust, but did Gu Qiang trust him? Did he trust her?

He could understand everything, but there was another important reason that made him do so. If he gave up right now, his relationship with Gu Qiang would be over.

Gu Qiang was a woman who didn’t show her feelings proactively, and he was just a poor man who was a bit sensitive. It took them a lot to choose each other, but no one expected this kind of thing would happen.

Jin Ye lowered his head and started to execute his master’s order. He had said everything he could, and it was up to his master to make a choice.

The moment Jin Ye disappeared in the rain, the door was pushed open. Shen Qianshan didn’t even have the time to take back his umbrella. Gu Qiang showed up in front of him, shivering, as sweat flowed down her face. Her lips were pale, and the look on her face was blank. She rushed to him and grabbed his sleeves with all her strength, saying very slowly, “You can’t let him leave! You can’t! Please stop him!”

She could only spit out the words one by one because she was too weak. Right after she finished her words, she fainted in Shen Qianshan’s arms. When Ting Feng and Chui Xue rushed out to help her up, Shen Qianshan was already carrying her in his arms. He asked the girl gently, “Qiang, are you feeling better?”

Of course not. Ting Feng said reluctantly, “She’s far from getting better. Doctor Li wants to have a check on her. Please put her back on the bed.”

“Who’s Doctor Li?” Shen Qianshan was strong. Gu Qiang tried to struggle but couldn’t move at all.

“Mr. Gu sent him here. There shouldn’t be any problem with him. However, Ninth Duke, I heard you did something that made the lady upset. Why are you still here?” Ting Feng didn’t care about his identity or the consequence of saying that. She just hated the person who hurt her master!

Shen Qianshan ignored her words directly. He carried Gu Qiang inside and sat down next to her.

Gu Qiang was acting unsettled. She struggled to move on the bed and said very slowly, “Can you stop my brother? I don’t know why, but my heart tells me not to let him leave.”

Shen Qianshan had been feeling weird about her reaction. Why did Gu Qiang seem to still remember things related to Gu Huaian when she had lost all her memories? Was it possible that…?

No. Shen Qianshan denied his own guess immediately. Gu Qiang was not the kind of person who would make such a risky decision in this situation. Plus, all the doctors sent by Gu Huaian made the diagnosis of amnesia after checking on her.

So, it was impossible that she pretended it. Her amnesia was real.