Coming Kingly Son-in-Law: Don't Provoke the First Daughter - Chapter 135

Chapter 135 Ye Mu

Ye Mu?

Gu Qiang frowned. Suddenly, she remembered that this was the name called out by Ziyan so cheerfully back on Xiaoyao Mountain.

On that night, all members of the Gu Family suited themselves in the backyard pavilion including Gu Qiang, with a theatrical troupe performing on the high stage.

With all things going around, the Gu Family still managed to prepare this for Ye Mu who came from afar, which showed what a great importance Prime Minister Gu attached to the Ye Family.

Soon, Prime Minister Gu arrived, with Ye and Gu Huaihuai following behind; their eyes turned away in awkwardness when they saw Gu Qiang.

Even Gu Zhihua, who should be seriously ill at the moment, showed up at the table, with Qing Luo holding her arms.

She paused at the sight of Gu Qiang and then forced a faint smile.

Feeling greatly uncomfortable, Gu Qiang took her looks back.

“Mu, you must be tired after the long journey. Hadn’t been the disaster happening in the capital, I would have arranged a grand welcome dinner for you. But now everything has to go simple, please do forgive us,” Ye said to Ye Mu, taking a seat next to him.

Smiling, Ye Mu still wore the same suit he wore this afternoon. He stood up, and proposed a toast with tea to her aunt, “It doesn’t matter, aunt. I should thank you for giving me this chance to see the big world in the capital.”

They drank up the tea, and Ye continued, “As I remember, you are still not married yet, right? Qiang is the same age as you, very pretty, and the two families of ours also make a perfect match. Why don’t you take this chance and get to know each other?”

She still remembered to find her a husband even when she was facing unsteady waters ahead herself. How touching!

Gu Qiang didn’t say anything. Prime Minister Gu made a slight cough, and leaned toward Ye, “Why are you planning to marry Qiang to this man? Have you lost your mind? Why didn’t you discuss it with me before?” he whispered at Ye’s ears.

This was a smart move for Ye, acting before the report. But Gu Qiang was not a fool. She could see Prime Minister Gu was only doing so to pretend he hadn’t been part of it, which he had. She came here because she would be bored in her own house.

The easiest way to know Ye’s plan was to get close to her. Something would give her out no matter how meticulous she was.

Ye gave the Prime Minister a hint, who knew it was not appropriate to say these in front of Ye Mu. Shortly after thinking, he found it not a bad idea to marry Gu Qiang to Ye Mu since it brought only benefits, which made him grow fonder of Ye.

Ye Mu froze up, then he took up his cup, watching Gu Qiang, showing his agreement. Once Gu Qiang nodded her head, they would soon become husband and wife.

Serving behind Gu Qiang, Ting Feng, and Chui Xue were very nervous. Although Mr. Ye was a handsome man with a good family background, he was not the cup of tea for their lady.

Putting down her teacup, Gu Qiang gazed at a withered tree in the distance, like she was not with them and hadn’t paid any attention to the matter they were discussing at all.

“That’s a good idea. But what does it have anything to do with you?” Gu Qiang turned to Ye and asked, her eyes fixed upon her.

How could her marriage be decided by Ye so easily? Gu Qiang knew what she was thinking.

“You have been keen to find me a husband ever since Gu Zhihua got married. But I am an Infanta. Who gives you the right to take care of my marriage?” Gu Qiang carried on, her hands griped, and her face turned deathly pale. Then she smiled after a glance over Prime Minister Gu and Ye.

Prime Minister Gu had thought she would at least show him some respect in front of the guest, but he had been wrong. Gu Qiang had kept pushing her luck these days. It’s time to teach her a lesson; he thought.

Then he spoke up, “Qiang, I’ve always taken you as a young girl and chose to give you another chance whenever you made a mistake. But now I can’t turn a blind eye anymore as you keep acting as an overload. Why don’t you go to the woodshed and reflect upon yourself?”

Ye was suddenly wild with joy, looking at Gu Qiang with a beamish smile on her face.

“So you mean I have to be punished as long as I disobey you? Even when I am right?” said Gu Qiang, smiling.

“It’s the parents’ right to decide their children’s marriage. How could you reject your parent’s decision?” growled Prime Minister Gu, his beard shivering. Clearly, he was burning with anger, but the presence of the guest made him have to contain it.

He would definitely become ill if Gu Qiang kept getting his back up.

Gu Qiang remained still. “But my marriage is also an imperial affair. The imperial family has more say to it than you, father. So you’d better not play with fire. There is a plague going on in the capital now, how could the prime minister focus more on his daughter’s marriage rather than the lives of the people? Don’t you think that’s no different from putting the cart in front of the horse?” she retorted in a soft voice.

Prime Minister Gu suddenly smashed his hand on the table and the cups on it trembled, with tea spilled out. Everyone around was looking at him, seeming to wait for him to throw another round of scold upon this unruly girl.

Ye Mu held up his cup. The Ye Family had used the best tea leaves. Back in the south, his family had a particular interest in tea as well, but he never thought people in the capital would do the same. After a sip, he raised his head and smiled, glancing over Gu Qiang.

Sensing his glance at her, Gu Qiang felt very uncomfortable. How could a man directly size up a woman? Didn’t he know it was rude?

“It’s okay if Qiang doesn’t have any interest in marrying me, we still have a long time to know each other,” Ye Mu said, trying to ease the tension. But it didn’t make Gu Qiang feel better. She didn’t need anyone to speak up for her in the Gu Family, not to say an outsider.

She stood up abruptly and left, with Ting Feng and Chui Xue following her, not paying any attention to what the theatrical troupe was singing.

Prime Minster Gu was furious, but he couldn’t vent it out in front of Ye Mu. “Sorry for my daughter’s rudeness, Mu. But if you do fancy my girl, it will be wonderful to see you together.”

Ye Mu smiled. He turned his head and found that graceful girl had disappeared in the sea of flowers like she had never been here. He could feel the strong sense of repulsion she held against him.

Gu Zhihua trembled, she gathered the blanket around herself and said, “Cousin Mu, if you don’t like my sister, don’t force yourself to marry her. Everyone has to live his life for his own, right? Not for others.”

How could she not understand this? But given the situation she was in, she stood no position in advising others.

“Look at how miserable you are! Ask someone to escort you back to the Third Prince’s Mansion and let him fetch some doctors to treat you. I have no time to mind your business,” said Prime Minister angrily. Then he stood up, gave a stare at Ye, and left as well.

Gu Zhihua bent over the table, crying out. But Ye only let out a sneer and snapped, “What are you crying for? Do what your father said and get back to the prince’s mansion immediately. Or you will forever lose your place in there!”

Then she turned to Ye Mu, quickly putting on a smiling face. As she had taken great care for herself, Ye looked very young for a woman of forty and very gentle with the beam on her face, like a good mother.

Ye Mu was still drinking his tea, looking at them.

“Mu, make yourself at home. Just call the servants if you need anything. As for Qiang, go to talk to her whenever it is at your convenience,” said Ye. Then she went away as well with Gu Zhihua.

Ye Mu got stunned. How could the Gu Family leave their guest alone in the pavilion? Don’t they know any manners?

On that night, Gu Qiang took out all her belongings, counted them, and found they were more than she had expected.

Ting Feng and Chui Xue stood in front of the desk, gazing at the jewels on it. Neither did they know that their master who lived in the shabby house could be so rich.

Some were given by Gu Huaian; He had made a great fortune in recent years with his medicine shop, which was now a quite popular brand across the capital.

“Take this money and buy a house in the outskirt of the capital,” she said, giving all the money to Ting Feng.

When Ting Feng left with the money, Gusu Liang stepped forward, “Master would like to see you in the plum wood.”

Plum wood? That’s a very familiar name, which seemed to remind her of something, but she missed it.

Things like these had been happening to her quite frequently these days. Perhaps something was going on with her brain.

“Go to prepare for it.”

Gusu Liang smiled, and then led her to the plum wood.

It was still early in the night. The moon was high above the sky, covering the grounds in milky whiteness.

There was barely anyone treading along the main road in the capital, except Gu Qiang’s carriage.

When she arrived at the plum wood, the first thing reaching her ears was the sound of water, very refreshing. Walking out of the carriage, she looked around and noticed a pavilion lit up in the wood.

Plum wood was the most renowned mountain in the capital, which got its name for the plum trees covering it. The capital dwellers would come here for a visit every winter. Now, its best traveling season was yet to come.

Shen Qianshan was sitting in the pavilion, a cup in his hand. He must have fully regained his health.

Seeing Gu Qiang’s approaching, Shen Qianshan smiled, then he dragged her into his arms and caught her cold hands. Gu Qiang would still be shy no matter how many times he had done this to her.

“Is there anything important that has to be dealt with face to face?” asked Gu Qiang. She wanted to shake him off but didn’t do it.