Coming Kingly Son-in-Law: Don't Provoke the First Daughter - Chapter 139
Chapter 139 The Illusion
Gu Qiang felt her head was splitting, the pain of which was so sharp that couldn’t be relieved even after she took several deep breaths.
Shen Qianshan carried her into the pavilion nearby. She was as light as a feather or lily of the valley in the autumn wind that could be scrapped easily with a rub.
After sitting down, her headache turned to be a bit better.
Her blouse was now drenched in a cold sweat. She knew that compared to the headache, what she looked like in that dream made her feel more horrible.
She had had many kinds of dreams before, and each could be regarded as a touching story.
Sometimes, she was in the Prime Minister Mansion; sometimes, she was high in the sky above the capital; and sometimes, she was in a space of emptiness.
Every dream was a story, but none of them had been remembered as clear as that one.
“I am fine. Don’t worry about me,” said Gu Qiang as she buried her head in her arms. But her face was pale, proving she was not fine at all.
Shen Qianshan’s lips curled into a line.
Gu Qiang could smell the light fragrance on him, the touch of coldness in which was all melted when he was with her.
“Why are you wandering outside instead of staying in your chamber? It’s in the middle of the night,” asked Gu Qiang.
She finally calmed down; if she wanted to be free from the nightmare, the top priority was to ignore the things that were deeply engraved in her head.
She had to keep talking with Shen Qianshan, whatever the topic, as long as it could drive the things out of her mind.
Because she was horrified to find out that what the monster-like Gu Qiang had said in the dream was now turning into reality.
So… she still had changed into a monster?
Was there any standard for a monster? should she become a monster because she indirectly killed Sun Linhua? Then what would they label Sun Linhua, a woman who hadn’t even let go of the life of a baby?
Right in front of Shen Qianshan was a spring. Most of the palaces here were built over water as there were many streams and rivers on Xiaoyao Mountain.
The spring kept splashing in the pool, the sound of which was very pleasant to the ear that it could smooth an agitated heart at once.
“It just occurred to me that it was me who ruined my mother’s family,” said Shen Qianshan.
Gu Qiang didn’t know what he meant by his mother’s family, but she knew he was not the child born by the current Empress Dowager.
The imperial palace had never been a place with too many children, no matter in what dynasty. Women living here were busy scheming against each other out of jealousy, which burned them all like fire.
Every woman thought she was the special one for the Emperor. But in reality, that heart was beating so wildly that nobody could tame it.
Living in such an environment, no wonder Shen Qianshan had grown into a cold man.
“Your mother’s family? Do you mean the Su Family?” asked Gu Qiang. Apart from the plague, the biggest event that happened in the capital recently was the fall of the Su Family, and it was caused by Shen Qianshan’s report.
Therefore, the Su Family was the only thing that could linger on Shen Qianshan’s mind.
Shen Qianshan suppressed a faint smile, looking helpless. In the nearby corridor, Gusu Liang was walking toward them, carrying a pot of hot tea in her hand, yawning. It was dawn, she must have been just out of bed.
Shen Qianshan served the tea for Gu Qiang, and continued, “Yes, the Su Family has a deep root in the capital. Despite its great influence and fortune, it keeps a low profile. As a family that keeps providing Empresses and consorts for the imperial family, it has never drawn any attention from the imperial family and the court.”
“Perhaps… the imperial family had already noticed its influence, but dared not to take any action,” said Gu Qiang.
Shen Qianshan paused, his hand holding the cup hanging in the air, thinking. Was Gu Qiang’s guessing right? The imperial family had noticed the Su Family’s growing with their influence sweeping across the country, but didn’t dare to take any action to suppress them?
But why would they change their mind and allow Shen Qianshan to do it?
Soaked in a cold sweat, Shen Qianshan realized that he might have fallen into a big trap.
Who could think of such an idea? The Emperor who was always in sickness? The short-sighted Empress? The old Empress Dowager? Who else could be so smart as to come up with such an ambitious plan in the imperial family?
Shen Zhongbai?
Although Shen Zhongbai was not as cynical and haughty as he looked, he was neither as smart as Shen Qianshan imagined. Getting rid of his rival with another one’s hand? This was indeed a good plan, and there must have been others helping him.
Leaning on the chair, Shen Qianshan looked into the sky and sighed, “This is the Su Family’s fate. Taller trees always suffer from stronger wind. No matter what a low profile they keep, some things just can’t be ignored.”
With his voice so deep, he was now like a man past his fifties. Gu Qiang smiled; she didn’t know how Shen Qianshan was related to the Su Family, nor did she know how far the Su Family had gone, let alone… why would Shen Qianshan regret it so much.
Pulling himself together, Shen Qianshan softly launched into the story of his past.
Like what Sun Linhua had said, he never trusted any woman and it was because of his mother.
And his mother was from the Su Family.
As a matter of fact, women from the Su Family were not always endowed with stunning looks. What set them apart from others was a sense of unique fragrance on them as the Su Family was in the medical industry. You could find no similar disposition from any other woman in the capital.
Perhaps the imperial family always needed fresh blood to get men’s attention. When a place was packed with different kinds of women, special treatment always belonged to the most special one.
Shen Qianshan’s mother was the first-born daughter of the Su Family in her generation. With a good-looking face and nice temperament, she quickly won the Emperor’s favor. However, without a cunning personality that fit the foul environment in the imperial palace, she sorts of became mad later.
The person she tried to hurt was none other than her son, a newborn baby.
Shen Qianshan spent his first three years in a dark room with no light, and could only get food through a window, where it would be left by a maid.
Young as he was, he didn’t know what he had done wrong, nor did he understand that people still could be punished even when they had committed no mistakes.
Gu Qiang listened to him quietly, but Shen Qianshan suddenly stopped.
How could someone remember what had happened to him before three? But these memories had been already cast into his bones.
If his mother could have been so cruel to him, how could he trust any other woman?
Gu Qiang didn’t comment, and nor seemed Shen Qianshan want to carry on with his tragic story.
The tea on the table went cold. He raised his eyes and said, “Following this logic, Su Shuangning is my cousin, as she is the first-born daughter of my uncle. But the Su Family won’t have a good ending. They have assumed too much influence.”
The day was breaking; the sky in the east was getting lighter, giving them a reassuring feeling.
Gu Qiang straightened up and said, “That was a tough night. I need to catch up on my sleep.”
But Shen Qianshan took her hand; it was icy. She was only wearing a white blouse, which would make her easily get sick in the cold morning air.
He didn’t want her to leave. If she left, when could he see her next time?
“Qiang, do you still remember what I discussed with your brother? If you want to take back your lost memories, I need to leave the capital for the needed herbs,” said Shen Qianshan.
His words reminded Gu Qiang that she had lost part of her memory for a long time.
Actually, Gu Qiang knew how much Shen Qianshan wanted her to remember something. After all, if her memory was back, she would know how nice he had been to her.
Nobody was selfless; if someone kept giving out, he would naturally wish to get something in return.
Gu Qiang fell into silence for a long time. A gust of wind came from the east and blew up her hair. Shen Qianshan could smell a faint fragrance from her, although she never used perfume.
“Okay, but I need to go with you,” she replied, thinking she should do her bit as it was for her.
Shen Qianshan was caught in surprise, but he didn’t say anything.
Another gust of chilly wind came, and the temperature kept going down. Shivering, Gu Qiang gathered her blouse around her and wanted to leave. At this moment, Shen Qianshan stopped her again. “Aren’t you even curious about whether I am fond of Su Shuangning or not?” he asked her quietly in the morning sun.
Gu Qiang froze up; this question indeed had troubled her once, only shortly.
The feelings of love were beyond what words could tell. She knew her feelings for Shen Qianshan were not that strong, but it didn’t mean she could share him with others easily.
When Gu Qiang was trying to find someone she could trust, Shen Qianshan did the thing she couldn’t believe the most.
She turned around; if Shen Qianshan wanted to talk about this topic, she didn’t mind being a listener, and it was still early.
Gusu Liang brought them new tea. This time, she was no longer sleepy; there was an odd look from her eyes as if she found out Gu Qiang and Shen Qianshan had done something behind her back.
No need to guess. Gusu Liang must have learned that Shen Qianshan had ordered Sun Linhua to die. But she had always cherished a special feeling for that woman and would even give her a way out sometimes.
She was both a bodyguard and a killer, only she was more like a human, which could be both a blessing and a curse.
The Su Family Mansion was not located in the capital, but south of the Yangtze River.
They thought no one would dare to do anything to them in the south, but a fire broke out and burned everything. They had suffered a great financial loss from it, as all the herbs were turned into ashes.
Fortunately, this well-off family still had savings and managed to sustain its facade.
It was from this accident that Master Su learned that his family was not as strong as it looked, which was why he wanted to trust his most beloved daughter to a man that was worthy of it.
