Chapter 140 The Man Who Can Be Trusted

Once his darling girl was married into the auspicious capital, she would live a luxurious life, and the Su Family had got used to seeing their women enjoy the glory to be Empresses and consorts.

With the fire as a lesson, Master Su first asked his nephew who lived in the capital for help, then he decided to send her daughter Su Shuangning to his place after the fire.

The excuse he used was that his family had no place to live since everything had been burned down. How could Su Shuangning, a delicate girl, make it through with the harsh environment?

Perhaps Master Su had overpromised something to Su Shuangning, like telling Su Shuangning that Shen Qianshan had agreed to marry her and her visit to the capital was only to complete the procedures.

After all, Su Shuangning was Master Su’s proudest daughter, who outshined everyone else in terms of disposition and looks in his eyes.

That explained why Su Shuangning had taken for granted that she was Shen Qianshan’s woman, and Gu Qiang was her rival, as well as why she dared to abduct Gu Qiang on the square.

Gu Qiang kept listening, then she spoke up as if something had just occurred to her, “If your mother was from the Su Family, why would you target at them?”

In the imperial family, if one lost the support from his mother’s family, he would be out on a limb.

“I will tell you next time,” said Shen Qianshan as he straightened up, smiling.

Jin Ye walked toward them and said in a respectful tone, “News from the imperial family. It is said Mr. Gu’s prescription proved to be very effective in treating the disease; patients are now recovering. Do you want to take a look at the situation, master?”

A light flashed in Shen Qianshan’s eyes. “Do you want to come with me?” he asked Gu Qiang, looking at her.

Gu Qiang glanced at the only blouse she wore, looking awkward. Having not returned to her room ever since she woke up in the middle of the night, she might get sick again as she never had a strong physique.

“Alright then,” Gu Qiang agreed, then she quickly went back to her room and got dressed. When she got everything ready, Gusu Liang walked in, wearing her plain clothes as usual; with a cold look in her eyes, she looked quite indifferent.

“Sun Linhua was sent into the Sentence Room this morning,” she spoke up, very slowly. “Do you have to kill her, my lady? She is indeed jealous of you, but I never know you can take somebody’s life just because she is jealous!” Gusu Liang burst out; she couldn’t contain the anger anymore.

Gu Qiang looked at herself in the mirror, and replied casually, “Why don’t you ask your master Shen Qianshan about it?”

Gusu Liang shook her head. Sun Linhua had always been the most loyal servant to Shen Qianshan, although she might have had her own ideas. So what? Wasn’t the relationship bound by feelings safer than those bound by interests?

“Instead of getting her position right, she dreams to obtain the love from her master, and even…” Gu Qiang didn’t finish her words. Whether the Empress’s child was killed by Sun Linhua or not was no longer her concern, as she had done what she had been told.

She didn’t need others to understand what she did.

Even if Gusu Liang was the only woman she trusted.

Not saying a word back, Gusu Liang packed her things up and left.

The gate of the imperial palace was wide open, with soldiers standing at both sides in a line. Gu Qiang couldn’t remember how many times she had been here. When she arrived at the same pavilion, she saw a mustache growing out of Gu Huaian’s chin, although they had only been parted for days.

Looking way older, he smiled at the sight of Gu Qiang; his face was pale, but his smile was warm.

The Emperor was sitting in the pavilion, looking quite enjoy himself; the flagon on the table was empty.

He made several coughs, then resumed his laughing, very happy.

After the curtesy, Gu Qiang looked up, her eyes rested upon the Emperor’s face. Even she, a non-medical person, could tell that his days were numbered.

The Emperor waved his hand, and said to Gu Huaian, “You said you would like to ask something from me had you got this plague settled. Now speak it out, tell me what you want. I will grant your wish.”

Gu Huaian was still looking at Gu Qiang, then he moved his eyes to Shen Qianshan, and said, “Your Majesty, I hope you can grant the marriage between my sister and the Ninth Duke.”

Gu Qiang and Shen Qianshan both froze at his words; Shen Qianshan bit his lips as though he couldn’t believe what he had heard, but he said nothing.

Over the past six months, many people were coveting Gu Qiang, especially Shen Zhongbai, who wouldn’t give up trying to make her his even though he had already married Gu Zhihua.

For a moment, he felt hundreds of flowers blooming around him, and his heart was beating so fiercely. If the Emperor agreed, Gu Qiang would become his legal wife?

Gu Qiang was also caught in a shock. Although her heart was thundering, she looked as calm as ever, only except her hand holding the cup was trembling slightly and her eyes flashed. What should she say?

All people were staring at Gu Huaian quietly. He could have asked for anything from His Majesty, but he used this opportunity for his sister’s happiness.

“If that’s what you want, I don’t mind hearing about their opinions.” The Emperor turned his head; the Empress was sitting beside him, with her lips curled into a line, and no smile in her eyes.

In the same generation as Shen Qianshan, she couldn’t help feeling angry whenever she thought about Shen Qianshan marrying Gu Qiang rather than Su Shuangning.

It was Shen Qianshan who ruined the Su Family. Because of this, she had to lead an extremely hard life in the imperial palace and couldn’t get any good treatment from the Emperor.

Gu Qiang remained in silence; nobody would care about her opinion.

“I am more than willing, Your Majesty,” answered Shen Qianshan shortly after a pause.

Gu Huaian finally let out a hearty smile, feeling quite satisfied with the result.

The Emperor nodded. When he was about to speak, Empress Su interrupted, “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Qianshan has been close to Ziyan since they were young. If Qianshan married somebody else, Ziyan will absolutely go mad.”

Did she want to sacrifice Luoping’s happiness simply for Ziyan? What a stupid woman.

How could she become the Empress if she never understood where the wind blows? The marriage of Shen Qianshan and Gu Qiang was never a decision for her to make, not to mention that Ziyan had already fallen in love with another man.

Like Gu Qiang had expected, the Emperor only gave the Empress an angry stare, and scolded her in a cold voice, “I haven’t finished it with you yet. Get your nose out of Luoping and Qianshan’s business.”

That was a great humiliation. The Empress’s face turned pale, but she quickly resumed her calmness and said nothing back.

“I will issue an imperial edict immediately to betroth Luoping to Qianshan. After that, I still want to ask you another favor, Mr. Gu,” continued the Emperor.

Gu Huaian’s heart sunk; he should have known that once he got involved in the imperial family’s business, there was no going back.

Feeling helpless, he turned to Gu Qiang, who was crossing her hands. Apparently, she was also nervous about what request would the Emperor make, though she had the answer in her heart.

The Emperor was dying, with his health condition deteriorating every day. Nobody would like to have all the good things only for a short time, which was why all the Emperors in history had been keen on finding out a way for eternal life.

The Emperor must have been aware of his own situation, and he saw a sense of hope from Gu Huaian, who had just saved all the patients’ lives in the capital.

Gu Huaian found his heart dead still, but he looked even steadier on the surface, the determination on his face made Gu Qiang feel a lump came into her throat.

He could have asked the Emperor to excuse him from taking care of the imperial family’s business, but he saved the only chance for Gu Qiang, hoping this could guarantee her safety.

My dear brother, what if Shen Qianshan is not someone worthy of trust? Do you have another chance to help me make the decision again?

For Gu Qiang, what she valued the most was him, Gu Huaian.

Gu Qiang felt she was overwhelmed by a pool of warm love from her brother.

“Please, Your Majesty,” said Shen Qianshan. He also got a bit shock by the determined look on Gu Huaian’s face, but he came around quickly.

“You see, I have been sick for years, and none of the imperial doctors could do anything about it. You are quite a competent man, Mr. Gu. I hope you can serve in the palace, and help me relieve my pain,” said the Emperor.

How could the imperial family be so good at forcing others to do things they didn’t like?

Gu Huaian made a laugh in his heart. Could it be like last time? If he failed, he would be trapped in here forever?

But he nodded without any hesitation, “No problem. I will trust you with my sister’s marriage, Your Majesty.”

Then he left with the Emperor without cleaning his face, many people followed behind.

Shen Qianshan and Gu Qiang were left there in great astonishment; it took a while before Gu Qiang found her hands were already full of tears spilled out of her eyes.

Shen Qiang caught her hands, wiped her tears, and then put her into his arms, the smell of pear flower coming with it made the sorrow in her heart even stronger.

In the future, she could forever enjoy this pleasant smell in this man’s arms, but what was waiting for Gu Huaian ahead?

“Qiang, don’t worry. I will give you forever happiness,” said Shen Qianshan firmly, his voice was still very sweet to hear, and his words were as bright as the glowing sun in the noon.

“What about my brother?”

What about his life? What could his future be like, even in just a few weeks?

Within half a day, the news of their marriage swept across the capital.

It was like dropping a peddle into the lake, the still surface of which was cut by the ripples following.

The doorstep of the Prime Minister Mansion was now packed with carriages, with different names cast on them.

There was a rule in the capital; all the big families had to put their names on their carriages for servants to recognize and passers-by to make the way. That was the kind of thing they pursued, a false reputation.