Chapter 151 That Old Man

Gu Qiang only shook her head and did not say anything.

She did not feel any warmth in spite of the sunny day. Before noon, her small palanquin arrived at Prime Minister Mansion.

Unlike in the past, Prime Minister Mansion was terrifyingly quiet today. Even the passing maids did not dare to breathe loudly. When they saw Gu Qiang, they all knelt on the ground with sad expressions.

Gu Qiang was frightened by this kind of aura. She held her breath and walked to the main hall.

The fragrance of tea filled the air of the main hall. Shen Zhongbai sat in front of Gu Zhizhang. After drawing two circles on the table, he looked up and just happened to meet Gu Qiang walking up.

Unexpectedly, he actually got up first, looked at Gu Qiang with an unknown emotion in his eyes, and then said, “You are back?”

When Gu Zhizhang heard this, he suddenly looked up. It was such a memorable expression that Gu Qiang could think of it after a very long time. It was because of that expression that Gu Qiang believed that this father of hers still had a trace of affection for her.

She took two steps forward and sat down next to Shen Zhongbai. A keen-eyed maid served her tea. Unmoved, Gu Qiang asked coldly, “Third Prince, why are you in a hurry to call me back? If this is about my brother, you can just send someone to inform me of the solution.”

Shen Zhongbai stared at the table in front of him. The atmosphere in the room was very subtle for a moment, but everyone already knew that they were waiting for a certain person to speak first.

“Qiang, after the discussion with all of the ministers and in accordance with the imperial family’s tradition, I will ascend to the throne in three months. In these three months, I will be responsible for all the matters in court. I’ll cut to the chase. Think carefully about whether you want to marry me or not. If you do, I can let bygones be bygones about your brother’s matter,” Shen Zhongbai asserted each word with a deep and sincere tone.

He tried to look into Gu Qiang’s eyes when he said this, letting her feel his loyalty, but her eyes had never even laid down on him. She was not willing to look at him.

“Your Highness, what are you talking about? My engagement with the Ninth Prince was set by the late Emperor. You have not yet ascended the throne, and you want to call off this engagement? Do you know how excessive your actions are? ” Gu Qiang turned to meet Shen Zhongbai’s eyes. Her eyes seemed to be as sharp as knives, and every word was engraved in his heart.

As he expected, she did not agree to his terms.

Gu Zhizhang, who had been silent all this time, suddenly looked up and grunted with hatred, “Qiang, what’s so good about the Ninth Prince? How can he compare to the brave and resourceful Third Prince? Besides, you and Zhihua can take care of each other. It’s better to stay with your sister than with others.”

Sisters? What a joke! When did she become sisters with Gu Zhihua? Although she didn’t remember what happened before, a simple glance at Gu Zhihua’s face told her that this woman was destined to be tragic for the rest of her life.

“Father, are you saying that I should share a husband with my sister? Can’t you find another man for the women of this family? Must you make the two sisters fight for a man? What are you thinking?” Gu Qiang suddenly stood up and swept the unfinished tea in front of her to the side, along with everything on the table.

It was not that she looked down on Gu Zhizhang for currying favor from Shen Zhongbai. As an official, he could bend over backward for the sake of living. What was disgusting was that he sacrificed her for his own benefit. What did she do wrong to bear these things? For Gu Zhizhang’s desire that could no longer be hidden?

Shen Zhongbai and Gu Zhizhang looked at her helplessly. It was obvious that Gu Qiang’s stubbornness was beyond their expectations.

After losing her memory, her temper became worse and worse. The feigned respect for Prime Minister Gu before made him very pleasant. But now she was too lazy to even pretend. No matter whom she was facing, she would not give in for Gu Zhizhang’s sake.

Gu Zhizhang abruptly stood up and pointed at Gu Qiang indignantly. “Gu Qiang, what do you mean by this? Do you want to go against the future Emperor? Or do you not respect me as your father anymore?!”

He was so angry that his beard was raised and trembled, and the trace of guilt he had for Gu Qiang was gone.

Gu Qiang still donned the same expression as before. Her eyes swept over Gu Zhizhang, but she did not say anything. At this time, a few people rushed in from the main door, led by Ye and Gu Zhihua.

Compared to the previous meeting, Gu Zhihua was obviously looking good. Ye was standing beside her, and the two of them smiled and looked at Shen Zhongbai silently.

The servant girl cleaned up the fragments of the plates and cups on the table. Ye and Gu Zhihua sat down without understanding the situation and smiled brightly at Shen Zhongbai. “Zhongbai, did you come this time to bring Zhihua back? This is wonderful. Zhihua is married now. It’s not nice for her to keep staying with her maternal family.”

Ye smiled. Even Gu Zhihua had a gentle face, looking as harmless and obedient as a little kitten.

Shen Zhongbai glanced at Gu Zhihua. The maidservant had already come up with a new cup of tea. He gently took a sip and said unhurriedly, “Wasn’t she the one who wanted to come back in the first place? My Prince’s Mansion was so big, but it couldn’t even fit her in. If she wanted to go back now, she had to find a reasonable excuse.”

Shen Zhongbai’s meaning was very simple. At that time, Gu Zhihua wanted to scare him with the excuse of going back to her parents’ house. Her intention was to gain Shen Zhongbai’s attention, but little did she expect that she had fallen into his trap. Now, it was probably impossible for her to go back now.

“Well, it was because Zhihua was still young and had never left home. After staying at home for a few days, she missed Your Highness, and she wanted to go back,” Ye affirmed. Her smiley expression gradually calmed down, and there was even a layer of frost on it. She calmly and seriously stared at Shen Zhongbai.

Shen Zhongbai naturally felt Ye’s intimidating gaze. He was not a fool. He would not think that Gu Zhizhang was really afraid of him just because Gu Zhizhang was very respectful to him. Prime Minister Gu could stand firm for many years because of the enormous strength and military power in his hand. It was also because of this that Ye was so strong-willed and confident.

Ye had clearly made up the excuse for Gu Zhihua to go back. As long as he said what she wanted him to say, it would be fine. In fact, no one dared to say anything if he said anything or not.

“Your Highness, you are not young anymore. The position of official wife is still empty. Sooner or later, you have to find a suitable candidate to fill it up. As far as the eye can see, the only person who is worthy of your official wife position is Zhihua. She is your concubine now. You’d better promote her as the official wife when you find the right timing.”

Everyone turned to look at Ye in surprise. No matter what, she should beat around the bush instead of voicing it directly in the open. Right now, she made her request in front of Gu Qiang and Shen Zhongbai. How was Shen Zhongbai expected to handle it?

Sure enough, Shen Zhongbai stared at Ye for a long time. The long and awkward silence made all the people present feel jittery.

Gu Qiang was not a person who liked to join in the fun. She was not interested in the grudges between Shen Zhongbai and Gu Zhihua, but it would be awkward to leave at this moment, so she had to sit there quietly. It might not be a bad thing if Ye could successfully send her precious daughter back to Shen Zhongbai’s palace today. Then, Gu Zhihua would do her best to stop Shen Zhongbai from marrying her.

It struck a stark resemblance to Gu Qiang’s objective. She had never expected that she would stand on the same side as these two shameless bitches one day. Sure enough, the longer you lived, the more bizarre things you would see.

“There are many women in the capital who can be my princess. What do you think of Qiang? She is a Prefectural Princess and Shangshu Mansion’s legitimate daughter. From what I see, that position…” When Shen Zhongbai said this, he paused matter-of-factly. Everyone knew what he meant by “that position”.

That was the position of the future Empress. If not, why would Ye be so thick-skinned to come and beg for peace?

“Actually, I have always reserved that position for Qiang. Of course, it would be best if Qiang agreed.”

After saying that, Shen Zhongbai looked at Gu Qiang. That gaze was filled with love and sweetness, making her feel nauseous and uneasy. Meanwhile, Ye and others were looking at her too, waiting for her reply.

Gu Qiang rolled her eyes and snapped impatiently, “That’s enough!”

Sensing Gu Qiang’s intention, Ye immediately added, “Qiang is already engaged to the Ninth Prince. Your Highness, if you want to snatch your sister-in-law, it won’t be appropriate if word gets out.”

Gu Zhihua listened and finally responded in a low voice, “Mother’s right. Third Prince, please think about it again.”

Gu Qiang stood up impatiently. She turned around and disappeared from everyone’s sight without saying anything.

Gu Zhihua quietly watched her disappear. There seemed to be something hidden in her eyes. These days, she had been recuperating in Prime Minister Gu’s mansion. No one knew what she had experienced. First, she had gotten the most serious illness in the capital and thought that she was finally going to die. Unexpectedly, in the end, Gu Huaian took out the prescription and she finally survived.

The feeling of struggling from the brink of death was very awful. It was as if she had seen many things clearly in an instant.

She was no longer the previous Gu Zhihua because she had been reborn. In the eyes of outsiders, she had not changed physically, but the changes happened mentally.

Shen Zhongbai looked at Gu Qiang’s back, slowly shook his head, and affirmed, “That’s enough. Qiang is the woman I have always liked. I will immediately call off the engagement between Qiang and the Ninth Prince.”

After that, he got up and prepared to leave. Gu Zhihua hurriedly stood up and looked straight at Shen Zhongbai. “Your Highness, please take me back.”

Wanting to refuse at first, Shen Zhongbai looked at Gu Zhihua’s face and that pair of calm eyes, and he finally nodded, “If you want, come back then.”

Ye’s eyes lit up. She had put in so much effort to send Gu Zhihua back, but a simple remark from Gu Zhihua was enough. Indeed, Shen Zhongbai still had feelings for Gu Zhihua.