Coming Kingly Son-in-Law: Don't Provoke the First Daughter - Chapter 36

Chapter 36 Outbreak of Plague
Therefore, Gu Qiang told Shen Qianshan, “I haven’t got it sorted. After I sort it out, I will come to see you again. I still need to be taken here by Jin Ye, right?”

Shen Qianshan nodded. Jin Ye walked over and said, “Your Highness, news comes from the palace that Empress Dowager is infected with the plague.”

Jin Ye came over to take Gu Qiang back originally, but unexpectedly he brought such terrible news. She turned around to look at Shen Qianshan and kept silent.

Empress dowager was Shen Qianshan’s mother. Gu Qiang knew he must feel terrible, but she couldn’t do anything.

Shen Qianshan bit his lips and told Jin Ye, “Got it. I will go to the palace right now to see my mother.”

“I’m afraid you can’t. The person from the palace wrote in the letter that Empress Dowager was quarantined.”

What? She is Empress Dowager. How could she be quarantined?

Shen Qianshan rose instantly and told Jin Ye, “Send Qiang back and protect her. I’m going to the palace.”

Then he tiptoed on the surrounding building and flew out.

His action was light. Gu Qiang thought it amazing. But what did Shen Qianshan call her just now? Qiang? It meant a special relationship.

With no time to think more, Gu Qiang returned to Gu Family in a carriage prepared by Jin Ye.

She got back to Gu Family at dusk. Then Jin Ye disappeared in the dark, leaving no words.

After traveling for a whole day, Gu Qiang felt herself almost fall apart. But when she came back to Gu Family and opened the gate, she saw the senior servant of Ye standing at the gate of her yard. Ting Feng and Chui Xue were huddling pitifully nearby. Maybe they had waited for a long time.

Once seeing Gu Qiang back, the senior servant walked to her and said, “My Lady, we’ve waited for a long time. Madam is waiting for you.”

Then she stood aside and looked at Gu Qiang complacently, hoping Gu Qiang would go with her.

Gu Qiang pulled a face and turned around to look at Ting Feng. She looked calm and nodded at Gu Qiang. Then Gu Qiang walked with the servant towards the main hall.

It got dark gradually. The main hall was ablaze with light. Ye and Gu Zhihua were sitting at a round table and drinking tea. The scent of tea wafted afar. When Gu Qiang walked to the door, she was greeted by the tea fragrance. She closed her eyes and realized she hadn’t eaten anything for the whole day. But it would be better for her not to eat Ye’s food.

Gu Qiang entered and saluted Ye. She raised her head and said to Gu Qiang with affectation, “Qiang, have you fallen in love with someone? Why can’t I see you all day long?”

She was probably criticizing her for not greeting her in the morning. The rule was indeed troublesome. Gu Qiang responded with a smile immediately, “I don’t dare to fall in love with a man without permission. Let nature take its course.”

No matter she loved someone or not, she wouldn’t tell you, old bitch. Gu Qiang lowered her head and rolled her eyes. Then she raised her head and smiled at Ye.

Ye was clear that Gu Qiang didn’t like her, so she stopped beating around the bush and said slowly, “I think you’ve known that Empress Dowager is sick, right? Lots of disaster victims poured into the capital from different areas these days. Be careful. Don’t be infected. Understand?”

Though Ye hoped that something would happen to Gu Qiang, the plague was different. If she suffered from it, they would be infected at first.

Gu Qiang was stunned. She was clear about the illness of Empress Dowager, but she didn’t know the influx of disaster victims into the capital. Now the capital was in disorder, so people living here should be more cautious.

“Mother, thanks for your warning.” Gu Qiang stood up, saluted Ye again, and then left slowly.

Ye’s eyes sparkled. She didn’t know why Gu Qiang left so early. It seemed that Gu Qiang didn’t like to listen to her. The converse was also true. But they lived together and inevitably met each other frequently, so they had to be tolerant of each other in life.

When Gu Qiang returned to her yard, Ting Feng walked to her immediately and checked carefully if she was hurt. Finding she was safe and sound, Ting Feng sighed with relief.

Gu Qiang sat in the yard and felt extremely worried. She didn’t care about everything, and the plague and disaster victims were uncontrollable. But she thought it was a critical point. If it was not dealt with properly, everything might change. Of course, each move now would cause a change in the future.

Ting Feng made tea for Gu Qiang and then stood aside silently with no expression. Gu Qiang gulped the tea and told Ting Feng, “Investigate the disaster victims.”

Ting Feng nodded and then went away. Chui Xue walked over and began to serve tea and dessert to Gu Qiang. It was dark, but Gu Qiang still stayed up. She didn’t feel relieved until Ting Feng returned safely.

“How is it going?” Gu Qiang gave Ting Feng a chair to let her sit down.

Ting Feng patted her chest and said, “It is worse than one can imagine. Someone was sent to investigate the cause of the plague, and something was done to relieve the victims, but the situation didn’t get better. The whole capital is in lockdown. People can’t enter or go out of it.”

Unexpectedly, the situation would worsen during only a few days. Gu Qiang even felt the capital shrouded in a weird atmosphere.

“Prepare money and medicine on standby. If there is none, fetch some from my brother.” Gu Qiang told Ting Feng.

Ting Feng nodded. Then Gu Qiang returned to her room for sleep.

The next morning, when Gu Qiang was staring blankly at the window in her bedroom, Ting Feng rushed in hurriedly and told Gu Qiang aloud, “My Lady, please prepare yourself to enter the palace.”

“Why will I enter the palace again?” Gu Qiang turned around and frowned. Ting Feng said helplessly, “It’s said that the national treasury doesn’t have enough money, so Empress gives a banquet and orders madams and ladies to enjoy it in the palace.”

The so-called banquet was just a cloak. If the national treasury didn’t have money, Empress’s purpose was to ask madams and ladies to enter the palace for donations.

But why did she have to enter the palace too? Now that the royal family wasn’t so wealthy as it used to be, a banquet was unnecessary. It was better to ask for donations directly. As it turned out, the royal family needed an excuse even if they were in dire straits.

“My Lady, will you donate all of our money?” Ting Feng asked. Last night, Gu Qiang said the money would be kept just in case. Unexpectedly, it would be used today.

Gu Qiang shook her head, “Unnecessary. We just need to go to the palace.”

Then she stood up to prepare. When she got to the gate, Ye and Gu Zhihua were waiting there. Because they wanted to pretend to be close, they would take the same carriage.

Compared with the heavy makeup of Ye and Gu Zhihua, Gu Qiang looked fresh and natural.

After they got into the carriage, it was filled with the smell of their rouge, which made Gu Qiang dizzy.

“Qiang, have you prepared something for Empress?” Ye stretched out her delicate hand. Her nails were long. Gu Qiang felt uncomfortable to see them.

It was unnecessary to explain why they went to the palace today, but Gu Qiang pretended to be unclear and asked, “Prepare what? Mother, you know I’m deprived and don’t have anything presentable. If you can prepare something for me, I will be very grateful.”

Ye pulled a face instantly and turned around to stare at Gu Qiang fiercely. What a nuisance the woman was! She didn’t prepare anything while waiting for another one to deal with it? Ye wouldn’t be so stupid. She said smilingly, “Qiang, you’re joking. I think you have prepared a big gift for Empress, right?”

In the past, madams and ladies of officials could always be invited by Empress. Before leaving, they would be granted rewards by the royal family. It seemed that they wanted to get them back this time, though it was not made clear.

They had lived in the capital for so many years. If they couldn’t see through this purpose, they would be too silly and naïve, wouldn’t they?

After saying that, Ye closed her eyes and pretended to sleep. She was afraid that Gu Qiang would take advantage of this occasion to ask her for something to give Empress. The more she gave to Empress, the more satisfied Empress would be. This would be better than helping Gu Qiang.

In the palace, all ladies and madams gathered in a yard, which was not so large. Tables were placed in a row. Different from the previous extravagance, only some cheap fruits were put on the tables.

Gu Qiang stood in a corner and various fragrances struck her nose. Immediately she felt she would nearly faint from the fragrances.

Empress was sitting in front of the tables. She was young, pretty, charming, and pleasant to eyes.

Empress was talking with a madam and a lady from an official family in the capital. They gave what they prepared to Empress smilingly. Suddenly, Gu Qiang recalled the long dream she once had. In the dream, she was Empress. If she wore the same clothes, what would she look like?

Gu Qiang was lost in a daze and didn’t expect that everyone around her would stare at her.

When she came to her senses, she saw Ye and Gu Zhihua standing before Empress and handing over a precious thing to Empress.

Empress looked at it carefully and estimated the approximate price. It was indeed great. Then Ye suddenly took out a pile of banknotes, put them on the tray where the precious thing was placed, and gave them to Empress together.