Coming Kingly Son-in-Law: Don't Provoke the First Daughter - Chapter 44

Chapter 44 Rescue
It was pitch-dark around. Walking past a lotus pond, Gu Qiang hid in the grass, hoping that she could have a chance. She believed she could deal with any situation.

At this time, someone began to shout curses, and a strong wind blew past. Before everyone realized what was going on, they heard a loud splash and a woman’s scream, and followed by the sounds of beating the water and calling for help.

It was in a mess near the lotus pond. Gu Qiang stuck her head out secretly and saw a woman standing by the lotus pond arrogantly and cursing the woman in the water. The dirty words were intolerable to the ear. It seemed that she was cursing that woman for seducing her husband.

But if that woman in the water was not rescued, she would die.

Gu Qiang thought she couldn’t look at the woman drown without doing anything, forgotting that she had sneaked in.

After thinking carefully, Gu Qiang rushed over, dived into the water, and swam towards that woman.

The woman was nervous. Obviously, people around didn’t want to save her and even wanted to cheer for her falling. Someone came to rescue her suddenly. She seemed to find a life-saving straw. When Gu Qiang approached her, the woman hooked her arms around Gu Qiang’s neck.

With the woman’s arms around the neck, Gu Qiang felt it difficult to breathe.

But Gu Qiang was prepared. She told the woman with difficulty, “Relax, relax. Take it easy. Try to hold your breath and swim.”

Hearing Gu Qiang’s comforting words, the nervous woman stopped struggling and slowly swam with her towards the bank.

In fact, Gu Qiang was afraid of water, too. She was once pushed into the water by Gu Zhihua by surprise. She was overwhelmed by the fear of the surrounding dark, the desperation about knowing the fact that no one rescued her, and the helplessness and unwilling that could do nothing but to sink.

Gu Qiang knew she was afraid of many things. However, she wouldn’t be afraid this time, no matter what she came across, because fear was followed by death. She didn’t want to die. Not everyone had a chance to live his or her life over again.

They swam towards the bank as if they were carrying stones. When they were close to the bank, the woman cursing on the bank rushed over crazily and intended to kick the heads of Gu Qiang and that woman. Gu Qiang dodged immediately, but the woman in her arms didn’t. The woman was frozen stiff and was kicked to sink.

Gu Qiang almost had no strength to hold the woman. At this time, Liu Shichu arrived in time and asked guards behind him to pull Gu Qiang and the woman out of the water.

Gu Qiang came out of the water with difficulty, coughed on the ground, and spat a lot of water out of her stomach. Luckily, she was fine.

But that woman was not fine. She lied on the ground and looked pale. Her wet clothes sticking to her body outlined her good figure. Her chest was exposed. But because it was dark, no one noticed her embarrassing moment.

Finding the woman was fine, Liu Shichu thought of something. He rushed to the shouting woman, slapped on her face knocking her to the ground, and rebuked, “Are you crazy? Why did you do that?”

The woman covered her face with a hand and started tearing up. She said to Liu Shichu, “My Lord, I am your wife. Won’t you be sad to treat me in this way? Why do you treat me like this? If you don’t love me, why did you marry me?”

The woman complained loudly and desperately. She couldn’t accept the fact that her husband dated another woman at night. If the woman was ordinary, that would be OK. If she was single, she could be accepted as his concubine. However, she was married. If other people knew the immoral affair, Liu Shichu’s wife would be extremely ashamed. No woman would like to be judged as not worthy of her husband.

It turned out the woman was Liu Shichu’s wife. Probably she was irritated by his dating with Li Li’s wife at night and thus pushed the latter into the water out of jealousy.

How rash she was! If Li Li’s wife was drowned in the Liu Family, the love affair between Liu Shichu and Li Li’s wife might come to light. Then her good days would be ended. Besides, a man tended to love the prettier woman when facing women. It was normal and acceptable.

All men had wives and concubines. Though what Liu Shichu did was disgusting, his wife had to take the interests of the whole family into account.

Liu Shichu couldn’t control his anger. He waved and told to his guards nearby, “Take Madam away and lock her in the woodshed. Don’t let her out until she has examined herself!”

The so-called Madam kept wailing and murmured something when she was taken away. But Liu Shichu didn’t care.

He walked to Li Li’s wife instantly, held her into his arms, and asked with sympathy, “Ru, are you OK?”

The woman named Ru wasn’t as fragile as one imagined. She shook her head and forced a smile, “I’m all right. I’m grateful to the girl for her help. Is she a member of your family?”

Then she pointed to Gu Qiang who looked pale too.

Liu Shichu turned around slowly. When seeing Gu Qiang’s face, he seemed to get an electric shock. He was stunned and stammered, “You came here with the Ninth Duke, didn’t you? Why are you here?”

Gu Qiang smiled embarrassedly. She had considered countless reasons to talk with Liu Shichu. But unexpectedly, it ended in this way. It was indeed embarrassing.

Gu Qiang stood up. With no time to care about her sore and painful lung, she smiled at Liu Shichu and said, “Mr. Liu, to tackle the disaster, you just need to contribute a little food.”

Liu Shichu had predicted why Gu Qiang came here before she answered. Therefore, he pulled a face instantly and told Gu Qiang coldly, “Miss, as you follow the Ninth Duke, you have my respect. I have a question. Was the disaster caused by me? If not, why do I have to help those people with my money? The person who should be responsible for the disaster is not me, right? In the capital, there are so many people who are wealthy and rich in food. Why do you ask me to surrender food?”

Liu Shichu was right. He earned food and money through hard work. It was not his duty to help the country and disaster victims. If he contributed them, it signified his love for the country and people. However, if he refused, he shouldn’t be criticized. If he was forced to do it, it was not reasonable.

“Mr. Liu, after this disaster, the economy of the capital will be sent into a long recession. All families will have a tough time except yours. If the imperial family and court find it, it will do you no favors. I think it’s better to do something actively than waiting to be exposed and attacked. You can give a good impression and win the initiative.” It was Gu Qiang’s last-ditch attempt. In her opinion, all officials would be inevitably requested for donations. No matter the official was the prime minister or a general, he had to donate something when the imperial court had no money. If the imperial court had money, officials were sure to be wealthy. If it didn’t, could the officials lead a happy life?

Liu Shichu looked silently at Gu Qiang for a while and then asked, “Who are you?”

Gu Qiang was surprised. Did he ask her family for revenge? Liu Shichu had an affair with another woman. It meant he was not a man of honor and it wasn’t easy to touch him. It would be easier to reason with him, which was more acceptable to him.

Now that she entered the house, Gu Qiang wasn’t afraid of his revenge. Therefore, she answered, “I’m from the Gu Family.”

“Are you from the family of Prime Minister Gu?” Liu Shichu asked.

Gu Qiang nodded.

Liu Shichu laughed and said, “Sure enough, only a woman from Prime Minister Gu’s family could be honored to be together with the Ninth Duke publicly.”

Gu Qiang was surprised and confused about his meaning. She didn’t tell him clearly who she was, but he said that. She thought it was strange and rash.

“Mr. Liu, does it mean you agree?” Gu Qiang asked to prevent being distracted by Liu Shichu.

Liu Shichu squinted his eyes. At this time, Madam Ru raised her head in his arms and said to him, “Darling, please gratify her wish to repay her for the help, OK?”

He never thought Ru would put in a good word for Gu Qiang. After all, the girl saved Ru. No matter how she entered the house, she didn’t do anything against the Liu Family, so her advice could be considered.

“I would like to listen to Ru and help you. Go back now.” Liu Shichu looked at Gu Qiang and said.

Gu Qiang sighed with relief. As the saying went, a pillow talk worked well. It was true. Her long reasoning and detailed analysis were less effective than a sentence of his lover. It was ridiculous, but she succeeded this time. She breathed a sigh of relief finally, bowed to Liu Shichu, and said, “Thank you so much, Mr. Liu”