Coming Kingly Son-in-Law: Don't Provoke the First Daughter - Chapter 45

Chapter 45 Conflict
Liu Shichu was deaf to Gu Qiang’s gratitude. He turned around and said to the tender woman in his arms, “Ru, stay here overnight. You are completely wet.”

But Madam Ru shook her head firmly, got out of Liu Shichu’s arms, and said, “You know I can’t stay here. We must be cautious so that fewer people will have something on you. Besides, your wife is hostile to me. If I stay here overnight, I don’t know what will happen. I will leave with the girl.”

Then Ru took Gu Qiang’s hand. Ru’s hand was icy cold and wet. It was uncomfortable to hold it, but Gu Qiang didn’t loosen her grip. Instead, she held Ru’s hand tightly.

Liu Shichu was worried, but he didn’t say anything. Then Ru walked towards the back gate with two servant girls and Gu Qiang.

It was pitch-dark now, but they were barely able to see the road. After walking two steps, Ru turned around to look at Gu Qiang and asked quietly, “Why did you take such a risk to enter here?”

Ru didn’t believe a woman would do it for the masses. Her deed was not great but stupid.

“No matter what my purpose is, it is not bad. Do you think so?” Gu Qiang smiled. Though her action seemed to be great, she had a selfish motive, which was not in conflict with greatness.

Ru was not a naïve girl, so she knew each person in the capital had his or her own goal and secret. No one would tell the goal to others casually.

After several steps, Ru turned around suddenly and looked at Gu Qiang seriously. She hesitated and then asked, “Miss, do you think I’m shameless?”

It was indeed shameful if a married woman had an affair with another married man. But there must be a reason, and she was not qualified to judge Ru to be shameless or not.

Therefore, Gu Qiang shook her head and answered, “Madam, we have only met by chance, so I am not qualified to judge your life. Don’t worry. I will not look down on you.”

Now that Ru thought she would be regarded in this way, why did she do that? She knew it was wrong and contemptible, but she still did it, didn’t she?

Ru breathed a sigh of relief and told Gu Qiang, “Many people don’t understand why I have an affair with Shichu as a married woman. You are the only one that doesn’t lay bare it in my presence. You are a graceful lady and completely different from the common women.”

Then Ru held Gu Qiang’s hand and walked out with her while saying, “We met by chance and you saved my life. I will be grateful to you forever. I don’t know if you would like to make friends with me, but if you need my help, don’t hesitate to go to the General’s Mansion.”

She took a hair clasp from her head, gave it to Gu Qiang, and said, “Keep it. I can’t give you a hand sometimes, but I will try my best. See you.”

Then Ru waved to Gu Qiang and left quickly with her servant girls. Gu Qiang stood at the gate alone. When she was lost in a daze, someone patted her shoulder and said quietly, “My Lady, you are really something. You sneaked into the house, but you came out openly through the back gate. The woman coming out with you looked beautiful. Is she a lady of the Liu Family?”

Gu Qiang turned around and saw Gusu Liang standing relaxed in front of her. In Gusu Liang’s mouth, there was a sugar figure that she got from nowhere.

“She isn’t. It’s time to go back.” Gu Qiang said slowly. Anyway, she succeeded.

Back to the yard, Gu Qiang entered through the side door. Gusu Liang followed her. After they walked away, two people appeared at the gate.

Gu Zhihua turned around and asked in a low voice, “Mother, I’ve made it clear that Gu Qiang went to the Liu Family with the Ninth Duke last time. The Liu Family must be a key point. Shall we send someone to investigate it?”

Ye turned around to look at Gu Zhihua with admiration and said quietly too, “My honey seems to be smarter and much more excellent than before. Just as you said, investigate it. If Gu Qiang the bitch has done something behind our back, we would have her guts for garters!”

The moon rose above a willow. Gu Zhihua rubbed her hands and held Ye’s arm. They returned to the yard together.

The next morning, it was light when Gu Qiang woke up. After preparing clothes for her, Ting Feng stood in the room and stared at her embarrassedly.

Gu Qiang washed her face and then turned around to look at Ting Feng curiously. The girl used to be calm and wouldn’t show anything on her face. But today she looked strange.

Gu Qiang put down her hair clasp confusedly, turned around, and asked, “Is something wrong?”

Ting Feng nodded and told Gu Qiang, “You may not believe it if I tell you. The Third Prince has come to the mansion, and he came here in the early morning.”

Shen Zhongbai? If he came to the Prime Minister Mansion, it wouldn’t be peaceful today.

Ting Feng continued reluctantly, “The Third Prince will have lunch here. You need to join him for lunch.”

Hearing that, Gu Qiang sighed in the heart. She had tried her best to play the fool in Shen Zhongbai’s presence, but it didn’t work.

Before Gu Qiang opened her mouth, Chui Xue ran in and shouted excitedly, “My Lady, the Third Prince is waiting for you.”

Chui Xue looked shocked and even felt extremely lucky. In the Gu Family, the first daughter Gu Qiang and the second daughter Gu Zhihua both had high status. Though Gu Zhihua was born of the second wife of Prime Minister Gu, her mother was alive and could protect her, so she was more fortunate.

Gu Qiang was always an underdog. If there was a good man, Ye would try to get him for Gu Zhihua first. Gu Qiang didn’t have a chance at all.

Now the Third Prince asked to meet Gu Qiang, so Chui Xue thought her lady would probably have a chance to live a better life. She felt unbelievable and fortunate.

Gu Qiang propped her forehead against a hand and looked at herself into the mirror. She had to show her face. But it was etiquette and not for the sake of the Third Prince.

In the mirror, Gu Qiang looked at her sparkling eyes as well as her clean and lovely face even though without make-up. She told Ting Feng, “Let’s go.”

Ting Feng was surprised. She was clever and knew her lady didn’t like the Third Prince, which was different from what outsiders thought. This meeting with him might not be what she wanted.

When they got to the backyard garden, several people were sitting there. Shen Zhongbai and Prime Minister Gu were drinking and talking. Ye and Gu Zhihua were whispering, but Gu Zhihua’s eyes were fixed on Shen Zhongbai constantly.

Gu Qiang walked over and saluted Shen Zhongbai and Prime Minister Gu slowly. Prime Minister Gu was nice to his daughter recently. He nodded and told Shen Zhongbai, “Your Highness, this is my daughter, born of my deceased wife.”

Hearing that, Ye pulled a face immediately as if she had heard something annoying. Why did the man keep talking about the dead woman now?

But because the Third Prince was there, Ye had to control her anger.

After looking up and down at Gu Qiang, the Third Prince gave an evil but pleasant smile and said, “Qiang, I haven’t seen you for a long time…”

Prime Minister Gu opened his mouth wide in surprise. He never expected that Gu Qiang was acquainted with the Third Prince. Had he been away too long? Why did she become so well acquainted with the nobles in the capital during such a short period?

He felt strange, but his smile couldn’t be restrained and had brightened his face.

He asked cautiously, “Your Highness, it seems that you are acquainted with my daughter.”

Shen Zhongbai waved a fan with a complacent smile and looked at Gu Qiang, signaling that it was self-evident.

Was the man crazy? Why did he behave in her father’s presence as if he were well acquainted with her? Were they so familiar with each other? She had done so many things to harm Shen Zhongbai, hoping that he wouldn’t have his eye on her.

Of course, Shen Zhongbai didn’t have his eye on her. He just wanted to utilize her. No matter what mood he had now, it would end up in the same way.

“We’re not just acquainted with each other. Qiang once saved my life. Today I come here to see her.” Shen Zhongbai stared at Gu Qiang while saying.

Gu Qiang turned around with a cold face and just saw Gu Zhihua looking at her and gnashing her teeth in anger. Gu Zhihua’s fingernail scratched the cup and made a faint voice. The dark green agate ring around her finger glared in the sunshine.

Gu Qiang almost forgot that Gu Zhihua was obsessed with Shen Zhongbai. Now that he came here today, she was sure to show her off. But to her surprise, Shen Zhongbai kept talking with Gu Qiang and behaved as if he was well acquainted with Gu Qiang in the presence of Prime Minister Gu? How could she accept it?

In Gu Zhihua’s opinion, any woman’s talk with Shen Zhongbai was like a needle piercing her heart, and she couldn’t stand it at all.

Gu Qiang picked up her cup and said calmly and smilingly, “Your Highness, welcome to my home. If you have a moment, I’d like to show you around the house.” Her hospitality was surprisingly expressed in an alienating way.