Coming Kingly Son-in-Law: Don't Provoke the First Daughter - Chapter 86
Chapter 86 A Local Tyrant
Then Shen Qianshan got a notebook from Jin Ye and threw it on the table. Gu Qiang picked it up and read it word by word. It was the corruption record of Hongzhou Governor. Actually, officials were not incorruptible enough. If being investigated, their corruption would be found out sooner or later. If the imperial court wanted to dismiss an official, that official would end up dead after just a small trick.
“Take it to the Li Family. I promise Li Cangsi will bring Shen Meng out obediently.” Shen Qianshan raised his eyebrows as if waiting for Gu Qiang’s praise.
As expected, Gu Qiang stood up, patted Shen Qianshan with a bright smile, and said, “Your Highness, thank you so much.” Then she headed towards the Li Family.
Like a statue, Shen Qianshan reached out his hand to his body part touched by Gu Qiang just now and silently felt the trace left by her, as if her smell and strength had been engraved on his mind, and he could recollect them anytime.
When she arrived at the Li Family, Gu Huaian had been there. He seemed to be waiting impatiently at the gate. Seeing Gu Qiang, he walked quickly to her and said, “It is said that Miss Shen has been here for one day. What can we do? I knocked at the gate, but no one answered.”
In the past, Gu Huaian didn’t think that it would matter a lot to cut ties with the Prime Minister Mansion. Was there anything that couldn’t be solved with money in the world?
However, now he felt helpless. It turned out that not only money but power was necessary. If he still enjoyed the title as the son of Prime Minister Gu’s legal wife, Hongzhou Governor would do him a favor anyhow, wouldn’t he?
Gu Qiang pointed at Shen Qianshan behind her. Hongzhou Governor didn’t have a high position. Even if he looked down upon Infanta Gu Qiang, he had to do the Ninth Duke a favor.
Shen Qianshan winked at Jin Ye. The latter went forward slowly and kicked the gate open. Rows of guards were standing inside and then turned around to look at the comers.
Shen Qianshan ordered them in an awe-inspiring voice, “Call Li Cangsi to come out.”
A servant rushed in hurriedly. Soon, Li Cangsi walked out with two attendants. Lifting his chin, he asked savagely, “Who are you?”
He was acquainted with Gu Qiang and Gu Huaian, but he had never met Shen Qianshan.
“This is the Ninth Duke. He comes here to take Miss Shen home.” Gu Qiang pointed at Shen Qianshan.
Shen Qianshan straightened up. He was glad to help Qiang, and he was good at putting on airs.
Li Cangsi’s face darkened. Hongzhou was not large, and he was a local tyrant here. Who dared to go against his order? He could play the tyrant at will!
His smile froze gradually. Even though he was influential in Hongzhou, he had to do the Ninth Duke a favor. Any official from the capital was superior to him.
Li Cangsi knelt down with his attendants at once to greet Shen Qianshan. Then he looked up and said with a flattering smile, “Your Highness, I’m honored with your presence, but I failed to recognize you and didn’t come out to greet you. Please forgive me.”
Shen Qianshan seemed to be accustomed to being treated differently. He waved and said clearly, “Bring Miss Shen out.”
His voice was cold and sounded unswerving. He was giving Li Cangsi a chance, but it was not sure whether the latter would accept it.
Perhaps Li Cangsi didn’t think Shen Meng was worthy of the support of someone from the capital.
“She is just a common woman…Your Highness, why do you care so much about her? Besides, Miss Shen and I are in love with each other, so it is not unreasonable to keep her around.” Li Cangsi looked up. His eyes gave off yellow light like a wolf, and he grinned. He looked so ugly and wretched.
He was betrayed by his look, and it was clear that he was seeking loopholes in front of others.
Gu Huaian was very nervous. Li Cangsi acted in a tyrannous manner in Hongzhou because his father was the Governor. Once he saw a pretty woman, he would take forcible possession of her. He lived like a local tyrant.
Gu Huaian, a man with money but no power, could do nothing to such a man.
But Shen Qianshan didn’t react as Li Cangsi expected. He took the notebook from Jin Ye, threw it to Li Cangsi, and said coldly, “I don’t like to beat around the bush, and I don’t think you are worthy of my time. Read it, and bring Shen Meng out. You must promise that you won’t seize her again. And…”
Li Cangsi had opened the notebook. He read it carefully. Then his face turned pale, and his eyes were wide open. His hands were trembling, and his body chilled. He didn’t dare to meet Shen Qianshan’s gaze.
Of course, he was clear about it. The name of his father was conspicuous on the top. Below it was the detailed proof of his father’s corruption.
He used to think it wouldn’t be discovered, but now it was listed clearly. It made him dizzy.
Shen Qianshan always stayed away from the affairs of the imperial court. It was a good choice to send the proof to the imperial court, but he wouldn’t do that. Everything in the court was the business of the Emperor. If he did it rashly, the Emperor would think he was disloyal.
The Emperor was the most sensitive. He not only needed to face those who were disloyal to him but had to be on guard against those who would threaten his throne.
For all these years, Shen Qianshan tried to look peaceful and harmless, but there were still rumors in doubt of him.
Li Cangsi looked pale. He turned around and told a guard behind him, “Bring Shen Meng out.”
Soon, Shen Meng in white was brought out. She wasn’t so energetic as before and looked like a walking corpse.
When she saw the people at the gate, her dim eyes lit up as if a dying person saw a life-saving straw and wanted to clutch at it.
She must be scared. Gu Qiang looked at Shen Meng, and the latter met her eyes immediately. When they looked at each other, their eyes seemed to have complex emotions, but neither of them said anything.
Perhaps because of a shared secret, they had become acquainted but not close.
Gu Huaian walked over to hold Shen Meng. She smiled at him and said, “Thank you. I knew you would come to me.”
She said in a low voice, but others all heard it. Li Cangsi bit his lips and glowered at them while cursing them in the heart.
Now that Shen Meng had come out, Shen Qianshan took Gu Qiang’s hand and told Gu Huaian, “Let’s go.”
Glancing at their hands together, Gu Huaian looked at Gu Qiang with strange eyes. But she just smiled and said nothing.
They got to the capital that night. Gu Huaian wanted to stay with Shen Meng to look after her, but Gu Qiang forbade him from leaving the capital.
Gu Huaian felt unhappy, but he knew that Gu Qiang’s purpose was to protect him and Gu Qiang was very anxious after his French leave. He didn’t want to make his sister worried about him. Therefore, he promised if he had to leave the capital, he would tell her in advance.
At the gate of the Prime Minister Mansion, Shen Qianshan let go of Gu Qiang’s hand, smoothed her hair behind her ears, and stared at her face that was as beautiful as a flower.
Gazed by him, Gu Qiang felt embarrassed and blushed gradually. She hesitated, looked up into his eyes, and said, “Your Highness, I’m grateful for what you’ve done for me these days.”
Before she was done, Shen Qianshan held her in his arms and put his chin on her head. She was greeted and surrounded by his fragrance which came like a gust of wind. It was her familiar smell.
Her heart became soft, and an indescribable feeling welled up inside her. She had been lonely for a long time. The hug was so warm that she seemed to be intoxicated by it at once.
This was a tender trap. She watched herself falling into the trap step by step, but she could do nothing.
“Why do you still treat me as a stranger?” People walked past them. When servants of the Prime Minister Mansion walked here, they looked curious apparently.
If a man and a woman behaved like this, their relationship would be definite.
Gu Qiang and the Ninth Duke were both single, so it would be perfectly justifiable if they fell in love.
Gu Qiang noticed the eyes of others and wanted to free herself from Shen Qianshan’s arms, but he hugged her more tightly.
“Qiang, why? Will you go back on your word?” Shen Qianshan’s breath spread on Gu Qiang’s head. His fragrance made her face even redder.
“Go back on my word? Your Highness, I didn’t promise you anything.” Gu Qiang pretended not to understand what Shen Qianshan said. But she lowered her head and didn’t dare to meet his eyes.
Shen Qianshan, who looked as tender as water one second ago, became serious suddenly. He turned Gu Qiang around seriously, stared at her eyes, and said like a child who felt wronged, “Qiang, it turns out that you have gone back on your word. But how can you do that? You have ruined my clean reputation but now pretend that nothing happened. Just as expected, a woman’s heart…”
Before he finished, she reached out her hand to stop him and said, “Ok. Ok. Ok. I agree.”
She said impatiently but smilingly. Her smile was so beautiful that he felt his heart became soft as if it was full of warmth when he looked at her.
He held her into his arms again like regaining something precious and didn’t want to loosen his grip at all.
