Ye Qingchi's eyes grew a few degrees colder. "What great insight does Mr. Su have to offer?"
Su He smiled. In his empty pupils, a faint light still glimmered. "If someone wants to disgrace Gu Shuang, why don't we set a trap to lure the snake out from its hole and see what they are really after."
Ye Qingchi was the first to refuse. "No."
Turning his face towards Ye Qingchi's voice, Su He said, "Is the young master Ye not the sort to cherish fragrant flowers?"
Ye Qingchi was speechless for a moment, his handsome face gloomy and cold, looking even more terrifying than the current Zhao Changdu.
Unfortunately, the current Su He was blind. "Gu Shuang is expendable. At worst, we can compensate her afterwards. Mr Du, what do you think?"
Zhao Changdu knew it was a good plan, but seeing Ye Qingchi's expression suggested he wished to beat Su He to death, the corner of his mouth quirked up slightly. "A gentleman handles matters fairly and squarely. There is no need to take advantage of a young lady. Do not mention this again."
Su He's handsome, flattering face instantly froze. His beautiful peach blossom eyes narrowed immediately.
"Are you two keeping secrets from me? What is it about Gu Shuang that gives her a place between you two? Wasn't someone saying to me previously that a gentleman should use cunning plots and schemes when trying to find a wife? And now you want to act all righteous?"
The corner of Ye Qingchi's mouth tightened slightly, but he said nothing. His eyes flickered in contemplation.
He didn't want to see Gu Shuang hurt by these nasty rumors, even if she only reddened her eyes without shedding a tear, it would pain him greatly.
This feeling had become even more profound after holding her last night.
In the past, he had only looked at her a few times from afar. He didn't think a quiet little girl like her could affect his mood. But later, as he watched her happy and worried for Fu Xuanzhi, apprehensive and uneasy for him, gradually he began to care for her.
He never knew a woman could compromise so much for a man's sake. Yet the Fu family still picked on her, unwilling to let her marry smoothly.
If they didn't like her, then she shouldn't have married Fu Xuanzhi. Wouldn't marrying him be better than Fu Xuanzhi?
As soon as this thought arose in his mind, he scolded himself fiercely in his heart.
He was fully aware that he was growing fonder of Gu Shuang, and would never allow her to fall into despair and sorrow.
"There are other ways to deal with this matter. Start from the woman Mu Nanfeng mentioned, and for what Li Yang and Xia Zixi's people did to hurt A Ying, they will have to pay the price."
Zhao Chang returned to sit in the large chair, picked up his teacup, completely agreeing, "I find my desire to kill him grows stronger and stronger, so strong that—"
His gaze was as heavy and dark as the unfathomable abyss, his tone even more icy and sinister. "I can hardly wait to tear his corpse into ten thousand pieces."
Ye Qingchi gave an "umm" in agreement.
This time, Li Yang must have crossed Zhao Changdu’s bottom line. The Prince could tolerate anything except compromising when it came to A Ying.
In a few more days, it would be the Cold Food Festival. After that, the Prince would lead his troops on an expedition. With a frail mother at home and a pregnant little wife, if Li Yang still posed a threat, he would not be able leave with peace of mind.
Ye Qingchi gave a faint smile. "Since that is the case, it's time to unearth what we buried in Yueyang."
Zhao Changdu chuckled lightly. "What about the palace side?"
Ye Qingchi said, "Preparations are ready."
"What are you two whispering about?" Su He said unhappily, frowning. "All I did was take a trip to Changzhou. Why do I feel so out of sync with you two all of a sudden? What's this about Yueyang and the palace? Don't tell me you really plan to execute Li Yang so quickly? Flattery aside, he still is an imperial prince favored by His Majesty. Will the Emperor really forsake fatherly love for him after doting on him for so many years? Not to mention, he still has the most favored Concubine Wan in the palace!"
Zhao Changdu glanced at his agitated back with resignation and gave a helpless laugh. "Look at us when we speak."
Su He spent half the day cursing into thin air before realizing awkwardly that he should reach out to find the right direction. But soon a soft little hand grabbed his gently.
His restless heart quickly calmed down.
Mr. Du and Ye Qingchi said they wanted to kill Li Yang now, but he didn't agree.
With Concubine Wan's foundation still firmly in place, for the sake of the Queen Dowager from the Su family in the palace and the neglected Li Hao, the Su family could not confront Concubine Wan head-on... But the woman standing by his side now gave him the guts.
He smiled at his own foolishness for babbling on so long that he actually forgot about this trump card.
Gripping her hand tightly, he turned and smirked at the two men, "I almost forgot to introduce her—she is called Na Yuan whom I brought back from Changzhou."
Dressed in a green skirt, Na Yuan stood by Su He's side, one hand holding his, smiling brilliantly at Zhao Changdu and Ye Qingchi.
"Yes, I'm Na Yuan, the one who accidentally blinded him."
The woman's mocking, playful smile was somewhat lazy.
Her eyes were very bright and clean, exuding the gentle passion characteristic of the Jiangnan region.
Zhao Changdu's long eyes narrowed slightly. Suddenly, on this woman called Na Yuan's face, he saw the chance to take Concubine Wan down...
...
When Gu Ying handed the letter to Gu Ning, the sky was nearly dark.
The gloomy weather pressed heavily down. Soon, a drizzling rain began to fall.
The Cold Food Festival was approaching. In the fickle weather of April and May, the rain at this time was like a thin fog, lightly shrouding the small courtyard.
Gu Ning's eyes were grave. Although the ten-year-old boy still had some baby fat on his cheeks, his brows already held a resolute look.
The letter rested on his palm as he could already recognize enough words to understand its contents.
But after reading it, his face remained very calm without the slightest ripple of emotion for this kinship.
Gu Ying's heart ached. She held her brother's hand and stroked the boy's hair. "Father didn't ignore us on purpose, Ning. Don't resent him."
Gu Ning spoke very calmly, raising his jet black eyes to look at his sister beside him. "I don't hate him."
Gu Ying's heart clenched. She said, "Ning, I think you'll feel better if you cry."
Gu Ning pulled at the corner of his mouth. "I can't cry."
Gu Ying parted her lips to speak, but suddenly didn't know what to say.
After years of no news or visits, even if someone had sabotaged their relationship, absence of fatherly love was still absence. No matter what, it could not be remedied.
She hugged her brother and gave him a warm embrace. "It's alright. When Father comes back, I'll tell him how amazing our Ning is. Father is Grand General who leads troops to guard our borders. You'll surely like him."
