I have suffered enough in my previous life, my cousin will never marry me

Chapter 178 Shackles
Inside the house, Ye Huaisu was holding her two children and crying uncontrollably. She only stopped crying when Ye Wanshu entered.

"Wanwan, before it gets dark, escort Qingmian and Tingji out of the mansion, and have Tianfu take them to see Old Master Li as soon as possible," Ye Huaisu instructed calmly.

"Mother, do my sister and I have to rush back to the mountain?" Gu Tingji asked, somewhat reluctantly.

Ye Huaisu suppressed the pain in her heart and smiled calmly, saying, "The reason why Mr. Li took a liking to you two siblings was not only because you were both intelligent, but also because he thought you were both diligent and eager to learn. You have already wasted too much time at home, so we can't make the old man unhappy."

Given the current temperament of her uncle and Gu Tingchen, who seem to have no regard for family ties, Ye Wanshu was afraid that things might change if she delayed, so she quickly chimed in, "Qingmian, Tingji, listen to your mother and focus on your studies."

Seeing the earnest looks in their mother's and cousin's eyes, Gu Qingmian and Gu Tingji could only nod: "Alright then, Mother, Cousin, you must take good care of yourselves."

"Don't worry, just focus on your studies with Master Li. You don't need to worry about things at home," Ye Wanshu instructed, then said to Ye Huaisu, "Aunt, I'll see my cousins ​​out of the house first, and I'll come to see you later."

Ye Huaisu, his face full of kindness, forced a faint smile and nodded, watching his niece lead her two children out the door as if nothing had happened.

As Ye Wanshu led her and her brother out of the Duke's mansion, they saw the brothers Gu Tingzhou and Gu Tingchen returning.

Seeing his cousin in such a hurry to send the two children out of the manor, Gu Tingchen immediately felt resentful and stepped forward to stop her, saying, "Wanwan, didn't we agree to send Qingmian and Tingji back in a couple of days? Why are you sending them out of the manor today?"

"Isn't this all the work of my second cousin?" Ye Wanshu deliberately scolded, "Doesn't my second cousin know about Old Master Li's temper? He's been keeping Qingmian and Tingji at home. What if Old Master Li refuses to continue teaching them?"

This left Gu Tingchen speechless.

After all, it was indeed I who detained the two children at home for several months. If this really caused Mr. Li to harbor resentment, my mother and cousin would probably become jealous of me.

“It was my cousin’s oversight.” Although Gu Tingchen was already on guard, he still compromised: “I will have someone escort Qingmian and Tingji up the mountain.”

"No need for Second Cousin to trouble yourself, Tian Fu will take the siblings back." Ye Wanshu pulled the two siblings directly into the carriage, and secretly winked at Tian Fu. Tian Fu understood and immediately rode away.

Gu Tingchen saw everything and felt increasingly uneasy.

But he really couldn't guess what his cousin and that bookworm were planning when they returned to Lin'an this time. Suppressing his unease, he escorted his cousin back to the mansion. Seeing that his cousin was about to go to his mother's courtyard again, Gu Tingchen immediately stopped her.

Ye Wanshu's eyes turned cold: "Gu Tingchen, what are you trying to do now? Aunt needs someone to serve her medicine. Qingmian and Tingji just left. Do you want Aunt to be left unattended?"

"What are you saying, Wanwan?" Gu Tingchen said with a cold smile, "I will arrange for someone to take good care of Mother."

After saying that, she secretly gave a wink to the guards beside her, and two attendants took out a pair of shackles and walked to Ye Wanshu's side.

"Wanwan, don't blame your cousin for being overly concerned. Your cousin is just worried that you will get hurt again."

Gu Tingchen explained, "Your cousin has already resolved the matter of the marriage alliance. However, just in case, you should stay in Cuiweitang these days and not go anywhere. After our wedding on Mid-Autumn Festival, no one will force you to go on a marriage alliance anymore."

As soon as he finished speaking, two attendants unlocked the handcuffs and prepared to cuff Ye Wanshu. Gu Tingzhou was stunned and hurriedly stopped them: "Tingchen, how dare you! What has Wanwan done wrong? Why are you treating her like this?"

"Brother, this is my last warning to you. This is between Wanwan and me. You don't need to ask any more questions." Gu Tingchen's face darkened, and he glared at him fiercely. "If you dare to meddle again, don't blame me for not showing any brotherly affection."

Gu Tingzhou shook his head speechlessly: "Do you know what you're doing? Do you think you can turn the tide by imprisoning your great-aunt?"

He roared, "Seven hundred thousand iron cavalry from the north have invaded our borders. At this time, you are forcing the emperor to abdicate and holding your aunt hostage. This will only make the situation in the court more difficult."

"Shut up." Gu Tingchen ignored him and only instructed Ye Wanshu, "Wanwan, don't worry, your cousin will definitely not let you go to the Northern Border for a political marriage. Before long, your cousin will make you the most noble woman in the world."

Upon learning that this scoundrel had placed Empress Dowager Gu under house arrest, Ye Wanshu couldn't help but feel a secret thrill.

All of this was far more insane than she had anticipated. Regardless of whether this scoundrel or Prince Qi took the first step to usurp the throne, Fu Mingchi could lead the Yuezhou army to Lin'an to defend the emperor in a legitimate manner.

At this point, she only needs to wait patiently until Empress Dowager Gu and Gu Tingchen completely break off their relationship, and then the real show will begin as scheduled.

At this moment, she only hoped that her aunt could be more patient and stay with her through the most difficult days.

As the two guards put shackles on her, Ye Wanshu smiled faintly at Gu Tingchen: "Gu Tingchen, you've never been a heartless person, don't pretend in front of me."

Gu Tingchen's eyes turned cold upon hearing this, and he pressed closer to her with displeasure, his eyes filled with malice as he said, "You say I'm hypocritical? Do you know how much I've sacrificed for you? Is it all completely insignificant in your eyes?"

"Everything you've done is nothing but to satisfy your own selfish desires. Why bother making it sound so noble?" Ye Wanshu stared at him coldly, a half-smile on her face.

His cousin exposed his thoughts, Gu Tingchen became even angrier and shouted at the guards, "Take Miss Biao back to Cuiweitang and keep a close watch on her!"

Seeing his cousin being taken away, Gu Tingzhou was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. He yelled at Gu Tingchen, "Tingchen, what exactly do you want to do? Do you think everything you're doing now can turn the tide? Do you think that by detaining Wanwan in the manor, the 700,000 iron cavalry of the Northern Bandits will retreat?"

Gu Tingchen grabbed his chest impatiently and roared, "I've said my business is none of your concern, how dare you point fingers at me?"

“This matter concerns the safety of the nation and the lives of countless ordinary people. The slightest mistake could lead to the collapse of the entire empire. How can I tolerate your reckless behavior?” Gu Tingzhou argued with him.

"So you really have the heart to watch Wanwan be sent to the Northern Border?" Gu Tingchen glared angrily. "You keep saying you care about her, but you want to abandon her in this critical moment?"

“I never thought of abandoning Wanwan,” Gu Tingzhou said. “I only hope that she can live the life she likes. Tingchen, listen to my advice. Since you have already chosen to be enemies with your aunt, why not take this opportunity to return power to His Majesty? This will surely unite the court, and you can take Wanwan and fly away.”

Gu Tingchen scoffed disdainfully, "Big brother, you've really got a good plan. I've worked so hard to get to where I am today, and you want me to give it all up?"

Gu Tingzhou's eyes were full of mockery as he sneered, "Wanwan is right. You have no heart at all. I think my second brother has only ever been obsessed with power. He has never really cared about Wanwan."