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

Chapter 185 Worried that someone might have ill intentions
Seeing the doubt in Gu Tingzhou's eyes, Ye Wanshu was taken aback: "Why would you ask that?"

Gu Tingzhou curled his lips into a bittersweet smile: "Tingchen and I have been with you for ten years. Although we have had many unforgettable moments, your cousin has only ever seen your most radiant smile in front of Fu Mingchi. That smile comes from the bottom of your heart, without needing anyone to please you. It's as if just seeing him makes you happy."

When he exposed her secret, Ye Wanshu couldn't help but feel a little flustered, but she quickly regained her composure: "Gu Tingzhou, I know you two brothers are prejudiced against him, but he is the only one in the Great Ye Dynasty who can turn the tide."

"Do you love him?" Gu Tingzhou stared intently at her. "Answer me."

Ye Wanshu simply closed her eyes and did not answer him directly.

Gu Tingzhou already had the answer in his heart.

“Wanwan is right. He is indeed the most worthy person for His Majesty to entrust with the country among the current members of the imperial family.” Gu Tingzhou took a deep breath: “I will help him enter Lin’an.”

Seeing him turn to leave, Ye Wanshu immediately called out to him: "Gu Tingzhou, what are you planning to do?"

"Those involved are often confused, while bystanders see things clearly. Even if my cousin is stupid, he can guess what Wanwan is thinking."

Gu Tingzhou smiled wryly and said, "His Majesty and the Empress Dowager have been fighting for most of their lives. Why would he choose to abdicate at this time for no reason? I'm afraid it was the Grand Secretary's idea."

Unexpectedly, after his trip to Yuezhou, he seemed to have become much smarter, which surprised Ye Wanshu.

Gu Tingzhou continued, "His Majesty and Uncle Ji have always wanted to welcome Prince Yongning to Lin'an. After the incident in Huizhou, it will be even more difficult for Prince Yongning to enter Lin'an legitimately, unless Lin'an falls into chaos."

Thinking of this, Gu Tingzhou suddenly felt extremely uneasy: "Wanwan, do Uncle Ji and His Majesty intend to incite Prince Qi to rebel?"

Ye Wanshu was suddenly startled.

“This won’t work,” Gu Tingzhou said angrily. “The Prince of Qi has lost command of the Imperial Guards. With the men he can gather now, how can he possibly defeat my second brother? Once my second brother and the Empress Dowager suspect you and Uncle Ji, you will surely die.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he anxiously grabbed Ye Wanshu and tried to pull her outside: "This is too dangerous. Your cousin absolutely cannot watch you take such a risk."

Ye Wanshu forcefully shook him off: "Gu Tingzhou, I've already come this far, I have no choice but to go all in."

Gu Tingzhou stood there stunned, at a loss for what to do.

"That day, when I escorted Qingmian and Tingji out of the city, I happened to see Tingfeng sneaking away from Lin'an, and I sensed something was wrong," Gu Tingzhou pondered. "He was going to deliver a letter to Fu Mingchi, wasn't he?"

Knowing she couldn't hide it from him, Ye Wanshu had no choice but to nod: "Yes."

Gu Tingzhou shook his head with a worried expression: "Your plan with Uncle Ji can indeed help Fu Mingchi enter Lin'an, but if there is any mishap, it will be a disaster. Tingfeng is Uncle Ji's most trusted confidant. His departure from Lin'an will be discovered sooner or later. Haven't you thought about how to get out of this mess unscathed?"

Nothing in this world is foolproof.

Ye Wanshu said, "Cousin, you've been in the Gu family for so many years, don't you know what the Empress Dowager is thinking? Now the northern cavalry are almost at our doorstep, and she's still thinking about humiliating peace. If this continues, how can the eggs remain intact when the nest is overturned?"

Gu Tingzhou now roughly guessed why his cousin refused to leave the Duke's mansion with him.

I'm afraid she's trying to use herself to hold back Gu Tingchen and the Empress Dowager, so that she can help Fu Mingchi.

“Okay, I’ll help you,” Gu Tingzhou said in a deep voice. “Wanwan, your cousin only asks you to promise me one thing.”

Gently holding her hand, Gu Tingzhou earnestly pleaded, "Live, for your mother, for Qingmian and Tingji. No matter what, you must live well."

Hearing the rustling footsteps outside, Gu Tingzhou dared not linger any longer. He quickly climbed out the window, closed it, and disappeared into the darkness. Just as Ye Wanshu was about to check the willow-leaf window, Xingtao's voice suddenly rang out from outside.

"Your Highness, my young lady has already gone to bed. You cannot go in."

Ye Wanshu turned around without making a sound, only to see the door suddenly pushed open, and Gu Tingchen barged in with a dark face.

"Who were you talking to just now?" Gu Tingchen asked coldly, looking around.

“Yes, it is your servant,” Chunhong replied immediately.

"Is that so?" Gu Tingchen pursed his lips with a half-smile, casually beckoning to the guards behind him: "Drag her away, beat her, beat her until she tells the truth."

"Gu Tingchen, what exactly do you want to do?" Ye Wanshu's eyes flashed with anger as she immediately blocked Chunhong's path: "If you dare to hurt her today, kill me first."

The guards looked somewhat embarrassed and stared blankly at Gu Tingchen.

Seeing this, Gu Tingchen had no choice but to wave his hand at the guards, signaling them to step back.

Walking slowly to Ye Wanshu, Gu Tingchen gently pinched her chin and said in a light tone, "Cousin didn't mean anything by it. With the wedding approaching, I'm just worried that someone might have ill intentions and try to sow discord between my husband and me."

Ye Wanshu snorted coldly: "You're overthinking it. Do we need anyone to stir up trouble for our relationship?"

Seeing her incredibly cold gaze, Gu Tingchen's eyes gradually darkened.

Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at the loosened willow-leaf window and concluded that someone had been in his cousin's room.

A few days ago, my elder brother helped Qingmian and Tingji escape. For the sake of our father, I can't do anything to him right now. But if it's someone from Ji Yuan's mansion who comes to the courtyard tonight, then I have to be careful.

“Wanwan feels sorry for the girl and can’t bear to commit such atrocities before the wedding. I can grant your wish.” At this point, Gu Tingchen suddenly changed the subject: “However, I heard that Tingfeng, who serves your father, has not been at the manor recently. Can Wanwan tell me where he went?”

"Gu Tingchen, you don't need to test me. I have nothing to say to you," Ye Wanshu said coldly.

"Don't think I don't know what you and your daughter are thinking," Gu Tingchen said angrily. "I think you still have designs on that Fu Mingchi."

Shaking his head with utter disdain, Gu Tingchen said loudly, "Let me tell you, I have already ordered the garrisons of Huizhou, Qinzhou, and Yezhou to be on high alert against the Yuezhou army. If Fu Mingchi dares to make any rash moves, I will definitely crush Yuezhou City, and you can forget about it."

After saying that, he led his men straight out of the courtyard.

Once the door was closed, Chunhong and Xingtao rushed to Ye Wanshu's side, carefully checking her over and asking, "Miss, are you alright?"

Ye Wanshu shook her head, looking at the willow-leaf window. It remained silent outside. Silently recalling Gu Tingchen's words, she concluded that he had not found Gu Tingzhou's whereabouts.

As for his father, he only had one way out: to firmly protect the emperor. Naturally, he would not reveal Tingfeng's whereabouts.

As long as Fu Mingchi successfully obtains the secret edict, her mission with her father will be completely accomplished.

"I've given you a bath, now go to sleep."

After instructing the two maids, Ye Wanshu sat down on the edge of the bed and asked Chunhong and Xingtao to wash her body. Thinking of Qingmian, Tingji, and Chuyin, she felt somewhat uneasy.

On the walls of Huizhou, Fu Mingchi left with such resolute determination; one wonders if he will treat them well.