Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 129 Accidental Fall into the Water, Qi Family and Shen Family Form Marriage Alliance
Upon hearing this, Xiang's mother knelt down on the ground with a thud.

"My lord, second brother, it has nothing to do with the eldest mistress. I mixed the blood-withered grass into the tonic!"

Madam Qin stood there, secretly regretting that if Gu Tingye had returned even a little later, this matter could have been accomplished.

Gu Yankai seemed not to hear his mother's words, raised his eyes, and focused his gaze only on Xiao Qinshi.

After a moment, he sighed softly, "I know what I'm doing. You may all leave. I have something to say to Erlang."

This involves family scandals and should not be made public. Even if we were to invite the Marquis of Dongchang's family, this is not the time to do so.

After everyone left, only Gu Yankai and Gu Tingye remained.

"Zhonghuai, if I don't return alive today, will there still be a place for you in the entire Marquis's mansion?"

Gu Tingye knelt by the bed, looking somewhat dejected. Now that things had come to this, he decided to speak frankly.

“When I was little, I didn’t understand why my older brother always targeted and bullied me, until last year when he deliberately plotted to make me fail the imperial examination.”

"Father, do you know that my elder brother has always regarded my mother as the enemy who killed his birth mother!"

Gu Yankai stared at him, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

“When I was young, I also regarded Madam Qin as my own mother.”

"She is gentle, considerate, and understanding. Whenever you punish me, she always steps in to stop you and covers up all my mistakes."

"It wasn't until His Highness the Crown Prince told me the story of Zheng Bo Ke Duan Yu Yan that I suddenly realized what was going on."

"It turns out I am Gongshu Duan, and she is Duke Zhuang of Zheng."

“I’m afraid my father still doesn’t know that when my maternal grandfather passed away, I almost lost my life to thugs in Yangzhou.”

"If someone in the capital hadn't secretly tipped me off, how could the Bai family have seized the opportunity so precisely to send someone to assassinate me?"

“The people from the fourth and fifth wives have been mocking my background since I was a child. Of the entire Gu family, only Tingwei is truly sincere towards me.”

Gu Yan's chest heaved, and his gaze towards Gu Tingye changed slightly. He gritted his teeth and said, "Why didn't you tell me these things sooner?"

"When has Father ever believed my words?" Gu Tingye twitched the corner of his mouth, gave a bitter smile, stood up, and cupped his hands, saying, "Father, please take good care of yourself. I'll go see Zhu Manniang first."

After that, he turned and left.

As Gu Yankai watched his retreating figure, tears streamed down his face, and he was overcome with emotion.

He couldn't imagine how much slander and suffering the child would endure if he were to pass away.

The eldest son is cunning and ruthless; perhaps it's truly time for someone else to inherit the title of Marquis...

"Someone come here," Gu Yankai called softly.

A servant immediately bowed and went inside.

"Go to the ancestral hall and ask for the family genealogy."

After receiving the order, the servant hurried away.

He planned to solemnly explain in the family genealogy the ins and outs of Bai's marriage into the Marquis's mansion, as well as the story of how she saved the Gu family from dire straits, and announce it to the entire clan.

In his view, only in this way could he make up for the grievances Gu Tingye had suffered over the years and comfort Bai Shi's spirit in heaven.

In a side room in the backyard of the Marquis's mansion.

Zhu Manniang looked directly at Gu Tingye without the slightest fear. Instead, she asked softly, "Second Brother, is the Marquis alright?"

"I really never expected things to turn out this way."

Gu Tingye snorted coldly, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. "Zhu Manniang, you'd better tell the truth. Was this sudden trip to Bianjing instigated by Madam Qin?"

"I served Erlang for a time, after all. Back then, I was penniless and was driven out of Bianjing by you."

“My brother is the most shameless and scoundrel. He almost sold me into a brothel. I really had nowhere else to turn.”

Zhu Manniang pursed her lips, feigning a delicate and helpless appearance, and then said, "Erlang, come closer to me, and I'll tell you everything."

A barely perceptible hint of wariness flashed across Gu Tingye's eyes as he deliberately took a step closer.

Beneath her wide sleeves, Zhu Manniang seized the opportunity, and a dagger sharp as a blade suddenly appeared in her hand, which she thrust fiercely toward Gu Tingye's heart.

Gu Tingye immediately dodged to the side, the dagger grazing past his clothes, causing her to miss her target.

Hearing the commotion, Shi Tou, who was guarding outside the door, immediately pushed the door open and entered, restraining Zhu Manniang tightly.

"Gu Tingye, you'll die a horrible death!"

"You seduced me and then abandoned me, leaving me with nowhere to turn. I'll haunt you even as a ghost!"

Zhu Manniang knelt on the ground, howling incessantly, her face contorted in pain.

Gu Tingye frowned at her, momentarily speechless with anger, and gritted his teeth, saying, "Tie her up, throw her into the woodshed, and wait to be sent to the government for punishment."

"Gu Tingye, if you have the guts, then kill me!"

Stone tied her up tightly with hemp rope and said disdainfully, "Killing you would only dirty my young master's hands."

“Zhu Manniang, my young master hates being deceived the most. He really wanted to give you a proper status.”

Zhu Manniang sneered repeatedly. What she wanted was the status of the Marquis's principal wife, not a concubine.

The next morning, at the Imperial Palace, in the Wenhua Hall.

Zhao Zhen slammed down the memorial in his hand and frowned as he looked at Gu Tingye.

"Today, a group of officials submitted a memorial accusing you of having impure private morals, undermining your official authority, and disgracing the court."

"I originally intended to listen to Han'er and give you an important position in the future, but instead you've caused all this mess."

Gu Tingye's expression was solemn. He bowed and clasped his hands, saying, "Your Majesty, there is more to this matter than meets the eye. Please hear me out."

"Speak," Zhao Zhen said, still seething with anger.

He was just promoted to Commander of the Divine Machine Battalion, and this kind of thing happened. Isn't this a slap in the face for him?
After Gu Tingye told Zhao Zhen about his relationship with Zhu Manniang in detail...

Zhao Zhen frowned and sighed, "Since you have been deceived by her, why don't you send her to the authorities for investigation and prosecution to set the record straight?"

"This matter is now known to everyone in the streets and alleys, and it is even more interesting than storytelling in the theater."

The news that Zhu Manniang had accused Gu Tingye of abandoning her after seducing her at the entrance of the Marquis's mansion had spread throughout the capital.

As for Gu Yankai's serious illness, he only claimed to the outside world that it was a relapse of an old illness.

No one in the Marquis's mansion dared to spread the word; instead, it was suppressed.

Gu Tingye immediately clasped his hands in a fist and replied, "I once thought of sending her to the yamen, but matters between women are always complicated. Sending her to the yamen would only make her a laughingstock and spread the word."

"So they secretly banished her from Bianjing and concealed the matter, but unexpectedly she actually returned."

"Then tell me, how should we end this?!" Zhao Zhen demanded sharply, his gaze like a knife.

Gu Tingye lowered his head and secretly cast a pleading look at Zhao Han.

Zhao Han pondered for a moment, then clasped his hands and said, "Zhu Manniang conspired with her brother to swindle money from people, and now she even wants to assassinate an official of the imperial court. Her crimes are truly unforgivable."

"You want to assassinate him?" Zhao Zhen was somewhat surprised, not expecting this woman to be so bold.

Gu Tingye nodded repeatedly, "Yes, if I hadn't dodged quickly, I wouldn't be standing in front of Your Majesty right now."

“You!” Zhao Zhen pointed at him.

"Father, why not just fine him a year's salary? It would serve as a small punishment to deter others and also shut up the censors."

Upon hearing that the only penalty would be his salary, Gu Tingye nodded repeatedly.

Anyway, he had no shortage of money; a year's salary was just a drop in the ocean for him. "Your Highness is absolutely right, but a year is far too lenient. I request to have my salary reduced by three years to show my remorse!"

After speaking, Gu Tingye bowed deeply.

After weighing the pros and cons, Zhao Zhen said with a deep gaze, "Very well, let's do as the Crown Prince says, punish him with a three-year salary deduction as a warning to others!"

"Thank you for your mercy, Your Majesty!"

After leaving the Wenhua Hall, Zhao Han and Gu Tingye walked side by side.

"Zhu Manniang refused to say who instructed her, but judging from her appearance, it was most likely not Xiao Qinshi."

Zhao Han said softly, "Since she's keeping quiet, why not start with her brother, Zhu Gui?"

"Indeed, I will send men to find Zhu Gui's whereabouts as soon as possible."

Zhao Han took out the letter from her sleeve, which Gu Yankai had previously entrusted to her, detailing the Bai family's dowry.

"Your Highness, what is this?" Gu Tingye frowned slightly.

"Let's take a look at Gu Hou's handwriting later."

Gu Tingye took the letter, opened it, and his eyes gradually reddened as he scanned it.

"When you followed the army to Guangnan to quell the rebellion, Lord Gu repeatedly asked his old friends in the army to take good care of you."

Gu Tingye stood there, stunned, his hand holding the letter trembling slightly.

No wonder he was so successful in the army, and his soldiers followed him into battle without hesitation.

He originally thought that he had achieved all of this through his own hard work, but he never expected that his father had played a part in it. A feeling of indescribable bitterness and pain welled up in his heart.

Within a few days, Gu Tingye sent someone to find Zhu Gui's residence in Bianjing.

Under intense questioning, Zhu Gui revealed that Zhu Manniang was acting under the orders of the Bai family.

For the past few years, the second and third branches of the Bai family have been providing them with a life of luxury.

This trip to the capital was not only to ruin Gu Tingye's reputation, but also to have Zhu Manniang seize the opportunity to kill Gu Tingye.

At that time, the Bai family's assets will have no successor, so they will only take one or two tenths, and give the rest to Zhu Manniang.

Lady Qin was merely fueling the flames and going with the flow.

In her opinion, the Bai family's bunch of idiots were just daydreaming; wanting Gu Tingye dead was no simple matter.

Regardless, she was a beneficiary.

Zhu Manniang knew she couldn't kill Gu Tingye at all. All she did to get close to him was to gain the title of the eldest daughter-in-law of the Marquis's mansion.

Once exposed, her beautiful dream shattered, and she was left penniless and wandering outside. With the Bai family constantly instigating her, she hated Gu Tingye to the core.

After uncovering the truth, Gu Tingye wrote a letter and sent it to the Grand Canal Gang by express courier.

Within a month, Bai Tingyu's younger brother and members of the third branch of the Bai family "accidentally" fell into the water and disappeared silently into the canal.

As for Lady Qin...

After committing such a despicable act, the people of the Dongchang Marquis's mansion could only humbly beg Gu Yankai for leniency upon receiving the news.

Once a wife is divorced, the news will spread, which will greatly affect the marriage prospects of all the young women in the clan, and the entire Qin family will lose face among the aristocratic families.

Gu Yankai considered his own and the Marquis's family's reputation, as well as the affection he had for the deceased Lady Qin.

They could only agree to keep Lady Qin in the mansion.

However, he had already decided that after his death, he would order her to leave the mansion immediately, go up the mountain to cultivate in seclusion, and never return.

-

As soon as the court assembly ended today, Hua Lan sent someone to respectfully invite Zhao Han to come for a chat.

Upon entering the Ciqing Hall, Hua Lan greeted us with a smile, dressed in an apricot-yellow brocade dress with cloud patterns, her hair loosely tied up, adorned with swaying pearls and jade.

"Congratulations to Your Highness, congratulations to Your Highness!"

Zhao Han raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat puzzled, but before he could ask, he did not ask.

Hua Lan then eagerly added, "Just now, my sister Shu Lan was talking to me, mentioning that she has been feeling tired and weak lately."

"I then sent someone to invite the imperial physician, who was surprised to find that she was pregnant and is now nearly two months along."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Han's face was full of smiles. Although he was no first-time father, he still felt an indescribable joy and warmth in his heart upon receiving such good news.

"I'll go see her tonight."

Hua Lan smiled and said, "I would like to wait until my sister Shulan's pregnancy is more stable in a while, and then ask Your Highness for a favor so that her parents can come to the palace to see her and ease their longing."

Zhao Han took her delicate hands in hers. "Alright, you can make the arrangements then."

After saying that, he looked at the sandalwood box on the table next to him, which contained various pearls and jade and a pair of jade ruyi scepters.

Hua Lan noticed his gaze and explained, "Tomorrow is the wedding day of the young master of the Qi State Duke's Mansion. In terms of family seniority, he is our nephew."

"She is marrying the second daughter of Grand Secretary Shen. If Princess Pingning hadn't pleaded with the Empress Dowager, this marriage probably wouldn't have happened."

Zhao Han frowned slightly. If he remembered correctly, Shen Shiqi's second daughter was named Shen Hezhen. She was a talented and virtuous girl.

The Shen family was a prominent clan in southern Shanxi. Grand Secretary Shen was very successful in the court and enjoyed a high reputation.

If we can form a marriage alliance with the Shen family, as long as Qi Heng doesn't act recklessly after he enters the court as an official, the Shen family will surely ensure his smooth career.

In Zhao Han's view, Qi Heng also has some talent, but he has been pampered in the capital since childhood and will hardly become a great person if he is not sent out to hone his skills.

Moreover, given Qi Heng's personality, if used properly, he could be cultivated into a great and upright minister.

"Two days ago, the young master and Princess Pingning went to the palace together to express their gratitude to the Empress Dowager. I noticed that he looked sullen."

"There's not a trace of the joy of someone about to get married on her face." Hua Lan shook her head, quite puzzled.

Zhao Han put his arm around her slender waist and said with a soft smile, "Perhaps he has some thoughts in his heart that he cannot tell outsiders."

Princess Pingning and Duke Qi were quite satisfied with the marriage. Although Qi Heng was dissatisfied, he could only bow his head and compromise.

"What thoughts could he possibly have? He should be secretly thrilled to be paired with a girl from the Shen family..."

Hua Lan muttered to herself, then turned her head and thought of her younger sister's marriage.

In recent days, Wang Ruofu has arranged many marriages for Rulan, but she is not satisfied with any of them and only thinks about eating, drinking and having fun all day long.

Meanwhile, the Yu family.

The nanny who teaches etiquette is already at the Yu residence, and Yu Yanran will be able to enter the palace in less than half a month.

Looking at the gold, silver, and brocade sent from the palace, and how Grand Tutor Yu and the old lady spared no effort in arranging everything she needed after entering the palace, even her father had become more polite to Yu Yanran these days.

Yu Yanhong was consumed by jealousy and smashed things inside the house more than once.

She knew very well how powerful and glorious Rong Feiyan was in the capital as the younger sister of Consort Rong.

But she and Yu Yanran had never gotten along since childhood. They weren't even blood sisters, and she often bullied her. Her mother had also been harsh to her on many occasions.

In Yu Yanhong's view, it would be a blessing if Yu Yanran didn't take the opportunity to retaliate once she gained a foothold in the future, let alone help her out.

Meanwhile, Grand Tutor Yu has been trying to find fault with Madam Fang.

He knew very well that his son would never agree to divorce his wife if it weren't for matters concerning the family's reputation.

(End of this chapter)