Young Master Gao? Call me Little Grand Secretary!

Gao Zhaoyi leaned against a pillar, holding a pomegranate. She took big bites of it like she was eating an apple. It was both sweet and astringent, and the juice was dripping out.

He spat out the pomegranate seeds and peel residue from his mouth while calculating the time.

Judging from the sun, the court should be over by now, and Gao Qiu should be back by now. Could it be that he's so heartless that he can still tolerate such a thing?

Stop joking. With Gao Qiu's petty mind, how could I not know it?

If he were impeached by the censor himself, it wouldn't be a big deal. But because his brother-in-law was implicated, he lost face. Given his relationship with Guo, how could he swallow this insult?

Just as he was pondering this, a series of chaotic footsteps suddenly came from the front yard. Servants ran to make way, and the noise grew louder as they approached.

Gao Zhao looked up and saw Gao Qiu dressed in a purple official robe, his face as dark as a storm cloud, his menacing aura so intense that the servants around him dared not raise their heads, striding quickly toward the backyard.

Gao Zhao wiped the juice off his hands on the servant and hurriedly went to greet him.

"My lord, why have you returned at this hour?"

"You look so pale, did someone in court upset you?"

"Tell me who dares to be so bold, I'm going to beat them up!"

……

Gao Zhao fawned over him, putting on the airs of a loyal and filial son.

Gao Qiu glanced at him sideways, not even bothering to reply. He just let out a cold, hard snort, flicked his sleeves, and headed straight for the backyard without stopping.

Gao Zhao's expression changed drastically. He quickly chased after him, grabbed his sleeve, and asked anxiously, "Sir, has something happened at home?"

Gao Qiu suddenly exerted force on his wrist, forcefully breaking free of the sleeve from his hand, without stopping for a moment.

"Sir, please don't act impulsively, calm down!" Gao Zhao hurriedly jogged after him, nagging as he ran, "Let's talk this out calmly, don't let your emotions get the better of you and ruin the harmony!"

Gao Qiu remained silent, but quickened his pace, stepped through the moon gate leading to the backyard, and shouted, "Stop him!"

Two guards immediately stepped forward, grabbed Gao Zhao, and blocked him outside the door.

Gao Zhao struggled a few times in vain, and could only shout loudly at Gao Qiu's retreating figure, "My lord, harmony in the family brings prosperity! Please don't resort to violence!"

Only after Gao Qiu had gone far away and disappeared from sight did he push aside the two guards, turn around and walk to the servant, then take a pomegranate and start taking a big bite.

He looked relaxed, showing no trace of his earlier anxiety.

Judging from Gao Qiu's performance, his plan was a success!

This was somewhat of a scheme to take advantage of Gao Qiu, which made him feel a little embarrassed, since Gao Qiu had been very kind to him, except for his sharp tongue.

But there was nothing they could do! Guo Weize was just a son of a noble family with little real power; his influence was too insignificant. If Huang Baoguang were to impeach him, the nobles might not take it seriously.

Even if he wrote a memorial impeaching Guo Weize, the court would not pay too much attention to such a trivial matter. They would likely just reprimand Guo Weize and tell the Kaifeng Prefecture not to bother with him.

What could this possibly mean!

But if we put this matter in Gao Qiu's case, it's a different story!

The Grand Commandant of the Three Military Offices was a close advisor to the emperor, carrying considerable weight!

As long as there is an impeachment, even such a small matter can be magnified infinitely and attract the attention of the imperial court!

As for the impact on Gao Qiu, what impact could it possibly have? At most, he would just lose some face!

It was Guo Weize who did the deed in the first place. Anyone with eyes can see that Gao Qiu was implicated!

Moreover, with Emperor Huizong protecting him, this matter will definitely be dropped!

However, given the depth of Gao Qiu and Guo's affection for each other, they would certainly not let this go easily. They would definitely seize the opportunity to make a big fuss, and Gao Qiu might even use this as a chance to sever ties with Guo Weize.

In doing so, Gao Qiu gained the opportunity to retaliate against Guo Weize, Huang Baoguang gained a reputation for not being afraid of powerful figures, and Guo Weize would suffer actual losses and dare not interfere in Wang Qing's affairs anymore.

And he could take this opportunity to seize the Wang family's house for himself!

Haha, what do you mean by killing two birds with one stone or killing three birds with one stone? That's so lame!

When it comes to talent, wisdom, and strategy, you have to look to me, Gao Yanei, who can manipulate everyone with ease!

Gao Zhao reached out and took the palm-leaf fan, waving it around as if he were wearing a feather fan and a turban.

……

The maids and servants in the backyard were all trembling with fear and remained silent when they saw the furious Gao Qiu.

Gao Qiu has not visited the backyard for a month. His arrival today, in such a manner, must be ill-intentioned.

Guo's personal maid saw the situation from afar and, without a word, turned and ran back to the main house, hurriedly reporting, "Madam, the Grand Commandant has arrived!"

Guo was delighted upon hearing this, secretly chuckling to herself. "So she finally couldn't resist backing down! Humph, I thought you were so powerful! Sure enough, a scoundrel is a scoundrel; no matter how high his official rank, he still has no backbone!"

"What's the rush? They're here, so what? Do you expect me to go and greet them?"

The maid knew she had misunderstood and quickly said, "No, madam, I saw that the Grand Commandant looked angry, I'm afraid..."

"What's there to be afraid of!" Before he could finish speaking, Gao Qiu strode in. The maid trembled in fright and quickly shut her mouth.

Seeing this, Madam Guo said unhappily, "Gao Qiu, this is not a place for you to show off your power! What are you doing here!"

"You can't stand me? That's easy!" Gao Qiu sneered, pointing at her and saying, "Go pack your valuables now, and I'll send you back to the Guo family! Haven't you always longed for your family? Today I'll grant your wish!"

"You!" Guo was furious and speechless, pointing at him. She had thought Gao Qiu was coming to back down and wanted to manipulate him, but he actually wanted to drive her away right away, showing no intention of making peace. It was outrageous!

"What's wrong with you! You come back and start spouting nonsense and yelling. What do you want?!"

"What am I supposed to do?" Gao Qiu stared at his blustering, cowardly face and sneered, "Go back and ask your brother what he did before you talk to me!"

The arrogance on Guo's face vanished instantly, her heart sank, and her previous domineering confidence dissipated by most. She hesitated before speaking, "Wei Ze? What trouble could he possibly cause? He's always been honest, reliable, and law-abiding..."

Gao Qiu scoffed, interrupting her, and angrily said, "The thief broke into Tong Guan's villa with malicious intent and was captured by the Kaifeng Prefecture. Yet he used my name to plead for someone in Kaifeng Prefecture. You call that being law-abiding?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Guo's expression relaxed, and she said disdainfully, "I thought it was something important. It's just pleading for someone, what's the big deal! Given your relationship with Grand Commandant Tong, he wouldn't make things difficult for you over such a small matter..."

"Ignorant and foolish woman!" Gao Qiu shouted angrily, "This morning at court, the censor impeached me, saying that I ordered him to do these things! Now the entire court is watching how I handle this. Do you think this is a trivial matter? Do you think I, Gao Qiu, am like Shen Cunzhong, who is afraid of his wife like a tiger?"

Guo's face paled, realizing things weren't as simple as he thought, and he said in a trembling voice, "You... what do you want?"

"I must give an explanation for this!" Gao Qiu stared coldly at her, his voice chilling. "Either Guo Weize takes the blame, or you do?"

"You..." Guo Shi knew Gao Qiu wasn't joking, and her face turned deathly pale. She shouted, her voice trembling with fear, "Gao Qiu, I observed mourning for your mother, how dare you divorce me?"

"I won't divorce you!" Gao Qiu said coldly, "Today I will have a Buddhist shrine built in the backyard. From now on, you will meditate and worship Buddha there, and never come out again!"

Guo was terrified, took a half step back, her face filled with despair, and said in a trembling voice, "Gao Qiu, you can't do this to me..."

"I asked you whether you wanted to be a descendant of the Gao family or a daughter of the Guo family. You made your own choice, so don't blame others!"

After Gao Qiu finished speaking, he turned and left, leaving Guo alone in the room, tears streaming down her face.