I just got divorced, and this cold, ruthless, and powerful minister is begging for a third child eve

At this moment, Gu Mingshuang had just stepped out of the Duke's mansion when she saw Qi Huan enter.

Qi Huan walked in a hurry and didn't look in her direction.

A follower of Qi Huan asked urgently:

"My lord, are you really going to turn down the task of building the garden for the Duke of Anguo because of Miss Lanyu?"

"The Duke of Anguo wants to build the largest garden in the entire capital; this is a golden opportunity!"

Qi Huan frowned.

"I promised my junior sister that I would keep my word. I will select the best people from the Ministry of Works and the Tianji Pavilion for the task of serving the Duke of Anguo."

Watching Qi Huan and his servant walk inside, Gu Mingshuang glanced at them and her brows twitched slightly.

Qin Mo is going to build a garden?

She had to find out a way to find out more...

At this moment, Lingxiang, who was waiting at the door, was extremely worried. She rushed forward, grabbed her young mistress, and called out:

"Girl! Are you alright?"

Gu Mingshuang snapped out of her daze, smiled, and spun around.

"Look, is your daughter missing a single hair?"

Lingxiang breathed a sigh of relief and saw the young master walking towards her, completely soaked. She opened her eyes wide in surprise.

"Miss, what happened to the young master?"

Gu Mingshuang didn't turn around, and whispered:

"He has poor judgment, so he's bound to make mistakes."

Song Linyuan caught up with Gu Mingshuang, and his tone softened.

"Mingshuang, I was too hasty just now, I..."

Gu Mingshuang interrupted him and held out her hand, saying:

"Your Highness, I have fulfilled my promise. May I return the token?"

Song Linyuan paused for a moment, his eyes flickering slightly.

"I didn't bring it with me, but don't worry, I'll return it to you when we get back."

"Ming Shuang, can you tell me what exactly you brought as an apology gift today...?"

Gu Mingshuang didn't look at him, turned around and led Lingxiang into the carriage.

Song Linyuan hurriedly tried to follow, but the carriage curtain was held down.

Gu Mingshuang's cold voice came from inside.

"I'm going to buy some cosmetics; please feel free to do as you please, Your Highness."

Song Linyuan frowned.

"Mingshuang, I'll stay with you..."

Gu Mingshuang interrupted him.

"Young Master, what kind of gossip are you trying to cause by going out like this?"

"Or does the young master think I would smuggle the Marquis's property, and therefore forbid me from even going to a shop alone?"

Song Linyuan choked on his words, a wave of shame rising in his heart.

Before he could speak, the carriage had already driven forward.

He shouted, his face pale:

"Ming Shuang!"

The carriage didn't stop, and the servant waiting nearby quickly asked:

"Young Master! Should I go and stop the carriage?"

A look of shame flashed in Song Linyuan's eyes, and he lowered his head, saying:

"It's just a woman throwing a tantrum. Just send someone to follow her, and don't let it get back to the Marquis's residence."

Before long, Gu Mingshuang's carriage stopped in front of Yuelai Teahouse.

After she got out of the car, she took Lingxiang upstairs to the second floor.

"Miss Ming Shuang!"

As soon as I reached the second floor, the middle-aged man pacing beside me immediately came towards me.

He was tall and imposing, with a fierce look on his face. He was dressed in black and wore a bamboo hat, exuding a strong air of江湖 (jianghu, the martial arts world).

When Lingxiang saw him, she took a few steps forward, a look of surprise flashing in her eyes.

"Dubo! You've come!"

Du Cang took a deep breath and cupped his hands in greeting:

"I'm late, I'm sorry to have upset you, Miss!"

Gu Mingshuang looked at Du Cang, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

After entering the private room, Gu Mingshuang closed the door before speaking:

"Uncle Du, you've only been back in your hometown for a year to recuperate, and I didn't expect to have to trouble you again so soon."

Du Cang said urgently:

"What kind of talk is that? My life belongs to the Gu family! I'd be willing to risk my life for Miss!"

As he spoke, Du Cang clenched his fists in anger, thinking of what the Marquis's mansion had done.

"There's not a single good person in the Ningyuan Marquis's household. We believed their lies back then, thinking they would really treat Miss well, but they've changed their tune in just one year!"

"Back then, the master saved their only legitimate son! And this is how they repay such a great debt! Truly shameless!"

"And that brat Song Linyuan! He actually fooled all of us!"

He grew angrier and angrier as he spoke, wishing he could rush to the Marquis's mansion right now to demand justice.

Gu Mingshuang raised her eyes and said:

"Uncle Du, don't worry, I'll not only take the dowry, but I'll also make the Marquis's mansion pay the price! I'll make them return everything they owe me!"

Du Cang nodded emphatically.

"Miss, what do you suggest we do?"

Gu Mingshuang handed the private seal to Du Cang.

"I won't be able to move around much these next few days, Uncle Du. I need you to do a few things for me secretly."

"The old lady of the Marquis's mansion is on her way back to the capital. She can't come back too soon. Can you find a way to delay her for a day or two?"

"I have already sent a letter to Xue Zhao about these shops under the Marquis's name. He is well-versed in accounting. With your help, he can empty the shops in just two days."

"Finally, there's the matter of Song Linyuan being switched back then. I've found some clues. Could you find my wet nurse, Madam Fan, from back then?"

Du Cang wrote them down one by one.

"Don't worry, Miss!"

Gu Mingshuang handed over a key.

"This is the house I bought in Qinghe Lane in the south of the city. Nobody knows about it, so Uncle Du can settle down here with peace of mind."

Du Cang nodded and handed over a paper package before leaving.

"Miss, this is candied fruit from Lao Chen Ji in Qingzhou."

After the person had been gone for a long time, Gu Mingshuang stood by the window for a long time, holding the bag of candied fruit.

She took a candied fruit and put it in her mouth; the sweet and sour taste made her nose tingle.

With a soft thud, a tear fell onto the paper.

These past few days, she hadn't shed a tear even during the most difficult times, but this bag of candied fruit suddenly made her tense nerves relax.

All the grievances seemed to surge into my heart in that instant.

Tears soaked a bag of candied fruit.

"Miss!"

Lingxiang, who was carrying a teapot, was startled and hurriedly put down the tea and walked over.

"Miss, what happened?"

Gu Mingshuang wiped away her tears and chuckled softly:

"It's nothing, I was just thinking about things from the past."

"My father always said he would make candied fruit for me, but every time he would secretly have Uncle Du buy candied fruit from Old Chen's shop."

"He always coaxed me, saying he wanted to see me get married, to see me become a good wife and mother..."

Lingxiang's nose tingled, and she cried out:

"If the master in heaven knew how wronged the young lady is now, he would be heartbroken."

Gu Mingshuang gently pressed Lingxiang's hand, wiped away the tears on her face, and said with a smile:

"Therefore, we should live life to the fullest so that Father can see it."

Just then, a sound came from the lobby downstairs.

"Have you heard? Mr. Yulou actually sold a blueprint yesterday!"

"Really? Mr. Yulou is a man of high moral character. So many people have offered high prices, but he always says that talent is priceless and refuses to sell his blueprints!"

"That's right, I thought Mr. Yulou came from a distinguished family and wasn't after money!"

In the crowd, a scholar-looking man stood up and said solemnly:

"I know this matter best. Mr. Yulou's character is beyond reproach. This time, it was the mistress of a powerful family who made the request many times."

"She missed her deceased daughter so much that it moved Mr. Yulou to help her."

After a moment of sighs, everyone praised Mr. Yulou for his noble and benevolent heart.

Inside the private room on the second floor, Lingxiang stood by the window, angrily turning her head to say:

"Young lady, that cousin clearly sold the blueprints for personal gain, so how did she become a universally praised living saint?"

Gu Mingshuang chuckled softly.

"Take a good look at the people who speak up for her."

Lingxiang peered through the crack in the window and then realized what was happening.

"Isn't this Young Master Li, the retainer of the Crown Prince? Half a year ago, his family had some trouble, and the young lady even sent someone to deliver silver to him!"

Seeing Li Xu's enthusiastic praise, Lingxiang understood that all of this was arranged by the young master for his cousin.

Lingxiang frowned and said angrily:

"Miss, the young master is willing to do everything in his power to pave the way for your future!"

Gu Mingshuang spoke calmly.

"Let her stand a little higher, so that when she falls, it will make a louder noise."

She rubbed the red marks left on her fingers from drawing the bow, and suddenly remembered what Qin Mo had whispered in her ear.

"Only with more patience when you see your prey can you kill it with one blow."

She pursed her lips.

She knew this person was powerful and dangerous enough.

You could also sense the interest in her in his eyes.

She didn't know what she could possibly use against her.

Looking at the red marks on her fingers, the large hand that held her was burning hot...

With a loud crash, followed by the sound of porcelain shattering, like a billiard ball.

"Miss!" Lingxiang suddenly stood up and pointed downstairs, saying:

"Something's happened down there!"

Gu Mingshuang looked down and saw that the hall had been smashed to pieces.

The group of people who had just been praising Mr. Yulou were pushed to the corner by the people who had inexplicably disrupted the event, and they were so frightened that they begged for mercy.

Li Xu was pulled out of the crowd and slammed onto the porcelain shards.

"Someone has reported that someone at Yuelai Teahouse harbors malicious intentions and plots to harm my master!"

"Arrest them all!"

Upon hearing this voice, Lingxiang's eyes widened, and she pulled Gu Mingshuang aside and whispered:

"Miss! Isn't that the guard from Duke Anguo's side?"

Seeing the sword shadow, Gu Mingshuang was also stunned.

How did these people offend Qin Mo?!