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

Gu Mingshuang's cheeks flushed again without her realizing it.

I don't know why, but every time I run into him, I feel so awkward!

She must have her fortune told when she gets back this time, to see if she and Qin Mo are incompatible according to their birth charts!

After a moment of silence, Gu Mingshuang looked up and saw that his eyes were still looking at her.

As if she couldn't avoid it, she blinked and asked:

"What else does the Duke need? Please ask, and I will do my best if it is within my power..."

Qin Mo looked into her seemingly sincere and innocent eyes, but her words were full of ways to back down.

It looks like a docile and harmless cat, but it is actually as cunning as a fox.

Seeing that Qin Mo didn't speak but just stared at her, Gu Mingshuang bit her lip, her cheeks burning again, and she frowned.

"My lord?"

Qin Mo finally looked away.

"Since you've disturbed my peace, how about I serve you some writing materials? Would you be willing?"

Gu Mingshuang was stunned for a moment.

Serving the pen and ink?

She hadn't expected Qin Mo to make such a request.

It's that simple.

Perhaps he's in a good mood today?

Gu Mingshuang agreed and stepped forward, skillfully handling the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

When Song Linyuan was in school, his father was very strict with him so that he could keep up with the children his age.

She would often stay with him and help him with these chores.

She lowered her head and slowly pushed the ink on the inkstone; her hands had become somewhat rusty over the past year.

After arriving in Kyoto, Song Linyuan had his own study and servants to attend to him. In accordance with the rules of the mansion, he no longer allowed her into the study.

Lost in thought, Qin Mo's voice rang in her ears, tinged with an indescribable anger.

"Was he this absent-minded when you were grinding ink for him?"

Gu Mingshuang was startled and instinctively raised her hand, about to knock over the pen holder, when it was firmly pressed down by a large hand.

Qin Mo took her hand and returned to the inkstone with the ink stick in his hand.

"If you can't even learn how to grind ink properly, how can you serve others?"

Gu Mingshuang blushed as she looked at the hand covering the back of her hand.

Even if she doesn't do well, there's no need to teach her like this, right?

"My lord, I..."

Qin Mo interrupted her.

"In the act of writing, one must avoid being impatient and restless."

Gu Mingshuang was speechless. She secretly raised her eyes and glanced at the man.

He held her hand very carefully and ground the ink in circles.

His stern expression made her feel guilty and look away.

She remembered that Old Madam Qin had said that Qin Mo initially studied literature and had such beautiful handwriting that even the late Emperor had praised him.

He practiced martial arts only to improve his health; he did not intend to pursue a career in martial arts examinations.

He must have really high standards.

Thinking it over, Gu Mingshuang put aside her other thoughts and stared intently at the inkstone.

Until the large hand stopped.

Gu Mingshuang stood by, watching him pick up his pen and put it on the paper. His brushstrokes were free and elegant yet sharp, truly a rare and fine piece of calligraphy!

After seeing it clearly, I couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

She had seen this character before; Song Linyuan had bought it and copied it. At that time, she thought it was the work of some great calligrapher in the capital.

It turned out to be Qin Mo!

Gu Mingshuang looked away, not daring to watch any longer, as he was writing something next.

While grinding the ink, I still caught a glimpse of the words "eulogy" out of the corner of my eye.

She turned her head in surprise and quickly saw what he was writing.

It really is a eulogy.

"My lord, who is this addressed to...?"

Qin Mo finished his final stroke.

"Gu Yuanjing".

Gu Mingshuang's eyes immediately reddened, and she picked up the eulogy.

"My father is just a blacksmith, how could the Duke know him?"

Qin Mo raised his eyes.

"When the Qin family army occupied the area outside Qingzhou City, he helped my Qin family many times."

Gu Mingshuang suddenly realized that indeed, her father had dealings with the Qin family, which was why she had served the Qin family's matriarch for a while.

However, she had no idea that Qin Mo knew her father.

Wiping away her tears, Gu Mingshuang solemnly looked at the memorial text in her hand.

"Thank you, Your Excellency."

After leaving Qin Mo's meditation room, Gu Mingshuang offered sacrifices in the direction of Qingzhou from the back mountain and then burned the memorial text.

"Father, don't worry."

As Gu Mingshuang got up to leave, she caught sight of Song Lanfang.

A tall, muscular monk followed behind her.

However, the monk's gait seemed somewhat different from that of the monks in the temple.

Seeing them walking in this direction, Gu Mingshuang immediately hid behind a tree, and vaguely heard Song Lanfang's voice drifting on the wind.

"Do as I say, and don't get the time wrong."

I couldn't hear anything else clearly.

Watching Song Lanfang leave, Gu Mingshuang pondered for a moment, then turned and returned to her meditation room.

Lingxiang has already returned with the information she gathered.

"The lady brought her aunt here to pray for marital harmony and for a child."

Gu Mingshuang nodded; that made sense.

"Although the Liang family's matter has been resolved, Song Lanfang must give birth to a legitimate son in order to truly gain a foothold."

But Song Lanfang must be hiding something.

"Be extra careful before you leave."

Then, Gu Mingshuang asked again:

"Has the calling card been sent to Old Madam Qin?"

Lingxiang nodded.

"It's already been sent, but the old lady is listening to the sermon."

Gu Mingshuang nodded slightly.

She agreed to come to Bailong Temple for another reason: she had found out that the Qin family matriarch was wearing a formal dress there.

Now all we can do is wait.

Before long, a monk brought vegetarian food, and Song Linyuan, unable to leave, had his servant deliver a peace charm.

Lingxiang frowned and said:

"The young master claims to care about the young lady, but in reality, he's just giving her things she doesn't need."

"I originally thought these were all expressions of concern, but seeing how the young master treats that cousin, I realized what it truly means to treat someone well."

Gu Mingshuang no longer cared. She didn't even glance at the amulet and pressed the food box down on top of it.

"Have some food first."

Lingxiang was stunned when she opened the food box.

"Miss, I saw the vegetarian meals in the other meditation rooms outside just now. They were all steamed buns, vegetarian dishes, and side dishes. Why does your meal include snacks?"

Gu Mingshuang looked up and was also somewhat surprised.

The pastry looked familiar; she picked one up and recognized it immediately.

"It's the hibiscus pastry and cloud cake from Yunxiangju."

Lingxiang opened her eyes wide.

"Yunxiangju's pastries? One pastry is worth a tael of silver! How could Bailong Temple prepare such food for a young lady?"

As she spoke, Lingxiang blinked.

"Miss, did the young master send this?"

Gu Mingshuang shook her head.

"He never buys me these things."

Suddenly, her gaze fell on the next room.

A thought arose from the bottom of my heart.

Could it be him?

Just as Gu Mingshuang was feeling extremely uneasy, footsteps came from outside.

An elderly nanny spoke gently:

"Princess Consort, our matriarch requests your presence."

Upon hearing this, Gu Mingshuang put down the pastries, got up, and followed him out.

At this moment, Song Linyuan was accompanying Meng Shi back from worshipping Buddha.

Meng was still giving instructions.

"Now, Mother doesn't have much to ask for herself; the only ones she cares about are the three of you."

"Once your elder sister has a child, her marriage will be smooth. You and Ayu should get through this difficult time soon, and your mother will arrange your marriage."

"I will only feel at ease if you stay by my side for a long, long time, and have children with me."

Song Linyuan's expression changed, and unlike his previous ambiguity, he stopped in his tracks.

"Mother, I know you want to keep Ayu by your side. You can find her a husband..."

Meng's face stiffened, and she turned to look at Song Linyuan, interrupting him:

"What nonsense are you spouting? How could Ayu marry into the family? She's destined to be the mistress of the Marquis's mansion!"

Hearing these words from his mother for the first time, Song Linyuan frowned.

All those confident promises he made to Gu Mingshuang before seemed to be slapping him in the face.

He couldn't help but speak up.

"Mother, Mingshuang is the only mistress of the Marquis's mansion! She always has been, and she always will be!"

Meng stopped Song Linyuan.

"How could you be so confused? Gu Shi and you are no longer on the same side. She's determined to leave. The one who truly cares for you now is Ayu!"

"Besides, Ayu's virginity is already in your hands. How can you expect her to marry someone else? Do you really want her to never marry again?"

Song Linyuan lowered his head, his fingers clenching even tighter.

"I only did it in a moment of desperation to save her life; I never intended to marry her!"

Meng said solemnly:

"Yuan'er, you are a learned and sensible person, don't you know what a woman's chastity represents?"

"Now, besides marrying Ayu, your only other option is to destroy her with your own hands. Are you going to force her to her death?"

Song Linyuan's face grew paler and paler.

"I never intended to hurt Ayu!"

Meng grabbed him and pressed him for an answer:

"Then tell me, in what way—of appearance, temperament, or talent—is Ayu unworthy of the position of mistress?"

Song Linyuan frowned.

"Ayu is a noblewoman raised by her mother, and she excels in everything."

Meng nodded in satisfaction.

"Your mother has been preparing for your marriage for a long time. A good wife is one who is virtuous; you must not be foolish this time!"

"As for Gu Mingshuang, does she really think she has any future after leaving the Marquis's mansion? When she's desperate, you can take her as your concubine."

As she spoke, a hint of resentment flashed in Meng's eyes.

Song Linyuan kept his head down, unaware of Meng's gaze; a thousand emotions were surging within him.

For some reason, things kept slipping out of his control.

He made up his mind to make it up to her.

But now everything is pushing him forward, and he can't stop.

Finally, he looked at Madam Meng with unwavering determination and spoke:

"Mother, I want you to promise me that Ayu can be the principal wife, but Mingshuang should be the secondary wife, equal in status, without distinction of rank."

Seeing that Madam Meng was about to speak, he knelt down first and said in a deep voice:

"If Mother does not agree, I will kneel here forever."

Madam Meng sighed and helped him up.

"You, you're such a romantic! Fine, Mother agrees!"

"Ayu is kind-hearted and won't object, but that Gu woman is no pushover. If she gets jealous and hurts Ayu, Mother won't forgive her!"

Song Linyuan nodded emphatically.

"I will teach her well."

Song Linyuan strode quickly toward Gu Mingshuang's meditation room.

At this moment, Meng's face darkened as she stood there.

Gu Mingshuang was indeed a bewitching enchantress. She said she was leaving, but in reality, she made Yuan'er even more reluctant to let go.

Tonight, we must ruin her reputation and make Yuan'er see her for who she really is!

When the time comes, once we have leverage over Gu Mingshuang, she won't be able to cause any more trouble!

At this moment, Gu Mingshuang had just stepped into a secluded courtyard.

Unlike typical guesthouses, this is a complete courtyard, simple, elegant and quiet.

There was only one eight-immortal table in the courtyard, as simple as a rural courtyard.

"Princess Consort, the Old Madam is waiting in the back."

Gu Mingshuang withdrew her gaze and walked towards the back.

She paused for a moment when she saw the open space behind the courtyard after going around the wall.