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

Song Lanfang stared wide-eyed at Gu Mingshuang as if she had seen a ghost.

"You! What are you going to do?!"

On second thought, she spat.

"You're just a woman from humble beginnings, what can you do? With Lin Yuan and A Yu around, the Marquis's mansion will surely become even more powerful! You're the one who should be afraid!"

She wasn't afraid of that bitch at all. Once Lin Yuan inherited the title, she would be the Marquis's older sister!

Gu Mingshuang scoffed.

"Then you just wait."

Back at Qingwu Garden, Gu Mingshuang met Du Cang, who had sneaked in.

Du Cang, dressed as a guard, stood in an inconspicuous corner of the courtyard.

Upon seeing Gu Mingshuang, Du Cang hurriedly said:

"Girl, we have news!"

Gu Mingshuang immediately had Lingxiang lock the door before asking:

"But has there been any progress regarding the wet nurse?"

Du Cang nodded repeatedly.

"I found the Fan family's daughter and even met with her."

Gu Mingshuang immediately asked:

Where is she?

Du Cang said in a low voice:

"Miss would never guess that she had been hiding in the capital all along, and had tried several times to sneak into the Marquis's mansion, but unfortunately she was too weak and was never chosen."

Gu Mingshuang's eyes flickered slightly.

"She wants to enter the Marquis's mansion?"

The wet nurse had switched Meng's legitimate son and was the person Meng hated the most, but Meng had let her go out of kindness back then, which made many people praise Meng's benevolence.

Now, her daughter wants to sneak into the Marquis's mansion?

Du Cang whispered:

"She said her mother was innocent! And that she was killed by the madam! She wants revenge!"

Gu Mingshuang looked at Du Cang in astonishment.

Are you sure?

Du Cang nodded.

"I had my brothers in the underworld investigate secretly. This girl was also hunted down before, but she later had a serious illness that changed her appearance, which allowed her to escape."

"Not only that, recently someone has been looking for the Fan family's daughter, who may be the same person who investigated the Fan family last time."

Gu Mingshuang trusted Du Cang's judgment.

"Du Bocha's investigation is undoubtedly correct; it seems we need to investigate quickly."

Du Cang quickly asked:

"Miss, this girl said she won't reveal what happened back then unless she's arranged to enter the Marquis's mansion."

Gu Mingshuang's eyes flickered slightly, a clear light flashing in them.

"That's easy. Let her enter Qingwu Garden. Perfect, I also have some questions for her."

Du Cang nodded.

"Alright, I'll arrange for someone from a brokerage firm to come to the Marquis's residence tomorrow. Miss, you can receive them."

Gu Mingshuang agreed, then asked:

"Has the deed to the Crown Prince's Huishan Estate been finalized?"

Du Cang nodded.

"Don't worry, young lady, it's all taken care of. The deed is kept at that house in Qinghe Lane."

Gu Mingshuang thought for a moment and then said:

"Uncle Du, please do me another favor tonight: make a trip to Xiaoxiang Pavilion..."

The next morning, Gu Mingshuang was awakened by a knock on the door.

Lingxiang hurriedly came to report.

"Miss, Lord Qi has arrived, and he's in a great hurry."

Gu Mingshuang nodded, got up to change her clothes and do her makeup, and then let Lingxiang lead Qi Huan in.

Qi Huan immediately bowed respectfully upon seeing Gu Mingshuang.

"I only found out after making some inquiries that the person I offended yesterday was the Crown Princess. I am very sorry."

Gu Mingshuang shook her head and quickly said:

"It's alright. You are the craftsman invited by Miss Biao, so you are also a guest of my Marquis's residence."

Qi Huan wanted to reveal his identity, but remembering his promise to secretly help his junior sister, he had no choice but to swallow his words.

After that, he didn't bother with pleasantries and went straight to the point:

"Yesterday, the Crown Princess pointed out a problem to me, and I made immediate adjustments last night. However, an even bigger problem arose this morning. I have come here today specifically to ask if the Crown Princess has any better solutions?"

Gu Mingshuang looked up.

"Oh? It was changed last night, but there's still a problem? How could it be so sudden?"

She suppressed a laugh. There was no sudden problem. With Qi Huan's help, solving that problem was a piece of cake. She had simply asked Du Cang to secretly do something.

Qi Huan hurriedly spread out the blueprints in front of Gu Mingshuang and explained the location of the problem in detail.

Gu Mingshuang listened carefully, then calmly raised her hand and pointed to a spot.

"Have you noticed this half-inch area below? That area also needs repair."

Qi Huan glanced at it, seemed to understand something, then suddenly realized the truth, cupped his hands in thanks, and said:

"Thank you, Princess Consort!"

Gu Mingshuang shook her head.

"You're welcome. I was just pointing randomly. You'll have to figure out the specifics yourself."

The Duke Huan of Qi couldn't help but ask:

"The Crown Princess's architectural skills are extremely exquisite. I wonder where she learned them? Could they be related to the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion?"

He had a vague suspicion in his heart.

Such keen insight reminded him of the girl beside Pavilion Master Yun.

He had seen the girl a few times when he was by the side of the sect leader. He could never understand why the sect leader would not accept him as a disciple, but would accept a girl with mediocre talent as a disciple.

But that time, he watched the little girl drawing in the snow, stubbornly refusing to leave, her eyes clean and clear.

Could it be that the Crown Princess is that little girl from back then?

He looked up at Gu Mingshuang, who was different from the clear-eyed image he remembered. The princess consort in front of him was even more radiant.

Gu Mingshuang smiled, her beautiful face captivating.

"My master was a country woman who usually drew plans for building houses and farmhouses for the villagers."

Qi Huan lowered his eyes in disappointment.

It seems it wasn't her.

Then, Gu Mingshuang added:

"I don't want too many people to know that I know about construction techniques, so I hope you can keep this a secret for me."

Qi Huan's eyes flashed with surprise, but he quickly understood.

Unlike her junior sister, who is independent and enterprising, the Crown Princess is already married. If people knew that a noblewoman from a high-ranking family had such skills, it would indeed be undignified.

He nodded.

"Princess Consort, rest assured, I will never tell anyone."

Afterwards, Qi Huan thanked him and left.

Watching Qi Huan leave, Gu Mingshuang blinked.

She had originally intended to send Qi Huan away so that she would have a chance to make her move on the small building, but since Qi Huan had come to her door, she decided to make him the tool in her hands.

Since Qi Huan didn't recognize her, and they weren't even from the same sect, it's no wonder she tried to trick him.

At this moment, Qi Huan had just left Qingwu Garden when he was stopped by Xie Lanyu.

"Senior Brother Qi! What are you doing here?"

She glanced at the Qingwu Garden behind her, and her face turned very ugly as she thought of Qi Huan walking out from there.

She knew of Gu Mingshuang's beauty, and now that Song Linyuan was already wavering, she didn't want Qi Huan to be bewitched by Gu Mingshuang again.

Qi Huan, remembering his promise to the Crown Princess not to reveal this matter, said:

"I've come to ask the Crown Princess if she could provide me with a waist token for entering and leaving the Marquis's residence."

Xie Lanyu suddenly realized and quickly said:

"No need, I've already spoken with the gatekeeper. My affairs are the most important thing in the manor right now, and no one will stop me."

As she spoke, Xie Lanyu quickly added:

"Senior brother, shall we go and pay our respects to the Duke now?"

Qi Huan nodded.

"Let's go."

Along the way, Xie Lanyu inquired about Qin Mo's preferences, and Qi Huan shook his head, saying:

"I don't know Duke Anguo well; I've only done two errands for him."

Xie Lanyu nodded slowly. Qi Huan was a tech-savvy guy who had never even been to a brothel, so he naturally couldn't have anything in common with the powerful patriarchs of aristocratic families.

However, she learned that Qin Mo had recently gathered a lot of beauties, including women from the Western Regions, so it seemed that Qin Mo must have a penchant for luxury.

As they were talking, Xie Lanyu stopped in her tracks.

She actually saw Gu Mingshuang walk into the guest courtyard!

"How did she get in?"

She frowned, a hint of disdain in her eyes.

"Does she really think she can seduce the Duke of Anguo with just her looks?"

Qi Huan's expression changed slightly when he suddenly heard his junior sister say such a thing.

"Junior sister, what are you saying?"

Xie Lanyu then realized she had misspoke, and she lowered her eyes and said:

"Senior brother, I misspoke. My cousin's wife has been treating you coldly lately. I was just afraid that she might do something that would damage the reputation of the Marquis's mansion in a moment of confusion."

Qi Huan said seriously:

"You must have misunderstood the Crown Princess; she wouldn't do such a thing."

Xie Lanyu stared in astonishment at Qi Huan before her.

"Senior brother? How did you know?"

Qi Huan composed himself and said, trying to cover up his embarrassment:

"I'm just guessing, junior sister. Gossiping behind someone's back is certainly not the behavior of a gentleman."

Seeing his displeasure, Xie Lanyu tugged at Qi Huan's sleeve and said coquettishly:

"Okay, okay, senior brother, I'll do whatever you say."

Qi Huan looked at her gently and smiled.

"Junior sister, the path you have chosen is much more difficult than that of ordinary women. Your senior brother will do his best to help you."

Xie Lanyu smiled, pursed her lips, and nodded emphatically.

But the next moment, the guard at the gate said coldly:

"Our master is currently handling military affairs and is not receiving guests."

Xie Lanyu's smile froze.

"How could that be? There were outsiders who went in just now!"

The guard glanced coldly at Xie Lanyu, and the murderous aura he exuded still made Xie Lanyu take half a step back.

Qi Huan blocked Xie Lanyu's path, stepped forward, and bowed, saying:

"I am from the Ministry of Works, and I request an audience with the Duke."

The guard still spoke:

"The master said that no one should be seen."

Qi Huan had no choice but to take his leave.

Reaching the corner, Xie Lanyu bit her lip and couldn't help but say:

"You saw it, none of us could get in, but Gu Mingshuang was able to! She must have used some underhanded methods!"

"She's still just the heir apparent's wife in the Marquis's mansion, yet she's already so eager to climb the social ladder!"

Qi Huan's face darkened.

"Junior sister! The matter hasn't been clarified yet, how can you make wild guesses? If word gets out, wouldn't it ruin the Crown Princess's reputation?"

Xie Lanyu was furious at this moment and couldn't hold back any longer, she said:

"Senior brother saw her enter the Duke of Anguo's courtyard with his own eyes, and you still want to speak up for her? Could it be that senior brother has also been bewitched by this vixen?"

Qi Huan's face turned red.

"Junior sister! What's wrong with you? You're not usually like this..."

As he spoke, Qi Huan said in a deep voice:

"I have to go to the government office first, I'll come back later."

Watching Qi Huan leave, Xie Lanyu gritted her teeth.

Unexpectedly, Gu Mingshuang really does have some skill in seducing men!

A flash of resentment crossed her eyes.

She openly and secretly instructed Song Lanfang to deal with Gu Mingshuang, but unfortunately Song Lanfang was a fool; she failed in her mission and ended up getting herself involved as well.

Otherwise, Gu Mingshuang would have been expelled from the Marquis's mansion long ago!

It seems she'll have to do it herself!

At this moment, inside the guest courtyard.

Gu Mingshuang was completely unaware of what was happening outside the door.

She stood by the courtyard wall, her face flushed, her gaze secretly glancing at the man in the courtyard.