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

Gu Mingshuang then looked up, put Fugui down, and reluctantly patted Fugui's little head before getting up and following Du Cang toward the flower hall.

After leaving court, Qi Huan changed into a light blue casual robe, a faint smile always on his handsome face.

The subtle bamboo pattern on his cuffs exuded a refined and gentle air, just like his eyes and brows, making people feel close to him.

"Brother Qi."

Hearing Gu Mingshuang's shout, Qi Huan quickly turned around and asked with concern:

"Sister Mingshuang, is your injury any better?"

Gu Mingshuang smiled and said:

"Don't worry, it's just a minor injury, it's already much better."

Qi Huan took out the medicine packet and carefully instructed:

"This is a calming and invigorating tonic that I got from the Imperial Hospital after court today. The imperial physician said that a woman's body should not be depleted. You were frightened last night, so you must drink a few doses over the next few days."

Gu Mingshuang took the medicine, a warm feeling welling up in her heart.

"Brother Qi, thank you very much."

Qi Huan quickly said:

"It was just a favor, no need to thank me."

Then, Qi Huan said:

"Although the Dali Temple withdrew the case last night, Meng Shaoqing of the Dali Temple was dismissed from his post early this morning, and all his subordinates were also imprisoned."

Gu Mingshuang looked up. She thought that after Madam Song withdrew the case, the Dali Temple would let the matter drop.

"How did it escalate to this extent?"

Qi Huan explained:

"I've inquired, and it should be related to the Duke of Anguo."

Gu Mingshuang was somewhat taken aback. After seeing Old Madam Qin arrive at Dali Temple last night, Qin Mo hadn't said anything more, and she thought he wouldn't interfere anymore.

Unexpectedly, he still didn't let go of those involved in the matter.

Thinking of the news Du Cang sent this morning, Gu Mingshuang sneered.

No wonder Madam Song disregarded the Meng family's reputation; it turns out that the most powerful branch of the Meng family in the court has completely collapsed.

Qi Huan looked at Gu Mingshuang and said:

"Ming Shuang, there's something else I need to tell you today. The selection process for the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion is in two days."

"Although you haven't officially joined the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, you did spend some time by the Pavilion Master's side when you were in Qingzhou, so you are qualified to participate in the selection."

Gu Mingshuang frowned slightly.

"The selection process by the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion?"

Qi Huan nodded, then, realizing she hadn't continued studying architecture in recent years, quickly explained:

"This time, Tianji Pavilion is selecting candidates for the construction of a garden for the Duke of Anguo's mansion. Although the Duke will personally appoint the person in charge, Tianji Pavilion will also offer one more spot."

Gu Mingshuang was about to explain Qin Mo's arrangement when Qi Huan noticed her troubled expression and, realizing she must be timid, comforted her:

"Don't be afraid. This kind of selection is extremely difficult. Most of the time, it's just a formality, like with you. You can also get to know some mentors and friends in the pavilion."

Thinking of the token her master had given her before, Gu Mingshuang's eyes flickered slightly.

Having promised Song Linyuan that she would stand with him through thick and thin, she gave up her future in the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion and did not visit the other elders in the pavilion.

At this moment, Gu Mingshuang pursed her lips in a sigh.

Perhaps she should also go to the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion to see the fruits of her master's labor of half a lifetime.

So Gu Mingshuang nodded.

"Okay, Brother Qi, I'll definitely go."

Qi Huan breathed a sigh of relief and quickly handed her the invitation to the selection meeting.

"I'll come pick you up then."

Gu Mingshuang noticed that Qi Huan still had a door sticker in his hand, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw the character "Yu" on the name on it.

It should be for Xie Lanyu.

Sure enough, Qi Huan spoke up:

"Mingshuang, I have some things to attend to. I'll come see you later."

Gu Mingshuang nodded and escorted Qi Huan to the door.

She knew that Qi Huan and Xie Lanyu had a very close relationship as senior and junior disciples. Even if Xie Lanyu did something wrong, Qi Huan would still make plans for her.

Perhaps, as Qi Huan said at the time, he regarded Xie Lanyu as a younger sister.

Gu Mingshuang wasn't angry about anything; she just looked at the door sticker in her hand, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart.

Regardless of anything else, Qi Huan was genuinely considerate and thoughtful towards her.

Just as Gu Mingshuang turned to leave, a carriage slowly came to a stop.

"Ming Shuang!"

Upon hearing Song Linyuan's voice, Gu Mingshuang paused, pondered for a moment, then turned around and saw Song Linyuan getting off the carriage with unsteady steps.

He looked sickly, with some stubble on his beard, and his whole being exuded a sense of dejection and dejection. But when he saw Gu Mingshuang, the light in his eyes brightened for a moment.

"Ming Shuang, I've finally found you."

He staggered forward, unable to resist reaching out, but Gu Mingshuang's eyes turned cold, and she pushed him away unexpectedly.

Song Linyuan steadied himself by holding onto a pillar by the door. Seeing that Gu Mingshuang was about to enter, he limped to the door and blocked it with his body, refusing to move aside.

"Mingshuang, I know you resent me. As long as you can vent your anger, even if you hit or scold me, I will never fight back. I just want to see you and say a few words to you. Can you let me in?"

Gu Mingshuang looked at the disheveled and dejected Song Linyuan and took a step back without making a sound.

"Your Highness, please tell me what it is now."

Song Linyuan clenched his fist, pressed against the pillar, and gritted his teeth, saying:

"I'm so sorry you had to go through this last night. I'm such a bad husband for not being able to get there right away!"

"Since you came to Kyoto, you've suffered one injustice after another. None of the things I wrote in my letter have come true. Clearly, I can't get over it. Please give me a chance to make it up to you."

Gu Mingshuang didn't want to listen to these high-sounding words anymore and interrupted him directly.

"It's alright. I didn't suffer too much last night. Although the young master didn't come, the old lady did. She even apologized in person, and the Dali Temple cleared me of suspicion."

"I know you've always been resourceful. Whenever something happens, I always entrust it to you, so the Dali Temple can't find fault with you..." Song Linyuan stared blankly at the woman in front of him.

"Mingshuang, I really know I was wrong, and I really miss you..."

As he spoke, his eyes reddened and his Adam's apple bobbed slightly, as if he were speaking the truth from the bottom of his heart with great effort.

He had initially decided to marry a dignified and noble lady after being persuaded by Meng, which is why he dismissed Gu Mingshuang from his memory as worthless.

But now, looking at Gu Mingshuang, who excels in everything, he regrets it so much that he can't eat or sleep.

Last night should have been a good opportunity for him to perform, but he slept too soundly after taking the calming incense, and when he woke up, the sun was already high in the sky.

After learning what happened at Dali Temple last night, his heart was in his throat.

It wasn't until he heard the follow-up news from the servants that he learned that Gu Mingshuang had almost been poisoned to death in prison by his mother!

In fact, fearing that one packet of poison wouldn't be enough, he even ordered several prison guards to secretly carry it out, clearly intending to ensure Gu Mingshuang's complete death!

His hands were trembling when he learned these details.

Although everyone outside said that it was Granny Yan, who served his mother, who was responsible for the poisoning, he knew very well how loyal Granny Yan was.

If it weren't for her mother's instructions, Granny Yan would never have dared to harm anyone on her own.

Song Linyuan was filled with helplessness, grief, and indignation. His mother simply couldn't accept the person he loved!

But before he could confront his mother, he learned that she had been severely tortured by his grandmother!

This was the first time he had ever heard of such severe punishments being imposed even in grand mansions!

My grandmother even whipped my mother with a horsewhip. When my mother fainted, she was revived by splashing water on her. After the whipping was over, she was seen by a doctor in a perfunctory manner and then sent to the Buddhist temple!

He still feels lingering fear when he thinks about it now.

Thinking of her mother, a pampered lady who had been spoiled for most of her life, suddenly suffering such great pain, and then looking at Gu Mingshuang now, who was safe and sound, and even had a radiant complexion, making her appearance even more refined.

There are too many stark contrasts like this.

He frowned and said:

"Mingshuang, my mother was wrong in what she did. I've come today to apologize to you on her behalf."

"She harmed you in a moment of impulse because of my future. Fortunately, you are blessed with good fortune and nothing happened to you."

Gu Mingshuang glanced coldly at Song Linyuan.

"Your Highness, I am not a lucky person who has been blessed by heaven; rather, I almost died in prison without anyone knowing. Do you know what happened to the person who ate those dumplings?"

Song Linyuan's face stiffened.

"I heard that only a lowly female prisoner died, which is fortunate..."

Gu Mingshuang coldly interrupted him.

"Your Highness, be careful what you say!"

Song Linyuan was stunned for a moment, not realizing that his words had offended the woman in front of him.

He frowned, feeling that Gu Mingshuang's temper was getting worse and worse.

Thinking of his mother, he suppressed the urge to scold her, softened his tone, and began to speak:

"Mingshuang, you've taken care of Mother before. How could a frail woman like her endure being whipped and then confined to the Buddhist hall in the sweltering summer heat?"

Gu Mingshuang coldly looked away.

"What exactly is the Crown Prince trying to say?"

Song Linyuan said in a low voice:

"Mingshuang, would you come back to the Marquis's residence with me and plead with Grandmother? If you forgive Mother, Grandmother will not make things difficult for her."

"I know I owe you a lot. If you help me this once, I'll do whatever you say from now on, okay?"

Gu Mingshuang did not look at Song Linyuan again.

"Your Highness, if you truly feel indebted, you shouldn't come anymore. Every time you come, you only remind me of one thing: the Gu Mingshuang who used to put you first in everything is dead. Now I have no connection with the Song family whatsoever."

Song Linyuan felt as if he had been struck in the chest by something, and he swayed heavily. He leaned against a pillar and barely managed to keep his balance.

"Ming Shuang, I..."

All those soft, yielding words seemed to be stuck in his throat. Song Linyuan opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

Gu Mingshuang entered the room and began to instruct Aunt Zhang:

"Don't let anyone in."

Aunt Zhang glanced warily outside, then slammed the door shut.

Song Linyuan stood there, leaning against the pillar with his eyes closed, but his mind was filled with the look Gu Mingshuang had given him just now.

They were indifferent and aloof, without even a trace of resentment.

That wasn't out of spite; it was because he genuinely didn't care anymore.

With a sharp pain in his heart, Song Linyuan stood at the door for a long time before finally turning around and getting into the car.

"Return to the Marquis's residence."

In the past, when he was away from home, he felt relaxed when he thought about going home. Now he realized that this relaxation did not come from the Marquis's mansion, but from his wife waiting for him in the courtyard.

Warm pastries, delicate tea, and refreshing incense.

After all that was gone, all that remained for him was an empty loneliness and endless frustration.

Soon, the carriage stopped at the Marquis's residence.

He got out of the car and was about to enter the house when he was almost bumped into by the butler.

Song Linyuan frowned and said in a deep voice:

"What happened? Why were you so reckless?"

The butler hurriedly said:

"Someone from the government has come to collect a debt!"

Song Linyuan's expression hardened.

For some reason, ever since Mingshuang left, the Marquis's mansion has been filled with these endless affairs every day.

"Isn't Lanyu currently in charge of the Marquis's affairs? Let her handle them properly!"

The butler said awkwardly:

"Your Highness, Miss Lanyu said this is a matter of the Marquis's residence, and she cannot handle it, so she sent me to find you."

Song Linyuan frowned.

"I'm going to find her!"