Do You Know?: Rule the World

Gu Tingye remained silent, obviously realizing that something was amiss.

Not long after, Zhu Gui's grave was dug up. The moment the coffin lid was opened, Gu Tingye's pupils suddenly shrank and his face became gloomy.

"Why is he gone? Could it be... could it be that Zhu Gui is posing as a dead body?"

Shi Tou looked at the empty coffin and looked at his brother in disbelief.

Gu Tingye clenched his fists, veins bulged on his forehead, and his chest heaved violently.

"What a great way to pay tribute to her brother! I want to see where her brother is!"

At night, in Tianshui Lane, in a small courtyard.

Zhu Manniang was dressed particularly gorgeously, with a sweet scent of cosmetics. She walked slowly behind Gu Tingye and massaged his shoulders with just the right strength.

Gu Tingye sat at the desk, flipping through the pages of a book with a normal expression, but a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

He pretended to be casual and asked, "Manniang, did your visit to your brother's memorial service go smoothly today?"

Zhu Manniang paused her movements imperceptibly, then said softly, "Thanks to Erlang."

"Everything is fine, but I always feel uncomfortable when I think of my brother."

"Erlang, when can you bring me to the Marquis Mansion to meet the Marquis and Madam Qin?"

"The next time I come back, I'm afraid it will be after the Autumn Examination next year."

Zhu Manniang was naturally unwilling to be just a concubine who could not be seen in public.

What she wanted was not only the money in Gu Tingye's hands, but also the noble status of the eldest lady of Ningyuan Marquis' Mansion.

Gu Tingye frowned and said coldly: "Manniang, when you insisted on following me, you never mentioned entering the Marquis' Mansion."

"Erlang, do you dislike me?"

"I was just thinking, if we have a child in the future, I can be his concubine, but wouldn't he... also be unable to hold his head up high?"

Zhu Manniang's voice was soft and sad. In order to control Gu Tingye, she hoped day and night to have a child.

It’s a pity that my stomach has not moved yet.

"Man Niang, have you ever lied to me?" Gu Tingye stared at her with his eyes flashing.

Zhu Manniang twitched the corners of her mouth and subconsciously clenched her sleeves.

Today she and Gu Tingye said that they were going to pay tribute to her brother, but in fact they were secretly sending money to her good-for-nothing brother.

"No, Erlang is my savior. If Erlang hadn't taken me in, I'm afraid I would have already..."

Before he could finish his words, the door of the compartment was kicked open with a bang.

Zhao Han stood at the door with his hands behind his back.

Shitou followed behind him, holding a timid man with bruises on his face.

This person is Zhu Manniang's brother Zhu Gui.

"Second brother, Lord Zhao is indeed as good as a god. He said that Zhu Gui is a gambler and must be hiding in the gambling house right now."

"As expected, we caught him red-handed in the Dongmen gambling house!" After saying that, Shitou threw Zhu Gui forward heavily.

Chapter 70 The Princess's Marriage

Zhu Gui staggered and fell to his knees. When he looked up, he met Gu Tingye's cold gaze and was immediately frightened out of his wits.

"Gu Erlang, please spare me, this... this was all my sister Man Niang's idea!"

"He said that you are the legitimate son of the Ningyuan Marquis. If we can marry you, we will surely enjoy endless wealth and glory in the future!"

"Even the idea of ​​faking my death was hers. She said it would earn your sympathy..."

Zhu Manniang's face turned pale, and she couldn't help but take a few steps back, "Erlang, it's not me..."

"You're still quibbling, Zhu Manniang! It's really a waste of my brother's meticulous care for you all this time!" Shi Tou said angrily.

Gu Tingye looked silent, standing there motionless, just staring at Zhu Manniang.

Seeing this, Zhu Manniang knelt on the ground with a plop and crawled to Gu Tingye's feet using her hands and feet.

She raised her tear-stained face and cried, "Erlang, I really didn't mean to lie to you!"

"I don't want any official status anymore, and I don't need to be a concubine!"

"Erlang, I have no special skills and am adrift on the seas and rivers. I have no other options but to resort to this desperate measure!"

"Just think of it as... just like having a lowly servant in your house. I'll serve you tea, water, wash your clothes, and fold your quilts..."

Seeing Gu Tingye's face as gloomy as iron, Shitou stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Brother, do you want to take them to Kaifeng Prefecture to be punished?"

"No." Zhao Han spoke at the right time.

Once the matter reaches the government and gets out, not only Gu Tingye but the entire Ningyuan Marquis Mansion will suffer loss of reputation.

What's more, Gu Yankai and Xiao Qinshi don't know about Zhu Manniang's existence yet.

Gu Tingye understood the stakes of this, and he said coldly, "Zhu Manniang, take your dead brother and get out of Bianjing right now!"

"Otherwise, don't blame me for being cruel and making it impossible for you to survive here!"

Gu Tingye actually had the intention to kill them, but not long ago, he had just gone to great lengths to help Zhu Manniang escape from her status as a prostitute.

If he were to kill now, and if any clues were revealed and known by Xiao Qinshi and Gu Tingyu, the consequences would be immeasurable.

What's more, he also wants to take the scientific examination.

If you have such a stain on your body, it will become a handle for your political enemies to attack you when you become an official in the future.

"Stone!" Gu Tingye shouted.

"Take them out of the city now! If they dare to resist... I'll break their legs on the spot!"

"Yes!" Shitou responded with a fist clasped.

He immediately reached out and grabbed Zhu Gui's collar, pulled off a handkerchief and stuffed it into Zhu Manniang's mouth, tied them up tightly, threw them into the carriage, and sped towards the city gate.

Gu Tingye straightened his sleeves, bowed deeply to Zhao Han, and said with gratitude in his eyes, "If it weren't for Brother Chengyuan's keen observation, I don't know how long I would have been deceived by her."

"I used to think that since she was a weak woman, she would come all the way to Bailu Cave to find me. She must be truly in love with me."

"Unexpectedly, what Brother Chengyuan said was right. It's just the drama of this pair of vicious siblings."

"I will always remember your kindness today. If I can be of any use to you in the future, I will definitely..."

Zhao Han raised his hand to stop him from speaking.

"Between you and me, there's no need to thank me. But from now on, you better keep your eyes open."

Gu Tingye sighed softly and shook his head, saying, "In the final analysis, it was my negligence that made me forget what Brother Chengyuan said."

"From now on, if you tell me to go west, I will never go east!"

When Zhao Han returned home, it was already dark and a crescent moon hung in the sky.

Pushing open the main courtyard door, I saw that the candlelight in the east wing was still bright.

After hearing the familiar footsteps, Hua Lan immediately came out to greet them. Under the moonlight, her unmade-up face looked particularly beautiful, with a hint of worry and fatigue between her eyebrows.

"Why did you come back at this time today, sir?"

Zhao Han held her slender waist and said gently, "Because of Gu Erlang's matter, I was delayed for a long time. You don't have to wait for me next time. Be careful not to tire yourself out."

"How can I rest in peace when my lord has not returned for so long?"

"The maid has prepared hot water. Sir, please go take a bath and relieve your fatigue." Hua Lan said as she personally helped Zhao Han undress.

Next, of course, there are the red candles and the warm tent, and the red waves...

-

Ten days pass like a flash of lightning, gone in the blink of an eye.

Today, Zhao Han stood in front of the mirror. His dark green official uniform made his figure look like a pine tree, and the silver belt around his waist shone with a cool light in the morning light.

After Hua Lan personally straightened his collar, she stood outside the room and watched Zhao Han leave.

"Madam, the master has gone far away, let's go back." Cai Zan reminded softly.

Hua Lan then withdrew her gaze and turned back to the house reluctantly.

Today was not an ordinary court day. As usual, Zhao Han came to Wenhua Hall to lecture Zhao Zhen on classics and history. As soon as he stepped onto the white jade steps, he saw Zhang Maoze standing outside the hall, shaking his head at him.

Zhao Han understood, stepped forward, bowed, and whispered, "Master Zhang, what's inside..."

Before he finished speaking, a clear voice with a hint of crying suddenly rang out in the hall.

"Daddy, I've told you! I don't want to marry into the Li family! I don't want the title of Princess of Yan either!"

"If you insist on doing this, I would rather shave my head and become a nun!"

Zhang Maoze saw Zhao Han's puzzled expression, smiled bitterly and shook his head, lowering his voice and saying, "It's Princess Fukang inside. She's been making noises since the morning hour. The emperor is so angry that he didn't even have breakfast..."

"Princess Fukang?"

Zhao Han took a deep breath. The princess's name was Zhao Huirou. She was the first and only child in the emperor's family who had reached the age of coming of age.

"Yes, this little ancestor has made trouble more than once since we started discussing the marriage." Zhang Maoze's eyes were full of helplessness, and now he didn't even dare to go in to serve.

Before he finished speaking, Zhao Zhen's angry voice suddenly came from inside the hall: "Who's outside?!"

Zhang Maoze bowed quickly and said, "Your Majesty, it's Zhao Shidu who has arrived."

"Let him in!"

Hearing this, Zhao Han frowned slightly and glanced quietly across the palace door. He could faintly hear bursts of sobbing coming from inside.

"Master Zhang, can this humble official really go in now?"

Zhang Maoze raised his hand and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Master Zhao, if you don't go in, the emperor will probably..."

"I understand." Zhao Han immediately adjusted his official hat, straightened his back, and walked into the hall.

Glancing over, I saw Zhao Huirou wearing a light blue brocade skirt, with a bright red belt around her waist that was particularly eye-catching.

She knelt beside the imperial desk, tears still hanging in the corners of her eyes on her jade-like face, and her red lips were slightly pursed under her straight nose.

Although she was trying hard to suppress her tears, there was still a faint blush on the tip of her nose.