Chapter 20 Chapter 20 “I’ll find a way, don’t worry…

Shame... so shameful...

Lingchuan lowered his head, not daring to look into Qin Sizhao's eyes, and his body kept shaking.

Qin Sizhao looked calm and greeted Gu Shi politely.

Although he was well-mannered, polite, and his demeanor was impeccable, Gu Shi felt inexplicably awkward and took a step forward, standing in front of Lingchuan.

"I... I feel a little thirsty. I'm going to buy a cup of sugarcane tea..."

Lingchuan made up an excuse and quickly fled the scene.

She was so ashamed to be seen by Qin Sizhao traveling with Gu Shi. She didn't have the face to see him again...

It would be fine if she had a clear conscience, but she did.

Glancing at Lingchuan's hurried escape, Qin Sizhao just curled up the corners of his mouth and smiled slightly.

"I heard that the prince was looking for a husband for his adopted sister. Has anyone found a candidate?"

Gu Shi's heart suddenly became alarmed, and he said coldly:

"I won't be looking for a husband for her for now."

Qin Sizhao only smiled politely and said:

"What a pity. I originally had a distant cousin who was unmarried."

He already had an idea in his mind and knew that this matter was not that simple. He could not act rashly, otherwise Lingchuan would be implicated and harmed.

At present, Lingchuan's life and death is still in Gu Shi's hands. He cannot be reckless and put her in danger because of his own selfish desires.

He observed that Gu Shi was obviously relieved. Qin Sizhao was only afraid that Gu Shi would suspect that Lingchuan had some kind of collusion with him, and thus would suspect and harm Lingchuan.

He exchanged a few brief pleasantries with Gu Shi and then took his leave.

Seeing that Gu Shi's face looked strange, Qin Sizhao put his hand on his chin, wondering whether he had really wanted Lingchuan to get married before.

Qin Sizhao's thoughts were like a tangled mess, and he pondered calmly. If Gu Shi really wanted Lingchuan to get married, that would be the best, but he had to make sure he had a foolproof plan to be able to deal with even the worst-case scenario.

He suddenly had an idea. Since gossip can easily destroy gold, he might as well spread the prince's good reputation for being kind and selfless in taking in an orphan.

No matter what, it is always right to first establish Gu Shi with a reputation of being virtuous and honest. It would be best if all civil and military officials felt that Gu Shi and Ling Chuan were innocent.

He is now in a critical period of power transfer, so he will naturally protect his reputation and should not lose his imperial power for a woman.

There was no need to consider whether Gu Shi had really wanted Lingchuan to get married. Once Gu Shi was supported by his good reputation, he and Lingchuan could have married openly and faded out of Gu Shi's sight without any harm.

He would resign from his official position and take Lingchuan back to his hometown to continue running a clinic. Gu Shi could give up Lingchuan in exchange for power and fame. This was a win-win situation. Although Gu Shi suffered a loss, he had no reason to cause trouble for him again.

"Lingchuan, is the sugarcane juice delicious?"

Qin Sizhao couldn't help laughing when he saw Lingchuan sitting seriously on a bench at a small stall, drinking sugarcane juice from a cheap porcelain bowl with a broken edge.

He thought she was just making an excuse, but he didn't expect her to actually come and drink this cheap sugarcane juice.

She seemed startled and almost spilled the sugarcane juice on her clothes.

"Qin... Young Master Qin, why are you here?"

She lowered her head awkwardly.

"I'll find a way. Don't worry, just wait for me. Just keep everything normal on your end. Don't worry."

He left this sentence and went away. Lingchuan blinked and felt that the sugarcane juice was a little sweeter.

Qin Sizhao's words were so solid and reliable. A sense of security arose from the bottom of Lingchuan's heart, and she couldn't help but indulge herself and look forward to the future.

Qin Sizhao said that he would find a way, and told her not to worry...

Lingchuan looked down at her belly. Since he was so brave, she couldn't fall behind. She had to solve this problem herself.

She would not hide it from him, but she would never leave this decision to him, as that would be tantamount to forcing him to accept a child who was not his own.

Since Qin Sizhao has made efforts for her, Lingchuan must also make efforts. She has made up her mind to solve this fetus on her own.

She had to muster up the courage to get rid of all her burdens in order to be worthy of his kindness.

But now, she had to go back to Gu Shi and continue to flatter him with a smile.

Lingchuan gritted his teeth and pursed his lips.

She stood up, dragging her legs, and walked back to Huishi step by step.

She was wearing a ruqun and reached out to touch the knot of a ribbon on her chest, which was tied by Gu Shi himself this morning.

Once some bottom lines are broken, you can only regret it with gritted teeth, and it is impossible to retreat to the original distance.

One wrong step, all wrong... She has no chance of redemption.

Seeing that Gu Shi looked normal, Lingchuan didn't dare to guess what he and Qin Sizhao had said, nor did she dare to ask.

"Lingchuan, why do you look so strange?"

Lingchuan remembered Qin Sizhao's instructions to her, "everything should be as usual", and she forced a smile.

"Nothing... That young man must be an official... I was worried that someone would gossip about you in the court, so I felt nervous."

Lingchuan believed that the top scholar's brain was better than hers. Since he told her that, he must have his reasons. She just had to choose to believe him unconditionally.

Gu Shi's expression relaxed a little, thinking that he was worrying too much.

After relaxing, Gu Shi felt a little irritated. His intuition always combined two people who had nothing in common, even though Qin Sizhao didn't even look at Lingchuan.

He didn't want Lingchuan to leave his sight at all. Just thinking about that subtle possibility made him feel uncomfortable all over.

"It doesn't matter. Now that things have come to this, let's talk about it..."

Lingchuan lowered his head and said:

"It's just gossip spreading rumors."

“It’s not a rumor.”

Gu Shi looked down at Lingchuan and spoke word by word. His gaze enveloped her like an airtight net, and she felt like she was drowning and couldn't breathe in his sight.

Lingchuan opened his mouth but said nothing and just avoided Gu Shi's gaze.

Everything is as usual... She silently repeated Qin Sizhao's instructions to her.

But Gu Shi became abnormal... She didn't want to guess his motives, she just wanted to think of a countermeasure.

"Lingchuan, you know those aren't rumors. It's fine to just say some polite words, but don't deceive yourself."

Lingchuan raised the corner of his mouth and smiled:

"Live one day at a time, whatever happens."

She pursed her lips. Was he trying to put all the blame on her again?

Was Gu Shi going to accuse her of shamelessly seducing him in order to climb up the big tree of the palace, and tempting a gentleman to fall...

Or was Gu Shi trying to urge her to correct her status and stop acting like a proper official's daughter?

Lingchuan bit his lower lip hard and told himself not to care about his feelings anymore, because he was not worthy of Gu Shi at all.

It doesn't matter what he thinks. She just needs to try her best to complete Qin Sizhao's instructions and not hold him back.

As long as I can keep everything as normal, at least I won't implicate him.

Gu Shi couldn't help but look at Lingchuan again, and he finally found where the incongruity lay.

Lingchuan was wearing a pomegranate-red skirt today, with a slightly low-cut neckline. In the streets and alleys, many eyes were on her, both openly and covertly.

Even though he was already familiar with Lingchuan and was a little tired of her, he couldn't help but secretly look at her over and over again.

But Qin Sizhao didn't even look at her, not even a curious glance. This was wrong, it was really abnormal.

He looked down at Lingchuan. Her temperament was changeable and capricious, and he couldn't tell if there was anything wrong with her.

"Lingchuan, did you know Qin Sizhao before?"

Gu Shi felt that he was being too suspicious, but he just felt an inexplicable sense of disharmony.

Lingchuan frowned and asked doubtfully:

"Qin Sizhao? Are you talking about the young man who just saluted you?"

She knew that if she avoided Qin Sizhao too deliberately, it would arouse suspicion. Lingchuan had already figured out a solution to this problem.

"I can't say I don't know that young master... I heard from Yang Ruoyun that a noble lady seemed to be interested in him, but he politely rejected her."

She smiled proudly, and she really didn't lie at all.

Gu Shi pursed his lips and thought to himself that he was worrying too much. Qin Sizhao was the new top scholar, so even if he wanted to get married, it would not be Lingchuan's turn. He really thought too highly of her.

Qin Sizhao was a man of such perfect courtesy that no one could find fault with him. He didn't look at Lingchuan just out of courtesy and to avoid him.

"Come back to the palace with me, Lingchuan."

"Why would I go to that place? I'd better go back to the palace. It's more comfortable to stay there."

He was annoyed that Lingchuan wanted to leave his sight, but he couldn't find any reason to be angry with her.

"Lingchuan, you have to get used to it slowly."

"I'm not used to it... The people in the palace are so weird, like wooden creatures."

"That's called rules, not weird."

"I have no identity. It's awkward to go there. People look at me weirdly."

“You can have an identity.”

He was anxious for a moment and blurted out what was in his heart without thinking. He regretted it after he said it. He didn't want Lingchuan to think that he needed her more.

"It's not a big deal. I'm just giving you a title...it's not a big deal."

Lingchuan was slightly annoyed by him.

"Forget it. I know I'm dull and impatient, and I can't stand the slightest injustice. But I dare not get involved in the affairs of your imperial family. If I don't do it well, I'll lose my head."

"It's good that you have this self-awareness."

Gu Shi turned his face away again, not wanting to look at her.

He didn't know what was wrong with him. If Lingchuan knew his feelings, he would be unhappy. If Lingchuan was completely unaware of his feelings, he would also be unhappy.

He just wanted to transform his unhappiness into some kind of unspeakable desire and vent it on Lingchuan as soon as possible.

Anyway, she was the one who made him unhappy, so she deserved it.