Chapter 120: Wasn't robbing Chu Yanluo enough?

When Shen Wantang learned that Gu Qianhan had brought something to apologize, she was somewhat surprised: "He certainly didn't stray from proper etiquette."

She turned to look at Granny Chai: "Has the young master woken up? Let him go see him!"

"Your Highness, the Prince has woken up, but he refuses to see Second Young Master Gu. He even said that you can just send him away however you like."

Shen Wantang frowned slightly. No matter what, Gu Qianhan was an outsider, so asking her to meet him was somewhat inappropriate.

She made a quick decision: "Since we are going to apologize to the young master, let's let Mother hear it too. The second young master hit the young master yesterday. Mother didn't say it, but she was really heartbroken."

Granny Chai knew that she was unwilling to meet Gu Qianhan alone, lest she leave something to gossip about: "This old servant will go and invite the Princess Consort right away."

Princess Ning arrived quickly, and the two women went together to the reception hall, where they met Gu Qianhan who was waiting there.

Today, Gu Qianhan was dressed in a sky-blue silk brocade robe, tall and elegant, exuding an air of nobility.

Upon seeing Princess Ning enter, he stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Princess."

Then, he cupped his hands towards Shen Wantang and said, "Princess Consort."

Shen Wantang returned the greeting, then helped Princess Ning to sit down in the main seat, while she stood aside to wait.

Princess Ning found Gu Qianhan quite pleasing to the eye at this moment, and asked with a smile, "Qianhan, why are you here again? Is it not enough to snatch Chu Yanluo, are you planning to snatch someone else? There's also a girl named Muge at Yuan'er's place who refuses to leave, have you taken a fancy to her too?"

Gu Qianhan remained calm and spoke in a clear voice: "Your Highness is too kind. I have come today to apologize to Brother Qingyuan. I was rash yesterday and should not have hurt him in a moment of impulse."

Princess Ning breathed a sigh of relief; at least they weren't here to return the goods!

"It's alright. Qingyuan injured you last time and even made you kneel as punishment by the Emperor. Now that you've injured him, you're even."

"Your Highness is so magnanimous and kind, I am deeply ashamed. I will definitely think twice before I act in the future."

Princess Ning really wanted to say, "Don't overthink it! You should be more impulsive, otherwise we really don't know how to get rid of Chu Yanluo!"

She opened her mouth, but ultimately couldn't bring herself to say what was on her mind.

She could only say to Shen Wantang, "Tang'er, look at this, this is the kind of child raised in the Duke's mansion. He knows how to correct his mistakes and reflect on himself. Isn't that good! This child will surely amount to something great in the future!"

Shen Wantang echoed her: "Young Master Gu is responsible and has a limitless future."

Gu Qianhan looked at Shen Wantang. Today, she was wearing a light green ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with a jade hairpin in her hair and a pair of incredibly clear green bracelets on her wrist. Her fair skin, set off by these accessories, seemed to be a piece of flawless white jade, making people want to explore her inner self.

But Gu Qianhan knew he couldn't cause her any trouble, so he only glanced at her before looking away: "Your Highness and the Crown Princess are too kind. I am unworthy of such praise."

As he spoke, he handed over the gift list he had brought.

Shen Wantang stepped forward to take it. She glanced at it and found that the gift list was roughly the same value as the things Xiao Qingyuan had sent to the Duke's Mansion last time, with nothing special about it. Then she handed it to her mother-in-law to see.

Princess Ning waved her hand, indicating that Shen Wantang should just accept the gift list.

She didn't look at the gift list, nor was she interested in the apology gifts brought by Gu Qianhan. She was more curious about how the Gu family would react after Gu Qianhan took Chu Yanluo away.

It's really strange that the Gu family hasn't made a single move since last night!

Shouldn't the Gu family be in chaos like the Ning Prince's Mansion because of that Chu Yanluo?

"Qianhan, didn't your mother say anything when you brought Chu Yanluo back? Did she approve of your marriage to her?"

Gu Qianhan said calmly, "Miss Chu is not yet married to me, so naturally I cannot just bring her back to the Gu family like this. Marriage requires proper betrothal and proper conduct, so as to give the young lady the proper respect. If I were to casually bring Miss Chu home, I would not be protecting her, but harming her."

Princess Ning was taken aback: "So, you didn't bring her back to the Duke's mansion?"

"Of course not."

"Where is she living now?" Let's hope she doesn't run back to the Prince Ning's residence!

“I have prepared a house for Miss Chu to live in alone. After I inform my parents and obtain their consent, I will ask a matchmaker to propose marriage, and then I will bring Miss Chu into the family.”

Princess Ning nodded: "This is indeed a normal procedure for marriage. However, will your parents agree to your marriage to Chu Yanluo?"

"Whether her parents agree or not, Qianhan will try her best. If they really disagree, then Qianhan will have no choice but to leave the Gu family and start her own household. Miss Chu is not the kind of person who pursues fame and fortune, so she is probably willing to wait for Qianhan to start her own household."

Shen Wantang couldn't help but look at Gu Qianhan.

He already said this yesterday, but saying it again today just doesn't sound right.

Chu Yanluo doesn't seem like the kind of person who has the patience to wait for Gu Qianhan. She seems more like someone who likes to pursue fame and fortune. Is Gu Qianhan really not being sarcastic?

"The apology has been delivered, so I won't bother the Princess and the Crown Princess any longer. I'll come to bother you again when Brother Qingyuan is feeling better."

Gu Qianhan bowed slightly, then left with his servant.

Princess Ning watched his retreating figure, lost in thought: "This boy, I just can't see through him. Does he like Chu Yanluo, or not? He's settling her in a house outside the Duke's mansion, what's the difference between that and keeping a mistress?"

“What Mother said makes sense; it does seem a bit like keeping a mistress.”

Shen Wantang couldn't see through Gu Qianhan either. Whether in her past life or this life, he gave her the same feeling: he was too calm and indifferent. Even when it came to something as important as marrying Chu Yanluo, he spoke of it so calmly, even somewhat coldly.

This hardly looks like the image of a victor who has won the heart of a beautiful woman.

Couldn't he at least smile?

But he didn't. He hasn't smiled since yesterday, making it impossible to tell whether he's happy or unhappy.

Just then, Granny Chai hurried in: "Your Highness, this old servant just had someone count the things that Young Master Gu sent, and found that the items don't match the list."

Shen Wantang was slightly taken aback: "It doesn't match? How could that be?"

For a large family like the Duke's Mansion, the items sent out must be counted and registered by a designated person. The items must match the list before they are taken out of the mansion.

Otherwise, what if something is missing, and it appears on the delivery slip but the recipient didn't receive it? Wouldn't that be awkward?

Shen Wantang lifted her foot and walked out: "What doesn't match up? Is something missing?"

"Nothing is missing, but something has been added."

"What's extra?"

"A full thousand taels of gold were added."

Shen Wantang stopped in her tracks: "What? Are you sure?"

“It’s absolutely true, Princess Consort. Young Master Gu gave an extra thousand taels of gold, which wasn’t recorded on the list.”