Chapter 193 Gu Qianhan, you're a madman!

Gu Qianning frowned upon hearing this.

She looked at the maid behind Xiao Qingyuan, presumably this was the painting he was referring to.

The maid was dressed in a flamboyant manner and had a certain beauty, but surely Xiao Qingyuan wouldn't be so concerned about her? He even had to ask for a peace charm for the maid before he could take Shen Wantang back to the manor.

When you meet your wife, shouldn't you pray for her safety and put her first in everything? How come Xiao Qingyuan's words make it seem like Shen Wantang, the legal wife, has to be ranked after a maid?

Gu Qianning was displeased with such a clueless man: "Your Highness is quite attentive to your maid, even going so far as to come to Fazhen Temple to ask the abbot for a peace charm for her. She is truly blessed. I wonder if Your Highness has also asked for a peace charm for Your Highness's wife? Surely the maid has one but the wife doesn't? In that case, Your Highness should not send Atang to your side. It would be better if she came with us."

Xiao Qingyuan was stunned. He really hadn't expected Shen Wantang to say, "This... if she likes it, we can ask for it for her as well."

Shen Wantang said calmly, "Your Highness, you don't need to ask for one for me. I already have one. My mother gave it to me a few days ago. You can ask for one for Huayi. I'm about to go back to the manor, so I won't go with Your Highness to ask for a peace charm for Huayi. After all, there's no such rule. It wouldn't look good if word got out that the mistress of the house and her husband were asking for a peace charm for a maid."

Xiao Qingyuan finally realized something was wrong; it seemed as if the maid had been outdone by Shen Wantang.

Hua Yi, standing behind him, looked terrified: "Your Highness should ask for a peace charm for the Princess Consort. How could I, a mere maid, be qualified to trouble Your Highness to ask for a charm? Your Highness is too kind to me!"

Xiao Qingyuan turned around and saw that her face was pale with fright. He gently comforted her, "Don't be afraid, it's alright. It's just a peace charm. Since I've already promised you, I will definitely get it for you. The Crown Princess already has peace charms, she doesn't need any more."

Gu Qianning looked at Xiao Qingyuan in disbelief. He had been infatuated with a woman who was pregnant with another man's child, and now he was being so gentle and considerate to a maid, while neglecting his wife. He was going too far!

She turned to look at Shen Wantang, only to see that Shen Wantang's expression was calm, her clear eyes without a ripple, as if she had long been used to Xiao Qingyuan's behavior.

She gasped. What kind of life was Shen Wantang living in the Ning Prince's Mansion? How could her husband be so unreliable!

Just as she was about to say a few more sarcastic remarks to Xiao Qingyuan, her second brother spoke up:

"Xiao Qingyuan, are you deliberately showing me how much you care about this maid? Just because I said I'd snatch whoever you like?"

"Since that's the case, then I'll grant your wish. I'm determined to take this maid."

"Jixiang, go and tie this maid up. We'll take her back to the Duke's mansion and see what's so special about her that made the esteemed young master personally come to Fazhen Temple to ask the abbot for a peace charm for her."

Jixiang immediately stepped forward, trying to grasp the essence of the painting.

Hua Yi was even more horrified: "Your Highness, this..."

Xiao Qingyuan blocked Jixiang's path, glaring at Gu Qianhan with hatred: "What exactly do you want? Huayi is just my maid, you don't need to target her! If you hate me, then just deal with me directly, what kind of skill is it to deal with a maid!"

Gu Qianhan's eyes were icy, his voice indifferent. He was like a block of emotionless ice, completely disregarding the lives of others: "She's just a maid. I can take her if I want, kill her if I want. The more you like her, the more I'll take her. The more you care about her, the more I'll kill her!"

Xiao Qingyuan roared, "Gu Qianhan, you're a madman!"

He shouted these words loudly, attracting countless worshippers to come and watch, and some even started pointing and gossiping about Gu Qianhan.

Gu Qianhan paid no attention to the passersby. He remained indifferent: "I may be crazy, but so what? Your maid is mine now. Before I take her away, you can go and ask for some damn peace charm. Later, put it on her and see if your peace charm is more effective, or my knife."

Xiao Qingyuan was so angry that the veins on his forehead bulged. He clenched his fists, wishing he could slap Gu Qianhan across the face.

However, the scene of his last fight with Gu Qianhan was still vivid in his mind—he was no match for Gu Qianhan at all, and he was suppressed the whole time.

However, despite his anger, he remained rational and quickly realized his mistake—he might have shown too much affection and protection towards Huayi.

Otherwise, Gu Qianhan wouldn't have set her sights on Huayi.

In the end, it's his own fault for not hiding it well. If he hadn't been so nice to Huayi, she wouldn't have gotten involved with Gu Qianhan today.

He finally changed his mind: "Forget it, I won't ask for a peace charm. I've been out long enough, it's time to go home with my princess consort."

As he spoke, he was about to take Shen Wantang and Huayi away.

Suddenly, a woman in green rushed out from the crowd of onlookers and knelt down at Gu Qianhan's feet with a thud: "I just heard this young master call you Gu Qianhan. Are you the second young master of the Duke's mansion?"

Gu Qianhan ignored the man, but Xiao Qingyuan immediately said, "Yes, it's him. What do you want with him? Did he do something to wrong you before?"

The woman in green started crying: "I have never met Young Master Gu before, and he has done nothing to wrong me. I just wanted to ask him for help."

"Young Master Gu, you are a son of the Duke's family, the Empress's nephew, and someone who can speak for the Emperor. Please help me!"

“My father is Ye Zhongli, the magistrate of Taiyu County. He was imprisoned for his poor performance in controlling the floods this year. But you saw the torrential rains this year. Such natural disasters are beyond human control. My father is innocent. He did his best to control the floods!”

"My mother fell seriously ill and was on the verge of death. I also have a younger brother who contracted the plague and was forcibly taken away. I still don't know if he is alive or dead!"

"Please, Second Young Master Gu, have mercy and save my father, my mother, and my brother! I am willing to serve you as your slave to repay your kindness!"

She kept kowtowing and begging for help, crying her heart out. Her story was so tragic and heartbreaking that it moved all the onlookers.

Gu Qianhan remained unmoved. His face was expressionless, and he coldly uttered a single word: "Get lost!"

The woman in green froze; she simply couldn't believe her ears!

What did he say? He told her to get lost? Doesn't he have any compassion at all? Did she not explain herself clearly, or did he not hear her clearly?

She knelt there, looked up, and stared in disbelief at this renowned young genius from the capital.

Her family is in such a terrible state, even if he refuses to help, he shouldn't tell her to get lost, right?