Chapter 370 Second Brother, I've Cleared Your Name

As Liu Nanshi listened to the crowd's discussion, her expression went beyond just looking ugly.

This was the first time she had ever lost so much face in front of so many people!

She absolutely cannot let this go!

She immediately led her maids and nannies to chase after them.

On the other side, Shen Wantang and Gu Qianning had already reached the carriage of the Duke's mansion.

Gu Qianning exclaimed with some delight, "A-Tang, I thought you couldn't swear, but I didn't expect you not only could, but you swore right on the spot! Did you see that Liu Nanshi's face turned green!"

Shen Wantang smiled helplessly: "I didn't want to scold her in front of so many people, but she insisted on being scolded, so I had no choice but to grant her wish."

"Hmph, Liu Nanshi thought you wouldn't dare to clash with her in public, and she never expected you to dare to insult her, so she was fearless."

Gu Qianning had a bellyful of secrets that she had kept to herself. Before, no one had told her, but now she finally had someone to confide in. She poured out everything about Liu Nanshi like beans spilling from a bamboo tube.

"You don't know, she used to like manipulating people like this. She liked everyone to revolve around her, and if anyone didn't play with her, she would isolate them!"

"If someone comes from a less privileged background than her, she will use her status to suppress them. She will even complain to Grand Secretary Liu and ask him to suppress the other person's father!"

“She doesn’t dare to openly criticize those from families with better backgrounds than her, so she spreads ambiguous rumors behind their backs, either slandering their character or spreading rumors that they have affairs with other men. She even slandered Prince Xiao’s sister!”

"It's not just women who are like this; she needs everyone to like her, even men! If anyone doesn't like her, she'll do everything she can to suppress them and spread rumors about them!"

"But she puts on such a good show in front of her elders, being gentle, virtuous, and understanding. She even has the title of the most talented woman in Dafeng, making her the best daughter-in-law in the eyes of every mother-in-law in the capital! Even my mother was fooled by her and insisted that my second brother marry her!"

Shen Wantang was astonished. She had never met Liu Nanshi in her previous life and had no idea that she was like this. Her reputation had always been very good.

And indeed, as Gu Qianning said, Liu Nanshi was the most suitable daughter-in-law in the hearts of countless noble ladies. After her marriage to Gu Qianhan failed in her previous life, many noble ladies asked Liu Nanshi to marry their sons. The matchmakers who came to propose marriage almost wore down the threshold of the Liu family.

If it weren't for the Gu family's power and the fact that Gu Qianning had already been chosen as the Crown Princess, Liu Nanshi might have even snatched the position, as the Emperor had shown his fondness and appreciation for her on more than one occasion.

Shen Wantang sighed softly and patted Gu Qianning's hand: "A'ning, it's been hard on you. When your two families were discussing marriage, you must have had to put up with her scheming and hypocrisy quite a bit. It's really not easy for you to have endured it until now."

Gu Qianning hugged her, deeply moved: "Oh my god, finally someone understands me!"

"Ah Tang, you don't know, I used to tell my mother that Liu Nanshi was bad, but she didn't believe me!"

"And my stupid second brother, when I said Liu Nanshi was scheming, he actually said it's normal for her to be scheming!"

"Tell me, is there something wrong with my second brother? Anyone who didn't know better would think he's in love with Liu Nanshi!"

She had barely finished speaking when a cold voice came from behind her: "Gu Qianning, who are you calling crazy?"

Gu Qianning froze. She released Shen Wantang and turned back awkwardly, "Second brother, when did you get here? Why didn't you make a sound?"

"Which eye of yours saw that I like Liu Nanshi?"

"Um... I didn't say you like Liu Nanshi. I said that people who didn't know better would think you like Liu Nanshi!"

"If you keep talking nonsense, I'll rip your tongue out!"

Gu Qianning quickly covered her mouth and turned to complain to Shen Wantang, "Atang, look at my second brother, he's going to pull out my tongue! He's so scary, I'm going to have nightmares tonight!"

Shen Wantang looked up at Gu Qianhan: "Second Young Master, don't scare A Ning. She is your sister. You should cherish and protect her."

Honestly, Gu Qianning lost her life in her previous life, and now that she's been reborn, Gu Qianhan doesn't know how to spoil her at all. He's really as cold and ruthless as ever!

"The Crown Princess is right. I should cherish A Ning more."

Gu Qianhan readily complied, his cold expression softening as he beckoned to Gu Qianning: "A'ning, come here, I have a gift for you."

Gu Qianning became highly wary. Instead of going over, she hid behind Shen Wantang: "Gu Qianhan, you would be so kind? I'm afraid giving me a gift is just a pretense. If I go over there, you'll snap my neck and rip out my tongue!"

Gu Qianhan took a step forward: "Come here, don't make me say it a third time."

He was tall and had long legs, with a sharp and imposing presence. Not to mention Gu Qianning, who had always been somewhat afraid of him, even Shen Wantang found it difficult to cope. She unconsciously took a step back, just like Gu Qianning.

But there was a carriage behind them, and there was no room to back up any further.

Gu Qianhan took another step closer. He reached out, put his hand over Shen Wantang's shoulder, and pulled Gu Qianning out.

Gu Qianning felt it was wise not to fight a losing battle, so she immediately lowered her head and said, "Second brother, I was wrong. I will never dare to say anything out of line again. I know you don't like Liu Nanshi!"

She turned to look at Shen Wantang: "Atang, my second brother doesn't like Liu Nanshi, really, more really than gold!"

Shen Wantang looked puzzled. Gu Qianhan didn't like Liu Nanshi, so why was Gu Qianning talking to her?

However, under Gu Qianhan's pressure, she could only nod and say, "Yes, I know."

Gu Qianning breathed a sigh of relief. She looked up at Gu Qianhan and said, "Second brother, look, I've cleared your name. Can you let me go now?"

Gu Qianhan said calmly, "When did I say I wouldn't let you go?"

"But what you just did—"

"What I just said was that I have a gift for you."

As Gu Qianhan spoke, she took out two strings of Buddhist prayer beads.

As soon as Gu Qianning saw that there were two bracelets, she immediately glared at Gu Qianhan.

This wasn't a gift for her at all; it was clearly something he wanted to give to Shen Wantang. But he couldn't give it to her openly, so he reluctantly included his own sister in the gift, so that Shen Wantang wouldn't suspect him of having ulterior motives.

In the past, she would have simply taken both bracelets, given one to Shen Wantang, and kept the other for herself.

But Gu Qianhan had just scared her, and she held a grudge, so she deliberately only took one string of prayer beads: "These prayer beads look very special. Second brother, you put a lot of thought into this gift. Thank you for the present!"

Now it was Gu Qianhan's turn to glare at her. She only took one string of pearls? How was he going to give the other string to Shen Wantang?

The brother and sister were glaring at each other when a gentle voice came: "Qianhan, you specially bought two bracelets, one of which is for me, right?"