Chapter 437 Gu Qianhan, let go!

Seeing her smile, Shen Wantang breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "So, you're willing to marry into the Jiangnan region?"

Gu Qianning hesitated for a long time without saying a word.

Clearly, she was unwilling and resentful.

Shen Wantang took the booklet from her hand again, led her to a quiet place, and had the maids spread out a blanket and set out some snacks. The two of them ate while looking at the booklet together.

“A-Ning, I think this is a good idea. Your grandfather was an imperial censor, and your father was sent to a post outside the capital. When your father is transferred back to the capital, he will definitely return to the capital as well. You can treat it as a trip to Jiangnan for a few years and come back in a few years. How about it?”

Gu Qianning sighed, "No, this person is too short, less than six feet tall. I don't like him. I think someone as tall as my cousin, the Crown Prince, would be the most suitable."

Shen Wantang nodded. The Crown Prince was indeed a cut above this man. She then pointed to another one for Gu Qianning: "And this young master? He's eight feet tall, has a handsome appearance, and exudes an air of righteousness. He should have a bright future. Do you like him?"

Gu Qianning sighed again: "I don't like it. It's too tall, and it looks too rigid and serious. It's not as amiable as my cousin, the Crown Prince."

Shen Wantang: "..."

The Crown Prince's amiable demeanor is all an act; marrying him would mean losing your head!

"A-Ning, what about this one? He's quite good-looking, and the higher-ups say he's also quite lively. Maybe you'll get along well with him?"

"Oh no, this guy looks frivolous, he's definitely a playboy!"

Shen Wantang couldn't help but shake her head. If he were really a playboy, Gu Qianhan wouldn't have put him in the register.

She flipped through the entire booklet, but Gu Qianning didn't like this one or that one. In the end, she finally found one that was barely acceptable in all aspects.

Ji Xiuyuan, nineteen years old, is of average height and build. He doesn't look too serious or frivolous. He comes from a good family with a clean and upright family tradition. All the members of the family are diligent and studious, and have successful careers. None of them frequent brothels.

Gu Qianning couldn't find fault with Ji Xiuyuan, but she didn't want to marry him either. She said, "Let's talk about choosing a husband later. Maybe my second brother will change his mind? I'll just not get married for now. That way, I can enjoy a couple more years of leisure at home."

Shen Wantang didn't know when Gu Qianhan would start his rebellion, but he figured it wouldn't be too soon. Gu Qianning could indeed stay at home for another two years. As long as Gu Qianning got married before the rebellion started, she could save her life regardless of whether the rebellion succeeded or failed.

She stopped talking and started chatting with Gu Qianning about other things.

"The Prince's mansion has been peaceful and quiet lately, everyone is behaving themselves and no one is causing trouble. I'm actually not used to it!"

Gu Qianning affectionately took her arm: "A-Tang, I always thought you married badly. There's not a single person in the Ning Prince's mansion who's easy to deal with. It's a good thing you're so smart and capable, otherwise you would have been driven to your death long ago."

"However, now I think that the Ning Prince's Mansion isn't so bad after all. It's good to have a powerful backer. With your beauty and intelligence, it would be a waste for you to marry into a humble family. Besides, they can't protect you well."

"Although Prince Xiao is often biased and easily swayed, I have found that you can actually control him. His little bit of cleverness is as fragile as paper in front of you. If you can handle him and appease your mother-in-law, your life in the Prince's mansion will not be too bad."

Shen Wantang smiled gently and said nothing.

She felt it was remarkable that she could still laugh.

When Gu Qianhan raises his army, she will probably no longer be able to laugh. If Gu Qianhan succeeds, the entire Xiao family will be wiped out.

In his previous life, the entire Gu family was wiped out. If Gu Qianhan hadn't sacrificed his own life to save his elder brother's two children, the Crown Prince wouldn't have spared those two infants either; he would have definitely killed them.

In this life, Gu Qianhan has avenged herself. Will any members of the Xiao clan survive? If the Xiao clan is wiped out, will she live?

Although she vaguely sensed that Gu Qianhan treated her somewhat specially, and that he owed her a favor in her past life, she wasn't sure how much of a difference these special treatments and favors would make.

She turned to look at Gu Qianning, her mind in turmoil.

One voice said that she should stop Gu Qianhan from starting a rebellion, that she should inform on him, otherwise, when the nest is overturned, there will be no safe haven.

Another voice said that she should pretend she knew nothing. Telling others was the most shameless thing to do, and it would kill the entire Gu family and her only and best friend. Anyway, the chances of Gu Qianhan succeeding were very small, so the best choice was to wait and see.

If she didn't inform on them, she could wait for Gu Qianhan to succeed and then beg Gu Qianhan and Gu Qianning to let her live. But if she informed on them, no matter how much Gu Qianhan and Gu Qianning pleaded, the emperor would never let them live.

Shen Wantang was in some pain. She suddenly felt that being reborn was not a good thing. Knowing too much would only increase troubles and would not solve any problems at all.

She found herself in an unprecedented dilemma.

Gu Qianning, who was beside her, had fallen asleep leaning against her at some point.

Shen Wantang knew that she had been distressed for many days because of her impending marriage to someone in Jiangnan. She had been unable to sleep for nights on end. Now that she was by her side, she felt greatly relaxed and trusted and even relied on her, so she fell asleep peacefully.

Shen Wantang gestured to Gu Qianning's maid, who then gently covered her with a thin blanket.

She was fast asleep, and peach blossoms were falling one after another, with petals constantly landing on her face, but she was completely unaware.

Shen Wantang removed the flower petals from her head and covered her head with a handkerchief. Seeing that she was sleeping soundly, she couldn't help but smile. She couldn't sleep at home, so sleeping like this outside made people think she was being abused at home!

Gu Qianhan is also cold-hearted and ruthless. He doesn't even let his sister leave the house. Doesn't that make people even more suspicious?

A tall figure suddenly appeared, blocking the slightly warm sunlight.

Shen Wantang looked up and saw that familiar, indifferent face.

He was dressed in black, standing with his back to the light, his angular face as expressionless as ever.

Afraid of waking Gu Qianning, Shen Wantang remained silent for a moment. Since she didn't speak, Gu Qianhan also kept quiet, just watching her silently.

Shen Wantang's neck was sore from looking up, and seeing that Gu Qianhan didn't avoid her gaze, she had no choice but to lower her head. She couldn't keep staring at him; what would that look like?

"Second Young Master, you've come to take A-Ning back, haven't you?"

Actually, no, there's nothing to it about having a younger sister, but Gu Qianhan nodded: "Mm."

“A-Ning just fell asleep. Why don’t you carry her back to the carriage and let her sleep a little longer?”

Gu Qianhan originally intended to wake Gu Qianning directly, but after hearing what Shen Wantang said, he silently bent down, picked up his sister, and carried her into the carriage.

Shen Wantang lifted the curtain and whispered, "Put her down gently, let her get a good night's sleep."

Gu Qianhan then moved more gently so as not to wake Gu Qianning.

Then, he got off the carriage, stood in front of Shen Wantang, and said, "Thank you for taking care of A Ning."

"You're welcome."

As Shen Wantang spoke, she waved her hand, signaling the maids and servants to stand further away.

Then, she handed Gu Qianning's booklet to Gu Qianhan: "I looked at this with A-Ning. Apart from Ji Xiuyuan, the other young masters don't have much of a chance."

"After all, compared to the Crown Prince, these people are too weak, so it's normal for A Ning to refuse to marry him. However, Ji Xiuyuan doesn't have any obvious weaknesses, so A Ning couldn't find a reason to reject him."

"I guess your choice is also Ji Xiuyuan, after all, he will be the top scorer."

Her voice was soft, but her gaze was fixed on Gu Qianhan; she had no intention of continuing the act.

She needed to make her rebirth public, at least in front of Gu Qianhan, because she needed to survive.

Gu Qianhan didn't take the booklet; instead, he directly grasped Shen Wantang's hand.

Shen Wantang never expected him to do such a thing. She was startled and tried to pull her hand back, but she couldn't.

Gu Qianhan's voice was deep: "Why are you suddenly revealing your past? Didn't you refuse to let me guess that you were also reborn before?"

"Gu Qianhan, let go!"

Why are your hands so cold?

"Let go!"

"My plans may not succeed. If I die, I need to ask you to take care of A Ning for me. Tell her that it was my order and that she is not allowed to seek revenge. She should live her life in peace."

"What if you succeed?"

"Then I will slaughter the entire Xiao clan."

Shen Wantang trembled slightly. She knew it! He was more ruthless than anyone else!

Gu Qianhan felt her trembling. He squeezed her hand and comforted her, "If I am fortunate enough to succeed, I will take care of you, and so will A Ning."

Shen Wantang looked up at him: "Really?"

"real."

Shen Wantang felt that he wouldn't lie; he never made promises lightly, and if he did, he would keep them.

She felt a little relieved, but when she looked down, she saw that her hand was still in his. Her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately pulled her hand back.

This time, Gu Qianhan did not stop her from pulling her hand away. He suppressed his strong desire to hold her in his arms and the surging emotions of promising her his lifelong commitment. He turned around, took a small hand warmer from the carriage, and put it into her hand.

Then, he got into the carriage and left with Gu Qianning.

Shen Wantang watched him leave, then looked down at the hand warmer in her hand. The hand warmer was very hot, but she felt that Gu Qianhan's hand was even hotter.

She couldn't help but rub the hand that Gu Qianhan had held with her other hand until the burning sensation was gone before she stopped.

Du Juan and Qin Xin came forward and noticed that she was constantly rubbing her hands. They were both a little surprised and asked, "Princess Consort, are you cold? The sun is shining brightly today!"

They were all far away just now, and when Shen Wantang and Gu Qianhan were talking, they were blocked by the carriage, so they didn't see Gu Qianhan holding Shen Wantang's hand.

"It's not cold, it's just that a bug fell on my hand, but it's gone now."

Shen Wantang casually answered the maid's question, inwardly cursing Gu Qianhan. She had thought he was a gentleman, a man without any lustful intentions, but she hadn't expected him to be the same!

Who knows, he might have redeemed the courtesan of Wan Hua Lou because he was attracted to her beauty!

The hand warmer in her palm continued to radiate a slightly hot heat. Shen Wantang suddenly remembered that Gu Qianhan never used a hand warmer. Where did he get this hand warmer? The courtesan's?

She was about to throw the hand warmer away when she took a closer look and realized that it was Gu Qianning's hand warmer, with Gu Qianning's favorite orchid engraved on it.

Shen Wantang closed her eyes and could only hold the hand warmer tightly. She couldn't throw away A Ning's things, no matter whose they were.

She sighed, feeling a little frustrated: "Let's go back. I think I shouldn't go out for a while. If I absolutely have to go out, I'll have to check the almanac first."

Qin Xin and Du Juan looked at each other, wondering what was wrong with her. She seemed to have suffered a loss in silence, but who could make her suffer a loss in silence?

Gu Qianhan?

That shouldn't be the case. Wasn't he quite polite to the Crown Princess?

The two of them didn't dare to ask any more questions and followed Shen Wantang into the carriage, returning to the Prince's Mansion.

Fortunately, Shen Wantang's emotions quickly subsided, and after returning to the courtyard, she began to busy herself with the housekeeper reviewing the accounts.

After finishing her work, Dujuan took out a calligraphy practice book for her and asked, "Does the Princess Consort still want to practice calligraphy today? Let me grind the ink for you!"

Shen Wantang looked at the calligraphy copybook she was holding, and her expression stiffened slightly.

Her right hand suddenly felt warm again, as if the warmth left by Gu Qianhan was still there.

She stood up nonchalantly, washed her hands, and then went over and tore up the calligraphy copybook.

Du Juan was stunned: "Princess Consort, what is this... what is this..."

Shen Wantang smiled at her, revealing two rows of neat, white teeth: "I suddenly realized that my handwriting is actually quite good, and I don't need to practice anymore. What do you think?"

Du Juan nodded blankly: "Yes...yes, I've always said that the Crown Princess's handwriting is already very beautiful and she doesn't need to practice anymore, but didn't you say yourself that it's not good enough?"

Shen Wantang said decisively, "I feel that's enough for me now, there's no need to practice anymore."

Du Juan vaguely sensed that something was wrong, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was.

Holding the calligraphy copybook that Shen Wantang had torn up, she asked her, "What should we do with this?"

"They're all useless, just burn them!"

Du Juan obediently took it to the stove and threw it in.

Shen Wantang watched the flames leaping in the stove, watching Gu Qianhan's words burn one by one, and finally felt a little happier.

Even her voice became a little more cheerful: "There are two more, Azalea, burn them both!"

Du Juan obediently did as she was told, burning the paper while feeling distressed: "Princess Consort, the Second Young Master Gu's calligraphy can fetch a lot of money outside. You've burned at least a thousand taels of silver."

Shen Wantang froze. Oh no, she had forgotten that Gu Qianhan's calligraphy was valuable.

But it's too late to pick them out now.

Shen Wantang gritted her teeth: "It's alright, I don't lack this little bit of money, I'll just burn it!"

The next day, after finishing her work at the manor, Shen Wantang had some free time. As usual, she sat down at her desk, picked up her brush, and wanted to practice calligraphy. However, when she opened the calligraphy copybook, she found that it wasn't Gu Qianhan's handwriting. Only then did she remember that she had burned Gu Qianhan's calligraphy copybook.

She looked at the calligraphy copybook she had bought from outside, but it just didn't look right to her. She flipped through other people's copybooks, and they didn't look right either. She always felt that Gu Qianhan's calligraphy had more spirit and more power.

Shen Wantang couldn't help but rub her forehead. It seemed that she was used to eating fine food and couldn't eat coarse food anymore. If she had known this, she would have kept a copy!

Why was I so impulsive yesterday?

So what if he just shook her hand? Did she lose a piece of flesh?

No, she is short one thousand taels of silver.

Hmm, this doesn't seem much better than losing a piece of meat.