Chapter 610 Fortunately, his studies weren't in vain.

After a while, a hint of dejection appeared on Gu Rongchang's usually solemn and dignified face.

He sighed and said with a wry smile, "I'm just grasping at straws in my desperation. I really don't know what's wrong with Qian Han lately. He's completely unresponsive, decisive and efficient, and he's also... he's forming cliques and engaging in private business!"

Madam Gu retorted bluntly, "Who did he take after? Didn't he take after you? You complain about him forming cliques and engaging in private business, but don't you also form cliques and engage in private business?"

Gu Rongchang retorted, "Can I be like him? My forming cliques and engaging in private business are all within a controllable range. They won't attract too much attention or arouse the Emperor's suspicion. I'm only doing this for the prosperity of the Gu family. I've kept the limits just right!"

"And him? He doesn't know how to restrain himself at all, and he doesn't know how to control his behavior. If I hadn't been covering for him in the palace, he would have aroused the Emperor's suspicion!"

After hearing this, Madam Gu waved her hand dismissively: "You two are equally incompetent, so don't try to justify yourselves here. Qianhan can form cliques and engage in private business as he pleases. I don't care, and I can't control it."

"We can't just give everything from the Duke's mansion to Qianling and not let Qianhan save up some money to make a living, can we? They're both our sons, and we can't be too biased towards one another, can we?"

"Besides, Qianhan has money and connections, so he wouldn't covet his elder brother's position as heir, would he?"

Gu Rongchang nearly collapsed: "What capital to rely on for survival? I think he just doesn't care about his life, he only cares about money and power! Besides, the people under his command were all stolen from me!"

Madam Gu said reproachfully, "You can't even protect your own people, and you blame your son? Why don't you consider whether you're paying your subordinates too little in monthly wages or rewards?"

Gu Rongchang: "..."

He already gave a lot of money as a monthly allowance, but Gu Qianhan doubled it! She also gave out rewards like crazy!

He had no idea where that wretched boy got so much silver; had he robbed a money exchange?

——

In the garden.

Shen Wantang knew nothing about what was happening in the main courtyard. Gu Qianning had persuaded her to drink two more cups of lychee wine, and she was already feeling a little dizzy.

Gu Qianning had a lower alcohol tolerance than her, but she drank more, so she was already slumped on the table with her cheeks flushed, talking to herself incoherently.

The only sober person was Gu Qianhan. He didn't drink a drop of alcohol and didn't eat much either, as he was taking care of Shen Wantang's food and drink.

Now that Shen Wantang had eaten and drunk his fill, he asked Jixiang to bring his zither and played it for her.

Shen Wantang knew that Gu Qianhan was proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but this was the first time she had heard him play the zither.

In no time, she was completely captivated by the music; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe Gu Qianhan's piano skills as heavenly music.

Even Gu Qianning, who was standing to the side, woke up from her drunken state and shouted, clapping for him: "Great!! Well played! Come, someone, give him a reward!"

Shen Wantang couldn't help but laugh. Gu Qianning was quite drunk, mistaking her second brother for a performer.

When the piece ended, Gu Qianhan looked up at Shen Wantang and asked, "Would you like to play a piece, A-Tang?"

Shen Wantang shook her head. Of the four arts of qin (a stringed instrument), chess, calligraphy, and painting, the weakest was qin. Playing qin requires both skill and talent, and unfortunately, she lacked both.

"I won't play, you play, it sounds great."

Gu Qianhan smiled slightly when he heard her say that it sounded nice. Fortunately, his learning and practice had not been in vain.

What do you want to hear?

Shen Wantang tilted her head and thought for a while: "I want to hear 'Ambush from Ten Sides'."

Gu Qianhan chuckled. He knew it; she was special, even the music she wanted to hear was so unique.

Coincidentally, his current state of mind is very suitable for playing this famous piece. If it weren't for the two times his family was destroyed and he was reborn, he wouldn't have been able to deeply understand the artistic conception of this famous piece.

But now, no one understands this piece better than him.

Soon, his smile faded, and he focused intently on playing the piano.

The melodious sound of the zither drifted out, sometimes as gentle as a clear spring flowing through a deserted mountain stream, and sometimes as powerful as thunder, captivating and awe-inspiring.

Shen Wantang was so engrossed in listening that she didn't notice Madam Gu returning.

Moreover, Madam Gu now has another person by her side: Duke Zhenguo, Gu Rongchang.

The couple did not venture into the garden, but stood on the perimeter.

Gu Rongchang was shocked and doubted his eyes: "That brat just smiled at that girl, didn't he? I didn't see wrong, did I? Isn't he supposed to be speaking properly? Why doesn't he act like this when he's talking to me?"

Madam Gu patted him and said, "Don't speak yet. It's rare for our son to be willing to play the zither. I have to listen carefully. Qianhan's zither skills are among the best in the entire Dafeng."

Gu Rongchang couldn't hold back any longer: "Last year at the palace banquet, the Crown Prince asked him to play, but he made excuses to refuse. Why is he playing now? Does he like that girl that much? I don't see anything special about her!"

"As long as Qianhan feels special, that's enough. I was worried that he would always be cold and aloof and wouldn't want to get married. There were even rumors that he didn't like women and that he was gay. I was so worried that I couldn't sleep for several days! Now that he has someone he likes, that's better than anything else!"

"Since that wicked boy likes that girl so much, maybe that girl will be able to keep her in check in the future!"

Gu Rongchang's gloomy mood, which had lasted for several days, finally improved a bit: "Hurry up and marry her! I can't stand that wretched child for even a day longer! I can't stand him when he goes crazy!"

"Didn't Qianhan tell you?"

"say what?"

"His wedding day with the girl from the Shen family is set for the sixteenth of next month."

"What?! The date is set? Who set it? How come I didn't know?!"

"Okay, okay, don't get excited. I know this date is a bit too early and a bit rushed, but he set it himself. He insisted that the sixteenth of next month is an auspicious day."

"Who says I think this is too early?"

"Isn't that so?"

"I think it's too late. It would be best to bring her home this month!"

Madam Gu glared at him, annoyed. "I told you Qianhan takes after you, but you wouldn't admit it! You two are alike. How can such a big event as marriage be rushed? People outside will start gossiping. The sixteenth of next month is already too rushed; it can't be any earlier!"

"Fine, sixteen it is then. I'll put up with that wretched child for a few more days!"

Gu Rongchang said coldly, "As soon as he gets married, we'll immediately separate the family and send him away! Let's see how he can still act arrogantly in the Duke's mansion!"

Madam Gu hesitated: "Is this...is this a good idea? Wouldn't it be too obvious that we're targeting Qian Han? He'll be hurt."

"He's heartbroken? He doesn't have a heart!"

Gu Rongchang snorted coldly: "I think you shouldn't worry about us targeting him. You should worry about whether we're being targeted by him! I have a feeling that this bastard is brewing some big move!"