Chapter 683 My father thought I didn't want to live a leisurely life?

Gu Qianhan's heart stirred upon hearing this. Childish? It did indeed seem to have a touch of childishness.

But the emperor is too old to do something so childish, though the crown prince might.

But if this letter was forged by the Crown Prince, then the letter from his father's treasonous plot in his previous life was also forged by the Crown Prince!

He always believed that the letter was forged by the emperor to help him eliminate the Gu family after the crown prince ascended the throne.

However, it doesn't really matter who forged the letter anymore, because the outcome is the same, and neither he nor the Gu family can afford such an outcome.

Gu Qianhan looked at Gu Rongchang indifferently: "Even if the letter wasn't forged by the Emperor, it was forged by the Crown Prince. The purpose was naturally not to avenge Xiao Qingyuan, nor to disgust me, but to suppress the Gu family by humiliating A-Tang."

Gu Rongchang frowned: "The Crown Prince? The Crown Prince is kind and gentle by nature. He listens to everything I say and has always been kind to you. How could he do such a despicable thing?"

"Father doesn't believe me?"

“It’s not that I don’t believe you, but there must be something fishy about this. The Crown Prince has always been on our side, because he knows that our Duke’s Mansion is his greatest support. Although he does have some complaints at times, saying that I’m too nosy, I am, after all, his maternal uncle, and he still knows who is closer to whom.”

Gu Qianhan actually knew how her father felt, because he used to be the same way, trusting the Crown Prince and believing that they were family with the Crown Prince.

Before the Gu family was wiped out, his relationship with the Crown Prince was actually quite good, because the Crown Prince's demeanor truly made him a gentle and kind gentleman, a benevolent heir apparent.

Although he occasionally harbored resentment towards the Gu family, the Crown Prince sided with them and Gu Rongchang in many matters. He was even more devoted to Gu Qianning, showering her with care and attention. If Gu Qianning ever glanced at something, that thing would be delivered to the Gu family the next day.

Therefore, no one in the Gu family took the Crown Prince's slight dissatisfaction seriously. After all, Gu Rongchang, as the uncle, was indeed powerful, and it was perfectly normal for the Crown Prince, as his nephew, to have some grievances.

The emperor did not want the Gu family to produce another empress, but the crown prince still married Gu Qianning and made her his crown princess. Later, Gu Qianning did indeed become empress.

Gu Qianning had been married to the Crown Prince for nine years without having any children, but the Crown Prince never said anything. When the court officials petitioned the Crown Prince to take a concubine, he overruled the objections and insisted on not taking a concubine or having any concubines.

Back then, even her father and mother were anxious, and even Gu Qianning herself was very anxious. She wanted to offer her maid to the Crown Prince as a concubine, but the Crown Prince refused.

He said that he only needed Aning, and he was under tremendous pressure to comfort Gu Qianning, his father, and his mother.

For a long time, his father, mother and sister were grateful for his kindness and thought he was the best man in the world.

No one would doubt such a crown prince, not even Gu Qianhan.

So when the Gu family was suddenly accused of treason and executed along with their entire family, no one realized what was going on.

"If Father doesn't believe it's a forgery by the Crown Prince, then go ahead and investigate."

Gu Qianhan's expression was cold: "You have been in a high position for a long time and are used to the Crown Prince's flattery and fawning over you. You can no longer sense the Crown Prince's murderous intent towards you and the Gu family. If this matter can make you notice something amiss, it can be considered a good thing."

"However, if the Crown Prince can forge the letter from A-Tang to Xiao Qingyuan today, he can forge the letter of your treason tomorrow. By then, it will be too late for you to notice anything amiss."

Gu Rongchang slammed his fist on the table in anger: "What nonsense are you spouting! Now that you're all grown up, you dare to say such outrageous things?!"

"Is this so rebellious? I have even more rebellious things to do, but I'm afraid Father won't dare to listen!"

Gu Rongchang knew exactly what he was up to. He clutched his aching chest in shock and fear: "You wretched child! You're going to kill the entire Gu family! I'm telling you, whatever you're thinking, you have to stop! This is no joke!"

"I didn't take it lightly; I was risking my life to fight for a way to survive!"

"You bastard!! What kind of bet is this? You want to die, I won't stop you! But you can't make the entire Gu family die with you!"

"No, I can die, the entire Gu family can die, but A-Tang cannot die!"

"You! What did you say?!"

"Because she never belonged in this deadly situation; I dragged her in. Her punishment today is also due to the Gu family's involvement! The Emperor can't use you and me as scapegoats, so he uses a weak woman like Atang as a target! If he were a wise and benevolent ruler, he would never do such a despicable and shameless thing!"

Gu Rongchang's face was extremely ugly. He knew that Shen Wantang was very important to his son, but he did not expect that Shen Wantang would be this important to his son!

Having served the emperor for so many years, how could he not know that the emperor was not a benevolent ruler? What benevolent ruler would almost slaughter his brothers? What benevolent ruler would even doubt and suppress the soldiers who risked their lives to guard the border? What benevolent ruler would heavily rely on eunuchs and the Embroidered Uniform Guard?

But the emperor isn't a benevolent ruler, and the crown prince certainly will be in the future!

As long as you assist the Crown Prince well, isn't that enough?

Treason? This puts the entire Gu family's heads on the line!

But Gu Rongchang knew that since his son had already made up his mind, he must have already made up his mind. He was not just acting on a whim, nor was he just saying it.

Gu Rongchang's heart was pounding, and his palms were sweating: "Qianhan, calm down. You said it yourself, Tang'er can't die, but what you've done is disregarding her safety."

"She married you just to lose her head with you? Her being suddenly summoned to the palace for punishment today was an accident. I rushed to her rescue as soon as I heard she was being summoned, fearing she would be mistreated."

"Just live your life peacefully and don't think about those unnecessary things. I'll support the Gu family, nothing will happen."

"Oh, and your eldest brother too. He's the Crown Prince's study companion. Although he's only a fourth-rank official now, he'll be promoted to third-rank soon. Once he's accumulated enough seniority, he'll be able to smoothly enter the cabinet and wield real power!"

"When your sister marries into the Eastern Palace and becomes the Crown Princess, the Gu family will be even more secure. Then you and Tang'er can have a child and live a peaceful and carefree life. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Gu Qianhan's eyes reddened, and he suddenly burst into laughter: "Does Father think I don't want a leisurely life? Does he think I'm just bored and have nothing better to do than bring A-Tang along on an adventure with me?"

Gu Rongchang was stunned to see that the smile didn't reach his eyes, and that it was a smile tinged with inexplicable sorrow and desolation: "Qianhan, you—"

"It's not that I don't want to, it's that I can't! It's that they won't allow it!"