"Young Princess Zheng, please have a seat."

Gu Minghe smiled amiably, as if yesterday's confrontation was merely an illusion, a dream. The carriage jolted, and the atmosphere inside was undeniably awkward.

Gu Minghe, however, adhered to the principle of "as long as I'm not embarrassed, it's others who are embarrassed." He looked at the two of them and slowly broke the silence, "Brother Zheng, thank you for taking care of Heyi for me this time."

Help him take care of He Yi? Zheng He Yi felt a pang of jealousy and wished she could jump out of the car.

After Gu Minghe finished speaking, he looked directly at Zheng Yu with a complicated expression. "If it weren't for you, He Yi would probably be in grave danger." Zheng Yu didn't mince words with him. "Protecting my younger sister is my duty. Why are you being so polite with me?"

Zheng Yu responded coldly.

Judging from her attitude, she clearly didn't want to talk to Gu Minghe any longer. Gu Minghe, however, didn't mind at all and turned to look at Zheng Heyi.

"Heyi, don't blame me for being abrupt, but to be honest, I can't wait to be with you."

"Get together? Are you kidding me? Don't you like Zheng Yutang?"

[Gu Minghe, you cheated on me! No, you fell in love with someone else!]

[Speak quickly! What exactly are you after? Is it my daughter He Yi's status as a princess?]

Zheng Heyi frowned. "Young Master, what makes you say that? Let's put our business on hold for now." Gu Minghe closed his eyes slightly, leaning comfortably against the carriage, his gaze fixed on the two of them.

"We're both caught in the vortex, aren't we? You may be a princess, but you have no maternal clan to back you up, making it difficult for you to move forward in the capital; I may be the eldest son of the Duke's mansion, but I also need to gain a foothold in the court." After a pause, Gu Minghe's tone suddenly changed.

“You need the Gu family’s influence for protection, otherwise you will inevitably suffer in the future. I need Minister Zheng’s support, which is obvious as day. This marriage is the best for both of us.”

Zheng Heyi was completely stunned.

She thought Gu Minghe was at most trying to win over the Zheng family through the marriage, but she never expected him to be so honest. His honesty was so extreme that it even took away her the chance to call him "shameless".

This is not an open and blatant attempt to treat marriage as a transaction.

"You don't like me!" Zheng Heyi stared at him—"You might even hate me. Aren't you afraid that after we get married, you and your husband will become enemies?"

[That's a good question! He Yi is truly insightful.]

[Gu Minghe: What is love? Can it feed you?]

Is this the origin of political marriages in ancient times? How realistic! No wonder it's still used today.

Gu Minghe smiled slightly, a smile that carried a hint of self-mockery.

His dark eyes held no emotion whatsoever as he looked at Zheng Heyi. "Like?! In this capital city, liking is the most useless thing. Look at those noble ladies, how many of them married for love?"

He lowered his seductive voice and brazenly began to bewitch, "Precisely because I don't like you, and you don't like me, we can cooperate without any reservations. Without emotional ties, we naturally won't let personal feelings interfere with public duties. Don't you think so?"

Zheng Yu glared at Gu Minghe and said angrily, "How can you treat marriage as a transaction? And what do you take He Yi for?"

“Of course I am a pawn.” Gu Minghe readily admitted, saying frankly, “But then again, He Yi can also make use of me as a pawn.”

Gu Minghe looked at Zheng Heyi with a serious expression, "Princess, don't you want to get out of your current predicament? Don't you want to have a place in this treacherous capital?"

Holy crap! Gu Minghe, you're way too outspoken!

Although it sounds awful, upon closer examination, it does seem to make some sense.

No! He Yi absolutely cannot compromise! This would be selling herself off cheaply.

Zheng Heyi was in a state of utter confusion. Gu Minghe's words were like a sharp knife, instantly dissecting the cruel reality of arranged marriages within the Kyoto aristocratic circle.

Yes, she certainly needed strength and protection. But to exchange all of that for a marriage with He Yi was something she had never considered. Looking at her own hands, she firmly believed that as long as she worked hard enough, all of this would be within her grasp.

Zheng Heyi opened her mouth, but didn't know how to refute it.

Just then, the carriage stopped.

The coachman turned around respectfully, "Young Master, we've arrived home." Gu Minghe smiled slightly upon hearing this, and first extended his hand to the maid. The maid stepped forward to serve him, and Gu Minghe got out of the carriage first.

Only then did he reach out to help Zheng Heyi, but Zheng Yu stopped Heyi before Gu Minghe's hand could reach her. Gu Minghe glared at Zheng Yu, who seemed to be saying with his eyes: You have a problem with that?

The three of them got out of the carriage and walked into the magnificent Duke's mansion.

Zheng Yu looked at He Yi, whose eyes held a complex expression.

Before the two arrived, Gu Minghe had already informed his father, so when they got off the carriage, Zheng Heyi saw Duke Gu.

He was already waiting in the main hall. Although Zheng Heyi, Zheng Yu and Duke Gu were not very familiar with each other, Duke Gu was a true diplomat.

Seeing the two of them follow Gu Minghe home, Gu Guogong was overjoyed and danced with delight, "Yu'er, Heyi, I've been waiting for you to come!"

Duke Gu smiled broadly, his face crinkling with wrinkles, and warmly took Zheng Yu's hand.

"Quickly, my good nephew, sit down! I heard you encountered bandits in Erlong Mountain. That's outrageous! Luckily, my son has already taken our leader, Grasshopper, to the yamen. You've escaped unharmed."

Gu Minghe asked Xia Ren to pour tea for the two of them before sitting down, glancing at Zheng Heyi from time to time.

However, Duke Gu suddenly pulled Zheng Yu aside and mysteriously entered the inner room. Zheng Heyi got up to follow, but felt it was inappropriate and could only sit down.

Looking to the side, Gu Minghe seemed to have little reaction to his father's actions, as if he hadn't seen anything at all.

He Yi's heart was pounding, and she naturally wanted to know what these two complete strangers were going to talk about.

[Duke Gu is about to unleash a major move! It's definitely going to be pressuring me to get married.]

[Run, protagonist! Don't let that old fox brainwash you!]

[Heyi, hurry and follow them to eavesdrop!]

Inside the room, Duke Gu patted Zheng Yu's shoulder with a smile, and said with a grin, "Yu'er, did you bring He Yi here this time to talk about her marriage with Ming He? Men should marry when they are of age and women should marry when they are of age, and now is indeed the time for them to get married."

Duke Gu was very satisfied with Zheng Heyi.

Moreover, the fact that Zheng Heyi saved the Empress Dowager and the Emperor has become a widely circulated and praised story in the capital. Zheng Yu did not expect the Duke to bring this up. He was immediately stunned and then waved his hand vigorously.

"Uncle Gu, I cannot make this decision on my own. I need to go back and ask my father before he can make a decision."

"Hey, why ask!" Duke Gu said dismissively. "This marriage agreement was made by your father and me, and I will naturally speak to your father! Think about it, He Yi will marry Ming He and become the young mistress of the Duke's mansion!"