Calculation
The sky darkened, and the birds could not return to their nests. She gazed northwest, at the place of the Emperor's Ship, where the white doves she had flown away had not yet returned.
Xie Daoqing looked up at her and said, "Beheading at the Meridian Gate tomorrow."
Gu Youan remained silent, closing her eyes, her heart filled with sorrow. "They sacrificed themselves to protect me; I can no longer flaunt my identity."
The two of them caused such a commotion at the Zhao family's house that they were being watched by spies both openly and secretly, making it inconvenient for Gu Youan to go out.
Gu Youan took out a letter, "Your parents are indeed dead. The Xie family couple in Liangzhou City are not your parents."
Xie Daoqing's calm face was expressionless, as if his parents had not died.
He destroyed the letter. “Miss Gu, the Emperor’s Ship is going into seclusion in the mountains. From now on, you will stay in the Xie family and help me eliminate the traitors. I will help you revive the Emperor’s Ship.”
Gu Youan chuckled lightly, "Even without me, you can find the traitor who killed your parents. I just want to take Jiannan to find the divine doctor."
Xie Daoqing touched his legs. "Now the whole world knows that my legs are injured. I need someone to contact the powerful families for me."
"I have found information about your parents. Our deal is over, and we have nothing more to do with each other."
Xie Daoqing suddenly grabbed her arm, "Gu Youan, you have become my fiancée, Xie Daoqing. Being the future daughter-in-law of the Xie family will help you avoid a lot of trouble."
Gu Youan looked at him and said, "I need money. I can protect you, contact other people for you, and build up your power, but I need money."
She had once read numerous medical books in the cave. Jiannan had injured his heart and was also poisoned by the datura flower. She needed precious medicinal herbs such as heavenly snow lotus and ginseng to keep him alive, then she would go to the Xiling area to find the datura flower, use the root of the datura flower as medicine, and then drip her blood into it to save Jiannan.
Xie Daoqing looked at her with a probing gaze, "Rumor has it that there is a divine physician on the Emperor's ship. Could that divine physician be you?"
Gu Youan's eyes flickered. The divine doctor Xie Daoqing mentioned must be Lord Rumei.
"Young Master Xie, it's not unusual for people in my world to know medicine. How can you be so sure that I am a divine doctor?"
"As the number one assassin organization in the world, Tianzihao, with Jiannan and the other two protecting you so much, I believe you must have extraordinary abilities." Beneath Xie Daoqing's calm expression, there was an undisguised excitement in his eyes.
"You've met my sister before. I'd like you to help me figure out what illness she has."
Gu Youan lowered her eyes. "She must have seen the person who hurt her when she fell into the pond in her early years."
She couldn't say it was probably PTSD, "The person who harmed Wanqing back then should still be in the mansion."
She had also studied some psychology, but this script was not a form of psychological deception. In the original book, Xie Daoqing had a warm family, which was what attracted Ye Qingchen. The Xie family occupied half of the country, the patriarch of the Xie family was honored with a place in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and the scholars and retainers were all over the world. Although Xie Daoqing was disabled, he still controlled the lifeline of the Xie family.
She pressed down on his shoulders, lowering her entire weight on him. "I don't believe you're completely incompetent."
Ye Qingchen was able to target Gu Youan for the sake of the Ye family, and Xie Daoqing was by no means an ordinary person.
She lightly touched his face. "Don't tell me you were able to team up with Gu Changming because of this face."
Xie Daoqing grabbed her hand. In the moonlight, Gu Youan was stunned for a moment. His face was refined and gentle, a face that made people feel at ease. She placed her other hand on his leg. "How long are you going to keep up this act? It will be hard for you to find a wife in the future."
He smiled slightly. "Aren't you my fiancée?"
Gu Youan pulled her hand away. "Does that mean I can only marry you in the future?"
He pulled her into his arms. "If you help me find the traitor, half of the Xie family's assets will be yours. According to the laws of the Great Yong Dynasty, you can take the dowry after the marriage is settled. You can also take the private property I give you."
Gu Youan suddenly moved closer to him, "If I help you find the traitor and take control of the Xie family's assets, will you get half of it?"
She tilted her head slightly, the white moonlight shining on her face, and Xie Daoqing was stunned.
"I don't want half of the family fortune, I want more than half." In this world, women need to have their own private property to survive. The original owner of this body ended up becoming a nun because after her parents died, all the family property fell into Gu Changming's hands. A woman with a ruined reputation could only end up like that.
Xie Daoqing clenched her fists slightly, a hint of seriousness in her eyes. "Why would a woman like you want so much money? Did you join the Emperor's Ship for money too?"
"Only women can inherit property after marriage, so why don't you marry me next month?"
Xie Daoqing stared in shock, "You shameless woman! You're not even of marriageable age yet. My Xie family doesn't want to be the subject of gossip."
Gu Youan looked him up and down. "Xie Daoqing, we're already engaged. I live in the Xie family year-round. Why didn't you mention avoiding any suspicion?"
"When you teamed up with Gu Changming to intercept us, did you forget that I was your fiancée?"
Her hand stroked his face. "Your face isn't enough for me to forget what you've done."
After she entered the Xie family, her inner strength gradually recovered. Xie Daoqing's attitude towards her was also hot and cold. She couldn't afford to fall out with Xie Daoqing yet.
Xie Daoqing grasped her hand firmly. "It's cold. Let's go back inside."
Gu Youan vaguely sensed a gaze watching them from behind. She and Xie Daoqing exchanged a glance, then turned and threw a pebble.
With a cry of "Oh dear," Xie Wanqing peeked out from behind the pillar.
Gu Youan breathed a sigh of relief and stepped forward to help Xie Wanqing. "Why is Third Sister here at night?"
Xie Wanqing suddenly hid behind Gu Youan and pointed to the spot behind Xie Daoqing, "There's a ghost!"
She hugged Xie Wanqing and gently stroked her back. "Wanqing, don't be afraid. Wanqing, don't be afraid. Go to sleep with Sister Gu."
She helped Xie Wanqing back to her room, then turned around and glared at her. So that's why he was so attentive tonight—it was because someone was behind them. No wonder she felt that Xie Daoqing had suddenly become different.
Now that she has lost her internal energy, she is unable to detect the presence of others. Xie Daoqing is highly skilled in martial arts, so it is impossible for her not to notice him.
She stared intently at Xie Wanqing's face, examining it closely, and suddenly she reached out and knocked Xie Wanqing unconscious.
Without needing to say a word, Xie Daoqing had already understood the meaning in Gu Youan's eyes.
Xie Wanqing's mental age is only that of a six-year-old. The night was cold, and there was a heater burning in the house. It was impossible for her to run out alone without anyone's help.
After settling Xie Wanqing in, she went to the study.
"Do you know who the traitor in the Xie family is?" Gu Youan placed a cup of tea in front of him. "Someone gave Wanqing a slow-acting poison, and you also have this poison in your body."
Xie Daoqing poured the tea onto the ground. "There is only one person who could kill my parents right under the emperor's nose and then still poison Wanqing's tea for me."
The answer was obvious, and Gu Youan's hands trembled as she asked, "Is it His Majesty?"
Xie Daoqing suddenly covered her mouth, and Gu Youan took two steps back in shock. This was also the reason why Ye Qingchen took a liking to Xie Daoqing.
The Xie family and the Ye family were one civil and one military. After the Ye family fell, the Gu family was promoted. "Since you knew that His Majesty intended to use the Gu family to counterbalance the Xie family, why did you still agree to this marriage?"
Xie Daoqing smiled coldly, "Isn't the Gu family just another Ye family?"
She suddenly crushed the teacup, holding the shards to his neck, "You made a deal with my father and brothers. The condition for the Xie and Gu families to join forces was that I marry you?"
Xie Daoqing gently took her hand and removed the shards. "Don't be so angry, Miss Gu. You left home at a young age, wasn't it to get rid of the Gu family?"
Gu Youan gently placed her hand on the back of his neck, making a dangerous gesture. "Don't pry into my affairs, Young Master Xie. You have no right to question my relationship with my parents."
Xie Daoqing tilted his head back, resting the back of his neck on her hand, "I promise you, we will divorce after three years of marriage, and half of my Xie family's property will go to you."
Gu Youan looked at him defiantly, "I'd rather be the one who loses her husband."
Xie Daoqing swallowed hard. "Has no one told you that this kind of thinking is dangerous?"
"If you die, I can inherit all of the Xie family's assets and adopt a son."
Xie Daoqing raised an eyebrow. "I won't die, Miss Gu."
"You've been poisoned. You should have been mentally impaired like your sister, but now the poison has reached your legs. Xie Daoqing, aren't you looking for me?"
A ruthless glint flashed in Gu Youan's eyes, "To force me to the Xie family, you hurt my fellow disciples and crippled my martial arts, just to test whether you are a divine doctor?"
She slapped him hard. "You did all this just so I could cure you and your brother, Xie Daoqing. Are you even human? Do you know how many people have died at Tianzihao? How many people have been sent to the execution ground because of your schemes? Your and your brother's lives are lives, but the lives of the people at Tianzihao aren't lives?"
Xie Daoqing took a solid slap. "I promise you, they won't die tomorrow. I only beg you to save my sister."
"Don't even think about it." Gu Youan said through gritted teeth, and she stormed off. "I'm not a soft-hearted person. You can scheme against me like this today. When I'm no longer useful, you will definitely kill me."
A gust of wind flashed, and Gu Youan was trapped in front of the desk. Xie Daoqing lay on her lap, "I know you have resentment in your heart, but I beg you, save my sister."
Tears fell onto the back of Gu Youan's hand. Gu Youan pushed him away, saying, "There's no room for discussion on this. You can't scheme against me like this."
What do you want?
"I want the datura flower, I want Jing Che to live."
"Alright, I promise you, Miss Gu. In half a month, all these things will appear before you. I only ask that you take care of my sister."
Gu Youan lowered her eyes, "How could someone as shrewd as you be poisoned?"
Xie Daoqing's voice was weary, "No one is born a cunning person. I just want to protect my family."
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