After court, Qin Qianlu wrote a note and threw it into Prime Minister Qin's study. Then she went back to her courtyard to train. With these days of practice, her swordsmanship had become more and more proficient. Now she just lacked strength and needed to work on it.
When Lin Ruoqing learned from her eldest son that Luo'er needed to attend some banquets for ladies and young women, she began to think about it. There happened to be a family celebrating their daughter's coming-of-age ceremony, which seemed to be the family of the Minister of Rites. Lin Ruoqing went to check the invitations and pondered in her heart.
After finishing her training, Qin Qianluo took out a book and quietly read it outside her space. She had lessons in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting this afternoon, so she decided not to go out and would go out tomorrow.
Minister Gu hurriedly returned to his residence. Yesterday he was happy to receive a reward, but today he was punished with three months' salary. Minister Gu breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, it was only a salary penalty. Fortunately, the emperor was merciful and never mistreated meritorious officials. Otherwise, under a different emperor, the lightest punishment would have been the reprimand of his family, and he would have lost his official hat.
He hurriedly returned to the manor, but instead of looking for Lian'er, he went to his wife's room: "Madam, have someone keep a close watch on Lian'er. We'll wait for the Left Prime Minister's message. Once we get the message, have the guards in the manor send Lian'er to the imperial prison."
The Minister's wife was somewhat bewildered. What was wrong with her husband? They were so affectionate when he came back yesterday, and now he's arresting people after just one court session? Nevertheless, she was still happy and asked, somewhat perfunctorily, "Master, what's wrong?"
Minister Gu looked at the woman in front of him. She had been with him for more than ten years and was the legal mother of his children. She had been incredibly kind to him all these years. On the contrary, he had taken one concubine after another. Although 001 said that he and his wife treated each other with respect and that he had given his wife the dignity of a legal wife, only he knew that he had wronged his wife.
Thinking of this, Minister Gu took his wife's hand, his gaze softened, and he gently explained the whole story, including the existence of Lianyi. He also told his wife that if she wanted a divorce, he would not stop her, since he was the one who had wronged her.
He had acted foolishly and almost betrayed Lianyi's feelings, and also wasted so many of his wife's best years. He did not ask for his wife's forgiveness, but his wife had the right to know the truth. This was something that Minister Gu had come to understand along the way. If he were to live like this for the rest of his life, he would truly be letting his wife down.
After finishing his speech, Minister Gu looked nervously at his wife, waiting for her choice. Only then did he realize that he had feelings for her, that he was afraid of her disappearing, afraid of losing her, and that he did not want her to leave him. But the premise of this was that his wife would be willing to forgive his concealment after she knew everything.
After hearing this, the Minister's wife was stunned and couldn't come back to her senses for a long time. The Minister's wife knew that her husband did not have any emotional foundation with her. Over the years, it was more about family affection. She, on the other hand, had taken a liking to her husband at first sight. So even without an emotional foundation, she married into the Gu family without hesitation and became the matriarch of the Gu family.
Over the years, it's impossible to say I've never regretted it. When I see my husband taking one concubine after another, when I see that there's no love in his eyes, I always have the urge to divorce him. But I just can't let go of this once spirited and high-spirited top scholar, so I keep dragging it out.
Now that she knows her master once had such an excellent wife, it would be a lie to say she doesn't feel pain in her heart. And knowing that her master only brought Lian'er back to the mansion because she resembled his previous wife, it would be a lie to say she doesn't feel angry. But when she sees her master looking at her with a gentle gaze she has never seen before in her life, she seems to feel neither pain nor anger.
The silence of the Minister's wife startled Minister Gu. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but then closed it again helplessly. He couldn't be so selfish. He should let his wife choose for herself. He just needed to cooperate with her. However, he tightened his grip on her hand, his palms slightly sweaty.
When the Minister's wife felt the strength in his hand, she came to her senses and saw her husband with his head down, looking nervous. She couldn't help but soften. Knowing that her husband's previous wife was so outstanding, she couldn't seem to feel jealous anymore.
She looked intently at Minister Gu, the man she had loved for so many years. Now that he had finally fallen in love with her, she was truly reluctant to let go. Even though he hadn't loved her all these years, he had never made her feel bad. Instead, he had always respected her, making it impossible for her to leave him.
The Minister's wife suddenly smiled, squeezed Minister Gu's hand, and said with a charming smile, "Why are you so nervous, sir? I have lived with you for more than ten years, how could I not feel that you have someone in your heart? Now that you are being honest with me, we have come this far together, how could I leave you?"
Minister Gu was stunned. He looked up at his wife and suddenly his eyes reddened. He hugged her tightly and burst into tears. His wife was startled by his sudden action. Hearing her husband cry, she gently patted his back and softly comforted him.
After Minister Gu revealed his secret to his wife, he felt much more relaxed and treated her even better. He gave money to the concubines in the mansion who had no children and sent them out of the mansion. He also explained to the concubines who had children that they should respect his wife even more in the future. Their lives got better and better.
After news of Prime Minister Qin arrived, Lian'er was also thrown into the imperial prison. Minister Gu did not appear from beginning to end. Lian'er did not understand why things had changed so drastically today, when everything was fine yesterday.
The interrogation was intensified in the prison. A few minor spies were captured, but there was no progress on the higher-ranking spies, including the one who was supposed to harm Qin Qian. Everyone was anxious but helpless, and could only proceed step by step.
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