Lord Gu did not ride a horse, but instead got into Qin Yuan's carriage. Hongye and Cuiming then went to the small carriage in the back and squeezed together with the old woman.
After the carriage drove out of the alley, Lord Gu asked, "Why did you come to the Lin residence today?"
Qin Yuan sighed and said, "It's all because my brother-in-law is greedy. He said my cousin came from the countryside to stay with him, but in reality, the two of them have been having an affair and she's pregnant."
A peculiar smile appeared on Lord Gu's face.
"I'm not saying this to be mean, but some scholars are just a bit too sentimental."
Qin Yuan glanced at him and said, "Brother-in-law is indeed a bit too chivalrous towards women."
She glanced at him again, a look of doubt on her face, and said, "Is this a common problem among men? They all pity those women who look delicate?"
She leaned back and said softly, "But this cousin of mine is no good. When she found out my sister was pregnant, she tried to poison her, but she accidentally put it in my brother-in-law's medicine. My sister noticed and called a doctor. My mother-in-law sided with my cousin, so she had no choice but to ask my mother and me to uphold justice. Fortunately, I have the Marquis of Dingbei's mansion behind me, so I can still put some pressure on them for the sake of the Marquis."
At first, Lord Gu listened to Lin Ziqi's jokes with a smile, but as he listened, he became restless. He reached out and pulled Qin Yuan into his arms, laughing, "How could that be? I'm not that kind of fool, neglecting my good wife at home to go and flirt with other men. As for whether all men pity those who look delicate... to be honest, Yuan'er, you do look very delicate, and I feel more than just pity for you..."
Why are you becoming so sweet-talking?
Qin Yuan smiled and poked Lord Gu's strong and powerful arm.
Lord Gu chuckled to himself with smug satisfaction.
This isn't just sweet talk; it's preventative care.
He should first demonstrate his loyalty, lest his young wife bring up Zhao Niangzi's affair again and mistake him for Lin Juren.
“My influence is useful, you can use it as you like. This Lin Ziqi is a fool. It’s uncertain whether he can pass the imperial examination. Even if he does, he will only be a minor official. Father-in-law is the head of the Qingliu faction and has students all over the world. In the future, won’t he have to rely on Father-in-law? It was clearly a friendship between two families, but it has turned out like this.”
Qin Yuan nodded: "It's clear that men shouldn't be spoiled. My sister is convinced that he has a bright future and might even become a prime minister. She's incredibly devoted to him and his mother. My mother has loved her for over a decade and has never been treated like this before. Otherwise, why would my mother be so angry that her liver hurts?"
Gu Jinghui hesitated for a moment, then said, "If I were my father-in-law, I'm afraid I wouldn't want him to rise too quickly, lest I be unable to control him in the future."
Qin Yuan laughed and said, "You won't know how to treat your son-in-law when you have a daughter in the future."
"Hmph, dare to marry my daughter? You'll be skinned alive!"
Gu Jinghui gritted his teeth, seemingly already having a beloved daughter whom everyone wanted to marry.
Qin Yuan couldn't help but chuckle softly.
The carriage sped swiftly into the street and drove away, surrounded by a host of strong servants and guards.
The Yelü clan members who were waiting at the alley entrance to make their move reluctantly abandoned their plan.
"It's infuriating! The dignified Marquis of Dingbei is someone who can't live without women."
"Tsk, you've all forgotten that Marquis Dingbei is just an empty shell; he can only watch from the sidelines."
"Speaking of which, the women of the Marquis of Dingbei are indeed beautiful, but they are too thin and weak, like little chicks. Women from the Central Plains are fair and tender, but they are physically weak and cannot withstand much hardship."
"Why are you saying all this? Think about how you're going to explain this to the young master when you get back!"
Yelü Guzha waited in the hostage residence with high hopes for a long time, but what he received was still news of failure.
"Useless, useless."
His long, disheveled hair hung down, making him look like a trapped beast in a sorry state. "All of you are no match for Xu Tang alone."
"Young Master, it's not us... it's the one surnamed Gu who went. He has many guards with him, so there's no use in us going up there."
"Young Master, we are avoiding their sharp edge and preserving our strength. We'll catch that woman alone in the future and then trap her like a turtle in a jar."
Standing to the side, Yelü Xianyong couldn't help but kick the man hard, shouting, "Can't you outsmart her? The Marquis of Dingbei didn't go there from the beginning. If he had protected that woman so well, would you have ever seen her alone in this lifetime?"
"Anyone can talk the talk, but it's hard to walk the walk. Who wouldn't be afraid of Gu Jinghui? We don't dare to give ourselves away and cause trouble for the hostage, so we naturally have to be careful."
"Yes, you, Yelü Xianyong, talk a big game, but why don't you do it yourself?"
A few people whispered among themselves.
"Alright, that's enough," Yelü Guzha shouted. "It's true that you are no match for Gu Jinghui, and it will be even more troublesome if you slip up. But Yelü Xianyong is also right. You can't act recklessly. You should learn more about the cunning of the Han people. If you can't defeat them by force, you should use your wits."
The group of people hung their heads, like cowering lambs.
Yelü Guzha waved his hand in annoyance and said, "You all go down and receive your whips."
"Yes, young master!"
After the others left, Yelü Guzha said to Yelü Xianyong, "They are all useless. I'm afraid we'll have to rely on you to take action."
Yelü Xianyong raised his chin and said loudly, "Young Master, rest assured, I will definitely not let you down and will capture that woman and present her to you."
Yelü Guzha shook his head mysteriously: "No, no, I've changed my mind. You should find a way to offer her to the Crown Prince or the Prince of Jin."
Yelü Xianyong was stunned, his eyes showing hesitation.
Yelü Guzha's gaze turned cold, and he said in a deep voice, "Do you perhaps think that this is not the act of a hero?"
Yelü Xianyong lowered his head, "I dare not."
Yelü Guzha sneered, "What is there to be afraid of? I'm capable of anything to restore my kingdom. I only realized one thing after coming to the Central Plains: heroes never have a good ending, only ruthless and cunning rulers can dominate the world. Daxing was able to establish its dynasty, didn't it? It was all a result of using every trick in the book. Take the current emperor of Daxing, for example. Did he really get his throne legitimately? He talks about benevolence, morality, and filial piety all the time. If that were true, where would the empress and the crown prince stand? It's all just a facade. To revive my Yelü clan, I'm willing to be looked down upon and ridiculed by the world. Even if I end up being shattered to pieces, I'm willing."
“Young Master,” Yelü Xianyong said, his eyes filled with tears and his voice choked with emotion, “Young Master, please don’t say anymore. You sacrificed yourself as a hostage for the sake of my Yelü clan, enduring hardship and humiliation. I was mistaken. I will certainly not fail in my mission, and I will answer to you with my head if anything goes wrong.”
Yelü Guzha patted his shoulder heavily and sighed, "Who told me that you're the only one around who can do anything?"
The implication was that such a task shouldn't have been given to him to dirty his hands, and for now, he would have to be put in a difficult position.
Yelü Xianyong wept and said, "Young Master, please stop. I, Yelü Xianyong, am determined to follow you forever now that I have gained your favor. I am ready to give up my life at any time once I have entered the capital of Daxing with you."
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