Gu Yanran felt more and more uneasy. She tried to maintain a smile: "My husband asked so many questions. How can I remember them all?"
Qi Che turned around and stared at her with burning eyes: "Let me ask you, if one day I have to make some difficult choices, you will definitely understand me, right?"
Gu Yanran's smile froze on her face.
How could she not remember? Of course she remembered.
I remember she said at the time, "That's natural. Since I have chosen to marry my husband, I will share life and death with him. Both I and my father in the capital will persuade you to support your husband."
But at this moment, facing Qi Che, she was a little afraid to answer: "Why did my husband suddenly bring up this?"
Qi Che took a step closer and put his hand on her cheek. His movements were gentle, but his eyes were as cold as an ice cellar in winter: "Because now is that time."
Gu Yanran suddenly froze, a chill running up her spine, "What do you mean by that, husband?"
Her lips were trembling and she had lost control of her expression.
"The princess wants me to run for the election of her husband." Qi Che took his hand back and said calmly, as if he was talking about today's weather, "I have decided to marry the princess."
'Bang!'
Gu Yanran touched the teacup on the edge of the table, and the scalding hot tea splashed on her skirt, but she was completely unaware.
"What did you say?"
Gu Yanran was shocked and said, "So, you went to Qingshui County these two days?"
Qi Che did not deny it.
"Yanran, you have always been smart. I need the power behind the princess. You are the daughter of the prime minister, so you should understand the importance of political marriage."
"Political marriage?" Gu Yanran's voice suddenly rose. "Then who am I? Qi Che, that's not what you said when you married me in front of all the people in the capital."
At that time, in order to show his loyalty to Prime Minister Gu, Qi Che swore in public that if he had the honor to marry Gu Yanran in this life, he would protect her with his life, which made all the noble ladies in the boudoir envious.
But it has only been less than a month since they got married. As proud and proud as Gu Yanran was at the beginning, she is now as ironic and embarrassed.
Qi Che frowned, "Don't be like this, Yanran, you said you would understand--"
"Can you forgive me for marrying someone else?" Gu Yanran was furious. "Qi Che, what do you think I am? A piece of old clothing that can be thrown away at will?"
"Don't forget, I am the daughter of the Prime Minister. Although my status is not as noble as that of a legitimate princess, it is not low either. I am not someone that a mere scholar from the Imperial Academy like you can humiliate at will."
Qi Che's tone also turned cold. "I will give you enough compensation, and even allow you to return to the Xiangguo Mansion with your dowry. I will announce to the public that our personalities are incompatible—"
"Ridiculous!" Gu Yanran refused categorically, "I won't agree to it. Don't even think about getting rid of me like this."
"I am not that helpless orphan like Chu Qingniang!"
Qi Che's eyes turned completely cold. He approached slowly, his tall figure looming over her.
"Yanran, don't force me!"
Gu Yanran raised her head stubbornly, tears in her eyes, but she was determined not to let them fall.
"Force you?"
"Heh! Who is forcing whom?"
"Qi Che, check your conscience. Have I, Gu Yanran, ever done anything to let you down?"
"You didn't?" Qi Che suddenly laughed, and that smile made Gu Yanran feel creepy.
"But if Prime Minister Gu knew that his most beloved daughter was actually a fake, how would he feel?"
boom!
Gu Yanran's face turned pale, as if she had been struck by lightning! She couldn't help but take two steps back.
This secret has been hanging over her head like a sword for a long time, and now it has finally fallen.
"How, how do you know?" Her pupils trembled.
"Since I'm going to marry the Prime Minister's daughter, I've naturally done some research." Qi Che said lightly.
"Sixteen years ago, Madam Gu had a difficult delivery in the temple and gave birth to a baby girl, but the baby was swapped by a servant in the mansion. And you—you are just the child of a servant in the Gu family. You were swapped and kept in the prime minister's mansion for sixteen years. Do you really think you can be the prime minister's legitimate daughter and act arrogantly for the rest of your life?"
"Besides the late midwife, you are the only one who knows about this, and now me."
Gu Yanran's legs went weak and she had to hold onto the edge of the table to keep herself standing. If this secret was exposed, she would lose everything - her identity as the daughter of the Prime Minister, her social status, and she might even face imprisonment.
"You threaten me?" Her voice trembled. "Qi Che, you have such a cruel heart."
"I'm just giving you a choice." Qi Che looked down at her, "Either you divorce me in a dignified manner and leave with a generous dowry as compensation; or... I will personally expose your identity to Prime Minister Gu, and then you will really be left with nothing."
After a while, Gu Yanran suddenly laughed, but the laughter was shrill, like a song and a cry.
"Qi Che, Qi Che, I didn't know you were such a ruthless person! You would even sell out your wife just to curry favor with the rich and powerful."
"Watch your words!" Qi Che warned coldly, "I want to see you leave the Qi Mansion before noon tomorrow, otherwise -"
"What else?" Gu Yanran raised her head suddenly, anger and coldness intertwined in her eyes: "Kill me?"
Qi Che was shocked by the determination in her eyes and was speechless for a moment.
Gu Yanran took the opportunity to move closer, "Qi Che, do you think you can threaten me with this secret? You are too naive. If my identity is exposed, do you think you, the top scholar, can stay out of it?
The crime of deceiving the emperor is to execute all nine generations of the clan!"
Qi Che's expression changed slightly, obviously not expecting her to react like this.
Gu Yanran sneered, "What? You didn't expect me to resist? Qi Che, I tell you, if you want Princess Shang, you have to die!"
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