That imposter was assassinated? The other party even disguised himself as him?
This news exploded in his mind like thunder!
It made his heart beat uncontrollably.
It's her!
She must be back!
Only she had the courage, ability, and necessity to sneak into the palace in this way.
For a moment, great joy surged in my heart.
A heart that has been deserted for several months is gradually regaining its strong beat, as if it were suddenly watered and nourished by rain.
But then, there was a deep worry.
Chu Lang is now searching the entire city for her. She must have encountered some difficulties.
But why didn't she come to find herself?
Xie Yunqi suppressed his turbulent emotions and began to think.
The most urgent task right now is to find her whereabouts.
After thinking for a moment, he instructed Fuan, "Use all your covert agents to find out where she is."
"Yes." Fuan quickly took the order and left.
…
Although Chu Lang was searching the entire city, Chu Hong's forces were secretly helping to stop him, and Xie Yunqi's forces were secretly interfering, creating chaos, or providing false clues, making the search very slow, as if it was stuck in a quagmire.
On the other side, after recuperating from her injuries for a day, Gu Yanran heard that Chu Qingluan was still missing and Chu Lang's men were running around like headless flies. Her accumulated anger erupted again and she smashed all the precious porcelain in the hall.
“Crash!”
"Trash! A bunch of trash!"
"Are Chu Lang's imperial guards just there to eat and do nothing?"
The palace maids were so frightened that they knelt on the ground and begged for mercy, not daring to look up. Ever since the princess returned from Daqin injured, she had become a completely different person, punishing the palace maids at will and with cruel methods.
Although the princess was strict in the past, she was not so cruel and ruthless.
The servants in the palace were angry but dared not speak out.
Gu Yanran took a deep breath, forced herself to calm down, and began to analyze.
If that bitch Chu Qingluan came back alive, who would she most likely look for besides the Imperial Palace and Duke Dingguo's Mansion?
Suddenly, Xie Yunqi's noble and arrogant face appeared in her mind.
"Chu Qingluan, do you think hiding will help?"
Gu Yanran sneered and ordered outside the door, "Prepare the car. I'm going to the Xie Mansion tonight! Tell them that the wedding is imminent and there are many details that need to be discussed with Xie Xiang in person."
"Also, gather five hundred imperial guards and accompany me."
The maid was stunned for a moment, "Your Highness, is this inappropriate?"
Xie Yunqi is the prime minister of the current dynasty. He did not make any mistakes this time and led his troops there with great fanfare. What would others think?
Gu Yanran said in a strong tone: "As the Crown Princess, I am sending troops to protect my fiancé on the eve of the wedding and to prevent assassins from sneaking into the Xie Mansion. What's wrong with that?"
The palace maid didn't dare to persuade him anymore and hurried down to make arrangements.
That night, Gu Yanran dressed up in her best clothes, rode on a phoenix carriage, and came to the Prime Minister's Mansion with a team of palace maids.
The banquet was held in the main hall of the Prime Minister's Mansion, with Mrs. Xie and Xie Rou in attendance. Gu Yanran deliberately acted gentle and polite, even taking the initiative to pick up some food for Xie Yunqi, speaking in a gentle tone.
"Yun Qi, do you think we should use scarlet red or bright yellow for the ceremonial procession at the wedding? I think scarlet red is more festive, what do you think?"
She seemed to be humble, even with a hint of flattery.
However, Xie Yunqi maintained perfect etiquette from beginning to end, avoiding her every touch calmly, with a calm look in his eyes, as if he was looking at an insignificant stranger rather than his soon-to-be wife.
Mrs. Xie and Xie Rou noticed the strange atmosphere and found an excuse to leave early.
When Gu Yanran and Xie Yunqi were the only ones left in the hall, the fake smile on Gu Yanran's face finally disappeared.
She put down her chopsticks, anger burning in her eyes: "Xie Yunqi, you and I are about to get married, what's the meaning of your resistance?"
She leaned forward and asked, "Do you think I'm not worthy of you, or are you still thinking about Chu Qingluan?"
Xie Yunqi raised his eyes indifferently, with a cold look in his eyes.
"What do you want me to do? Do you deserve to be treated like a real princess?"
"you--"
Gu Yanran's face turned pale and she threatened him: "Xie Yunqi, don't you want to know the whereabouts of Chu Qingluan?"
"If I hadn't leaked the information to you, you wouldn't even know if she was still alive. Now that you suspect she's back, you want to get rid of me?"
Gu Yanran's eyes were fixed on Xie Yunqi, expecting him to be like before, panicking and forced to compromise upon hearing the name.
However, this time, Xie Yunqi's reaction was beyond her expectations.
He did not immediately become anxious or angry, but slowly raised his eyes, his gaze like frozen ice.
"Besides using this unfounded news to threaten the truth, do you have any fresh excuses?"
It seemed as if he had seen through Gu Yanran's true nature in his words.
She has been deceiving herself.
The next second, he suddenly reached out, grabbed Gu Yanran's neck, and tightened his palm.
"This was a deal between you and me. I gave you the marriage you wanted, and even condoned your collusion with Chu Lang. Yet, you still haven't been able to provide convincing evidence of her whereabouts."
"A deal has its rules. Before seeing solid evidence, you want to pretend to be serious and flatter me?"
He chuckled, without any warmth in his eyes: "You think too highly of yourself."
Gu Yanran was humiliated by his words and was speechless, her face turning pale and blue.
She really couldn't produce any evidence, because Chu Qingluan was not in her hands at all!
She had originally deceived him, but Xie Yunqi loved Chu Qingluan too deeply and could not tolerate any risk, so even though her words could not stand up to scrutiny, Xie Yunqi still agreed.
However, at this time, Gu Yanran had been stimulated by Xie Yunqi and lost her mind, with jealousy burning in her chest.
When she thought that Chu Qingluan was most likely hiding in some corner of the capital and would replace her sooner or later, a crazy decision burned in Gu Yanran's heart.
"Good! Good of you, Xie Yunqi! Since you are so ungrateful, don't blame me for being ruthless!
"Someone come!"
After saying that, she suddenly shouted towards the door.
Suddenly, footsteps thundered outside the hall, and a team of armored imperial guards rushed in. They surrounded the hall, and the atmosphere was instantly tense!
Gu Yanran raised her head, trying to make a final attempt to persuade him to stay: "Xie Yunqi, if you apologize to me now and show your weakness, I can forgive your offense just now, and even let our wedding go on as usual."
Faced with the sudden mutiny, Xie Yunqi's reaction was unexpectedly calm, and he didn't even change his sitting posture.
He just slowly put down the teacup, and then raised his eyes.
"What if I say no?"
Gu Yanran sneered, "Assassins have been rampant in the capital lately, even daring to attempt on my life. Prime Minister Xie is the pillar of the nation, and his safety is paramount. To prevent assassins from sneaking into the Prime Minister's residence and harming him, from now on, these imperial guards will provide personal protection for him. Is that okay?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
