Watching Gu Qianluo's departing figure, Li Zhiyan quickly ran outside.
When the head steward saw blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, he broke out in a cold sweat and rushed forward to help him up.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Why are you bleeding? Someone! Summon the imperial physician!"
Li Zhiyan slowly raised his hand to stop him, saying, "No need! I'm fine."
Seeing that the imperial study was empty, the head eunuch's eyes showed a hint of doubt. Recalling the figure that had just flown overhead, he asked in surprise,
"Your Majesty, shall we send men to arrest Junlan?"
"arrest?"
"Wasn't His Majesty injured by Junlan?"
"Of course not! This matter must not be told to anyone! You may leave now! I wish to be alone."
After saying this, Li Zhiyan strode into the Imperial Study.
He leaned back in his chair and took out a scroll from a treasure chest under his desk.
He clutched the scroll tightly, his eyes bloodshot, his heart heavy with a sense of oppression.
"Luo'er! Once I've secured my throne, I'll bring you into the palace and cherish you for the rest of my life..."
Lotus Garden
Knowing that Gu Qianluo and Chu Qiang had entered the palace together, Chen Jinheng was extremely anxious and came to the Lotus Garden early in the morning to wait for her.
But even as night fell, she was still nowhere to be seen.
"Brother-in-law! It's already past 3 PM. Do you think anything might have happened to Luo'er?"
"The Emperor values her talent and intends to appoint her as the Director of the Court of State Affairs. Don't worry, there shouldn't be any problems."
As the two were talking, suddenly, a light green figure flew quickly across the sky above the lotus garden and headed straight for the east wing.
Chen Jinheng's eyes flashed, and he quickly followed the figure.
After listening to Li Zhiyan's confession, Gu Qianlu felt depressed and just wanted to go to sleep.
With a loud "bang," the door to the side room was forced open.
Chen Jinheng ran in from outside, asking with concern, "Luo'er! Why are you back so late? Did Li Zhiyan bully you?"
Hearing the sound, Gu Qianluo slowly got out of bed and looked at the person, her eyes already moist.
What brings you here?
"I came because I missed you."
Chen Jinheng smiled blankly and replied.
"oh."
Looking at her reddened eyes, Chen Jinheng felt a surge of anger and gripped her arms tightly.
"Luo'er, Luo'er! Why are you crying?"
Tell me! Who bullied you? I will kill him for you.
Seeing Chen Jinheng's furrowed brows and tense expression, Gu Qianlu felt a surge of warmth in her heart.
A faint smile appeared on her lips as she reached out to smooth the furrow in his brow, gently comforting him.
"I'm fine. Don't be angry."
You're right. The Emperor knows my identity and even says he wants to marry me and make me his Empress.
Upon hearing this, Chen Jinheng's expression gradually darkened. He clenched his hands tightly and asked softly,
"So, did you agree?"
Gu Qianlu shook her head vigorously, a bitter feeling rising in her heart.
"Luo'er! Actually, I came here today to deliver your betrothal gifts."
"I have already had an auspicious day chosen. Tomorrow, I will personally come to fetch you, and in a grand sedan chair carried by eight men, I will bring you into the Marquis of Wu'an's mansion!"
Gu Qianluo was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then raised her eyebrows and asked in confusion, "When did I agree to marry you?"
Chen Jinheng's gaze darkened, and he pulled the person closer, anxiously pressing for an answer.
"Luo'er! Won't you marry me?"
"Do you intend to become Li Zhiyan's empress?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Qianlu felt even more distressed.
Recalling Li Zhiyan's passionate confession, I felt not moved, but rather extremely disgusted.
Who will be the queen of this ungrateful wretch?
Even if I never marry in this lifetime, I will never marry him.
What Gu Qianluo never expected was that not only she and Gu Qianxue were reborn, but Li Zhiyan was also a reborn person.
The scene of Li Zhiyan personally plunging a dagger into her chest to draw her heart's blood in her previous life was still vivid in her mind.
Thinking of this, Gu Qianlu felt a pang of pain in her heart again, and retorted angrily, "Who said I was going to marry him?"
"Then why don't you marry me?"
"I don't want to go back to the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence! It holds bad memories for me. I hate it there!"
"Luo'er! We are not going back to the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence."
Our new home is in the Wu'an Marquis's residence, not far from Lotus Garden. From now on, you can come back to Lotus Garden often.
She turned her gaze and met Chen Jinheng's affectionate eyes. Suddenly, she remembered the "Pavilion of Remembering My Wife" that he had built for her, and felt a sense of security.
"Chen Jinheng, you're now competing with the Emperor for a woman. Aren't you afraid of death?"
Chen Jinheng heard the worry in her voice and sneered.
"If I cannot grow old with you, what is there to fear in death?"
"Chen Jinheng, I am no longer the person I used to be, who would compromise and grovel for the sake of an elder's word."
"The Marquis and his wife were born into a family of meritorious officials; I'm afraid they wouldn't be able to accept me as I am now."
"Luo'er, the condition for the Marquis and his wife to be pardoned from their exile is that their titles be revoked."
Now they are just ordinary people, they won't do anything to you anymore.
Besides, you are the future mistress of the Marquis of Wu'an.
She is the only mistress of the Marquis's mansion, and my only wife, Chen Jinheng.
"Luo'er, I swear on my life that as long as I live, everything I own, you will have too."
Gu Qianluo's brow twitched, and the corners of her lips unconsciously curved upwards as she asked in return,
"Oh? So you're going to give me all the rent from the shops and estates that Li Zhiyan bestowed upon you?"
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