Unable to persist any longer, Gu Qinlian cautiously suggested, "Then may I go home to visit my family once? I have been away from home for a long time and miss my relatives."
The fourth prince was somewhat surprised by her request. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "Of course you can. Do you have any other wishes?"
Gu Qinlian dared not make any other demands. At this moment, she only wanted to save her life. The more she asked, the greater the danger she would face.
"Very well, since you have no intention of asking for anything from others, then I will remember your merit. Men, prepare the carriage and send Miss Gu home to visit her family."
After Gu Qinlian left the Fourth Prince's residence in a carriage and saw the pedestrians on the street, she truly felt that she was still alive. She wanted to burst into tears, but she didn't dare, worried that the maid accompanying her would report to the Fourth Prince when she returned.
Just as she was feeling extremely distressed, her gaze suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure at the entrance of a shop—Gu Qinlan!
Gu Qinlian clenched her fists instantly, a hint of determination and resolve flashing in her eyes.
Upon arriving at the door of the Fourth Prince's study, Gu Qinlian was instructed to wait there. The sky was overcast, and a fierce wind was blowing. The slight warmth of early spring had long been swallowed up by the biting cold wind, as if it were no match for the harsh winter.
Although Gu Qinlian was dressed warmly, she could not ward off the wind and soon felt dizzy and her body began to shiver. Clearly, she had been affected by the cold.
As she silently cursed this unjust fate, she finally received permission to enter the study.
Upon entering the study, Gu Qinlian knelt down respectfully to pay her respects, her gaze firm and unwavering, lest she inadvertently anger the Fourth Prince and be thrown into the dungeon again to suffer endless torment.
Unexpectedly, the Fourth Prince said in a gentle tone, "Miss Gu, please get up quickly. Someone, help Miss Gu to a chair."
Gu Qinlian felt no joy, but rather panicked even more: "Your Highness, this servant will kneel."
The Fourth Prince smiled gently and said, "You are still injured, how can you kneel? Get up, I am waiting for you to recover as soon as possible so that you can give me advice."
These words made Gu Qinlian break out in a cold sweat. She thought to herself, if she really had the ability to devise strategies, how could she have ended up in such a state today?
However, she dared not show any sign of it and hurriedly echoed the Fourth Prince's words: "This servant will definitely take good care of my injuries and strive to serve Your Highness as soon as possible."
The Fourth Prince nodded in satisfaction and said approvingly, "Your advice has been very helpful to me, and I will remember it as a great contribution. Tell me, what do you want as a reward?"
He accepted the grain offered by Gu Qinlian and opened grain shops in various places, making a fortune in just half a month. Therefore, he was not stingy and planned to reward Gu Qinlian handsomely to make him even more loyal.
Gu Qinlian answered tremblingly, "It is my honor to be able to assist Your Highness, and I dare not take credit for it."
The Fourth Prince replied, "I have always been strict in my rewards and punishments. You will be rewarded for your merits, so there is no need for you to refuse."
Unable to persist any longer, Gu Qinlian cautiously suggested, "Then may I go home to visit my family once? I have been away from home for a long time and miss my relatives."
The fourth prince was somewhat surprised by her request. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "Of course you can. Do you have any other wishes?"
Gu Qinlian dared not make any other demands. At this moment, she only wanted to save her life. The more she asked, the greater the danger she would face.
"Very well, since you have no intention of asking for anything from others, then I will remember your merit. Men, prepare the carriage and send Miss Gu home to visit her family."
After Gu Qinlian left the Fourth Prince's residence in a carriage and saw the pedestrians on the street, she truly felt that she was still alive. She wanted to burst into tears, but she didn't dare, worried that the maid accompanying her would report to the Fourth Prince when she returned.
Just as she was feeling extremely distressed, her gaze suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure at the entrance of a shop—Gu Qinlan!
Gu Qinlian clenched her fists instantly, a hint of determination and resolve flashing in her eyes.
Madam Song was terrified: "Qin Lian, you...the Fourth Prince has already..."
The Fourth Prince had already placed his trust in Gu Qinlian and even arranged positions for the two young masters of the Gu family. She originally thought that the Gu family was about to have a turning point, but unexpectedly, the situation changed drastically, and suddenly she was ordered to flee for her life.
Gu Qinlian's voice was low and almost inaudible: "Mother, the Fourth Prince and his wife are ruthless. Right now, they only think I still have some use. Once I become insignificant, they will definitely discard me after they've served their purpose. I can't even protect myself, let alone escape. You should leave quickly and go as far away as possible."
Her mother had always been incredibly kind to her, never mistreating her in the slightest, neither in this life nor the previous one. She didn't want to see her mother suffer because of her.
Tears streamed down her face as Madam Song sobbed, "Qinlian, is there really no hope left?"
Gu Qinlian shook her head helplessly, her eyes filled with despair.
Song collapsed to her seat, covered her face with her hands, and burst into tears, crying out, "How did we end up like this?"
If she had known this would happen, she should have stopped Qin Lian from going to the Fourth Prince's residence to seek refuge.
Filled with remorse, Gu Qinlian secretly made up her mind: since she was doomed no matter what, she would go all out and push all those who had been against her into the abyss!
"Mother, has that bitch Gu Qinlan made any moves lately?"
Her hatred for Gu Qinlan ran deep in her bones; whether in her past life or this one, she did not want to see Gu Qinlan live a good life.
Wiping away her tears, Madam Song said angrily, "Don't mention that little bitch again. She almost dragged our family into the abyss. Ever since your grandfather met with her last time, his condition has worsened. Many of the family's shops have fallen into her hands, not to mention the businesses she ruined. That heartless woman, how dare she be so arrogant!"
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