The last time he came back, the chaos at home was unbearable for even someone as unconcerned as him.
Gu Qinlan was extremely nervous at the moment and had no time for pleasantries with him.
Zheng Dinglian noticed her unease and changed the subject: "I have already had people dig out all the items you buried in the pond. Because it is close to the New Year, I have people wait until after the New Year to transport them back to the capital."
Sure enough, Gu Qinlan's attention was successfully drawn. "Are all those items safe and sound?"
Zheng Dinglian replied with a smile, "It's quite well preserved, but the family mansion was burned down by those people."
He ordered his men to seal off the secret passage near the ancestral tombs. Knowing he had nowhere to escape, the refugee leader ordered the Duan Prince's Mansion to be set on fire in order to cause trouble for Zheng Dinglian. In the end, the magnificent Duan Prince's Mansion was reduced to ruins.
Gu Qinlan felt as if her heart was being torn apart, and she was filled with unbearable grief.
The Prince Duan's Mansion, which embodies the emotions and hard work of the Zheng family for generations, has now been reduced to ashes, a sight that is hard to bear.
"Has that so-called leader been captured?"
Zheng Dinglian nodded: "I arrested him myself and have handed him over to the Ministry of Justice for processing. Before the handover, I treated him to a good meal."
Anyone who dares to burn down his mansion must pay the price!
Gu Qinlan's mood calmed down slightly, but Zheng Dinglian's next words made her unhappy again.
“Your grandfather and the others have also arrived in the capital, and the Ji family has come along as well.”
Gu Qinlan frowned: "They've come to the capital too?"
Zheng Dinglian nodded: "I should have arrived three days ago, but my grandfather was unwell and the journey was delayed."
Gu Qinlan muttered to herself, "Good and evil will ultimately be rewarded, but the wicked are always around. The Gu and Ji families are truly tenacious; they've actually survived until now!"
Zheng Dinglian continued, "When the refugees besieged the city, they handed over the food and property stored in the mansion to that leader, and the leader did not harm them. Later, that leader even used them to threaten me, but I ignored him."
In fact, he even coldly stated that the leader could do as he pleased and there was no need to say anything more. At the time, these words almost made Old Master Gu faint with anger.
Gu Qinlan suppressed a laugh and put on a serious expression: "Your Highness handled the situation well. My grandfather is loyal to the court and would never want to become a pawn for the enemy to coerce the court. If the situation were more urgent, Your Highness could have personally seen my grandfather off, and my grandfather would not have complained at all. On the contrary, he would have felt extremely proud to have died for the country."
Zheng Dinglian also tried to suppress his laughter and said seriously, "You are absolutely right. We younger generations deeply admire our grandfather's righteousness."
Both knew the other was being sarcastic, so they couldn't help but smile at each other and then burst into cheerful laughter.
Wan Ying, accompanied by several maids carrying bedding and daily necessities, had already reached the door when she heard laughter coming from inside. She quickly gestured for everyone to stop so as not to disturb the two masters' pleasant atmosphere.
After this joke, the initial awkwardness between Gu Qinlan and Zheng Dinglian vanished instantly, replaced by a strange sense of kinship.
They understood each other's thoughts and desires. Zheng Dinglian did not back down when the refugee leader took Old Master Gu hostage because he knew that for Gu Qinlan, it was the best outcome for her grandfather to die at the hands of the enemy.
She knew he understood her thoughts and wouldn't think she was heartless; on the contrary, he would fully support her, which made her feel like she had a strong backing.
Spending one's life with someone like that is truly something to look forward to.
A sense of anticipation welled up in Gu Qinlan's heart.
Wan Ying waited outside the door for a moment, and when she was sure the time was right, she quietly led her maids in.
"Your Highness, would you like a maid to help you bathe?"
Zheng Dinglian waved his hand, indicating, "No need, you can just put your things down and then leave."
Wan Ying responded softly, then led her maid out of the room and gently closed the door.
Only Zheng Dinglian and his wife remained in the room. Zheng Dinglian casually walked to the inner room and began to wash up.
The tension that Gu Qinlan had finally managed to calm down surged up again. She sat in front of the mirror, her movements as she removed her pearl jewelry somewhat stiffly.
In fact, Zheng Dinglian was not as calm as he appeared. He also felt nervous and excited, but he was afraid that his emotions would frighten Gu Qinlan. So he chose to stay in the inner room a little longer, hoping that this would give her some time to adjust and calm down.
He didn't leave until the bathwater was almost cold.
When he came out dressed, Gu Qinlan was already sitting on the edge of the bed waiting for him.
Seeing him come out, she immediately stood up and asked with concern, "Your Highness, would you like me to dry your hair?"
Zheng Dinglian sat on the stool and smiled, "Thank you for your trouble, Madam."
Gu Qinlan picked up a handkerchief and began to dry his hair.
He was a very tall and imposing man, even when he was sitting. She had to raise both hands to dry his hair.
The floor was heated by an underground heating system, and after working hard, she even broke out in a light sweat.
She had finally dried his hair halfway and was about to put down the handkerchief to rest when he suddenly snatched it from her hand and then scooped her up in his arms.
Her heart raced with fear. She tried to speak, but her throat felt like it was blocked by something, and she couldn't make a sound.
Zheng Dinglian carried her to the bedside, gently placed her on the bed, and then lowered the bed curtains.
A man's anxious voice came from behind the bed curtains: "Don't be afraid..."
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com