Chapter 176 Guessing Gu Qianhan's Secret
The guard's voice wasn't loud, but everyone present heard it.
Shen Wantang could no longer pretend not to know Xiao Qingxuan's identity. She bowed to him and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Everyone else bowed as well, but they all knelt. Only Shen Wantang stood, because she was the heir apparent of the Ning Prince's Mansion, Xiao Qingxuan's sister-in-law, and a royal daughter-in-law. She did not need to kneel.
The refugee uprising had left Xiao Qingxuan looking rather grim. He said, "No need for formalities," and then left with Gu Qianning.
Gu Qianhan looked at Shen Wantang: "Let's go back to the Prince's Mansion. It's not safe here. Don't go out for the next few days. Let's wait until the court has suppressed the refugees."
Shen Wantang's response was very brief: "Okay."
Gu Qianhan didn't say anything more. He glanced at the guards from the Prince Ning's mansion who had rushed over, and knowing that Shen Wantang was protected, he left with his servant.
As Shen Wantang watched his retreating figure, her doubts deepened.
Gu Qianhan just now gave her a very special sense of familiarity, as if they had known each other for a long time.
They have indeed known each other for a long time, but not in this life, but in a past life.
Gu Qianhan's behavior was so unusual that it aroused Shen Wantang's suspicion.
After returning to the Ning Prince's residence, Shen Wantang first went to report to the Ning Princess that she was safe and sound, and then returned to her own courtyard.
She rarely wasn't busy or reading.
She stood by the window, recalling Gu Qianhan's every move in the Brocade Pavilion, unable to suppress the suspicion in her heart.
Gu Qianhan should have been reborn as well.
Only this explanation can make Gu Qianhan's unusual behavior seem reasonable.
Gu Qianhan is not someone who acts out of kindness casually. There is only one reason why he saved her: she helped him in his past life, and he remembered it in this life.
That's how it is for smart people; a single glance or gesture from someone can reveal their deepest secrets.
Gu Qianhan had always been good at hiding his true feelings before, but this time, he couldn't.
Or perhaps, he didn't actually intend to hide it from her.
Or perhaps, he was actually testing whether she had been reborn.
Shen Wantang didn't know his reason, but she became extra vigilant. She didn't want to reveal her rebirth to anyone.
She walked to the treasure box, opened one of its layers, and found it filled with gleaming gold ingots.
These were all given to us by Gu Qianhan. She asked Du Juan to take out some of them and keep them here for future use.
Previously, she thought that Gu Qianhan brought the gold to buy Chu Yanluo's freedom, but now she doesn't think so anymore.
She thought that this gold was probably a thank-you gift specially given to her by Gu Qianhan.
He thanked her for the little favors she had done for him in his previous life.
As she was lost in thought, Qin Xin approached, her voice tinged with excitement, and said, "Your Highness, you asked me to deliver new clothes to Hua Yi. Guess what happened?"
Shen Wantang snapped out of her daze: "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
"Yes! When Aunt Chu saw Huayi's new clothes, she was so angry that she wanted to commit suicide. She cut her own neck, complaining that the young master was too biased, and insisted on not living. Even when the imperial physician came, she refused to let him treat her wound."
Shen Wantang nodded. She knew Chu Yanlu would definitely make a scene, but she didn't expect Chu Yanlu to actually attempt suicide again.
She had already used this trick before, and now she's using it again. As the saying goes, things shouldn't happen more than three times. If she tries to use this trick again next time, it will probably be difficult to control Xiao Qingyuan.
"Princess Consort, do you know that the Prince scolded Consort Chu because she went too far, calling her a 'green tea' (a derogatory term for a manipulative woman)? I think the Prince is about to fall for someone else, and Huayi might take her place. Do you think Consort Chu will be kicked out of the manor after Huayi takes her place?"
No, it won't.
"Oh? You won't? Won't the young master be disgusted with Consort Chu? She's always causing trouble, he'll definitely get tired of her!"
Shen Wantang smiled faintly: "Don't worry, she won't cause trouble like this every day."
Chu Yanluo was indeed spoiled and arrogant. Her haughty attitude was simply because she thought she had been reborn and could control Xiao Qingyuan. After all, Xiao Qingyuan had no other women besides her in his previous life and was so infatuated with her that he committed suicide for her.
When she realizes she can't control Xiao Qingyuan, she will restrain herself.
In her previous life, she wasn't always this troublesome. Back then, in order to deal with Shen Mingxuan, she was quite subservient to Xiao Qingyuan and used every means to win his heart.
So much so that every time Shen Mingxuan went back to her parents' home, she would burst into tears and curse Chu Yanluo as a green tea b*tch and a vixen.
Chu Yanluo probably thought that Xiao Qingyuan would still be devoted to her in this life, and no matter what she did, Xiao Qingyuan would forgive her and love her.
But she was wrong; men are most prone to changing their minds.
He hasn't changed his mind; he just hasn't met someone who suits his taste better.
——
The Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.
While sipping her tea, Gu Qianning glanced at Gu Qianhan and said, "Second brother, you went a bit too far today, didn't you? You abandoned your own sister to save Xiao Qingyuan's wife, the heir apparent? Who was it that had the audacity to say that you and Xiao Qingyuan are no longer brothers and that his woman has nothing to do with you?"
Gu Qianhan said indifferently, "I just mistook you for someone else. I didn't expect you to be standing so far away."
Gu Qianning was speechless for a moment: "Second brother, you can fool others with what you say, but you can't fool me. I know you didn't mistake me for someone else, and you couldn't possibly have mistaken me for someone else. If it were any other woman standing there today, you definitely wouldn't have saved her."
Gu Qianhan glanced at her: "Are you done talking? If you're done, go back to your own courtyard and don't sit here in my way."
Gu Qianning was quite annoyed by his words: "Second brother, you'll never win a girl's heart like this. Even if Shen Wantang wasn't already Xiao Qingyuan's heir apparent, she still wouldn't marry you. You have no humanity at all. Anyone who talks to you will be choked half to death by you!"
Gu Qianhan gave her a cold look, too lazy to pay her any attention.
He wasn't planning on pursuing any girls, so why did he need so much sentimentality?
In the past, many girls in the capital liked him, but he didn't like any of them. In order to prevent them from having any more illusions about him, he naturally showed his cold side.
His ruthlessness is very effective; now no foolish woman dares to scheme against him.
"Second brother, you need to change your temper. Look at Xiao Qingyuan, his temper is better than yours, that's why all the girls like him. Shen Wantang must like him too."
Gu Qianhan felt a pang of bitterness and pain in her heart upon hearing the last sentence.
Shen Wantang is Xiao Qingyuan's heir apparent's wife, so it's only natural that she likes him, isn't it?
Could it be that he could still make Shen Wantang like him?
Of course not.
Gu Qianhan was very clear-headed, so clear-headed that his heart ached—his own life and death were in the hands of others, so what right did he have to step into Shen Wantang's life?
Although Xiao Qingyuan's family was in turmoil, it was still better than Gu Qianhan's short life and the annihilation of his entire clan.
He subconsciously reached for the sachet at his waist and gripped the medicine bottle tightly in his palm.
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