Chapter 719 Half of the Goal Achieved
Shen Wantang said nothing, but her gaze alone was enough to overwhelm Qiao Zhiyu and throw her into disarray.
Qiao Zhiyu hurriedly hid the umbrella behind her, a hint of unease flashing across her face.
Fearing that Shen Wantang would immediately reveal that the umbrella wasn't hers, she hurriedly said, "Brother-in-law, she really just came with me to bring you this umbrella!"
"She was playing at my house before she came here, so everything must be fine at your house. You don't need to worry!"
"The reason she came is probably... just like me, because she cares about you and is worried that you'll get sick from the heavy rain. That's the only reason, nothing else!"
"Oh, right! She also said that your older brother treats her very well, and that she treats you like her own brother! Brother-in-law, you're also my brother. It's perfectly normal for us younger sisters to bring our older brother an umbrella on a rainy day!"
Gu Qianling ignored the incessantly talking Qiao Zhiyu; his gaze remained fixed on Shen Wantang's face. He asked softly, "Sister-in-law, is that so? Is everything alright at home?"
Shen Wantang nodded: "Yes, it's nothing."
Qiao Zhiyu was very unhappy to see that Gu Qianling only looked at Shen Wantang.
In terms of looks, she believed she was no less attractive than Shen Wantang!
Moreover, she was much slimmer than Shen Wantang, with a waist so slender that you could wrap your hands around it. You couldn't find another waist as thin as hers in the entire capital!
She put on a smiling face and squeezed herself between Shen Wantang and Gu Qianling.
"Brother-in-law, why don't you believe me? I would never lie to you!"
"Brother-in-law, your umbrella seems to be unusable. How about using mine? It is indeed quite exquisite and elegant, but it can actually be used by both men and women. This umbrella suits you very well, after all, you are a gentle and refined person!"
"Oh dear, brother-in-law, your shoulders are mostly wet. Why don't you go back and change your clothes so you don't catch a cold?"
"Brother-in-law, do you still have official business to attend to? Are we delaying your shift by coming here? I really just wanted to give you an umbrella, and then we'll leave."
Qiao Zhiyu spoke one sentence after another, her voice incredibly sincere and her tone extremely gentle, even her posture conveying a sense of obedience and submission.
Shen Wantang let Qiao Zhiyu fawn over her and steal the spotlight, always standing behind her without saying a word.
It seems that she was only there as an accessory.
Gu Qianling looked over Qiao Zhiyu's shoulder, glanced at Shen Wantang to make sure she was really alright, then looked at Qiao Zhiyu in front of her and took the umbrella.
If he doesn't put away his umbrella today, Qiao Zhiyu probably won't leave.
Besides, he's not blind; he saw it from afar that the umbrella actually belonged to Shen Wantang, not Qiao Zhiyu.
It was only after he got closer and Qiao Zhiyu recognized him that she snatched it from Shen Wantang's hands.
The umbrella felt heavy and substantial in my hand.
Upon opening it, one can see that the umbrella ribs are made of top-quality five-year-old nan bamboo, and the handle is made of extremely expensive small-leaf sandalwood.
Such an umbrella is definitely not something Qiao Zhiyu can afford.
This is not an umbrella that a member of the Duke's mansion could receive.
These are Shen Wantang's personal belongings.
Gu Qianling held up the umbrella, hesitating for a moment. As the elder brother, it was inappropriate for him to use his younger brother's wife's umbrella.
But just now Qiao Zhiyu said that Shen Wantang treats him as her own brother.
Shouldn't he be less inclined to overthink things? He shouldn't avoid suspicion too much, lest he offend Shen Wantang's pride.
Alright, I'll keep this umbrella for now and return it to my second brother when we get back to the manor.
Having made her decision, Gu Qianling spoke again: "I do have official business to attend to, so I won't keep you any longer. You can go back now!"
"However, remember this in the future: when it rains this hard, you don't need to bring me umbrellas. There are umbrellas and raincoats in the government office, so I won't get wet. Taking care of yourselves is more important than anything else."
The following words carried a slightly reprimanding tone.
But Shen Wantang didn't care at all. She had already achieved half of her goal and could leave now.
Qiao Zhiyu didn't care at all. As long as she had a chance to get close to Gu Qianling, what did it matter if she got a little scolding?
Moreover, Gu Qianling is a gentle and refined gentleman; even when he reprimands someone, there is not a trace of sternness on his face.
Being scolded by him won't make you feel embarrassed or ashamed, nor will you think he's a bad person. You'll just feel that he cares about you and will want to get closer to him.
Qiao Zhiyu stared at Gu Qianling, this man was so perfect, so outstanding, and he also had a handsome and refined face. She had fallen for him the first time she saw him.
She was originally unwilling to become someone's concubine. After all, she was the eldest daughter of an official family, and becoming someone's concubine would be a disgrace to herself. Moreover, she would be bullied by the principal wife in the future and would not have a good life.
But if that person is Gu Qianling, she would be willing.
Even after Gu Qianling had walked quite a distance away, she did not look away, remaining motionless as she stared.
Shen Wantang reminded her, "Sister, it's getting late, we should go."
Hearing the sound, Qiao Zhiyu suddenly came to her senses and realized that her behavior just now had been too straightforward.
She coughed lightly and explained awkwardly, "I was just thinking, why is the rain so heavy today? It's been so long since the capital has seen such heavy rain!"
"Um."
"Thank goodness we brought an umbrella for my brother-in-law. You see, he doesn't even have an oilcloth umbrella. His clothes are all soaked. My cousin is really something, so careless. She can be so sloppy about something like this. I really don't know how she can be a mistress of the house."
"Um."
"This government office isn't very good either. My brother-in-law is a high-ranking official, and he's the Crown Prince's study companion. How come they didn't even prepare a decent umbrella for him? That's really unfair!"
This time, Shen Wantang remained silent.
Firstly, making random comments about the Court of Imperial Sacrifices can easily lead to trouble.
Secondly, she knew perfectly well why Gu Qianling, who had once been the Crown Prince's study companion, couldn't even use an umbrella in the Imperial Household Department—because the Crown Prince loathed and hated the Gu family.
Gu Qianning once said that in her past life, after the Crown Prince's men stopped them, they killed Gu Qianling, who was escorting her to her marriage, without hesitation.
This must be on the Crown Prince's orders.
The Crown Prince was wary of Gu Qianling, and the intention to kill him had long been brewing.
Therefore, once the opportunity arises, they will eliminate him with swift and decisive action.
"Little sister, why aren't you saying anything? Are you a little unhappy?"
Qiao Zhiyu stepped forward and took Shen Wantang's hand, saying in an extremely affectionate tone, "Little sister, I didn't mean to take your umbrella just now. It's just that my brother-in-law had already come over and was soaked. You were still standing there in a daze, so I had no choice but to give him the umbrella for you!"
Shen Wantang looked at her calmly and withdrew her hand.
Her cool voice carried a hint of aloofness: "Next time, sister, please don't use other people's things to do favors. It's easy to make things worse and lose face."
Qiao Zhiyu froze, forcing a smile: "Ah, this... I didn't mean to do you any favors. I already said I was helping you! Sister, you... you're overthinking it."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
