Chapter 421 If only you died sooner
Shen Wantang couldn't say that Madam Gu had specifically asked Pei Lin'an to come see her, so she could only say, "A'ning, you don't know, so I, an outsider, know even less. Perhaps he's feeling a bit better, so he came out for some fresh air!"
Gu Qianning shook her head: "Impossible. My cousin has been in poor health since he was a child. He has seen all the famous doctors and physicians, but none of them said they could cure him. They all said he wouldn't live past twenty. He's already twenty this year. How could his health suddenly improve? This is too strange. I'll ask my mother later to see what's going on."
"Alright, let's not talk about him anymore. How have you been lately? Have your in-laws and Xiao Qingyuan been giving you any trouble?"
"No."
"How could there not be? Prince Ning and Princess Ning may be respectable people and won't say anything harsh, but they definitely gave you warnings, both openly and subtly! And Xiao Qingyuan, he has never been on your side! You came to apologize this time because they forced you to, didn't they?"
"It was indeed the Crown Prince who sent me to apologize, but I also wanted to come and see you, so I came."
"Hmph, this whole family is no good. Xiao Qingxi caused all this trouble, yet you're expected to apologize and clean up her mess. How shameless!"
"They think that because I'm close to you, it's more appropriate for me to come than for them. But just pretend I wasn't here. Go ahead and vent your anger; don't worry about me."
Gu Qianning hesitated for a moment: "A-Tang, I won't lie to you. My family is using the pretext of seeking justice for me to put pressure on the Emperor so that they can take the opportunity to set a wedding date for me and the Crown Prince."
Shen Wantang was slightly taken aback. The Duke of Zhenguo was so powerful that he could even coerce the Emperor.
Is Gu Qianning going to enter the palace and become the Crown Princess, just like in her previous life?
Did Gu Qianhan know she would die in the palace and not stop her? Or did Gu Qianhan have a way to save Gu Qianning's life?
Shen Wantang was filled with worry, and Gu Qianning herself was no better off.
She whispered, "The Emperor doesn't actually want the Gu family to have a second Empress, so he's been at odds with my father. He's been in a bad mood these past few days. I'm 'seriously ill,' and the Emperor won't even allow the Crown Prince to visit me at the Gu family."
"The Emperor was not only angry with the Gu family for this matter, but also very angry with Xiao Qingxi. If Xiao Qingxi hadn't been pregnant, the Emperor would probably have summoned her to the palace and given her a good scolding."
“Even if she is pregnant, the Emperor will definitely not let her off this time, not only because I fell into the water, but also because of Lin Rouxin, whose whereabouts are unknown and who may have already drowned. Now everyone outside sympathizes with her plight and has a lot of opinions about Xiao Qingxi. The palace will definitely question her.”
“I’m afraid that after Xiao Qingxi is punished, your life in the Ning Prince’s Mansion will not be easy. She is so rude to you outside and even dared to overturn our painted boat. In the Ning Prince’s Mansion, she will probably be even more lawless.”
Shen Wantang gently patted her hand to soothe her emotions: "The Ning Prince's Mansion has always been chaotic, I'm used to it. The princess is currently resting in bed to take care of her pregnancy, she doesn't have the energy to cause me trouble. Even if she does cause trouble, I have ways to deal with her."
She had pinched Xiao Qingxi's wrist before, and it hurt for several days, so she didn't go to Wutong Garden for several days.
If Xiao Qingxi scolds her again in the future, then let her suffer for a few more days. When the pain gets severe, she will eventually start to fear her.
Seeing how easily she spoke, Gu Qianning hesitated to say anything.
She really wanted to ask Shen Wantang if she had any thoughts about divorce. If she left the Ning Prince's Mansion, her life should be much easier.
Although her second brother is cold and ruthless to outsiders, he is extremely meticulous, considerate and loving towards Shen Wantang. Marrying her second brother is much better than marrying Xiao Qingyuan!
Unfortunately, Gu Qianning kept pausing on her lips before swallowing the words back down. Divorce involved far too many things. Putting aside whether the Prince Ning's Mansion would agree to the divorce, it was questionable whether Shen Wantang's parents would even accept her after the divorce.
Shen Wantang was unaware of Gu Qianning's thoughts. She had truly grown accustomed to the chaos and turmoil of the Ning Prince's mansion, so she didn't find anything wrong with it.
She chatted with Gu Qianning for a while longer before leaving.
Before leaving, Gu Qianning gave her a calligraphy copybook.
It was still written by Gu Qianhan, but this one was thicker than the previous two, and it was brand new, clearly written recently.
Shen Wantang knew that this must have been written especially for her.
She didn't say much, thanked him, and left Gu Qianning's courtyard with the calligraphy copybook.
Then, she went to Madam Gu's place to formally say goodbye and left with her maids and nannies.
In the pavilion in the garden, Pei Lin'an was wrapped in a thick blanket to ward off the cold wind of early spring.
He turned to look at Gu Qianhan beside him and saw that he was staring in the direction Shen Wantang had left. He couldn't help but say, "Second cousin, she's already gone and we can't even see her shadow anymore, and you're still looking!"
Gu Qianhan took a sip of the warmed wine and ignored him.
Pei Lin'an wasn't angry. He said in a low voice, "Since Second Cousin likes her so much, why don't you snatch her away? I know Xiao Qingyuan is no match for you."
Gu Qianhan raised an eyebrow slightly: "I didn't realize that your sickly body harbored such a plundering heart. You really are a direct descendant of the Pei family, just like your aunt. You're so righteous when it comes to robbing people."
Pei Lin'an was somewhat surprised: "What, did your aunt also tell you to snatch her back? Does your aunt know you like her?"
"She didn't know, but she did want to get him back, though not for me."
"Not for you? Then for whom?"
Pei Lin'an realized as soon as he asked the question that his aunt actually wanted to snatch Shen Wantang back to him!
No wonder they insisted on bringing him here today, and even gave him a strong dose of medicine, just so he would have the strength to see Shen Wantang while sitting in his wheelchair.
He said that it was very strange that his aunt suddenly praised Shen Wantang in front of him. It turned out that she was trying to match him up with Shen Wantang!
That's absolutely absurd!
Pei Lin'an shook his head with a wry smile: "My aunt really dotes on me, her nephew. Even in this terrible state, she still wants to find me a wife who is outstanding in every way!"
“She’s so radiant and cheerful, so healthy and beautiful, while I’m a sickly person with one foot already in the grave. My aunt actually dares to dream.”
“I have been fair to everyone in my life, the only one I have wronged is my aunt. I have let her down.”
Gu Qianhan looked up at him: "If you die faster, she won't be so disappointed. Why don't you drink some more wine?"
Pei Lin'an laughed angrily: "Second cousin, you're too heartless. Everyone pities me and hopes I can live a few more days, but you want me to die faster. I'm your own cousin, are you even human?"
Gu Qianhan: "Strictly speaking, I am indeed not human."
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