Chapter 718 Why is my sister-in-law here?
Having made up her mind, Qiao Zhiyu didn't say anything more along the way.
After all, she was only Meng Yunlan's cousin and didn't have the right to interfere in the affairs of the Duke's mansion. Moreover, she needed Shen Wantang's help and couldn't afford to offend her too much.
Shen Wantang didn't care about Qiao Zhiyu's silence, as long as Qiao Zhiyu was almost crazy with envy for the Duke's mansion's wealth and glory.
That brocade dress can't be given away for nothing; Qiao Zhiyu has to make the most of it.
The carriage stopped in front of the gate of the Imperial Household Department. Shen Wantang and Qiao Zhiyu got off the carriage and entered the front courtyard of the Imperial Household Department with umbrellas.
After the others informed them, the two waited under the porch in the front yard.
The Imperial Household Department was usually frequented by men, but suddenly two women appeared, and everyone couldn't help but take a few more glances at them.
Qiao Zhiyu had never been subjected to such a scene before. She felt extremely uncomfortable under the gaze, standing there fidgeting and unsure of what to do with her hands.
Although she was wearing a gorgeous new dress, she was not comfortable at all. She kept tugging at her sleeves and adjusting her hem, afraid that something might be wrong and make her a laughingstock.
The dress was so extravagant that she appeared even more uneasy, to the point that it was almost immediately obvious to others that the dress did not belong to her.
Shen Wantang, however, remained calm and composed. Whoever looked at her, she would look back at them with composure. After a while, the other person would be the first to give in and look away.
Looking at the people coming and going, and at the familiar faces, Shen Wantang felt a moment of disorientation, as if she had returned to her past life.
At that time, she dressed in men's clothing, put on a fake beard, and did a simple disguise. She followed Liao Youhe every day, serving as his advisor, handling official business, and solving one problem after another.
She held no official position, only a staff member, yet officials of all ranks in the capital treated her with great respect. Anyone who had interacted with her knew that she was resourceful, adept at uncovering clues, a master detective, and Liao Youhe's most valued subordinate.
The Court of Imperial Sacrifices is the core of the Eastern Palace. They are dedicated to assisting the Crown Prince. Although they don't have much contact with the Court of Judicial Review, they are all in the officialdom and will inevitably run into each other.
Therefore, Shen Wantang could name almost everyone she saw at that moment.
Unfortunately, she can't greet any of them now, because none of them recognize her, and it would be too strange to greet them.
Another figure hurried past with an umbrella. Shen Wantang looked at him, and just as the name of this person appeared in her mind, she felt her hand go empty.
The umbrella in her hand was snatched away by Qiao Zhiyu.
Two voices, one male and one female, rang in her ears at the same time.
"With such heavy rain, why did you come, sister-in-law?"
"Brother-in-law, the rain is so heavy, I came here especially to bring you an umbrella!"
Shen Wantang turned her head and saw Gu Qianling rushing over.
In the pouring rain, he, dressed in a smoky purple official robe and holding a black silk umbrella with a red pagoda-shaped top, strode towards her.
His umbrella was the kind that only officials of the third or fourth rank could use; ordinary people were not allowed to use such umbrellas.
However, this is a summer umbrella for sun protection, not an oiled silk umbrella.
Summer umbrellas aren't waterproof; they can barely hold up in light rain, but not in heavy rain. So, Gu Qianling had already accumulated quite a few water droplets on her clothes as she walked.
Shen Wantang's lips curled up slightly.
Sure enough, Meng Yunlan's mind was elsewhere, and she didn't prepare an umbrella for Gu Qianling at all. Even now, she hadn't sent anyone to deliver one.
Unlike Qiao Zhiyu, Shen Wantang didn't rush into the rain to greet Gu Qianling. She remained standing steadily under the eaves, calling out to him as she always did when she saw him at the Duke's mansion:
"Big brother."
"Sister-in-law, is something important happening to you—"
Before Gu Qianling could finish speaking, Qiao Zhiyu interrupted him: "Brother-in-law, she's fine. She came with me!"
"Brother-in-law, this umbrella of yours is no good, it leaks all the time. Oh dear, my cousin is really something, can't she even prepare a decent umbrella for her husband? Is she just trying to fool you with this kind of umbrella? What if you get caught in the rain and catch a cold?"
"Just throw this one away, brother-in-law, use mine. This oil-paper umbrella is sturdy and rainproof, it won't get your brother-in-law wet!"
After Qiao Zhiyu finished speaking, she forcefully shoved the umbrella into Gu Qianling's hand.
Gu Qianling took a step back and frowned almost imperceptibly.
Shen Wantang's appearance here was already surprising enough, but why is Qiao Zhiyu here too?
It had been so long since they last met that he almost forgot who the woman who called him brother-in-law was.
"Thank you, cousin."
Gu Qianling was a respectable person with a gentle temperament, so even when facing two unexpected women and Qiao Zhiyu's rude remarks, he remained gentle and polite: "This umbrella is exquisite and elegant, and it is obviously something used by women. It is not suitable for me to use, so my cousin can keep it for herself."
After he finished speaking, he looked at Shen Wantang again.
Compared to Qiao Zhiyu, an outsider, he naturally cared more about his sister-in-law, Shen Wantang. Moreover, he understood Shen Wantang better; she was calm and composed, and definitely not the kind of person who would rashly barge into the Zhan Shi Mansion to find him for no reason.
This is the government office, the place where he goes on duty, a place where even the crown prince comes, but a place where family members shouldn't come.
So when he heard that Shen Wantang had arrived, he thought something had happened at home, so he immediately put down his official duties and came out to greet her.
Unexpectedly, things didn't seem to go as he had planned.
"Sister-in-law, is everything alright at home?"
Shen Wantang nodded: "That's fine."
"real?"
"real."
She was very sparing with her words, which was a stark contrast to Qiao Zhiyu. Gu Qianling even hoped that she would say more so that he could catch some clues.
He always felt that something must have happened at home, which was why Shen Wantang came to find him. However, Shen Wantang not only spoke little, but also had a calm expression and a reserved look in her eyes. There was no abnormality on her face, and she even ignored Qiao Zhiyu's attempts to curry favor with her.
Gu Qianling even suddenly realized that he couldn't guess her emotions, and didn't know whether she was happy or angry, relaxed or heavy-hearted.
He took a few steps forward, entered the corridor, and stood in front of Shen Wantang: "Then why have you come today? Is it inconvenient to say here?"
Shen Wantang sensed Gu Qianling's sincerity and concern from his actions and tone. She felt a pang of regret—perhaps she shouldn't have dragged Gu Qianling into this; he hadn't done anything.
However, this slight regret quickly disappeared.
Now that she has set her goal and come this far, she cannot give up halfway.
She looked at the umbrella in Qiao Zhiyu's hand, and then her gaze slowly moved up to Qiao Zhiyu's face.
Qiao Zhiyu's face flushed red and then turned pale, and beads of sweat even appeared on her forehead as she was stared at.
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