Chapter 49 Her hands were warm and soft
The servant wiped the sweat from his brow and, still feeling dazed, followed his master out of the Prince Ning's residence.
After he came out, he finally felt like he could catch his breath. He was almost scared to death by the Second Young Master. He didn't know what was going on, but he suddenly wanted to go to the courtyard of the Princess Consort of the Ning Prince's Mansion.
He looked at the cold-faced second young master and couldn't understand his actions at all: "Young master, why did you go to Wutong Garden just now? Do you know that Miss Shen?"
"know."
"Oh? You actually know him? When did you meet him? How come I didn't know?"
It wasn't that the servant was being presumptuous; it was simply that he had followed the Second Young Master since he was eight years old, and had continued to do so until he was twenty. Whether at home or outside, he had seen every woman the Young Master had ever met.
However, the servant did not remember seeing Shen Wantang.
The person who could serve as a servant to the child prodigy Gu Qianhan was naturally not stupid. He also had a very good memory and a quick mind. If he had seen Shen Wantang, he would not have forgotten her.
Moreover, in that fleeting glimpse tonight, he saw Shen Wantang's face; her features were exquisite and stunning, and her aura was like a gentle breeze. No one who had seen her could forget her.
Gu Qianhan did not answer the servant's question.
Because there was no way to answer, he knew Shen Wantang from a past life.
At that time, the Gu family had already been executed for treason. He was lucky enough to escape with his elder brother's twin children. He went from being the glorious second young master of the Gu family to a wanted criminal who was despised by everyone.
The capital was swarming with Imperial Guards searching for the three uncles and nephews, and the city gates were heavily guarded with checkpoints, with strict checks on everyone leaving the city.
He wanted to take his two children out of the city, a task that was no less difficult than climbing to the heavens.
They could barely hide in the city anymore, and the two children were crying constantly from hunger.
The Imperial Guards were getting closer and closer, and they were about to find them. Just when he was in despair, Shen Wantang appeared.
She was initially surprised to see the three men, but quickly calmed down.
She saw through his crude disguise at a glance and spoke in a calm and gentle tone: "Young Master Gu, your hiding in my villa puts me in a difficult position. I might be implicated and be beheaded. But I really don't want to die."
Just as she was speaking, the voices of the Imperial Guards could be heard from next door; they had already searched this area!
Death had never been so close to him.
Gu Qianhan pushed her elder brother's two children in front of Shen Wantang: "Mrs. Liao, right? I've seen you with Liao Youhe before. I want to make a deal with you."
She was extremely intelligent and perceptive: "You want me to save these two children?"
"Yes, they were only three years old. They shouldn't have died in this catastrophe."
The eldest brother's two children were the result of his and his sister-in-law's prayers and fervent efforts, finally arriving when they were in their thirties. They were usually healthy and chubby, but these days, having followed him on his constant hiding and fleeing, they have become pale and thin.
But they seemed to know that disaster was imminent. The once mischievous twins became extremely obedient. Even when they were starving, they only dared to sob softly and did not dare to cry loudly.
Even when he finally managed to get a steamed bun and shared it with his two siblings, both children held out their half to him with their dirty little hands and said in their childish voices, "Second Uncle, you eat first."
"I'm sorry, Second Young Master, I may not be able to make this deal with you, because I also have no way to protect them."
“You must have it, otherwise, with Liao Youhe’s abilities, he couldn’t have been promoted four ranks in such a short time, let alone become the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. I’ve investigated, he’s mediocre, but his advisors are very capable, and his advisor is you, Shen Wantang.”
Although Gu Qianhan spoke with certainty, he was actually only desperate because he was in an unprecedented predicament, and he was trying his best to save his nephew and niece.
Even if there's only a sliver of hope, he'll fight for it.
He handed her a key: "This is the key to the Gu family's secret room outside the city. Both children can draw the way to the secret room. Half of the treasures inside are yours, and the other half is for the cost of raising them."
Shen Wantang shook her head again: "I'm afraid I won't live to spend the treasures I take."
"What if I said that you could use my life to give Liao Youhe a brighter future? The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review is only a third-rank official. If he catches me before the Embroidered Uniform Guard catches me, he can be promoted to a second-rank official, which could even be the strongest paving for him to be ennobled and appointed as prime minister. I think you should be more interested in the title of the wife of the Grand Secretary."
"Are you willing to sacrifice yourself?"
"Only if I die will the two children be safe. They are only three years old and don't understand anything. The Imperial Guards will not make a big fuss about arresting people. You will have plenty of time to move them out of the city."
Only if he dies will the emperor be at ease, and only then can his nephews and nieces live.
He knelt down before Shen Wantang with his two children; this was his last hope.
Seeing him kneel, Shen Wantang hesitated for a moment, but finally accepted the bow from him and the two children. She stepped forward to help him up: "Let me try, come with me."
Gu Qianhan and the two children were hidden in a secret room. Before going in, she even thoughtfully had the maid give the two children some snacks.
It's likely that the Imperial Guards recognized Shen Wantang's identity, which is why their investigation wasn't very thorough. Otherwise, given their capabilities, they could have uncovered any secret room or passage. They're all born in the Year of the Dog, and they excel at finding people and secrets.
After the Imperial Guards left, she hid the two children in the carriage and took them away.
Then, Gu Qianhan changed locations to hide alone, but was quickly captured by Liao Youhe and his men.
As he had predicted, Liao Youhe received the emperor's reward for this action, and the emperor also hinted that he would continue to promote him.
Gu Qianhan was imprisoned in a death row cell, where he was interrogated in turn by people from the Dali Temple and the Jinyiwei, who beat him until he was covered in blood, all in an attempt to find out the whereabouts of the two children.
He felt relieved amidst his extreme pain; it seemed that Shen Wantang had kept his promise and protected the two children, and the Imperial Guards had been unable to find them.
A month later, another jailer arrived at the stinking death row cell.
He thought it was another attempt to torment him, but to his surprise, he looked up and saw a familiar face – it was Shen Wantang.
She only said two sentences. The first was: "They have left the city and will grow up healthy."
The second sentence is: "If you want to end your suffering, I can help you."
The dungeon was dark and damp, like a living hell, but in this dark hell, he saw a glimmer of light.
His nephews and nieces are all well, and he has no more attachments in this world. He wanted to take revenge, but he was powerless to do so, because even death had become a luxury for him.
He slowly nodded at her, as if in response to her second question.
Without hesitation, she stepped forward, lifted his chin with one hand, and stuffed a pill into his mouth with the other—his jaw had been removed to prevent him from biting his tongue and committing suicide.
Her hands were warm and soft, and her voice was as beautiful as heavenly music: "Soon, there will be no pain."
Gu Qianhan's consciousness began to blur. He did not feel any pain; he only felt that the last moment of his life was filled with warmth.
He saw her looking at him with pity, as if ending his life was a choice she made with regret.
He used his last bit of strength to smile at her: "Thank you."
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