Upon hearing this, Old Madam Gu was so angry that she nearly died on the spot.
"Grandmother—" Gu Han was so frightened that he quickly stepped forward to support her: "Grandmother, Jiao Jiao didn't mean any harm. She's the kindest person in the world! Back when I was being chased, I was hiding among beggars, enduring all kinds of disdain and contempt..."
"Only Jiaojiao didn't despise me and took me home. She even spent money to treat my illness! If it weren't for her, I would have died out there long ago! I will never leave Jiaojiao in this life. I will marry her! No one can separate us!"
Gu Han launched into a frenzied barrage of thoughts, already imagining a grand drama of Old Madam Gu trying to break up the couple.
Old Madam Gu's head was spinning from Gu Han's nagging.
Is it possible that what she can't accept isn't Li Jiaojiao, but Gu Han's limp and imprisonment?
"Stop, stop, stop..." Old Madam Gu half-raised her hand.
Gu Han then stopped talking and looked at her nervously.
Li Jiaojiao gritted her teeth, her eyes flashing with anger. If this old bastard obstructed her from becoming the Crown Prince's wife, she would never let him get away with it!
After a long pause, Old Madam Gu sighed softly and looked at them:
“I understand. Han’er, you know that your grandmother is not the kind of old-fashioned person. Moreover, Miss Li saved your life, and you two are truly in love. Naturally, your grandmother agrees to your marriage.”
Gu Han and Li Jiaojiao were overjoyed.
Madam Gu said, "Han'er, you have suffered too much over the years. The only way your grandmother can make up for it is by doing everything you wish for."
Gu Han's eyes reddened: "Thank you, Grandmother."
"Now, you should return to the Duke of Pingguo's residence and wait for the case to develop. When things really come to a head... your grandmother will personally come to fetch you back to the Marquis of Ningguo's residence!"
"Thank you, Grandma..."
The two chatted for a while longer before going their separate ways.
Inside the carriage, Li Jiaojiao glared angrily at Gu Han:
“Gu Han, you must remember that I was the one who picked you up from the street and brought you home! Even after I became the third young lady of the Duke of Pingguo’s mansion after we came to the capital, I never thought of getting rid of you.”
"Now, with Prefect Song, a paragon of justice, in power, you have a very good chance of regaining your position as heir apparent, or even becoming the Marquis of Ningguo. If you betray me..."
"What nonsense are you talking about!" Gu Han grabbed her hand anxiously. "Didn't I make it clear enough to Grandmother just now? I will definitely marry you in a grand and glorious way."
Li Jiaojiao was overjoyed: "Then I'll wait!"
......
The next day, morning——
Gu Shen walked into the Golden Palace with a livid face.
His former colleagues, who used to call him brother, all took a step back in fear, while those who didn't get along with him looked at him with mockery.
The news that Gu Shen was taken to court yesterday had already spread throughout the capital.
Soon, the young emperor took his seat, and the empress dowager sat behind a curtain; the morning court session began.
Amidst everyone's anticipation, Prefect Song stepped forward and said, "Your humble servant has something to report."
Then, he recounted the case involving Gu Shen and Gu Han from the previous day.
Finally, he said, "The evidence is before us. Now, I request Your Majesty's approval to detain and investigate the Marquis of Ningguo, his wife, and his heir."
Behind the curtain, Empress Dowager Shen's lips curled slightly: "Since the evidence is before us, let's proceed according to the rules. Now, detain them in the Dali Temple. Prefect Song and the Dali Temple will investigate together."
"yes!"
Gu Shen's face was gloomy, but this was not a place where he could cry out for justice, and the Empress Dowager had not directly convicted him, but rather launched an investigation.
At this moment, Marquis Dingguo stepped forward: "Gu Yang and Princess Changyi's wedding date is fast approaching. If we don't investigate thoroughly before the wedding..."
Empress Dowager Shen said, "The wedding is still eight days away. If Gu Shen is innocent, the wedding will proceed as planned. If he really poisoned his own child, then..."
Grand Tutor Gao frowned: "Your Majesty, this is a marriage bestowed by the late Emperor, how can it be delayed?"
He guessed it too; it was because Empress Dowager Shen was unhappy with her niece marrying Gu Yang that this whole series of events came to light.
Empress Dowager Shen's expression turned cold: "Grand Tutor Gao, everything I have done is reasonable and in accordance with the law. The late emperor bestowed the marriage upon me, and I obeyed the decree. Now, Marquis Ningguo Gu Shen has committed a crime, and I have also followed the laws of the Great Zhou Dynasty to detain them for trial."
"Flies don't land on eggs without cracks. When did imperial decrees of marriage become a get-out-of-jail-free card or a pardon? Hmph, how many people who were granted marriages in the past were executed along with their entire families!"
Grand Tutor Gao's expression changed: "The imperial decree of marriage is certainly not a pardon! That's not what I meant."
Empress Dowager Shen said calmly, "That's fine. Besides, the late emperor bestowed the marriage upon the heir of the Marquis of Ningguo. But the heir of the Marquis of Ningguo is Gu Han. He is the eldest son of the legitimate wife, and his position as heir was also bestowed by the late emperor."
"And if Gu Shen dares to use despicable means to strip Gu Han of his title as heir, that would be disrespectful to the late emperor! Deceiving the emperor! What kind of heir would Gu Yang be then?"
"The identity of the heir apparent has not yet been determined, so this marriage cannot proceed. Otherwise, it would be a defilement of the late emperor's decree on marriage."
The Empress Dowager's every word was reasonable and in accordance with the law; what else could the court officials say?
With the end of the court assembly, Gu Shen, Mei Shi, and Gu Yang were all imprisoned in the Dali Temple.
Prefect Song, together with the Court of Judicial Review, investigated the origin of Mosquito Relief. This was followed by a search of the Gu family and the summoning and interrogation of the servant who had testified against Gu Han years ago. They were busy with all sorts of things.
Whether it's tracing the source or getting the servant to talk, just one more piece of evidence can convict Gu Shen.
......
At this moment, Ye Caiping's home was bustling with activity.
Because Ye Caiping is getting married tomorrow!
The servants bustled about decorating the mansion.
Red lanterns, red silk, couplets, double happiness window decorations, and various glass products and lamps are all exquisite and festive.
The entire Ye family was filled with joy.
That evening, Ye Caiping hosted a banquet at home, inviting Ye Daquan and his wife, Ye Xuan, Jin Hua, Ye Bajin, and others who had come to Beijing with her to the banquet.
Just like in the village, men and women didn't sit at separate tables and ate a lively meal together.
After the meal, Ye Caiping announced that Ye Siquan, Ye Bajin, and others would take a three-day break from work.
Yes, it means rest and work stoppage!
Ye Siquan, Ye Bajin, and the others went to the capital not just for a simple wedding procession, but because they all had other responsibilities.
Because Ye Caiping received many orders for glass doors, windows, and lighting fixtures, they were busy going out every day to take measurements for various customers.
After measuring, the message was sent back to Qinghe Village by carrier pigeon so that the workshop there could produce it.
We have too many orders, we can't handle them all! We simply can't handle them all!
After the meal, Ye Siquan and Bajin went back to rest.
Ye Caiping and Ye Daquan's family were chatting in the west side room of her courtyard.
The room was warm and cozy, but Ye Daquan's sorrow was something that even the best poet in the world couldn't express.
"well......"
Du rolled her eyes at him: "You've sighed over a hundred times today!"
Ye Daquan's face was almost scrunched up: "My little sister is getting married again tomorrow, and I'm heartbroken."
"Can we omit the word 'again'?"
Ye Caiping held her teacup, a slight twitch at the corner of her mouth.
Du said, "We're still in the village even after we're married! We'll be able to go home soon!"
The departure date from Beijing has been set for the first day of the second lunar month, which is ten days away.
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