Chapter 382.1: Imperial Decree
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S T E L L A R C L O U D
[Azurixa] [Celeste S.] [Christine G.-L.]
O R A N G E S T A R
[Fazzienaz] [K.Rom] [Manon] [Smurfinbatik] [Tori D.] [Ziana K.-P.]
Y E L L O W S T A R
[Chlaudette P.] [Gwyneth T.] [Leticia P.] [Mel Melz] [Passerby] [Xena]
G O L D S T A R
[Cindy] [Debra W] [Nanashi D. Y.] [Nevy] [Nicole]
R A I N B O W S T A R
[Allie] [Amanda] [Kiiayame] [kuroneko_chan] [Liznel M.] [Peggy F.]
T H E S U N
[Caroline] [Haruka N.] [Hong] [Lily J.] [Malinkat]
[Michelle K.] [onepiece] [Reece P.]
Also, many thanks to everyone who bought me coffee (*≧∀≦*)
What happened?
He was just out for a 3-day official duty, how come when he came back, his granddaughter already had a baby?
That wasn’t right. The child was gone.
As soon as he became a great-grandfather, his great-grandchild was gone...
No, wait, he got off track!
How could he suddenly have a great-grandchild?
Wasn't Yuan Baolin still unmarried? But that was Baolin's voice, right? Even if he had misheard, this young Taoist nun holding the man's hand in front of him was no doubt their young Taoist nun, right?
He couldn’t be blind, right!?
Grand Secretary Yuan finally understood what was going on. Not only did he hear it, but he also caught them in the act!
Who the hell was this brat?!
Before leaving, Gu Jiao had already explained the whole situation about the young Taoist nun to Gu Changqing. But hearing it from someone else and hearing it directly from the young Taoist nun herself were two different things.
She held his hand, tears streaming down her face. The pain she displayed from losing a child was so vivid that it shocked Gu Changqing.
Just as he was speechless with shock, he suddenly felt a strong killing intent coming from behind!
Gu Changqing quickly turned his head and saw Grand Secretary Yuan standing at the doorway, furious. Gu Changqing's heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively pulled his hand away!
But it was too late. Grand Secretary Yuan saw everything he needed to see, and not a single word went unheard!
Grand Secretary Yuan stormed into the room, stood by the bed, and positioned himself between the two. Gu Changqing took a few steps back, aware of his place.
"Who are you?!" Grand Secretary Yuan demanded sternly.
The social circles in the capital were vast, and the Yuan Family had very little interaction with the Marquis Ding'an Estate. Grand Secretary Yuan had only seen Old Marquis in the imperial audience hall.
The last time at Bishui Alley, Gu Changqing was in the shadows while Grand Secretary Yuan was in the light, which allowed Gu Changqing to secretly see him, but he didn't see Gu Changqing.
It was over. Even if he were to jump into the Yellow River, he wouldn't be able to wash this away.
Gu Changqing rubbed his temple in distress and respectfully cupped his hands, "This humble one is Gu Changqing of the Marquis Ding'an Estate. Greetings to Grand Secretary Yuan."
Grand Secretary Yuan narrowed his eyes dangerously, "Gu Changqing... Gu Chao's grandson?"
"Yes." Gu Changqing bowed, avoiding direct eye contact with Grand Secretary Yuan. It was the proper etiquette for a younger generation, but at this moment, he only felt bemused and guilty.
Grand Secretary Yuan recalled the latter part of his words, "You know me?"
"...Yes." Gu Changqing didn't deny it.
At this point, there was no point in hiding anymore.
Grand Secretary Yuan wasn't a fool either. The events of that day had already seemed suspicious, but Yuan Baolin insisted that nothing had happened, so he didn't pay much attention to it.
Now, upon reflection, it was likely that Yuan Baolin hadn't been saved by Madame Gu that day at all!
Grand Secretary Yuan's eyes turned cold, "It was you? You took Baolin away? You took advantage of her vulnerability!"
The thought of his granddaughter escaping An Junwang's claws only to jump into Gu Changqing's and being mistreated to the point of having a child, made Grand Secretary Yuan wish he could kill this wretched guy on the spot!
Gu Changqing was speechless.
If it were someone else, they might have been able to deny it convincingly, but Gu Changqing wasn't that kind of person.
Just then, Old Marquis also arrived upon hearing the news.
When he heard that his grandson had gotten someone pregnant, Old Marquis was so furious that he felt like he was witnessing the birth and ascension of two Buddhas!
If it were any other girl, Old Marquis wouldn't have believed it so easily, but the other party was Grand Secretary Yuan's granddaughter. Combined with Gu Changqing's tacit admission, it was clear that he was entangled with the girl.
Old Marquis pulled out his whip and lashed it towards Gu Changqing!
The young Taoist nun's face paled, and she choked with sobs, reaching out her hand in an attempt to stop Old Marquis, "Don't hit him! It's not his fault! It was me... I forced him... I forced myself on him..."
“...!!” With a shook of his hand, the whip snapped back and hit Old Marquis’s own forehead.
“...” Similarly, it felt as if an invisible whip had struck Grand Secretary Yuan across the face.
“...” Even Gu Changqing, who had been cleared of the accusation but wished he hadn't, felt as if he had been struck by the same whip.
He might as well just smash his head against the wall!
Gu Changqing had military duties and was about to go to Mount Fengdu. Before this, he was packing his belongings in his courtyard. If it weren't for Gu Chengfeng saying that Gu Jiao wanted to see him, he wouldn't have come at all.
Now things had taken a turn for the worse.
It was no longer a matter of being unable to wash away the stain in the Yellow River; it was now a matter of not being able to scrape off the dirt even if he peeled off a layer of skin.
Grand Secretary Yuan learned the ins and outs of the situation from his granddaughter and confirmed that this lad hadn't taken advantage of her at all. On the contrary, it was his granddaughter who had made advances towards him, and Grand Secretary Yuan felt very guilty.
He apologized to Old Marquis.
Of course, Old Marquis wasn't angry. No matter how you looked at it, this brat had taken advantage of the situation. This brat knew martial arts, and he could have easily knocked the girl unconscious with a single strike.
However he didn't do that, which meant he had some interest in Yuan Baolin, right?
Good lad, no wonder he had always been unresponsive when they talked about setting up his marriage before. It turned out he secretly fancied a Yuan Family daughter?
This Yuan Family daughter was truly exceptional, not comparable to ordinary wealthy young ladies.
Just take this matter, for example. If it were someone else, they wouldn't have had the courage to take all the blame upon themselves and adamantly refuse to trouble Gu Changqing.
Old Marquis had no idea that the reason Gu Changqing didn't knock out Yuan Baolin was because she had been heavily drugged. If she had truly passed out, it could have caused suffocation and death.
"I still have some matters to attend to. I'll take my leave first." Gu Changqing bowed and cupped his hands to Grand Secretary Yuan and gave a casual bow to Old Marquis before turning to leave the room.
The young Taoist nun followed him.
"Young Miss Yuan, rest assured, I won't agree to the marriage." He knew she didn't want to marry him.
"I won't agree either!" She knew he had no intention of marrying her either. She couldn't let him bear all the pressure alone.
Gu Changqing thought she had followed him out for this matter. Since they had clarified it, he should leave.
"Farewell." He turned and walked away.
"Wait!" The young Taoist nun called out to him.
Gu Changqing stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her, "Young Miss Yuan, is there something else you're concerned about?"
"I... I really..." The young Taoist nun's eyes wandered as she touched her own belly.
Gu Changqing glanced at her small movements, opened his mouth, and sighed, "You're not pregnant... You can't get pregnant with just that much."
The young Taoist nun furrowed her small eyebrows in confusion. "But I clearly..."
Gu Changqing used up all the face he had in this lifetime, saying, "Pregnancy... requires the cooperation of a man."
The young Taoist nun murmured, "But according to those romantic novels, when a woman is drugged and pushes a man down, she will have a child!"
Gu Changqing asked strangely, "You're a Taoist nun, why are you reading romantic novels?" Romantic novels could be the death of people.
Gu Changqing felt that this topic couldn't continue any longer, so he intended to leave.
At that moment, the young Taoist nun looked at Gu Changqing sympathetically and said, "Or is it that you’re incapable? According to the novels, if the man is incapable, the woman won't have a child."
Gu Changqing: "...!!"
Gu Changqing clenched his fists tightly, making a cracking sound. "You… should not read those novels anymore!"
Gu Jiao didn't know that Gu Changqing and the young Taoist nun's matter had reached Grand Secretary Yuan and Old Marquis, but Gu Chengfeng knew!
He hid in the big tree and watched the whole drama unfold!
At first, when Gu Jiao only allowed his eldest brother to enter the small courtyard but blocked him outside, he sensed that something was amiss. After eavesdropping for a while, he discovered that his eldest brother, who looked serious on the surface, had already found him a sister-in-law behind his back!
Tsk tsk, this speed. He was indeed worthy of being his eldest brother!
It was unfortunate for their cousin Ling Shuxian from the Ling Family. She was going to be heartbroken for sure.
Ling Shuxian had always admired his eldest brother with all her heart. She declared that she would only marry him. It was even said that she had been on a hunger strike at home recently.
Although Ling Shuxian was his cousin, he didn't actually like her. Ling Shuxian was too spoiled and not suitable to be the future Madame of the Marquis Ding'an Estate.
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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