Chapter 18

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Chapter 18: Title

Gu Hengbo stopped in her tracks, turning back to stare blankly at the gambling house, unable to speak for a long time. She wanted to walk toward the gambling house, but her feet felt like they were filled with lead. She couldn’t imagine what it felt like for someone to have their hands forcibly cut off.

She sensed someone bump into her, and it seemed like chaos erupted around her.

"It’s the owner of Fula Gambling House!"

"Yes, yes, what happened with the First Prince? If this has angered Prince Rong, they better count their blessings."

Gu Hengbo saw a large crowd gathering outside the gambling house and forced a smile, then turned toward Yipin Tower.

"Meisheng!" Gu Cheng and Lian Chen saw Gu Hengbo from a distance. They had just heard about the trouble at Fula Gambling House and were heading over.

Gu Hengbo looked up at Gu Cheng but didn’t say anything.

Gu Cheng noticed something was off, taking her by the arm toward Yipin Tower. The three of them went upstairs, and Gu Cheng led her to the private room he had prepared, with Lian Chen following closely behind.

Gu Cheng poured a cup of water and set it in front of her, softly asking, "Meisheng, I heard about the incident at the gambling house. Those people deserved to be taught a lesson."

"Yes, there were more than thirty people at the gambling house, and the royal uncle only dealt with one of them. That was quite merciful," Lian Chen remarked. He recalled how, when the royal uncle had been sent to the Western Region on the emperor’s orders, a certain minister was executed on the spot for saying, "neither man nor woman." On his return, due to some misunderstandings, a massacre almost occurred in the Western Region. The Western Emperor didn’t pursue the issue but rather personally dealt with that minister and the unruly citizens. Not long after, the Western emissaries came to apologize. That dealer was truly fortunate.

Gu Hengbo stared blankly at the cup in front of her, her mind wandering. Though she hadn’t seen the scene, her heart still trembled. The brutal and grotesque images from a few days ago flashed in her mind, and she wished she wouldn’t have to remember them.

"Brother, let’s go home."

Gu Cheng sighed and glanced at Lian Chen. Lian Chen nodded and stepped forward to pat Gu Hengbo on the shoulder. "Don’t worry, that young man won’t come to take revenge on you."

Gu Hengbo shivered and looked up to glare fiercely at Lian Chen. "If you don’t keep quiet, no one will think you’re mute."

Gu Cheng helplessly said, "Asheng, how can you speak like that?"

Lian Chen smiled and patted Gu Hengbo on the head. "See, she can still spar with me verbally."

Gu Hengbo shot him a sidelong glance. She ought to hope for better things for herself. Well, considering that this guy had saved her and Madam Dou from the woodshed, she wouldn’t hold it against him. But she had to ask, "What did you use to convince my father to let us out?"

Lian Chen was taken aback. "You don’t know?"

Gu Hengbo glared at him, of course she wouldn’t ask if she already knew.

Lian Chen cleared his throat lightly. "Well, I went to find the royal uncle."

Gu Hengbo’s eyes widened. "Why did you go to see Prince Rong?"

"My royal uncle is a prince, after all. Please, could you refrain from calling him by his full name every single time, aunt?" Lian Chen pleaded.

"I—"

"And also, we still need to settle the matter of you shouting about wanting to eat that thing," Lian Chen suddenly said seriously.

Gu Hengbo rolled her eyes at him. "It’s not ‘that thing’; it’s lotus paste! Oh, to be precise, it’s lotus paste cake, and it’s really delicious."

Lian Chen tapped Gu Hengbo on the head with the handle of his fan. "You stubborn girl, I told you not to call my royal uncle by name, and don’t say the word ‘eat’ again!"

Gu Hengbo stood up and playfully gave him a light bonk on the head. "I’m five or six years older than you, and you’re gonna lecture me?"

Gu Cheng quickly stepped in to stop Gu Hengbo, who still looked ready for more playful hits. "Asheng, you are talking nonsense again. You’re seventeen this year, and the Third Prince is just one year older than you."

Gu Hengbo twitched her mouth. She had forgotten that, but speaking of it, why did she always feel like at twenty-five, she was doing worse than a nineteen-year-old Gu Cheng? Just look at him—so young yet so successful, speaking and acting steadily and pleasantly. And here she was, acting like a crazy person, all spoiled by Yan Chufeng. No wonder no one wanted her.

After Gu Hengbo got home, she couldn’t escape the questioning from Madam Qin and the old turtle. At that moment, she would rather be a fool. After all, she had won a lot of money at the gambling house. Though she had little concept of ancient currency, that bag was heavy, and if she saved a bit more, she could escape far away with Madam Dou (though that sounded a bit strange).

Gu Yuanqing looked at the daydreaming Gu Hengbo with a cold face. "What should I say about you? Just freed from confinement, and you’re already causing trouble again? A gambling house? Hmph, my daughter actually went to a gambling house—cough, cough!"

Madam Qin hurried over to comfort the coughing Gu Yuanqing while scolding, "Qingyue, is this the good daughter you raised? Look at what she’s done! The esteemed daughter of the Prime Minister going to a place like that. Don’t you think she’s caused enough trouble already? Do you know what people are saying outside? A girl’s reputation is extremely important. Honestly, we should find someone to marry her off quickly!"

Madam Dou shook her head. "Meisheng has just recovered from her illness, she’s still young and doesn’t understand anything; let’s wait another year."

Madam Qin chuckled coldly. “One year? Hmph, you say it so lightly. Look at the current situation; you’ve seen her antics because her illness was so short-lived. The master has tolerated enough already. You should think of others, including his health!"

“Qingyue will never allow Meisheng to marry so soon.”

Gu Yuanqing waved his hand irritably. "Stop arguing. The reason today’s incident blew up wasn’t only because Meisheng went to the gambling house; people now know that Prince Rong had to deal with it because someone insulted the second daughter of the Prime Minister’s residence. The matter has caused a public uproar, and everyone thinks they angered Prince Rong. They seem to have overlooked Meisheng going to a gambling house. From today on, no one is allowed to mention this again."

Madam Qin exchanged a glance with Madam Dou and then said, "What about Meisheng’s marriage? That needs to be arranged too."

Gu Yuanqing sighed. "We can talk about that later. Regardless of how poor her reputation may be, she is still my daughter, Gu Yuanqing. We cannot hastily decide on a match. Anyone who can enter the palace should go to the palace."

After saying this, Gu Yuanqing left, leaving Madam Qin and Madam Dou in a state of shock. Gu Yuanqing’s words were undoubtedly a bolt from the blue for Madam Dou. She wanted her daughter to marry into a good family, but she would rather her live a simple life than be sent to the palace to enjoy all the riches and honors. She didn’t need to enter the palace to experience the hardships of being a concubine with many other women sharing one husband.

Gu Hengbo lounged in her chair, absentmindedly playing with her fingers. "I say, aunt, why are you so determined to marry me off? For the family wealth? That seems unlikely, since my brother earns more outside than my father does in his official position. So what are you really after? Could it be that you worry my father will marry me to the Crown Prince?" That day in the palace, Gu Ran’s enchanting eyes had been fixed on Lian Yue, giving off an electric vibe, even a blind person could sense her interest.

Madam Qin’s expression changed, but she quickly returned to normal. She smiled lightly. "What are you talking about, Meisheng? I’m doing this for your future; the master’s suggestion isn’t bad—going to the palace could be a good thing, too. Hehe. I’m not having an easy time myself. I have to think about Ranran and Cheng’er’s marriages while worrying about you too. Qingyue, you shouldn’t just be thinking about how to please the master every day—sometimes think about Meisheng’s future, or else this child might blame you later."

After Madam Qin finished speaking, she turned and left. Gu Hengbo glanced at her retreating figure, her expression growing colder.