Chapter 28 Visit Empress Dowager

Gu Zhihua twisted her hands nervously and looked up at Gu Qiang from time to time. She was clear that Gu Qiang had changed, but she still hoped Gu Qiang could give her a surprise by refuting the rumor between her and the Third Prince.

Gu Zhihua couldn’t accept Gu Qiang’s private date with the Third Prince. But if the rumor was true, Gu Qiang would be regarded as a vile person! That meant Gu Qiang provoked her and made her jealous intentionally!

“Now that it isn’t true, why do you care about it, mother? If you believe the rumor instead of me, I have nothing to say.” Then Gu Qiang put the cup on the table. Though she didn’t have Kung Fu, she tried to avoid drinking whatever was given by Ye.

Ye had done such disgusting things for several times. Gu Qiang felt as if treading on thin ice. Any carelessness might kill her.

Gu Qiang turned around. Ye parted her lips, but she didn’t say anything and let Gu Qiang leave.

Watching Gu Qiang disappear around the corner, Gu Zhihua couldn’t help complaining, “Mother, look, apparently Gu Qiang concealed something from us, but she pretended nothing had happened. I can see she wants to marry the Third Prince! She wants to take away the man I love!”

Ye clicked her tongue. Then she turned around and cast a contemptuous glare at Gu Zhihua. Her daughter became more anxious recently. Honestly speaking, Gu Zhihua was old enough for marriage. If she could marry the Third Prince, it was great. Gu Zhihua would realize her dream.

“Take it easy! The Third Prince will marry you sooner or later. Can’t you stay calm? Too shameful!” Ye tapped her fingernails with beautiful crystals heavily on the table, and her eyes looked cold. Gu Zhihua wiped her tears that were about to gush out and lowered her head to drink tea.

After coming out of Ye’s house, Gu Qiang turned around to tell Ting Feng, “Ask about the rumor in the capital between the Third Prince and me.”

Ting Feng nodded and left. Gu Qiang walked to her house alone. Soon, she saw a group of people enter the main entrance of Prime Minister Mansion.

The group was headed by a granny and a senior eunuch. Gu Qiang squinted and concluded they were from the palace. Though such an impressive scene was not rare to see in Prime Minister Mansion, it didn’t happen frequently.

Soon Ye rushed to the entrance with Gu Zhihua to welcome the group. Gu Qiang had no choice but to walk over and kneel on the ground.

The granny seemed to be about forty years old. She didn’t look beautiful but her clothes were extremely expensive. Obviously, she was the personal granny of a prominent noble.

The eunuch declared in a thin voice, “Empress Dowager ordered Gu Qiang, the eldest daughter of Gu Family into the palace.”

Gu Qiang became tight all over and felt nervous, but her face remained calm. She accepted the order and entered the sedan chair with the granny which was prepared specially for her.

It happened so fast that Ye and Gu Zhihua who also kneeled nearby didn’t realize what it was about. Those people appeared suddenly and left quickly.

Looking at the disappearing people, Ye seemed to be stricken heavily and collapsed on the ground. Gu Zhihua burst into tears while complaining, “Mother, what’s going on? Why did Empress Dowager order Gu Qiang into the palace? What trick did the woman play?”

Ye rose immediately, covered Gu Zhihua’s mouth with her hand and ordered her fiercely, “Stand up! Stop talking nonsense. If it is heard by Empress Dowager, she will kill you!”

Gu Zhihua wiped her tears and was eager to die. She thought Gu Qiang did it deliberately. Gu Qiang knew she adored the Third Prince, so she seduced him in the evening. It was Gu Qiang’s plot. The woman intended to make her sad by entangling with him.

Gu Qiang remained in the dark when she was seated in the sedan chair. Apparently, Empress Dowager ordered her into the palace because of nothing but Shen Zhongbai’s scheme.

Though she didn’t know what Shen Zhongbai would do, she had been prepared. She would have a head-to-head battle with him one day. Now that it was inevitable, she didn’t need to worry about it.

At the palace entrance, the sedan chair was stopped from entering the palace by someone. Gu Qiang got out of it and saw Shen Zhongbai shuddering in a thick blanket. When seeing Gu Qiang, he laughed complacently.

Gu Qiang walked to Shen Zhongbai instantly, saluted and said in a clear voice, “I greet my Royal Highness.”

Shen Zhongbai walked close to her, lifted her up and said with a smile, “Don’t bother. Empress Dowager is waiting for us.”

Us? Gu Qiang was confused, but Shen Zhongbai had left.

In the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility where Empress Dowager lived, fragrant smoke curled up, and a strange smell permeated the main hall. Behind a huge screen, a gray-haired woman was drinking tea with fancy clothes. She was surrounded by the fragrances of smoke and tea.

When Gu Qiang entered, she was shocked by the scene. It was the first time for her to come to the palace, but in her dream, she had lived here for a long time.

She had seldom come here, but she was familiar with the surrounding smell. She walked two steps and then realized she was impertinent, so she kneeled on the ground instantly.

Shen Zhongbai kneeled on the ground too and greeted Empress Dowager in a clear voice.

The woman behind the screen kept silent for quite a while for an unknown reason. After hearing what Shen Zhongbai said, a maid pulled back the screen finally. Then Empress Dowager turned around slowly. Though the gray-haired woman was old, she took good care of her appearance. Her skin was fair, and her upturned eyes were attractive, from which you could imagine her appearance when she was young. At that time, she must have been an extremely pretty woman.

Among the women in the palace, who wasn’t beautiful? There were many beauties, but all knew that beautiful appearance was not enough to make sure a woman could survive in the palace. The one surviving or standing at the top finally was both pretty and intelligent.

Empress Dowager rose, walked two steps, and sat before Gu Qiang. The latter greeted Empress Dowager at once.

Empress Dowager raised her upturned eyes and said, “Raise your head to talk.”

Hearing that, Gu Qiang raised her head slowly. When meeting the eyes of Empress Dowager, she paused suddenly. Empress Dowager looked the same.

Gu Qiang recognized Empress Dowager instantly. She remembered that she met Empress Dowager in her dream.

At that time, Gu Qiang was Empress and greeted Empress Dowager every day. That face looked older than this one.

Obviously, Empress Dowager had no impression of Gu Qiang. She looked at Gu Qiang, nodded, and said slowly, “You’re indeed a beauty. After you become a member of the palace, you will be more beautiful than most women here.”

Gu Qiang was astonished and asked obediently, “My Highness, what do you mean by saying becoming a member of the palace?”

A person should follow etiquette when talking with the royal family, but Gu Qiang remembered Empress Dowager preferred to be talked with in a straight way. Princess Royal was of the same personality as Empress Dowager. If Gu Qiang didn’t know the royal family well before, she would get into trouble this time.

Perhaps Empress Dowager didn’t think Gu Qiang would ask the question directly. But according to the rumor, the girl probably adored Shen Zhongbai, or why did she save him?

Did Gu Qiang want to pretend that she knew nothing and hoped Shen Zhongbai to explain first? As a prince, Shen Zhongbai was embarrassed to talk about something. That was why Empress Dowager ordered Gu Qiang into the palace.

“Miss Gu, how old are you? Have you found your Mr. Right?” Empress Dowager asked.

Gu Qiang raised her eyes. She became clear about why Empress Dowager asked her to come here. Shen Zhongbai might be related to it. She hadn’t expected that what happened last night would be spread widely in the capital today.

Gu Qiang told herself in the heart that no matter what would happen in the future, she must be more cautious.

“My Highness, I haven’t. I was hurt and have forgotten many things. Now with my family around, I want to spend time with them and cherish our days together.” Gu Qiang answered.

In fact, Empress Dowager wanted to ask if Gu Qiang had feelings for Shen Zhongbai. Unexpectedly, she rejected Empress Dowager directly.

Empress Dowager was surprised and turned around to look at Shen Zhongbai. Apparently, he heard what Gu Qiang said. Then she looked at Gu Qiang and asked, “Do you really think so?”

Gu Qiang nodded.

Shen Zhongbai snorted. The woman was interesting. She was eager to climb onto his bed in fact, but she pretended to be pure. It proved that all women were the same.

Empress Dowager looked at Shen Zhongbai helplessly. She planned to match them, but now it seemed impossible.

“You mean your deep feeling was not true when you saved me last night?” Shen Zhongbai asked.

Shen Zhongbai used to be cold, overbearing and slightly evil towards others or when he dealt with something. However, the way he asked the question made Gu Qiang feel he wasn’t so mature as she imagined.

Empress Dowager pushed a cup of tea before her to Gu Qiang. Then she picked up another cup of tea and took a sip, while looking at them as if enjoying a play.

In the eyes of Empress Dowager, Gu Qiang might have feelings for Shen Zhongbai. But because Empress Dowager was there, she couldn’t express her thoughts.

“My Royal Highness, it was my duty to save others. I didn’t know your identity at that time. Nor did I have deep feelings for you. You must be oversensitive.” Gu Qiang said respectfully.

Shen Zhongbai felt as if Gu Qiang were slapping his face. Oversensitive? Wasn’t she supposed to be excited if she was chosen by him?