Chapter 31 Provocation from the Infanta

Unexpectedly, Gu Qiang was really something. She not only had a dubious relationship with the Ninth Duke but also was proposed by the Third Prince. Why was she so lucky? What was Gu Zhihua’s shortcoming compared with her?

“Can you calm down? Behave yourself!” Ye turned around and cast a warning glance at Gu Zhihua, hoping that she didn’t behave like a mad woman in the presence of Gu Qiang.

Though Ye didn’t know why Gu Qiang had changed so much since she fell into water, obviously she was no longer the stupid woman that could be manipulated by Ye.

Now that it was a competition of wisdom, Ye didn’t hope her daughter was like a mad woman. She hoped Gu Zhihua could be a credit to her at least instead of humiliating her in the presence of Gu Qiang.

However, what Ye said didn’t work. Gu Zhihua intended to rush up to Gu Qiang. Luckily, a nearby granny held Gu Zhihua back in time.

Facing mad Gu Zhihua, Gu Qiang seemed composed as if nothing had happened. She rose and said to Ye, “Mother, if there is nothing else, I will leave.”

Ye nodded with clenched teeth. Did Gu Qiang leave in this way? Ye didn’t get what she wanted to know. Besides, Gu Zhihua made a scene and humiliated herself in the presence of Gu Qiang.

Gu Zhihua didn’t calm down until Gu Qiang went far. Ye turned around and told Gu Zhihua fiercely, “What are you doing? Do you forget what I told you? No matter what happens, keep your head. If you lose your head, you will leave yourself open to charges sooner or later.”

Gu Zhihua felt aggrieved and responded, “Mother, I know I’m wrong. But why does the Third Prince discuss marriage with Gu Qiang? If a man and a woman discuss marriage, that’s final, isn’t it?”

Ye bit her lips and kept silent. Naturally she knew Gu Zhihua was crazy about the Third Prince and eager to marry him. If Gu Qiang was still the dumb girl she used to be, it wouldn’t be a problem. However, now she was a formidable rival, so it was not so easy to fool her as before.

“Then what can I do? The Third Prince doesn’t consider me just because I was not born of my father’s legal wife?” Gu Zhihua screamed furiously.

Hearing that, Ye slapped Gu Zhihua across the face mercilessly, stood up suddenly and shouted at her, “What are you talking about? You were not born of your father’s legal wife?”

The slap made Gu Zhihua tremble all over in pain. Five fingerprints appeared on her delicate face, but she didn’t dare to say anything.

Born of her father’s second wife, Gu Zhihua was always unsatisfied with her identity. If she were not born of her father’s second wife, she would be ordered into the palace by Empress Dowager. Who could she blame? She knew she couldn’t blame Ye, because that was not what Ye hoped.

If she just thought about it casually, that would be OK. But she spoke it out. No wonder her mother got angry. She deserved the slap.

After the slap, Ye realized she used too much force and said immediately, “I told you today that you must control yourself and mustn’t say anything irretrievable, didn’t I? Go away.”

Gu Qiang stood there with a calmful and even gloomy expression. In the final analysis, Ye loved her son and was dreaming that he would marry into and live with his bride’s family. Therefore, now she would try her best to push Gu Huaian out.

If it happened in the past, at least Prime Minister Gu wouldn’t agree with Ye. Anyway, Gu Huaian was the eldest son of Gu Family. But a few years ago, he broke with Gu Family and then moved out to live alone.

Thus, even if Ye proposed it to Prime Minister Gu, he would possibly not disagree.

Then Gu Huaian would have to marry Song Yu, wouldn’t he? Gu Qiang broke out in a cold sweat.

Though Song Yu didn’t seem to be evil, her mother was. For the sake of Gu Huaian’s happiness, Gu Qiang must go to tell him in advance so that he could be mentally prepared.

Hearing what Ye said, Jiang Min was surprised at first. Perhaps she didn’t think Ye would suggest Gu Huaian. Though he was the eldest son of Gu Family, he broke with the family several years ago, which was widely known in the capital. Jiang Min had heard of it, of course.

Although Gu Huaian was the eldest son of Gu Family, he was not closely related to the family. But it was not easy for Ye to make such a compromise. In order to attach herself to Gu Family, Jiang Min didn’t care who he was. So long as he had a relationship with Gu Family, that was enough.

“If so, that will be great. I will go home to prepare and wait for your good news.” After saying that, Jiang Min poked the back of Song Yu who stood aside dumbly, signaling the latter to go with her instantly.

Song Yu was startled. When turning around, she glanced at Gu Qiang, who wore a cold face, pressed her lips together and looked calm. When meeting her eyes, Song Yu shrank. She seemed to be scared of Gu Qiang.

As Gu Qiang thought, Song Yu didn’t seem to be evil. But in such a situation, Gu Qiang was in no mood to chat with her or know more about her. After meeting Song Yu’s eyes, Gu Qiang withdrew her eyes back and walked outside.

Ye didn’t want to accuse Gu Qiang of her impoliteness. She told Jiang Min complacently, “Sure. I will discuss with the Old Lady. If she agrees too, it will be a done deal.”

Jiang Min said goodbye to Ye gladly and then left with Song Yu. It didn’t seem that they had just quarreled. Instead, their relationship was improved at once.

When Gu Qiang reached the gate, Ting Feng caught up with her and warned her in a low voice, “My Lady, if you move on, you will go out of the house.”

She knew how terrible she felt now. As the eldest son of Gu Family, Gu Huaian had no privilege at all. Couldn’t he do business outside?

Of course, Gu Qiang knew it was Ye that put obstacles in the way. Without her, the situation wouldn’t be so terrible. What she must do right now was go out to discuss with Gu Huaian and listen to his idea.

Gu Qiang turned around and told Ting Feng and Chui Xue, “Go back, have your meals and wait for me in the yard.”

Then she went to the stable, got her horse and sped towards the suburbs.

Ting Feng stood at the gate, nervously watching Gu Qiang disappear in the corner. Her brows were knitted.

Though Gu Qiang was different and bolder and did whatever she wanted more resolutely, it was not good, because Ting Feng found Gu Qiang always put herself in danger and thus was worried for her.

Chui Xue was still holding the bowl. Lowering her head, she found the food on her plate had been cold. Looking out, she found her lady had gone so far. She felt terrible.

Though she didn’t know where her lady was going in haste, she hoped her lady would be safe.

Gu Qiang took an hour to rush out of the capital and came to the mountain in the suburbs. Immediately, she recalled that she encountered Shen Zhongbai and Shen Qianshan here last time. It flashed through her mind like a film and made her lost in a daze.

But she came to her sense at once. This time she just rode past here. Nothing would happen probably.

With such a thought, Gu Qiang rode far. At a downslope, the horse seemed to stumble and dashed forward. Before she realized what happened, she had been thrown away. Everything around her was unfolded in slow motion. She was so nervous that her heart was almost about to stop beating.

When she nearly hit an opposite tree, she grabbed a branch stretching out with courage coming from nowhere.

The tree was very tall. Fortunately, the branch she grabbed was quite low.

She felt her heart almost jump out. She didn’t dare to imagine what would happen if she hit the tree.

Loosening her grip of the branch and falling to the ground, she felt her bottom nearly broken.

She picked herself up, brushed dirt off her clothes and suddenly found a knife on her neck. Her heart sank. Before blaming herself for coming out rashly, she looked up and saw someone she was familiar with.

Infanta Ziyan was standing in front of Gu Qiang. Her childish face looked gloomy and a little scary. It was a cute face, but now it looked frightening.

Gu Qiang pressed her lips and said to Infanta Ziyan, “Your Highness, what are you doing here?”

Ziyan was in light yellow. The clothes were of simple and elegant design, which was suitable for girls at the age of Ziyan. A pretty girl was a feast to eyes, but now it was not the time to praise Ziyan. Gu Qiang looked up at her, whose face looked horrifying.

Why did the fierce expression appear on a girl’s face?

“I don’t like you. I will give you a lesson today to tell you that not everyone can be contacted.” What did it mean?

Gu Qiang looked at Ziyan in surprise. The infanta was a nice girl, cheerful, lively and cute. She wouldn’t bind Gu Qiang without reason, would she? Gu Qiang had something important to do.

Infanta Ziyan winked at a person behind her, and that one went forward to bind Gu Qiang at once. But Gu Qiang didn’t struggle. Ziyan was not of evil nature, and it was not yet the time to deal with it with force.

“Your Highness, I don’t understand. Could you please make it clear?” Gu Qiang said slowly and looked at her sincerely.