Chapter 52 Propose Marriage

Gu Qiang appeared calm as if she couldn’t hear what Shen Zhongbai said. Therefore, Shen Zhongbai didn’t continue.

The Emperor said, “Zhongbai, this is the second daughter of the Gu Family, who contributed to Mr. Liu’s donation of food. Because of what she said, Mr. Liu was determined to donate food. I’ve decided to offer her a reward. What do you think about it?”

Shen Zhongbai looked at the Emperor in surprise. Though feeling confused, he responded with a smile, “I agree. Now that she did a good job, it’s a good idea to give her an award.”

The Emperor gave an embarrassed smile and told Shen Zhongbai, “The reward that she asks for is to marry you.”

Shen Zhongbai was about to drink his tea when these words brought him up short. He frowned and couldn’t help asking, “Why me?”

Hearing this, both Gu Zhihua and Ye looked up at him surprisingly. He has shown his attitude clearly. Does it mean that he doesn’t like Gu Zhihua and refuses to marry her?

“You are such a virtuous, handsome, and competent man, that’s why she loves you.” The Empress explained immediately.

The Emperor added, “You are old enough to marry. If you have a wife, she can help you with the affairs in your house. What do you say?”

Shen Zhongbai stared at Gu Zhihua coolly, wondering “Does she want to marry me?”

Gu Zhihua lowered her head with a flush, but she knew Shen Zhongbai was staring at her, so she became more nervous. She was clear about his attitude. If he refused to marry her, the Emperor couldn’t say anything.

No, Shen Zhongbai must agree. The only wish of Gu Zhihua in her life was to marry Shen Zhongbai. Now she was so close to success. How could she give up?

Therefore, Gu Zhihua raised her head, met Shen Zhongbai’s eyes, and said, “Your Highness, please help me realize my dream.”

Shen Zhongbai leaned on the chair and looked up and down at Gu Zhihua. Apparently, the girl dressed up. She was a good-looking girl, wearing delicate makeup and well-dressed. But Shen Zhongbai was not impressed.

He cast his eyes to Gu Qiang, who was sitting next to Gu Zhihua. Just as usual, she didn’t wear clothes made of the best materials or dress up. Her clothes were not as extravagant and gorgeous as those of other ladies, but she could still hold others’ attention.

“It’s admirable to be concerned about the whole country. But you should know that I’m not interested in marrying you.” Shen Zhongbai said and met Gu Zhihua’s eyes. The coldness in his eyes made her so sad that she couldn’t help crying in the presence of all people.

She wanted to restrain herself from showing her weakness in public and told Shen Zhongbai that she would be fine without him.

But she failed and could but wipe her tears.

The Emperor felt sorry for her and looked the other way, saying “End of discussion. After all, Miss Gu has contributed a lot by helping people in the capital. I have to realize her dream.”

He was in fact helping himself out of embarrassment. As the Emperor of the country, he would be a loser if he couldn’t realize her dream.

Shen Zhongbai knew what the Emperor meant. Though he was unhappy, he had no choice. It seemed that he had to marry Gu Zhihua.

Now that it was unchangeable, Shen Zhongbai had to echo what the Emperor said, so he said instantly, “Your Majesty, now that you think it’s OK, I agree. But Miss Gu can just be a concubine instead of my wife. What do you think about it?”

Gu Zhihua couldn’t believe what she heard. She was unable to control her expression at all and felt disappointed. Ye stood up suddenly as if she forgot her status and shouted, “Your Highness, what do you mean? Is Zhihu unworthy of you?”

Gu Qiang was astonished. Was Ye crazy? How could she say that in the presence of the Emperor and the Empress? If the Emperor got angry and punished them, she would be involved, too.

Before the Emperor opened his mouth, Shen Zhongbai smacked his hand down on the table and jumped to his feet, shouting “Do you know what you are saying?”

Ye’s face paled immediately. As a looker-on, Liu Shichu was shocked. He thought it was a wise choice to cooperate with Ye and Gu Zhihua. But he seemed to be wrong because Gu Qiang looked wiser.

Gu Qiang looked calm from the beginning. She just sat there quietly no matter what requests were made and what was talked about as if she had nothing to do with all.

Liu Shichu kept observing Gu Qiang. Of course, she noticed him looking at her without scruple and met his eyes directly.

Liu Shichu took his eyes off her with a guilty conscience and pretended to look somewhere else. Gu Qiang sneered. The man seemed to be proud a few minutes ago, but now he must feel a little regret.

Ye kneeled immediately and found herself shaking. She didn’t realize she had gone too far until now.

Ye slapped her face so hard that it turned red and swollen at once. She knelt down and kowtowed twice, then looked up at Shen Zhongbai, hoping this would relieve his anger.

Shen Zhongbai didn’t expect Ye would do it and found it just improper to keep blaming her. So, he softened his face, stood up, and told the Emperor, “Your Majesty, I’m going now. When Miss Gu is ready, please tell me. I will prepare to welcome her into my house.”

Then he walked away like the wind. The Emperor could do nothing with him. He couldn’t force Shen Zhongbai to marry Gu Zhihua as his wife. He had powerful military strength in the capital and was a weird person so that even the Emperor had to respect his opinion. It was the biggest compromise that he could make.

The Emperor told others, “You can leave now.”

After that, he went away with the Empress. Only Gu Qiang, Ye, Gu Zhihua and Liu Shichu were left in the pavilion which was filled with people just now.

Ye pulled Gu Zhihua up from the ground, wiped her tears with a handkerchief, and comforted her, “Zhihua, don’t cry. At least you can marry the Third Prince as you wish. Isn’t it good?”

Gu Zhihua sobbed with a pale face. She met Ye’s eyes and asked helplessly, “Mother, he is forced to marry me. What can I do?”

Liu Shichu stood up, adjusted his clothes, and walked to Gu Qiang naturally. He said in a voice that was not loud but enough for Ye and Gu Zhihua to hear clearly, “You are the eldest daughter of the Gu Family, right? I have a question. Your sister has taken your credit, but you are not angry at all. Why?”

He had never seen that sisters born of different mothers could be on such good terms. As an outsider, he was clear that the Third Prince seemed to like Gu Qiang, but Gu Zhihua loved the Third Prince deeply. In the complicated relationship, Gu Zhihua played a pathetic role and was not supposed to be tolerant enough to open her heart to Gu Qiang.

Gu Zhihua turned around to look at Gu Qiang but couldn’t see the latter clearly through tears. Her hidden emotions were seen in the heaving of her chest.

Gu Qiang looked calm, and it seemed that she didn’t want to talk with Liu Shichu. Sure enough, the man was a rat. But now that he asked, she would make an exception to answer him.

“Why should I be angry? I don’t need anything. After all, there is not a man that I want to marry.” Then Gu Qiang turned around and left.

Looking at her back, Ye and Gu Zhihua gnashed their teeth with anger. Liu Shichu walked to Ye, smiled at her, and said helplessly, “Madam, you see I’ve done my best. The Third Prince doesn’t want to marry your daughter, but the Emperor has made the decision. Remember to invite me to the wedding. I will be grateful.”

Then he moved away slowly.

Gu Qiang returned home at dusk. Because of what happened, she couldn’t take the sedan chair of Ye and Gu Zhihua. Luckily, the palace was not far away from the Prime Minister Mansion, so she went home on foot.

When walking past the yard of the main hall, she saw Prime Minister Gu sighing inside, and Gu Zhihua wailing. Gu Qiang smiled in an unnoticeable way, but at the next moment, she became straight-faced.

She went to salute Prime Minister Gu, who just waved his hand and seemed to be impatient. Then he turned around and roared, “Stop crying. You chose the man, didn’t you? Why are you unhappy now?”

Gu Zhihua used to be scared of Prime Minister Gu. However, she was irritated today, so she turned around and shouted, “I want to be his wife and a princess, not a concubine!”

Her shout surprised Prime Minister Gu. He couldn’t believe his eyes. Was this the daughter that he educated with strict family rules?

Prime Minister Gu said strictly, “How can you talk with me in this way? The Third Prince doesn’t love you, and no one can force him to. You and your mother always hope that the Third Prince will marry you, don’t you? Now you have realized your dream. Why are you still so picky? Do you think you are worthy of the princess position?”

It seemed that Gu Zhihua didn’t care if her behavior was impolite. She turned around and asked with fierce eyes, “Why not? Why can’t I be his wife?”

Prime Minister Gu flushed with anger. It was the first time that he had been contradicted by his child, and it happened in the presence of Gu Qiang. If he didn’t put down Gu Zhihua’s rebellion, he would be less awe-inspiring before Gu Qiang.

Therefore, he said coldly without consideration, “As the daughter of my second wife, it’s lucky enough for you to marry the prince.”