Chapter 66 Party

It was Granny Zhang’s voice. She used to bully Gu Qiang and her servant girls with Ye being her patron. However, after Gu Qiang rose to the position of an infanta, she was too embarrassed to enter the yard.

When Gu Qiang walked to the main hall with Ting Feng and Chui Xue, there were full of people and carriages in the front yard.

Many people from the palace were present in the banquet hall. Compared with the autumn harvest party, this one was much more magnificent. Many madams and ladies usually kept in touch, but there were even more at this occasion.

Shen Zhongbai was sitting at the main seat, and Princess Changning was seated next to him. Infanta Ziyan who hadn’t put in an appearance for several days were present too. All of them enjoyed the favor of the Empress Dowager. They were making a small chat quietly, and others sitting at the table didn’t dare to talk.

When Gu Qiang arrived, lots of people had been seated. Curious about the infanta honored by the Emperor, they craned their necks to see what made her so special.

These madams and ladies once heard of Gu Qiang’s name. Though she was the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister Mansion, she always seemed submissive and was dwarfed by Gu Zhihua in the family. However, she had bright piercing eyes and looked pretty and elegant today.

Gu Qiang quickened her pace to greet those seated at the table. Princess Changning, who Gu Qiang hadn’t seen for a long time, opened her mouth first.

“Now that you are an infanta now, you don’t need to stand on ceremony.” While saying, she took a delicate rosewood box from a maid and gave it to Gu Qiang, “It’s a gift for you.”

Gu Qiang took the box and saluted to show her gratitude. Shen Zhongbai said, “Sister, why didn’t you tell me that you prepared the gift? I’ve brought nothing with me.”

Princess Changning smiled like an elegant peony and said, “Oh, please! How close you are to Qiang! Is it necessary to give a gift? You must have congratulated her privately.”

It was totally untrue. Gu Qiang wanted to explain, but Shen Zhongbai looked shy and lowered his head. Was he admitting it silently?

Gu Qiang was at a loss what to say. At this moment, Infanta Ziyan, who she just met some days ago, said, “Brother Qianshan is occupied with his affairs today, so he can’t come here. He asked me to congratulate you on his behalf.”

Shen Qianshan was absent? Gu Qiang’s heart twitched for no reason. Since he sent her to the palace of the Empress Dowager, she hadn’t seen him again.

“Please give my thanks to him.” Gu Qiang said smilingly, without realizing how bitter her expression was.

Gusu Liang walked to her and whispered, “Mr. Gu has arrived and is waiting at the gate. Ye has servants stop him and doesn’t allow him to enter.”

The air became cold at once. Gusu Liang shivered. Turning around, she saw Gu Qiang sulky. Then Gu Qiang headed towards the gate.

At the main entrance of the Prime Minister Mansion, the black gate stood in a solemn atmosphere. Ye was standing at the gate and looking at Gu Huaian coldly with her arms crossed. Gu Huaian was on a tall horse. Behind him was a fine carriage. It was unknown that who was sitting quietly in it.

Seeing Gu Qiang going out, Gu Huaian dismounted from the horse, walked to her smilingly, and said, “Qiang, congratulations! I am so proud of you.”

Gu Qiang looked at Gu Huaian’s face and felt glad too, “Brother, why do you stand at the gate? It makes me ashamed.”

Gu Huaian was clear that his sister was putting on a show for Ye, so he seized the chance and answered, “Madam Gu said I am no longer one of Family Gu and am not eligible to enter the yard. I think she is right.”

Gu Qiang grabbed Gu Huaian’s arms surprisedly and stretched out her head to ask Ye, “Mother, is that true?”

Ye’s face became pale instantly. The brother and sister gave a great show and made her unable to respond. Now that Gu Qiang had come out, Ye had to cover up her true intention: “Huaian, you decided to cut ties with the Prime Minister Mansion. Now when Qiang is an infanta, you come to benefit from it. If others know it, they will look down on you. I stop you for your sake.”

Gu Huaian was keen on medicine instead of the official circles. Prime Minister Gu hoped he would inherit the position of prime minister, but he didn’t live up to his father’s expectation. Finally, he broke up with his father and then moved out.

“Madam, my brother comes here to congratulate me rather than benefiting from me. On such a happy day, how can you say that to him?” Gu Qiang glowered at Ye coldly, which looked a little scary.

Before Ye responded, Gu Qiang continued, “Now that you don’t regard my brother as one of Gu Family, stop scheming with Jiang Min to marry Song Yun to him. It’s impossible that everything goes as you want.”

People came and went around them, and numerous guests were present at the party. Ye was embarrassed by Gu Qiang’s cold attitude. Madams and ladies wanted to see what happened but had no excuses to stay.

“Qiang, though you are an infanta now, how can you talk to me in this way? After all, I always treat you as my daughter. Why do you humiliate me in public?”

Treat Gu Qiang as her daughter? This was the funniest joke Gu Qiang had heard during these years.

“Madam, I take the matter on its merits. You can’t request my brother to take on the responsibility as a member of Gu Family by marrying Song Yun while denying that he is one of the family. In my opinion, Gu Huaihuai is smart, and it’s not impossible to give him a concubine. Zhihua will be a concubine of the Third Prince, so Huaihuai has the right to take a concubine, too. Only in this way can he feel fair.” Gu Qiang said.

Gu Huaian was about to leave. But after hearing what his sister said, he didn’t believe his ears. Was she the one that used to be obedient to Ye and Gu Zhihua, know nothing, and be deaf to advice?

Her cleverness surprised Gu Huaian a lot.

Ye’s face twitched as if it would explode, but she managed to control her temper and told Gu Qiang, “Let’s talk about Song Yun later. Jiang Min is your aunt. We have to save her face.”

So what? Jiang Min was an evil woman. Gu Qiang wouldn’t allow anyone who was important to her to mess with that woman. She didn’t care who Ye’s children would marry or what a kind of wedding would be given.

“Come in. If your father sees us, he will get angry.” Ye said quietly while walking past Gu Qiang and Gu Huaian. Then she raised her head and put on a kind smile to greet people around genially.

Gu Qiang smiled. Gu Huaian took her hand with one hand and waved the other hand. The fine carriage ran into the yard. He said, “I’ve heard that you are an infanta now. You are so awesome. These are gifts for you. Now that your status is different, you can’t be dwarfed by others.”

When Gu Qiang turned around, the carriage stopped next to her. Through the window, she saw it was full of silk, satin as well as jewelry boxes.

She was moved. Looked as shining as the moon in the sky, she thought she always strove for herself and her future alone. But now it proved that someone cared about her and hoped to give her a better life. Therefore, she was determined to protect her beloved brother who cared about her heart and soul.

“Brother, please protect yourself at all events. Never…” Gu Qiang swallowed back the words on the tip of her tongue because she didn’t want him to know anything about her life.

He shouldn’t know that. The wheel of life always rolled forward. No one should be endowed with the privilege.

When Gu Huaian was ushered to the party, a smile disappeared instantly from the face of Prime Minister Gu who was at the seat of honor. He knew the man who was once his hope and continuation of his life. However, the young man ran counter to his expectation and humiliated him in the capital.

Gu Huaian’s appearance discolored the view around him.

Prime Minister Gu lifted his cup slowly to hide his face and then tipped Ye a wink, who looked sulky too.

Though Ye was startled at that time, she walked to Prime Minister Gu and asked in a low voice, “What’s up?”

Prime Minister Gu was annoyed and put down his cup heavily on the table. Leaves in the cup went down and up and finally settled.

“Why does Gu Huaian come back? He has cut ties with the family, hasn’t he? Does he appear suddenly to challenge me?” The mustache of Prime Minister Gu was raised in anger, and his eyes were dim. It seemed that he was ready to rush out and punch Gu Huaian.

Glad about his response, Ye moved closer to him and said obsequiously, “I tried to stop Gu Huaian, but Gu Qiang appeared. You know, Qiang’s status…”

“Absurd! Did she forget what I said just because she became an infanta now?” Prime Minister Gu banged on the table and tea splashed on the table. Princess Changning and Shen Zhongbai turned around to look at him. They showed nothing on their faces, but they had been clear about what happened.

Prime Minister Gu dashed to Gu Qiang and Gu Huaian and stared at the latter coldly. It seemed that he wanted to force his son to face him with an overwhelming air.

Gu Qiang turned around to look Prime Minister Gu in the eye, stood up, adjusted her clothes, and said, “Father, this is my brother. He comes to congratulate me. You know each other, don’t you?”

Prime Minister Gu and Gu Huaian looked at Gu Qiang surprisedly and didn’t understand why she did that. How could they do not know each other? He was Gu Huaian’s father. It was an embarrassing meeting today. Gu Qiang was expected to relieve the embarrassment, but she didn’t.