After Gu Qing left the Prince Regent's Mansion, he returned to the Prime Minister's Mansion and went to see Prime Minister Gu to ask for a travel token. He planned to go to Xingyi Tea House to find Gu Qinglan that very night.
When Prime Minister Gu heard that she had first gone to the Prince Regent's Mansion and then was sent to Xingyi Tea House, he angrily slapped the table hard.
"This damned girl has really gone too far! Gu Qing, go now and bring her back for me. Lock her in the ancestral hall to kneel. I'll discipline her on behalf of her mother. Otherwise, she'll surely cause big trouble for me sooner or later."
Gu Qing naturally couldn't bear to do so. He stepped forward and persuaded, "Adoptive father, you know that Qinglan has been willful since childhood. Now that you're asking her to marry someone she doesn't love, how could she just sit there waiting to get married without doing anything?"
Prime Minister Gu heaved a deep sigh and walked to the door with his hands behind his back.
"You've watched her grow up. Naturally, you know her feelings and understand the twists and turns in this matter."
Gu Qing lowered his head. His voice was dull and hoarse. "Yes, son knows. But Adoptive Father, is there really no room for negotiation in this matter?"
Prime Minister Gu turned around and patted Gu Qing on the shoulder. "Qing'er, how could I not know your feelings for Qinglan? But there are some things I think you understand, so there's no need to say them so clearly, right?"
Gu Qing nodded. "Son understands. Adoptive Father doesn't need to say more. Son will never have any improper thoughts about Qinglan."
Prime Minister Gu took the token from his waist, grabbed Gu Qing's hand, and put it in his palm.
"Go and bring her back."
He clenched the token and walked out, tightly biting his teeth.
Only then did he manage to restrain his heartache. He led his horse on the deserted street.
He recalled all the things he had experienced with Gu Qinglan since childhood.
In his childhood, he only focused on learning martial arts, thinking that he could repay his adoptive father's kindness of upbringing when he grew up.
At that time, she always pestered him to take her out of the mansion to play.
She always pestered him to go up the mountain to shoot birds and go into the water to catch fish.
She didn't act like a proper young lady from a noble family at all. However, she was smart enough to learn all the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
At that time, he always thought that the days would go on like this forever.
He could always stay by his Lan'er's side. But all this was about to end.
Once Gu Qinglan got married, he could no longer protect her.
Otherwise, the gossips in the town would swallow her up.
When he reached the city gate, he saw Lieutenant Liu on duty again.
"Where are you going so late, Young Master Gu?"
Only then did he come to his senses and look at Lieutenant Liu. He showed him the travel token in his hand.
"I have something important to do outside the city. I'll be back by dawn at most."
Seeing that he was in a bad mood, Lieutenant Liu didn't chat with him either. He opened the city gate and let him out.
After leaving the city, he mounted his horse and galloped towards Xingyi Tea House in the south of the city.
At this moment, in Xingyi Tea House, Gu Qinglan was lying in bed, but she just couldn't fall asleep.
Although the people from the Gu family hadn't found her yet, for some reason, she always felt vaguely uneasy.
Helpless, she sat up, picked up her cloak, got out of bed, and walked towards the yard.
She squatted in front of the steps, resting her chin on her hands and lost in thought.
Even if there was no future between her and the Prince Regent, with her father's character of valuing family status and achievements,
why would her father marry her to an unknown official from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices?
Before she could figure it out, a person suddenly jumped over the wall.
She was startled and stood up in a defensive posture.
When she saw who it was, she patted her chest and let out a sigh of relief. "Why are you here?"
When Gu Qing saw Gu Qinglan, who had been missing for several days, he was so excited that he stepped forward and hugged her tightly.
His voice was full of surprise and a bit of scolding.
"You're really being naughty! You've been missing for several days. Do you know how worried I... how worried Adoptive Father is about you?"
Gu Qinglan was stunned for a moment. When she came to her senses, she pushed him away.
She pulled her cloak closer. "He's worried about me? Humph, if he's worried about me, I'm afraid he's just worried about not being able to explain to the Yang family."
Gu Qing took a step closer. "Whether he's really worried about you or not, Adoptive Father said that I must bring you back tonight no matter what."
She took a few steps back and threatened, "You dare! If you dare to force me to go back, I'll never forgive you!"
Gu Qing sighed helplessly. His eyes were full of hurt, but he couldn't disobey his adoptive father's words.
So he took a step towards her. As he took a step forward, Gu Qinglan took a step back. "Don't come closer!"
He took a deep breath as if he had made a great determination.
He took two steps and came in front of Gu Qinglan. He grabbed her arm.
"Qinglan, stop being naughty. Come back with me."
Gu Qinglan struggled desperately. She kicked him in the calf and kept shouting, "Gu Qing, let me go! You bastard! Let go of me!"
Gu Qing had no choice but to knock her out with a chop to the neck.
He carried her over the wall, put her on the horse, and held her in his arms.
The horse walked slowly in the direction of the capital. The warmth of the person in his arms was so hot that it almost burned him even through the clothes.
He lowered his head and glanced at the person in his arms. A glint of passion flashed in his eyes.
He bent down and kissed her on impulse. It was just a light peck, and then he left her glistening and moist lips.
"Lan'er, I'll always protect you. I won't let anyone hurt you."
The horse swayed. The journey that usually took half an hour actually took a whole hour.
When they got back to the Prime Minister's Mansion, it was almost dawn.
He carried Gu Qinglan in his arms horizontally and sent her back to her room.
Just as he was about to go to the study to report to Prime Minister Gu,
he heard Prime Minister Gu talking to someone inside the room.
"What are you saying, Lord Yang? How could Lan'er elope? Where did you hear this false news?"
Lord Yang was sitting opposite Prime Minister Gu. "Really not? Are you sure Miss Gu is in the mansion now, Prime Minister Gu?"
Before he came, he had clearly found out that Gu Qinglan had run away from home for several days to avoid the marriage. The news couldn't be false.
Prime Minister Gu must be hiding something now.
Hearing what Lord Yang said, Gu Qing outside the door pushed the door open without knocking.
Prime Minister Gu was just about to get angry when he heard Gu Qing say, "Lord Yang, Qinglan is in the mansion at the moment. I don't know where you heard this news. Such slander must not be forgiven lightly!"
Only then did Prime Minister Gu heave a sigh of relief. He stood up and walked in front of Lord Yang, smiling on the surface but scolding the old man in his heart.
"If you don't believe me, Lord Yang, you can go with me to have a look."
Seeing the two of them cooperate so well, Lord Yang couldn't help but feel suspicious.
The news he had received before must not be false. Now that they were acting like this, it was probably because they had already found the girl.
It seemed that if he wanted to get the better of Prime Minister Gu, he had to find evidence that Gu Qinglan had run away from home to avoid the marriage.
"What are you talking about, Prime Minister Gu? I'm just worried. Since your daughter is in the mansion, then the wedding will be prepared as originally scheduled."