She put down the water cup in her hand, looked up at Dan'er, and said indifferently, "You don't need to serve me anymore. You must be tired after being out all day. Go back and rest."
Dan'er bowed her head in salute and backed out.
She lay on the bed, thinking about their reactions, and inexplicably felt a chill in her heart.
Mu Yanming came back from the study. After getting into bed, he gently pulled her into his arms.
...
At this moment, the mansion of Prime Minister Gu was in an uproar.
Gu Qinglan was making a scene, threatening to go on a hunger strike. She even said something outrageous.
"If you want to marry, you go! Anyway, I'll never marry even if I die! If Father really wants to sell his daughter, just carry a corpse there!"
As she spoke, she overturned the whole table of dishes to the ground.
Prime Minister Gu was so angry that his whole body trembled. He stepped forward and gave her a resounding slap.
"All in all, you just want to marry the Regent! Father asks you, does he even notice you? Does he like you? You're so eager to throw yourself at him, but has he ever even given you a second look?"
Under the successive interrogations, Gu Qinglan bit her lips tightly, and tears rolled down one by one.
"Anyway, I won't marry! I'll never marry even if I die!"
Prime Minister Gu had no choice but to angrily raise his hand again. But when he saw Gu Qinglan's stubborn eyes, he stopped in mid - air.
"Do as you please. Father won't care whether you live or die. Since you said you'd rather let Father carry a corpse there, on the wedding day, they'll just put your corpse in the sedan chair."
Gu Qinglan slumped onto the stool all of a sudden. She never thought that her father, who had always doted on her, would be so determined on this matter of marriage.
Prime Minister Gu left the yard angrily. Gu Yishu and Gu Qing walked in from outside.
"Sister, don't cry. Big Brother Gu has already agreed. He'll carry out your plan in three days. By then, even if Father forces you to marry, the Yang family won't want you."
She looked up at her younger brother and threw herself into his arms, bursting into tears.
"I hate Father! I hate him! He's so heartless! I'm not his daughter, am I? Why doesn't he consider me at all?"
She was out of breath from crying, but still kept chattering.
"I just like the Regent! So what? Don't I even have the right to like someone as a human being?"
Gu Yishu gently patted her on the back. "Alright, alright. Stop crying. Everything will be fine after three days."
Gu Qinglan nodded and wiped the tears from her face.
After the two of them left the room, Gu Qinglan got into bed and curled herself up tightly under the quilt.
Three days passed quickly. Early that morning, Gu Qinglan got up early and changed into a green dress, which was quite eye - catching.
Then she happily walked towards the market. Since she hadn't caused any trouble these days, Prime Minister Gu didn't restrict her going out anymore.
After leaving the mansion, she walked happily. Thinking that she would be free after today, a happy smile appeared on her face.
She hadn't walked far when she suddenly saw someone wearing the same clothes as hers.
Taking a closer look, it was actually her!
Mo Qinghuan also saw Gu Qinglan.
The two of them got closer and closer. When they passed by each other, Mo Qinghuan heard Gu Qinglan snort, but she ignored it.
She walked straight ahead. She hadn't walked far when she suddenly heard a scream from behind!
Mo Qinghuan looked back and saw that Gu Qinglan was covered with a sack and carried away.
"Outrageous! In broad daylight, there are people robbing innocent women!"
The maid behind Mo Qinghuan was furious. She rolled up her sleeves and was about to chase after them.
These two maids were newly arranged by Mu Yanming to protect her.
One was called Dongmei and the other was called Dongxue.
Dongxue grabbed Dongmei. "Is it your job to be a hero? Your task is to protect the Princess Consort!"
Dongmei looked at Mo Qinghuan, and Mo Qinghuan thought Dongxue was right.
Their task was to protect her, and they really shouldn't meddle in other people's business.
Moreover, Gu Qinglan was kidnapped just after swaggering around in the same clothes as hers. It was so coincidental that she was on the scene.
What if someone tried to harm her when her two maids chased after them?
But if a girl was kidnapped, what would happen to her reputation? She wasn't even married yet!
"Dongmei, go and chase them!"
Dongmei broke free from Dongxue's hand and chased after them. Dongxue sighed secretly.
"Please don't blame the Princess Consort. Dongmei is just such a hot - tempered person. She has a kind heart."
Mo Qinghuan just nodded slightly and then walked forward.
Dongmei didn't chase far before she was stopped.
"I advise the girl not to meddle in other people's business!"
The man was wearing a veil hat, so it was hard to see his face clearly, but it was vaguely clear that he was a burly man.
"Humph, you're robbing an innocent woman in the street. If I pretend not to see it, wouldn't all my skills be in vain?"
Dongmei twitched the corner of her mouth, stretched her muscles and bones, and shook her wrists.
She made a gesture as if she was ready to fight.
The man sighed helplessly and took two steps back, trying to delay time so that people could take Gu Qinglan out of the capital as soon as possible.
Dongmei didn't care about that at all. She took the initiative to attack.
The man had no choice but to parry, but he just made a defensive gesture.
After more than a dozen moves, Dongmei said contemptuously, "If you want to fight, then fight. Why don't you fight back? Do you think I'm afraid of you?"
"The girl's kindness will be understood by her, but she really won't be in danger. So please go back, girl!"
Saying that, he turned around and was about to leave.
Dongmei reached out and grabbed his shoulder. "You want to leave? No way!"
The man turned around impatiently. He leaned forward with his shoulder and broke free from Dongmei's hand.
Dongmei got excited. "Well, you've got some skills. Then show me your moves."
The man gave her a sidelong glance out of the corner of his eye, quite helplessly. "You're really unreasonable!"
Saying that, he quickly attacked, aiming at Dongmei's neck. Dongmei leaned back, barely avoiding the man's deadly move.
"Goodness, your first move is to take someone's life!"
But by the time she reacted, the man had already jumped lightly. Then, using the force of the nearby wall, he directly climbed onto the roof and fled away after a few leaps.
Seeing the thief escape, she walked out of the alley dejectedly. Seeing that Dongxue and the Princess Consort had already left, she walked towards the Regent's Mansion.
Back at the mansion, Mo Qinghuan was sitting expressionlessly in front of the house, reading a book. Dongmei lowered her head and walked in timidly.
Dongxue glared at her. "You still know how to come back!"
She giggled twice and gently nudged Dongxue with her shoulder.
She leaned close to Dongxue's ear and whispered, "Why does the Princess Consort look so unhappy?"
"You still ask? The Princess Consort finally went out for a stroll, but you had to chase after some thieves. You ruined her good mood. How can she be happy?"
Dongmei pouted. "Is the Princess Consort really so cold - hearted? Just watching..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Dongxue covered her mouth with her hand.
"Are you crazy? What are you talking nonsense about!"
Dongmei turned her face away. Dan'er and Shuang'er walked out from the corner.
They glared at her angrily and then walked into the house.