"What does the Second Prince mean? The Emperor himself said so and specially sent us to arrest corrupt officials. The entire Lin Mansion will be exiled to the border. Even the servants of the Lin Mansion won't be able to escape, let alone Young Master Lin and Miss Lin." After the officer finished his long speech, Lin Yeran and Lin Qianshuang, who were kneeling on the ground, felt their hearts sink.
Just then, two more people approached, dragging a woman together as if afraid she would run away.
Gu Jiangyue looked at the woman with her head down. She couldn't see clearly, but she remembered the dress clearly. This woman was Gu Zhuying.
Gu Zhuying wished she could bury her head in the ground. From the moment she failed to meet Qin Anjie after drugging him, she knew she was doomed.
Now she also learned that the Lin family had been investigated by the government, and the Lin family had proposed marriage to her. The Grandmatriarch had already agreed. Gu Zhuying regretted it deeply. If she hadn't drugged someone today, maybe the Grandmatriarch would have saved her life for the sake of her surname Gu.
But now she had done such a disgraceful thing at such a grand banquet. The Grandmatriarch would surely ignore her. The Gu family didn't need useless people.
Thinking of this, two lines of tears welled up in Gu Zhuying's eyes and fell heavily to the ground. She was also going to be sent to the border.
Xie Jiuan watched the scene in front of him with great satisfaction. The timing was just right. He looked at Gu Jiangyue with a smile, as if he was going to praise her.
Seeing that Gu Jiangyue didn't seem to care about him, Xie Jiuan began to mock Xie Chengrui, who was standing still.
"Second Brother, it seems that you have a good relationship with the Lin family. Were you just about to plead for them? Maybe this prince can help you."
His tone was light, but these words took on a different meaning in Xie Chengrui's ears.
Although Xie Chengrui didn't know how the bribery of the Lin family was discovered, since the Emperor himself had taken action, it must be a serious matter. He just blurted out the question subconsciously. But if it was really investigated, if the Emperor found out about his connection with the Lin family, he would surely be in great danger.
Xie Chengrui slowly tightened his palm hidden in his sleeve. Xie Jiuan clearly came to set a trap for him.
He was almost grinding his teeth, but he couldn't do anything to Xie Jiuan. He could only pretend to be relaxed and forced out a couple of awkward smiles.
"What are you talking about, Ninth Brother? My friendship with the Lin family is not deep."
All he could do now was to quickly distance himself from the Lin family. But just as Xie Chengrui finished speaking nervously, he turned around and saw Lin Yeran kneeling on the ground. Lin Yeran didn't expose Xie Chengrui.
Because his father had told him that if they were discovered, they could ask Xie Chengrui for help.
Xie Chengrui's clothes, which were not yet completely dry, were soaked with sweat again. He quickly winked at Lin Yeran, indicating that he would find a way.
Lin Yeran understood. The nervous look on his face eased a bit, and he even looked a bit proud. When the officers were about to take them away, Lin Yeran even tried to break free from the restraint and shouted at the officer who was holding him. After being kicked, he finally calmed down.
Lin Qianshuang seemed a bit embarrassed. When she passed by Gu Jiangyue, she didn't even dare to look at her, for fear that Gu Jiangyue would remember the bad words she had said to her just now and take revenge on her.
Now she was a caged bird not knowing if she could still stay in the capital, while Gu Jiangyue was the consort of the most favored Ninth Prince. In an instant, their identities had changed so suddenly. Lin Qianshuang no longer had the face to face Gu Jiangyue.
Xie Chengrui watched as the Lin siblings were taken away, and then he relaxed his tense back. Of course, he wouldn't save anyone from the Lin family. After all, the Lin family's misdeeds had been completely exposed in front of the Emperor.
Not to mention that he didn't have the ability to compete with the Emperor now. Even if he did, if he saved the Lin family, by the time the Lin family made a comeback, the whole country might have changed hands. He couldn't wait, and he didn't want to waste any time.
The banquet was coming to an end. Xie Chengrui and Gu Zhengwan had no intention of staying any longer and left early.
The next part of the banquet didn't require Gu Jiangyue's presence. Gu Jiangyue wanted to go down and rest. After all, so many things had happened in one day, which really surprised her.
But just as Gu Jiangyue stood up, she was stopped by Nian Zhengqing.
"Jiangyue, is your engagement with the Ninth Prince serious?"
Nian Zhengqing frowned slightly. There was no sign of his usual hearty smile on his heroic face. Instead, there was a trace of worry.
Gu Jiangyue nodded. Although Nian Zhengqing was a good person and treated her well, she wasn't the kind of person who would tell all her secrets.
"Of course it's serious."
Nian Zhengqing still couldn't believe it. Gu Jiangyue was so talented and smart. Why on earth would she take a fancy to Xie Jiuan? Although Nian Zhengqing wasn't very smart, he had already understood Gu Jiangyue's character. He thought Gu Jiangyue wasn't such a casual person. There must be something fishy going on.
But just as Nian Zhengqing was about to stop Gu Jiangyue and ask more questions, a pair of well - defined hands blocked between them. Nian Zhengqing was a bit confused. He looked up along the arm and saw Xie Jiuan's incredibly good - looking face.
Xie Jiuan had no expression on his face. He exuded a terrifying aura, forcing Nian Zhengqing to take two steps back.
Gu Jiangyue was a bit puzzled. She also wanted to leave, but was suddenly grabbed by Xie Jiuan.
"She is this prince's consort."
Just when Nian Zhengqing thought Xie Jiuan was going to rush up and beat him up, he saw the terrifying aura on Xie Jiuan disappear instantly. Instead, he frowned and looked a bit aggrieved. He said a dissatisfied word to Nian Zhengqing.
Nian Zhengqing was even more confused. He and Gu Jiangyue were just friends, but obviously the Ninth Prince had misunderstood something. He wanted to explain, but Xie Jiuan seemed not to want to listen to him and just pulled Gu Jiangyue away.
The moment Xie Jiuan turned around, a mischievous smile appeared on his face, as if a hunter who had caught his prey.
Gu Jiangyue was also confused by Xie Jiuan. She was worried that Xie Jiuan wouldn't cooperate with her. In that situation, if Xie Jiuan had directly refused her, she might not have had a chance to break off the engagement.
But now it seemed that Xie Jiuan not only wouldn't refuse her, but also regarded her as his own. He had clearly gotten too involved in the act.
Gu Jiangyue was pulled along by Xie Jiuan all the way. After walking around in circles, he actually led her to a deserted place.
Gu Jiangyue was thinking about how to explain this sudden marriage to Xie Jiuan. When Xie Jiuan stopped, she noticed something strange.
Xie Jiuan seemed very familiar with the Gu Mansion, as if he had been there often.