Gu Chengzhi looked at Jiang Yingyue, who was tugging at his sleeve. Although they were not very close, he knew her well. All along, she had been just an innocent and carefree little sister. In contrast, Gu Liyue in front of him always seemed a complex woman to him. It all started when she saved A Jie...
However...
Gu Chengzhi withdrew his sleeve, frowned and looked at Jiang Yingyue. "Don't worry. I've already sent someone to inform my elder brother. Now I'll send you all to the Supreme Court of Judicature. This matter will surely be investigated thoroughly."
Gu Liyue felt a sudden sense of relief for no reason. Since ancient times, officials have always protected one another. Compared with her, a lonely girl from the countryside, those officials would surely side with Jiang Yingyue. But after hearing Gu Chengzhi's words, Gu Liyue thought that he didn't want to show partiality to Jiang Yingyue, which was why he said he would send them all to the Supreme Court of Judicature.
If the Supreme Court of Judicature could enforce the law impartially, her grievances would be cleared.
While Gu Chengzhi was speaking, he stared intently at Gu Liyue. Seeing the relieved look on her face, he seemed to understand something. He knew that she must not be the one behind this.
But Jiang Yingyue shook her head. "No... No... Fourth Brother, I'm tired. I want to go back to the mansion. I came back today because I was sick. I want to go home. Please take me home."
Gu Chengzhi ignored her. Instead, he sniffed the air, took a sachet from the carriage, and gave it to the person beside him. Then he asked someone to prepare three more carriages. After he had settled the three of them separately, he set off in the direction of the Supreme Court of Judicature.
Alone in the carriage, Gu Liyue's tense nerves suddenly relaxed. The dagger in her hand had already been taken away as evidence. The rest... She instinctively reached for her chest.
Suddenly, Gu Liyue's eyes widened in shock. Where was her pendant?
It was the only relic left from her parents. She always wore it around her neck. When Yunniang was with her, she didn't feel much about it. But after she separated from Yunniang, she could only fall asleep peacefully by touching this pendant.
Where was the pendant?
Gu Liyue rummaged through the carriage but couldn't find it. Anxiously, she lifted the curtain and was about to shout when the carriage stopped.
The commotion in front reached her ears. Gu Liyue listened attentively. It was Jiang Che. Presumably, Jiang Che had come to pick up Jiang Yingyue. As long as Jiang Yingyue was taken back, even if it wasn't her fault, this case would be pinned on her.
Gu Liyue bit her lips. But she was helpless. She could only leave everything in the hands of strangers.
Jiang Che looked coldly at Gu Chengzhi. "Yue'er is the daughter of the Jiang family. If she enters the Supreme Court of Judicature, her reputation will be ruined. Can your Gu family take responsibility for this?"
Gu Chengzhi frowned. "Is Young Master Jiang San trying to obstruct my law - enforcement? This case is very serious. If it's not handed over to the Supreme Court of Judicature for investigation, it will be unfair to either of the two girls."
Jiang Che glared at him. "Gu Chengzhi, it's obvious that Gu Liyue, that cunning woman, deliberately framed my sister. Why should my sister suffer because of this? Why don't you just arrest Gu Liyue and bring her to justice?"
Gu Chengzhi sneered coldly. "I didn't expect the third young master of the Duke's Mansion to be able to judge a case without asking for evidence. The position of the minister of the Supreme Court of Judicature must be yours."
"You!" Jiang Che rode his horse across the road. "Gu Chengzhi, what if I insist on taking my sister back today?"
Gu Chengzhi showed no sign of fear. "Obstructing official business. I'd like to see how capable Young Master Jiang San is!"
The two of them were at a stalemate. Jiang Yingyue couldn't care about anything else. She lifted the curtain and looked at Jiang Che with tear - filled eyes. "Third Brother, save Yue'er. Third Brother, it's all Gu Liyue's fault. Auntie asked her to take me home, but she deliberately framed me... Third Brother, save me quickly. I don't want to stay here. This carriage smells so bad. Third Brother..."
Jiang Che was impatient. He comforted her. "Yue'er, don't be afraid. I've already sent someone to invite our parents. You don't have to worry."
Gu Chengzhi waved his hand. The guards under him and the people from the Supreme Court of Judicature walked straight forward without even looking at Jiang Che. Jiang Che had no choice but to step aside, but he still followed closely behind.
It wasn't long before they arrived at the Supreme Court of Judicature. When Gu Liyue got off the carriage, she happened to see Jiang Che.
Jiang Che was furious. He raised his fist. "Gu Liyue, if it weren't for you, how could there be so many troubles in our Jiang family? I should have known better than to keep you back then."
Just as his fist was about to fall, it was caught by Gu Chengzhi. Gu Chengzhi's face was also very grim. "Is this a threat?"
He shook off Jiang Che's hand and asked Gu Liyue to follow him. He also whispered to comfort her. "Don't worry. After the truth comes out, you'll be released."
"With your words, I'm relieved, Lord Gu. Thank you."
Gu Chengzhi looked at Gu Liyue curiously and asked, "You really didn't do this, did you?"
Gu Liyue looked at him. "Don't you already have the answer in your heart?"
"I just hope that my friend didn't misjudge you."
Gu Liyue was shocked. His friend? Gu Liyue knew nothing about Gu Chengzhi. Every time she saw him, he was always by Lu Jinchen's side. Was the person he mentioned Lu Jinchen?
A ripple rose in her heart, but it disappeared in a moment, and her heart returned to calm. She must be crazy to think of that person who could never have anything to do with her at this moment.
When Gu Liyue walked in, Jiang Yingyue and the others were already there. Jiang Che was stopped outside and not allowed to enter.
Jiang Yingyue was sitting on a chair. She told the story of what had happened with her maid.
"I wasn't feeling well. Gu Liyue was taking me back. But on the way, she took out a knife and threatened to kill me... It's all true. If you don't believe me, you can ask her. She was with me all the time."
"It was only when Fourth Brother Gu showed up that I found out that Gu Liyue had even arranged for bandits. She wanted to... Wuwuwu..."
Gu Liyue saw that the person sitting above was a young man with a solemn face and a short beard on his chin. He looked a bit like Gu Chengzhi.
Gu Chengzhi stepped forward and bowed. "Lord Gu."
Gu Liyue's eyebrows twitched slightly. It seemed that this person was a relative of Gu Chengzhi. But it was so strange. Were they always so formal? She didn't know the Lord Gu sitting above, but Gu Chengzhi didn't seem like a formal person. But now, when he bowed and greeted, he didn't look like his usual lively self at all.
The lord above nodded and looked at Gu Liyue. "You're the Gu Liyue they mentioned?"
Gu Liyue nodded. "I'm Gu Liyue."
Although the lord's face was serious, his tone was gentle. "I'm Gu Junyan, the right vice - minister of the Supreme Court of Judicature. I'll be handling your case."
Gu Liyue knelt down and bowed. "My lord, I'm innocent."
Gu Junyan said, "First, tell me who you are, where you're from, and how you ended up here."
"I'm from Yangxin Town, Cangyun County. I'm..."
"You're from Yangxin Town?" Gu Junyan's eyes widened. He didn't care about asking about the case for the moment. He immediately asked, "Which Yangxin Town? Is it Yangxin Town in Cangyun County, Quzhou?"
Gu Liyue was curious. She didn't understand why Gu Junyan asked this question. She just nodded honestly. "Yes."
Gu Junyan asked again, "Your surname is Gu. Your father..."