Gu Qianying lowered the curtain,
and a charming voice echoed in her ear: "Miss Gu, your attire today is perhaps inappropriate."
As the words fell,
a small bundle landed in Gu Qianying's arms.
Gu Qianying opened it to find a eunuch's palace robe.
"Change into this and accompany me into the palace," Ouyang Qinglin slowly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with a sinister smile. "Change here. I'll watch personally."
A cold glint flashed in Gu Qianying's eyes. With a raise of her palm, a gust of wind blew, lifting the curtain and blocking Ouyang Qinglin's view.
When the curtain fell, Gu Qianying had already changed.
Ouyang Qinglin turned his gaze and chuckled, "Miss Gu, with such capabilities, how could you be matched with a crippled waste? Why not follow me and enjoy the glory of being second only to one, above ten thousand?"
Gu Qianying responded with a faint smile, "But that waste is a hard thorn in the Grand Tutor's heart that he wishes to pull but cannot. Since the Grand Tutor is so incompetent, you need not boast before this Princess Consort."
In terms of words, Gu Qianying never backed down. Her interactions with Ouyang Qinglin were merely a matter of mutual need.
Ouyang Qinglin's laughter grew louder.
Outside the carriage, other waiting eunuchs approached, presenting the exchanged waist tokens with both hands.
Ouyang Qinglin, holding the waist token, descended from the carriage with Gu Qianying.
The woman who had shared the carriage with Gu Qianying also alighted, standing obediently behind Ouyang Qinglin.
The fragrant fan in her hand had fallen, and its landing spot was at Gu Qianying's feet.
Gu Qianying glanced at her, remaining silent.
Ouyang Qinglin suddenly flashed a captivating smile, "Little Ying, quickly pick up my fragrant fan. If you are slow, beware of my whip."
Ouyang Qinglin's words were pointed.
Gu Qianying understood perfectly.
"Yes, Grand Tutor," she bent down and picked up the fragrant fan that had fallen at her feet. Bowing, she presented it to Ouyang Qinglin.
The woman standing behind Ouyang Qinglin looked flustered and somewhat anxious. She lowered her gaze, then raised it again, her eyes now filled with resentment as she looked at Gu Qianying.
Taking the fragrant fan from Gu Qianying, Ouyang Qinglin understood her meaning.
Before entering the Dali Temple, Ouyang Qinglin instructed his close subordinate, "Chop up that ignorant fool and feed him to the wolves!"
"Yes, Grand Tutor!"
Two guards approached, grabbing the woman holding the fragrant fan. The woman tried to beg for mercy, but her mouth was already gagged.
As the woman was led away, her resentful gaze lingered on Gu Qianying for a long time before finally dissipating.
Ouyang Qinglin, with Gu Qianying in tow, entered the Dali Temple. Using the waist token of the Dali Temple's Vice Minister, they went directly to the imperial prison. The prison guards, seeing the arrival of the powerful Grand Tutor, and noticing the Grand Tutor holding their master's waist token, dared not obstruct them.
Everywhere Ouyang Qinglin and Gu Qianying went, the guards knelt in unison.
Within the imperial prison were inmates sentenced to death, and in the innermost cells were those of more special status, such as princes who had committed offenses within the royal family, and the traitorous General Gu and Gu Yefeng, who had exchanged letters with the enemy in the military camp two days prior.
Gu Qianying, following behind Ouyang Qinglin, saw from afar the two most familiar figures within the prison cells.
Her eyes instantly turned red.
Grandfather! Brother!
She moved closer.
The lock on the cell door was opened, and the door was pushed inward. The two guards stepped aside.
Ouyang Qinglin walked in, and Gu Qianying followed.
"General Gu, eldest son of the Gu family, long time no see. How have you been lately?"
As if greeting an old friend, Ouyang Qinglin wore a sinister smile. His crimson robes trailed to the ground. A guard immediately brought over a chair, and Ouyang Qinglin sat down, exuding an imposing aura.
"Indeed, long time no see," General Gu stood with his hands behind his back. His wide robes fluttered gently in the wind, his presence no less imposing than Ouyang Qinglin's.
The person standing behind General Gu, Gu Yefeng, was still clad in purple robes. Even after days without grooming, he showed no signs of dishevelment.
"May I ask why the Grand Tutor has graced us with his presence?"
Gu Yefeng asked directly.
In his opinion, Ouyang Qinglin never visited without a purpose. His sudden appearance today must have a reason.
"I have come to visit General Gu and the eldest son of the Gu family, and to bring someone to General Gu."
As he spoke, Ouyang Qinglin glanced at Gu Qianying. Gu Qianying understood and stepped forward. The moment she looked up, General Gu and Gu Yefeng were shocked: "Qianying?"
Gu Qianying's voice was choked with emotion, "Grandfather, Brother!"
She knelt before General Gu, "Grandfather, your granddaughter is incompetent, which led to Grandfather and Brother..."
General Gu immediately supported her, interrupting her words, "Silly girl, what nonsense are you spouting."
"Grand Tutor, please allow us to speak with Qianying for a moment. We hope you will grant our request."
General Gu's tone was no longer as stern, but he was, after all, asking for a favor.
"Then I shall wait outside for Miss Gu."
Ouyang Qinglin, with his close subordinates, moved to a sheltered spot outside the cell door.
At this point, with only Gu Qianying, General Gu, and Gu Yefeng remaining, Gu Qianying could no longer hold back her tears.
"Grandfather! Brother!"
She rushed into General Gu's embrace. General Gu stroked her hair with a gentle smile, "Alright, alright. Grandfather and your brother are fine here. You must not cry anymore, or you won't be pretty."
General Gu teased her.
Gu Qianying let out a giggle, "Grandfather!" She wiped her tears with a handkerchief.
Gu Yefeng walked over and took out a small wooden horse, carved from wood. It was palm-sized but lifelike and exquisitely crafted.
He presented the wooden horse to Gu Qianying, looking at her with a doting gaze as bright as the stars in the sky. "You've always loved riding wooden horses since you were little, and as you grew older, you often rode on your brother's back. Now that you are married and a wife, you probably can't be so childish anymore. Therefore, I'll give you this to look at whenever you wish to play with a wooden horse, to satisfy your eyes. It's also very good."
Taking the wooden horse from Gu Yefeng, Gu Qianying's recently dried tears began to flow again.
"Brother, little sister..."
She had a thousand words but could not articulate them.
She had never intended to hide her marriage to the Ninth Prince from her grandfather and brother.
"Grandfather, I'm sorry, your granddaughter is unfilial..."
In her heart, the only ones deserving of the title of elder were her grandfather, General Gu, and her mother.
"Alas, if you are married, then you are married. It is only a pity that Grandfather could not see his granddaughter in her wedding dress. I imagine she would have been absolutely stunning, capable of toppling cities and nations."
General Gu sighed. He was not worried about Gu Qianying's sudden marriage into the Ninth Prince's mansion, but rather regretted not having witnessed his granddaughter in her wedding dress.
Gu Yefeng also did not scold Gu Qianying harshly for becoming the Ninth Prince's consort, nor did he interrogate her about various possibilities. Instead, he only cared about Gu Qianying's mood and whether she was happy.
Seeing the warmth from General Gu and Gu Yefeng, Gu Qianying was very grateful to them.
However, there were some things she would mention even if they didn't ask.
"Grandfather, Brother, the reason Qianying became the Ninth Prince's consort is all because..."
She wanted to explain.
General Gu stroked her head again and said, "Whatever you do, Grandfather and your brother will support you."
His granddaughter was not someone who sought to climb the social ladder. He believed that her marriage into the Ninth Prince's mansion must have had her own plans.
"Thank you, Grandfather, thank you, Brother." Gu Qianying was even more grateful.
A moment later, Gu Qianying left the prison with Ouyang Qinglin.
What Gu Qianying, General Gu, and Gu Yefeng discussed during that time remained unknown to anyone.
However, just as Gu Qianying left with Ouyang Qinglin, a fire broke out in the prison, igniting a great blaze.
"Fire! Fire! Help! Save me..."
The fire raged throughout the entire night.
By the time the Ninth Prince's mansion received the news, it was already the next morning, at dawn.