Who exactly was being held captive here?
Though he knew his father had a bad temper, he couldn't possibly make such an outrageous demand of his captors…
Wanting Jianbing Guozi?
Hua Diao wine?
Clean clothes?
You certainly know how to enjoy yourself…
Thinking this, Gu Mingyan wondered if he should go in and rescue his father, but upon hearing how much he seemed to be enjoying himself, he hesitated.
The imperial physician had examined the Old Marquis previously, stating that his prolonged stay in the Marquis's mansion would lead to increasing emotional suppression, possibly resulting in dementia…
Rather than that, it would be better to let the Old Marquis go out for a stroll, breathe some fresh air, and happily spend his twilight years.
But thoughts were just thoughts; he still had to take his father back, didn't he?
“Ahem…” Gu Mingyan cleared his throat and reached out to knock on the door.
In the guest room, Han Chiyan was sitting at the table, preparing rock sugar pears for the Old Marquis.
In winter, the charcoal basin in the room made the air very dry, causing the throat to feel parched. Eating pears could help clear the lungs and soothe the throat…
Hearing the commotion, Han Chiyan glanced at Hugeshuang'er and curved her lips, “The guest has arrived, go and open the door!~”
Today, she wanted to see who this Marquis Gu truly was.
Hugeshuang'er responded, hid the dagger in her sleeve, and slowly opened the door…
Gu Mingyan stood with his hands behind his back, his sharp gaze sweeping over Hugeshuang'er before landing on Han Chiyan. “Princess Han Chiyan of the barbarians, you have quite the nerve to abduct my father. This is utterly disrespectful. Hmph, barbarians are barbarians; even if you are given the Central Plains, you’ll only know how to herd sheep and will never achieve anything significant!~”
Han Chiyan: “……”
This person truly had no manners.
He came in and immediately accused her without understanding the situation.
“Marquis Gu, you were the Jin Ke top scholar back then, learned and talented. But seeing you today, this princess finds that your top scholars of the Great Liang are nothing special!~” Han Chiyan mocked with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Gu Mingyan narrowed his eyes slightly. “My standing is not for you, a barbarian, to judge…”
“Is that so?” Han Chijiao stood up and glanced sideways at Gu Mingyan. “I wonder who first kidnapped my sister to threaten Abu into withdrawing his troops. Are Marquis Gu’s methods so clean?”
“You’re quite sharp-tongued!~” Gu Mingyan stepped forward, his tall and straight figure like a pine or cypress, pressing directly towards Han Chijiao. “You barbarians invade the Central Plains in large numbers, disrupt the borders, and occupy Great Liang’s territory. You are more detestable than blood-sucking mosquitoes. I’d like to ask you, do you have any right to invade other people’s countries?”
“Princess……”
Hugeshuang'er saw that Marquis Gu was very agitated and had cornered the princess. With a ‘swish,’ she drew her dagger, intending to push Gu Mingyan back.
Gu Mingyan, with his peerless martial arts and exceptional movement techniques, how could he possibly pay attention to her?
Today, Han Chiyan was the main protagonist he needed to confront; everyone else could step aside…
Gu Mingyan immediately grabbed Han Chiyan’s wrist, spun around sharply, and unleashed a palm strike.
The powerful inner force descended like Mount Tai, and with a ‘bang,’ Hugeshuang'er was forced back dozens of steps, then with a ‘thump,’ she crashed into the wall, a trace of blood oozing from the corner of her mouth…
“Pfft!~”
“Shuang'er!”
Han Chiyan saw Hugeshuang'er clutching her chest, her face pale, and felt a pang in her heart.
She never imagined that Marquis Pingyang would be so formidable, that even Shuang'er was no match for him…
It seemed Abu’s previous worries were justified; the people of the Central Plains were far more difficult to deal with than they had imagined.
Especially a man like Marquis Pingyang, who was full of schemes.
“Princess, I… I’m fine, cough cough…” Hugeshuang'er said with difficulty.
Hearing this, Han Chiyan struggled a few times and glared at Gu Mingyan, “Let me go, or else I will…”
“Or else what?” Gu Mingyan curled his lips, his starry eyes as cold as ice, and slowly leaned closer to Han Chiyan.
Due to the proximity, they could even feel each other’s breath.
“Or else kill my father?” Gu Mingyan let out a cold laugh. Not only did he not release Han Chiyan, but he tightened his grip even more. “Great Princess, you are truly overestimating yourself. Before you speak, you should consider your own strength. You can barely protect yourself now, what makes you think you can kill my father?”
Han Chiyan was both angry and annoyed. If she had known this, she should have listened to Abu and brought more guards…
“Where did you hide my sister?” Han Chiyan’s almond eyes widened, her delicate face filled with anger.
Gu Mingyan stared at Han Chiyan for a moment, then chuckled lightly. “Your sister is safe for now. I won’t kill her until Han Chie’er Khan withdraws his troops!~”
With that, Gu Mingyan used his other hand to lift Han Chiyan’s chin, scrutinizing her carefully. “They say barbarian women are big and burly, with broad backs and strong waists, but you seem to be an exception…”
Although Han Chiyan and Han Chijiao were sisters, their appearances were quite different.
Han Chijiao was the unrestrained type, even her appearance was unconventional, half beautiful and half stern.
But Han Chiyan was a true classical beauty.
Possessing celestial grace, she was as serene as a chrysanthemum, her eyes exuding beauty and clarity, like a Datura flower in the dark night, yet inadvertently flashing a hint of frost-like coldness…
“Yan’er, what are you doing? Let go of Miss Yan quickly!~” The Old Marquis, after taking a few sips of rock sugar pear, angrily reprimanded Gu Mingyan. “Miss Yan and Miss Shuang'er have been very good to me. Why are you bullying them as soon as you come in? If you don’t let go, I’ll kick you out!”
Gu Mingyan: “……”
Father, which side are you on?
They are the kidnappers.
What reason can you possibly reason with these barbarians?
“Marquis Gu, are you not going to let go?” Han Chiyan frowned.
Gu Mingyan heard this, hesitated for a moment, and slowly released Han Chiyan.
Seeing that her wrist was already bruised purple, he didn’t know why, but his heart ached faintly…
He had never felt heartache for a woman since he was young.
This feeling was strange, and also annoying.
“Since the Great Princess has come to my doorstep, I cannot let you leave for now!~” Gu Mingyan said, walking to the bed and helping his father up. “I will have to trouble Your Highness to stay at the Marquis’s mansion for a while. After things have calmed down, I will send someone to escort you back to Suicheng…”
“You dare to imprison me?” Han Chiyan clenched her delicate fists.
Gu Mingyan glanced back at her. “It’s house arrest. This war does not involve personal grudges. After some time, I will let you meet Princess Han!~”
With that, Gu Mingyan called out towards the door, “Qing Lan, come in!”