Chapter 167: At Most, It’s a Mutual Brawl
"Da Chun," he called out after walking a fair distance.
"Sir."
A man in his thirties appeared out of nowhere.
"Go wash up all the people lying at the gate of the Prime Minister’s residence. Clean up the blood, too. Just make everything look normal again."
"Yes, sir." Da Chun departed.
When Zhan Yi arrived, he had checked the guards’ injuries. The blows had been heavy, but they were all still breathing.
If they’re alive, it’s not assault. At worst, it’s just a brawl.
「The Main Hall」
"Old Man Gu, this marriage of your family’s—is it going to happen or not?" Ye Qianning asked, leaning back in her chair.
"In a few days, I will personally seek an audience with the Emperor and reject this marriage."
Old Man Gu was completely against forming a marriage alliance with Prime Minister Gao. He hadn’t been in the Capital City when the marriage was bestowed upon Gu Yuan. After returning, he only heard his fourth son mention it in passing. Hearing the surname Gao, he had assumed it was Gao Zichen’s daughter. He never imagined it would be this brainless girl.
Lady Gao’s expression darkened further.
"Since it’s not going to happen, I won’t hold back."
A look of delight crossed Old Man Gu’s face. "And if it could happen? Would you hold back for this old man’s sake, little girl?"
"Of course. Old Man Gu, you’ve helped me a lot. I have to give you face." Although Ye Qianning disliked the Gu family, she didn’t find Old Man Gu so detestable.
Old Man Gu was overjoyed to hear this, a smile he couldn’t contain spreading across his face.
Gao Yunyue was stunned. "What annulment? This was an imperial decree from the Emperor! If the Gu family annuls the marriage, that’s defying a direct order! It’s a crime punishable by the execution of your entire clan!"
"You needn’t worry about whether our heads will roll. This marriage will be annulled," Old Man Gu said with a raised eyebrow.
"You don’t get to decide! Brother Yuan genuinely likes me and wants to marry me! You don’t get to decide!" Gao Yunyue screamed through her tears.
"In the Gu family, no one dares to defy my word," Old Man Gu’s face grew stern.
"You..." Gao Yunyue turned to her mother, crying. "Mother, Brother Yuan and I are truly in love!"
Lady Gao discreetly patted her hand, signaling for her to be quiet. She looked up and said, "Old Man Gu, I’m afraid you truly cannot be the one to decide this marriage."
"And why is that?"
"It takes two to tango. This marriage alliance between our families was requested by the Prime Minister and your fourth son in a joint audience with the Emperor. If you wish to annul it, Old Man Gu, it will be next to impossible," said Lady Gao.
Old Man Gu was so furious his beard bristled and his eyes bulged. He had been uninvolved in the family’s affairs for too long; now all the juniors thought they could do whatever they pleased.
Gao Yunyue wiped her tears. Seeing Old Man Gu speechless, she instantly felt a little calmer.
"Even if you want to marry him, you have to be alive to do it, don’t you?" Ye Qianning drawled lazily.
Hearing this, Lady Gao and Gao Yunyue tensed up again, watching her warily.
Ye Qianning was leaning back. Her frame was small enough that her back rested against the chair, with her calves up on the seat as well. To get more comfortable, she even propped one small foot on the armrest.
One small hand still held a wine pot, and her body was slouched as if she had no bones—the very picture of indolence.
Qian Fanji walked in and saw this scene, his brows furrowing slightly.
"Drinking?" he asked coolly as he walked over.
Ye Qianning ignored him, leaning forward to place the wine pot on the table before slumping back into her seat.
"Young Qian, what are you doing here?" Old Man Gu asked.
"Just here to watch the show," Qian Fanji replied, finding a seat and sitting down.
Old Man Gu sat down next to him and asked in a low voice, "What did you write in that booklet you gave the little girl? Is it enough to get the Prime Minister’s household ransacked?"
Qian Fanji glanced at him but said nothing.
"Young Qian, I know you’re famous for being black-hearted. How much leverage do you have? How about selling it to this old man?" Old Man Gu was already scheming.
"Patience, Old Man Gu," Qian Fanji said lightly.