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  Chapter 26

  "Originally, he was a good son-in-law, but three years ago, at the wedding ceremony, he forcibly took my father away and tore up the marriage certificate in public. His actions were devoid of even a shred of humanity. Self-preservation is one thing, but to kick someone while theyre down is truly despicable. If it werent for his high position and imperial favor, and the fact that he lives in the opposite mansion, I wouldnt have hesitated to have him beaten up on my birthday!"

  Its the future father-in-law who has committed a wrongdoing. If he had known about it in advance, he should have quietly warned him and made amends if possible. If the matter is indeed troublesome and he fears being implicated and wants to call off the engagement, he shouldnt let the brides family be kept in the dark and handle the wedding as usual. Even if it means calling off the engagement just one night in advance, it would still be better than what happened that day.

  Sister Xuan, its not worth being ridiculed and despised by others like that...

  She thought about it and couldnt help but get angry, her face showing a few degrees of severity. "But did he see that day? Otherwise, sending this thank-you gift over for no reason, is it because were afraid that Xiang Jies gossip isnt enough, and you want to give people something to chew on?"

  Ming Xuan hurriedly stepped forward and gently patted Old Lady Zhus back, "Grandmother, dont be angry because of that kind of person, its not worth it."

  She furrowed her brow and thought for a moment, "On your birthday, he came to celebrate, but my granddaughters and sisters were all in the warm pavilion and didnt meet with him. Since he said it was a thank-you gift, I suppose it must be about that lion dog..."

  In the warm pavilion, she only took a quick glance, and that sharp edge must have been her own paranoia. So many pairs of eyes were secretly looking at him, did he still have X-ray vision to distinguish himself? The sedan curtain at the entrance of the mansion moved slightly, although she felt some trembling, it was not necessarily because of the cold, even if he really saw her, what could he see from that distance? Thinking back and forth, the only thing that can be linked to the Han Mansion is that lion dog.

  Lin Xue listened and then quickly told the story of what happened that day, "It was said to be Mrs. Hans dog, but after the girl took it back, there was no further news, how did it suddenly come out again after so many days?"

  She curled her lip and said, "Its really ridiculous. That dog was originally taken in by Fifth Brother due to his kind heart. If thanks are owed, it should be to Fifth Brother. Even if thanks are owed to my sister, Madame Han should have been the one to receive them. This Lord Han is truly too unscrupulous!"

  "Indeed, there is such a thing."

  She thought for a moment and said to Ming Xuan, "The thank-you gift is not good to return, it has been handed over to my aunt to deal with. You dont have to worry about this matter anymore, Xuan sister. Theres just one thing, from now on, you must never have any contact with the Han family again! After all, we were engaged before, and grandma is worried that the Yan family will find out and be unhappy."

  Ming Xuans heart skipped a beat as she thought that the mansion had been preparing Ming Weis dowry for several days, although it was done secretly, but the Han Mansion was just next door and couldnt be kept from them. With this being the case, how could Han Xiu, such a clever person, not guess that his own marriage would also be settled soon? But at this time, he was acting so recklessly, making her unable to help but suspect his intentions.

  It is said that he handles matters in the court with great care and never does anything unnecessary. So, why did he specifically mention her name to send a thank-you gift? Is he really determined to prevent her from getting married? But what benefit would it bring to him if she couldnt get married?

  She hid all the worries in her eyes, not wanting to add more trouble to Old Lady Zhu, forcing a smile on her face. "Granddaughter understands, grandmother doesnt have to worry too much, as long as things with the Yan family are settled, we wont be afraid of anything!"

  Madam Zhu saw that Ming Xuan was truly satisfied with the Yan family, and her mood slightly improved.

  She thought for a moment and said, "The day after tomorrow is the anniversary of Mothers death. Coincidentally, I have something to ask Master Yuan, so well go together to Qingliang Temple, add some oil to the longevity lamp for Mother, and pray that her spirit in heaven will bless our sister Xianger to marry into a good family smoothly."

  Ming Xuans heart moved slightly, and she suddenly thought of what the wife of Fu Guo Gong had said at noon. She wanted to ask her grandmother about how her father had become rich and noble because of the Imperial Concubine, but since Hui Lin was also there, and seeing that her grandmother looked tired, she felt it wasnt suitable after all. After thinking for a moment, she spoke in a low voice, "Grandmother looks tired, Ill take my leave first."

  She turned her head towards Lin Xuan and asked, "Are you going with me to the Jade Washing Pavilion or staying here to keep Grandmother company?"

  Lin Xue smiled and said, "Stay and accompany your grandmother, my mother has sent a letter urging me to return, planning to set off in two days. I dont know when Ill come again next time, so Ill keep accompanying my grandmother until the night before I leave."

  The engagement has just been settled, and when its really time to get married, at least half a year will pass.

  Ming Xuan gently patted her shoulder, "Then accompany your grandmother and chat with her for a while, Ill go back first."

  It was night, and Ming Xuan couldnt sleep, tossing and turning. At one moment, she thought that she could finally marry into a small family with a decent life, and Yan Qingyan seemed like a good person. She thought that her future life wouldnt be so dull and uninteresting. But at another moment, Han Xiuxius sharp and cold eyes flashed in her mind, making her feel uneasy, as if he would do something to make her life uncomfortable.

  Although she didnt know much about what happened back then, it was indeed very suspicious.

  The Yongning Marquis Manor has been prosperous for generations, and even if the third house had an accident, relying on the red book iron certificate in hand, as well as the auxiliary country public East Ping Wang Fu Jianan Bo Fu these relatives with the same breath, it will not really fall like this. So clever is Han Xiu, why bother to make a big scene of tearing up the marriage contract? This not only breaks off the friendship between the two families but also spreads his reputation for being stingy and ungrateful, making Mingxuan a laughing stock in Shengjing, unable to hold her head up.

  Thinking carefully, it seems like he did this on purpose, but what is his goal?

  Ming Xuan thought back and forth, but couldnt figure out the reason, so she had to throw her thoughts back into what Madame Fu Guo said during the day, listening to the meaning between the lines, it seemed that the thing about her father Gu Longping back then was all done by the current emperor.

  She thought to herself, as people said, Gu Changping was a scholar-official from a wealthy family, born and raised in luxury, not the eldest son, and had been a rich idle person since childhood, who didnt understand politics and had no strong abilities. In daily life, apart from liking poetry, painting, playing the piano, and playing chess, he had no other hobbies. How could such a person be related to the word "treason"?

  Its really unbelievable.

  Moreover, under the circumstances of the Five Dragons fighting for the throne at that time, he had to choose a prince to support. How could he abandon the Ninth Prince and protect others? It must be known that the Ninth Princes wife was his own daughter, if the Ninth Prince ascended to the throne, he would become a noble father-in-law! The Zhou Dynasty has always been bound by rules, if the father-in-law does not have a title, he can be granted a title of Duke of Chengen. Originally, he was just the brother of the Marquis of Yongning, but if he became the father-in-law, he would become the second-grade Duke of Chengen, and his children could also benefit from it.

  Gu Changping had no reason to collude with the Second Prince to rebel, and the current emperor also understood this point. Therefore, this crime was never settled in the end, and as time passed, it was quietly dropped.

  Ming Xuan suddenly sat up with a "thud".

  The current queen is the eldest granddaughter of Bae Sang...

  If Gu Changping had not committed a crime, how could the Emperor have any reason to bring down Gu Mingrong on the eve of the coronation of the Empress and establish Peis daughter as Empress? If you want me to die, I will die. Even if Gu Changping is as clean as the bright moon in the sky, someone will still be able to tarnish his reputation. And "suspicion of treason" is a magic trick that doesnt need solid evidence, just empty words can send people to prison!

  So it was only said that there were suspicions, and after Gu Changpings death, there was no real conclusion.

  Ming Xuans mouth was curled up with a cold smile. It was true that the Duke of Pingguo, Pei Gu, had helped the current emperor ascend to the throne with one hand, but he was originally a hereditary duke and had been the prime minister under the previous emperor, second only to him in power and wealth. If it werent for some other motives, supporting any of the imperial princes would make no difference to him.

  He chose the ninth prince, who was unknown and had no maternal family to support him. Not only did he think that the ninth prince would still need to rely on him after ascending to the throne, but also because the ninth prince had recently married and had no children in the household, making it less complicated to remove his wife from her position.

  This is just a transaction, an alliance that was established long ago between the Emperor and Pei Xiang, while the three houses of the Gu family were simply abandoned pawns... Gu Changping was like this, and so was Gu Mingrui...

  Ming Xuans face grew increasingly somber, and it seemed that Great Uncle must have also known about this matter. The iron certificate was just a cover-up, while Gu Mingfus entry into the palace was actually a form of compensation.

  How ridiculous!

  Her father became a victim of the struggle for power among various parties and died unjustly at the height of his life. Her uncle, however, secured the title of Duke Yongning and even rose from second-class duke to first-class; her mother died in loyalty, while her aunts husband was honored and her wife was noble and unlimited; her brother was demoted to the battlefield for avenging his father, and now his life and death are unknown. The sons of the eldest son of the house all married and had children, and their official careers advanced; her sister was wrongly demoted and died in a cold palace. Gu Mingfu, on the other hand, happily entered the palace, became pregnant with the emperors eldest son, and rose to the rank of noble consort.

  The sacrifice is the whole three houses, but the one who benefits is the eldest uncles family!

  Its just that, and she cant blame her? She is the one who came later, so naturally she can also manage not to get angry or argue. But if Ming Xuan really knew the truth, wouldnt she rather die than close her eyes in peace? Since she has taken over Ming Xuans blessings and lived again, even if she doesnt have the ability to avenge these hatreds, she should still try her best to let the deceased rest in peace.

  Cant retreat and yield like before, cant be slaughtered by others!

  The noise in the inner room finally startled Xue Su, who was sleeping in the outer wing. She put on her clothes, lit a lamp and came in, asking anxiously, "Miss, whats wrong? Did you have a nightmare?"

  Her eyelashes, which were slightly drooping, quivered gently. The remaining glow of the candle cast a clear reflection of her eyelashes on the canopy, like an unfolded folding fan, with a dreamy haziness. She said in a low voice, "I miss my brother..."

  On a quiet winter night, the girls whisper was like a beautiful spell, word by word knocking on the cold night sky, she silently recited in her heart, no matter what, she would do her best to bring Gu Yuanjing back!

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