Chapter 364: Must Like Him

Gu Cheng carried the gift box broken in half, dazed, returned to his villa, then sent his servant Shuanguan to the princess's residence to gather news.

Not long after, the servant Shuanguan who had gone to gather news hurried back to the inner hall where Gu Cheng lived.

"How is it? Any news from the princess's residence?" Gu Cheng hurriedly rose to his feet.

Now Princess Changping is Gu Cheng's last card; if he cannot even win with this card, he will be utterly trampled under Gu Kang's foot, with no room to turn over.

Shuanguan hurriedly bowed and said, "My lord, there are indeed people from Bei Di coming and going in the princess's residence."

"I spent some silver and, through the princess's residence's inner staff, gathered some news."

"The Bei Di Crown Prince has already sent envoys to our Southern Qi seeking a marriage alliance, but unfortunately Princess Fuxing in the palace has fallen ill, breaking out in a toxic rash, which is truly frightening."

"The emperor and the people from the Duan family want to marry Princess Changping to the Bei Di Crown Prince, and even say that after she marries over, once the crown prince ascends the throne, Princess Changping might become the Bei Di empress."

With a clatter, Gu Cheng retreated several steps.

His body knocked the vase on the table to the ground, shattering it everywhere.

A flash of panic crossed his eyes, and he murmured softly, "How could this happen? Why would this happen?"

Gu Cheng never imagined his recent days would be so unlucky that even a sip of cold water would get stuck between his teeth.

If the earlier Chongwen Tower affair was Gu Kang scheming against him, why would the Bei Di marriage alliance choose Princess Changping?

Isn't Princess Changping the emperor Longqing's most beloved princess?

How could one bear to let Princess Changping marry that brute, the Bei Di Crown Prince?

Suddenly Gu Cheng felt a jolt in his heart; actually, all the scheming began at Chongwen Tower.

Precisely because the Chongwen Tower incident exposed the shocking case of Noble Consort Duan, her death left Princess Changping without the protection of her birth mother.

Moreover, Emperor Longqing hated Noble Consort Duan to the core; how could he possibly feel affection for her daughter?

Familial affection? Heh, in such a place as the imperial household, where is there any familial affection to speak of?

Not to mention the imperial household; even in his modest Gu Minister's residence, brothers killing each other is not unheard of.

At this moment, Gu Cheng's heart was in turmoil, and he had already lost any foothold.

He suddenly conceived a bold idea; this was the only way.

He absolutely could not allow Princess Changping to go to Bei Di and marry the Bei Di Crown Prince.

He must firmly keep this card, Princess Changping, firmly in his own hand.

That woman likes him, and besides having little wit, she is easy to control.

He only needs to become the Prince Consort of Southern Qi; regardless of whether Princess Changping is favored, he only wants that status.

By then, making connections with the powerful will also be easier; he refuses to believe that, just because he studies well and his talent far surpasses Gu Kang's, he should be cast into hell by Gu Kang over the Chongwen Tower affair alone.

He is unwilling! Absolutely unwilling!

"You…" Gu Cheng stared at Shuanguan, raised his hand and pointed at the servant who looked dazed, and after a long while managed to say, "Go to the finest jewelry shop in Shang Jing and, according to the list I gave you, prepare another gift."

"When delivering the invitation to the princess's residence, say it's inconvenient to speak there; I'll invite her to the Photography Pavilion for tea to discuss important matters."

Shuanguan nodded in agreement, turned and left the residence; not long later, following Gu Cheng's instructions, he prepared another valuable gift.

Shuanguan returned with the gift and told Gu Cheng, "The princess has already accepted your invitation, my lord."

Upon hearing that Princess Changping had gladly accepted his invitation, Gu Cheng's heart eased a little; he was no longer as panicked as before.

Yet his heart remained in turmoil.

Although Princess Changping is usually domineering, she is merely a puppet.

The imperial household needs her to marry into Bei Di for alliance, and the Duan family also needs her to consolidate its status.

Now Emperor Longqing's killing intent toward the Duan family is clear; fortunately, the Duan family controls several hundred thousand troops on the frontier.

At this point, if they could obtain the Bei Di Crown Prince's guarantee, the Duan family would have no further worries.

At worst, they could follow those warlords of the previous dynasty, seize territory, split off, and proclaim themselves kings—wouldn't that be more free and unrestrained?

Anyway, the Duan family's power is now too great; under these circumstances, the imperial clan taking action against them is merely a matter of time.

Gu Cheng, regardless of how things stand between the Duan family and the imperial clan, now seeks to maximize his own interests—that is, to firmly keep Princess Changping under his control.

However, the Duan family hates him to death, and he also cannot let his father go to the Duan family to propose a marriage on his behalf.

Let's forget that route; a proper marriage proposal would surely be rejected and suppressed by the Duan family.

Now he only hopes that the witless Princess Changping can be kept under his control, though sometimes it's uncertain.

"Go buy another medicine."

Gu Cheng looked at his confidant, then picked up a brush and wrote the medicine's name on a plain sheet of paper.

Seeing this, Shuanguan couldn't help but feel a flash of fear.

Shuanguan's ability to handle affairs is still quite good; shortly he brought the medicine over, leaned close to Gu Cheng and whispered, "This was bought from the black market, not fit for respectable sale; the seller moves from house to house, leaving no trace."

Gu Cheng nodded satisfactorily, pulled out a silver note and handed it to him: "These days, you've worked hard."

Shuanguan accepted the silver note, bowed, and withdrew.

As he just stepped out, a hint of mockery flickered in his eyes.

Thereafter, winding through alleys, he entered the South City Lane, winding a considerable distance before stopping before a middle-aged man.

That middle-aged man had his face covered, his voice hoarse.

He wore a bamboo hat and a dark cloak, his entire body tightly covered.

Standing there firmly, Shuanguan hurried forward, leaned to the man's ear, and whispered a few words.

The man nodded, then produced a stack of silver notes from his bosom, far more than what Gu Cheng had just given him.

The middle-aged man said in a hoarse voice, "This matter must not be told to anyone; there will be plenty of benefits later, but if you dare utter even half a word……"

The middle-aged man drew his sword blade and sliced off half of a brick on one side; Shuanguan jumped in shock.

He also dared not say more, took the silver notes, turned and left.

This person has always known petty courtesy but lacks great righteousness!

He appears gentle and refined, supremely aloof.

In reality, he's a petty scoundrel, narrow‑minded, and repays every slight.

The Frost Official followed him, committing so many heinous acts on his behalf, which were merely small favors.

Now, seeing that pressing on any further would likely cost his life, why not settle on a sturdy tree instead?

The middle‑aged man in a bamboo hat, after watching the Frost Official walk away, slowly took off the mask from his face, revealing Steward Zhang's cold, stern visage.

He then turned and disappeared into the lively, bustling alleys of the southern part of the city.