Chapter 206: Qian Yue Arrives, He Qing Threatens

Young ladies, after all, will eventually have to marry.

You're still young, you don't know what it's like between men and women.

When you get a bit older, you'll understand.

Seeing Gu Pan's delicate face flushed red, she looked unable to withstand the alcohol.

A hint of a cold smile flashed in the hearts of He Qing and his mother.

They wanted to see how Gu Pan would escape from their grasp!

Upon hearing He Qing's mother's near‑harassing words, Gu Lin and the others instantly turned grim‑faced.

But they were vastly inferior in status to the other side; even if angry, they could only endure.

Otherwise, should a verbal dispute arise.

Then the He family would have an excuse to seize them!

He Qing's mother concealed the chill in her eyes well, laughing heartily as she said,

"The He and Gu families have always been close friends; there is no distinction between us."

"I see that Panpan's appearance pleases me greatly; I think it would be best to pick a day and send someone to propose to the Gu family for my son, He Qing."

As soon as these words were spoken, He Qing's plan for today became obvious at once!

Gu Lin had been pretending his alcohol tolerance was poor, drinking little and feigning a slump over the table.

Upon hearing He Qing's mother's explanation, he was instantly shocked and turned pale.

He Qing had only met Gu Pan today, that's all.

Even if it was love at first sight, how could one propose marriage on the same day?

Even if we step back, the relationship between the Gu and He families is indeed good.

This matter should also be discussed with the elders of both sides present!

At present, the only one here is Gu Pan, a junior, and she's drunk.

Others like Gu Lin and the rest are merely collateral branches of the Gu family.

Who has the courage, or rather the standing, to refuse He Qing's mother's words?

Gu Lin instantly became anxious; he wished he had never agreed to He Qing's invitation to come to the He residence today!

At the moment, the He residence seems to lack any sensible elders.

Given their status, how could they break the deadlock?

The next moment, the seemingly already‑drunk Gu Pan muttered dazedly,

"Panpan is still young; for now she has no plans to marry."

"Thank you for the invitation, aunt; Panpan will first return to the Gu Family Chamber of Commerce with her elder brothers."

Gu Lin's eyes lit up at once upon hearing that.

As the intended bride for He Qing's proposal, Gu Pan herself politely refusing is the most suitable choice!

He immediately feigned the same inability to hold his liquor, rose, and patted Gu Jing on the shoulder.

Gu Jing and Gu Fan also rose together, swaying unsteadily,

"Aunt, Young Master He, it's late today; we'll come back another day to disturb you."

Speaking, they were about to leave together with the Chamber of Commerce staff, escorting Gu Pan away.

However, how could He Qing today let them leave so easily?

"Gu Pan sister is already tired; why not let her rest here for the night and return to the Chamber of Commerce tomorrow?"

He Qing gave a glance, and immediately several maidservants stepped forward, seizing from Gu Lin and the others the task of supporting Gu Pan.

"What strong strength—could even the maidservants be high‑level martial practitioners?"

Feeling the force transmitted from the maidservant's wrist, Gu Lin's heart secretly startled.

Even for the Gu family, whose servants are considered decent, the maidservants and manservants are usually only low‑level martial practitioners.

Moreover, the realms of those maidservants and manservants are entirely built up by age and pills alone.

They would hardly be a match for Gu Lin and the others.

But now that Gu Lin himself is a martial practitioner, his strength actually falls slightly short of theirs?

These maidservants must have been carefully cultivated by He Qing for the purpose of carrying out such underhanded deeds today.

On the surface, He Qing is wholly well‑meaning.

That is why he lets Gu Pan and the others stay temporarily here.

If Gu Lin and the others still insist on refusing sternly, that would be wasting He Qing's good intentions.

Even if it blows up, the fault lies with Gu Lin and the others.

Just as Gu Lin was torn over whether to break ties completely, footsteps suddenly sounded from outside the banquet hall.

"Isn't that He Qing's elder brother?"

A dignified young man strode in from outside.

All he did was lightly push aside a few maidservants.

He snatched Gu Pan back from the maidservants' hands, handed her to Gu Lin and the others, then stood in front of everyone.

He glanced lightly at He Qing,

"Brother invited the Gu family as guests, yet didn't invite me—I'm truly disappointed."

Seeing the unfriendly youth approach, He Qing's eyes narrowed instantly,

"This is truly my brother's oversight—I didn't know Junior Qian Yue was in Han Shan Cheng."

"Since you know the omission, Brother He Qing, don't you intend to punish yourself with a drink?"

Gu Qian Yue crossed his arms, half‑smiling as he looked at He Qing.

He Qing, whose Good Thing had been disturbed, was already fuming; seeing Gu Qian Yue act like this, his Face Grim deepened.

Gu Qian Yue is a member of the Gu Family's main line, and moreover the grandson of the Gu Family's Ninth Elder.

He Qing could not possibly break with Gu Qian Yue!

He Qing took a deep breath, knowing that the relationship between the He and Gu families was even more important.

He immediately laughed, raised his wine cup, and downed three cups in a row!

He Qing placed the empty wine cup upside down,

"As an elder brother, I have already punished myself with three cups; Younger Brother Qian Yue, are you still satisfied?"

Gu Qian Yue gave a faint smile,

"Brother He Qing, you are indeed straightforward, but I have important matters today, so I must excuse myself."

After saying that, Gu Qian Yue brought Gu Pan and the others, about to turn and leave.

However, outside the banquet hall at this moment, the He family's guards had already surrounded it.

Gu Qian Yue narrowed his eyes, turned back, and coldly stared at He Qing,

"Brother He Qing, what do you mean by this?"

He Qing's gaze was gloomy,

"Younger Brother Qian Yue, if you have matters to attend to, then go attend to them."

"Little Sister Gu Pan can't hold her liquor anymore; it's perfect for her to rest a night at my He family's place, so as not to delay Younger Brother Qian Yue's important affairs."

Gu Qian Yue's appearance here today is certainly no coincidence!

If we let Gu Pan and the others leave, once they realize what happened, they will surely know that he tampered with things!

By then, even if the He and Gu families had not thereby developed a rift,

Gu Han would certainly also bring trouble upon himself!

Since that's the case, we might as well go all the way!

As long as we make the rice cooked, he will become Gu Han's brother-in-law!

By then, even if only out of respect for Gu Pan's chastity, Gu Han would absolutely not do anything to him!

This was originally He Qing's plan for today, but he never expected it to be exposed by Gu Qian Yue!

"He Qing, everyone is perceptive, so I won't beat around the bush with you."

When it came to matters concerning Gu Pan, Gu Qian Yue no longer addressed He Qing as elder brother, and his tone turned cold,

"Today I must take Gu Pan's sister away; no one can stop me!"

As his words fell, a black-patterned heavy sword suddenly appeared in Gu Qian Yue's hand, which he thrust straight into the ground.

It smashed a crack into the He family's banquet hall!

Feeling the aura erupting from Gu Qian Yue, the He family's guards were all startled and instinctively retreated several steps.

But after all, they were members of the He family, daring not to defy He Qing's orders, and still clung tightly to the banquet hall's main gate.

He Qing finally rose from his seat, using internal energy to dispel his intoxication, and gazed at Gu Qian Yue with ill intent,

"Gu Qian Yue, given the relationship between my He family and your Gu family, you had better think carefully about whether you really want to break with me!"

"Without my He family's patronage, do you really think your Gu family could achieve such fame in Han Shan Cheng?"

To achieve his goal, He Qing did not hesitate to bring up the He family to intimidate Gu Qian Yue,

"I'm not afraid to tell you the truth: if you dare to take Gu Pan away today,"

"From today onward, the Gu Family Chamber of Commerce has no need to exist in Han Shan Cheng!"