Rebirth of the Excellent Daughter of the Marquis Household (REDMH) - Chapter 185

The room fell into a brief silence and Gu Yu Qi only heard her own heartbeat pounding like a drum.

In the previous life she had kissed him in all sorts of ways and even in this life this was not the first time he had forced a kiss upon her. Yet, none of those times had ever shaken Gu Yu Qi’s heart as much as this one.

The expression of devotion on his face just now was not feigned, nor were the tears that slipped down from his tightly closed eyes. His caution and the faint trembling of his lips when they touched hers were also not feigned.

Gu Yu Qi could feel all of this.

Did he truly love her? The words he had just spoken had also shaken her deeply.

Based on Gu Yuqi’s understanding of Yun Ke, if he could say such things, then it certainly was not to deceive her.

What she had longed for throughout her entire past life without ever obtaining, in this moment, she had gained it all.

Then what of herself?

Gu Yu Qi looked a little bewildered as she watched Yun Ke hurriedly wiping away the tears at the corners of his eyes. At that moment, he no longer seemed mature or composed in the least, looking instead like a flustered young boy.

“I didn’t say those words because your hand was injured,” Yun Ke, after much difficulty, finally managed to wipe away the tears from his eyes because they seemed impossible to wipe away completely. No sooner had he brushed them aside than they welled up again without him noticing, leaving him helpless and at a loss.

Seeing Gu Yu Qi looking at him, Yun Ke at last managed to steady his breath and said slowly, “No matter what you become, my heart will not change. You once said I was heartless, that I knew nothing of emotions. It took me two lifetimes to know that it wasn’t that I had no heart, but that I hadn’t found it.”

“Oh.” Gu Yu Qi answered blankly. Her heart was truly in turmoil now. Everything Yun Ke had just said still felt like a dream. To say she was not touched would be a lie. After all, in the previous life she had liked him so much, loved him so much above all else, even her own life.

But Gu Yu Qi was genuinely afraid.

“Right, do you still remember…” Yun Ke faltered. He had wanted to ask if she knew who it was that had taken her, who had tortured her, but he did not quite dare, fearing that Gu Yu Qi would recall that dark past and feel fear.

“Your Highness is asking whether this concubine remembers who it was that captured me, is that right?” Gu Yu Qi, seeing Yun Ke’s hesitation and faltering manner, had already guessed what he wanted to ask.

She had reverted to calling him “Your Highness” and herself “this concubine”, as though in doing so, the awkwardness in her heart would be lessened somewhat.

Noticing her returning to using formal terms, a trace of disappointment flashed through Yun Ke’s eyes.

He still could not make her open up her heart.

Yet, thinking it over again, Yun Ke also felt a quiet surge of joy. At least when he had kissed her just now, she had not immediately struggled.

That was a very good sign. At the thought of this, Yun Ke’s gloomy heart leaped with joy.

“It was Xia Shuang Cheng,” Gu Yu Qi took a deep breath and said slowly.

The moment the three words “Xia Shuang Cheng” left her lips, Yun Ke’s eyes ignited with a raging fury.

So it was him! As he had suspected, it really was him!

“Understood.” He ground out this word through gritted teeth. There was no need to make promises to Gu Yu Qi. Xia Shuang Cheng had dared to do such a cruel thing to her, so he would make him repay it tenfold.

A thousand cuts! Even that would not be enough to dispel the hatred in his heart!

Last night he had already ordered Du Xia to protect the youth who had accused Xia Shuang Cheng. Deep down, he vaguely felt that this matter was connected to him.

“Ah Nan, I have some things to attend to these next few days,” Yun Ke said to Gu Yu Qi. “I can’t remain by your side at all times. I’ve already spoken to the Eldest Princess and asked Yan Zhi to come and be with you more often. She’ll stay with you while I’m away. Remember to be cautious and guard against your younger sister.”

“This concubine understands,” Gu Yu Qi nodded.

The next day, Yan Zhi moved into Imperial Prince An’s palace for a short stay.

Even though the Eldest Princess and Imperial Prince An’s palace had tried to conceal the news of Gu Yu Qi’s abduction, some rumours had still leaked out. After all, the search party that night had made far too much commotion. Those who pried around would inevitably find the slightest clues.

However, since Imperial Prince An’s palace said nothing, and the Eldest Princess’ palace also kept silent, others did not dare to ask openly.

The sudden move of County Princess Jia Min into Imperial Prince An’s residence only made the gossipers outside more certain of their suspicions.

For a time, the rumour spread among the aristocratic circles of the capital, that Prince An’s secondary concubine had been abducted and had lost her chastity.

Otherwise, why would Imperial Prince An’s palace and the Eldest Princess’ palace both keep the matter shrouded in such secrecy?

The rumour also reached the Ding Yuan Marquis’ residence. Gu Huai Zhong found it somewhat unbelievable. He knew well his daughter’s formidable fighting prowess, how could she be so easily abducted?

Yet the way the tale was told, with such vivid detail, it was as if people had seen with their own eyes Yun Ke riding out of the city by night and returning with someone in his arms.

Gu Huai Zhong grew restless and so went to Gu Si Yu’s quarters, sending her over to sound out the situation.

After all, there was nothing wrong with a younger sister visiting her elder sister.

If Gu Yu Qi was safe, then all was well. But if something had truly happened, then he would have to think of a way, lest a disgraced daughter bring shame upon Imperial Prince An’s palace and in turn provoke both Imperial Prince An’s and the Emperor’s wrath. Should another scandal like the Xia family’s erupt, it would not end well.

While Gu Huai Zhong sent people to investigate, the Virtuous Consort also faintly caught wind of the matter and sent someone to inquire.

The person she turned to was County Princess Jia Xi.

County Princess Jia Xi was able to approach Gu Yu Qi, and that child was good to everyone. If she learned anything, she would surely tell her.

The Virtuous Consort was shrewd, but County Princess Jia Xi was no fool. Though the Virtuous Consort’s words were very tactful, Jia Xi was keenly aware that she was being used as a spy.

As someone who had lost her father at a young age, she knew all too well who was truly kind to her. How could County Princess Jia Xi not sense this? Moreover, having grown up in the imperial family, she had witnessed these types of schemes since childhood. County Princess Jia Xi might appear innocent and playful, but in truth she was extremely astute.

Playing along with the Virtuous Consort’s wishes, Jia Xi took the opportunity to move directly into Imperial Prince An’s residence.

Once she was in, she had no intention of leaving anytime soon. If she did not go out, the Virtuous Consort could not come to Imperial Prince An’s residence to drag her out for questioning. If the Virtuous Consort summoned her, she would simply feign illness and avoid entering the palace. In this way she would not offend the Virtuous Consort, nor put herself in a difficult position.

Thus, as soon as County Princess Jia Xi moved into Prince An’s palace, she immediately began claiming that she was ill.

Gu Si Yu went several times to Imperial Prince An’s palace, but each time was blocked by County Princess Jia Xi and she was completely unable to see Gu Yu Qi.

Princess Jia Xi coughed and sneezed in front of her. After visiting a few times, Gu Si Yu began to fear catching Princess Jia Xi’s illness and gradually became unwilling to go again.

She also suspected that the rumour was true, but without seeing Gu Yu Qi, nothing could be confirmed. Suspicion was, after all, only suspicion. She could not act on it alone. What if it wasn’t true? Would she not then incur Prince An’s anger again?

Very soon, the rumours about Gu Yu Qi were overshadowed by another major event in the capital.

Xia Shuang Cheng of the Xia family was being arrested by Imperial Prince An Yun Ke, who led men to storm the An Le Marquis’ residence and drag him into the Ministry of Justice’s prison!

It was said that the Xia family had even tried to use the imperial pardon token bestowed by the late emperor to block Imperial Prince An’s investigation of the case.

Imperial Prince An would have none of it. He said if his ancestors in heaven wished to blame him, then he would apologise to them after his own death. Moreover, he was only taking Xia Shuang Cheng in for questioning, not for execution. What use was an imperial pardon token in such a matter?!

Imperial Prince An acted swiftly and decisively. He forcefully overthrew all the guards of the An Le Marquis’ residence and caught Xia Shuang Cheng who had been attempting to slip away through the back gate.

Thrown into the Ministry of Justice prison, Xia Shuang Cheng was so frightened that his soul nearly fled his body. However, thinking of the imperial pardon token his family had, his courage rose again.

His father would never allow him to die.

At most, it would be only a few days of suffering.

But why did it feel as if he was the only prisoner in the entire gloomy Ministry of Justice’s prison?!

Xia Shuang Cheng had no idea that he was not in the Ministry of Justice prison at all, but rather in one under Yun Ke’s secret control.

Yun Ke had already made careful preparations, diverting others with false appearances and secretly swapping him out.

An Le Marquis would not simply allow his son to be taken like this. He would surely bribe the jailers into treating him well and perhaps even find someone to rescue him.

So, early in the morning, Yun Ke had already arranged for one of his secret guards to disguise himself as Xia Shuang Cheng and be sent to the Ministry of Justice prison in his stead.

When Xia Shuang Cheng was dragged by a few men dressed as police officers and bound to a wooden stake, he was still shouting, “I am the legitimate heir of the An Le Marquis, a titled noble! The law does not punish the nobility! Do you understand?”

“We understand!” all the police officers replied expressionlessly, but their movements did not pause for even a moment.

Strapped to the cross-shaped punishment post, Xia Shuang Cheng’s eyes flashed with a trace of smugness, “Since you understand, then untie me at once and serve me with fine food and drink! I’m only staying here for a few days. If you serve me well, once I am out, I will certainly remember your kindness.”

“Is that so?” An icy voice devoid of any warmth, drifted into the torture chamber like a sound from hell itself. It made Xia Shuang Cheng’s hair stand on end, his whole body breaking out in goosebumps!

“Then shall I also serve you myself, so that you will remember my kindness?” Yun Ke’s figure slowly appeared at the doorway of the torture chamber.

The torture chamber was steeped in darkness, the torches casting flickering shadows across his frame which carried an indescribable sense of oppression as he walked slowly towards Xia Shuang Cheng.

“I-Imperial… Imperial Prince An,” Xia Shuang Cheng suddenly found himself stammering. Yet he stiffened his neck and said, “So what if you are an imperial prince? I am the legitimate heir appointed by the Emperor himself!”

He bore a noble title. Surely Yun Ke would not dare to truly harm him! Thinking of this, Xia Shuang Cheng once again felt a sliver of confidence.