Chapter 339: Prelude of the Storm (VI)

Translator: Ning LL

“The caterans robbed someone again?!” Minglan was shocked. The crime rate was too high. Wait, no way, hadn’t the imperial censor had already arrived at the Huainan and Huaibei cities?

“No.” The man clenched his fists furiously and thumped on the brick beck, “Brother Chengyoung were set up by those guys.”

Minglan didn’t understand his words. Gu Tingye stood up slowly and sighed, “It was said on the Dibao that Brother Chengyong had been invited to a feast. However, after the hangover, he woke up and found a woman lying next to him.

“Huh?!” The Badger Game in ancient times? Minglan couldn’t help but laugh, “Maybe it’s because the people of that family adore General Duan’s talent and want him to marry their lady.”

“It’ll be so much easier if things are like that.” Gu Tingye said coldly with a murderous look on his face, “That woman called herself a madam from a decent family and claimed that she had a husband and a son. She also accused Brother Chengyong of raping her and said that she could only die now.”

Minglan was astonished, “A married woman?! That’s a trouble.” It was impossible to check if that woman had been raped or not. “Wait a minute. Since Young General Duan was drinking in a winehouse, how could a madam from a decent family show up there?”

“That woman said that she had gone there to collect the fish money. When Brother Chengyong who was drunk at that time passed her, he was attracted to her pretty face and dragged her into a room.”

Minglan was at a loss for word, “It’s like hearing what’s in the story. It’s not like the other people in the winehouse are dead. How’s it possible for them not to stop Young General Duan from doing that? Also, how could the woman sleep until Young General Duan woke up…” So the sex was that violent?

“The story truly is a myth.” Gu Tingye said, “Brother Chengyong refused to admit it. However, after they inquired the woman for a short while, she knocked her head against a wall and killed herself. Now that woman’s husband sued Brother Chengqian for raping a decent woman and forcing her to die.”

Minglan sighed deeply. Since the people who had set Duan Chengyong up were willing to make such a big sacrifice, they must have made a thorough plan. Duan Chengyong really was in a big trouble now. Minglan and Gu Tingye stayed silent for a long while. Minglan then said, “Now what can we do? It’ll be impossible for an imperial censor to investigate the salt affairs if he didn’t have a strong bodyguard.”

Gu Tingye looked at her with a hesitant look. Seeing that, Minglan understood him at once, “Do you want to go?”

“His Majesty hasn’t summoned me.“ He said in a low voice, “Such a thoughtful plan shouldn’t be made by only a few government officials. The local officials might also be a part of this. Someone has to go to clean this up. They wouldn’t be intimidated so easily before some of them are killed!” Now that Empress Shen’s brother couldn’t go, Gu Tingye was the only option since he was in the same official rank as the former.

“I owe Brother Duan a debt.” The man was in a dilemma this time.

Minglan asked dazedly, “How long will you go?”

“One month at least and two months at most.” Gu Tingye rubbed her hand, “I still have so many things to deal with and couldn’t leave for the moment. After I get Brother Chengyong out, I’ll let Zhong Dayou to guard the garrison. By then, Old General Geng might already recover.”

Minglan let out a sigh of relief and said with a smile, “I thought you would be there for more than a year.” The investigation of the salt affairs couldn’t be done so quickly, “So you would only go for one or two months. It doesn’t matter. I’ll be fine as long as you can come back before I give birth to our child.”

Gu Tingye held her in his arms without caring about the crumples appearing on his uniform. Then he started to rock her gently. Deep down, he didn’t want to leave her for a second. He said guiltily, “You are pregnant now. I shouldn’t leave.”

Having braced herself up, she pushed him away forcibly and said seriously, “You matter to me the most. Your business is my business, Master.” She had already got ready for a lot of things. The man in front of her was full of vigor and hot-blooded like a fierce leopard. It was impossible for her to tie him to her all the time. She would be fine as long as he didn’t go too far and too long.

“But…” Gu Tingye tried his best not to think of those things, but he couldn’t stop thinking. For all his life, he remained resolute and decisive, this time he suddenly dithered, “What if I can’t be with you when something happens to you?”

“Master.” Knowing what he was thinking, Minglan pushed his strong shoulder and said earnestly, “I am not First Madam Qin.”

Gu Tingye still remained silent. Minglan then took a breath and said, “You can leave some guys to me. If someone bullies me, I can kick them out if I lose the verbal fight. If it gets worse, I can still escape.” Gu Tingye burst into laughter.

Minglan rested in his arms with her eyes widely open and said with a clear voice, “You’ll always have to deal with lots of the business affairs unless you retire. You can’t stay with me the whole time. In the future, we’ll have a lot…” She blushed and couldn’t continue.

Gu Tingye felt sweet, “That’s right, we’ll have a lot of kids in the future.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Minglan got bashful hearing his words. Then she wriggled to his neck and bit him like a puppy. Gu Tingye laughed loudly and bit her back and then kissed Minglan’s neck.

After a long while, they had enough fun. Gu Tingye rested his head on Minglan’s leg and suddenly said, “You are not like First Madam Qin indeed.”

He suddenly turned over and stood up to sit opposite to Minglan, “If I’m forced to marry another woman, what will you do?” That question had been in his mind for a long time.

Minglan gave a little start and then giggled, “How come?”

“You’ll remarry.” The man fixed his eyes on Minglan and said that firmly.

“… how’s that… possible?” Minglan played dumb but actually thought that it was very likely to happen.

His father’s past had been sticking in his brain, so he would compare himself with his father subconsciously. However, after that, he found the result quite frustrating. Though he had tried his best not to think of the word ‘remarry’, he still felt that if they were forced to separate with each other, this girl would feel sad for a few days and then marry another man, from his months’ knowledge of Minglan.

“Also, you’ll be very likely to live a great life.” He gritted his teeth secretly.

“How… could… that… happen?” Minglan didn’t know why they started the topic and could only kept smiling embarrassedly.

Gu Tingye’s gloomy gaze frightened Minglan. She felt something wrong at once and asked, “Master, what about you? Are you really going to abandon me?” The best defense was to attack.

“…” Gu Tingye thought about it seriously, “I’ll have two choices. First, I can take you away to a place where no one can find us. We’ll conceal out identities for the rest of our life. Or, after I get myself back on the horse, I’ll marry you again.” And kill that man you remarried.

Minglan nearly blurted out, ‘The second one sounds better.’ She loved peace and harmony. Luckily, her sixth sense which had been slack all the time suddenly worked.

She leaned to Gu Tingye and held his waist in her arms with difficulty through her belly and then said in a low voice, “Take me away. We can become a wild couple in the mountains and forests.” Her voice sounded so soft and tender that it couldn’t be heard. Gu Tingye got softhearted instantly and held her tightly. He kissed her temples and cheeks and said, “We’ll always be together no matter where we go.”