Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 69 Exposing Zhu Manniang

As dusk fell, Hualan and Zhao Han set off on their journey home hand in hand, under Wang Ruofu's reluctant gaze.

Inside the carriage, Hua Lan's eyes were dim and her face looked lost.

Zhao Han reached out and took her into his arms, saying softly, "Next time we have a day off, I'll come back with you, and no one will dare to say anything behind your back."

Upon hearing this, Hua Lan nodded with tears in her eyes.

As for Gu Tingye, he knew that Zhao Han suspected Zhu Manniang of having bad intentions towards him.

But in his eyes, Man Niang was weak and unable to take care of herself, and was as docile as a kitten.

Even if he has some ulterior motive, it is only for himself.

In order to prove to Zhao Han that his vision was good, he specially invited him to Tianshui Lane before rushing back to Bailudong Academy to continue his studies.

Along the way, Gu Tingye said with a smile: "Actually, I didn't intend to take Man Niang back to Bian Jing, but she insisted on coming back to pay tribute to her brother."

"Her brother was such a scoundrel when he was alive, yet Manniang still cherishes the brother-sister relationship."

"Repaying evil with kindness like this, she is truly a pure and kind woman."

"I've been keeping her here for the past few days. Although it's a bit shabby, it's quiet."

He knew that if he brought Man Niang back to the Marquis' Mansion now, it would not only make Gu Yankai angry, but also give Xiao Qinshi and Gu Tingyu a chance to talk nonsense.

My reputation, which had just improved a little, was about to be ruined again.

"To be honest, Brother Chengyuan, I've already made plans in my mind."

"Next spring, if I can pass the imperial examination, I will immediately bring Man Niang into the Marquis's residence and make her my concubine."

"By then, I will have achieved great success. Even if my father is unhappy, he won't be able to stop me too much."

As he spoke, Gu Tingye smiled and a glimmer of determination flashed in his eyes.

Zhao Han just glanced at him indifferently.

"Zhong Huai, ah Zhong Huai, if it's really as I expected, she's here for your status as the legitimate son of the Ningyuan Marquisate."

"How are you supposed to cope with this?"

Gu Tingye was stunned for a moment, his brows slightly furrowed.

"I, Gu Tingye, hate being deceived and betrayed the most in my life. If she lies to me, I will never keep her."

Turn the corner and enter Tianshui Lane.

Under the guidance of Gu Tingye, they came straight to a small courtyard with a locked gate.

An old woman with gray hair, who was sitting under an old locust tree picking beans, saw Gu Tingye and said with a smile, "It's such a bad luck that you came back, brother. Your wife just hurried out with a package."

Hearing this, Gu Tingye slapped his head.

"I forgot that Manniang said she was going to pay tribute to her brother today. I think she will be back soon."

"Brother Chengyuan, please come in and have a cup of tea, and take a look at my articles."

Zhao Han stopped, his eyes flickering as he said calmly, "Why are you bringing a package to pay respects to your brother, and why are you in such a hurry?"

"This..." Gu Tingye was speechless for a moment, and his brows frowned unconsciously.

He turned his head to look at the old woman, his voice filled with anxiety, "Auntie, did you see which direction my wife went?"

The old woman pointed to the end of the alley and said, "East. She was walking so fast. She didn't even turn her head when I called her."

"East... I remember her brother's grave was in the western suburbs..."

Gu Tingye spoke to himself, feeling a little uneasy.

Having grown up in a den of tigers and wolves, he is not a fool after all.

Moreover, once the seeds of doubt are planted, they will be like a cancer attached to the bone and will be difficult to get rid of.

Zhao Han noticed his expression changing, and spoke at the right moment, "Seeing is believing. Zhong Huai, do you want to go?"

Gu Tingye took a deep breath and nodded: "Okay, thank you Brother Chengyuan!"

After preparing the horses, the three of them rode to the western outskirts of Bianjing City. There, they saw the grave of Zhu Manniang's brother, Zhu Gui, with dry yellow earth and overgrown weeds, indicating that no one had ever come to pay their respects.

Gu Tingye’s expression became increasingly solemn.

Shitou scratched the back of his head and said, "Brother, why do I feel like this grave is much shorter than before..."

"Are you sure?" Gu Tingye looked at him sideways.

Shitou nodded repeatedly. After all, he had built Zhu Gui's tomb with his own hands, so he still had some impression of it in his mind.

Zhao Han's eyes flashed, and he whispered, "Why not dig it up and see, who knows, we might find something else today."

Gu Tingye remained silent, obviously realizing that something was amiss.

Not long after, Zhu Gui's grave was dug up. The moment the coffin lid was opened, Gu Tingye's pupils suddenly shrank and his face became gloomy.

"Why is he gone? Could it be... could it be that Zhu Gui is posing as a dead body?"

Shi Tou looked at the empty coffin and looked at his brother in disbelief.

Gu Tingye clenched his fists, veins bulged on his forehead, and his chest heaved violently.

"What a great way to pay tribute to her brother! I want to see where her brother is!"

At night, in Tianshui Lane, in a small courtyard.

Zhu Manniang was dressed particularly gorgeously, with a sweet scent of cosmetics. She walked slowly behind Gu Tingye and massaged his shoulders with just the right strength.

Gu Tingye sat at the desk, flipping through the pages of a book with a normal expression, but a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

He pretended to be casual and asked, "Manniang, did your visit to your brother's memorial service go smoothly today?"

Zhu Manniang paused her movements imperceptibly, then said softly, "Thanks to Erlang."

"Everything is fine, but I always feel uncomfortable when I think of my brother."

"Erlang, when can you bring me to the Marquis Mansion to meet the Marquis and Madam Qin?"

"The next time I come back, I'm afraid it will be after the Autumn Examination next year."

Zhu Manniang was naturally unwilling to be just a concubine who could not be seen in public.

What she wanted was not only the money in Gu Tingye's hands, but also the noble status of the eldest lady of Ningyuan Marquis' Mansion.

Gu Tingye frowned and said coldly: "Manniang, when you insisted on following me, you never mentioned entering the Marquis' Mansion."

"Erlang, do you dislike me?"

"I was just thinking, if we have a child in the future, I can be his concubine, but wouldn't he... also be unable to hold his head up high?"

Zhu Manniang's voice was soft and sad. In order to control Gu Tingye, she hoped day and night to have a child.

It’s a pity that my stomach has not moved yet.

"Man Niang, have you ever lied to me?" Gu Tingye stared at her with his eyes flashing.

Zhu Manniang twitched the corners of her mouth and subconsciously clenched her sleeves.

Today she and Gu Tingye said that they were going to pay tribute to her brother, but in fact they were secretly sending money to her good-for-nothing brother.

"No, Erlang is my savior. If Erlang hadn't taken me in, I'm afraid I would have already..."

Before he could finish his words, the door of the compartment was kicked open with a bang.

Zhao Han stood at the door with his hands behind his back.

Shitou followed behind him, holding a timid man with bruises on his face.

This person is Zhu Manniang's brother Zhu Gui.

"Second brother, Lord Zhao is indeed as good as a god. He said that Zhu Gui is a gambler and must be hiding in the gambling house right now."

"As expected, we caught him red-handed in the Dongmen gambling house!" After saying that, Shitou threw Zhu Gui forward heavily.

(End of this chapter)