Chapter 6 A Mere Merchant!

She clenched her fist subconsciously. Could it be possible that her brother’s death was related to the battle for imperial power?

“Sister!”

An anxious male voice interrupted Gu Qiang’s thoughts. She pulled the curtain open and saw Gu Huaian on a horse, galloping toward her. “Sister, how are you? Are you hurt anywhere? I heard from the people of the Ninth Prince that your carriage crashed...”

Right after Gu Huaian ended his sentence, he continued worriedly.

“You have just recovered from your illness, so why did you come out so soon? Is everyone in the Gu Family dead? Why did no one stop you?”

“Brother, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry….”

Looking at the familiar yet strange face of Gu Huaian, Gu Qiang felt a lump in her throat, and tears gushed out from her eyes immediately.

How many years had it been since she last saw Gu Huaian?

Five years?

Ten years?

　　　　

“What’s the matter?!”

Gu Huaian was engulfed in astonishment. He grabbed Gu Qiang’s arm gently and asked a string of questions, “Are you in pain? Where are you injured? Liu Feng, bring some anti swelling and pain killer ointment for Young Lady!”

“I’m fine, brother.”

Although she had a lot to tell him, Gu Qiang knew that it was not a good time to talk. She then calmed herself down and smiled at Shen Qianshan who was standing silently aside all this while. “My apology, Your Highness. I’ve made a fool of myself.”

Upon hearing her words, Gu Huaian finally remembered to pay his respects to Shen Qianshan. “Thank you for saving my sister, Your Highness. Please come in to have a seat. That item that you asked for—I’ve found it.”

“Don’t mention it. It’s my horse who crashed into Young Lady Gu’s carriage.”

Shen Qianshan glanced across Gu Qiang’s face before following the servant of Gu Family into the medicine shop.

“Here.”

After Shen Qianshan’s figure disappeared into the shop, Gu Huaian crouched in front of the carriage and grinned at Gu Qiang. “I’ll bring you inside to rest.”

“I’m honestly fine.”

His actions left Gu Qiang in a dilemma—she was unsure whether to laugh or to cry.

The two of them were walking next to each other slowly. Gu Qiang caught a moment without anyone’s attention on them and whispered her question in Gu Huaian’s ear, “Are you running errands for the Ninth Prince now?”

Her question had underlying meaning, causing Gu Huaian to pause before answering softly, “I’m just helping the Ninth Prince to find an item, nothing more.”

What item was that even the Ninth Prince could not do it himself, but could only seek help from her brother, a mere owner of a small medicine shop?

Gu Qiang frowned in bewilderment. The strange feeling that settled deep in her heart surfaced again. She pondered for a moment and asked, “Then, are you planning to go somewhere far in these few days?”

It was mentioned in the book that Gu Huaian did not return after traveling a long distance to somewhere. So she came to a resolution that she would not allow Gu Huaian to travel anywhere regardless of any reason. However, Gu Huaian shook his head. “Of course not. Although this medicine shop is not big, the business is running well in the city. After a few years—”

He paused for a while to peek at Gu Qiang before continuing his sentence softly. “At that time, we will have our own house…”

He was worried that Gu Qiang would be furious at his words. After all, Gu Qiang was fond of the pair of mother and daughter.

To his surprise, Gu Qiang nodded firmly while looking firmly at the medicine shop’s sign right ahead of them, smiling. “Of course, we must have our own house.”

A house which would shelter her and her actual family.

Definitely not a place with the other members of Gu Family.

Up to this point, Gu Qiang realized that she had been out of Gu Mansion for quite a long time. Just when she was about to inform Gu Huaian that she would be returning to Gu Mansion, she heard the clatter of a horse’s hooves, as well as an exclamation. “Alas, My Lady! H-How could you come to such a place?!”

There was a sudden change in Gu Huaian’s expression. He looked abruptly at the troop of servants from Gu Mansion who were flogging horses toward them. The one on the lead was none other than the main butler, Chen Yun, who was promoted personally by their stepmother, Ye.

“My lady, Gu Family holds the family status of a Prime Minister. How could you mingle with a mere merchant? Your grandmother is extremely anxious when she knows that you went out of the mansion, so she purposely instructed me to bring you back!”

A mere merchant!

Although Gu Huaian had numerous miseries for all these years, he had never expected to hear these words from his family butler!

Before he could react, he heard Gu Qiang speaking in a bland tone, “Brother, I should be going now.”

Upon hearing her words, Gu Huaian was stunned for a second. But he quickly forced a smile and replied, “Yeah you should. You may go home now. I’ll visit you in a couple of days…”

However, Gu Qiang did not reply. Instead, she tidied her hair casually and walked slowly to the horse. She then stopped and asked indifferently, “What’s your position in the mansion?”

Although she was not the biological daughter of Madam, she was still the eldest Young Lady of the Gu Mansion. Therefore, Chen Yun adjusted his attitude and showed an obsequious smile while answering, “I am the main butler in the mansion. How could you forget that, My Lady?”

“I see.”

Gu Qiang gave a brief reply before repeating his words. “It seems that you are still well aware that you are the butler of Gu Mansion. In that case, I thought the servant of Gu Mansion ought to bow to the master?”