Gu Yuande and the Old Madam were both stunned.
Song Chu said he wanted to give an explanation, but neither of them imagined it would be *this* kind of explanation. What was this supposed to be? A swap of sisters in marriage?
Hearing Song Chu’s words, Gu Qingzhao immediately arched her brow at Qin Jingming and flashed him a provocative smile.
Just moments ago, Qin Jingming had declared that no one in the capital dared marry her—yet in the blink of an eye, Song Chu demanded a marriage exchange. She had no time to ponder why Song Chu wanted to marry her; all she knew was that Qin Jingming had been thoroughly slapped in the face.
Song Chu ignored everyone else’s reactions. After speaking, he fixed his gaze on Gu Qingzhao. Seeing her laugh with such unrestrained brilliance, a trace of indulgent affection flickered in his calm eyes.
At that moment, Song Chu watched Gu Qingzhao quietly, while Gu Qingzhao looked meaningfully at Qin Jingming.
Qin Jingming, however, turned his head toward Song Chu, his expression dark and unreadable.
Gu Yuande finally broke the strange silence in the room: “Your Highness, my daughter is already betrothed.”
Song Chu’s tone was cold and clear: “Then cancel it.”
“My daughter is engaged to…” Gu Yuande faltered, unable to finish before Song Chu cut him off: “No matter who it is, cancel it.”
Qin Jingming could no longer hold back. “Uncle, the third Miss Gu is my fiancée, my future princess consort. If you wish to swap marriages, the Gu family has other daughters unbetrothed.”
Song Chu turned to him with a mocking smile. “Perfect. Didn’t you also covet my own fiancée?”
Gu Qingzhao was dumbfounded. Was Song Chu deliberately striking back at Qin Jingming?
“Uncle, my engagement to the third Miss Gu was decreed by imperial edict. Surely you don’t intend to defy the throne?” Qin Jingming nearly ground the words out between his teeth.
Song Chu remained indifferent. “Don’t try to press me with the edict. If the emperor can issue it, he can rescind it.”
Gu Qingzhao, who had been savoring Qin Jingming’s humiliation, now realized from Song Chu’s serious tone that the matter was far more complicated.
In her past life, after the crown prince’s death, Song Chu had gone on a ruthless campaign of vengeance against the Yong faction. Once he had annihilated them, he left the capital and never returned. If Song Chu and the Yong faction hadn’t destroyed each other, Qin Jingming would never have reaped the spoils.
Her mind raced, weighing the pros and cons of this marriage, when Song Chu suddenly rose to his feet. “This is settled. I’ll speak to His Majesty myself.” With that, he strode out. He hadn’t come to negotiate with the Gu family—only to inform them.
Qin Jingming rose as well, still observing the courtesy of a junior. “Uncle, take care on your way.”
Gu Qingzhao found it laughable: even in his fury, he remained deferential.
Of all the people in the world who hated Song Chu most, Qin Jingming was surely one of them. In her previous life, Prince Cheng’s residence had a secret chamber where Qin Jingming handled confidential affairs. On one wall hung a portrait of Song Chu—used as his archery target. Yet until her death, Gu Qingzhao never learned why Qin Jingming’s hatred for Song Chu ran so deep.
Gu Qingzhao’s mind stirred just as Song Chu stepped out of the main hall. She walked over to the old madam and whispered, “Grandmother, I have a few words I’d like to ask Lord Song.”
The old madam did not stop her. Instead, she said, “Take your maids with you, then go.”
With her grandmother’s permission, Gu Qingzhao was not considered improper. She brought Chunlan and Xiahe along and caught up with Song Chu at the front gates. “Your Highness, please wait.”
Song Chu halted and turned back.
Gu Qingzhao bowed and asked directly, “Why do you wish to marry me?” She spoke bluntly, without any polite preamble.
Song Chu raised his brow. “Didn’t you put a fine green hat on me? Shouldn’t you take responsibility?”
Unlike his cold demeanor inside the hall, his tone now carried a hint of jest.
Gu Qingzhao refused to accept the charge. “How can you say that? It was my fourth sister who betrayed you—what does that have to do with me?”
Song Chu stepped closer, pressing, “Wasn’t it you who spread the rumor last night? And the note slipped into my carriage—wasn’t that from your people?”
Chunlan shrank her neck. She had indeed shot the note straight into his carriage. How did he know it was her?
Song Chu continued, “Originally, that green hat was tossed aside, and no one knew it was mine. But you, Third Miss Gu, made sure it landed squarely on my head.”
Caught out, Gu Qingzhao felt a flicker of embarrassment. She forced a laugh and asked, “You won’t be marrying me just for revenge, will you?”
Song Chu gave a short hum. “Rest assured, I don’t strike women. But you’ve crossed the river, and this bridge isn’t pleased. Only by marrying you can I wash away some of the humiliation.”
Gu Qingzhao was puzzled. How could marrying her erase his disgrace?
“What do you mean?” she pressed.
Song Chu’s lips curved faintly. “You are the legitimate daughter of the Duke, famed for your beauty in the capital. If I marry someone better than the fourth Miss Gu, doesn’t that restore my honor?”
Gu Qingzhao burst out laughing—this was exactly the kind of talk she liked to hear.
Song Chu thought for a moment, then added, “Third Miss, you can consider my proposal. We each get what we need. Later, if you wish to dissolve the engagement, that will be up to you.”
Gu Qingzhao wavered. This was the best way to escape her betrothal to Qin Jingming. She wouldn’t even have to lift a finger—Song Chu would handle everything.
After Song Chu left, Gu Qingzhao mulled it over as she walked back toward the hall. There, she learned her grandmother had returned to Cihui Hall, while her father spoke with Prince Cheng in the study.
A maid serving in the hall came forward. “Third Miss, the old madam asks you to come see her.”
Gu Qingzhao nodded and headed to Cihui Hall.
Meanwhile, in Gu Yuande’s study, the two men sat facing each other.
Gu Yuande asked, “Does Your Highness think His Majesty will agree to Lord Song’s request? With the crown prince and empress confined, surely the Song family cannot remain untouched?”
Qin Jingming’s face was dark, his hands twisting together in agitation.
“This morning, the imperial kitchens made lamb soup dumplings. Father specially summoned Song Chu to the palace to share breakfast. For the sake of the sword he once took for Father, as long as he doesn’t rebel with the crown prince, Father will not move against him. He grew up in the palace, and though he is Father’s nephew, in some ways he is like a son.”
Gu Yuande understood the implication. He poured tea for Qin Jingming and shifted the talk to household matters.
From the outer hall to Cihui Hall, Gu Qingzhao kept turning the matter over in her mind.
Inside the sitting room, the old madam had just changed her clothes when Gu Qingzhao entered. She gestured for her granddaughter to sit, ordered tea to be served, and then asked: “You heard what Song Chu said. What do you think?”