Chapter 401 - 402: What Goes Around, Comes Around

Chapter 401: Chapter 402: What Goes Around, Comes Around

Leader Li waited until Mrs. Huang had left before walking over with an apologetic smile.

"Mr. Gu, Mrs. Gu, it was my subordinates who handled things poorly earlier. I apologize for the trouble you’ve endured."

Gu Wenheng said, "It’s nothing. Is this trip also to your Young Master’s place?"

Anyone with a few sources of information knew this escort agency was part of the dowry of Prince Bai’s mother. Before, it had never really taken off.

Ever since Bai Jinglie and Gu Wenheng started their glass venture, the escort agency had an endless stream of orders every day. Especially in the last two years, they had set up branches everywhere. Jin Qianqian’s soap distribution also largely went through this agency.

"Yes, we’re escorting another shipment this time. Mr. Gu, do you have a message for our master?"

Gu Wenheng shook his head. "We just corresponded by letter, so I won’t bother your Young Master.

It’s just that my mother is getting old, so I’ll have to trouble you to take extra care of her for the next couple of days."

Leader Li quickly took the opportunity to explain again, "Of course, we should. I was busy with other matters up front earlier, otherwise, something like this would never have happened."

"It’s fine, we understand. You must be very busy right now, so don’t mind us." Gu Wenheng had already noticed several dart masters standing in the distance, likely waiting for their leader to make a decision.

After the man left, Gu Wenheng and Jin Qianqian returned to the carriage to speak with the old woman for a bit longer. They only started heading back after the convoy departed.

"Mother, is it really alright not to bring Le Huan back with us?" Gu Yuanshui couldn’t help but ask once the carriage started moving.

Li Cuicui replied, "Why didn’t you ask earlier? Isn’t it a little late to bring it up now?

Weren’t you boys just as stubborn back in the day? Take you, for example. I tried every way I could to persuade you, but in the end, didn’t you just do as you pleased?

But at least your wife, despite her various little flaws, will listen to you."

Gu Yuanshui said, "Mother, isn’t this different? If Le Huan’s marriage really goes through, it’s tantamount to splitting the family. Second Sister-in-law will definitely cause a scene."

"Let her cause a scene then," Li Cuicui said with a nonchalant, self-righteous expression. "If I don’t want to see her, I’ll just have her thrown out.

If she has the guts, she can come to Shangjing to find Le Huan herself. But by then, it’ll probably be a done deal, and her objections will be useless."

"Mother," Gu Yuanshui understood in an instant. "You’re not going to have Le Huan write the marriage certificate first, are you?"

Li Cuicui gave him a smirk. "Isn’t that a trick from your playbook? What? Your nephew can’t use it?"

Gu Yuanshui was speechless. ’Why does that sound a bit like she’s gloating?’

Thinking of his own two children, Gu Yuanshui couldn’t help but swallow nervously. "Mother, you wouldn’t do that to your own son, right?"

Li Cuicui leaned against a corner of the carriage, pulled the warm blanket tighter around herself, and closed her eyes to rest.

Receiving no reply, Gu Yuanshui could only smile bitterly. ’I guess what goes around, comes around, huh?’

&

Xiao Wanyu’s sentence was delivered quickly. For using foods and medicines with opposing properties to silently murder a court official, she was condemned to be executed after autumn and made to sign and press her fingerprint on the verdict.

Perhaps she had accepted her fate, as she didn’t argue or cause a fuss. She only made one request on the day before her imprisonment: to see Gu Wenheng.

Gao Ning had no intention of indulging her, but the terms Xiao Wanyu proposed in exchange were exceptionally tempting.

In order to get the detailed list of opposing substances, Gao Ning had no choice but to have someone summon Gu Wenheng.

"Mr. Gu, I know this puts you in a difficult position," Gao Ning said. "However, that list in Ms. Xiao’s possession is of great use to me. It’s to prevent anyone else from being harmed this way in the future. I hope you can grant me this convenience."

Gu Wenheng wasn’t one to be ungrateful. Gao Ning had suppressed the news earlier; otherwise, his own reputation would have been tarnished.

"I can go see her," Gu Wenheng replied, "but I am not willing to meet her privately. I hope you, Sir, will accompany me as a witness."

Gao Ning immediately stood up. "It’s been a while since I’ve been over there anyway. I’ll go today and see if those men are slacking off. Let’s go together, Mr. Gu."

This matter was not suitable for a loud announcement. Gao Ning waved away the government officials and led the way himself.

Gu Wenheng followed behind him. The prison of Shuntian Prefecture wasn’t far; they saw the main gate after just three turns.

Even before they arrived, a rotten stench wafted toward them from a distance.

Gu Wenheng could guess the air inside would be even worse. He took a deep breath outside before following the figure in front of him into a world he had never encountered.

’This is a lot different from the prisons I’ve seen on TV.’

A long, dark corridor made one’s skin crawl just walking through it.

What’s more, the periodic sounds of groans and curses made even Gu Wenheng, who could normally face any situation with composure, frown slightly.

The deeper they went, the more pungent the air became. Gu Wenheng could no longer maintain his image and raised his sleeve to cover his nose.

He glanced at Gao Ning, who was walking ahead, but the man seemed completely oblivious to it all, leading the way with a calm expression.

Reaching a small door up ahead, Gao Ning walked over and knocked on the wooden door. The THUMP THUMP sound was particularly strange in the narrow alley.

With a CREAK, the door opened. Gu Wenheng actually had the presence of mind to think, ’If this were in a horror movie, it would definitely scare the audience.’

"Sir, you’re here." A prison chief saw Gao Ning and quickly bowed. "Are you here to interrogate a prisoner today?"

Gao Ning said, "I’m just here to take a look. You continue to stand guard."

"Yes, sir." The prison chief glanced at Gu Wenheng, guessing he must be a prisoner’s family member here for a visit. ’I just wonder who this person is to have Mr. Gao personally escort him,’ he thought.

Gao Ning led him through another long, narrow alley. The sounds they had heard faintly before were now particularly distinct.

He pushed open a half-closed door, and a row of partitioned cells appeared before Gu Wenheng.

This was probably the first time in his life he had ever "toured" a prison. The few government officials guarding the area immediately sprang to their feet when they saw them arrive.

Gao Ning said, "You all step outside for a moment."

The government officials didn’t ask any questions and immediately exited through the door.

Only then did Gu Wenheng curiously observe the cells. The number of prisoners in each cell varied, some holding many, others few, but they were all clearly male inmates.

Gu Wenheng didn’t ask, simply following Gao Ning as he walked toward a corner.

Rounding a corner, it was clear that this was the women’s block.

There were far fewer people here than outside. You could even say that each person had their own cell. ’Does this count as a private room?’ he wondered.

Gao Ning walked straight to the cell holding Xiao Wanyu. "Ms. Xiao, come here."

Only then did Gu Wenheng notice a figure curled up in a corner.

But it was no wonder. Even though he was wearing a thick, padded coat, he could feel that the air in here was bone-chilling.