Chapter 1006: Ruthlessly Calculative

But the Empress family comes from a military background, how could the assassins be so incompetent as to let Zongzheng Ya escape after trying to kill her?

Gu Jin’an said: "Moreover, there’s no reason for Duke Yuan’s family to kill Zongzheng Ya. Even if they wanted to kill her, they should target Zongzheng Ya’s eldest sister. It’s foolish to expend effort to kill a second daughter who hasn’t even entered the palace."

He continued: "Could the Empress family be trying to use Zongzheng Ya’s tragic death to disgrace the Zongzheng family? But to take such a big risk for this reason is unreasonable."

Qin San Lang nodded: "So we suspect it’s a setup, that woman wants to set a trap to calculate against us."

Yet he couldn’t understand why Zongzheng Ya would set a trap for them?

Gu Jinli said: "We don’t need to speculate here. If it is a setup, Zongzheng Ya will surely have further moves ready soon. We just need to be on guard and respond when the time comes."

They had informed Gu Jin’an about this business early on, wanting him to be wary, fearing that if Zongzheng Ya couldn’t succeed against them, she might target Gu Jin’an.

The legitimate eldest son, a successful legitimate eldest son, is always the first target of enemies.

As soon as Gu Jinli finished speaking, Daqing arrived and handed Zongzheng Ya’s letter to Gu Jinli: "Young Master, it was Zongzheng Ya’s maid who asked me to deliver this to the master."

Gu Jinli smiled and winked at Qin San Lang: "It’s for you, do you want to read it?"

Qin San Lang shook his head, frowned and said: "Don’t read it, and don’t touch it. Just let Daqing read it out loud for you. Noble families have some secret poisons; once someone touches them, they get poisoned."

He couldn’t allow Xiao Yu to be in danger.

Daqing, upon hearing this, immediately retracted the letter and bowed his head to admit his mistake: "Master, Young Master, it was my carelessness."

Gu Jinli said: "Just be careful next time, go ahead and read."

Qin San Lang disagreed, saying: "Administer twenty lashes."

This concerns Xiao Yu’s safety and can’t be tolerated.

He looked at Gu Jinli, signaling her not to plead for leniency. Gu Jinli could only remain silent.

"Yes, slave obeys the order," Daqing said, and then began to read the letter.

The letter was quite interesting; it was actually a nursery rhyme. After the nursery rhyme ended, there were only two words left: face-to-face conversation.

Gu Jinli looked puzzled and asked Qin San Lang: "What nursery rhyme is this?"

Qin San Lang said: "It’s a widely spread nursery rhyme in the Capital, praising the first Emperor of Great Chu, so all noble family children have to memorize this nursery rhyme."

He had memorized it too.

Gu Jinli was shocked and said fearfully: "Has she found out your identity? If you don’t go to see her, will she report you?!"

She walked toward Qin San Lang, grabbed his hand and said: "Don’t die."

Qin San Lang looked at her worried face, feeling warm inside, and wore a delighted smile, knowing Xiao Yu cared for him.

Just as he was about to embrace her, Gu Jin’an’s voice chimed in: "I’m not blind."

Qin San Lang hurriedly stopped his actions but didn’t release Gu Jinli’s hand. Instead, he held her hand as she sat down and said: "Don’t worry, it’s fine. I’ve never met her, she can’t recognize my face. This letter is probably trying to trick me; as long as I don’t admit it, she can’t do anything."

Gu Jinli felt somewhat relieved at his words and added: "Since she can write you this letter, she must have found out something. Who exactly told her? This must be thoroughly investigated, otherwise you’ll still be at risk."

Qin San Lang didn’t want Gu Jinli to worry about these matters and said: "Don’t worry, even if she knows something, she can’t threaten me unless she wants the Zongzheng family wiped out."

Gu Jinli understood immediately, glancing at the copper seal in Gu Jin’an’s hand, she smiled: "We have evidence in our hands, we can counter-threaten her."

Qin San Lang smiled: "Hmm, Xiao Yu is really smart."

Gu Jin’an was about to lose his patience and said: "Can you tone it down?"

Qin San Lang replied with a smile: "I’m engaged to Xiao Yu now, we can be closer."

Speaking of this, he had actually learned from Brother Luo Wu, who also did the engagement ceremony after getting the engagement letter with his elder sister.

After Xiao Yu agreed to marry him, he was thrilled and couldn’t wait for the Gu Family People to return to the village. While at the Military Office, he hurriedly made an engagement letter with Gu Dashan’s fingerprints and name.

When he returned to the Military Office, he took the opportunity to ask his grandfather to write his fingerprints and name, then ran to the county government for registration, and while heading to the Prefecture garrison, went to the Prefecture Government Office to register.

Although he was exhausted from running, he was very happy. In any case, it was finally official.

This move was like a knife that cut off Zongzheng Ya’s trust in Ning Ji, making Zongzheng Ya start doubting Ning Ji’s capability.

Gu Jin’an had many thoughts about Qin San Lang’s words: they’re engaged, have the engagement letter, but I still don’t have a bride. Watching you two being all lovey-dovey in front of me, who are you torturing?

Gu Jin’an didn’t want to stay here and suffer, told Daqing: "Lead the way, I’ll go meet her."

Gu Jinli laughed: "Big brother, you are so evil."

Brother Qin was never going to meet Zongzheng Ya, but she could, though Gu Jin’an going was the best effect.

Because Gu Jin’an had a good relationship with Shangguan Zhuo, if Zongzheng Ya saw Gu Jin’an, she would be far more shocked and furious than seeing her.

Gu Jin’an raised his eyebrows and said: "Is this considered evil? Then would it be more evil if I personally wrote a letter to Brother Shangguan, informing him that his unmarried cousin is in danger in He’an Prefecture?"

Gu Jinli was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter and gave a thumbs up: "Evil, too evil."

If last night’s event was truly set up by Zongzheng Ya, she must have done it without informing the adults of both families. If Gu Jin’an informed Shangguan Zhuo, it would cause an uproar between the Shangguan and Zongzheng families.

Gu Jin’an listened and nodded modestly: "You flatter me."

After speaking, he left with Daqing.

...

Zongzheng Ya had been waiting for Qin San Lang, certain he wouldn’t dare not come after receiving the letter.

But she never expected that it would be Gu Jin’an who came, and the first thing Gu Jin’an said upon seeing her was: "Miss Zongzheng, I am a good friend of your cousin Shangguan Zhuo. I heard from my sister and her husband that you were in danger last night, and upon hearing this, I was extremely concerned and immediately wrote to Brother Shangguan to inform him of your plight."

He then laughed and said: "Don’t worry, your cousin will surely hurry over upon receiving the letter. Feel comfortable staying here and wait for Brother Shangguan to come and pick you up."

Using a brotherly concerned tone, he added: "You’re too filial. Though you’re in a rush to go back home to care for your great-aunt, you shouldn’t disregard your own safety. After all, you’re an unmarried lady, if anything were to happen, you would suffer for a lifetime."

Zongzheng Ya was about to lose her mind and immediately stood up, asking anxiously: "You, wrote a letter to Cousin Zhuo?"

Gu Jin’an smiled kindly: "Yes, when I heard his cousin was in danger, how could I not inform him?"

He, Gu Jin’an, the finest young man of Da Feng Village, Qingfu Town, Tianfu County, was kind-hearted, upright, caring about family, and valued friendship with utmost sincerity. How could he keep such a significant matter hidden?