sjar Chapter 718 Why is my sister-in-law here?
Chapter 718 Why is my sister-in-law here?
Having made up his mind, Qiao Zhiyu didn't say anything else along the way.
After all, she was only Meng Yunlan's cousin and had no right to interfere in the affairs of the Duke's Mansion. Moreover, she still needed Shen Wantang's help and couldn't afford to offend him.
Shen Wantang didn't care about Qiao Zhiyu's silence, as long as Qiao Zhiyu was almost crazy about the glory and wealth of the Duke's Mansion.
That golden brocade dress cannot be given away for nothing. Qiao Zhiyu must be able to play her role.
The carriage stopped in front of the main gate of the Zhanshi Mansion. Shen Wantang and Qiao Zhiyu got off the carriage and walked into the front yard of the Zhanshi Mansion with umbrellas.
After the others reported, the two men waited under the corridor in the front yard.
All the people coming and going in the Zhanshi Mansion were men, but suddenly there were two women, and everyone couldn't help but take a few more glances at them.
Qiao Zhiyu had never experienced such a scene before. She felt uncomfortable being stared at. She stood there awkwardly, not knowing where to put her hands.
Although she was wearing a gorgeous new dress, she was not at all comfortable with it. She kept tugging at her sleeves and then at her lapels, fearing that there would be something wrong and she would be laughed at.
Because the dress was so luxurious, she looked even more uneasy, so much so that others could tell at a glance that the dress did not belong to her.
Shen Wantang, however, looked calm and composed. Whoever looked at her would look back calmly and calmly. After staring at each other for a while, the other party would be unable to bear it and look away first.
Looking at the people coming and going, and the familiar faces, Shen Wantang was in a trance for a moment, feeling as if he had returned to his previous life.
At that time, she was dressed in men's clothes, put on a fake beard, and made a simple disguise. She followed Liao Youhe every day, served as his staff, handled official business, and solved one problem after another.
She held no official position and was just a staff member, but officials of all ranks in the capital were polite to her when they met her, because as long as they had come into contact with her, they all knew that she was resourceful, good at catching clues, a master at solving cases, and Liao Youhe's most trusted subordinate.
The Zhanshi Mansion is the core of the Eastern Palace. They are dedicated to assisting the crown prince. Although they don't have much dealings with the Dali Temple, they are all in official circles and see each other every day, so they are sure to be familiar with each other.
Therefore, Shen Wantang could almost call out the names of everyone she saw at the moment.
Unfortunately, she couldn't greet anyone now, because none of them knew her, and it would be too weird to greet them.
Another figure holding an umbrella hurried past. Shen Wantang looked at him. As soon as the man's name appeared in his mind, he felt his hands empty.
The umbrella in her hand was snatched away by Qiao Zhiyu.
Two voices, one male and one female, sounded in her ears at the same time.
"It's raining so hard, why is my sister-in-law here?"
"Brother-in-law, it's raining so hard, I came here specially to bring you an umbrella!"
Shen Wantang turned around and saw Gu Qianling rushing over.
In the pouring rain, he was wearing a smoky purple official uniform, holding a black silk umbrella with a red pagoda top, and strode towards her.
His umbrella was an umbrella that only officials of the third and fourth ranks could use. Ordinary civilians were not allowed to use it.
However, this is a summer umbrella for sun protection, not an oil silk umbrella.
Summer umbrellas are not waterproof, and can be used to hold up light rain, but not heavy rain. So as Gu Qianling walked along, a lot of water droplets had fallen on his body.
The corners of Shen Wantang's lips lifted slightly.
Sure enough, Meng Yunlan's mind was preoccupied with other things, and she hadn't prepared an umbrella for Gu Qianling at all. Even at this time, she hadn't sent anyone to deliver an umbrella.
Shen Wantang did not rush into the rain to greet Gu Qianling like Qiao Zhiyu did. She still stood steadily in the corridor and called him as she usually did when she saw him in the Duke's Mansion:
"Big brother."
"Sister-in-law, what's the matter with you——"
Before Gu Qianling could finish his words, he was interrupted by Qiao Zhiyu: "Brother-in-law, she is fine, she came here to accompany me!"
"Brother-in-law, your umbrella is not easy to use. It leaks. Oh, my cousin is really something. Didn't you prepare a good umbrella for me? I used this kind of umbrella to fool you. What if you get caught in the rain and catch a cold?"
"Just throw this one away. Brother-in-law can use mine. This oil-paper umbrella is sturdy and rainproof. It won't get your brother-in-law wet!"
After Qiao Zhiyu finished speaking, he stuffed the umbrella into Gu Qianling's hands.
Gu Qianling took a step back and frowned slightly.
He was already surprised that Shen Wantang appeared here, so why was Qiao Zhiyu here too?
Having not seen her for a long time, he almost forgot who this woman who called himself brother-in-law was.
"Thank you, cousin."
Gu Qianling was a respectable man with a gentle temperament, so even when facing two unexpected women and Qiao Zhiyu's rude remarks, he remained gentle and polite: "This umbrella is exquisite and elegant, and it's obviously something used by women. It's not suitable for me, so please keep it for yourself, cousin."
After he finished speaking, he looked at Shen Wantang again.
Compared to Qiao Zhiyu, an outsider, he certainly cares more about his sister-in-law Shen Wantang, and he also knows Shen Wantang better. She has a calm temperament and is definitely not the kind of person who would rashly break into the Zhanshi Mansion to find him for no reason.
This is the government office, where he is on duty, where the prince also comes, and where his family members are not allowed to come.
So, when he heard that Shen Wantang was coming, he thought something had happened at home, and immediately put down his official business and came out to greet him.
Unexpectedly, things seemed to be different from what he thought?
"Sister-in-law, is everything okay at home?"
Shen Wantang nodded: "All good."
"Really?"
"real."
She was very frugal with words, which was in stark contrast to Qiao Zhiyu. Gu Qianling even hoped that she could say more so that he could catch some clues.
He always felt that something happened at home, so Shen Wantang came to find him. However, Shen Wantang not only spoke little, but also looked very calm and her eyes were restrained. There was no abnormality on her face. She even ignored Qiao Zhiyu's attentions to her.
Gu Qianling even suddenly realized that he couldn't guess her emotions. He didn't know whether she was happy or angry, relaxed or heavy at the moment.
He couldn't help but take a few steps forward, entered the corridor, and stood in front of Shen Wantang: "Then why did you come here today? But it's not convenient to talk here."
Shen Wantang felt Gu Qianling's sincerity and concern from his actions and tone, and she felt a little regretful - perhaps she shouldn't have involved Gu Qianling, he didn't do anything.
However, this trace of regret quickly disappeared.
Now that the goal has been set and the road has come this far, she can't give up halfway.
She looked at the umbrella in Qiao Zhiyu's hand, and then her gaze slowly moved from bottom to top, falling on Qiao Zhiyu's face.
Qiao Zhiyu's face turned red and white, and then white and red when she looked at him, and even a bead of sweat seeped out of his forehead.