The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 601 - 601 289 The Deceptive Dowager Empress (First Update)

Chapter 601: 289 The Deceptive Dowager Empress (First Update) Chapter 601: 289 The Deceptive Dowager Empress (First Update) The news of Gu Changqing’s release without charges created waves of surprise throughout Capital City. Many were unsure about a lot of the details; for instance, the fact that Tang Ming had been assaulted within his own residence. But regardless of all that, Gu Changqing had indeed severed Tang Ming’s arm.

Could that really be pardoned without any punishment?

The Old Marquis also found it strange, suspecting that perhaps there was a mistake in the information provided by Minister Wei.

He hastily returned to the Marquis Residence, only to discover that Gu Changqing had indeed already returned and was currently washing up in his room.

After having spent so many days in the punishment room, he was so despondent that he’d paid no attention to his own appearance. Only when he looked at himself in the bronze mirror did he realize how terrifying he must have looked that night when he went to Bishui Alley to find Gu Yan.

It was a testament to Gu Yan’s strong mental fortitude that he didn’t mistake Gu Changqing for a ghost in the middle of the night.

After bathing, changing his clothes, shaving his beard, and washing his hair, the elegant and handsome gentleman returned as Gu Changqing.

Except for a hint of a bruise still visible at the corner of his mouth—courtesy of the Old Marquis’s whip.

Gu Chengfeng and Gu Chenglin had also come over. They had skipped class at Qinghe Academy to do so. But at this critical juncture, nobody was going to scold them.

“Big Brother!”

Seeing Gu Changqing emerge from the bath, Gu Chenglin rushed over without a second thought and wrapped his arms tightly around him. Breathing in the familiar scent with a hint of gentle soap on Gu Changqing, his nose felt sour with emotions. “Big Brother… I thought I’d never see you again… I heard you were going to be executed… I was ready to kill Tang Ming… All because of him…”

At this point, both Gu Changqing and Gu Chengfeng froze for a moment. Could it be that Gu Chenglin knew about Tang Ming too?

Choking back his tears, Gu Chenglin continued, “Why did he have to bully the soldiers from the Gu family? He’s a petty man! A jerk! Big Brother only taught him a lesson because he isn’t skilled enough and blamed it on Big Brother… If it weren’t for him, Big Brother wouldn’t have been incarcerated…”

Oh, so that’s what he meant.

Both of them heaved a sigh of relief.

Gu Chengfeng looked at Gu Changqing, whose body had noticeably thinned, and the light in his eyes dimmed somewhat. He was still angry about how Gu Changqing always defended Gu Yan but he still cared about his big brother. He pulled Gu Chenglin away irritably. “Enough, our big brother just got out and he’s still weak. Stop hugging him!”

“Oh.” Gu Chenglin wiped his tears and let go, looking at Gu Changqing with teary eyes. “Big Brother, you’ve lost weight.”

Gu Chengfeng said: “Then go to the kitchen and ask them to prepare some good food!”

Finally, Gu Chenglin noticed the discontent in Gu Chengfeng’s voice, “Why are you angry, Second Brother? Aren’t you happy that Big Brother is back?”

Indeed, what was he angry about? Was it just because Gu Changqing had been kinder to Gu Yan than to him and Gu Chenglin?

All riled up, Gu Chengfeng stormed out!

Gu Changqing: “…”

Gu Chenglin: “…”

“You should also leave. I have some words with your big brother.” The Old Marquis instructed Gu Chenglin.

“Oh.” Since their grandfather had commanded, Gu Chenglin dared not disobey. Looking reluctantly at Gu Changqing, he said in a low voice, “Big Brother, I’ll come back to see you later.”

“Mhm.” Gu Changqing nodded in response.

Once Gu Chenglin had left, the Old Marquis had the attending servant leave as well.

The room suddenly fell silent.

Neither the grandfather nor the grandson said anything.

Looking at Gu Changqing’s injuries, the Old Marquis too felt uncomfortable. However, under those circumstances, if he hadn’t punished Gu Changqing, Tang Yueshan would have.

At least he would know when to stop when administering the punishment, but it couldn’t be said the same for Tang Yueshan.

In fact, it was largely down to those injuries that Tang Yueshan had believed Gu Changqing could not have been the assailant who castrated Tang Ming that night.

However, neither the grandfather nor the grandson were in the habit of arguing their cases due to a peculiar sense of pride.

The Old Marquis went straight to the point, “What exactly happened with Tang Ming? Why did Tang Yueshan suddenly release you? And why was he so insistent on not letting you go before?”

As for why Gu Changqing got angry and severed Tang Ming’s arm, or why he escaped prison, the former was a question that the Old Marquis had given up asking. As for the latter, he believed that Gu Changqing had escaped to chase the assassin.

Out of these three questions, Gu Changqing only answered the second one, “Tang Yueshan managed to arrest the assassin who infiltrated the camp that night. From the assassin, he found clues that proved my innocence. He also realized that the individual behind all this intended to create a rift between the Marquis Residence and the Marshal Residence. Not wanting to play into their hands, he released me.”

“How do you know?” asked the Old Marquis.

“He told me directly,” answered Gu Changqing.

This was the truth.