Gu Qinghan said lightly: "Me? Do you think I should become a puppet in your hands?"
"Why did Sanniang say such things?" Qining sighed softly: "You seem to have a deep misunderstanding of me."
Gu Qinghan said: "Didn't you just say that a puppet is just a tool? You use it to tease you when you need it, and you throw it aside when you don't need it?" The snow-white neck turned around, with a trace of ridicule on her beautiful face. : "Isn't that exactly what I am in your eyes?"
Qi Ning frowned. Although Gu Qinghan's voice was calm, Qi Ning clearly heard a trace of sadness in her tone. He pondered for a moment and finally said: "If I really treat you as a puppet, I won't step in today." Enter this courtyard."
"You don't know how to step into this courtyard?" Gu Qinghan said with a smile: "I also want to know, why did you step into this courtyard today? What do you mean by those words?"
"Does Sanniang still want to hide it now?" Qining said softly: "You and I are in the same boat and face the same difficulties. Could it be that Sanniang doesn't understand?"
"I really don't understand." Gu Qinghan said: "I don't know what you mean by showing sympathy for each other, let alone what is the problem you are talking about?"
Qi Ning smiled faintly and said: "Since Sanniang doesn't want to say it, let me help you." After a pause, he asked softly: "Sanniang, as far as I know, Uncle San was as early as seven or eight years ago. He had already died in battle a while ago, and you were only in your early twenties at that time. Even if you miss your old relationship and stay with the Qi family for three or two years, it will be considered as the end of your kindness and righteousness. You can leave the Qi family and marry someone else. "
Gu Qinghan didn't know why Qining suddenly mentioned this matter, but he remained calm.
"But Sanniang not only did not leave, but she stayed for seven or eight years." Qining sighed: "This is by no means easy for any woman."
Gu Qinghan said angrily: "According to you, it is only reasonable and reasonable for me to leave the Hou Mansion and marry someone else. Is it unreasonable to stay in the Hou Mansion?"
"Of course I don't think so." Qi Ning said immediately: "The years you stayed in the Hou Mansion were precisely the most difficult times for the Jinyi Hou Mansion. Qi... My father is on the front line, commanding an army of 100,000, which is naturally majestic. Eight sides, but the Jinyi Hou Mansion was a different scene. My mother was no longer in the mansion at that time, and Aunt Qiong was not able to take care of such a large Hou Mansion. To manage such a huge Hou Mansion, not only It requires extraordinary talent, and it must be from the Qi family. After thinking about it, only Sanniang could take on this important task at that time."
Gu Qinghan snorted coldly and didn't say much.
"But Sanniang knows better than anyone else that after Third Uncle died in the battle, although the Qi family handed over the entire Marquis Mansion to you, it would not last long." Qining sighed: "You and Third Uncle have no heirs left. This means that if you stay in the Marquis Mansion for a long time, the longer you stay, the more difficult your situation will be. And whether it is me or Qi Yu who inherits the position of Marquis, once you get married, you will have no choice but to hand over the power in your hands. In the end, Nothing at all."
Gu Qinghan bit her red lips and said, "Do you think I am greedy for this power?"
"It's not that Sanniang is greedy for this power, but that Sanniang can't help herself." Qining sighed: "Sanniang chose to stay back then, of course because she missed her old relationship, but did Sanniang have other reasons that forced you to have to Stay in the Hou Mansion?"
Gu Qinghan's delicate body trembled, her face changed color, and her voice trembled slightly: "You... what did you say?"
Qi Ning was not sure at first, but looking at her reaction now, he knew that his guess was definitely correct. He walked closer and whispered: "Sanniang, is the Madam forcing you to stay in the Hou Mansion?"
Gu Qinghan gritted his silver teeth, and a strange look flashed in his eyes: "Why would Mrs. Tai force me? I... I just need to plead with Mrs. Tai now, and she will definitely agree to let me leave."
"Is this really the case?" Qining smiled half-heartedly, "Sanniang, with all due respect, I'm just worried that you don't have the courage to speak to the Madam."
Gu Qinghan felt weak all over. He put one arm on the dressing table, his eyelashes flashed, and his red lips moved slightly, but he didn't say a word.
"You know better than anyone what method the Madam used to force you to stay." Qi Ning said with a bitter smile: "To this day, Sanniang is still unable to control herself and has no way to advance or retreat. I don't know if what I said is right. ?”
"I...!" Gu Qinghan's pretty face looked slightly pale. At this moment, she heard a voice coming from the courtyard, and Qining immediately whispered: "Go to bed quickly!"
Gu Qinghan was stunned for a moment, but he immediately realized something and moved quickly. He got up and hurried to the bed. When Qi Ning saw Gu Qinghan lying down, he went out and saw Manager Han already standing in front of the door with a lunch box in hand, with a worried look on his face. He said: "Master Marquis, how is the third lady's health? Do you want to ask the doctor to come over?"
"Sanniang is indeed deficient in energy and blood." Qining said: "It may be caused by fatigue, and she should be fine with more rest. I am trying to persuade her to see a doctor and prescribe some medicine to recover sooner, but...!" "Shaked his head and took the lunch box, "Manager Han, you go ahead and do your work first, and I will advise you. Even if you don't ask a doctor, you still need to eat a few mouthfuls of porridge."
Manager Han said hurriedly: "Master Marquis, why don't I wait outside? If the third lady wants to invite a doctor, I can go and ask for it immediately."
"Sanniang is sick. I can only leave the affairs of the house to you these two days." Qining said with a smile: "You go about your business, there is no need to delay here."
Manager Han thought for a moment and said, "Old slave, please leave first." He bowed and retreated.
Qining walked to the window and only saw Manager Han leaving. Then he walked over and put down the lunch box. When he walked to the window, Gu Qinghan had already turned his head and asked softly: "He's gone?"
"Why is Sanniang worried about him?" Qining sat down on the edge of the bed and asked softly: "He is just an old slave, and Sanniang seems to care about him."
"When did I worry about him?" Gu Qinghan said angrily: "Don't talk nonsense."
"Sanniang didn't understand what I meant." Qi Ning lowered his voice and said, "Sanniang immediately got into bed after hearing my words just now. She was obviously wary. This is the Hou Mansion. If Sanniang didn't have something on her mind, Why are you so wary?"
"I...!" Gu Qinghan frowned, but for a moment she didn't know what to say.
Qi Ning shook his head, looking at Gu Qinghan's charming face, a trace of tenderness arose in his heart, and said softly: "Is Sanniang worried that her behavior will always be monitored?"
Gu Qinghan closed his eyes and said nothing.
"That's what I just said about showing sympathy for each other." Qi Ning said slowly: "Although the Marquis Mansion is not big, it has many eyes and ears. Madam Tai asked Sanniang to pay attention to my words and deeds. There may not be anyone behind you. Monitoring your behavior, in the eyes of the Madam, I am afraid that you and I are just dolls that can be controlled by him."
Gu Qinghan turned his head, but his expression was very cold, and he said sadly: "You already know?"
"If you don't want others to know, you have to do nothing yourself." Qining whispered: "Some I know, some I don't know yet."
Gu Qinghan sighed softly and said: "Now that you know it, there is nothing to say." He looked at Qining coldly and said: "Yes, I have always been paying attention to your whereabouts. I am aware of everything you say and do." I have reported the truth to Madam, now you know how vicious my heart is, right?"
"Vicious?" Qi Ning said with a smile: "If Sanniang is really vicious, she won't speak for me in front of her."
Gu Qinghan frowned and said: "You...how did you know? Who told you?"
"Sanniang doesn't need to ask me why I know. I just want to ask Sanniang, are you still going to let that old woman control you?" Qining had already clenched his hands into fists: "She wants to be a chess player who controls the chess pieces, but now she can't help it. She did."
Gu Qinghan's heart tightened, and she couldn't help but stretched out her hand to hold Qining's wrist, and said urgently: "Ning'er, you... you can't mess around, she... She only thinks that nothing is strange about you now, and she doesn't have any bad thoughts towards you. , you... you must not act recklessly." The worry was palpable.
At this time, Qi Ning realized Gu Qinghan's concern for her, and felt warm in her heart. She chuckled and said, "Don't worry, Sanniang. I'm not the fool I used to be. I know what's appropriate."
Gu Qinghan's expression softened slightly. He looked down and saw that his hand was still holding Qining's wrist, and he quickly let go.
"Sanniang, you said she doesn't have any bad intentions towards me, then why do you still send you to monitor me?" Qining asked in a low voice: "She can ignore your feelings and coerce you, do you think she is still a good person? ?”
Gu Qinghan hesitated and then said: "She is just... just worried that you will do something detrimental to the Qi family. If... if you focus on protecting the Qi family, she will... she won't do anything to you."
"Dedicated to protecting the Qi family?" Qi Ning chuckled: "Under her supervision, as a tool in her hand to protect the Qi family? Sanniang, to tell you the truth, all my efforts will only be for myself and those I care about. People don't want to be reduced to tools for people with ulterior motives." His expression became serious and he asked in a low voice: "Tell me, did she send you to monitor me because of... my mother?"
Gu Qinghan's delicate body trembled again, with a hint of fear in her beautiful eyes, and said anxiously: "Don't... don't mention your mother, Ning'er, you... remember my words, no matter when and where, never mention it. Your mother, once... once the lady knows about it, she...!"
"What will happen to her?" Qi Ning grabbed Gu Qinghan's plump arm: "Sanniang, tell me, Liu... Where is my mother now? What happened back then?" His eyes became sharp: "Mrs. Why do you have so much resentment towards my mother?”
Gu Qinghan held her face with both hands and said in a trembling voice: "I don't know, I really don't know, Ning'er, I beg you, don't force me, I... I really don't know anything."
Her plump body trembled, Qi Ning clearly felt the fear in her heart, and he hugged Gu Qinghan suddenly. Gu Qinghan's whole body froze, but Qi Ning had already whispered in her ear: "Don't be afraid, I'm here with you." Now, don’t be afraid of anything, I won’t force you, Sanniang, I promised to protect you, you are a man and you don’t keep your word.”