If Shang Wu is really as stubborn as Ling Qingwan thinks, then she will definitely take action against Gu Zhi, who is engaged to Ling Xiao.
Gu Zhi has a gentle personality. Besides, she is born out of wedlock and no one protects her in the Grand Secretary's Mansion. She is definitely no match for Shang Wu.
"I will go down and make arrangements right away." Song Tian agreed immediately. "However, those servants are all men after all, so they cannot protect Miss Gu nearby. I'm afraid they can only hide near the Grand Secretary's Mansion."
"It's okay, that's enough." Ling Qingwan said softly.
Song Tian's words reminded her.
As the saying goes, it is easy to dodge an open attack but hard to guard against an arrow from the dark. Who knows if Shang Wu will do something shady behind the scenes and frame Gu Zhi.
If you really want to protect Gu Zhi, you have to take care of her inside and out.
Thinking of this, Ling Qingwan went to the Grand Secretary's Mansion in person.
Having been here several times before, Ling Qingwan was already familiar with the Grand Secretary's Mansion. After entering, she could find Gu Zhi's residence without anyone from the mansion leading the way.
Gu Zhi had just finished feeding her mother medicine when she learned that Ling Qingwan had arrived, and she hurried out to greet her.
"Wanwan, why are you here!"
Gu Zhi smiled, pulled Ling Qingwan to sit down, and poured her a cup of tea.
"Do you know that the Northern Zhou crown prince and princess left the capital?" Ling Qingwan asked lightly. As she spoke, she sat opposite Gu Zhi.
"I heard from my father yesterday." Gu Zhi replied. "I heard that the Emperor of Northern Zhou suddenly summoned the two of them back to the capital, and the matter of the marriage was handed over to the third princess Shangchu. Is that true?"
Gu Zhi only heard Lord Gu mention it a few times when the family was having a meal together, but he didn't know the details.
Since Ling Qingwan came to see her specifically for this matter, it must be very important.
"Yes." Ling Qingwan nodded. "Shangwu will have to wait for Shangchu to arrive before leaving. It will probably take twelve or thirteen days."
Gu Zhi smiled faintly and listened to Ling Qingwan continue talking.
"I'm worried that Shangwu is unwilling to give up and wants to fight for her marriage with my brother. It would be fine if she only targeted our general's mansion, but you are engaged to my brother now, and I'm afraid that Shangwu will find out about you and do something bad to you."
As she spoke, Ling Qingwan turned around and motioned for Luluo to come forward.
"During this period of time, I will place Green Radish by your side to protect you."
The maids around Ling Qingwan all have their own strengths. Since Ling Qingwan asked Luluo to protect Gu Zhi, Luluo must be very skilled.
Moreover, if she was not really likely to be in danger, Ling Qingwan would not have allowed her personal maid to protect her.
Gu Zhi was smart, so she naturally thought more and more thoroughly about things. She began to feel a little flustered.
If she had not been engaged to Ling Xiao, she would still be living the same life as before. Although it was not good, at least she would not be in danger of her life at any time.
"Zhi'er, are you scared?" Ling Qingwan asked in a gentle voice.
"A little bit." Gu Zhi smiled.
There was no point in lying to Ling Qingwan about this matter.
Ling Qingwan didn't know what to say, so she could only reach out and hold Gu Zhi's hand.
"If you regret it, come back now..."
"I have no regrets."
Gu Zhi interrupted Ling Qingwan without hesitation.
She just wasn't used to it yet. Facing difficulties she had never experienced before, it was understandable that she was afraid. After all, no matter how gentle and calm Gu Zhi was, she was still a little girl.
But she has no regrets.
The decisions she made were all well thought out, and Gu Zhi had thought of every possible way out. Since she had chosen to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ling Xiao, she would never back down.
Besides, she wasn't fighting alone.
Ling Qingwan was right. On the evening of the day Manxing left the capital, Shang Wu called Tao Yi to the post station while he was about to go back after purchasing something.
"Have those people in the General's Mansion done anything in the past two days?"
Shang Wu looked impatient and glanced at Tao Yi coldly.
"To answer your question, Princess, not at the moment," Tao Yi replied.
Shangwu frowned.
"Did Ling Xiao ever go out to meet his fiancée?"
She only knew that Ling Xiao was already engaged to a lady from a wealthy family. But there were hundreds of young ladies from wealthy families in the capital, and without any clues, it would take a long time for Shang Wu to find the one.
And she only has a dozen days.
If she can't deal with Ling Xiao before Shang Chu arrives, she will have to accept her fate and go back to Northern Zhou.
Shang Wu didn't want to accept her fate.
"Young Master Sun has rarely been out lately. He either stays in the study or practices martial arts in the martial arts arena. Even if he goes out, I am only a small steward in the backyard of the general's mansion, and I have no idea where he has been or who he has met."
Tao Yi's words were sincere and well-reasoned, so Shang Wu didn't think much about it.
"Then do you know which young lady from the capital your young master Sun is engaged to?" Shang Wu asked.
"I don't know." Tao Yi shook his head.
There was a flash of unwillingness in Shang Wu's eyes.
"Don't keep an eye on what Shen Chengzhou and the others are doing these two days. Just find out one thing for me: who Ling Xiao is getting married to. Tell me immediately when you find out."
She doesn't have much time to waste, so she has to work hard for her own happiness.
Shang Wu thought about it and her hands unconsciously clutched her sleeves.
Liusu saw Tao Yi off from the post station, and when she came back, she found Shang Wu still in the same expression as before. Liusu was worried and went forward to comfort her.
"Princess, don't panic. What Tao Yi said makes sense. After all, he is just a purchaser. It is normal that he does not know much about the master's private affairs. What's more, they deliberately concealed it."
"I'm not panicking? There are still ten days before Shangchu arrives, and I will have to leave Dayue by then. If I leave Dayue and come back in the future, it will be harder than ascending to heaven. Then Lingxiao and I will..."
We will never see each other again.
Shang Wu was unwilling to accept that this would be the ending for her and Ling Xiao.
"This takes time, that also takes time. Who is more time-constrained than me right now?" Shang Wu had been holding back her anger for a long time, and finally couldn't help it anymore, so she let it out all at once.
Liusu was at a loss as to what to do and could only stand by silently.
Suddenly, Shang Wu frowned and her expression became even uglier.
"What's wrong, Princess?" Liusu noticed something unusual.
"Send me... to the purification room!"
She just felt her stomach churning and felt extremely uncomfortable.
Throughout the night, Shangwu went to the bathroom at least a dozen times. When the sky gradually brightened, Shangwu was exhausted.
"Go find a doctor! Quickly! Find more!"
Shangwu urged Liusu.
Liusu had originally suggested seeing a doctor that evening, but Shangwu was too proud to allow it.
She was a princess, and if she went to see a doctor in the middle of the night because of diarrhea, how would she save her face if this got out
So before Liusu left, Shangwu reminded her not to let anyone know.
Soon, Liusu brought back two doctors.
After taking the patient's pulse, both of them came to only one conclusion: it was due to acclimatization.
"How could it be due to acclimatization?" Liusu frowned, obviously not believing it.
"My princess has been in Dayue for quite some time and has been doing well. Even if she is suffering from acclimatization, it is impossible for her to have an attack now."