Chapter 65: Is There a Favor?

  Shen Guiyan's heart felt a warmth, but her face remained very calm as she nodded: "Good."

  "This is better." Gu Zhaobei smiled and kissed her forehead, then turned around and walked out.

  After seeing him off, Shen Guiyan turned around to head back. But thinking that Gu Zhaodong was still in the North Wing, Shen Guiyan furrowed her brow and decided to call a passing servant to go fetch Bao Shan to come out and accompany her for a walk.

  Little did she know, as soon as she stepped out of the Gu's residence, she ran into someone she least expected.

  Let's put this matter aside for now and take a look at Shen Guiya's side. Yesterday, the Northern Mansion was bustling in the afternoon, she ran out of the mansion alone, without even bringing her jade hairpin, and only let the housekeeper send her to the Youyuan Inn.

  What kind of place is Yuanyuan Guest House? The first floor is for dining, the second floor is for private rooms to discuss matters, and the third floor is for guest rooms. There are few people coming and going, but they are all distinguished guests.

  Today she had already made an appointment with Yuwen Houdé to have a meal and discuss matters, Han Jiangxue was aware of it, but that foolish woman still agreed and said many good things about Shen Guiya, and then pushed her own husband away.

  Yuwen Houdé is a good man, and since marrying Han Shi, he has been devoted to her. However, Shen Guiya's appearance today was well-prepared, not only wearing a low-cut embroidered lotus long dress, but also shedding the outer cloak, revealing a thin silk robe underneath. The makeup on her face was exquisite, with every smile and frown exuding a thousand charms.

  "Your Excellency Yuwen."

  Yuwen Houdé somewhat uncomfortably shifted his gaze away and said in a low voice: "Madam Gu, what is it that you want today?"

  Shen Guiya smiled and closed the door behind her, then sat down beside him with a small box in hand.

  Normally speaking, people should sit facing each other. Yuwen Houdé raised an eyebrow as he looked at her movement, unintentionally catching a glimpse of the large expanse of skin she had exposed, his face immediately turning serious: "What are you doing, madam?"

  He knew very well why he was being asked. Shen Guiya smiled charmingly and handed him the box, saying, "If you have something to ask for, of course, you need to bring gifts to win over the adults."

  Luckily, Shen Guiya's body is good enough, even if her face isn't great. As long as she has a career line, what can't be done properly?

  She had originally wanted to help Gu Zhaodong with his affairs, but after seeing the scene at Beiyuan today, she felt that if she could help him rise to power, then she would support him; if not, then she might as well look for someone else. A man whose heart is not on her, what's the use of having him? She needs to find more ways out for herself.

  And this Lord Yuwen in front of me is a very good backup plan.

  Yuwen Houdé took another look at her, then opened the box first, and inside was a sword pendant. He had just obtained a new treasured sword, which happened to lack such a pendant for decoration, and Shen Guiya actually managed to give him exactly what he needed.

  The pendant is red with a delicate Mandarin duck knot on top, hanging a bright pearl from the East Sea. At first glance, it's clear that the giver was very thoughtful.

  "Madam has a good eye for things." Yuwen Houdé's face softened considerably.

  Shen Guiya smiled lightly. This was still something that Han Shi had said unintentionally, but Yuwen Houdé had always felt that he was a talented person who had not met with the right opportunities, and his favorite thing was people who could cater to his tastes.

  "The adults like it better." Shen Guiya took the opportunity to pick up the tea and said: "Sir, please..."

  Her hand holding the tea was placed on Yuwen Houcheng's arm, and he slightly raised his hand, causing the lukewarm tea to spill all over her chest.

  "Ah!" Shen Guiya shrieked.

  Yuwen Houdé hastily took out a handkerchief to wipe for her: "I didn't mean to, are you hurt?"

  Shen Guiya let him wipe her for a while, before lifting her red face to glance at him, her eyes sparkling with tears, causing Yuwen Houde to unconsciously swallow his saliva.

  "It hurts a bit." Shen Guiya gently pulled down her collar and leaned into Yuwen Houdé's arms: "Sir, look, I got burned..."

  If Yuwen doesn't understand now, he's an idiot. It just so happens that this place is also good for finding someone to take him upstairs to treat his injuries.

  At that time, Han was still at home making swordsmanship, happily waiting for Yuwen Houdé to return, thinking of giving him a surprise. However, Shen Guiya borrowed from Han's inquiry about Yuwen Houdé's all hobbies, and made every effort to make him immerse himself in the gentle countryside.

  Sometimes, being too nice is really unbearable.

  Gu Zhaodong stayed overnight in the North Courtyard, and Shen Guiya didn't return, so no one knew. At the Yuanyou Inn, who knows how many times, when leaving, Yuwen Houdé saw that Shen Guiya's eyes were already filled with infinite tenderness: "Wait for me, I will arrange for you to meet the general as soon as possible."

  "Thank you, sir." Shen Guiya smiled innocently and cutely.

  "Yan'er." Bao stood outside the Chancellor's mansion and saw Shen Guiyan come out, so he hurriedly went forward to greet her.

  Shen Guiyan looked at her in surprise. Why did Bao come here?

  Since Shen Shi Qing had his official seal confiscated, wasn't Bao's family being locked up in the ancestral hall? She heard some rumors but didn't bother to care. For so many years, those who mistreated her, she wouldn't be so kind as to help them out blindly.

  "What's wrong with Mother?"

  Bao's face was somewhat constrained, his complexion had aged a lot, he rubbed his hands and looked at her saying: "Your father's official seal has not been returned yet, even the imperial court hasn't gone. Everyone says that now the fourth young master is the emperor's favorite, can you help get the official seal back?"

  Shen Guiyan bowed to her: "Mother, the official seal was taken by you to the yamen at first, in order to kill the refugees. Later, father offended the emperor, and the emperor personally took away his official seal. Now, thinking of taking it back, I am also powerless."

  "How can you be helpless?" Mr. Bao smiled and said, "You've always been clever and have a good destiny, so you'll definitely be able to help. It's just a matter of asking the Emperor."

  "Why doesn't Mother go herself?" Shen Guiyan smiled: "Father hasn't been dismissed from office, you are still a noble lady, and with the connections you had in the past, it shouldn't be difficult to enter the palace."

  Mrs. Bao's face stiffened, she was afraid that the Emperor would remember to blame her, how dare she go to the palace to ask for an official seal? Mr. Shen had not paid attention to her for a long time, if she didn't bring back the official seal soon, she feared that she would be divorced.

  "Swallow..." She rarely spoke in such a low and humble tone, having already endured so much before coming: "In the past, I wasn't good enough to you, but as a member of the Shen family, can you really bear to see your father lose his official position?"

  "If Father had been more careful, he wouldn't have given the official seal to Mother." Shen Guiyan said: "Now that it's been taken away, I don't think there's any need for me to return. If the Emperor is thinking of letting Father continue in this position, naturally it will be returned."

  Bao's smile froze, and he couldn't help but scowl: "The Shen family raised you for over a decade, and now that you're married well, you can just ignore the life and death of your own family? If it weren't for you offending me first, would I have sent someone to catch refugees? If it weren't for your treachery, would Master have had me take the official seal to the yamen? And would it have been confiscated by the Emperor again? In the end, it's all your fault, and yet you're the one who comes out clean!"

  Shen Guiyan looked up at her and smiled lightly: "Mother thinks it's my fault?"

  "Who else's fault is it?" Bao Shi finally couldn't bear it, and his ferocious face reappeared: "If Ya'er hadn't taken your place in the marriage back then, could you have married so well? Not to mention gratitude, but..."

  "Really?" Shen Guiyan smiled and took a step forward towards Bao Shi: "Mother thinks that you and Gui Ya have been kind to me?"

  Her face was smiling, but her eyes were as cold as needles. Bao's family was frightened and took a step back, looking at her in horror.

  Shen Guiyan laughed uncontrollably: "Gui Ya has been deceiving me time and again, taking things from me since childhood, and even snatching my fiancé on our wedding day. Is this kindness?"

  "You bullied Qin Niang, allowing her to be thrown into the water pool by Gui Ya in the middle of the night without giving her a fair word. Is this kindness?"

  "To prevent our marriage, I gave arsenic to Qin's mother, causing her death without a proper burial, is this kindness?"

  Bao's face turned pale with shock, staring at her: "You...you're talking nonsense!"

  "I'm just talking nonsense." Shen Guiyan nodded: "Right, without evidence, I'm just talking nonsense."

  "But Mother, you remember that the lessons you and Gui Ya taught me, Yan Er will not forget any of them." Shen Guiyan took a deep breath, her eyes reddening: "One day, I won't need to pursue these past matters, there will be other ways to make people pay in blood!"

  Bao's family retreated one after another, and she shook her sleeves, saying: "Who are you trying to scare with these words... I am your mother, if you are disobedient, you will not have a good ending."

  Shen Guiyan's face returned to calmness, and seeing Bao Shi return to the sedan chair, she bowed and said: "Mother, have a good trip."

  Bao looked at her with some fear and forgot to ask her to return the official seal, hastily getting into his sedan chair and leaving.

  "What a big evil spirit." A person came out from behind the government office and said with a clicking sound: "You scared everyone away."

  Shen Guiyan was taken aback and turned her head to look, it was actually Xu Zhuangzhou.

  It's been a long time since I saw him after being rescued by Xu Mengdie last time. Shen Guiyan restrained her anger and looked at him, "Why are you here?"

  "Xiao Ren is going to help Master Zhou with his troubles." Xu Zhuang Zhou smiled with a clear conscience: "Recently, the Fourth Young Mistress has been plagued by disasters and difficulties. Master Zhou's side has always been helping her out."

  Zhou Fuzi's opening of a school was arranged by Shen Guiyan, but recently he has been busy and hasn't had time to attend to it for quite some time.

  "How did you get to know Mr. Zhou?"

  Xu Zhuang Zhou said with a smile: "It's an unexpected acquaintance, Master says I'm clever, but unfortunately I've been practicing martial arts since childhood and not literature. Young Madam has some free time today, would you like to go take a look at the school?"

  Shen Guiyan's eyes lit up: "Good."

  Also go and take a look at how it's going.

  She got into the sedan chair, and Baozhen took a look at Xizhou. This person suddenly appeared out of nowhere, which was somewhat suspicious. However, he was Auntie Xiu's brother, and normally in the mansion, he was kind to people and had a good reputation, so he shouldn't have any ill intentions.

  Miss likes to use her spare money for good deeds, and the school can also relieve her boredom. Bao Shan thinks it's a good thing. So he told the sedan chair bearer the address, and followed the sedan chair to Zhou Fu's school.

  In the imperial court, the emperor was listening to the old minister's advice. The former head of the government, Gu Chengxiang, had been preparing his speech for a long time and stood up as soon as he saw an opportunity, saying: "I have something to report."