Chapter 55

Gu Qiancheng was completely unaware of the conversation between the old master and Uncle Gu San. If Gu Qiancheng knew about the old master's speculations, she would certainly have laughed out loud...

The old master was really overthinking things.

Of course, the reason why the old master overthought things was because Gu Qiancheng was definitely the culprit. If it weren't for her constant hints and the misleading information she gave to the old master, the old master wouldn't have thought in this direction.

The next day, Uncle Gu San and his wife appeared as scheduled. Perhaps they had received confirmation the night before, and both of them seemed much more spirited today.

As soon as she entered, Uncle Gu San's wife grabbed Gu Qiancheng's hand and kept expressing her gratitude. Eventually, Uncle Gu San couldn't bear it and stepped forward to interrupt, "It's getting late, we should set off."

Only then did Uncle Gu San's wife let go of Gu Qiancheng, but not before reminding her to be careful and to have Uncle Gu San handle any issues.

Gu Qiancheng smiled and nodded, comforting Uncle Gu San's wife with a few words before leaving with Uncle Gu San through a side door...

Today, Gu Qiancheng was dressed very simply. If she kept her head down and remained silent, she would look like a maid from a wealthy family. Standing next to Qin Jiyi, she could still pass as a palace maid.

Uncle Gu San secretly praised her in his heart. Qiancheng was indeed as clever as the old master said, and even ten Qianxue couldn't match her.

Back then, when Qianxue schemed against her and took away the Prince of Chu from her, it must have been Qiancheng's deliberate action, thinking that the Prince of Chu was not a good match and allowing Qianxue to seduce him.

However, Qiancheng definitely didn't anticipate how greedy people could be. Qianxue not only wanted to steal her fiancé but also her dowry, forcing Qiancheng to expose the ugly deeds of Lady Gu and Qianxue, thus cutting off Qianxue's chances of becoming the Prince's consort.

With her cunning, skills, and the ability to be ruthless, no wonder the old master had such a high opinion of Qiancheng. Even Uncle Gu San couldn't help but praise this niece and was relieved that he hadn't become her enemy.

Unfortunately, Gu Qiancheng had no idea what Uncle Gu San was thinking. If she did, she would have been very embarrassed...

The old master was indeed overthinking things, but she liked it. Without the old master's powerful imagination, she wouldn't have been able to stand her ground in the Gu family or have the opportunity to avenge Mama Sun.

"Qiancheng, we're here." The carriage stopped, and Uncle Gu San reminded her softly.

Gu Qiancheng had been resting in the carriage. When she heard Uncle Gu San's words, she blinked, her eyes clear and alert, showing no signs of drowsiness or fatigue.

"Uncle San, have someone check if the Prince of Qin has arrived," Gu Qiancheng leaned against the carriage, too lazy to move.

She had hardly slept last night and was indeed a bit tired today.

"Alright." Uncle Gu San got off the carriage himself to check...

The result was, of course, that he hadn't arrived.

"Qiancheng, I'll wait outside. I'll call you when the Prince of Qin arrives." Perhaps the old master's words from yesterday had an effect, and Uncle Gu San unconsciously lowered his attitude in front of Qiancheng, no longer putting on the airs of an elder.

"Okay." Gu Qiancheng didn't feel any discomfort and continued to rest with her eyes closed, while thinking about the case of Gu Chengyi in her mind...

Time ticked by, and after half an hour, there was still no sign of the Prince of Qin. Uncle Gu San was getting a bit anxious, "Qiancheng, is the Prince of Qin not coming?"

"He will." Gu Qiancheng answered confidently. Although the Prince of Qin was a scoundrel, he wouldn't play games with her on this matter.

"But..." Uncle Gu San was about to speak when Gu Qiancheng interrupted him, "Uncle San, it's not even the hour of Chen yet."

Uncle Gu San fell silent and continued to wait...

One quarter of an hour, two quarters of an hour, just as the hour of Chen was ending, a carriage with the Prince of Qin's emblem finally appeared...

"Qiancheng, the Prince of Qin has arrived." Uncle Gu San said excitedly, but Gu Qiancheng only responded lightly and got off the carriage.

She knew it. Qin Jiyi, who had no manners, had scheduled the meeting for the hour of Chen but made her wait for two hours before showing up...

"Uncle San, you should go back first." Qin Jiyi was a dangerous person, and Gu Qiancheng didn't want Uncle Gu San to meet him, for Uncle Gu San's own good.

Although Uncle Gu San was puzzled, he didn't ask any more questions. He told Gu Qiancheng to be careful and left. As for how Gu Qiancheng would return, Uncle Gu San thought that with the Prince of Qin around, there was nothing to worry about...

Gu Qiancheng calculated that the time it took for the Prince of Qin's carriage to reach the entrance of Donglin Academy would be exactly when the carriage stopped.

As soon as the carriage stopped, Gu Qiancheng didn't wait for the guards to dismount and loudly said, "Please, Your Highness, step out of the carriage."

"Bold..." The guard's hand hadn't even reached for his sword when he heard the Prince of Qin say from inside the carriage, "Let her come over."

Huh? Someone the Prince of Qin knew?

No, a woman the Prince of Qin knew?

The guards looked at each other, their cold faces hiding a burning curiosity...

The Prince of Qin had repeatedly refused the Emperor's arranged marriage. Could it be that he had someone in mind? And could that someone be this woman?

Unfortunately, no matter how curious they were, they didn't dare to ask, and neither Gu Qiancheng nor Qin Jiyi would explain anything.

Gu Qiancheng stepped forward and lifted the curtain for Qin Jiyi, making it easier for him to get out of the carriage.

"Quite the act." Qin Jiyi got out of the carriage and glanced at the obedient Gu Qiancheng, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

This woman was very smart. He hadn't said anything last night, but she knew how to cooperate with him.

The Prince of Qin smiling at a woman?

The guards' suppressed curiosity flared up again...

Qin Jiyi seemed to notice and gave them a cold look, scaring them into silence, not daring to make any more noise.

What a powerful presence, befitting the eldest grandson of the Emperor.

Gu Qiancheng lowered her head and smiled, earning a dissatisfied glance from Qin Jiyi. She quickly stood up straight and didn't dare to speak.

The eldest grandson of the Emperor had a lot of power. If she really angered the Prince of Qin, she wouldn't know how she would die.

"Let's go." Qin Jiyi led the way to Donglin Academy. The academy's principal and teachers had been waiting for a long time and quickly came out to greet him.

A large group of people, with the two young men at the front being the most eye-catching. They were young but clearly of high status.

Most importantly, Gu Qiancheng also felt that these two men were indeed outstanding, worthy of their prominent positions.

How to describe these two men?

Gu Qiancheng couldn't think of the right words, but she knew that these two men were unforgettable at first sight.

Such grace, such demeanor, they were clearly exceptional, and even more so to see two of them together.

"Your Highness, a thousand years, a thousand years, a thousand, thousand years." The academy's principal and teachers bowed to Qin Jiyi, but did not kneel.

Qin Jiyi didn't accept their full bow and interrupted halfway through, "Rise."

"Your Highness, please come in..."

The group entered the academy, and the principal and teachers took turns to speak with Qin Jiyi. The two outstanding young men, however, remained silent, smiling as they followed the crowd, seemingly unaffected by the world's noise...

Qin Jiyi seemed impatient and dismissed them when the time was right, "Principal, there's no need for formalities. I'm here on a private visit. Please go about your business."

"Yes, yes, yes." When the Prince of Qin spoke, the academy's principal and teachers, despite wanting to flatter him, didn't dare to stay. Before leaving, they all looked at Feng Sijin and Jing Yan with envy and jealousy.

Indeed, the two young men Gu Qiancheng found outstanding were Feng Sijin and Jing Yan, the most famous and likely to win the top place in this year's imperial examination in the capital.

The reason Qin Jiyi came to Donglin Academy was to meet Feng Sijin and Jing Yan. As for the excuse? He could just say he came out of admiration...