Chapter 353

Chapter 353

Gu Jing's eyes slightly widened as he looked at Qin Xin in disbelief, as if he was looking at a stranger.

He never thought that Qin Xin would say something like this to him.

For him, he always sees Qin Xin as someone who was always a smart, clever, gentle, and thoughtful lady. She was different from those stereotyped ladies in the capital because she has both the foresight of a man and a grace of a woman.

Thus, he treated her like a pearl and treasure her, placing her on the top of his heart, and when the Empress Dowager got angry at her, though he didn't dare to offend the Empress Dowager, he still helped her plead with the Empress dowager and stayed with her despite the empress dowager's disappointment.

Since her return, he has given her everything, followed her in everything, and given her the best of everything, but how did she repay him?

At that moment, Gu Jing suddenly understood.

He was sincere to Qin Xin but Qin Xin doesn't have him in his heart at all. Qin Xin only wants to marry him because he was the prince, and if she doesn't want him anymore, there were still the third and fourth princes...

It was he who gave his heart to the wrong person, and it was also he who chose the wrong person.

Also...

When they first met, was their first encounter really just a mere coincidence?

"Xin'er." Gu Jing's voice was gentle like water, after the extreme anger, he instead quickly calmed down and held Qin Xin's hand with his, "Don't be afraid, I won't leave you behind."

His words carry the same deep meaning that the two of them would be bound together forever.

Qin Xin felt chills, but she could only tightly hold Gu Jing's hand. She could only move forward, not retreat at all, and could never step back or a vast abyss awaits her.

Gu Jing signaled at his servant on the side, who immediately draped a cloak over Qin Xin, covering her torn sleeve.

Then, the two of them returned to the public hall side by side.

As they walked, Qin Xin didn't notice that Gu Jing's gaze at her was as cold as the twelfth lunar month and winter combined, there was no longer a trace of emotion in it.

Everyone in the public hall and outside the hall did not hear what Qin Xin and Gu Jing were talking about earlier, they only saw Qin Xin's "piteous entreaty" to Gu Jing and then saw them go back side by side.

The expressions of the onlookers were even more enthusiastic, and all thought that the rumor about the second prince's deep affection for his concubine was genuine and that he couldn't even bear to leave her even after knowing she was promised to another marriage.

Gu Jing strode to the hall and argued with Hu Mingke, who was sitting behind the table, "Qin Xin is my concubine, she was carried in by the zongrenfu*, and there is a certificate of concubinage."

(*someone who manages the affairs of the royal family)

"Even if Qin Xin and the Xu family have the bride price they were not married yet and are only engaged."

"The Xu family is not qualified to take Qin Xin, Lord Hu, out of emotion and reason, the two families should be ordered to break off this marriage contract."

Currently, Gu Jing had mixed emotions, he felt aggrieved, resentment, unwillingness, shame, and anger intertwined, it was as if a furious dragon was roaring inside.

Although Qin Xin said that this marriage with the fool was for Qin Jiu, as far as the ending was concerned, people would only think that it was Qin Xin who had this marriage and would only laugh at him for grabbing a wife from a fool. With such a reputation on his back, where would he put his face?

It was even less elegant to compete for the best oiran in a flower house but to grab a wife from a fool, he could only become the laughingstock of other people's gossip!

What made him even more upset was the threat from Qin Xin...

Thinking of Qin Xin's words just now, Gu Jing felt as if he had been stabbed by thousands of needles in his heart. This pain reminded him over and over again that he had misjudged the person.

Meanwhile, for Hu Mingke, as long as the Xu's and the Li's agreed, it was legal to break the contract between Xu Jinpeng and Li Erya, so he looked to Master Xu and asked, "What do you think, Mister Xu?"

Master Xu's eyes lit up while Madam Zhang hastily pulled his sleeve and gave him a wink, meaning, he should ask for an official position.

Of course, Master Xu understands what Madam Zhang means but the problem was that if he wants to be an official, he needs to talk to the second prince privately. This was the public hall and with so many eyes watching him how could he dare to ask for an official position?! What if the second prince didn't want to give it to him.

Master Xu's heart felt like it was torn with grief and could only settle for the next best thing, he said, "Your Highness, the Xu family has given a lot of bride price for this marriage, we can't just lose our daughter-in-law and fold our arms, right?"

He meant to ask for money.

"How much do you want?" Gu Jing asked stoically.

Master Xu thought for a moment and compared a number with his fingers, "Ten thousand taels."

This Xu family really dares to ask! Gu Jing's eyes turned three shades darker, but he didn't care to bargain with such unruly people in the public court and let the common people look at him as a joke.

Gu Jing took a deep breath and agreed.

The onlookers outside the public hall once again were in an uproar and clamored, one after another, after all, common people like them they couldn't earn ten thousand taels even after a few lifetimes. So, they didn't expect that the second prince would agree to this for a mere concubine, and without even saying a word.

Sensing the onlookers pointing at him, Gu Jing felt even more embarrassed, his body taut.

While, Qin Xin breathed a sigh of relief that she was finally able to get rid of the Xu family.

Master Xu wrings his hands, if he knew that he would pay that easily he should have asked for twenty taels but since he had already said the words, he didn't dare to go back on his price, after all, he was just a commoner, and if an official wanted to kill his family, it was just a matter of lifting a finger.

Gu Jing's personal attendant hurried back to the mansion and brought a ten thousand taels of banknote.

***