Scheming

"Chief Grand Secretary Gu," Gu Wanning looked at him, a half-smile on her face, her eyes filled with an undeniable resentment, "I said you were selfish and cold-hearted, but you didn't take it to heart at all, because you thought you weren't that kind of person, and that I was petty and didn't understand your good intentions."

"Yes, I don't understand. I don't understand why someone in a high position, concerned about the country and its people, would refuse to seek any well-being for their family, and even sacrifice their son's future, all for the sake of realizing their own ambitions!"

"My second brother is exceptionally talented, yet he can only retire in such a place, feeling frustrated and unfulfilled, simply because you fear people will say that you and your father control the government, and you're probably also afraid that the emperor will become suspicious."

The three men were still stunned.

Are these things that can be said openly?

Gu Wanning: I can say that I'm here today to go crazy.

"You're not afraid of death, you're only afraid that your reform cause won't be completed. You're willing to do everything in your power, even sacrifice your family, just for the sake of reform."

"I suffered a lot as a child, and you wanted to make it up to me. You were also worried that your reforms would drag me into it, so you made me marry the Marquis, even though we were an unhappy couple at the time. You thought it was for my own good, so you insisted."

"Later, due to a series of unfortunate events, our mutual dislike turned into mutual affection. In order to dispel the Emperor's suspicions, you resorted to this desperate measure, wanting to sever ties with me."

"Yes, Chief Grand Secretary Gu clearly knows that throughout history, reformers have never met a good end, yet he still forges ahead with unwavering passion and courage. The book on your desk is a collection of poems by Chief Grand Secretary Gao of the previous dynasty, who was executed by dismemberment after his reforms failed. It's almost worn out from frequent reading."

Xu Weibei looked at Gu Wanning, whose expression remained unchanged but whose eyes held a hint of tears, and seemed to understand something.

So he stopped stopping her, his gaze towards Gu Wanning filled with love, pity, and... pride.

This is the woman he has his eye on.

Intelligent and brave, loyal and righteous.

"You are prepared to sacrifice yourself, and perhaps one day you will face it with a smile, leaving behind a name that will last for eternity. From the moment you conceived the idea of reform, you knew better than anyone that this was a path of no return."

"Your fearlessness is admirable. During the reforms, you were unafraid of powerful figures and offended all the princes and nobles. In your presence, they were respectful, but behind your back, who wouldn't curse you?"

"You know that, yet you're proud of it."

"You know your end will be tragic, and you understand it will bring disaster to your family. So you struggle in vain, trying to get rid of me. Perhaps you have some arrangements for the other family members as well. For example, marrying my sister into the royal family, and having my second brother marry a princess, probably just so you can prolong your life and stay alive."

"But what about my mother? What about my eldest brother and sister-in-law? What about my three nephews? And what about us, who are supposedly being properly taken care of? Can we really escape responsibility as you think?"

Gu Yuanshi pursed his lips and straightened his back, using almost all his strength to keep himself from collapsing under the questioning of his own daughter.

The emperor's expression grew even more serious.

He didn't scold Gu Wanning anymore, but let her continue talking.

"Chief Grand Secretary Gu, stop dreaming. If you fall from power, given the deep hatred those powerful figures harbor for you today, not only your children, but even that old dog of the Gu family will be skinned alive and suffer a terrible death!"

"I hate your irresponsible yet self-righteous act. You've done right by the Emperor and the people. But ask yourself honestly, have you done right by your family?"

"I don't expect to actually escape in the future, but I truly loathe your arrogance."

"You have the world in your heart, and are willing to sacrifice yourself for it, so why do you still get married and have children, bringing disaster upon your family?"

"I will not appreciate any of the arrangements you make for me under the guise of doing it for my own good. Because it's not for me; it's you comforting yourself, deceiving yourself, so you can continue to do things your own way!"

"I will not marry the Marquis because I hate his past; moreover, I fear that if I fall in love with him in the future, it will implicate him!"

Gu Wanning's long eyelashes were wet with tears. "I'm afraid of death, and even more afraid of seeing my family, my loved ones, lying dead and dying in front of me!"

"Great Chief Grand Secretary Gu, you went and achieved your lifelong integrity. How I wish I had been born into an ordinary family, instead of becoming your daughter, burdened by you, living in constant fear!"

After saying this, two streams of tears rolled down her cheeks.

The imperial study was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Gu Wanning said that the few tricks she learned from White Lotus were not used against men, but against the emperor first.

Of course, her emotions were also half genuine and half feigned.

She herself found it difficult to distinguish how much of it was pretense and how much was a genuine expression of emotion.

Chapter 271 Schemes

Xu Weibei stood beside Gu Wanning, taking her hand in his wide sleeve to offer silent comfort.

Even though he had already guessed it, even though he knew that Gu Wanning's words were half true and half false, he was still deeply shocked and moved.

This was the only woman he wanted to spend his life with among thousands of others.

Gu Wanning deliberately said these words in front of the Emperor today.

She actually wanted to help Gu Yuanshi, but more importantly, she wanted to get a "get -Death-Exemption Gold Plaque" for the Gu family.

Therefore, these words, on the surface, seem to have nothing to do with the rewards the emperor mentioned, but in reality, they are intricately connected.

Her hatred for Gu Yuanshi was genuine, as was her respect for him.

So she was choosing the emperor.

She wanted to leave Gu Yuanshi a way out, and although it was very difficult, she still spoke up with a sliver of hope.

Including her specifically mentioning her second brother.

She hoped her second brother would have a bright future.

Xu Weibei thought with heartache, "This fool."

She will repay kindness many times over if someone is sincere to her.

After a long pause, the Emperor finally spoke.

He said to Gu Yuanshi, "If I hadn't suddenly decided to see your daughter today, I would have suspected that you had arranged these words beforehand and were speaking to me through her."