Chapter 7: The Regent's Accident

Gu Jinyan looked at Madam Hou in confusion, then at the old lady, and finally at Zheng Shi, as if she needed Zheng Shi's approval before she could speak.

Zheng Shi was furious.

She had been waiting for her here.

Looking at Gu Jinyan's appearance, she couldn't tell if she was too obedient or just pretending.

Zheng Shi tactfully said, "Please sit down. Please forgive my daughter-in-law and mother-in-law. Yan has never left her own courtyard and doesn't understand many rules."

The old lady and Madam Hou had complex expressions.

Madam Hou still didn't speak. She was Zheng Shi's own daughter, so even though she was the senior sister-in-law, she couldn't easily intervene.

The old lady was dissatisfied in her heart.

Looking at Gu Jinyan, she didn't believe Zheng Shi's excuse.

She spoke heavily, "Even if your relationship with Yan is not deep, she is still your own daughter. Don't be too harsh on her."

"If this continues, in the future, Yan will come to me for upbringing."

After speaking, she gestured for everyone to eat.

Zheng Shi had no appetite, constantly paying attention to Gu Jinyan's every move, afraid that she might cause trouble at any moment.

Fortunately, Gu Jinyan behaved properly and didn't say anything more.

Zheng Shi finally relaxed.

Gu Jinyan understood the principle of knowing when to stop. If she did too much, she would inevitably annoy everyone. Occasionally revealing a little bit, making the old lady feel distressed and letting Madam Hou gradually understand her situation, was enough.

In the future, when the truth was revealed, Zheng Shi's crimes would not be easily overlooked.

After dinner, Gu Jinyan had never been close to Lord Shang in the past. Zheng Shi didn't like her being close to Lord Shang, so she avoided him and rarely saw him. But today, she stayed close to Lord Shang, contrary to her usual behavior.

Lord Shang put aside his dissatisfaction with Zheng Shi.

He was very happy that his beloved daughter had finally seen him.

"Dad," Gu Jinyan took the opportunity to pull Lord Shang's sleeve and coquettishly said, "Can I go out of the mansion?"

Lord Shang was both surprised and delighted.

It was the first time his beloved daughter had spoken to him like this. He was surprised that Zheng Shi was so strict with her. Even going out of the mansion required such hesitation and coquettishness.

He needed to talk to Zheng Shi about this.

"Yan, you are the young lady of the Shang Mansion. If you want to go out, no one dares to stop you," Lord Shang replied with concern.

Gu Jinyan happily went back.

Lord Shang felt uncomfortable.

He didn't know how to handle Zheng Shi as a stepmother.

He had neglected her in the past.

He had to find a way to make it up to Yan.

Since Yan liked handsome and well-positioned young men, he had to think about it these days. Among those old families, who was more handsome? If Yan liked him, he would have to snatch him!

Yan would definitely be very happy, calling him "Dad" so sweetly.

Lord Shang went to the study with great joy.

Meanwhile, Gu Jinyan calculated the days and realized that Crown Prince Xiao Yuheng was probably in trouble.

Of course, her leaving the mansion was not mainly for the Crown Prince. She had no money at the moment, but the Crown Prince had plenty of treasures and precious metals. Yes, she was after money.

She also needed to find a way to make some money when she left the mansion.

Although her father had a lot of wealth, he probably spent a lot and didn't have much left in his pockets.

She had the ability to do business, and it was not reasonable to have such ability and not use it. She had to figure it out.

Meanwhile, a sudden flood occurred in Huainan Prefecture, and the people's food was completely submerged by the flood. The people were struggling to survive, and there were famines in many places. There were even incidents of people robbing and selling women for food, and even cannibalism. The Emperor ordered the Crown Prince to bring silver and food to Huainan Prefecture for disaster relief.

The Crown Prince had experienced such incidents many times and didn't take them to heart.

However, while passing through a bridge, it collapsed, and the Crown Prince Xiao Yuheng could have escaped, but he was ambushed and shot with an arrow, losing consciousness and in critical condition.

Gu Jinyan hurriedly rushed to Jinan Prefecture, which was on the border of the capital.

"Faster," Gu Jinyan urged the coachman.

The coachman, seeing the rough and mountainous terrain, said, "Miss, going faster might cause the carriage to overturn."

Gu Jinyan wished she had some light skills to arrive as quickly as possible.

At that moment, a familiar carriage passed by.

In the fluttering curtain of the carriage, she saw the familiar figure of Lord Jing. She called out, "Lord Jing!"

Lord Jing's coachman stopped the carriage.

When he saw that it was Gu Jinyan, he looked disappointed. What use was Miss Gu, who only knew how to deceive and show off, and not the imperial physician he needed?

"Where is the Crown Prince?" Gu Jinyan asked anxiously, seeing only Lord Jing and not Xiao Yuheng.

She had reminded them. Could he have gone missing?

Seeing Gu Jinyan's concern, Lord Jing finally found a place to vent his worries, "The bridge in Huainan Prefecture collapsed, and the Crown Prince had taken all precautions, but there were hidden attackers! The Crown Prince was shot on the spot and is unconscious. I'm afraid his time is running out."

Lord Jing shed tears and snot, "Alright, let's not waste any more time. We need to go to the palace to see the Emperor and bring the imperial physician."

"His time is running out?"

What about the Crown Prince's treasures, gold, silver, and precious gems?

In her previous life, she had swindled a whole room full of them!

Gu Jinyan almost stumbled and couldn't stand steady.

"Take me to see your prince," Gu Jinyan said urgently.

"What's the use of taking you..." Lord Jing said, preparing to get on the carriage and continue the journey.

"It's getting late, the sun is about to set. It will take you at least two hours to get from here to the outskirts of the city. By the time you arrive, the city gates will be closed for curfew. If you bring the royal physician tomorrow, it will be too late, and our lord will be beyond saving," Gu Jinyan said.

Jing Gonggong sat down on the ground.

What should we do now?

"Our lord is in such a dire situation!" Jing Gonggong wiped away his tears.

"I have observed the celestial phenomena at night, and I believe our lord can be saved. Although I am not skilled, I have some knowledge of medicine that may help save our lord," Gu Jinyan said earnestly, pointing at herself.

Jing Gonggong was almost dumbfounded.

He looked at Miss Gu in disbelief. If it were Miss Gu Jinyu who said this, he would believe her, but he had never seen Miss Gu Jinyan do anything serious.

Normally, he wouldn't even listen to her.

But at this critical moment, our lord's condition was perilous.

Miss Gu Jinyan had previously predicted that our lord should stay away from water, and it turned out to be true by chance...

There was no time for further consideration.

Jing Gonggong made up his mind and pulled Gu Jinyan to leave. "We have to try everything we can to save our lord!"

In the mountains, guards were stationed outside a dilapidated wooden hut.

As the sun set in the west, Jing Gonggong helped Gu Jinyan out of the carriage. The vigilant guards finally relaxed upon seeing Jing Gonggong.