Chapter 795 Cooperating with You
Two hours later, Zhong Jianxing took his leave and left Fengluan Palace.
Gu Mengzhen was treated poorly by his family. This fact is not well-known to everyone, but it is not unknown either.
He knew very well that as long as his family's harsh treatment was not excessive, it was not enough reason for him to fight back.
If he doesn't fight back, people who see him may feel pity for his situation; if he fights back, people who see him may conclude that he has bad character and deserves to be ostracized. Because Yunyun believes that among family members, it is impossible to target one person for no reason.
Gu Mengzhen was not satisfied with both of these.
If he wants to win the hearts of the people, he must be benevolent and righteous.
Therefore, he returned evil with kindness, pretended to be a filial son, served his father, respected his stepmother, and cared for his family. Even though he held the high position of Taiwei, he insisted on not setting up his own business, under the pretext of making it easier to take care of his parents.
Lin Ranhua personally went to the North Hall of Gu's mansion and explained to Gu Mengzhen why the plan failed and how Zhong Jian cleverly escaped.
"That's just the way it is."
"I am really useless. It's all in vain. I can't help at all."
"Before you left, you seemed to have something to say. I didn't think much of it at the time, but now I think you must have guessed that I couldn't defeat Lord Zhong, so you wanted to dissuade him, right?"
"Do you think I'm clumsy?"
Gu Mengzhen quickly shook his head and expressed his attitude seriously.
"of course not."
"Zhong Jian is very scheming, and behind him is Zhong Fumeng. Hua'er, I'm worried that you might be harmed by him, so I tried my best to stop him."
Lin Ran was very good at painting and continued to work out his plan.
"I don't really understand who is conspiring with whom, and who is opposing whom in the court affairs."
"Just now, I passed by Fang's house and asked Shu'er."
"She said, Lord Zhong, is one of your party."
"Perhaps, I misunderstood you. Actually, you don't hate Master Zhong, do you?"
Gu Mengzhen is slow and gentle.
"I said I hate him, and it's not a lie. Hua'er, I don't like lying to you."
"But, he is still useful to the government, so I have no intention of harming him."
Lin Ran's paintings convey emotions implicitly.
"In that case, I won't hurt him."
Feeling a hint of love, Gu Mengzhen was filled with happiness.
"Hua'er, you are so nice to me."
Lin Ranhua still denied it.
"Master Gu, please don't think too much."
"My young man, it is not you."
"I help you so that we can work together to defeat the emperor. This way, I can regain my freedom and run towards my young lover."
Gu Mengzhen spoke in accordance with his wishes and was very cooperative.
"Okay, if you say it's cooperation, then it's cooperation. When it's done, you can tell me who your young man is. I'm not in a hurry and I can wait."
"However, there is something that cannot be delayed. I must remind you."
Lin Ranhua was confused.
"What's the matter?"
Gu Mengzhen looked serious.
"The Fang Clan and I have always been at odds with each other. Fang Renshu, as the leader of the Fang Clan, is my strongest enemy."
"You'd better cut off contact with her."
Lin Ranhua has beautiful eyes, as clear as autumn water, like a fairy who is not affected by the worldly affairs, and she is lovable.
"But Shu'er is my only close friend. I can't bear to abandon her."
"I don't care about the other people in the Fang clan."
"When the matter is accomplished, you will spare Shu'er's life and keep her as my companion, okay?"
Gu Mengzhen hesitated.
"This……"
Lin Ran's paintings add a touch of cuteness.
"is it okay?"
His heart completely melted, and Gu Mengzhen nodded in agreement.
"well."
Lin Ranhua made an additional statement.
"You promised, so don't break your promise. If Shu'er leaves, I won't keep her."
Gu Mengzhen's eyes were full of doting.
"Well, it's a deal."
After the conversation, Lin Ranhua said goodbye.
Afterwards, Gu Mengzhen ordered his servants to invite Lord Zhong.
Zhong Jian was filled with grief and indignation and walked into the front hall.
"I will come to you as soon as I leave the palace."
"Master Gu, what's the reason for leaving me aside and waiting until now before you are willing to see me?"
"The situation is critical and I am also in danger. What are you busy with?"
Gu Mengzhen remained calm and gestured for him to sit down.
"Master Zhong, please be patient and take a seat."
"Ma'am, I have something to ask you. I'm rushing to deal with it. I didn't expect to keep you waiting for so long."
Zhong Jian was furious and took his seat.
"Master Gu, how dare you bully me?"
"In order to have a private conversation with the Empress, you treated me coldly. Is it difficult to say this?"
"My eldest sister followed you wholeheartedly, but you treated her so casually and used her as an excuse. How heartless."
Gu Mengzhen's face suddenly became gloomy.
"how?"
"Only Lord Zhong is allowed to use his first wife as an excuse, but not me?"
"Since you know the reason, why ask more questions?"
Zhong Jian stopped it in time.
"There is no use in talking too much about arguments."
He put away his angry expression.
"Master Gu, I sincerely advise you to listen."
"Your Majesty, this is definitely a beauty trap. Don't trust it."
"I know you won't believe me without evidence, but the Fang people are very cautious, so I can't find any evidence."
"So, I came up with an idea, please give it a try."
Gu Mengzhen asked casually.
"What's the idea?"
Zhong Jian was brief and concise.
"When expressing feelings, there must be some rhyme behind it. You can give her a try and see if she is willing."
"If she is unwilling, it shows that she is not sincere; but if she is willing, it will be a great pleasure for Master Gu."
"This plan has the best of both worlds, why not do it?"
Driven by emotion, Gu Mengzhen's first reaction was yearning for it.
Then he thought about the damage to Huaer's reputation, so he immediately stopped thinking and regained his sanity.
"Master Zhong, what a good plan."
"You intend to make Hua'er think that I have a bad character and use this to break us up, is that right or not?"
Zhong Jian defended himself.
"I……"
Gu Mengzhen didn't listen and interrupted angrily.
"Hua'er is kindhearted. Even though you targeted her maliciously, she chose to forgive you generously. Just now, she not only spoke well of you, but also promised in person that she would not hurt you."
"But you turned evil into kindness and came up with this sinister trick to ruin her reputation!"
"Master Zhong, you really took great pains to ensure that your sister would not fall out of favor."
Zhong Jian analyzed the situation carefully and tried tirelessly to give advice.
"I'm offering advice, it has nothing to do with my elder sister."
"Master Gu, please think about why the Queen kept me in Fengluan Palace for two whole hours?"
"She had an agenda. She wanted to make you suspicious of me and deliberately create conflict."
"A honey trap, isn't that obvious enough?"
Gu Mengzhen asserted without hesitation.
"Hua'er doesn't know how to use tricks."
"Don't think I can't see it. It was you who set up the beauty trap. Just because you heard the word 'Jian Lang', you wanted to monopolize the painting."
"Whether it was two hours or you escaped earlier, you have undoubtedly shown that Hua'er has evil intentions and you are absolutely innocent."
"I won't be fooled."
Zhong Jian was in great pain.
"That's a bad word."
"If I had some ulterior motive, or if I wanted to monopolize her, or if I was afraid that my elder sister would lose favor, why would I have advised you to get close to the Empress?"
"Master Gu, think carefully about it. Do these groundless suspicions of yours make sense?"
Gu Mengzhen argued convincingly.
"The painting is pure goodness, I can tell at a glance, why do I need to think about what you mean?"
"Master Zhong is extremely intelligent. Can I understand what you are thinking?"
Zhong Jian was speechless.
"I……"