TFWYH – Chapter 743 Awen Xiyan

The brother and sister: …

“We didn’t do anything! Stop making things up!”

When Gu Xiyan learned of the rumors, she was so furious that she fainted.

Gu Chengwen, too ashamed to face anyone, shut himself inside the residence and no longer dared to go wandering outside.

Prime Minister Gu felt that he had completely lost all dignity. Everywhere he went, it seemed as though people were laughing at him behind his back.

But that wasn’t even what troubled him the most.

When court officials are involved, even the smallest domestic affair can be exploited by political opponents.

After learning of the incident, countless supporters of the First Prince began clamoring before the Emperor every day, insisting that the Gu family lacked proper discipline and deserved punishment.

The Emperor: …

Damn it!

Just how did Gu Hengcang raise his children?

What kind of mess is this?

With Gu Hengcang confined to his home, the Emperor had nowhere to vent his anger. So he seized Huangfu Yi and unleashed a torrent of abuse upon him, berating him nonstop for an entire hour without even pausing for breath.

After all, that fellow was Gu Hengcang’s son-in-law.

If not him, then who else could the Emperor scold?

The Prime Minister stood above all other officials.

He represented the dignity of the entire court.

And now you pull something like this?

You’re dragging down the image of all the officials of the Heavenly Dynasty, do you understand?!

Huangfu Yi was scolded so badly that he began questioning his own existence and nearly burst into tears.

Oh no…

Would Father Emperor refuse to make him Crown Prince because of this?

Please don’t!

He was completely innocent!

How was he supposed to know that Gu Hengcang’s household was filled with so much chaos?

At that moment, Huangfu Yi truly felt that he and Gu Hengcang were fundamentally incompatible.

Gu Hengcang’s daughter had ruined his ability to have children, turning him into half a eunuch!

Whenever Gu Hengcang’s grandchildren caused trouble, he was the one getting scolded!

And whenever Gu Hengcang himself got into trouble, it was also his responsibility to clean up the mess!

Damn it!

Huangfu Yi was on the verge of exploding with anger.

He returned home with a stomach full of resentment and nearly went to yell at Jiang Shi.

After all, she carried the surname Gu!

Yet the moment he saw her gentle, graceful, and pitiful appearance, he couldn’t bring himself to take out his frustrations on her.

Jiang Shi was a victim too.

She had suffered at the hands of the Gu family just as much as he had.

So, for perhaps the first time in his life, the poor Huangfu Yi showed weakness.

He hugged Jiang Shi tightly and refused to let go, silently seeking comfort.

Jiang Shi: …

How terrifying!

What was this notorious stallion planning to do?

Could she still preserve her late-life chastity?

…

The incident struck Gu Hengcang so hard that he became utterly dispirited and no longer dared to make appearances.

What he didn’t know was that hell had eighteen levels.

At that very moment, in Qingyuan Elegant House, inside Yuanyuan’s room—

Ling Yu slipped in through the window.

Dressed in black robes, his tall figure appeared even more imposing. His enchanting, almost demonic eyes carried a trace of wickedness, utterly unlike the refined and gentle gentleman he usually presented himself as.

Yuanyuan showed no surprise upon seeing him.

She immediately set down her brush, picked up a sheet of paper, and walked over.

“Young Master Yu, take a look. What do you think of this one?”

Ling Yu accepted the painting and examined it.

“The eyes aren’t seductive enough. Lift the corners a little more.”

“Alright!”

Yuanyuan smiled as she took the painting back.

“The last edition of the Register of Beauties sold extremely well. The Ink Pavilion earned quite a profit. I estimate that this new story, The Swallow Returns to Her Beloved, will be an even greater success!”

Indeed—

The alluring portrait of Gu Xiyan that appeared in the Register of Beauties had been painted by Yuanyuan herself.

Ling Yu absolutely refused to draw it.

He thought it was filthy.

Yuanyuan, on the other hand, felt that it wasn’t enough.

So overnight, she wrote an entire novella titled The Swallow Returns to Her Beloved.

It told the tale of a brother and sister entangled in love and hatred.

The male lead was named A-Wen.

The female lead was named Xiyan.

The names were so obvious that they practically pointed directly at real people.

Anyone who dared to harm the person she cherished most would receive no mercy from her.

With the uproar over the Register of Beauties still fresh, releasing the book now would surely bring in another tidy profit.

Ling Yu had no objections.

In fact, he even offered a helpful suggestion:

“Take a look around the pleasure district. Is there any girl who resembles the eldest daughter of the Gu family?”