Gu Changwei was very displeased with Gu Sinian’s attitude and was about to lash out with his whip.
"Have you forgotten, last time, your whip couldn't land on me," Gu Sinian said with a cold smile. "I won't stand here obediently for you to beat me. If this escalates, you won't gain anything, and it would be quite embarrassing, wouldn't it?"
His words almost made Gu Changwei suffer internal injuries, but he had to admit that he was no match for Gu Sinian now.
"Also, you should manage your woman yourself. If she comes to Lanzhi Courtyard to cause trouble, and then suffers any grievances, don't blame me," Gu Sinian added.
"Are you openly disregarding me?"
"Isn't it better for us to live in peace?"
The father and son confronted each other, and it was Gu Changwei who ultimately backed down. He turned his face away, "Let's not talk about this. Come with me to the front courtyard, I have something to ask you."
With that, he strode away, and Dong Ningxin followed him, lifting her skirt.
Gu Sinian went in to greet Madam Qin and the Qin family before heading to the front courtyard.
In the study of the front courtyard, Gu Changwei sat in the grand chair, his expression grim. "I ask you, what do you mean by the matter of Fu Man Lou?"
So it was about this. The Qian family couldn't hold on any longer and had sought help from the Duke's mansion?
"I mean what you understand me to mean."
"Presumptuous! The Dong family is a relative of the Duke's mansion. Not only do you not assist them, but you also have people targeting them. Are you slapping my face?" Gu Changwei roared. "Tell that Qian family brat to stop immediately and not make things too ugly! Relying on his mother being the Emperor's wet nurse, does he really think no one can deal with him?"
"I'm afraid I'll disappoint you, because I was the one who did this. As for the reason, I don't think you are unaware." As he spoke, he glanced pointedly at Dong Ningxin.
Dong Ningxin immediately looked tearful, appearing timid. "Your Grace, perhaps you could send me back to the Dong family."
Her implication was that Gu Sinian targeted the Dong family's businesses because she had entered the Duke's mansion.
"You unfilial son!"
"You keep calling me an unfilial son. I must do something befitting the identity of an unfilial son. Fu Man Lou is barely surviving now, and that's not enough!" Gu Sinian said calmly.
Gu Changwei threw the teacup in his hand at Gu Sinian. Gu Sinian dodged it with a sidestep, and the teacup fell to the ground, shattering into pieces.
"I told you, don't be so quick to act. It looks so bad when you miss. If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now. I need to go back and think about how to make Fu Man Lou disappear faster."
With that, Gu Sinian turned and left the study.
Gu Changwei was so angry he was about to spit fire. Dong Ningxin sobbed, repeatedly saying she had harmed the Dong family.
"Alright, stop crying," Gu Changwei said impatiently. "I will handle this matter. Besides, it's just a restaurant. Has the Dong family lacked the income from one restaurant over the years?"
Dong Ningxin felt awkward, lowered her head, and fell silent.
Gu Changwei thought for a moment, then called for a capable subordinate and ordered him to investigate the affairs of Fu Man Lou and see how to stop the Qian family's suppression of it. After all, the Dong family had come to him for help. If not for Dong Ningxin, then for the sake of the deceased Dong Ningwan, he couldn't let that scoundrel cause trouble.
Gu Sinian went straight out of the Duke's mansion and out of the city towards the hot spring villa.
"What wind blows the Young Master here?" Qian Yuanbao said with a fawning smile.
"I want to know what businesses the Dong family has, where they are located, how their businesses are doing, and if they have done anything unsavory in their operations," Gu Sinian said directly. He didn't understand much about business. Qian Yuanbao managed several of his industries. Although this fellow was not serious and unreliable, he had great talent in business.
"What, dealing with Fu Man Lou wasn't satisfying enough?"
"Dong Ningxin has been restless since entering the household," Gu Sinian said concisely.
"You can't do anything to Dong Ningxin, so you're thinking of targeting the Dong family?" Qian Yuanbao sat up straight. "Tell me, how do you want to proceed?"
"You figure it out, make the Dong family realize that even with the Duke as their backer, it's useless."
Qian Yuanbao nodded. "If I were you, I would have made a move long ago, why wait until now? Is your mother's health any better? Are the two people I sent you useful? If not, send them back, and I'll get you two more."
"They're fine," Gu Sinian replied with just two words.
His mother's health was fine, and the two maids were also useful.
Qian Yuanbao pouted. "I asked you several questions, and you only answer me with two words. Will it kill you to say more? By the way, how is the Qi family girl? Have you made a move?"
Gu Sinian glanced at Qian Yuanbao and stood up to walk out.
"You're really boring. What's wrong with telling me? I can at least offer some advice," Qian Yuanbao grumbled. Da Feng Novel Network.
Gu Sinian stopped. "She is the second daughter of the Changping Marquis's mansion."
Qian Yuanbao was astonished, then his face lit up with excitement. He dragged Gu Sinian and pushed him onto a chair. "Really? When did you find out? How come I didn't know the Changping Marquis's mansion had a second daughter? I thought there was only Qi Mingzhu. This is interesting. How could a daughter of the Changping Marquis's mansion be living out in the open?"
Gu Sinian told Qian Yuanbao everything he had found out. Qian Yuanbao frowned. "What are your plans? If Qi Zhenzhen truly has a marriage contract with the Lu family, and she returns to the Changping Marquis's mansion, she will be married. Are you going to compete with the Lu family for her?"
"The Changping Marquis's mansion may not be willing to marry Qi Zhenzhen to the Lu family. Lu Chen is very outstanding and will surely achieve great things in the future," Gu Sinian said. "In the past two years, the Changping Marquis's mansion has been very close to the Lu family. Qi Zhenzhen was sent to the estate three years ago. Currently, the Marquis of Changping knows that they have escaped, and although he is looking for them privately, he is not sure if he can find them. Don't think they are close to the Lu family for Qi Zhenzhen."
When Qian Yuanbao heard this, he immediately understood. The Lu family had good family background, and Lu Chen was promising. The Changping Marquis's mansion did not want to lose this good marriage prospect and intended to arrange it for Qi Mingzhu.
"Poor thing, not only was she driven out of the Marquis's mansion, but now her marriage is also being snatched..." Qian Yuanbao sighed. "But this is good, doesn't this give you an opportunity?"
Gu Sinian's eyes were dark and unreadable. Qian Yuanbao couldn't fathom his thoughts.
"I'm afraid it won't be easy to snatch. This marriage was decided by the head of the Lu family, and there is a proper marriage contract," Gu Sinian said. "If no one adds fuel to the fire, as long as the Qi family finds Qi Zhenzhen, the marriage will still be hers."
Qian Yuanbao looked at Gu Sinian with great interest, eager to know what Gu Sinian would do. After all, seeing a perennial iron tree bloom, he wanted to see a good outcome, allowing the flower to bloom forever.