The Treacherous Minister Who Helps the People 20

Upon hearing the news, Gu Qing couldn’t help but sigh deeply. “In the land of tenderness, lies the tomb of heroes, where beauty disrupts a nation. The historical records do not deceive me.”

“Keep your leg straight!” Gu Qing said, reaching out to lightly pat Liang Sirui’s thigh.

Liang Sirui’s body swayed slightly, but quickly regained stability. “As Confucius said, the downfall of a genius was due to his talent surpassing his virtue. Talent and virtue are indeed distinct…”

“The talents and virtues of individuals are different. As a monarch, you must discern the relationships between villains and gentlemen, capable ministers and flatterers…”

Knowing well about History as a Mirror, Shen Qi seamlessly interjected while Liang Sirui was reciting, “The fundamental reason for the chaos caused by a beauty lies in having an incompetent ruler. Don’t casually blame women for everything.”

“I didn’t mean that.” Gu Qing waved his hand dismissively.

Ever since Gu Qing and Shen Qi realized that Liang Sirui had a high tolerance for physical training, they often combined martial arts practice with studying.

Fortunately, Liang Sirui held up well, proving the importance of having a sharp mind.

They didn’t shy away from discussing court affairs in front of Liang Sirui.

As the future Emperor, it was beneficial for him to understand the affairs of the court as soon as possible.

Liang Sirui understood that they were doing it for his own good, so he became even more diligent in his studies.

As a result, Gu Qing and Shen Qi spent more and more time together.

“Are you ready to take action?” Gu Qing asked in a deep voice.

He noticed that Shen Qi had been having increasingly frequent interactions with court officials. Qiao Qingyun and Fu Yuan, who had recently become the commander of the Imperial Guards, had disguised themselves to have secret conversations with Shen Qi several times.

The peaceful capital was about to be disrupted by a storm.

“It seems you understand me well, General Gu,” Shen Qi touched her chin and said. “By the way, it seems like you’ve been avoiding me lately. Did I do something to displease you?”

Gu Qing’s grip on the chess piece tightened, but he quickly put on a smile as if nothing had happened. “No, it’s just because I’m aloof.”

Shen Qi glanced at him in surprise. “Aloof?”

“If I remember correctly when you first entered the Residence, you were quite lively. I liked you a lot,” Shen Qi said with a playful smile.

Calling her names for two hours straight without taking a breath, and he considered himself aloof?

“No,” Gu Qing lowered his head. “Please don’t utter such words anymore. It might lead to misunderstandings.”

Shen Qi’s biggest flaw was her love for playful banter and flattery. In the past, it was tolerable, but now it didn’t sit well with him.

“What kind of words ?” Shen Qi held a teacup and turned a page of the book. “Do you mean you like hearing these words from me?”

Gu Qing remained silent.

Shen Qi didn’t press further, but instead turned her head to look at Liang Sirui.

After lecturing him for another half an hour, she leaned towards Gu Qing and asked, “Could it be that… General Gu likes me?”

Gu Qing’s hand trembled, accidentally dropping the chess piece onto the board.

He looked at Shen Qi’s teasing and provoking expression and silently suppressed his excited emotions. “No, it’s just that when I first entered the residence, the excuse you used wasn’t very pleasant. If you continue to say such words, it might…”

Gu Qing struggled to come up with some righteous excuses, then hastily took Liang Sirui away, claiming they needed to practice swordsmanship.

Shen Qi remained seated, holding the book in her hands, and watched Gu Qing flee with a meaningful gaze.

She didn’t do anything at all.

Her charm was just too irresistible, there was nothing she could do~

Shen Qi sighed inwardly, then calmly walked in the direction Gu Qing had left, but after a few steps, she saw him bending over, teaching Liang Sirui some movements.

Gu Qing would probably be a great father, wouldn’t he?

Shen Qi couldn’t help but think as she observed his gentle demeanor. However, she soon remembered the hidden danger she carried within herself and sighed once again.

All right.

Before this game reaches its final move, she should inform her dear father.

After all, he wasn’t healthy, and she worried that he might be overwhelmed by some major illness due to stimulation~

…

As the night grew darker, within the residence of the Grand Preceptor, Grand Preceptor Shen was contemplating which corrupt official the Imperial Censor would accuse tomorrow when he heard that his wife had arrived.

Grand Preceptor Shen paused for a moment and said, “Let her in.”

It had been a long time since he last saw his wife.

Ever since their "son”, Shen Qi, left the residence, his wife had secluded herself in the small Buddha hall, refusing to show her face. Even during banquets, she would send her concubine as a substitute.

Recently, he had wanted to discuss Shen Qi’s situation with his wife, but she refused to meet him. So why did she come today?

Madam Shen slowly entered the study, her white hair partially visible under the dim light. She wore simple attire, with only a hairpin adorning her head, and her thin figure was evident.

“What’s the matter?”

Being a couple for many years, Grand Preceptor Shen felt a pang of sympathy seeing her like this, especially when he noticed her teary eyes. His brows furrowed, and he asked, “Has someone mistreated you?”

Madam Shen shook her head, knelt beside Grand Preceptor Shen’s feet, and burst into uncontrollable sobs. “It’s my fault. I am the one to be blamed…”

Seeing her in such a state, Grand Preceptor Shen’s heart skipped a beat. He reached out to support her, but she brushed his hand away.

“Darling.”

Madam Shen looked up at Grand Preceptor Shen with tear-filled eyes, her heart aching. “Darling, for the sake of our blood ties, please help Qiqi.”

Grand Preceptor Shen was instantly puzzled. “He is my son, of course, I will help him.”

“No.”

Madam Shen choked on her words, her voice barely audible. “No, Qiqi is not our son, she is our daughter. Your daughter!”

Grand Preceptor Shen was taken aback, thinking that he must have misheard. How could he be their daughter? He was their son, the one he had carefully raised for so many years!

“Qiqi is a girl. Back then, you took in concubines one after another. Those concubines were young and favored, and they all bore many children. But when I gave birth to Qiqi, my body was worsened, and I couldn’t bear any more.”

Tears streamed down Madam Shen’s face like rolling pearls. “I was afraid. I had no choice. The main wife of the Shen family cannot live without a son, so I… I lost my senses and lied, claiming that Qiqi was a boy.”

Grand Preceptor Shen supported his head with one hand, unable to speak for a long time. His once fine son had suddenly become his daughter, and he was struggling to accept it.

“No wonder you never allowed her to interact with many people since childhood.”

Grand Preceptor Shen felt a heavy weight pressing on his heart. “You were mistaken! I have told you before, whether it’s a son or a daughter, I will treat them equally. Why did you do this?”

“A moment of folly, a grave mistake. I have long regretted it, but I am powerless to change it.”

Madam Shen shook her head in anguish. “Darling, please save Qiqi. She told me that Elegant Consort has discovered her true identity, and if Elegant Consort exposes her, she will die!”

In the afternoon, Madam Shen received a letter from Shen Qi and spent the entire afternoon reading and crying.

She knew that it was her own selfish desires that had ruined Shen Qi. She didn’t want Shen Qi to die; she was her only daughter!

If possible, she wished that she, the selfish and greedy mother, could die for her daughter.