Reborn to be replaced, remarried to the royal palace to raise children and train husband

Lord Liu immediately comforted her, "Madam, you are worrying too much. Although you are young, you are decisive and wise. Everyone in Jindu praises you. During the heavy rain not long ago, you personally took the lead to help the people overcome the difficulties and set up porridge stalls. The noble families followed suit. Therefore, the important task of leading everyone to raise food should be shouldered by you."

"Madam, the Duke of Duan's Mansion is a family of loyal and brave people with a distinguished reputation. You come from a merchant family and are extremely talented. You and the Crown Prince are a perfect match. However, there is a gap in status after all. Many people in the outside world think that you are marrying above your station."

"If you can accomplish this, after the refugees disperse, I will record your achievements in detail in the memorial, and the court will reward you. By then, there will be no need for the prince to personally ask for a title for you, and you will be able to win supreme honor with your own strength. From now on, who will dare to say that you are marrying into the Prince Duan's mansion? Your status in the hearts of the people of Jindu will be unmatched."

Lord Liu spoke sincerely, as if every word came from his heart.

However, Gu Qinlan sneered in her heart. This Lord Liu was extremely cunning. In this difficult time, who would be willing to give out food? He didn't want to offend others, so he wanted to put the responsibility on her.

If she was really young and ignorant, and felt that her status was low and that there was a huge gap between her and Zheng Dinglian, she would definitely get excited and act impulsively after hearing these words.

Unfortunately, he misjudged his opponent.

She never felt that she was above her station.

Because deep down in her heart, she had never thought of spending her life with him.

However, faced with the other party's frankness, she felt it necessary to show a certain sincerity.

Then, her eyes flushed a little, and a sob escaped from her throat: "Your Excellency's heartfelt words touched my heart. However, Your Excellency doesn't know that before leaving, the prince repeatedly warned me not to use the name of Prince Duan's Mansion to take any action outside, otherwise he would have to dissolve the marriage with me."

Lord Liu and his wife were both stunned when they heard this. How could such a thing actually exist?

Gu Qinlan put on a pitiful attitude: "Lord Liu, Madam Liu, perhaps you will find it funny, although I have the title of the Crown Prince's Consort, but in fact I am walking on thin ice and trembling in fear in this mansion. I come from a humble background, and the Crown Prince went to the battlefield early. You also know a little about my mother's family situation, and my father unfortunately passed away. Now, my only support is the Prince Duan's Mansion. Unless the Crown Prince personally orders me, I will never dare to act on my own."

She cleverly shifted the blame to Zheng Dinglian.

Lord Liu asked unwillingly, "But I remember that when the prince left, he said that all matters in the mansion would be handed over to Madam, and even the old lady had to obey your arrangements... Moreover, weren't the stewards of Prince Duan's mansion also imprisoned by your order, Madam?"

Those affairs were still handled by him personally.

Therefore, he doubted Gu Qinlan's statement.

Gu Qinlan smiled sadly, "Sir, do you really believe that it's just a superficial thing? I'm a commoner woman with a low status and I haven't seen the world. How could the prince trust me to hand over the real power of Prince Duan's Mansion? He just said that deliberately in order to maintain the dignity of Prince Duan's Mansion and let me not be despised in front of everyone."

"In fact, the prince has already arranged his confidants to manage the Prince Duan's Mansion, but he announced to the outside world that it was me who was in charge. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that those matters are beyond my ability to handle."

As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Qinlan turned to Hongye and instructed, "Please ask the two managers Polang and Taxue to come over, so that you can see for yourself, and then you will know that what I said is true."

Hongye took the order and left quickly.

A moment later, Hongye returned with Polang and Taxue.

At this time, Jindu was under lockdown and all shops were closed. Naturally, Taxue had nothing to do, so he was wandering around the mansion.

The two of them appeared together, and the extraordinary aura they exuded immediately made Lord Liu certain of Gu Qinlan's words.

Although the two men are young, one is cold as ice and the other has a sharp light flashing in his eyes. It is obvious that they are not ordinary people.

Gu Qinlan said politely to the two of them, "Manager Polang, Manager Taxue, this is Lord Liu. He hopes that I can come forward to prepare food for the people in the city. I..."

Before she finished her words, Polang interrupted her coldly: "Madam, have you forgotten the prince's warning?"

Gu Qinlan smiled awkwardly: "How could I forget, I was just thinking..."

Taxue immediately took over the conversation: "It's good that Madam has remembered it. Please remember your identity and do not interfere in matters that you should not be involved in. Otherwise, if something goes wrong, no one will be able to bear the consequences for Madam."

Polang glanced at Lord Liu and said in a cold tone, "Lord Liu, our prince is on a long expedition, and only the women are left in the mansion. Women have nothing to do with external affairs, and are not capable of intervening. I hope you will forgive me."

"Okay, okay, since Madam Zheng is not feeling well, I will not bother you any more. I will... take my leave now."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lord Liu grabbed Madam Liu, who was already frightened out of her wits, and hurried away like a refugee fleeing from a fire, even forgetting the package of tea he was carrying.

As soon as they stepped out of the vermilion gate of Prince Duan's Mansion, a burst of cheerful laughter immediately rang out in the reception room.

Taxue laughed so hard that he fell backwards: "I never thought that Lord Liu was so easily fooled. Just a few words made him back down."

When Taxue and Hongye were summoned, Hongye had already told them the purpose of Lord Liu and his wife's visit and Gu Qinlan's indifference. The two were very smart and naturally understood Gu Qinlan's intention. Therefore, as soon as they entered the reception room, they put on an attitude of contempt for Gu Qinlan, as if to announce to the world that Gu Qinlan had no real power in Prince Duan's Mansion.

They then used the aura of the elite disciples of the Golden Sword Sect to easily intimidate those insignificant seventh-rank officials, as if they were playing an easy game.

After sending Lord Liu and his wife away, Gu Qinlan immediately dispatched Hongye to follow the latest developments in the city.

At this time, many families had been cut off from food sources, and some people who could no longer survive flocked to the government office for help.

At first, there were not many people seeking help, but now, there are crowds of people in front of the yamen.

Many of those seeking help brought their families with them. Those families had not had food for many days. Everyone was starving with dull eyes, and the young children were crying with hunger.

Hongye disguised herself and blended into the crowd. When she was about to leave after completing her observation, she found a little girl holding the corner of her clothes tightly.

She was a little girl of three or four years old. Her cheeks were sunken due to hunger, her lips were tightly closed, and her two big eyes stared helplessly at the red leaves, and a faint cry for help came from her throat.

That was the child's hopeless cry for help.

The child's parents saw her holding a stranger. Although the stranger was dressed simply, he was obviously not short of food and clothing, and must have come from a wealthy family.

They were afraid of offending someone they shouldn’t, so they quickly scolded the child, “Let go!”

But the little girl seemed not to hear and held on to the corner of Hongye's clothes tightly.