A scumbag husband fakes his death to escape his marriage? I'll burn down his funeral hall and s

Chapter 465 This king will marry Princess Anyang of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.

As soon as Gu Junze stepped into the gate of the post station, he noticed that Chu Ruohan's expression was a little off.

She was sitting at the table, toying with a piece of emerald green jade pendant in her hand, her brows slightly furrowed, as if she had something on her mind.

"Han'er, what's wrong?" Gu Junze walked quickly to her side and asked with concern.

Chu Ruohan looked up at him and handed him the jade pendant: "Duan Qingye came by earlier. This is what he left behind. He said it was for Qingchen."

Gu Junze took the jade pendant. It felt warm and smooth to the touch, and the carving was exquisite. It was clear at a glance that it was of great value.

His eyes darkened: "What else did he say?"

“He hopes I can persuade you to return to your ancestral home.” Chu Ruohan spoke frankly, recounting her conversation with Duan Qingye to Gu Junze in detail. “He said that the bloodline of the Duan family cannot be allowed to flow outside, and that you should return to the Duan family.”

"They even threatened us that we are now within the territory of Zheng, telling people not to refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit." Chu Ruohan's voice carried a hint of coldness.

After hearing this, Gu Junze scoffed, "Dream on."

He casually placed the jade pendant on the table, and the priceless jade seemed to him to be nothing more than a stubborn rock.

"Duan Qingye has a good plan. He wants to use blood ties to kidnap me and make me return to the Duan family to be used by him."

Seeing his calm expression, Chu Ruohan felt slightly relieved: "You won't be swayed by his words, will you?"

“Of course not.” Gu Junze sat down beside her. “I, Gu Junze, am Gu Junze. I don’t need to acknowledge any ancestors or belong to any clan. What does blood relation matter?”

Chu Ruohan nodded, then asked, "Tell me, what does the Emperor want with you?"

A cold glint flashed in Gu Junze's eyes: "Zheng Lin wants to win me over to deal with Duan Qingye."

"He wants to use you to weaken Duan Qingye's power?" Chu Ruohan asked in surprise.

Gu Junze nodded: "Zheng Lin has only been on the throne for a short time, and he has long been wary of Duan Qingye's power. Today, he has been testing me both openly and subtly, even promising to let me stay in Zheng Kingdom to develop my career..."

"How did you respond?"

“Naturally, we politely decline.” Gu Junze sneered. “How can an envoy from the Eastern Jin Dynasty interfere in the internal affairs of Zheng? Besides, it was Duan Qingye who helped Zheng Lin sit on the dragon throne. Now he wants to kick us while we're at it. That’s too despicable.”

Chu Ruohan sighed softly, "It seems that the undercurrents in the Zheng court are more complex than we imagined. On one side, the emperor wants to weaken the meritorious officials, and on the other side, the meritorious officials want to seize power."

Gu Junze gripped Chu Ruohan's hand tightly: "So we must leave as soon as possible. If we stay any longer, we might get caught up in this political vortex."

Chu Ruohan looked worried: "Duan Qingye probably won't let us leave so easily. Since he dared to threaten us to our faces, it means he's already prepared to keep us under house arrest."

Gu Junze pondered for a moment, his gaze resolute: "Give me two days to make arrangements, and we'll leave secretly."

"Sneak away?" Chu Ruohan asked with some concern. "Wouldn't that be too risky?"

"We can't leave without taking risks." Gu Junze stood up, walked to the window, and looked outside through the window frame.

“Zheng Lin and Duan Qingye are both after me. On the surface, we are honored guests, but in reality, we have become pawns in their game.”

"Instead of waiting to be killed, we should take the initiative."

Chu Ruohan nodded in agreement with Gu Junze's approach, but the little guy would be sad for a while...

After returning to the General's Mansion, Duan Qingye was filled with many thoughts. Chu Ruohan's words were like a wake-up call, making him completely realize the truth.

Since she had made up her mind to acknowledge Gu Junze, she naturally couldn't leave him without a proper title or status.

In the Duan family genealogy, Junze must be his legitimate son.

"Someone come here!" Duan Qingye shouted.

The butler hurried over: "What are your orders, sir?"

"Prepare the manor; I am getting married," Duan Qingye said.

The butler was taken aback, then his face lit up with joy: "Congratulations, sir! May I ask which family's daughter you wish to marry?"

Duan Qingye did not answer, but simply waved his hand: "Go and make the arrangements first, and I will tell you the details later. Remember, treat her as a principal wife."

The butler nodded repeatedly and hurriedly withdrew.

The mansion immediately became bustling with activity, and the servants whispered among themselves, all speculating about who the new mistress would be.

When Xiao Zhou heard the news, she panicked.

She had worked diligently and conscientiously in this household for half her life, bearing children and managing the household affairs, hoping that Duan Qingye would one day make her his official wife.

Where did this vixen come from, trying to steal her position as the legal wife?

Suppressing her panic, Xiao Zhou straightened her clothes, picked up a pot of tea, and gracefully walked to Duan Qingye's study.

"My lord, I've brought you tea." Madam Zhou's voice was gentle, and her face wore a perfectly appropriate smile.

Duan Qingye didn't even look up, continuing to read the military report in his hand: "Just put it down."

Madam Zhou gently placed the teapot on the table, pretending to know nothing, and asked softly, "Master, I heard that something important is going on in the manor. The servants are all talking about it."

Duan Qingye then looked up at her and said, "I am going to take a wife."

Madam Zhou felt as if she had been struck by lightning, but she still maintained a virtuous and gentle smile on her face: "I wonder which family's daughter the master has taken a fancy to? To be favored by the master is a great blessing."

She paused for a moment, then spoke in an even gentler tone: “Once you enter the house, I will serve you well and will never let you suffer the slightest grievance.”

Duan Qingye put down the military report in his hand and looked at Xiao Zhoushi with a deep gaze: "I want to marry Princess Anyang of the Eastern Jin Dynasty."

The smile on Xiao Zhou's face froze instantly, and she blurted out, "Wasn't she already dead?"

As soon as the words left her mouth, Madam Zhou realized something was wrong. Sure enough, Duan Qingye's eyes instantly turned murderous, as if he wanted to tear her to pieces.

"Master, that's not what I meant..." Madam Zhou hurriedly tried to explain.

"It is my blessing to marry her." Duan Qingye's voice was as cold as ice, and every word carried a threat.

Madam Zhou panicked and quickly lowered her head: "I misspoke, please forgive me, sir."

She was seething with hatred.

A dead person has occupied Duan Qingye's heart for so many years, and now he actually wants to marry a memorial tablet and put himself above her!

On the surface, however, Madam Zhou dared not show any dissatisfaction, and remained as gentle, virtuous and kind as ever.

"This concubine takes her leave." Madam Zhou curtsied and left the study.

As soon as she returned to her courtyard, Madam Zhou immediately sent her maid to call her two sons back.

Before long, the brothers Duan Yunzhou and Duan Yunfan arrived in a hurry.

"Mother, why did you call us back in such a hurry?" Duan Yunzhou asked as soon as he entered the door.

After dismissing all the servants, Madam Zhou lowered her voice and said, "Your father is getting married."

"What?" Duan Yunfan's eyes widened in surprise. "Mother, are you kidding me? Father is already this old, and he still wants to get married?"