On the Day of the Grand Wedding, My Wife Was Acting Strange - Chapter 4:

Chapter 4: I Believe Uncle Gu Is Generous Enough Not to Get Angry

“You!” Gu Beichen’s eyes turned red with shame. He wished he could rush over and slap Lin Zhenxian twice right now.

“What you? What, seeing that I’m old, you want to try me?” Lin Zhenxian turned his gaze back and glared, forcing Gu Beichen’s boiling blood to cool down instantly.

He was angry, but he wasn’t stupid. Lin Zhenxian wasn’t just some idle playboy who got his title with his mouth. He was a battle-hardened general who fought his way to the position of Regent with his own strength.

To cross someone like him would be suicide.

“Enough!” Gu Yunting walked over and pulled his son up, then turned to Lin Zhenxian and said, “Young Master, please calm your anger. Today’s matter is indeed my failure to discipline my son properly. But you’ve already humiliated us, and we have knelt. Please, be magnanimous and forgive Beichen this once.”

Lin Zhen could see the unwillingness on Gu Yunting’s face.

After all, he and Lin Zhenxian were political rivals and leaders of opposing factions. Now, his side had repeatedly bowed and apologized to the enemy, which would severely damage his standing in court. That’s why he was desperate to settle the matter quickly.

In that case, they couldn’t be allowed to walk away easily. Lin Zhen stepped forward, smiling falsely, “Grandfather, I also think Uncle Gu makes sense. Let’s just agree to it.”

Gu Yunting secretly wiped his sweat and gave Lin Zhen a grateful smile.

But then Lin Zhen continued, “Tomorrow, I’ll go to Uncle Gu’s house to kowtow to him, and then have an affair with Auntie. I believe Uncle Gu is generous enough not to get angry.”

“You!” Gu Yunting was so furious he almost coughed up blood. His hand trembled as he pointed at Lin Zhen, “Insolent brat! Lin Zhen, do you have no respect for your elders?”

“Insolent?” Lin Zhen put on an innocent face on purpose. “Didn’t Uncle Gu just imply this? Your son has an affair with my wife, and after kneeling and saying a few soft words, the matter is over. If you can do such a shameless thing, why can’t I?”

Lin Zhen’s words drew hearty laughter from the surrounding officials.

“Hahaha!”

“Young people sure see things clearly!”

“Getting caught red-handed in adultery and thinking a few sweet words can smooth it over?”

“How can things be that easy?”

Gu Zhongman, Minister of Revenue and Gu Yunting’s staunch supporter, stepped forward and whispered in Gu Yunting’s ear, “Prime Minister Gu, let it go. A wise man doesn’t fight when the odds are against him.”

Easy for him to say, but Gu Yunting felt his face had been thoroughly trampled on.

In all his years as an official, he had never suffered such a humiliating loss.

But since it had happened, what more could he do? Could he really tear off all decorum and fight the Regent head-on?

Gu Yunting quickly weighed the pros and cons and, after a moment, turned again, gritting his teeth and saying to Lin Zhenxian, “Young Master, three days from now, I will definitely give you a satisfactory answer.”

“Father, no need to beg him!” Gu Beichen suddenly remembered his trump card and pulled his father behind him, standing tall as he faced Lin Zhenxian.

“Beichen…” Gu Yunting tried to stop him, but Gu Beichen interrupted.

“Lin Zhenxian, don’t think no one knows what you’ve done! If you keep pushing, I’ll expose everything to the world today!”

“How dare you! You dare call the Young Master by name!”

“The Young Master has lived his life openly and uprightly. How can you smear him?” shouted Minister of War Liu Kaiwei and Grand Censor Sima Zhong.

Even Gu Yunting was anxious, “Beichen, don’t spout nonsense!”

“Father, don’t worry, I have enough evidence!” Gu Beichen displayed unprecedented confidence.

Seeing his attitude, Lin Zhen thought, not good! This brat was definitely about to pull out the court plot from the original story to get himself and Gu Yunting out of trouble.

In the original book, because Liu Shuyao eloped, Lin Zhen cried to his grandfather. The next day, Lin Zhenxian confronted Gu Yunting in court, causing a huge scene that annoyed the Empress.

At that moment, Gu Beichen exposed Lin Zhenxian’s embezzlement of military funds, successfully diverting everyone’s attention.

Lin Zhenxian, being a soldier, couldn’t outtalk those who rose through smooth talking. After a long argument, he still couldn’t explain himself, and the Empress became furious.

Though she didn’t punish Lin Zhenxian outright and ordered Gu Beichen to return Liu Shuyao to the Lin family, from that day on, her methods against the Lin family became even more ruthless.

No, I absolutely can’t let Gu Beichen turn things around. This brat has the protagonist aura!

Lin Zhen stepped forward, just about to speak, when a strange, low voice suddenly came from outside.

“So that’s why the front yard was empty. All of you are here.”

“The Emperor has arrived!”

The Da Qian Emperor, Murong Yan, slowly stepped into the room.

The surrounding air seemed to freeze, the officials held their breath, and the entire place was filled with solemnity and reverence.

Everyone knelt, “Greetings, Your Majesty.”

“Rise.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Lin Zhen stood up, his eyes involuntarily sizing up the Emperor.

He suddenly noticed that Murong Yan had drawn on two fake mustaches, and her chest was flat with no visible curves. Although her voice was imposing, it sounded somewhat forced.

That’s right!

He suddenly remembered that only he knew the Empress’s true identity!

Even the protagonist Gu Beichen didn’t know the Emperor was actually a woman. Everyone thought she was the late Emperor’s youngest son, Murong Fu.

It wasn’t until after the Lin family’s fall that Gu Beichen accidentally discovered her secret, and from then on, they became inseparable.

Murong Yan entered the room and approached the round table.

Her personal eunuch quickly set up a chair for her.

“Beichen, I heard you were about to expose the truth to the world. Go on, continue.” Murong Yan picked up a red apple and toyed with it, her gaze toward Lin Zhen filled with an inexplicable mockery.

Lin Zhen instantly understood.

This woman must have been eavesdropping outside for a while; otherwise, she wouldn’t have timed her entrance so perfectly.

She clearly favored Gu Beichen and deliberately came in to support him.

Fine, you all want to mess with me, huh?

In that case, don’t blame me for playing dirty.

Lin Zhen stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, I know what Brother Gu wants to say. Actually, it’s unnecessary.”

Gu Beichen grinned smugly, thinking it was finally his chance to strike back.

He sneered, “Heh, saying this now isn’t it a bit too late?”

“Indeed, a bit late. But I appreciate Brother Gu’s good intentions. No need to trouble yourself further.” Lin Zhen turned to Murong Yan and saluted before saying, “Your Majesty, what Brother Gu wants to say is actually about the matter from last March when the Regent’s Mansion sold its properties to compensate the families of fallen soldiers. This was a contribution our Lin family willingly made for the military and civilians, and we won’t bother Your Majesty by asking for any reward.”

Gu Beichen’s pupils shrank violently, “That’s not true! Your Lin family clearly…”

“Clearly what?” Lin Zhen immediately interrupted, seizing the initiative. “Are you suggesting my Lin family embezzled funds?”