On the Day of the Grand Wedding, My Wife Was Acting Strange - Chapter 60:

Chapter 60: Do You Admit You Are a Rat?

Murong Yan looked at Gu Beichen with suspicion and heard him say loudly, “Your Highness, what do you mean by this? How would I know how much money you have?”

“Dear nephew, that is not right. Wasn’t this money given to the Lin family by the Gu family?”

Hmm?

Gu Beichen was slightly stunned.

He actually said it like that.

Could it be he thinks Her Majesty would believe him? Or does he think Her Majesty would believe my Gu family embezzled millions of taels?

Gu Beichen didn’t understand what trick Lin Zhenxian was playing, so he cautiously said, “Your Highness, you have never lied before. What’s going on today?”

Lin Zhenxian laughed heartily.

“Lying? Hahahaha, what a ridiculous joke! I have fought on the battlefield all my life. All the heroes under heaven tremble at my name. Under my command, if not a hundred thousand lives, then at least eighty thousand. You think I would lie? Who in this world is worthy of making me lie?”

“Beichen, don’t speak recklessly. How could the Regent lie?”

“Your Majesty…” Gu Beichen tried to explain, but Murong Yan waved her hand to stop him, her gaze falling back on Lin Zhenxian, asking, “Your Highness, you just said this money came from the Gu family. Do you have proof?”

“Then does Gu Beichen have proof that I suddenly became rich?”

Gu Beichen gritted his teeth, “Didn’t you just admit it?”

“Yes, I at least dare to admit it, unlike certain rats who don’t even have the courage to own up to their actions.”

“You! What do you mean?”

“What do I mean? I should be asking you! On the day of the royal wedding, you disregarded propriety and barged into the Regent’s Mansion to snatch the bride. If Her Majesty hadn’t been present, do you think you’d still be alive? And not only that, you seduced the young mistress of the Regent’s Mansion to the casino! Hmph, I wonder how a great scholar like Gu Yunting raised such a disloyal, unfilial, shameless son.”

“You! Your Highness, please don’t change the subject. We’re discussing your family’s money!”

“The Lin family’s money is managed by me personally. It’s not your place as an outsider to meddle.”

“Then tell me where your money came from!”

“If you are so sure I have money, then tell me where it is!”

“I…”

Damn it.

When did this old bastard get such a sharp tongue?

Murong Yan noticed something and asked, “Your Highness, did you or did you not come into wealth?”

“Your Majesty, I wouldn’t dare deceive you. I did make some money.”

“How much?”

Lin Zhenxian directly looked at Gu Beichen, “Dear nephew, Her Majesty is asking you.”

“Me?” Gu Beichen pointed at himself. “How would I know how much you have?”

“Then how do you know I got rich?”

At this, Murong Yan, Lin Zhenxian, and even Huanhua, who served beside Murong Yan, all turned to look at Gu Beichen.

Now he panicked.

He never expected Lin Zhen’s debating skills to be this sharp, leading everyone’s attention to him in just a few sentences.

“Beichen, now that the Regent is here, don’t be afraid to confront him directly. Just speak.”

Murong Yan gave him a reassuring look, meaning you can speak boldly, I will support you.

But to Gu Beichen, this gaze was nothing less than a death sentence.

The money was indeed his, but he couldn’t say that!

“Your Majesty… I only heard some rumors…”

“Rumors? How small of a rumor? How minor of a message? Even the Hundred Cavalry Division doesn’t know about this, yet you do? Could it be that you secretly spy on the Regent’s Mansion?”

Lin Zhenxian deliberately emphasized the last few words.

This was what Lin Zhen had taught him: speak with varying tones and paces so that others feel the weight of the words.

Cold sweat trickled down Gu Beichen’s temples, his brain racing. He truly hadn’t expected Lin Zhenxian to be this formidable. What he thought would be a sure win had suddenly become an accusation of him spying on the Regent’s Mansion.

This was a grave offense!

Even though Murong Yan wouldn’t punish him immediately, it would greatly damage his reputation in court.

“Your Highness must be joking. How would I dare to spy on the Regent’s Mansion? I wouldn’t have such courage.”

“You have the courage to talk nonsense in front of Her Majesty, but not the courage to admit it? Then when I called you a rat just now, do you admit it?”

“Your Highness, as the head of the Hanlin Academy, I naturally have the duty to report to Her Majesty.”

“Nonsense. The Great Qian Nation has censors and the Grand General. When did it become your place as a mere academy head to make accusations? And you accuse the current Regent? If you can’t provide evidence today, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

A battle-hardened god of war like Lin Zhenxian radiated a pressure that ordinary people couldn’t bear.

Gu Beichen already felt his legs trembling uncontrollably. Forcing himself to hold on, he said, “Your Highness, I do not have evidence, but you did admit you came into wealth.”

“Yes, I did make some small money. But how did you know? Tell me, and I won’t hold it against you today.”

Hold it against me?

You suddenly have a large sum of money from an unknown source, and now you act as if you’re doing me a favor by not holding a grudge?

How can you be as unreasonable as your grandson?

Murong Yan frowned slightly, “Your Highness, you have always been honest. Is this sum of money truly just small change?”

“Hahahahaha, a real man looks down on everything and doesn’t fuss over details. To me, no matter how much money it is, it’s all small change. It’s not worthy of being presented before Her Majesty.”

That’s right, in my eyes, a few million taels is small change.

Because I can’t even spend it. Lin Zhen refuses to give me any.

So technically, this isn’t lying.

Murong Yan was furious.

At this point, she no longer cared how Gu Beichen learned of the matter. She just wanted to know exactly how much money Lin Zhenxian had and if she could extort some from him!

“Your Highness, I’ll just ask you directly. Exactly how much money did you come into?”

“Your Majesty, I don’t know.”

“Don’t know!?” Murong Yan’s beautiful almond eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

What do you mean you don’t know?

“Your Majesty, I truly don’t know because the money is all in the hands of my useless grandson.”

“You mean Lin Zhen?”

“Yes. Should I summon him now?”

Summon Lin Zhen to the palace?

That mouth of his can bring the dead back to life! Arguing with him would be asking for humiliation!

“Forget it. No need to summon Young Master Lin.” Murong Yan’s tone carried a trace of disappointment. At that moment, Gu Beichen suddenly stirred the pot.

“Your Highness, even if it’s in Lin Zhen’s hands, this money is no small sum. The flood in Liaodong is dire, and the people need aid. Why don’t you contribute some to help the disaster victims?”

Lin Zhenxian’s information wasn’t as timely as Murong Yan’s, and he hadn’t yet heard about the disaster in Liaodong. He immediately widened his eyes, “What? How did that happen?”

“Sigh, it’s the rainy season now. The ten counties of Liaodong have suffered heavy rains, the crops have failed, and the people are displaced and suffering terribly.”

The plight of the people had always been what Lin Zhenxian cared about most. He immediately cupped his fists and said, “Your Majesty! I am willing to donate 100,000 taels to aid the disaster victims!”

“What? One hundred thousand?”