Beneath the Surface Chapter 02

Gu Fengjian had been staring into the mirror for at least the length of time it took to burn an incense stick.

Even though the surface of the bronze mirror was rough and blurry due to age, it was clear enough to discern that it was a woman’s face with familiar features.

Countless facts proved that this was not his imagination. He had truly become a woman, and perhaps a woman he knew.

After the initial shock and helplessness passed, Gu Fengjian composed himself and stood up.

He paced around the room. by carpreads.pages.dev

His limbs were strong, his breathing steady. At least it was better than his previous body, which had not yet recovered from the cold. There were calluses on the knuckles of his hands, and many cuts from swords remained near the base of his thumbs. This indicated that the person had been practicing martial arts for many years.

The furnishings in the room were very simple, only some daily necessities. They looked quite old, and several pieces of furniture were on the verge of falling apart. There was a lot of dust left in the corners of the room and above the bed frame, which had not been cleaned. Unless there was an exception, this person must have just moved in.

On the wooden table near the door, there was a broken jade pendant. It had once been his, and he recognized it.

Gu Fengjian pushed open the wardrobe standing in the depths of the room and searched inside. Besides a few changes of clothes, he also found the person’s travel documents for entering the capital, as well as various identity papers.

When he saw the face in the mirror, a face that was somewhat familiar yet very strange, he had already guessed the person’s identity. Now he could finally be certain.

“Third Girl Song,” Gu Fengjian murmured, “Song Chuzhao.”

Gu Fengjian only glanced at the items before putting them back.

He wondered when the Song family had become so impoverished that Song Chuzhao had to live in such a place. Were they truly not afraid of letting Old General He discover their actions?

General He had been idle for too long, neglecting his duties and without any children by his side, that people had forgotten his former authority.

Gu Fengjian sneered and sat down on the edge of the bed, holding up his skirt. He was deep in thought when he heard his stomach grumbling with hunger.

Gu Fengjian lowered his head.

He didn’t know what time it was, but it was definitely past mealtime. No one had come to call him yet, so he would have to find something to eat himself.

---

Song Chuzhao woke up in a haze of heat.

She was covered with at least two layers of thick blankets, and her whole body felt weak and unable to move.

The windows and doors were tightly shut, so the room was stuffy.

Incense was burning somewhere, preventing the room from smelling bad. The white smoke drifted into the air, reaching the edge of the bed, and its fragrance was just right, faint and refreshing.

Song Chuzhao struggled to move, wondering why she felt so uncomfortable.

She hadn’t been sick for a long time, and even when she was sick, she hadn’t felt this bad. It was as if she had been battered by waves a hundred times, her entire body aching with fatigue.

Song Chuzhao… how could she easily give up?!

She struggled hard, finally managing to get her hand out of the confining blankets. A pair of iron arms pressed down from above, pinning her back down tightly.

Song Chuzhao nearly suffocated and struggled to open her eyes.

Two enlarged faces immediately came into her view. Both were filled with concern, looking at her anxiously. But they were both people Song Chuzhao didn’t recognize.

Song Chuzhao blinked dazedly, catching a whiff of the fragrance in the air. She rolled her eyes, looking around.

Unfamiliar scenery swept through her pupils, and several keywords flashed through her mind: a wealthy family, at least of the fifth rank or higher, strangers.

“Fifth Brother, are you alright?”

The handsome man reached out to touch her forehead. Song Chuzhao instinctively dodged, looking at him warily.

The man did not force her, withdrawing his hand naturally, more concerned about her stunned reaction.

Fourth Son Gu said, “The doctor said he should be fine, he’s awake now, why does he look like he’s lost his soul?”

Madam Gu said, “Fifth Son, tell your mother, do you still feel uncomfortable anywhere?”

Fourth Son Gu said, “You say you’re almost fully recovered! When you fainted, you almost scared us to death!”

Song Chuzhao opened her mouth, unable to speak, numbly turning her gaze to the ceiling. In her chaotic mind, a thick purple thunderbolt suddenly flashed, parting the clouds, simultaneously jolting her.

The hand she hid under the blanket, very slowly, yet with determination, slid down. Feeling the real existence of a certain structure in her current body, all the blood in her body drained from her face.

Fortunately, her original complexion was pale, and besides the slightly ferocious expression due to her loss of control, there was not much else to see.

“Are you trembling? Fifth Brother, are you still cold?” Fourth Son Gu pressed her shoulder through the blanket, startled, “Why are you trembling more and more? What’s wrong with you?”

So sorry… she just couldn’t control herself for a moment.

Fourth Son Gu, however, urged, “Mother, I told you, Fifth Brother is completely scared by you, because you’re making him marry that Third Song! If it were me, I would be scared sick too!”

Madam Gu warned him with a glare, signaling him to leave.

Song Chuzhao, however, understood.

She was now the Fifth Son of the Gu family?

The one betrothed to her is Fifth Son Gu, not Fourth Son Gu?

Oh, wow! What was Old Madam Song up to? Tricking her into coming back to get married, without even clarifying the groom? Then all their badmouthing was in vain?

With Fourth Son Gu’s interruption, Song Chuzhao stopped trembling, and even her blood circulation improved a little.

“Fifth Son.” Madam Gu bent down, softly calling her, seeing her look over, she smiled.

She took a bowl of bitter-tasting medicine from the servant beside her, and with a comforting tone, said, “Drink your medicine.”

She asked Fourth Son Gu to lend a hand, helping Song Chuzhao up from the bed.

Song Chuzhao said, “I can do it myself.”

The voice that came out was dry and low, indeed a man’s voice.

She took it from the other’s hand, wanting to gulp it down in one go.

The medicine wasn’t actually that bitter, or perhaps it was because her mouth was tasteless at the moment, she couldn’t taste anything.

Madam Gu sat beside her, looking at her with a loving gaze. The look was too gentle, making Song Chuzhao break out in a cold sweat, slowing down her drinking speed.

To be honest, Song Chuzhao had never been looked at like this before.

Her father, needless to say, treated her like a soldier in training. And her mother, who was slightly better, treated her like half a soldier in training.

She had always been bold, and didn’t think much of it.

So this was what it feel like to be cherished?!

…Come to think of it, it didn’t seem so bad?

---

Gu Fengjian came out of the house, and not far away, he saw the servants from the Song Mansion.

He kept his eyes straight ahead, walking only on the main path.

The construction of these houses was generally similar, with traceable patterns. Gu Fengjian walked and stopped, deducing from the servants’ attire, the items they carried, and their walking routes, and successfully navigated to the hall where meals were served.

The Song family had just finished their meal, the dishes had been cleared, and several bowls of fruits, pastries, and cakes were placed on the table.

Old Madam Song was chatting casually with several people after the meal.

This mansion was actually the home of General Song. Although the Song family had long since branched out, because father Song was often away from home, and the Old Madam was afraid of being lonely, she had called her third son over. Therefore, Third Master Song and his family also lived in the Song Mansion.

Gu Fengjian originally intended to go in directly, but suddenly heard his name, his footsteps paused in mid-air, then he retracted them.

“To have you married, of course I naturally wouldn’t bear to part with you. But I can’t force you to stay, can I? Shiwen, Grandmother knows your filial piety, Grandmother also loves you the most, I will definitely find you the most suitable marriage.”

“Grandmother—”

“Alright, alright. Wait until Song Chuzhao gets married, then I will go and talk to Madam Gu, and mention you and Fifth Son Gu. A marriage between relatives is also good, I think she won’t refuse.”

At this time, another slightly younger voice interjected, “Our Second Miss is perfect in every way, who would look down on our Second Miss? The matchmakers who come to propose marriage outside, I don’t know where they are lined up, it’s just that our Second Miss has high standards. How could she be like Song Chuzhao, if not for a sudden emergence of an old marriage contract, with her reputation, how could she find such a good marriage?”

The woman laughed exaggeratedly.

“It’s also a twist of fate, with Song Chuzhao as a comparison, it makes Second Miss even more ethereal and refined.”

“Moreover, I think Fifth Son Gu is better than Fourth Son Gu, more mature and steady. I met him once before, and I felt that he was meticulous in his actions, polite and courteous. If we really become in-laws, he will surely be considerate and caring towards our Second Miss.”

Old Madam Song pondered for a moment, then said, “Fourth Son Gu, although he is older, his actions are somewhat frivolous and impetuous, he may not be a good husband.”

Gu Fengjian’s expression rarely showed a crack. He didn’t know whether to say thank you for the high regard.

The Song family, without even asking clearly about their own marriage partner, had already planned their future?

Who did they think he, Fifth Son Gu, was? She wanted to marry, so he had to take her?

His mother, really hadn’t taken a liking to Second Miss Song.

Gu Fengjian stood in the corridor, and finally was discovered.

Third Madam Song stood up, raised her voice, and said in a drawn-out tone, “Who is eavesdropping behind the wall? Oh, it’s Third Miss Song!”

Gu Fengjian took advantage of the situation and walked out naturally. His expression was calm, showing no sign of embarrassment at being caught.

Song Chuzhao’s Third Aunt was also a plump and beautiful woman, but her affected mannerisms were truly unpleasant.

“It’s already this time of day and you’re just coming out? I just had the maids go to your room and said you were still resting. In broad daylight, lying in bed, if this gets out, you’ll be criticized for being lazy and indolent, losing face.”

Gu Fengjian’s eyes narrowed slightly. He remembered his fourth brother saying that Song Chuzhao was arrogant and domineering, prone to beating and scolding, and wouldn’t tolerate this cunning woman. He curled his lips, raised a false smile, and said, “I’m not as good as Third Aunt, who can put on a show, be two-faced, and play both sides. If you don’t want this face, then don’t have it.”

Third Aunt was choked by her words, immediately flushed red with anger, and pointed at him, shouting, “You—you dare to be disrespectful to me, you have no respect for elders, no manners!”

Gu Fengjian ignored her words, the atmosphere turned cold. Song Shiwen stood up and asked, “Sister, what brings you here?”

Gu Fengjian said calmly, “To eat.”

“Oh, sister, you haven’t eaten yet?” Song Shiwen exclaimed in surprise, as if she had just realized, quickly turned around, picked up a bowl of pastries from the table, and handed it over, saying, “Then eat quickly, be careful not to get hungry.”

Old Madam just sat in front, looking at him coldly.

Gu Fengjian half-closed his eyes, his gaze falling on the cold plate, his eyes filled with disdain and sarcasm. He then raised his head and looked at Song Shiwen with a scrutinizing gaze.

That look made Song Shiwen quite uncomfortable. She was still thinking about what was wrong when Gu Fengjian turned and left.

Old Madam snorted, “If you don’t want to eat, then don’t! Shiwen, don’t bother with her.”

Gu Fengjian returned to his room alone, thinking about how he would solve his lunch problem.

Song Chuzhao had money on her, quite a bit actually. But it was not proper for an unmarried woman to go out to eat alone. Especially now, when she was in the spotlight and rumors about her were circulating throughout the capital.

He knew he should go to the Gu Mansion to see the current “Fifth Son Gu,” but it wouldn’t be appropriate, and he might not even be able to see him.

Or should he wait for the other party to come to him? It seemed like she was quite skilled.

Gu Fengjian was still thinking about how to handle the situation when he heard something tapping against the windowpane from outside.

The sound was light and uneven. It must be stones.

He walked out silently, turning to the side, and sure enough, he saw the person he had just been thinking about on the high wall not far away.

The two stood at different heights, gazing at each other from afar. They looked at each other’s familiar faces with complex expressions.

It was a sight that was impossible to forget.

Song Chuzhao’s voice trembled as she tentatively asked, “Fifth… Fifth Son Gu?”

Gu Fengjian nodded quickly.

Song Chuzhao visibly relaxed. She adjusted her position, making sure she was holding on more securely.

Gu Fengjian: “…” He had never imagined that his face would appear on top of a wall like this.

Song Chuzhao waved enthusiastically at him, calling out, “Come out quietly, I want to talk to you. Be sure to be quiet.”

Gu Fengjian looked around, unable to find a side door, and whispered, “How can I be quiet?”

Song Chuzhao said, “Climb this wall and jump down, I’ll catch you.”

Gu Fengjian’s expression softened, and he said slowly, “You can’t catch me.”

“I can!” Song Chuzhao measured the height, patted her hands confidently, and said, “Don’t worry, I may not be able to lift a cauldron, but I can easily lift a woman!”

Gu Fengjian: “…” He knew his own body couldn’t do that.

After a long silence, Song Chuzhao finally realized that Fifth Son Gu was someone who needed to be protected.

She climbed a little higher and said, “Then you catch me, I can do it!”

Gu Fengjian quickly took a step back, raising his hand to block in front of him, indicating that he couldn’t do it.

“It’s not necessary,” Gu Fengjian said, “There’s no one guarding this area. What about the door?”

Song Chuzhao hesitated, “The door?”

To be honest, if she couldn’t walk through the front door openly, Zhaozhao preferred to climb the wall.

Gu Fengjian’s gaze on Song Chuzhao was no longer normal.

He felt that this matter was very serious.