Song Chuzhao returned to the Gu mansion. Even though she was very careful, she was still spotted.
And, most unfortunately, the one who saw her was Madam Gu, who had been waiting for her nearby.
This had nothing to do with skill, it was purely bad luck.
Song Chuzhao groaned inwardly, adjusted her skirt, and with a sense of righteous determination, continued to walk forward with her head held high. She was ready to face a family lecture.
She just didn’t know if their family discipline at the Gu mansion was a stick or a whip, long or short, a fast furious storm or a long-lasting drizzle.
She… was okay, not very picky. by carpreads.pages.dev
Madam Gu, seeing her, hurried over, her face filled with urgency. When she saw her clearly, she became even more flustered, asking repeatedly, “What happened? How did you end up like this?”
Song Chuzhao felt she was still quite presentable. Wasn’t she back in one piece? No missing sleeves or shoes.
Madam Gu’s beautiful eyes held worry: “My son, why don’t you speak?”
Song Chuzhao, thinking of Gu Fengjian’s stoic nature, tried to put on a serious face and replied, “I just tripped and fell.”
She could feign seriousness, but lacked the inherent coldness that Gu Fengjian possessed. Madam Gu, observing her forced expression, after the emotional embellishment and the elevation of maternal love, read a hint of grievance in it.
When had Gu Fengjian ever been wronged?
Then it must have been truly upsetting!
Madam Gu said with concern, “Did you hurt yourself? Is there any injury? Where did you fall? Your illness hasn’t fully recovered, and you rushed back in such a hurry, what were you doing? Tell me, if you want to go out, just go through the main gate, who in the mansion would dare to stop you? Of course, it’s best to have someone with you…”
Song Chuzhao was truly unaccustomed to her concern, quickly avoiding her hand, habitually taking out her white handkerchief and roughly wiping it across her clothes, saying, “Nothing. I just brushed against something.”
She casually wiped it a couple of times, noticing the sudden silence, she looked up and found Madam Gu’s eyes fixed on the handkerchief in her hand, like they were scrutinizing it.
The worry was gone, the urgency was gone, only a faint, unclear glimmer remained.
Song Chuzhao: “…”
Song Chuzhao said with a stiff jaw, “I bought it.”
Madam Gu held back a smile, not mentioning that the handkerchief was old, and judging by its style, it was one a young lady would use. She simply changed her tone and asked, “Where did you go? I wanted to send you some things, but then I realized you were gone. The gatekeeper said he didn’t see you go out, I searched the entire mansion but couldn’t find you. Your fourth brother even went looking for you.”
Song Chuzhao said, “I just lay down for too long, so I went out for a walk.”
Madam Gu nodded solemnly, “Mother understands!”
Song Chuzhao: “…” How do you know that you understand?
Madam Gu quickly regained her composure and said, “You must be tired, go back and change your clothes and rest. Mother won’t disturb you. Later, have Bifeng bring your meal to your room.”
Song Chuzhao was surprised by Madam Gu’s tolerance, not only not pursuing the matter, but also not asking further. This was completely different from the family style of her Song family!
Her father always threatened her, saying that the big families in the capital had many rules, and that if she stayed in the capital, with her temperament, she would be the laughingstock of the noble ladies, so he told her to remember to be more restrained when she returned to the capital.
Where are these rules? In the sky or over there in the river?
Song Chuzhao fell into a daze, mechanically taking steps towards the courtyard. Before she had gone a few steps, her reason returned, and she suddenly remembered something: “There’s something I need to say!”
“Hmm?” Madam Gu, “What is it?”
“The… the marriage… that birth…”
Song Chuzhao found it incredibly difficult to speak, but just as she was about to say it, Fourth Son Gu jumped in, interrupting her.
“Fifth Brother!”
He let out a thunderous shout, interrupting their conversation. He came rushing out from afar, his light footsteps carrying him with a whirlwind of energy.
The breath caught in Song Chuzhao’s chest, leaving her feeling numb. But Fourth Son Gu seemed oblivious, approaching her and grabbing her arm. He exclaimed in alarm, “Fifth Brother, what happened to you? Why are you in such a state?”
Madam Gu said, “He tripped and fell when he was leaving.”
Gu Fengjian leaned closer, examining the moss stains on her clothes. He questioned with suspicion, “Where did you get this on your clothes? You shouldn’t have gotten dirty in this way after a fall. Based on my experience, you wouldn’t have…”
Song Chuzhao quickly took a step back, avoiding Fourth Son Gu.
She couldn’t let him continue rambling on. It was a matter of facing the music, sooner or later she had to speak up. It was better to be honest and get it over with.
Song Chuzhao made up her mind and said with a serious expression, “Actually, I saw someone today when I went out.”
Fourth Son Gu laughed, “What’s so rare about that?”
Song Chuzhao ignored him, “I happened to meet Song Chuzhao, the one they call Third Girl Song.”
Madam Gu looked vaguely into the distance, carefully savoring those two words. Her tone was subtle, “Happened to…”
Fourth Son Gu was first incredulous, then heartbroken, and finally he tried to reason with her, “You’ve never done anything so reckless before, let alone something as unseemly as climbing over a wall. For a complete stranger, Third Girl Song, you actually—ah!”
Fourth Son Gu was stepped on and jumped back in pain. Madam Gu stepped forward, taking his place and looking at Song Chuzhao, she asked, “You saw her? What does she look like?”
“She… She just…” Song Chuzhao hesitated again, unsure how to answer.
She thought she looked just fine, but she was now Gu Fengjian. If she said that, it would seem like she was looking down on her.
But it was too embarrassing for her to praise her own appearance as Gu Fengjian.
Why did she have to face this alone?
This was too much for her!
Madam Gu kept her eyes fixed on her, those eyes seemed to be able to see through her thoughts.
Song Chuzhao’s face quickly flushed red, her ears turning crimson as well. The atmosphere grew cold for a long time, and finally she simply closed her mouth and said nothing.
Madam Gu changed the subject and asked, “What kind of person is she?”
Song Chuzhao blurted out, “She’s quite a fighter. And she’s loyal.”
Fourth Son Gu chimed in with a hint of sourness, “You only met her once and you already know she’s good at fighting? Did she show you some martial arts moves or something? She’s really impressive. If we’re talking about loyalty, you and I are brothers, why haven’t you ever praised me?”
Song Chuzhao looked at him with resentment.
What’s wrong with you, Fourth Son Gu?!
Madam Gu was quicker than her, she directly pinched the soft flesh around Fourth Son Gu’s waist. He cried out in pain again, clutching his abdomen and hiding to the side.
Song Chuzhao reminded her, “Birth charts…”
Madam Gu reacted quickly, covering her mouth and laughing, “Alright, when I have time, I’ll send someone to exchange your birth charts!”
After dealing with this matter, Song Chuzhao felt like she was about to die. She turned and left again.
Madam Gu glared at Fourth Son Gu, warning him to stay quiet.
“Oh. There’s one more thing.”
Song Chuzhao turned back, hesitant and lingering in place.
Madam Gu asked encouragingly, “Is there anything else?”
Song Chuzhao seemed to have resigned herself, and this time she spoke naturally and smoothly, “That Third Girl Song, she doesn’t have anyone close to her to take care of her. I want to send Chundong to her.”
Madam Gu was taken aback for a moment, then a gentler smile spread across her face, a smile that almost melted Song Chuzhao.
“Good, Chundong, is it? Chundong it is. Tomorrow! Mother will send her tomorrow! You don’t need to worry.”
Song Chuzhao vaguely felt something was amiss, but couldn’t put her finger on it. She could only keep it to herself. She nodded at Madam Gu, quickened her pace and left, almost fleeing.
Perhaps because she had been thinking too much today, Song Chuzhao tossed and turned for half the night, only falling asleep near dawn. Even after falling asleep, she was restless. Not only did she not get a good rest, but she felt even more tired.
In the morning, she was awakened by the heavy blanket. She opened her eyes and found that the blanket was pulled up too high, covering her face.
No wonder she was so uncomfortable in her sleep, as if someone was repeatedly choking her, scaring her into a cold sweat.
Song Chuzhao struggled to get up, and when the wind outside the blanket blew on her, she shivered again.
She looked at the bed curtains hanging in front of her with a sense of bewilderment and helplessness.
It seems that Gu Fengjian’s body is quite cold-sensitive, no wonder he gets sick easily.
Keep warm in spring and cool in autumn, this was all because he lack exercise. In this situation, how could he recover just by relying on others to take care of him? To build a strong physique, he needed to be tempered through countless trials.
Song Chuzhao wiped her face vigorously, threw back the blanket and got out of bed.
The servants of the Gu Mansion were clearly more diligent. As soon as she got up, someone noticed. The waiting attendant quickly brought hot water for her to wash up, and when she was done, he brought a steaming breakfast to the table and invited her to sit down.
Song Chuzhao only managed to drink a bowl of porridge before she couldn’t eat anymore.
Gu Fengjian’s appetite was poor due to his illness, his mouth was tasteless, and he didn’t eat much to begin with. Song Chuzhao also only had the habit of eating until she was seven-tenths full, so she simply put down her chopsticks.
After digesting her food, Song Chuzhao went to the courtyard to practice boxing.
The boxing she practiced was commonly used in the army, a set of movements for stretching the muscles and bones. This boxing style wasn’t difficult, but practicing two sets in winter could help her sweat and warm up.
Yesterday, she walked a long way from the Duke’s mansion to the General’s mansion. She climbed the walls and ran, so her leg muscles were a bit sore today. She endured and practiced a few sets, and she started to feel out of breath.
The reality was actually better than she expected. Her endurance was naturally inferior to that of martial artists, but compared to those frail and delicate scholars, she was still much stronger. She was thin, but she could take a beating when it mattered.
It was clear that Gu Fengjian, although he didn’t like to exercise, was born with extraordinary bones. Something to be envied.
Song Chuzhao was determined to give Gu Fengjian a strong, steel-like body, and she devoted herself to exercising in the courtyard for the entire morning. When she felt she had reached her limit, she took a leisurely stroll around the mansion to relax her muscles.
Not far away, Fourth Son Gu, dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, walked over from the corridor with a gust of wind around him.
He glanced at Song Chuzhao as he passed by, and almost tripped over himself.
Song Chuzhao also saw him, but she continued walking without looking at him.
After his surprise, Fourth Son Gu quickly ran over and called out, “Fifth Brother, what are you doing wandering around the mansion?”
He reached out and wiped her forehead, looking at the moisture on his fingertips and said, “You’re still sweating, what have you been doing?”
Song Chuzhao walked slowly, saying calmly, “Just stretching my limbs.”
Fourth Son Gu seemed not to recognize her. He remained silent for a while. Just as Song Chuzhao was about to walk away, he suddenly came back to his senses, a sudden radiance appearing on his face. He grabbed her and said, “Stretch your limbs? Stretching your limbs is good! I was just about to go out and stretch my limbs too! Why don’t we go together? Fourth Brother will take you to a spacious and good place.”
Song Chuzhao looked at him with suspicion.
Fourth Son Gu laughed and said, “Fourth Brother has many friends, and you know them too. It’s rare that you want to go out, it’s just right to chat with them.”
Song Chuzhao hesitated for a moment, but was then forcefully pulled away by Fourth Son Gu.
The place they went to wasn’t far. Before Song Chuzhao could react, she was already standing in the martial arts field behind the academy.
The martial arts field was indeed very spacious. After all, the students were all studying in the front courtyard. At this time, there were only two groups of people on the field.
The two sides were like two armies facing each other across the river that divided the Chu and Han dynasties, standing far apart. Occasionally, their eyes met in the air, but it was with a fierce and hostile gaze, as if swords were about to be drawn.
The group on the left was tall and imposing, laughing and talking. They stood there with great bows in their hands, looking imposing. Even in the cold autumn, they only wore a thin outer garment. Their bold voices, resonating from their chests, reached Song Chuzhao’s ears from afar.
The group on the right was elegant and dashing, in the prime of their youth. Even in the gentle breeze, they held folding fans in their hands. They stood facing the wind, their words and actions gentle and polite, only when they looked at the opposite side did a hint of disdain appear in their eyes.
Although both sides looked very dashing, there seemed to be a big difference in their martial prowess.
Song Chuzhao turned her head and glanced at Fourth Son Gu. She thought that his physique and personality should be like those on the left. He brought her here today to let her experience the joy of breaking the laws and committing some wrongs.
He was quite thoughtful.
Just as she was thinking this, the strongest-looking person in the group on the left raised his bow and shouted at him, “Gu Fengwei, you’re finally here! I thought you, little boy, were too cowardly to show up!”
“Hahaha!” Fourth Son Gu laughed and stepped forward, “You grandson, don’t be impatient. Your grandfather hasn’t taught you a lesson yet, how could he not come!”
The literati on the other side rushed to acknowledge their kinship, “Fourth Young Master! These people are so arrogant when you’re not here!”
Song Chuzhao: “…”
Song Chuzhao, sweating profusely, silently took a step back, wanting to pretend nothing had happened and walk away.
Fourth Son Gu didn’t understand her heart. The next moment, he proudly said over there, “I also brought my fifth brother! Do you know who my fifth brother is!”
Song Chuzhao: “…”
I do know that your death is imminent.