Master He was unable to successfully erupt in anger, as Madam He stopped him.
Madam He glared at him, “Are you crazy?”
Master He was furious, “He’s shameless! He dared to climb over the wall of my He Mansion! In the dead of night, he came to meet Zhaozhao. What does he want to do? Has he considered our Third Girl at all?”
Madam He said, “Do you think Fifth Son Gu is that reckless?”
Master He said, “He did such a thing… does he even have any sense of propriety?”
The steward quickly explained, “No, no! Fifth Son Gu called out to Third Miss from outside the wall, then called her to the wall. They are just looking at each other from across the wall. Fifth Son Gu is still hanging on the wall. They only talked, there was no physical contact.”
The He family’s elders were both stunned. by carpreads.pages.dev
…Don’t say it, this Fifth Son Gu is truly a talent.
Master He smacked his lips. For a moment, he didn’t know whether to say the other was bold or cowardly like a dog.
The steward was also in a difficult position.
From the moment Fifth Son Gu appeared around the He Mansion, the He Mansion’s guards had already noticed him. Considering that he was Third Miss Song’s future husband, they dared not apprehend him, fearing that it would cause a scandal and ruin their reputations.
Fortunately, they were just having a pleasant conversation.
But why did you have to choose the night for a pleasant conversation? Will anyone believe that?
Master He asked, “What did they talk about?”
The steward said, “I don’t know. Third Miss must have learned martial arts, her hearing is excellent, we didn’t dare get close.”
Madam He suddenly jumped up and kicked Master He.
Master He turned around, aggrieved, “What are you doing?”
“It’s all your fault, I think you corrupted him!” Madam He said, “When I saw Fifth Son Gu in the daytime, he was clearly an honest and kind person. You only met him once, and he already learned to do these things.”
Master He: “???”
This was simply adding charges without any basis! What does that Gu fellow have to do with him!
Madam He put on her outer robe and went to open the door. Steward He was standing bent over, and when he saw this, he took two steps back.
Madam He asked, “Is Zhaozhao talking to him? How is their relationship?”
The steward replied, “Yes. It seems pretty good.”
Madam He pondered for a moment, then said, “Zhaozhao’s visiting card was sent by Fifth Son Gu, and when she came back, she specifically asked Fifth Son Gu to accompany her, which shows that she trusts him. When she was bullied in the Song Mansion, she was also helped by Fifth Son Gu, who sent Chundong to take care of her…”
Master He raised his head and said, “That’s different!”
Madam He analyzed very reasonably, “It seems that Zhaozhao trusts Fifth Son Gu very much. Perhaps Fifth Son Gu was worried that she wouldn’t be comfortable living here, so he came to check on her. He deliberately chose the middle of the night, and he didn’t do anything out of line.”
“She’s my own granddaughter, am I going to make it hard for her?” Master He said incredulously, “Isn’t this out of line?
Madam He said, “They were just talking. If you hadn’t woken up tonight, you wouldn’t even know!”
Master He said angrily, “So I should pretend I don’t know now?”
Madam He was annoyed with him, “Then go ahead! Tell someone to chase Fifth Son Gu away in front of Zhaozhao. Be even harsher, arrest Fifth Son Gu and punish him. Let’s see if Zhaozhao won’t resent you!”
Master He was speechless.
Madam He wiped her eyes, “If Zhaozhao were close to you, she wouldn’t have to wait until midnight to chat with Fifth Son Gu. She’s so pitiful! She doesn’t even have a single friend in the capital she can talk to. Finally, Fifth Son Gu appears, but she still has to be mindful of the difference between men and women, so they can only exchange a few words in secret at midnight. And even that, someone doesn’t allow…”
Master He conceded, saying helplessly, “Alright, fine!”
He went to the wall and retrieved a whip, holding it in his hand, and whipped it twice in the air, making a whooshing sound.
But this didn’t relieve his anger at all.
He said, “Have people nearby watch. If Fifth Son Gu from the Gu family is just climbing the wall… I’ll give Duke Gu some face. But if he dares to climb up to our Zhaozhao’s window, I’ll throw him out immediately!”
The steward quickly responded, “Yes!”
“Wait!”
Master He glanced at the sky. It was pitch black outside, not even a single star in sight.
He said, “Give them only one incense stick’s worth of time. What can’t be said in one incense stick’s time? Once it’s up, get him out of here!”
Madam He scoffed, “Look at you now. You’re so embarrassing.”
Master He felt stifled.
How could someone climb his wall, and his wife would join forces with an outsider to criticize him? And it was his fault?
Master He lit a lamp, then pulled out an incense stick from a box and roughly inserted it into the burner. He lit it.
A red flame flickered at the top, emitting a faint scent of incense.
He blew on the flame twice, trying to make it burn faster. Madam He saw this and laughed again.
Master He pulled a chair over and sat down at the table, watching with a stern expression.
Tonight, Zhaozhao wouldn’t sleep, then neither would he!
Song Chuzhao had been sitting on the wall for a long time, and her legs were numb. She shifted her position and stretched her limbs. Her movements startled Gu Fengjian.
Gu Fengjian handed her the paper with the book titles written on it, and Song Chuzhao carefully tucked it into her clothes.
Gu Fengjian had actually brought a cloak with him. Unfortunately, Song Chuzhao was sitting on the wall, and he couldn’t reach her, so he could only throw it up to her.
“It’s cold at night. You should go back.”
Song Chuzhao smiled, “I haven’t finished yet. Your father waited all night to talk to you, and you’re not interested in what he wants to say?”
Gu Fengjian looked up, his neck aching. He reached up and pressed his hand against his nape, saying, “I never know what he’s thinking.”
Song Chuzhao sighed, “Your father is really hard to understand. He doesn’t show much expression, so I can’t tell if he’s happy or not. But when someone keeps mentioning the Spring Examinations every three sentences, it’s hard to say I can’t understand.”
Gu Fengjian lowered his head and walked aimlessly on the grass.
“He shouldn’t be so anxious about my Spring Examinations.”
Song Chuzhao patted her leg, “He’s anxious! He said… Oh no! I only remember him saying ‘sorry.’ I don’t remember the exact words.”
Gu Fengjian turned back, “What did he apologize for?”
“He apologized for a lot of things,” Song Chuzhao said, “He apologized for making you take the position of a clerk, knowing you were unhappy about it, and then you resigned. He said he didn’t mean to do it, he just didn’t expect the Emperor to make that arrangement. He wanted to apologize to you, but you ignored him. He hopes you’ll take the exam again, and he won’t interfere in the future.”
Gu Fengjian’s body stiffened slightly, then he shook his head, as if mocking himself, “How could he possibly say such things to me?”
Song Chuzhao leaned forward, her voice earnest. “Your father not only said it, he cried with regret. I can assure you, he meant every word!”
“My father cried? Duke Gu?” Gu Fengjian was completely unconvinced, taking Song Chuzhao’s words as a joke. He waved his hand dismissively. “It couldn’t have been my father who cried.”
“He held me and cried, so hard that my own tears were almost choked back.” Song Chuzhao recalled the painful memory. “Afterward, he forced me to study, extinguishing my enthusiasm. All the verses I had painstakingly memorized vanished in a puff of anger.”
Both felt like they were speaking different languages, as if they were talking about entirely different people.
Gu Fengjian listened as if to a story from another world, tilting his head to look at her again.
“He also said that he was sorry for what happened with Fu Donglai all those years ago. He wasn’t trying to deceive you, he said he went to see you secretly, but he didn’t dare to… He cried and cried, unable to speak.” Song Chuzhao paused, then asked, “Who is Fu Donglai? Why did your father go to see you secretly? Like the way I’m sneaking around now?”
Though Song Chuzhao’s memory was fragmented, she was remarkably precise in recalling key phrases and important scenes.
The words “unable to speak” began to echo in Gu Fengjian’s mind.
…Even if the sky were to fall, Duke Gu wouldn’t shed a single tear, would he?
Gu Fengjian chuckled. “You must have been having a nightmare.”
“Why don’t you believe me? It’s true! I haven’t exaggerated a single detail.” Song Chuzhao felt helpless. “I think your father is a good man. If you had heard his heartfelt confession today, you might understand him.”
Gu Fengjian replied flatly, “Is that so?”
He turned his back, hiding his expression from Song Chuzhao. His voice was flat, devoid of any inflection:
“He doesn’t like me learning martial arts. When Fourth Brother tried to teach me, he beat him severely. He’s always been cold towards me. Perhaps in a whole year, we wouldn’t even have spoken as much as you just did.”
“How can he be like that?” Song Chuzhao blurted out a reckless suggestion. “Then you should go to Fu Changjun for lessons. I don’t believe Duke Gu would dare to spank General Fu.”
Gu Fengjian laughed. “That sounds good. Unfortunately, I’ve lost interest in learning now.”
Song Chuzhao couldn’t quite manage a smile.
If Duke Gu hadn’t come to see her today, perhaps she too would have harbored the same misunderstanding as Gu Fengjian. But remembering his choked voice, she felt that there wasn’t a complete lack of affection between this father and son, only a layer of misunderstanding.
Duke Gu’s paternal love for Gu Fengjian was so intense, yet his excessive clumsiness and caution kept it bottled up beneath his seemingly calm exterior.
Last night, he had cast aside all dignity to speak his truth to his son, as if he wanted to rip his own heart out and show it to her.
He was so clumsy, that was all he could do.
Yet Gu Fengjian hadn’t heard him.
Could it be that because of her, this pair of the closest of kin, would continue their estranged, abnormal relationship?
The thought filled Song Chuzhao with sadness.
“Fifth Son Gu, do you think I’m lying to you?”
“I think you’re trying to comfort me.” Gu Fengjian turned around, a smile playing on his lips. “But there’s no need. I understand. He’s busy with official duties, and I spend very little time with him. We don’t have a deep bond…”
His lips moved, his smile never faltering, but his expression was lost in the darkness.
The clouds were too thick tonight, blocking out the moon. Even if he hadn’t been putting on this facade, no one could have discerned his true feelings.
Song Chuzhao jumped down from the wall and ran towards him.
“My father holds a high position, I understand his constraints. I don’t need his approval or recognition, you…” Gu Fengjian saw her getting closer and couldn’t continue. “…what are you doing?”
Song Chuzhao rushed forward and threw her arms around him.
Gu Fengjian instinctively wanted to push her away, but Song Chuzhao said, “Don’t move!”
Gu Fengjian could only relax his body and soften his voice, asking, “What are you doing?”
Song Chuzhao said, “Your father held you like this today.”
Gu Fengjian was stunned, his mind in a daze.
Song Chuzhao rested her chin on his shoulder, her nose catching the scent of him again. “He said, ‘I’ve always considered you my closest family, I’ve always been thinking of you. So doesyYour mother, your brother, your sister, all of you. It’s all my fault. I’ll change from now on.’ That’s what he said.”
Gu Fengjian remained silent, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down.
This embrace shielded him from the cold wind, bringing him waves of warmth. Broad shoulders wrapped tightly around him, the low, soothing voice of a man, word by word, exploded in his ear.
For a long time, for a very long time, no one had held him like this, said these words to him.
The last time, his father had held him, his forehead against his, his eyes looking deeply into his, telling him earnestly that he would take him home.
The other man’s eyes were deep like the sea, filled with love and concern. He had believed without a doubt.
Then that man disappeared.
When they met, Duke Gu would avoid his eyes, pretending not to see him. He cried and begged, and Duke Gu would turn his back and flee in shame.
In the years when he was learning to be an adult, the first thing he learned was his father’s deception.
He had clearly deceived him, but never apologized.
…He clearly wanted to deceive him, but still made promises.
“Believe me,” Song Chuzhao said, “I won’t deceive you.”
Gu Fengjian’s eyelashes fluttered, and he heard his own voice lose its composure.
“Really?”
Song Chuzhao: “Really. I swear it by my name!”
Gu Fengjian, however, found a hint of amusement in this solemn oath. He thought to himself, it seems Zhaozhao really does like her own name.
Sensing that the person in front of her had relaxed, Song Chuzhao was about to speak freely when a rustling sound came from nearby, as if something was slowly approaching.
Song Chuzhao suddenly came to her senses, a flash of white light in her mind, remembering that this was Master He’s territory.
She quickly let go and dashed towards the wall. She fled like a runaway, leaping onto the wall and then jumping down. Before leaving, she didn’t forget to remind Gu Fengjian, “I’m leaving, pretend I never came!”
As soon as she left, the faint noises immediately subsided, and the person in the shadows dared not come out, as if everything that had just happened was merely an illusion created by the night wind.
Gu Fengjian stood there woodenly, his body motionless. After an unknown amount of time, he suddenly started laughing, his shoulders shaking.
He ran to the wall and examined the few places where Song Chuzhao had stepped.
If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t have dared to believe that his body could be so agile.
Following the sequence in his memory, he stepped on it, slowly climbing to the top of the wall.
On both sides of the long street, there were some lanterns for lighting, which had not yet been completely extinguished.
The dim street was silent, only a dark shadow moving along the wide road.
The shadow bobbed playfully on the ground, waving its hands and shaking its head from time to time. Just when it was about to disappear from sight, the shadow suddenly stopped.
This was the first time Gu Fengjian had observed this long street in such a way. Half of the world was blocked by high walls, while the other half, in contrast, seemed broader and more vibrant.
He somewhat understood why Song Chuzhao liked to climb walls.
The shadow raised its hand and waved it vigorously in his direction.
Gu Fengjian also raised his hand in response, then watched as the other figure completely vanished into the darkness.
The incense burned out.
Master He asked, “Did he leave?”
Steward He dared not mention that Fifth Son Gu had hugged Third Girl Song before leaving. He simply nodded and said, “He left just now.”
Master He, no longer as aggressive as before, simply replied, “Oh.”
Madam He, sitting beside him, held his hand and leaned against him, saying, “If they can be happy, you shouldn’t interfere. I just hope that Zhaozhao won’t encounter any accidents or setbacks. It doesn’t matter what else she wants to do.”
Master He said, “There won’t be any more setbacks. The world is different now.”
“Look, you’re different now that she’s back,” Old Madam He said hoarsely. “I wonder when Wanwan will return.”
“She’ll be back soon,” Master He put his arm around her. “Let’s have both of them by your side.”
Old Madam He laughed happily, “That’s wonderful. I’m already so happy that Zhaozhao can stay. I still can’t believe it’s real.”
The two sat for a while longer. Master He went over and blew out the candles, saying listlessly, “Time for bed. That Gu family boy ruined our peace. Tomorrow I’ll ask the Duke what time they usually rest.”
Fan Chongqing, the second son of the Fan family. A renowned young talent in the capital. Although he was known for his mischief, he was also famous for his chivalry and exceptional martial arts skills, earning praise from all.
Recently, he had been injured on his face and was afraid to see anyone. Fortunately, the doctor had examined him and said there was no serious problem. He just needed to apply medicine and rest for a few days for the injury to heal completely.
He stayed at home, avoiding any social activities, hoping to keep the matter a secret.
Yesterday, his injury finally healed, and he was ready to return to the world.
Author’s Note:
Master He: What does that Gu family boy’s wall-climbing have to do with me!
Song Chuzhao: … It’s genetic, grandpa!