Gu Fengjian followed the maidservant who was attending him to a nearby room to be searched. They did not search thoroughly, and soon they entered the garden. Song Chuzhao and her brothers were still waiting outside.
The Imperial Insignia Guards in front were searching everyone very carefully. Perhaps because Fan Chongqing and the other martial artists looked threatening at first glance, they were spending some time on them. Fu Changjun leaned against Song Chuzhao, placing one hand on her shoulder and smiling, “Young Master Gu is here? You’re quite early today.”
Fu Changjun’s fingers pressed hard on Song Chuzhao’s shoulder, but his face was smiling cheerfully. Song Chuzhao could only smile back, “I didn’t know General Fu was on duty today. You must be very busy.”
Fourth Son Gu and his brother looked at Fu Changjun’s protruding knuckles from the force he was using, and their hearts sank. They instinctively took a step back, indicating they wouldn’t participate in their conversation.
Fu Changjun chuckled in her ear, “My Imperial Insignia Guards are responsible for patrolling the capital. No matter when or where, anyone acting suspiciously can be investigated by our patrol soldiers. Fifth Son Gu, you’ve been staying at home for a long time, but your movements are quite agile. It seems you have exceptional talent, surpassing ordinary people. Don’t waste such talent. If you want to go to Master He’s mansion to learn from my adoptive father again, why not come to my Imperial Insignia Guards’ training ground to practice your skills? I love to mentor those with exceptional potential, and I can also talk to Duke Gu on your behalf. I’m sure he’ll agree.”
Cold sweat broke out on Song Chuzhao’s forehead again.
You might not believe it, but it’s all the fault of that damned thing called misunderstanding.
Fu Changjun asked, “What are your thoughts?“ by carpreads.pages.dev
Song Chuzhao couldn’t show any fear. She remained calm and composed, “Thank you for your kindness, General Fu. If I have time, I’ll go take a look.”
“Good spirit!” Fu Changjun rolled up his sleeves, restoring his voice to a volume that could be heard by everyone around, “There are many people here now, so I’ll help my brothers. Fifth Son Gu, come with me to the side for a check.”
Fourth Son Gu and Fan Chongqing huddled together, letting out a sympathetic cry. Their small hands clasped tightly, and they took another step back.
Song Chuzhao: “…” Fourth Son Gu, I can see you clearly.
The two moved to the side. Fu Changjun stretched his wrists, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.
Song Chuzhao thought for a moment and decided to turn around. Well, if she didn’t face this ancestor directly, it wouldn’t feel so scary.
She had prepared herself mentally, but when his large hand came down, she couldn’t help but open her eyes, her pupils widening in shock.
This palm strike! It felt like it had cleared all the blocked meridians in her body. The lingering soreness in her shoulders was replaced by intense pressure and pain, and then her stiff muscles and bones stretched out, bringing an unprecedented sense of relaxation.
So… so refreshing!!
A faint white light seemed to flash before Song Chuzhao’s eyes, reminding her of the joy she felt when she was a warrior on the battlefield.
It actually can be like this!
Seeing the muscles around her eyes start to strain and her breathing become rapid, Fourth Son Gu nervously asked, “Fifth Brother… are you alright?”
Fan Chongqing also trembled as he pleaded, “Uncle… Uncle Fu…. Can you be a little gentler? Fifth Son Gu doesn’t look very strong…”
“What are you talking about!” Song Chuzhao said sternly, word by word, “General Fu is being thorough, it’s for our safety. There are many people coming and going at this banquet, how can we be lax? Thank you, General Fu.”
“Fifth Son Gu, you really are…” Fan Chongqing slowed his breathing, then firmly stated, “Admirable!”
To please Third Girl Song’s family, he was willing to sacrifice himself to this extent!
Fourth Son Gu was also amazed. As expected of his Fifth Brother!
Fu Changjun also looked at Fifth Son Gu with new respect. He didn’t expect this weak-looking body to have such spirit. But he didn’t stop, he used his fingers to hook her shoulder and pulled her closer.
Fu Changjun was suspicious… Why was Fifth Son Gu’s back so hard? He thought he heard the sound of bones moving.
So he struck another powerful blow with his hand on a certain acupoint. At the same time, he heard a muffled groan from the person in front of him.
Although Fan Chongqing and Fourth Son Gu didn’t dare to speak up, they kept “hissing” and making noises, as if they were the ones in pain. This caused the other brothers to look at him with a hint of condemnation.
Fu Changjun was quite helpless, suddenly unable to bring himself to continue. In the end, he gave up, releasing her and saying, “Go inside.”
Song Chuzhao turned around, suppressing the regret in her heart, and politely bowed to him, “Thank you, General Fu.”
That tone of voice not only lacked any displeasure, but even carried a hint of respect and… gratitude?
Seeing that she still maintained his composure towards him even now, Fu Changjun recalled his unrestrained outburst in the tavern when he had berated Fan Chongqing, and his fondness for him grew even stronger.
To have such patience, it shows that he truly regards him as his own elder.
Fu Changjun remained impassive: “Hmm.”
Song Chuzhao took two steps, then turned back and added: “Next time, I will come to seek your guidance again, General!”
Fu Changjun waved his hand, ushering her inside. He had lost interest.
Gu Fengjian entered the gate, walking straight ahead without looking left or right, and then, under the guidance of the leading maidservant, found his place.
Although he had seen few outsiders in recent years, he had a fairly clear understanding of the situation in the capital. And during his time as a Taoist acolyte, he had followed Fu Donglai to the mansions of many officials, and he knew most of the sons of officials, and had some understanding of their personalities.
His gaze swept casually across the room, all familiar faces.
At the banquet, men and women sat on opposite sides, men on the left and women on the right.
The seat to his right was currently empty, while two people sat not far from his left. One of them, as expected, was Song Shiwen, and the other was the young County Princess Tang Zhirou, the Emperor’s niece.
When Song Shiwen saw him appear, she lowered her head slightly, avoiding his gaze. The young County Princess, however, was deeply dissatisfied and directly launched into a mocking tirade without any pretense.
“She deliberately makes such a show of herself, clearly she’s a haughty person at heart. Second Girl, you must have suffered a lot of grievances at home, haven’t you? It’s laughable that you have such a meek and easily bullied personality, yet people still say such awful things about you. There are truly many gullible fools in this world who are easy to manipulate.”
Song Shiwen pressed down on her hand, signaling her to stop talking.
Tang Zhirou, however, was not one to be easily appeased. She rolled her eyes and continued: “Fifth Son Gu has truly fallen from grace, associating with the likes of Fan Chongqing, and even causing a stir several times, making a spectacle of himself. He must have been influenced by someone. I thought he valued his reputation, and if he were to make friends, he should at least associate with the likes of Ji Yutang.”
The other young ladies present, seeing her relentless barrage, also chimed in with a few conciliatory remarks.
“Since Third Miss returned from the border, the Fifth Master has indeed changed a lot. I wonder what Fifth Master’s plans for the future are.”
“The Song family’s affairs are changing by the day, I’m truly curious about my younger sister.”
“The Third Miss has been back for some time now, but there’s been no movement from the Gu family. Whether or not the betrothal will go through, there must be some other reason behind it, I suspect.”
“I hear that Fifth Master is the most filial, perhaps he is simply following Madam Gu’s wishes. Besides, he is well-versed in literature, courteous and respectful, and he is considerate and kind to everyone.”
“Sister Song, what exactly happened in the Song family? If you’re facing any difficulties, you can confide in us sisters.”
Tang Zhirou clasped Song Shiwen’s arm and declared loudly: “Shiwen, you don’t need to be afraid! I stand by your side. Whoever opposes you opposes me! I’ll see if those with ulterior motives dare to stir up trouble under the Emperor’s very nose!”
As she spoke, she glared at Gu Fengjian, but he sat calmly, ignoring the gossip around him. He simply nodded slightly, signaling the maidservant attending him to bring out a few cold dishes.
Seeing his composure, Tang Zhirou was instead angered by her own frustration, as if she had punched a freshly steamed bun, burning her hand. She snorted loudly and turned her head away.
Song Shiwen had also been observing him with her peripheral vision. The more indifferent Gu Fengjian appeared, the more the sharp barb hidden in her heart stirred. A nameless heat surged upwards, and while she suppressed it, a deep sense of resentment also arose.
Once pride was shattered, it could never be put back together.
Besides, her recent days had been far from pleasant. All thanks to her dear sister.
Ever since Third Girl Song moved out of the Song mansion, the once peaceful Song residence had become a churning pool of muddy water.
Third Master Song and Third Aunt Song, as if fleeing for their lives, wanted to move out of the Song mansion, and they actively distanced themselves from any involvement in the Song family’s affairs, claiming ignorance. They desperately tried to curry favor with Fu Changjun, their demeanor both servile and eager.
Their desperate act of disassociation was meant to portray themselves as innocent, but what about the Song family they so hastily abandoned? Wasn’t it just a mire where they relentlessly oppressed Song Chuzhao?
Third Master Song was not polite to Old Madam Song. Though he did not speak harshly, his words were firm and left no room for negotiation.
The old Madam had rarely been treated with such disrespect. She was old and, in a fit of anger, she actually fell ill. Third Master Song, however, still believed she was feigning illness, thinking she was trying to coerce him. In his anger, he not only did not stop his plans, but he also exaggerated the situation to several elders who came to visit.
The Song Mansion was, after all, the General’s Mansion, originally the residence of General Song. Third Master Song had only moved in because of Old Madam’s wishes. Of course, he also had the private intention of drawing closer to his elder brother’s family, hoping to gain some benefits. Now that he insisted on leaving, no one could stop him.
The other children of the Song family were not all pursuing official careers. They had all received some favor from the eldest Song, and they were relatively fair in their dealings. They knew Third Master Song’s character best, and seeing him leave without a care, they knew that perhaps the inside story was as he had said.
After learning about Old Madam Song’s harsh treatment of Song Chuzhao, they were both angry and anxious, and even a little amused. They laughed at the old lady, who was on the verge of death, yet still trying to be clever and acting out, causing trouble, only to regret it later.
Old Madam Song was ill and felt guilty, so she toned down her temper. When she saw her children, she pretended to be pitiful and acted helpless. The Song children, of course, could not and would not lecture their mother, so they turned their pent-up anger on Song Shiwen.
They said she was “unreasonable,” “didn’t know how to stop her,” “was absurd,” and “was too harsh to her younger sister.” There were also other accusations.
At this time, the accusations of the elders were still somewhat restrained. At most, they were simply using their status as elders to teach and admonish Song Shiwen. Song Shiwen also pretended to be obedient and listen attentively, her attitude serious.
The main reason was that the elders felt that Song Chuzhao was, after all, family. Moving to the He Mansion for a short stay was just a matter of being angry for a while. When General Song returned, he could persuade her, and they would be reconciled. At this time, if they spoke too harshly and Song Shiwen held a grudge, it would be unnecessary.
Song Shiwen had a strong sense of self-esteem. On the surface, she said she knew she was wrong, but in fact, she was deeply hurt. She was so upset that she couldn’t sleep at night.
She couldn’t stand it when people said she was mean, and she couldn’t stand it when people said she was greedy for small gains. In her eyes, such words were equivalent to “lowly.” But such rumors had spread throughout the capital, and she couldn’t stop them.
Just as Song Chuzhao had been gossiped about, she was now being gossiped about in an even more disgraceful way. The few sisters she had been close to also took the initiative to distance themselves from her and stopped associating with her. Only the young County Princess, who had always been close to her and was simple-minded, still spoke up for her.
Thinking about this, Song Shiwen’s breathing involuntarily became heavy. Tang Zhirou didn’t notice her discomfort and continued to hold her, complaining to the few people who came to chat, “What did Shiwen do wrong? Just say it directly. Don’t use any so-called schemes. In front of outsiders, you deliberately lose face for your own family. Spreading family scandals outside, can you be proud of yourself?”
The few girls laughed at each other and vaguely responded, then brought up other topics, trying to change the subject.
The few girls who were relatively unfamiliar with them sat alone in another place, discussing their clothes and the lanterns hanging in the distance, showing off their talent and grace. They didn’t care about either side.
Not far from them were the most outstanding young men in the capital. They didn’t want to discuss family matters in front of these people, nor did they want to say sour things about others. That would only make them seem gossipy.
Besides, although they were not familiar with Song Shiwen, they didn’t think she was a truly innocent and pure person.
Tang Zhirou muttered softly, “Uncle Fu and Grandpa He are also…”
She didn’t dare to really speak ill of these two elders, so she just complained casually. She only said half of it and then stopped the topic on her own initiative.
Song Shiwen, however, was reminded of her recent misfortunes.
The Song family, it seemed, was having a bad year, and they were constantly encountering bad luck.
The promotion that had been arranged was suddenly gone. Things that had been easily taken care of with a simple greeting were now repeatedly rejected by various government offices. There were many big and small problems.
The Song family had been smooth sailing since their marriage to the He family, and they were not used to such stumbling blocks. They wanted to ask the He family for help, but in the end, they didn’t even get to see Old General He. As for Fu Changjun, let alone helping, his meaningful sneer, every word of which made them sweat cold, made them dare not have any more ideas about the two families.
The Song family elders gathered together and discussed the matter, realizing the seriousness of the situation. Naturally, they blamed Song Shiwen again. In their anger, they had said some harsh words. They repeatedly urged her to apologize to Third Girl Song.
Song Shiwen never imagined that her life would become so difficult after Third Girl Song left.
Just because her mother was surnamed He, she had the power to do whatever she wanted.
Song Shiwen’s fingers twisted the silk handkerchief tightly, her emotions difficult to control, but she still managed to maintain her composure on the surface. She no longer looked at the next table, but just gave a faint smile and whispered to Tang Zhirou.
Not long after, Song Chuzhao and Fan Chongqing walked in, their steps brisk.
Song Chuzhao moved her arms slightly, feeling a new life in her body.
You know, even though it hurts when you press it, it actually cured the stiffness in Fifth Son Gu’s shoulders from sitting and reading for too long. Uncle Fu’s skills are truly unparalleled!
She wondered if acting a little more distressed would make him want to do it to her again.
…If she had known, she wouldn’t have brought Fourth Son Gu and brother Fan along. They were such a nuisance.
Ji Yutang was already talking to someone in the courtyard. When he saw her appear, he immediately stopped speaking, lifted his robe, and stood up to greet her.
He smiled brightly, “Fifth Son Gu, long time no see. How have you been?”
Song Chuzhao nodded, calmly taking her seat.
Gu Fengjian was sitting almost directly across from her. They nodded to each other across the walkway and exchanged a subtle, light laugh.
Ji Yutang, without any hesitation or greeting, sat down next to her and began to chatter, “Fifth Son Gu, I really haven’t been very courteous. I originally wanted to personally thank you, but…”
Fan Chongqing and Fourth Son Gu had been caught off guard by Ji Yutang’s move and were constantly trying to push him away, wanting to kick him out.
The three groups were secretly vying for attention, but to outsiders, they looked like they were close, just playfully jostling each other.
The young ladies on her side, seeing how intimate they were, were surprised and began to whisper amongst themselves.
“Didn’t those three groups all say they wouldn’t associate with each other? How come their relationship has become so good now?”
“Right? Just the other day, I heard someone from Young Master Fan’s group arguing with someone from Young Master Ji’s group.”
“I don’t think their relationship is necessarily good. After all, they are all proud and arrogant. Their fathers’ political views are also quite different. They are just all circling around Fifth Son Gu.”
“Fifth Son Gu is truly Fifth Son Gu. He can actually get those three to shake hands and make peace.”
“Of course! Fifth Son Gu’s talents are not limited to poetry. When he was in the Ministry of Revenue, he was known for his exceptional skills. More recently, at the tavern, he received praise from the Imperial Censor.”
“Especially, Fifth Son Gu is exceptionally handsome and never gives anyone a cold shoulder.”
“Shh… you can just whisper about it. Fifth Son Gu is already engaged.”
The moment Song Chuzhao appeared, the atmosphere shifted. A group of beautiful young ladies shyly looked across at him, then covered their lips and began to giggle. Even Gu Fengjian couldn’t help but turn his head to look at this “spring-filled” scene.
He almost didn’t recognize “Fifth Son Gu” anymore.
These women… they were truly unpredictable.
Since Song Chuzhao entered, Tang Zhirou had been intentionally or unintentionally staring at her, naturally seeing the “exchange of glances” between them, and was once again filled with frustration.
Seeing her lost in thought, Song Shiwen withdrew her hand and said, “I’ll go talk to my younger sister for a bit.”
Tang Zhirou turned her head, “What are you going to talk to her about? Are you going to apologize?”
Song Shiwen said, “It was my fault for making her misunderstand. I’ll go clear things up with her.”
Tang Zhirou pressed her down, “Don’t move! I’ll go. I’ll talk to her!”
Song Shiwen said, “It’s not appropriate. After all, this is a matter of my Song family.”
Tang Zhirou said, “Then I’ll go with you! It’ll be like giving you some courage. That way, if she wants to make things difficult for you, she’ll have to give me some face.”
Song Shiwen hesitated, and seeing this, Tang Zhirou took it as agreement. She stood up decisively and walked over to Gu Fengjian.
“Hey!” Tang Zhirou tapped on Gu Fengjian’s table and said to him, “Come with me for a moment.”
Gu Fengjian didn’t want to pay any attention to her. He kept spinning a teacup in his hand. But seeing Song Chuzhao look over at them with a questioning raise of her eyebrows because of the commotion, Gu Fengjian thought for a moment before getting up and following her.
Tang Zhirou saw him obediently follow, her heart pleased, and she led the way.
The three of them disappeared one after another into the darkness of the lanterns, then were completely obscured by the rockery on either side.
Fourth Son Gu hurriedly squeezed next to Song Chuzhao and whispered, “Fifth Brother, this is not good.”
Song Chuzhao panicked and subconsciously looked to see if Fu Changjun had come in. The other man was indeed busy, still guarding the entrance to check guests, unable to spare himself, and his figure was not to be seen at the banquet.
Fourth Son Gu pressed her cheek with one hand, turning her head and saying, “Where are you looking? They went that way!”
Song Chuzhao glanced over: “Perhaps they just went to chat, they are all young ladies, what could happen?”
Gu Fengjian was using her body now, one punch could take out two people without a problem.
Using her feet should work too.
Fourth Son Gu said, “Everyone knows that the County Princess has been smitten with you for a long time. She already harbored resentment, and now she has privately called Third Miss out, and she even brought along Second Miss Song, what good could come of it?”
Song Chuzhao was startled. She was both surprised and curious.
She thought that Gu Fengjian usually stayed at home and rarely went out, he should not have even met a few young ladies from prominent families, yet there was actually such a beautiful and charming woman who was so devoted to him.
Song Chuzhao tentatively asked, “What does she like about me?”
“She likes your cold and heartless nature?” Fourth Son Gu was also puzzled. “Sigh, how can we understand women’s minds? It’s just like that. Besides, whether she is sincere or not, how long can that sincerity last? She acts this way in public, and everyone has always thought this way. Now that you two suddenly have a betrothal, she will definitely feel that she has lost face. She can’t vent her anger on you, so she has to take it out on Third Miss Song, right?”
Song Chuzhao nodded: “That makes sense.” So your Fifth Brother went to talk to her and could make it clear.
Fourth Son Gu waited for a moment, seeing that she was still sitting, he asked, “Aren’t you going to go take a look?”
Song Chuzhao felt it was strange for her to get involved in this matter, but everyone had the attitude of “If you don’t go, you’re not Fifth Son Gu!”, so she was forced to get up and say, “Alright, I’ll go take a look.”
Fan Chongqing patted his chest: “If anything happens, remember to call out, we will rush over immediately.”
Song Chuzhao: “…” These kids really don’t seem to have much brains.