Song Chuzhao rode on a tall, powerful horse, while Fu Changjun held the reins, leading her step by step.
Song Chuzhao watched his retreating figure and, unable to resist, tugged at his hair.
Fu Changjun turned his head and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Song Chuzhao shook her head nervously.
A moment later, Fu Changjun asked again, “How is your mother doing lately?”
Song Chuzhao said, “Ah, I don’t know.”
Fu Changjun said, “You don’t know?“carpreads.pages.dev
Song Chuzhao said, “Go ask her yourself.”
Fu Changjun smiled but didn’t say anything.
Song Chuzhao sighed, “You start talking about other women right in front of me.”
These words made Fu Changjun turn his head to look at her again. He said, laughing and crying at the same time, “No wonder you said before that you were always getting beaten by your mother…”
Song Chuzhao said urgently, “I didn’t! I told you I was lying. My mother is not like that at all!”
Fu Changjun nodded, neither confirming nor denying.
His reaction made Song Chuzhao feel like he was mocking her. She bent down and repeatedly assured him several times, but before she received a response, she realized they had arrived at the Song Mansion.
Seeing her dejected expression, Fu Changjun said he would give her the horse. Song Chuzhao was overjoyed, but the Song family couldn’t afford to keep a horse, so she said she would keep it at his place for now and come to fetch it when she wanted to go out with someone.
Fu Changjun naturally agreed with a smile. He also promised her that he would speak to the officials at the Imperial Insignia Guards so that she could visit whenever she wanted in the future.
Song Chuzhao asked with a smile, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll gamble away all your salary?”
Fu Changjun said, “I’m actually richer than you think.” He had Tang Zhanglian backing him.
Song Chuzhao felt a pang of sadness in her heart. Why were all these people richer than her?
Fu Changjun paused and said, “I’m going.”
After saying that, he turned and left decisively, leaving only his back in the long street.
Not long after Song Chuzhao moved into the Song family, Third Master Song also moved back, saying he wanted to help them arrange their marriage.
The date of the fifteenth day of the first lunar month was indeed too close. The Gu Mansion wanted to hold a grand wedding to make Song Chuzhao’s marriage a glorious affair. He Wan had been away from the capital for too long and was no longer familiar with the city. General Song was even worse at handling domestic affairs. The two of them were too busy to handle everything. He Wan didn’t want to ask the Song family for help, fearing that various trivial matters would lead to arguments.
The next day, Tang Zhirou came to visit Song Chuzhao, saying she wanted to take her shopping for jewelry and clothes.
No one in the capital knew more about the city’s affairs than Tang Zhirou. Seeing that the two of them were close, He Wan entrusted Tang Zhirou with the task. Tang Zhirou readily agreed, saying that she had servants in her family who were skilled in this area and could be called in to help.
He Wan was overjoyed and borrowed the servants from her.
The two of them found some free time and went out for a walk together. Tang Zhirou seemed very excited and kept talking about the hunting grounds.
Tang Zhirou patted her chest and said, “You wouldn’t believe it, but you’re so famous now! Not only do the girls admire you, but even the young masters in the capital are a little afraid of you. Of course, I played a part in that!”
Song Chuzhao looked confused, “I didn’t hit them, why would they be afraid of me?”
“Of course it’s because they’re guilty. When your name comes up, they can’t be as arrogant as they used to be. When I told them about it, they didn’t believe me at first. Not only that, they even laughed at you.”
Tang Zhirou laughed triumphantly, “So I went to Fan Chongqing to personally testify. I kept bringing up the old story, which probably annoyed him, so he came to scold me, but then my father gave him a lecture. Now he sees me and just makes a bitter face. It’s so funny.”
Song Chuzhao pondered for a moment, and a flash of inspiration struck her. She carefully took a step back and carefully examined Tang Zhirou.
Tang Zhirou was confused. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
Song Chuzhao stroked her chin and said with a knowing smile, “You’ve been spending a lot of time with Fan Chongqing lately, haven’t you?”
Tang Zhirou replied, “I just needed to use him, so I borrowed him to vent my anger. He’s got nothing better to do, so I can always find him whenever I need him. It’s not like you and Fifth Son Gu, who have been so busy lately that you’re practically invisible. I wanted to invite you out, but it’s been so hard to get a hold of you. Even when I left this morning, my father told me not to bother you.”
Song Chuzhao sighed, “Ah, it’s actually my mother who’s been busy. I’m clumsy and useless, so she doesn’t expect me to help her with anything. You should come visit me instead. I’m so bored.”
Tang Zhirou was overjoyed at this and clapped her hands in delight. “Great!” she exclaimed.
Tang Zhirou was just thinking about where she should take Song Chuzhao to play when she saw a group of people dressed in luxurious clothes emerge from around the corner. She immediately called out, “Hey, isn’t that Fifth Son Gu?”
Song Chuzhao had already seen them.
Not only was Gu Fengjian there, but Madam Gu and Fourth Son Gu were with him as well. They were accompanied by several strong and healthy servants, likely out to pick something out.
Madam Gu held a fan in her hand and walked towards them, smiling as she said, “According to the rules, you two shouldn’t be seen together right now. But you can meet in secret.”
Tang Zhirou replied, “I know. I’ll take her away!”
Song Chuzhao was pulled away by Tang Zhirou, only managing to glance back. She saw Gu Fengjian turn his head as well, his deep gaze falling upon her.
Song Chuzhao and Tang Zhirou spent a long time wandering around outside before returning to the Song Mansion as dusk approached.
He Wan gave her a lot of silver, telling her to buy whatever she liked. If she ran out of money, she could put it on the He Mansion’s account.
Actually, He Wan didn’t restrict her spending while they were at the border, but she always gave her money whenever she asked. However, the resources at the border were scarce, and there wasn’t much worth spending money on. Song Chuzhao didn’t like spending money much, and it had become a habit.
As it turned out, Tang Zhirou was just like Gu Fengjian, a generous spender. She insisted on sending Song Chuzhao a lot of things, having them carried to the Song Mansion.
It got dark early in winter. After washing up, Song Chuzhao moved around in her room for a while, changed her clothes, and prepared to go to sleep.
She leaned against the bed, flipping through a storybook in her hand, engrossed in the story. In a daze, she seemed to hear faint shouts and the sound of stones being thrown.
Song Chuzhao’s ears were always sharp, and she was sure she hadn’t misheard. The sound was very close to her courtyard, and it seemed like it was deliberately meant for her to hear.
Song Chuzhao thought to herself, “No way,” and quickly put on her shoes, rushing out.
Following the source of the sound, she quickly climbed onto the wall and looked down. She thought it must be her imagination.
Gu Fengjian was actually standing at the foot of the wall, looking up at the top.
Their eyes met, one looking down and the other looking up.
How similar this scene was! Only the setting and the people were different.
Song Chuzhao leaned on the wall and called out, “Fifth Son Gu!”
“Shh,” Gu Fengjian held up a finger, signaling her to be quiet.
Seeing this, Song Chuzhao found it amusing and asked, “Your position isn’t good. Do you want me to pull you up?”
Gu Fengjian said, “No need. I just came to see you.”
Song Chuzhao assumed he was disgusted by the act of climbing the wall, which was too barbaric, and whispered, “You can also use the door. I know where the side door is.”
Gu Fengjian laughed. His smile was faint in the darkness.
“No need,” he said. “If I enter the courtyard, people will see me.”
Song Chuzhao adjusted her posture, leaning her head out a little, and asked, “Then what are you doing here?”
Gu Fengjian said, “I saw you weren’t looking well today, and I wondered if something was bothering you.”
Song Chuzhao mumbled, “Not really.”
Gu Fengjian asked, “Is there anything you’re worried about, or anything you find inappropriate?”
Song Chuzhao said, “No.”
Gu Fengjian lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then changed his approach.
“How about this, if there’s anything you want to tell me, tell me frankly and honestly today. If I can change, I will.”
Song Chuzhao thought for a moment and said, “You could exercise more. You’re not in good health, and you’re always cooped up in the house. If you moved around and exercised more, maybe it would improve.”
This was indeed a valid point. Thanks to Song Chuzhao, Gu Fengjian’s physique had become quite strong, and he no longer felt so cold in the winter.
“Okay,” Gu Fengjian nodded in agreement. “Then I’ll find General Fu when I have time and ask him to teach me.”
Song Chuzhao exclaimed in surprise, “Wouldn’t that be tough on you?” You don’t have to go directly to the general. That’s dangerous.
Gu Fengjian said, “Didn’t you go through the same hardships?”
Song Chuzhao said, “I’m used to it.”
Gu Fengjian said with a matter-of-fact expression, “I can get used to it too.”
Song Chuzhao asked, “Is there anything you want me to do?”
Gu Fengjian shook his head. “No.”
Song Chuzhao immediately felt awkward.
“Don’t be like that, just say something,” Song Chuzhao said. “Tell me, and I’ll change.”
Gu Fengjian pulled out a hand that had been behind his back and gestured, “Step back a little.”
Song Chuzhao pulled her head back.
Gu Fengjian said, “Go down a little more.”
Only Song Chuzhao’s dark head remained on the wall. “What are you doing?”
Gu Fengjian assessed for a moment, then said, “Go down further.”
Song Chuzhao simply jumped back to the ground and asked through the wall, “Is that better now?”
“Catch.”
As soon as the person on the other side spoke, Song Chuzhao saw a black object tossed over the wall.
Because it was too dark, she couldn’t see clearly, so she quickly rushed forward and caught the object with her skirt.
Song Chuzhao felt the package with her hand and realized it was warm. Before even opening it, she could smell the rich aroma unique to roast goose.
She instinctively swallowed, and her stomach, which hadn’t been hungry before, began to rumble.
“Wow!” Song Chuzhao was amazed. At this hour, where could Gu Fengjian have bought something like this?
She climbed back onto the wall, but Gu Fengjian had already turned and left.
Song Chuzhao held up the paper package and called out to him. Gu Fengjian turned back, then made a silencing gesture towards her. He raised his arm, signaling for her to hurry back.