Beneath the Surface

Fourth Son Gu was meeting with someone not far away. Duke Gu had called him out to help with something. ...

Those words stunned Song Chuzhao, leaving her momentarily speechless. Gu Fengjian, however, noticeably paused in his movements. ...

Song Chuzhao led Gu Fengjian toward the garden. ...

Song Shiwen returned to the Song Mansion, her mind preoccuppied. The steward was just about to order someone to prepare a carriage to meet her outside the garden. Seeing her appear, he was slightly surprised and quickly stepped forward, saying, “Second Miss, why have you returned so early today? Did something happen at the banquet?” ...

The crowd around her buzzed and chattered, but Song Shiwen couldn’t hear a single word. ...

Tang Zhanglian asked her to compose a poem, and Song Chuzhao was not at all hesitant. After all, Gu Fengjian had already given her instructions. Moreover, Tang Zhanglian had no intention of making things difficult for her, simply asking her to write freely. ...

The four arrived to find that His Majesty was already seated on the main seat in the garden. ...

The three stood beneath a verdant ancient tree. A short distance away, on the roadside, several stone lanterns were set up. By the time the firelight reached them, it had been dimmed considerably, obscuring their expressions, making them appear hazy and indistinct. ...

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 two sat facing each other, the flickering candlelight illuminating their faces. ...