“Ah—!”
However, before Jiang Ning’s palm strike could land solidly, her wrist was seized with tremendous force, causing her to cry out in pain.
Gu Jianshen turned his head and said in a deep voice, “What are you doing?”
Oh no.
Her sneak attack had missed completely, and she had been caught red-handed!
Staring into darkness with a sinking heart, Jiang Ning was on the verge of collapsing. She instinctively leaned against Gu Jianshen, sobbing, “My foot hurts, I just wanted to steady myself, sob~”
Feeling the two soft, round mounds pressed against his back, Gu Jianshen immediately released Jiang Ning’s wrist, distanced himself, and said, “I do not have physical contact with women.”
He then added, “For martial artists, having someone touch them from behind is the absolute taboo. Be careful, you could easily get beaten to death.”
Clutching her swollen wrist, Jiang Ning was in so much pain she was nearly sobbing uncontrollably.
She mumbled vaguely through her tears, “Sob~ I won’t dare do it again.”
Hearing the crying made Gu Jianshen somewhat irritable; unwilling to listen to these sobs any longer, he barked, “Stop crying!”
Jiang Ning shuddered with fright, instantly silencing her vocal cries, though she couldn’t help hiccuping and sniffling involuntarily.
Gu Jianshen remarked, “Why are you so prone to tears?”
Both times he had seen her, she had been crying.
Grieved, Jiang Ning wanted to cry even more, but under a glare from his eyes, she forced the tears right back down.
She was the one who wanted to ask why.
For the past three years, she and Wen Ya had lived happily and peacefully in this estate.
Ever since Gu Jianshen, her target assignment, returned to the capital, her days had been spent entirely under constant threat and intimidation.
Was it because she loved to cry?
Who wanted to cry!
On the way back to Qingxiang Quarters.
Gu Jianshen strode forward with long strides while Jiang Ning trailed reluctantly behind with tiny, dragging steps.
Beneath the clear breeze and bright moonlight, the moonlight stretched their two shadows out, and with every step Jiang Ning took, she deliberately stomped right on the head of Gu Jianshen’s shadow.
Stomp, stomp, keep stomping.
Looking so handsome yet striking so ruthlessly, he had zero chivalry toward a maiden.
Her wrist was still throbbing with pain; she wondered if he had actually crushed her bones.
At the entrance of Qingxiang Quarters.
Gu Jianshen came to a halt. “We’re here. Go on inside.”
Jiang Ning also stopped, peering timidly into the courtyard without stepping foot inside.
It was pitch-black and dead silent; she had no idea whether that rough brute was still inside or not.
Gu Jianshen stated, “That man is no longer inside.”
Still, the maidservants of Qingxiang Quarters had remained completely undisturbed until now, sleeping soundly in their beds without even realizing their mistress had bolted—truly derelict in their duties.
Still lacking the courage to enter alone, Jiang Ning cautiously reached out to tug on Gu Jianshen’s sleeve, shaking it as she said timidly, “Can you accompany me inside to check?”
Lowering his gaze to look at the small hand tugging at his sleeve, Gu Jianshen asked, “Have you forgotten what I said?”
Instantly withdrawing her hand, Jiang Ning stammered, “No physical contact with women—remembered, remembered, I remember.”
Gu Jianshen flicked his sleeve and stepped into Qingxiang Quarters, effectively granting Jiang Ning’s plea.
Following closely behind him, Jiang Ning re-entered Qingxiang Quarters.
The rough brute was indeed gone.
Jiang Ning heaved a massive sigh of relief.
Gu Jianshen stared at the shattered door for a moment before turning around to leave.
Not trying to make him stay any longer, Jiang Ning hurriedly took off the outer robe and put her own clothes back on properly.
Only belatedly did Jiang Ning realize that this outer robe looked rather opulent and noble—how could an ordinary guard afford such an item?
The East Courtyard.
As Gu Jianshen stepped into the courtyard, he saw someone kneeling formally, waiting for him.
Kowtowing to Gu Jianshen, Zhang Tao said, “Master, this subordinate was in the wrong. I beg the master to punish me!”
Gu Jianshen asked, “Who was the woman you said you liked today?”
With his forehead pressed against the ground—having already kowtowed hard enough to draw blood—Zhang Tao dared not lie. “It is Concubine Jiang.”
Gu Jianshen sighed softly.
After a long silence, Gu Jianshen finally spoke: “From now on, you are not to lay a finger on Lady Jiang. I will betroth Jiang’s maidservant, Yan’er, to you. Are you willing?”
Overjoyed and pleasantly surprised, Zhang Tao asked, “The master is not punishing me?”
Gu Jianshen replied, “Punishment is punishment, but the betrothal stands as well.”
Zhang Tao had seen Yan’er a few times; she was a rather dainty young girl.
Though she lacked Concubine Jiang’s bright and captivating beauty, having someone was better than having no one at all. Besides, since the master had personally arranged the match, he had no grounds for refusal.
Kowtowing once more, Zhang Tao answered, “This subordinate is willing.”
Gu Jianshen instructed further, “Go to the disciplinary room to receive your punishment.”
“Yes!”
The next morning.
“Oh heavens, why has the door fallen down?”
Jiang Ning hadn’t slept well all night, and hearing Yan’er’s voice, she opened her eyes.
Yan’er slept in the small room right next to hers, yet last night’s commotion hadn’t woken her up. It was only when she arrived to deliver the morning washwater on schedule that she discovered the door had collapsed.
Holding the wash basin, Yan’er hurried inside. Seeing Jiang Ning fully clothed and lying on the bed, she exclaimed in shock, “Concubine Jiang, are you alright?”
Jiang Ning simply replied indifferently, “Nothing is the matter.”
What could one expect from a heavy-sleeping young girl?
She still had her own uncertain future to worry about.
Knowing she was in the wrong, Yan’er carefully and attentively served Jiang Ning as she washed up.
After breakfast, Mammy Li from the East Courtyard cheerfully stepped into Qingxiang Quarters, offered a proper greeting to Jiang Ning, and then pulled Yan’er aside to offer her congratulations.
“Girl Yan’er, a blessing has fallen from the skies. This old woman is here to congratulate you!”
Taken completely aback, Yan’er was panicked and didn’t know what to do.
Mammy Li was notoriously snobbish; junior servant girls like them had never received a kind word from her, her mouth always full of reprimands and lectures about discipline. Today, however, it seemed the sun was rising from the west because she was actually smiling at her and offering congratulations.
Sensing something was amiss as well, Jiang Ning asked, “Mammy, may I ask what this blessing is about?”
Mammy Li answered, “The Master has arranged an exceptional marriage for Yan’er. The groom is Head Guard Zhang Tao, and the Master has even purchased a rather decent courtyard on West Street to serve as your wedding home. Once Yan’er marries over, she will be the legal mistress of the household.”
As she spoke, Mammy Li handed Yan’er’s deed of sale back to her. “Starting today, a blessed girl like you has completely shaken off your lowly status and is about to live a good life.”
Yan’er’s hands holding the deed of sale trembled uncontrollably. Still in a daze, it took her a short while to comprehend what was happening. Her eyes turned red, and tears streamed down her face.
Incredulous, she asked, “Mammy Li, is it really the Head Guard?”
Nodding, Mammy Li said, “Look at you, crying tears of joy. I can vouch for this with my life—it is 100% genuine. The Master arranged this match personally, so there’s no mistake.”
Upon hearing this, Yan’er burst into loud sobs, tears and snot running down together. She didn’t look like someone crying from happiness; rather, she looked as though she had been scared half to death.
Mammy Li rolled her eyes in mild disgust. “You just keep crying endlessly. I came here personally, and instead of thanking me, you just stand there crying.”
Jiang Ning pulled Mammy Li aside and slipped her a few pieces of broken silver.
Only then did Mammy Li put away her disdain and look satisfied.
Jiang Ning said, “Mammy, please don’t mind her. Yan’er is still young and lost her composure out of sudden overexcitement.”
Mammy Li countered, “She’s not that young anymore—she’s already eighteen. Girls her age already have children.”
Mammy Li went on to advise, “If she’s too ignorant right now and wants to cry, let her cry. But once she marries into the Zhang family, she cannot throw tantrums and cry like this anymore, lest people laugh at us Gu family servants for lacking discipline.”