The streets were lively, filled with overlapping cries from vendors hawking their goods. Gu Zhan and Wen Yunyue walked side by side through the street, but the distance between them was wide enough for two more people to fit between them. They hardly looked like companions at all.
Naturally, Wen Yunyue did not want things to remain so distant between them. After walking for a while, she casually grabbed Gu Zhan’s sleeve and quickly led him to a jewelry stall with a smile.
“Second Young Master, help me see which hairpin looks better?”
Wen Yunyue picked out two hairpins and asked Gu Zhan to choose.
Gu Zhan stared at the two hairpins before him and fell into deep thought. The styles were practically identical, with only slight differences at the top.
To him, there was no real difference at all. Either one was fine.
So he casually pointed at one. “This one looks better.”
Wen Yunyue nodded at his answer and then bought the other one.
Gu Zhan: “…”
Then what was the point of asking him?
Seeing the strange look on his face, Wen Yunyue explained, “Actually, I already liked this one before. I just couldn’t decide.”
“Then why could you decide now?”
“That’s the strange part. After Second Young Master picked one, I realized I liked this one even more.”
Gu Zhan: “…”
To put it plainly, she had simply used him.
Hmph. The internet really was right. Women’s thoughts were impossible to predict.
After buying the hairpin, the two continued strolling through the streets. Because of their earlier interaction, Gu Zhan had already forgotten about keeping his distance from Wen Yunyue.
They wandered around for quite a while, but aside from the hairpin, Wen Yunyue bought nothing else. She was merely browsing casually.
Perhaps noticing Gu Zhan’s lack of enthusiasm, Wen Yunyue took the initiative to say goodbye after walking a little longer.
Gu Zhan immediately agreed. “I’ll have someone escort Miss Wen back.”
Wen Yunyue smiled and declined. “Thank you, Second Young Master, but the Marquis Household’s carriage is already nearby, so there’s no need to trouble you.”
Gu Zhan did not insist. Only after watching her board the carriage did he turn and leave.
Once Wen Yunyue departed, only Gu Zhan and his two servants remained.
Zhang Liu asked, “Second Young Master, shall we return to the Prince’s Estate?”
Gu Zhan shook his head. “It’s still early. Let’s go check on the cuju field.”
After listening to Wen Yunyue’s suggestion, Liu Kang was currently reaching out to illegitimate sons in the capital who possessed good cuju skills. Two of them had already been invited into the Cuju Team.
There were always people training at the cuju field. Gu Zhan did not place restrictions on them. Before beginning coordinated practice, he allowed everyone to train individually first.
Cuju was a competition that tested teamwork. Mutual understanding between players was extremely important, and that understanding could only be developed through repeated matches together.
At the moment, however, they did not even have a complete team assembled yet, much less any real coordination. For now, everyone was simply training on their own.
Gu Zhan trained at the cuju field for a long time. Only after realizing it was getting late did he finally get up to leave.
Prince’s Estate
After dinner, Gu Lin said, “Zhan’er, you do not need to pay attention to the recent rumors in the capital.”
Gu Zhan froze. “What rumors?”
He had been out every day recently. How had he not heard anything?
After speaking, Gu Zhan deliberately glanced at Zhang Liu. Normally, Zhang Liu was the one who informed him about outside news.
Seeing that he truly knew nothing, Gu Lin said, “It’s better if you don’t know.”
It was obvious he had no intention of elaborating further.
Gu Lin only spoke halfway, leaving Gu Zhan thoroughly uncomfortable. His curiosity only grew stronger, so he ordered Zhang Liu to investigate.
Not long afterward, Zhang Liu returned with his head lowered.
“Second Young Master, many people outside are saying that your engagement to Miss Wen happened because the Prince wanted the Shan Family’s military power.”
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
Gu Zhan did not understand at first.
Only after Zhang Liu reminded him did it click. “The Shan Family is Miss Wen’s maternal family. I heard they recently achieved a great victory at the border and earned great favor from Emperor Xuanwu.”
Only then did Gu Zhan recall information about the Shan Family from his memories. The original owner did not know much about them. In his mind, they were merely a group of crude military men who were not worth paying attention to.
Naturally, Gu Zhan did not think that way. Although he did not understand court politics, he knew that with such a major accomplishment, Emperor Xuanwu would certainly reward the Shan Family generously.
Moreover, as long as Great Liang remained unconquered, Great Yue would continue valuing military generals. The Shan Family’s status would never be low.
With that in mind, the rumors outside were not entirely baseless. The speculation actually sounded fairly reasonable.
At that moment, Zhang Liu carefully observed Gu Zhan’s expression before continuing with the part he had not yet said.
“The rumors also claim that Second Young Master is dissatisfied with Miss Wen and only agreed to marry her because the Prince forced him to.”
Hearing that, Gu Zhan actually felt the urge to nod in agreement. Gu Lin had not exactly forced him, but it was close enough.
Whether it was Gu Zhan or the original owner, neither of them possessed the courage to defy Gu Lin.
Meanwhile, at the Marquis Household
Wen Yunyue also learned about the rumors. Unlike Gu Zhan, she was not so naïve. Hearing the rumors repeatedly emphasize that Gu Zhan was reluctantly marrying her only because of the Shan Family, Wen Yunyue immediately sensed something was wrong.
“Qiu Lan, send people to investigate thoroughly.”
Qiu Lan moved quickly. Within only a few hours, she had already uncovered the truth.
Wen Sixin!
Wen Yunyue had guessed correctly. The rumors had indeed originated from someone within the Marquis Household, though she had not expected it to be Wen Sixin.
No wonder it had been so easy to trace.
Qiu Lan asked, “Miss, should we report this to the Marquis?”
Marquis Yong’an valued the marriage alliance with the Prince’s Estate more than anything. If he learned that Wen Sixin had spread such rumors, he would never let her off lightly.
Wen Yunyue’s gaze flickered slightly as her lips curled upward.
“Wouldn’t it be better for him to investigate it himself?”
Wen Yunyue had no intention of directly telling Marquis Yong’an the results of the investigation. Instead, during breakfast the next morning, she casually brought up the matter of the rumors.
As expected, Marquis Yong’an flew into a rage and immediately ordered people to investigate.
Seeing Marquis Yong’an’s dark expression, Wen Sixin trembled in fear. She lowered her head, terrified that he would notice something unusual.
However, a mother understood her daughter best. Seeing Wen Sixin’s behavior, Jiang Yiniang immediately sensed something was wrong.
After breakfast, once they returned to their room, Jiang Yiniang immediately asked, “Xin’er, what was wrong with you earlier?”
Wen Sixin was terrified that Marquis Yong’an would truly trace the matter back to her. Panic filled her heart, and she did not dare hide anything from Jiang Yiniang. She recounted in full how she had secretly spread the rumors.
Jiang Yiniang’s expression darkened instantly.
“Foolish girl! Why didn’t you discuss such a major matter with me first?”
Wen Sixin lowered her head in grievance. “Yiniang, you didn’t see how smug Wen Yunyue has been these past few days. I was so angry that I acted impulsively… Yiniang, I know I was wrong now. Father is already investigating. What should I do?”
Jiang Yiniang angrily poked her forehead.
“Now you know to be afraid? What were you doing earlier?”
As Marquis Yong’an’s favored concubine, no one understood his ambitions better than Jiang Yiniang. Because of that, she clearly understood how much he valued the Prince’s Estate and how much hope he placed in this marriage alliance.
Thinking of Marquis Yong’an’s cold and ruthless nature, Jiang Yiniang felt a chill in her heart. Under no circumstances could Marquis Yong’an discover Wen Sixin’s involvement.
“Xin’er, quickly get rid of everyone who knows about this matter.”
“But Yiniang, they’re all my trusted servants…”
“If you want to stay alive, then hurry up!” Jiang Yiniang shouted angrily.
Wen Sixin trembled in fright and hurriedly agreed.