“Young Master, if you need to buy anything, you could just order us to do it. Why trouble yourself to come out in person?”
Jiang He and Jiang Hai were twins who had followed Gu Chen since childhood, serving him with utmost devotion. Ever since the young master’s legs had become impaired, they had felt deeply distressed for him.
Gu Chen smiled. “An’an’s first-year celebration is approaching. Naturally, only gifts personally chosen are the best.”
Regarding An’an’s birthday, the entire Gu family agreed to count from the day Gu Yi had found her. Regardless of her past, An’an was now the beloved little treasure of the Gu household.
Jiang Hai, the younger of the twins, was naturally more lively in temperament. Given his close bond with Gu Chen, he couldn’t help but joke upon hearing this: “Little Miss An’an truly adores the young master. Yesterday, she clung to him and wouldn’t let go!”
The previous day, Gu Yi had intentionally allowed An’an to spend more time with Gu Chen. An’an already liked her elder brother very much, and coupled with her desire to cure his legs, she had nestled in Gu Chen’s arms all day long.
Jiang He also laughed. “Little Miss An’an really likes our young master!”
Gu Chen ignored their teasing. Recalling the tiny bundle that had nestled in his arms the day before, his heart softened.
None of them noticed when suddenly a young woman, head lowered and not looking where she was going, bumped toward them. Jiang He reacted swiftly, shielding Gu Chen and moving him aside.
The young lady, caught off guard, stumbled.
Before Gu Chen could say anything, the young lady’s maid, without distinguishing right from wrong, shouted at Gu Chen: “Who are you, you blind fool, to bump into our young lady! Do you even know who she is?”
The young lady she referred to wore an arrogant expression. Seeing Gu Chen seated in a wheelchair, she grew even more dismissive: “I say, since you’re a cripple, you shouldn’t come out. Save yourself from bumping into others and becoming a nuisance.”
After speaking, the young lady even pulled out a handkerchief to cover her nose, displaying an expression of utter disdain.
Hearing the young lady’s baseless slander, Jiang Hai could no longer contain himself and immediately retorted: “Which family’s young lady are you? Clearly, it was you who wasn’t watching where you were going and bumped into our young master, yet you have the nerve to falsely accuse him!”
“Who are you to interrupt when your master is speaking? What kind of lowly creature are you to bark like a dog?” the young lady snapped in a fluster.
“You—!” Jiang Hai was about to draw his sword when Gu Chen stopped him.
“Young lady, I had no intention of coming out today, but my younger sister’s full-month celebration is approaching. I had just intended to enter this Duobao Pavilion for a look when, unexpectedly, you rushed out in such haste that you nearly collided with my wheelchair. I never imagined you would turn around and blame me instead.”
Gu Chen explained the sequence of events unhurriedly, his composed demeanor making his account instinctively convincing.
“That’s right, I saw it clearly just now. It was clearly that young lady who nearly bumped into this gentleman, yet she turned around and acted aggressively. Really…”
“Yes, yes, I saw it too.”
Hearing the crowd’s continuous agreement, the young lady flushed red and blurted out recklessly: “Who do you think you are! You—”
A flash of sword light swept by as a long sword was placed directly against the young lady’s neck.
“Apologize.” Jiang He, who was usually the type to act decisively with few words, successfully silenced the young lady.
Gu Chen did not intervene.
With the sword poised as if to cut into flesh, the young lady panicked: “I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Quick, let me go!”
“Jiang He.” Gu Chen spoke unhurriedly.
Jiang He sheathed his sword.
The woman, seething with pent-up anger, caught sight of someone approaching from behind in her peripheral vision. Without a second thought, she slapped them: “What are you doing, you useless thing! Taking forever to pick something out! Truly a country bumpkin—can’t even walk past something without getting stuck, can you?!”
Smack! A slap, delivered with full force.
It startled everyone.
Zhe Zhi looked at Song Qingxi, her face filled with distress: “Miss…”
Song Qingxi covered her cheek, as if trying to preserve her last shred of dignity. Her eyes reddened, but she stubbornly held back her tears.
Just as the onlookers were about to speak up in protest, they heard the woman’s triumphant voice: “You, a mute—Father bringing you from the countryside estate to the capital is already a great favor! And you dare to pick out jewelry? Ha! People would laugh if they heard!”
“A mute, what use do you have for looking pretty?! As your elder sister, I must teach you a proper lesson, so you don’t embarrass us outside!”
Having vented enough anger, the woman swaggered off with her maid in tow.
The crowd gradually dispersed, their eyes filled with pity for Song Qingxi: A mute…
“Miss…” Zhe Zhi’s face was streaked with tears.
Song Qingxi shook her head. The tears finally fell but were quickly wiped away.
She thought: Anything would be better, as long as it wasn’t the Song family.
In her current state, death might truly be a cleaner end.
Born mute, her father deemed her worthless and had her raised on a countryside estate since childhood. If not for her younger sister, Song Shaoxi, crying and wailing about not wanting to marry, her father would never have remembered her.
But if she married and her husband discovered she was mute, wouldn’t she likely face a brutal beating?
Her gaze grew distant, but suddenly, a tube of ointment appeared before her.
Looking up, she saw a young man with an indifferent expression—neither mocking nor pitying—who simply said, “For the swelling. Keep it.”
Song Qingxi hesitated, not daring to reach out.
Gu Chen extended it further: “Even if others don’t value you, you must still take care of yourself.”
Song Qingxi accepted the ointment. Though unable to speak, she bowed deeply in gratitude.
Watching Gu Chen’s retreating figure, Song Qingxi thought: This young master is truly a kind person.
Zhe Zhi didn’t know how to comfort her mistress, so she simply supported Song Qingxi: “Miss, let me apply the ointment for you.”
Song Qingxi looked at Zhe Zhi, smiled, and nodded, then pointed to the injuries on Zhe Zhi’s wrist: Together.
Zhe Zhi, who had followed her, was often bullied but never complained once. It was Song Qingxi’s own fault for being unable to speak up and defend her.
But…
Song Qingxi secretly smiled. There was, after all, a way.
“Hey, have you heard about that young lady who slapped her sister in the street today?”
“Of course I have! Old Zhang from next door came back and said a young lady dressed in finery was publicly berating her sister! These well-fed, well-dressed young ladies aren’t all they’re cracked up to be, are they?”
“Exactly! Do you know which family she’s from?”
The aunt shook her head, cracked a melon seed, and urged her to continue.
“She’s from the family of Song Shang, the Crown Prince’s tutor!”
“Oh my, oh my! How scandalous!”
Somehow, the entire capital learned of the incident that day. Even the storytellers at the teahouses updated their scripts.
The storyteller snapped open his folding fan: “Today, we continue from where we left off. Speaking of the eldest daughter of the Song family, what a display of authority she made…”
It just so happened that rumors spread quickly in the capital, and with so many witnesses at the time, it was impossible to know where to even begin making arrests.
Somehow, this news suddenly reached the ears of the current Emperor. It is said that the Emperor angrily reprimanded Song Qingxi, saying that if he couldn’t even teach his own daughter properly, how could he possibly teach the Crown Prince? With a wave of his hand, the Emperor immediately ordered him to return home and reflect on his mistakes.
This was a devastating blow. Being sent home to reflect without a set deadline—who knew when the Emperor’s anger would subside?
Furious, Song Qingxi resorted to family discipline, beating Song Shaoxi until his skin split and flesh tore.
Upon hearing this news, Zhe Zhi beamed with delight: “Miss, your idea was brilliant! Now, she definitely won’t be able to get out of bed for at least ten days to half a month!”
Song Qingxi also smiled. She had only spread the word, never expecting it to have such a significant effect—even startling the Emperor. It could only be said that she brought this upon herself.
What she didn’t know was that after Gu Chen returned home, before he could even say anything, Jiang Hai launched into a rapid-fire account of the events. The entire Gu family was present, and naturally, An’an heard it too. Waving her little fists with an indignant expression, it was clear someone was about to face misfortune.
“Speaking of which, Chen’er is still engaged to the Grand Tutor’s daughter,” said Xu Tinglan, Gu Chen’s mother.
Gu Chen felt the collective gaze of everyone upon him: …How embarrassing.
Gu Mingshan pondered for a moment and said, “Let’s cancel the engagement another day. With a temperament like that, trouble is bound to arise sooner or later. Our Gu family cannot accommodate such a formidable presence.”
Xu Tinglan nodded. They would send a formal visit request today and go directly to break off the engagement tomorrow!