Lin Zhen glanced at the sky and curiously asked, “What day is it today?”
Huanbi bowed and answered, “Young Master, it’s the seventh.”
No wonder. In the original plot, Gu Beichen and Liu Shuyao met at the poetry gathering. After that, the two secretly agreed to meet at Xinfeng Teahouse on the seventh of every month, where they would discuss poetry and literature with other scholars and beauties. Liu Shuyao, as the daughter of the great scholar Liu Hanyang, had been immersed in books since childhood and was known as a talented lady.
Whatever classical references or historical events Gu Beichen mentioned, she could comment on them and offer her insights.
In Great Qian Nation, where women were expected to be unlearned and virtuous, she was a rare exception, which only made Gu Beichen more obsessed with her.
And today was the seventh. They would meet at the teahouse and share their feelings. It was also there that Gu Beichen would encounter someone who would change his life forever… a female assassin.
She had planned to assassinate the wealthy merchant Zhao Dabao but failed, fleeing into the Gu family’s casino where Gu Beichen saved her.
From then on, their fates were entangled, and their love-hate relationship became unstoppable.
A sinister plan suddenly surged in Lin Zhen’s heart as he sneered maliciously, “Heh, Gu Beichen, since you dared to turn me into a mutilated human swine, I’ll snatch all your fortune and luck!”
Lin Zhen felt like a villain in a fairy tale, one who specialized in breaking up lovers and tormenting protagonists. He smirked to himself and said to Lu Dehao, “Dehao, I need you to do something for me.”
“Big Brother, just say it.”
“Find Fatty and have him bring twenty personal guards to the Yuanda Casino immediately. Tell them they can play as they like today—I’m treating.”
“Holy crap, are you serious?” Lu Dehao almost jumped off his chair. In the entire capital, only Lin Zhen had the nerve to declare he’d treat everyone in a casino. But did he have the money? Lin Zhen was bold, sure, but he was also the poorest among all the wastrels!
“Of course, I’m serious. Go now!”
“Alright, I’ll go right away.”
Lu Dehao hopped off his stool and left. Seeing this, Huanbi hurriedly said, “Young Master, you’re going to the casino? What about Madam?”
“Don’t worry, let the bullet fly for a while.”
Huanbi was about to ask what a bullet was when she suddenly felt a large hand slide under her skirt, gripping the back of her knee.
The skin-to-skin contact, without any fabric barrier, made Huanbi freeze in place, not knowing what to do.
That hand gently squeezed and slowly moved along the curve of her thigh, rubbing the inside of her leg.
Lin Zhen grinned wickedly, “Bier, this light green skirt looks really good on you.”
“Ah!” Huanbi suddenly screamed, covering her face and running toward the back hall, while Lin Zhen stared at her back and laughed heartily.
“Hahahahahaha.”
Huanbi ran behind the screen, squatted beside the sturdy nanmu pillar, and touched her burning cheeks.
She had thought this pervert had changed his nature since he hadn’t teased her in the morning while she was dressing.
Who would have thought he’d act up again in the guest hall? Find the original chapter at g.com.
It made her heart itch, like ants crawling all over.
“Why not just do something serious instead of teasing me like this every time!” Huanbi pouted. “Young Master is really annoying!”
…
Liu Shuyao changed into plain white clothes, wore a bamboo hat, looking as if she were mourning her husband.
She and her personal maid Xiao Cui, who had followed her from her maiden home, arrived at the back door.
The moment they stepped out, Xiao Cui peeked her head out nervously but also felt an illicit thrill.
She secretly resolved that even if the King of Hell himself came today, he wouldn’t stop her from seeing Gu Lang. Only a heroic and handsome man like Gu Beichen was worthy of having her as a bedroom maid.
Lin Zhen, that fool, was completely unworthy! Once the Lin family was wiped out, she would stomp on them hard to avenge her young lady’s humiliation.
Xiao Cui opened the back door.
The doorman, San Bengzi, heard the sound and turned around, “Yo! Where are the two sisters going? Why are you even wearing bamboo hats?”
Xiao Cui took a silver ingot from her pouch and tossed it to him, “Young Master, we’re going out for a stroll. Please keep it a secret for us.”
She even flashed him a sweet smile. In ancient times, gatekeepers were all clever folks, not like the old security guards of modern offices.
Of course, Lin Zhen meant to show that San Bengzi was a very clever man. Looking at the silver in his hand, San Bengzi thought it was still better to work in the mansion.
Even the maids were so generous; he wouldn’t earn this much guarding the door for a lifetime.
Not to mention such beautiful girls calling him Young Master. He immediately agreed excitedly, “Rest assured, Miss, I will keep my mouth shut!”
“Mm.”
“Hehehehe.”
San Bengzi thought he was smiling handsomely, but Xiao Cui grimaced in disgust. A tiger fallen into the plains, bullied by dogs. Even a lowly gatekeeper dared to covet her. Once Gu Beichen rescued her, she’d gouge out his eyes!
After the two left, San Bengzi withdrew his smile and put on a scrutinizing look. A servant boy carrying goods passed by and exchanged a glance with him, “Hey? San Bengzi, wasn’t that the Madam’s personal maid Xiao Cui?”
“Shh, just know it, don’t talk.” San Bengzi shook the silver ingot in his hand, “Drink tonight?”
“Sure!”
…
Xinfeng Teahouse wasn’t far away. The two girls walked for a while and arrived. They paid for tea upon entering, ignored the spittle-spewing storyteller, and went straight to the second floor.
At the corner of the staircase, sunlight streamed through the window lattice, gently illuminating a man. He stood tall and slightly thin, with an indescribable aura—three parts carefree, three parts unruly, three parts confidence, and one part sorrow.
He looked every bit like a domineering CEO. He slowly raised his head, and his gaze met Liu Shuyao, who was stepping up the stairs and lifting her bamboo hat.
At that moment, time seemed to freeze. Their eyes met in mid-air, speaking volumes without words.
“Shuyao!”
“Gu Lang…”
Gu Beichen immediately thought of something, but before he could speak, Liu Shuyao said, “Gu Lang… I… I am already a fallen woman. I’m not worthy of your affection.”
Gu Beichen clenched his fists in rage, veins popping, grinding his teeth, “Lin Zhen, that beast! How dare he defile you like this! I swear I will make him pay!”
“I am his lawful wife. What can I do… Gu Lang…” Liu Shuyao lifted her enchanting, soul-stealing eyes, looking at Gu Beichen with sorrow, “Don’t wait for me anymore. Today will be our last meeting.”
“No!”
The more Liu Shuyao said that, the more Gu Beichen felt heartbroken and anxious.
As the saying goes: a wife is not as good as a concubine, a concubine is not as good as a courtesan, a courtesan is not as good as a secret affair, and nothing beats the thrill of an unattainable love.
Gu Beichen was now stuck in the stage of wanting but unable to have her, both heart-aching and itching.
He grabbed Liu Shuyao’s shoulders, “Shuyao, the one you love is me. I won’t allow you to love anyone else!”
“I haven’t fallen for that scum! But… every part of my body has been kissed by him… every time I think of his smirk, his roughness, his savagery… I feel more and more guilty toward you.”
“Gu Lang, I am no longer worthy of you…”
“No! You are worthy!” Gu Beichen was driven nearly insane by Liu Shuyao’s words, roaring loudly, “In my heart, you are always pure and clean!”
Gu Beichen grabbed Liu Shuyao’s hands and placed them over his heart, “Come with me. His Majesty favors me. He won’t let the Lin family harm us!”
“Gu Lang…”
The scholars passing by were wide-eyed. In this era, men and women holding hands in public was still quite scandalous. Just then, a shout came from the nearby private room, “Zhao Dabao! Prepare to die!”
A burst of fighting sounds echoed.
Gu Beichen shielded Liu Shuyao behind him and looked toward the Chrysanthemum Room. Suddenly, the door burst open as a woman stumbled out.
“Bang!”
“Catch her! Don’t let her escape!”
“Dare to assassinate our master? Courting death!”
The woman seemed to have internal injuries, staggering to her feet and leaping off the balcony. “Miss!” Gu Beichen shouted, leaning over the window, seeing her land steadily and dash into the alley.
“Damn it, she’s got some skills. After her!” Six burly men stormed downstairs. Gu Beichen also pulled Liu Shuyao’s hand, “Shuyao, let’s take a look.”
“Okay.” Liu Shuyao didn’t think much of it. But after being tormented by Lin Zhen all night, her legs were extremely sore, and she couldn’t walk fast. By the time they reached the door, the person was long gone.
Gu Beichen stomped his foot in frustration, “Damn it! Missed her.”
“Gu Lang, I’m sorry… it’s all my fault…”
“It’s alright. Let’s go upstairs and continue discussing poetry.” Gu Beichen, of course, had no idea how much this encounter would affect his future. Right now, all he could think about was how to get Liu Shuyao into his arms.