“Stop!”
That commanding voice—clear and resonant—was one Gu Qinghan would never forget in this lifetime.
She slowly turned her head and saw the person most familiar to her from her previous life, the one who had accompanied her for ten years and ultimately ended her life with a single sword strike on her wedding night—Xiao Yinghuai.
He gripped Ye Junyi’s wrist tightly with one hand, his lower body planted firmly on the ground, his handsome face filled with anger.
Beside him stood a sharp and alert young guard, frowning deeply as he closely watched Ye Junyi’s movements, his hand resting on the short sword at his waist, ready to strike at any moment.
Ye Junyi hardly needed their intervention; he had already passed out from the pain, his body drained of strength and trembling uncontrollably.
A month ago, Xiao Yinghuai had been sent by his father to a neighboring county for training—essentially a trip to experience life at the grassroots level, preparing him to eventually take over his father’s position.
Xiao Yinghuai’s father held only a fifth-rank position in the court, serving as a counselor in the Office of Transmission.
His father had intended for Xiao Yinghuai to gain experience through this assignment, return to the capital, and take the imperial examinations. With this background, his path into the Office of Transmission would be smooth.
Everyone in the capital whispered that Counselor Xiao had raised a fine son. Although he had lost his mother early, he had clung to the daughter of General Gu from a young age, just like Gu Xu, reaping countless treasures in the process.
The noble ladies and young masters of the capital often remarked, “It’s better to know the right people than to be born well. Xiao Yinghuai might as well be a dog in the Gu household. Only Gu Qinghan could ever take a liking to someone like him.”
Gu Qinghan stared at Xiao Yinghuai’s handsome face. In her previous life, this face had stirred her heart, but now it only filled her with disgust.
She took a few steps back, distancing herself from Ye Junyi and Xiao Yinghuai, then turned to the young guard and called out softly, “Rong Ming.”
Hearing his mistress’s voice, Rong Ming’s rugged face immediately showed signs of tears. “Your servant pays his respects to the young miss. Has the young lady been well in the capital?”
Chun Tao, seeing Rong Ming’s words, feigned slight anger. “Is Rong Ming doubting my ability to serve the young miss properly?”
The two had grown up together, and Chun Tao was like an elder sister to Rong Ming, no different from his own family.
Rong Ming understood the playful tone in Chun Tao’s words and pretended to slap himself twice. “Of course, Sister Chun Tao is the most considerate and thorough person by the young miss’s side. I misspoke!”
He had long wanted to return to the capital. If not for the young miss’s order to ensure Xiao Yinghuai’s safety, he would have ridden back on horseback long ago.
Following Xiao Yinghuai around, watching his hypocritical and ugly antics every day, had cost him two bowls of rice in appetite.
The neighboring county was far inferior to the capital. The scorching sun had tanned his skin considerably, leaving it rough and weathered.
Gu Qinghan could tell what he was thinking just by looking at his expression. She waved her hand and said with a smile, “When we return to the mansion, I’ll give you a facial treatment—you and Sister Chun Tao both~”
Xiao Yinghuai had been left standing to the side for quite some time, watching them laugh and chat as if they didn’t know him at all.
He shook off the unconscious Ye Junyi, his gaze briefly sweeping over the fallen Gu Xu as he frowned almost imperceptibly. Then, he strode directly to Gu Qinghan, his voice unnervingly gentle and affected. “Why doesn’t Han’er greet me? Has a month apart made us strangers?”
He had expected a gentle and affectionate greeting from Gu Qinghan, or perhaps even for her to throw herself into his arms.
Slap! The sound of the slap echoed through Yong’an Tower, startling the onlookers with its crisp and resounding force.
Gu Qinghan had struck with all her strength, feeling a slight sense of relief in her heart.
“This is the Grand Prince. How could you dare to act so recklessly? If you were to harm even a hair on the Grand Prince’s noble body, how could you possibly bear the responsibility?” Gu Qinghan said expressionlessly.
The onlookers thought to themselves: Have you forgotten how resolute you were with that hairpin just now? Ouch, it looks painful just watching~
But when these words reached Ye Muyan and Xiao Yinghuai, they both believed that Gu Qinghan was taking responsibility herself to help Xiao Yinghuai escape punishment.
Xiao Yinghuai immediately bowed in apology, his face so greasy it seemed about to drip oil: “It was my fault. Han’er is right!”
Gu Qinghan found him too repulsive to look at again. She ordered the guards to carry Gu Xu back to the residence, then turned and walked out of Yong’an Tower.
At the entrance, she glanced back at Ye Junyi and noticed a small fragment of a teacup lodged in his neck.
Earlier, Ye Junyi hadn’t been stopped by Xiao Yinghuai—he had been immobilized by someone with formidable martial skills using a shard to restrain his movements.
Who could it have been?
She took one last deep look at that private room before leaving Yong’an Tower.
Xiao Yinghuai hurriedly followed behind, thinking of all the sweet nothings he had learned in the brothels, eager to try them out on Gu Qinghan.
Yong’an Tower was left with only Ye Junyi and the unconscious Westerner. The onlookers, finding no further excitement, gradually dispersed.
Private Room.
Ye Muyan held the shattered teacup in his hand, a bitter taste rising on his tongue.
Does Qingqing still have feelings for Xiao Yinghuai?
When, oh when, will he be able to appear before her, making her eyes see only him, only him, only him…
All those like Xiao Yinghuai must leave no trace in her heart—whether by killing them or exiling them, it matters not.
He would stop at nothing to drive every one of them away from Qingqing’s side.
The guard, noticing the hint of madness in Ye Muyan’s expression, couldn’t help but swallow nervously.
He quickly said, “Xiao Yinghuai is no better than the entertainers in the brothels. How could he possibly compare to Your Highness!”
Still lost in his frenzied thoughts, Ye Muyan didn’t hear his words.
The guard continued, “I noticed that Miss Han’s gaze toward Xiao Yinghuai held none of the affection from before. It was as if she were looking at something utterly repulsive.”
Ye Muyan paused, a flicker of clarity returning to him.
Is that truly the case?