When Gu Yunrong and Gu Jiayan approached and learned what had happened, they were both at a loss for words.
It turned out that when Huan Che and his party reached the area near Yuebo Bridge, they happened to encounter the people from the second branch of the Gu family and several young men from their relatives’ families flying kites on the bridge.
The kites belonging to Gu Jiaping and Gu Jia’an had both been blown by the wind toward Huan Che’s horse. Huan Che drew his sword and made a quick slash through the air, cutting both strings. The kites immediately fell into the water.
The two brothers from the second branch were already annoyed because their companions had been making fun of them. Now, seeing their kites destroyed, they became even angrier and rushed over with the others to confront Huan Che.
Huan Che had probably decided to go out on a whim and had not brought an attendant who understood the local Wu dialect. The locals were making a great commotion, speaking loudly in their dialect. Huan Che and his party could not understand what they were saying and had no intention of getting involved. However, the two brothers from the second branch refused to let the matter go, and an argument broke out.
After all, the second branch belonged to the same Gu family. Gu Yunrong and her brother worried that Huan Che might take his anger out on the entire family, so they immediately apologized. Then, speaking in the Wu dialect, they tried to reason with the two brothers.
Gu Jiayan sternly ordered Gu Jiaping and Gu Jia’an to apologize to Huan Che.
However, the second branch had always been at odds with the first. Naturally, the two brothers refused to listen. They stiffened their necks and demanded angrily, “Why should we?”
Gu Jiayan’s mouth twitched.
Why?
Because this man’s father was the Emperor!
Seeing Huan Che dressed like an ordinary person, Gu Jiayan understood that he did not want others to discover his identity. He did not dare reveal the truth to the two brothers, so he lowered his voice and told them that the man before them was someone of high status whom they could not afford to offend.
At the same time, Gu Yunrong turned around and bowed respectfully to Huan Che. She quietly studied his expression. Seeing that the anger on his face had eased, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
But then she began to feel that something was strange.
Why did he look less and less like someone who was ill?
Still, since she had something she wanted to discuss with him, she carefully chose her words and asked, “I heard that you have been feeling unwell recently. Have you recovered at all?”
As soon as she finished speaking, Gu Yunrong herself felt awkward. But there was nothing else she could do at the moment. Once all these matters were settled, she would no longer have to meet Huan Che.
Huan Che turned his eyes and met her clear, bright gaze.
It had been more than half a month since they last saw each other. This young girl seemed to have grown even bolder.
His gaze lingered briefly on her delicate neck. Without changing his expression, he replied, “No, I haven’t recovered.”
His answer was not surprising, but Nayun still glanced at his master.
Given the prince’s usual temperament, he would normally have ignored the question and simply turned away.
Earlier, after leaving Listening to the Maples Retreat, they had ridden around aimlessly, hoping to encounter someone they wanted to see. When they found no one, they headed toward the naval camp. On their way back, the prince noticed that a temple fair was being held nearby. He dismounted and decided to walk, observing the people and local customs as he made his way back.
Who would have expected to encounter such a commotion near Yuebo Bridge?
Gu Yunrong was quickly thinking of how to bring up her father and the Shen family when she heard a familiar male voice behind her.
It was Song Wenxuan.
He was also holding a kite. Like the two brothers from the second branch, he had arranged to meet some people for a kite-flying competition.
Song Wenxuan usually handled arrests and patrols, so he was quite familiar with dealing with disputes. After hearing what had happened, he immediately stepped in to settle the argument. Once everything was resolved, he began talking to Gu Yunrong, clearly hoping to show off his skills in front of her.
“Not to boast, but in this entire area, I’ve never met anyone who could beat me at flying kites! Just watch closely in a moment.”
Song Wenxuan stood before Gu Yunrong, patting his chest confidently. Then he waved to the group behind him, leading them toward a distant grassy field to launch their kites.
He was not exaggerating. The two brothers from the second branch had both lost to him before.
Gu Jia’an, the younger of the two, studied Huan Che for a moment before suddenly asking, “Can you beat Brother Song? If you can defeat him, we’ll forget about you destroying our kites. I’ll even ask you to teach me!”
Huan Che glanced at Gu Yunrong.
She was momentarily stunned, but quickly understood what he meant and repeated the question in the official language.
Gu Jiaping and Gu Jia’an had both learned some official language, but perhaps they were deliberately making things difficult for the newcomer, so they had insisted on speaking in the Wu dialect.
Gu Yunrong did not take the matter seriously. Huan Che would surely have no interest in such a childish challenge. Her mind was occupied with finding a way to bring up the matters she wanted to discuss with him.
That was why she did not react at all when she heard Huan Che order one of his guards to buy him a kite.
She watched as Huan Che handed his horse to Nayun and turned toward the grassy field where Song Wenxuan and the others had gathered.
Alarmed, she hurried after him.
“Your Highness… You are still unwell. Please be careful not to catch a chill! There’s no need to take their challenge seriously…”
Although she honestly could not see anything wrong with him, it was better to be cautious. Her father was still in his hands. If Huan Che remained ill for another two or three months, her father might never get out of prison!
Gu Jiayan could hardly bear to watch.
His little sister was probably too deeply infatuated to be saved.
Huan Che noticed Gu Yunrong following him from the corner of his eye and slowed his steps.
“How exactly do people compete in kite flying here?”
Seeing how energetic he looked, Gu Yunrong guessed that he had suddenly become interested in the game. She opened her mouth a few times before finally explaining.
The rules for kite fighting in the Hangzhou area were somewhat unusual. Usually, several participants would maneuver their kite strings against one another, trying to cut or tangle their opponents’ strings. Whoever had their string cut first lost, while the person whose string remained intact until the end won.
Although it seemed like a simple game, it required considerable strength, precision, and quick reactions.
During festivals and temple fairs, young men often gathered in groups on bridges to compete. Like watching the tidal bore of the Qiantang River, kite fighting had become one of the area’s local traditions.
Gu Yunrong looked at Huan Che with obvious concern.
He had never competed in kite fighting before. What if he lost? Even if he became upset, that would not be the worst thing. The wind was rather cold today. What if he became even more ill?
Perhaps her nervousness and worry were simply too obvious. When Huan Che received the kite his guard had bought, he looked at her for a moment.
His mood seemed to improve even more. He even asked whether she knew of anything he should pay special attention to when competing.
Since this was a game for young men, Gu Yunrong had never competed herself. She casually replied, “I’m not very familiar with it either… But you are naturally quick-witted and exceptionally intelligent. I’m sure you’ll understand how it works in no time.”
She had always been good at speaking sweetly. Now that she had something she wanted from him, her talent for flattery had improved even further. Compliments came effortlessly from her mouth.
Huan Che kept his expression calm, but his lighthearted movements seemed to reveal that he was enjoying her praise.
He slowly arranged the kite string and then turned toward the field.
Song Wenxuan and the others were already halfway through their competition. When they saw the man who had nearly fought with Gu Jiaping and the others earlier suddenly joining in, they assumed he had come to cause trouble. One by one, they deliberately maneuvered their kites to cut his string.
Gu Yunrong’s palms were sweating as she watched. She turned to Gu Jiayan and saw that he also wore an indescribable expression.
Huan Che really was quick to learn. Since he had trained in martial arts, his strength was considerable as well.
At first, Gu Yunrong watched him remain calm and thought he might unexpectedly win. But before long, five or six kite strings came rushing toward his, trying to cut it from different directions.
She immediately sensed that something was wrong.
In the brief moment she looked away, Huan Che’s kite string was cut, and the kite fell to the ground.
From a distance, Gu Yunrong saw that his expression had darkened. After hesitating briefly, she went over to comfort him.
Although Huan Che always seemed difficult to approach, he sometimes had a surprisingly childish side. When he was unhappy, a few gentle words could often improve his mood almost immediately.
At least, that had always worked for Gu Yunrong.
She had once lost his belt and managed to get out of trouble using exactly the same approach.
Gu Yunrong’s voice was naturally soft and sweet. Since she was deliberately trying to soothe him, her words sounded especially gentle, like a warm spring breeze. The young man’s gloomy expression gradually softened.
Gu Yunrong had not expected him to become upset simply because he lost a game. She guessed that it was probably because he was still young and had the pride and competitiveness typical of a young man.
As Huan Che listened to her gentle words, he continued watching Song Wenxuan and the others compete. His gaze shifted slightly, and a thought seemed to occur to him.
A moment later, he suddenly strode away.
Gu Yunrong stopped speaking and stared at him in surprise.
She watched as he ordered his guard to buy another kite. Then, holding the string, he headed straight back toward the grassy field.
This time, Huan Che was much more familiar with the game. As soon as he joined, he managed to cut three kite strings.
In the end, his kite came face-to-face with Song Wenxuan’s.
Huan Che quickly shifted his feet several times. With a turn of his wrist and a sharp pull of his elbow, Song Wenxuan’s kite string snapped.
The kite wobbled in the air before plunging straight to the ground.
Everyone watching was stunned.
With such impressive skills, if this young man could swim, he would be more than capable of diving into the raging Qiantang River to catch fish riding the waves!
However, Gu Yunrong had neither the time nor the mood to admire his performance.
She quickly walked over to Gu Jiayan and whispered something in his ear.
Huan Che heard the crowd cheering and turned to look around. But he saw that Gu Yunrong had her back to him and was discussing something with Gu Jiayan.
Whatever they were talking about, she was not even looking in his direction.
His movements paused. He lowered his eyes and gathered up the kite string.
Gu Jia’an was so excited by what he had witnessed that he could hardly contain himself. When Huan Che returned, the boy hurried over and awkwardly used the official language to say that he wanted to become his student.
Huan Che paid him no attention. He handed the kite to his attendant, then mounted his horse.
Meanwhile, Gu Yanyu, who had been watching the competition with several young ladies nearby, twisted the handkerchief in her hands again and again until it was almost torn apart.
She had always believed that Xie Jing was already one of the most handsome and elegant men in the world. But after seeing this young man today, she realized how limited her previous experience had been.
Perhaps the line from the poem, His beauty shines as brightly as the moon on a festive night, was written to describe someone like him.
She and her companions had been staring at him for quite some time, unable to look away.
The young man seemed to know the Gu Yunrong siblings. She had no idea what his relationship with the first branch of the Gu family was.
Suddenly, she found herself looking down on Guo Rui a little.
Men admired beautiful women, and women naturally admired handsome men as well. She was not unattractive herself, so why should she marry an ordinary-looking man? It was not as though Guo Rui’s family was particularly wealthy either.
Still, the young man seemed cold and indifferent toward everyone. She probably had no chance with him.
But she refused to believe that Gu Yunrong could get close to him either.
Gu Yanyu curled her lip in disdain.
Seeing that Huan Che was about to leave, Gu Yunrong approached him with her brother. She said there was something she wished to ask him.
After thinking it over, she decided it would be better to speak honestly. With someone like Huan Che, trying to beat around the bush would only make her look foolish.
Huan Che gently urged his horse forward, holding the reins loosely as he moved at an unhurried pace. It seemed he was allowing them to speak.
Gu Yunrong gave her brother a meaningful look, and Gu Jiayan followed alongside the horse.
Inside her sedan chair, Xie Yi had been watching everything from a distance. She let out a quiet sigh.
Her brother was still desperately trying to find a way to restore his engagement with Gu Yunrong. But now she was beginning to think that all his efforts might be pointless.
As she thought about this, she suddenly noticed a sedan chair with blue curtains pushing through the noisy crowd, heading directly toward the Moon Elder Shrine to the east.
Its four corners were decorated with carved cloud patterns, and its richly embroidered curtains looked especially magnificent among the several ordinary black-lacquered sedan chairs nearby.
However, Xie Yi only glanced at it before looking away.
Hangzhou was a prosperous place. It was hardly unusual for the female members of a wealthy or influential family to come out to burn incense and enjoy the temple fair.
Gu Yunrong had asked her to leave earlier. Xie Yi had originally intended to stay and see whether something had happened that she could help with, but now it seemed there was no need.
After Gu Jiayan tactfully explained what he wanted to ask Huan Che, he heard the prince’s voice from atop his horse. His tone revealed neither anger nor pleasure.
“Gu Tongfu is fine. He will be able to return home soon. There is no need to worry about this matter, and you do not need to ask again.”
Although Gu Jiayan found his words somewhat unconvincing, the prince had already made his position clear. He could hardly continue pressing him.
Just as he was about to take his leave, he saw his younger sister hurrying over.
Gu Jiayan shot her a warning glare, but she completely ignored him. She went straight to Huan Che’s horse, raised her head, and announced that she also had something to discuss with him.
Gu Jiayan’s face turned green.
Something else? What could she possibly have to say now?
The horse beneath Huan Che seemed to slow down even further. Holding the reins, he simply said, “Speak.”
Gu Yunrong spoke with great seriousness.
“There are many interesting places around here worth visiting. You had official duties to attend to before, so I imagine you didn’t have the chance to see everything. Since the West Lake Incense Fair is being held now, why don’t my brother and I show you around? We can take the opportunity to make up for the trouble caused earlier and do our best as your hosts. What do you think?”
Gu Jiayan noticed the nervous look in her eyes and suddenly remembered something.
There was a Moon Elder Shrine to the east…
She couldn’t possibly be planning to take this man there, could she?
Fortunately, the prince before them did not seem to be in a good mood. Surely he would not entertain his little sister’s ridiculous idea…
Sure enough, Huan Che did not answer for a while.
Gu Jiayan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
But then Huan Che suddenly pulled on the reins, stopped his horse, and turned to look at them.