Gu Yunrong was extremely surprised by this sudden turn of events.
Huan Che should have already stopped the secret transaction and captured the pirates involved. Why were Japanese pirates still causing trouble? Could this be another group of raiders?
That was certainly possible. After all, this was the season when Japanese pirates frequently launched attacks along the coast.
Her mother, elder sister, father, and brother hurriedly pulled one another along as they made their way out of the Guo residence.
Judging from everyone’s panicked reactions, Gu Yunrong had initially thought the pirates had already entered the city. However, the streets were filled only with frightened residents fleeing in all directions. There was no sign of Japanese pirates inside the city. Instead, several groups of soldiers and constables were trying to calm the crowds and guide people to safety.
Halfway along the road, their carriage suddenly stopped.
Chunsha, the maid, got down to ask what was happening. When she returned, she reported, “Young Master Xie is outside. He says he wishes to pay his respects.”
Madam Xu immediately waved her hand. “Tell him we don’t need to see him.”
But before Chunsha could respond, Xie Jing’s voice came from outside.
“Aunt, I know something about the situation in the city. I can explain it to you.”
As soon as Xie Jing finished speaking, Gu Tongfu’s voice could be heard. It seemed he had begun talking with Xie Jing.
A short while later, Xie Jing approached the carriage window. He politely greeted the women inside through the curtain before briefly explaining the current situation.
It turned out that the Japanese pirates had not yet attacked Hangzhou City itself. However, they had appeared outside Chang’an Town, which was not far from Hangzhou Prefecture.
The gates of Hangzhou Prefecture had already been closed, and the city was under strict lockdown. Meanwhile, people from the surrounding villages and countryside north of the city, outside Wulin Gate, had gathered there in large numbers, hoping to enter the city for protection.
There were approximately a hundred thousand refugees.
Ni Hongtu, the Deputy Education Commissioner stationed at Wulin Gate, had opened the city gates to let them in. As a result, a huge number of people from the surrounding countryside had flooded into Hangzhou.
When news of this reached Qiantang County, it caused widespread panic.
Gu Yunrong’s expression darkened. She lifted the carriage curtain and asked, “Did Ni Hongtu open the city gates without permission from his superiors?”
Xie Jing had not seen Gu Yunrong for some time. When he finally saw her again, he could not help being momentarily stunned.
With light makeup and a new outfit, Gu Yunrong looked even more radiant than before.
“I’m not entirely sure,” Xie Jing replied, shaking his head.
Seeing that Gu Yunrong was about to lower the curtain, he quickly added, “However, the refugees have already begun to be redirected toward our county. I know the roads around here fairly well. I can guide your family.”
“Thank you for explaining, Cousin.”
Gu Yunrong lowered the curtain and turned toward Madam Xu.
“Mother, Father, you and Mother can decide whether to accept Cousin’s offer.”
After saying that, she returned to her seat and fell into thought.
If Huan Che was coordinating the response in Hangzhou Prefecture, then things should be under control. She only hoped that Ni Hongtu’s decision would not cause him trouble.
Now that Yu Sixian’s case had been resolved, perhaps he was the one stationed outside Chang’an Town.
Gu Yunrong sighed inwardly.
The empire was vast, with a large population and considerable resources. Yet it continued to suffer repeated defeats at the hands of Japanese pirates. There were clearly serious problems within the military and government.
She hoped Huan Che would remain in Zhejiang for a while longer and carry out a thorough reform, eliminating the long-standing corruption and abuses. Otherwise, no one knew how long it would take to eradicate the threat of Japanese pirates.
More than half a month later, Gu Yunrong learned from Gu Tongfu that the Japanese pirates had been driven back to the mudflats near Zhapu.
Although the battle could be considered a victory, Huan Che had flown into a terrible rage at the Haining County government office. Local officials and wealthy gentry had been so frightened that they knelt on the ground before him.
According to the reports, some local gentry had nearly caused Haining County to fall into enemy hands because of their own selfish interests.
Gu Yunrong more or less understood what had happened. This only strengthened her belief that Huan Che should not leave Zhejiang.
With his dual status as a prince and an imperial commissioner, along with his intelligence and determination, no one was more suitable than him to carry out such a difficult task.
After hearing that the Japanese pirates had been driven back, Gu Tongfu once again began making plans to hold a banquet and find a suitable husband for his daughter.
Madam Xu also felt that the matter should not be delayed. The couple began making preparations in earnest over the next few days.
Gu Yunrong simply let them handle everything.
She had never paid much attention to her other cousins in her previous life. If they happened to find someone suitable this time, that would be a good thing.
It was currently the rainy season in Jiangnan. The sky was either pouring rain or threatening to do so, and the sun rarely appeared.
Because Hangzhou had been under lockdown, Gu Yunrong had not gone out for nearly a month. Thinking that once she became engaged, going out might become even more difficult, she decided to take advantage of an opportunity.
Madam Xu was planning to go shopping for rouge and face powder with the maid Rendong. Gu Yunrong pleaded with her mother to take her along.
There was a row of shops near the alley where the Gu family lived, so they decided to walk instead of taking a carriage.
Since puddles covered the streets, Gu Yunrong did not bother wearing anything too delicate. She put on an old pair of embroidered boots with thick wooden soles, suitable for walking through water.
She chatted happily with Madam Xu while leisurely browsing the shops.
However, shortly after they left the cosmetics shop, Gu Yunrong suddenly stopped walking.
Madam Xu looked at her in surprise.
“What’s wrong?”
Gu Yunrong stood frozen for a moment before answering with a miserable expression.
“My… shoe seems to have broken.”
She had worn these boots for two or three years, and their color had already faded. However, because the soles were made of wood, they were sturdy and durable.
Since Jiangnan received so much rain, she was accustomed to wearing them whenever she went out to walk through puddles.
Who would have thought that part of the sole would come loose today?
The back half of her left boot had detached. Every time she lifted her foot, the loose sole flapped up and down.
Her skirt was not long enough to cover it.
After understanding what had happened, Madam Xu thought for a moment.
“Rendong, go back home and ask one of the servants to harness the mule. Have him bring the carriage here to pick us up. We’ll wait here.”
Rendong agreed and hurried off.
But barely had she left when rain began falling from the sky again.
Madam Xu had only one umbrella with her. The other two had been taken away by Rendong when she left. What unfortunate timing!
The rain grew heavier and heavier. One umbrella was not enough to protect two people, so Madam Xu had no choice but to support her daughter as they hurried beneath the eaves of a nearby shop.
Wuwu happened to notice them. He quietly said to Nayun, “Doesn’t that look like Miss Gu?”
The rain made it difficult to see clearly, so he was not completely certain.
Nayun looked carefully for a moment before calling out, “It really is Miss Gu! The woman beside her looks like Madam Gu.”
Wuwu covered his ears. He was just about to complain that Nayun did not need to shout so loudly when he noticed their master’s gaze turning in their direction.
A summer rainstorm could become a torrential downpour in the blink of an eye.
With the wind driving the rain sideways, an umbrella was almost useless. Gu Yunrong’s clothes were quickly soaked through.
The mother and daughter were about to enter the shop to take shelter, but the shopkeeper’s attendant did not seem willing to let them in.
Huan Che watched them for a while before suddenly speaking.
“If we consider her contribution to the matter earlier, the youngest daughter of the Gu family deserves some credit as well. We can make an exception for her now. Consider it a small reward.”
Nayun immediately agreed.
“Your Highness is wise!”
But inwardly, he thought, If you want to invite her over, why do you have to come up with such a roundabout excuse?
Gu Yunrong was struggling to hold her umbrella against the wind and rain. She was already shivering when she looked up and saw Wuwu approaching with an umbrella.
He invited her and Madam Xu to take shelter in the teahouse across the street.
Gu Yunrong followed his gesture with her eyes. Although the rain made it difficult to see, she recognized the place as a large teahouse near her home. It was well known for its refined atmosphere and elegant guests.
A place like that would never allow two women in such a disheveled condition to enter.
Besides, Gu Yunrong had no desire to meet Huan Che.
However, Wuwu seemed not to hear their objections at all.
He somehow found two women to help him. Together, they practically supported and escorted Gu Yunrong and Madam Xu all the way to the teahouse.
Because of her broken shoe, Gu Yunrong could not properly explain her situation. Fortunately, a shop attendant came forward to stop them, saying that their shoes were covered in muddy water and their wet clothes were dripping onto the floor. They would dirty the establishment if they entered.
Gu Yunrong was just about to take advantage of the opportunity to say goodbye. After all, summer rainstorms usually passed as quickly as they came.
But Wuwu simply pushed the attendant aside without even looking at him.
He casually tossed a small embroidered pouch to a manager standing nearby, then ushered Gu Yunrong and the others inside before disappearing with them in a flurry.
The manager did not recover from his shock until the group had disappeared.
When he opened the pouch, his eyes nearly fell out of their sockets.
Inside were ten liang of fine silver ingots. The silver was of even higher quality than ordinary refined silver.
That was not all. Even the pouch itself was made from the finest Nanjing silk brocade. The embroidery on it was so intricate that he had never seen anything like it before.
Everyone who saw it gasped in astonishment.
After asking around, Gu Yunrong learned that the two women who had helped escort them inside had been found by Wuwu on Huan Che’s orders.
Both women were professional singers employed by the teahouse.
Together with several attendants, they quickly brought in a brazier and helped Madam Xu and Gu Yunrong dry their clothes. Once everything was taken care of, they left to report back to their duties.
As soon as the unrelated attendants had left the private room, Madam Xu began questioning Gu Yunrong.
“Who was the person who helped us just now?”
Gu Yunrong was also confused by Huan Che’s actions. But no matter what, she could not reveal his identity without his permission.
So she simply replied, “Perhaps it was some distant relative of ours. He recognized us, but we don’t recognize him.”
After the two women had mostly finished tidying themselves up, they were escorted to meet Huan Che.
At first, Gu Yunrong had thought she would have to meet him while still soaked.
Her clothes were rather thin, and the fabric across her chest had become wet and clung to her body. She had spent almost the entire time holding her arms across her chest.
If she had to stand before Huan Che like that, with his sharp eyesight, he might even be able to tell what color of undergarment she was wearing.
Fortunately, they had managed to dry her clothes.
However, she could not very well ask the teahouse to lend her a pair of shoes. In the end, she had no choice but to wear the broken embroidered boots as she entered.
When Huan Che heard the sounds outside, an uncontrollable feeling of excitement suddenly surged through his heart.
Although it had only been a few days, it felt as though he had not seen her for a very long time.
He practically could not wait to look up.
The first thing he saw was the young girl he had not seen for nearly a month.
She kept her head lowered and shuffled forward one small step at a time. When she was about three feet away from him, she stopped completely, as though her feet had taken root in the floor.
She refused to move any closer or even look at him.
After Madam Xu greeted him, Gu Yunrong stiffly bent forward and performed a formal greeting.
Huan Che could clearly sense the distance in her words and behavior.
He even felt that she was deliberately avoiding him.
He clearly remembered how bold she had been before Gu Tongfu was released. She had repeatedly stolen glances at him and had even come to visit him when she heard he was ill. When he lost the kite-flying competition, she had hurried over to comfort him with gentle words.
Yet only a few days had passed, and her attitude toward him had changed completely.
It felt as though someone had poured a bucket of cold water over his enthusiasm.
A strange feeling of disappointment and frustration settled in his chest.
Huan Che glanced at her delicate, pale neck. Then, without warning, he set down his teacup with a sharp thud.
The sound was rather jarring in the quiet room.
Wuwu and Nayun exchanged a glance.
Was His Highness angry?
Huan Che stood up and politely returned their greeting. He then instructed someone to arrange seats for Madam Xu and her daughter.
It was an ordinary greeting, nothing more than a simple bow. Yet when performed by him, it seemed as graceful and effortless as flowing water.
His appearance was dignified, and his every movement carried the bearing of nobility.
Even though it was only a basic courtesy, Madam Xu felt almost unworthy of receiving it.
She studied Huan Che carefully before looking around the room. The more she observed, the more confused she became.
She had visited this teahouse once or twice before, but she usually preferred the smaller establishments nearby.
This particular teahouse was famous for serving unusual teas and drinks throughout the year. Its private rooms were decorated with seasonal flowers and paintings or calligraphy by renowned artists. Most of its customers were wealthy people who did not hesitate to spend generously.
The young man before her was not dressed in an overly flashy manner, but his clothes and accessories were clearly beyond what an ordinary family could afford.
His bearing and refined manners were also far beyond what an ordinary household could teach.
When had the Gu family acquired such a distinguished relative?
The only family with even a distant connection to them that could possess such wealth and influence was the Shen family.
Madam Xu’s heart gave a sudden jolt.
She had heard that members of the Shen family had recently arrived in Zhejiang…
Madam Xu tactfully asked Huan Che about his identity and repeatedly thanked him for helping them.
However, Huan Che seemed somewhat distracted. He merely said that he had happened to be nearby and had simply made things more convenient for them. There was no need for them to know who he was.
Meanwhile, Gu Yunrong was sitting as though she were on pins and needles.
She was eager to return home, change her clothes, and replace her broken shoes. But Madam Xu showed no sign of wanting to leave. Instead, she had started chatting with Huan Che.
Gu Yunrong repeatedly tried to catch her mother’s eye.
But every time Madam Xu was about to turn toward her, Huan Che would bring up another topic and draw her attention away.
It happened again and again.
Gu Yunrong could not help wondering whether he was doing it on purpose.
She tried so hard to get her mother’s attention that her eyes nearly cramped, but Madam Xu still did not notice.
Seeing how favorably her mother seemed to regard Huan Che, Gu Yunrong gritted her teeth and silently complained.
Being handsome really is an advantage. As long as he wants to, he can become every woman’s favorite person at any time and in any place.
While Madam Xu was talking, a cool breeze carrying raindrops suddenly blew into the room. She could not help glancing toward the open window.
Actually, she had wanted to ask about it ever since entering the room.
Why had no one closed the window?
Was leaving the windows open during the rain some kind of fashionable new pastime among refined people?
Huan Che secretly glanced at Gu Yunrong several times, only to find that she was staring straight ahead and never once looked in his direction.
He was already feeling inexplicably irritated when he suddenly heard Madam Xu say something.
He immediately turned toward her.
“Did you say that Lord Gu will be holding a banquet soon to celebrate his release and the clearing of his name?”