Volume 1 Chapter 17: Seizing the Dowry
"Get out, get out! What kind of lowly trash are you? No money to buy books?"
A matron stood at the entrance of the bookshop, sneering scornfully: "If you can't afford it, don't pretend to be rich like others. Leaving a few poems to pay for the books? Do you think you're some refined scholar? Who wants your worthless poems?"
"My master's poems have even been praised by Prince Jing. How can they not pay for your books?"
The manservant in gray pointed at the matron angrily: "Besides, why are you driving my master away? The mistress said that if my master wants to read books, he can come to the bookshop to get them!"
"Bah!"
The matron said: "Praised by Prince Jing? With your wretched appearance, you probably haven't even seen the gates of Prince Jing's mansion, yet you boast here. I tell you, this bookshop now belongs to our lady. If you want to buy books, bring silver. If you don't have silver, get lost!"
The manservant wanted to argue further, but the young master beside him suddenly spoke: "I can not buy the books, but you cannot destroy the bookshop."
His voice was clear and gentle, his demeanor extraordinary.
Who else could it be but Gu Huaizhou?
Yan Qing was momentarily stunned.
The matron had already issued an order: "Come, beat these two ungrateful things away for me!"
A group of servants immediately rushed out from the bookshop.
"Stop!"
Seeing clubs about to fall on Gu Huaizhou, Yan Qing suddenly snapped awake. She stepped forward and sternly said: "Granny Qin, what are you doing?"
Yan Qing recognized this matron.
She was the milk mother of Lu Qiao Nan's sister, Lu Wen Huan.
Seeing Yan Qing, Granny Qin felt a moment of guilt, then stiffened her neck: "Just chasing away two stray cats and dogs. The Heir's Wife wouldn't want to interfere, right?"
"What Heir's Wife? She's already divorced from my brother, just a woman nobody wants!" Lu Wen Huan emerged from the bookshop, looking down disdainfully at Yan Qing: "What are you doing here?"
Yan Qing's gaze passed over Lu Wen Huan, looking inside the bookshop.
Inside, books and scrolls were scattered everywhere, shelves and tables overturned on the ground, a scene of utter chaos.
She coldly withdrew her gaze: "That's what I should ask you, Miss Lu. What are you doing in my shop?"
"It's mine now."
Lu Wen Huan declared confidently: "Yan Qing, blame yourself for divorcing my brother. Now this shop has been given to me by Sister Tan. If you're sensible, hand over the deed. I'm going to turn this into a cosmetics shop, so you're not welcome here!"
Yan Qing laughed in anger.
She knew Lu Wen Huan was foolish, but didn't expect her to be so stupid.
Previously, Lu Wen Huan was often used as a pawn by Yan Tan. Yan Tan pointed where, and she struck there, practically a dog beside Yan Tan, even more loyal than Lu Qiao Nan!
Yan Tan truly had cunning intentions. Having just been elevated to Wu'an Marquis Manor for a day, she wanted to seize Yan Qing's dowry through Lu Wen Huan's hands?
Simply dreaming!
"Qing Luan, report to the authorities!"
Yan Qing didn't waste words with Lu Wen Huan.
The best way to deal with such unreasonable people was to let the authorities handle it.
"Don't go!"
Upon hearing about reporting to the authorities, Lu Wen Huan suddenly panicked.
This wasn't what she imagined, nor what Yan Tan said.
When Yan Qing was with her brother before, whatever she coveted from Yan Qing, Yan Qing would yield to her.
Yan Tan also said Yan Qing loved her brother desperately; even divorcing was just to force him to admit his mistakes. If she asked for this shop, Yan Qing would definitely agree.
Why would she want to report to the authorities?
Yan Qing paid her no mind, instead turning to Qing Luan: "While you're at it, invite Marquis Wu'an over as well. I'd like to ask the Marquis why he allows his daughter to commit robbery!"
"You—"
Lu Wen Huan flushed crimson with rage.
She merely wanted one of Yan Qing's shops—how could that be considered robbery?
By now, the entrance of the bookshop had drawn quite a crowd of passersby. Hearing Yan Qing's words, they pointed at Lu Wen Huan and whispered among themselves.
Where had Lu Wen Huan ever endured such gossip?
Furious, she immediately ordered her guards: "Stop that wretched maid for me!"
The guards surged forward.
But Yan Qing was quicker, stepping in front of Qing Luan.
Her expression icy cold: "I'd like to see who dares!"
The guards from Wu'an Marquis Manor all recognized Yan Qing, knowing she was someone the Heir favored. Seeing her blocking the way, they hesitated and dared not advance.
Qing Luan swiftly disappeared into the crowd.
Lu Wen Huan stamped her foot in frustration and, in her desperation, snatched a stick from a guard's hand, threatening: "Yan Qing, you'd better get out of my way, or else… Ah!"
Suddenly, Lu Wen Huan lunged toward Yan Qing.
She had been standing on the steps, holding the wooden stick, and with this stumble forward, Yan Qing was bound to get hurt.
"Miss!"
Lu Zhi screamed in fright.
Just as she was about to rush forward to protect her mistress, a figure moved even faster than her.
"Careful."
A deep voice brushed past her ear like a breeze.
Yan Qing's heart skipped a beat. Before she could react, her body was already enveloped in a somewhat familiar embrace.
Then she saw the stick in Lu Wen Huan's hand strike Gu Huaizhou's back with a heavy thud.
The man let out a muffled groan.
A trickle of blood actually seeped from the corner of his mouth…
Yan Qing was greatly alarmed: "Gu Huaizhou!"
Gu Huaizhou wrapped his large arm around her slender waist, leaning weakly against her shoulder: "I… I'm fine…"
Though he claimed to be fine, fresh blood continued to drip from the corner of his mouth.
His face was as pale as a corpse.
Lu Wen Huan was also greatly startled.
At most, she had just given him a solid blow with the stick—how could he be spitting blood? He looked as if he might breathe his last at any moment…
Was she… was she about to cause a death?
"It wasn't me…"
Lu Wen Huan looked at the stick in her hand, then at the blood at Gu Huaizhou's mouth. Suddenly terrified, she threw the stick aside: "It wasn't me, it wasn't me… I didn't do anything, it was him!"
She suddenly pointed at Gu Huaizhou's manservant: "It was him! He bumped into me just now, yes! He harmed his own master—it has nothing to do with me!"
With that, she fled in panic!
Granny Qin and the Marquisate guards also ran off.
"Young… Young Master…"
The manservant stood there bewildered and at a loss, unable to defend himself.
He had no idea what had happened? Today, the Young Master had taken him out, saying he wanted to buy books, but they had lingered outside for a long time before entering the bookshop. And just now, when Miss Lu was threatening Second Miss, it seemed as if the Young Master had pushed him, and that was why…