Volume 1 Chapter 18: Cousin Plays Me
"What are you still standing there for?"
Yan Qing looked up at the stunned manservant and coldly scolded, "Hurry up and help your young master inside!"
"Lu Zhi, go fetch a physician!"
She issued commands with a stern face, and the stunned group instantly snapped into action. The manservant immediately stepped forward to help Yan Qing support Gu Huaizhou into the bookshop, while Lu Zhi ran at full speed toward the nearest medical clinic.
Once inside the bookshop, Yan Qing urgently asked, "Cousin, how are you?"
Gu Huaizhou shook his head, "Cousin, I'm fine…"
"Cousin, don't lie to me. You're coughing up blood."
Yan Qing was filled with guilt, her eyes red as she looked at Gu Huaizhou.
He was the future emperor of Dayong. If he died here because of her, there would be no one left to clear the Ye Family's name in the future…
The more Yan Qing thought about it, the angrier she became, and tears began to fall.
"Cousin, you absolutely must not be in danger."
She took out a handkerchief to wipe the bloodstain from the corner of Gu Huaizhou's mouth, but the man suddenly grabbed her hand and sat up, "Alright."
Yan Qing: "…"
Tears still clung to her long lashes, but Yan Qing was completely stunned.
Gu Huaizhou had already released her hand.
She stared blankly as he took her pale lotus-colored handkerchief and leisurely wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
Elegant, handsome, composed, and polite.
Yet Yan Qing inexplicably felt a warmth in her heart.
That was her personal item…
"Cousin, look."
Just as Yan Qing awkwardly averted her gaze, Gu Huaizhou held the handkerchief out in front of her.
Yan Qing glanced at it hurriedly but didn't notice anything unusual.
She looked at Gu Huaizhou in confusion.
Gu Huaizhou encouraged her, "Take a closer look."
Yan Qing looked at the handkerchief again and suddenly gasped softly, staring at the bloodstain in shock, "This isn't blood!"
The stain on the handkerchief was slightly darker than fresh blood.
Gu Huaizhou suddenly took a small clay jar from his sleeve and handed it to Yan Qing, a mischievous look on his face, "It's plum juice."
Yan Qing's mouth fell open in astonishment.
She didn't know whether she was more shocked by his use of plum juice to fake coughing up blood or by the childlike, playful expression on his gentle and refined face.
Gu Huaizhou said, "Miss Lu has many people on her side. Cousin, you must be more careful in the future."
Yan Qing immediately felt ashamed.
If it weren't for Gu Huaizhou, Lu Wen Huan's stick would have struck her. He had taken the injury for her.
"Cousin, I understand."
If she had brought guards with her when she went out today, this wouldn't have happened.
At that moment, the authorities and the physician arrived.
Yan Qing had the manservant help Gu Huaizhou to the back to examine the injury on his back, while she stayed behind to file a report with the authorities.
"Second Miss Yan, this…"
The Prefectural Magistrate looked at the mess on the ground, feeling quite troubled.
The eldest daughter of the Wu'an Marquis Manor had smashed the Yan Manor's shop. Both families were currently in the spotlight, and he didn't want to offend either.
Yan Qing said sternly, "Under the emperor's feet, my shop has been vandalized. Surely the Prefectural Magistrate won't ignore this?"
"I'll handle it, I'll handle it!"
The Prefectural Magistrate felt overwhelmed.
She had even invoked the emperor—how could he dare not handle it? That Lu Wen Huan from the Wu'an Marquis Manor was not to be trifled with, but this Yan Qing was even more formidable!
What a mess!
The Prefectural Magistrate immediately ordered someone to summon the shopkeeper for questioning.
After searching for a while, they finally found the bookshop's manager and clerks under the counter. The entire group had been gagged and tied together, with injuries on their faces and bodies.
The Prefectural Magistrate: "…"
The officials conducted their routine inquiry and investigation, with Yan Qing standing by to observe. Once the questioning concluded and the officials departed, the shopkeeper said with trepidation, "Second Miss, this bookshop…"
"Close it for now."
Yan Qing instructed Qing Luan to distribute some silver to the men and said calmly, "Running the bookshop here is a losing venture. It might be better to take this opportunity to switch to another business. For the next few days, rest and recover at home. Return when the shop reopens."
The shopkeeper was overwhelmed by the unexpected kindness. "Thank you, Second Miss!"
They were all long-time servants of the Ye Family, managing the shops on behalf of Madam Zhen. However, Madam Zhen was not skilled in business, so most of the shops operated at a loss.
Today, the shop had been vandalized under his watch. They had all prepared themselves to be held accountable, but not only did Second Miss refrain from blaming them, she even gave them silver to return home. This filled the shopkeeper and his assistants with immense gratitude.
Yan Qing also arranged for a physician to treat the assistants' injuries.
By the time everything was settled, it was already dusk, transitioning into early evening. The sky had darkened, and there was no moon that night.
"Miss, it's time to return to the manor."
Qing Luan brought the carriage to the front of the bookshop.
Just as Yan Qing stepped onto the carriage, she paused and turned back to ask, "Where is Cousin?"
Earlier, upon learning that Gu Huaizhou had not coughed up blood, her worries had eased. While Gu Huaizhou was being treated for his injuries afterward, Yan Qing had not gone to check on him.
Lu Zhi replied, "Young Master Gu has already left."
Yan Qing frowned. "How did he leave?"
"Just… on foot?"
Lu Zhi was puzzled. How else could he have left?
Young Master Gu was not a legitimate son of the manor and was harshly treated by Madam Zhen. He did not have a carriage at his disposal and usually traveled on foot.
Yan Qing boarded the carriage and said, "Catch up with him."
It was late, and Gu Huaizhou was injured. If he encountered any further trouble, it would be unfortunate.
A short while later, the carriage caught up with the master and servant.
On the dimly lit street, the manservant was supporting Gu Huaizhou as they limped toward Yan Manor.
Looking out from the carriage window, Yan Qing saw the man's broad, upright back, dignified and composed like the clear moon in the breeze. Yet, with each step, he paused, seemingly aggravated by the wounds on his back, making his progress painfully slow.
She suddenly felt deeply ashamed.
Gu Huaizhou had helped her twice today and had even been injured on her behalf. Yet, she had allowed him to walk home…
"Cousin."
The carriage stopped in front of Gu Huaizhou. Yan Qing said, "Let's ride together."
Gu Huaizhou forced a smile. "It's fine. Just a few more steps and we'll be there… cough… cough!"
Under the night sky, his face was as pale as paper.
Gu Huaizhou's manservant, however, trembled uncontrollably.
The physician had said that the wounds on the young master's back were not serious and didn't even require medicine. But upon hearing the sound of the carriage, the young master had suddenly become very weak and asked to be supported while walking…
Yan Qing did not notice the manservant's odd behavior.
Seeing Gu Huaizhou decline, she issued an unyielding command. "Help Young Master Gu onto the carriage."
"Yes."
Qing Luan and Lu Zhi immediately stepped down and assisted Gu Huaizhou into the carriage.
The man was tall and broad-shouldered, and the originally spacious carriage suddenly felt cramped. Gu Huaizhou looked at Yan Qing with unease, his face flushed. "Cousin, this is improper according to etiquette…"
"Cousin, there's no need to worry."
Seeing him so severely injured yet still concerned about propriety, Yan Qing inwardly sighed at her own pettiness. She said gently, "We are cousins. Sharing a carriage is not a breach of etiquette, especially since you are injured."
"Please sit comfortably, Cousin."
Seeing that he could not refuse, Gu Huaizhou could only smile wryly. "In that case, I must trouble you, Cousin."
He sat properly on one side of the carriage.
Yan Qing's thoughts drifted to her past life.
At that time, the Five Princes' Struggle for the Throne had just ended. As a member of the Qi Prince faction, Lu Qiao Nan should have been purged. However, he ultimately escaped punishment by personally beheading Prince Qi and presenting the Imperial Seal.
Yet the Wu'an Marquis Manor never regained its former glory.
Yan Tan ran to her complaining, saying the new emperor was ungrateful. When he was in distress, it was Yan Manor that provided him food and clothing. Now, it was Lu Qiao Nan who helped him seize the throne. Not only did he show no gratitude, but he also stripped Lu Qiao Nan of his official position. This was repaying kindness with enmity, an act of utter treachery…
Later, these words somehow reached the new emperor's ears.
Gu Huaizhou, who had then become emperor, actually ordered Lu Qiao Nan to personally cut out Yan Tan's tongue…
After that, it was said he heavily employed cruel officials, unleashed widespread slaughter—essentially, those who obeyed him prospered, while those who defied him perished. Every day, countless people died from collective punishment, and everyone in the capital lived in fear.
The Gu Huaizhou of her past life was a true tyrant.
Thus, even though he had cleared her maternal grandfather's family of false charges, and Yan Qing felt grateful, when she saw him again after her rebirth, she still felt wary.
Especially after what happened in Qingzhu Courtyard…