lcionline Chapter 769 The letter was forged by you, wasn't it?
Chapter 769 The letter was forged by you, wasn't it?
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, the weather was fine.
Gu Qingchen had just finished breakfast when his personal maid brought in a letter.
"Miss, it was sent by Young Master Lu."
Gu Qingchen was somewhat surprised and took it to open it.
The letter was in her cousin Gu Lu's handwriting, and the words were the cheerful and straightforward style she was familiar with.
The letter said that he knew she had been feeling down these past few days, and since the temple fair in the city was lively today, he invited her to go for a stroll and relax. They agreed to meet at the most famous teahouse, "Wenxianglai," on East Street.
Thinking of his brother who always protected him, Gu Qingchen felt a warmth in his heart, and the gloom of the past few days dissipated somewhat.
"Reply that I will arrive on time," she instructed the maid.
The atmosphere in the mansion was oppressive, and she really wanted to go out for some fresh air.
Meanwhile, at the Qian residence.
A man dressed in shorts was reporting to Qian Zhenyun in a low voice.
"Young master, we've found out. Gu Lanxin did indeed leave the city early yesterday morning and went to Xishan. But she didn't enter Ganlu Temple; instead, she stayed in front of an unnamed, lonely grave on the mountain for about half an hour."
Qian Zhenyun was wiping a long sword when he paused for a moment.
"Who did you see?"
"I saw him. A young man wearing a gray robe. Because he was far away, I couldn't see his face clearly."
Qian Zhenyun slowly sheathed his sword, his eyes deep and thoughtful.
A solitary grave, belonging to a man.
He thought of that person almost immediately.
Just then, the servant he had sent to keep watch outside the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion ran in.
"Young master, Miss Gu has gone out. She said she's going to the temple fair on East Street to meet with Young Master Lu."
Qian Zhenyun frowned.
Gu Lu?
How could Gu Lu have the leisure to go to a temple fair?
However, since Gu Lu had invited them, the cousins couldn't directly stop him, so they changed into inconspicuous casual clothes and quietly followed behind him, just in case.
The temple fair was packed with people, and the sounds of vendors hawking their wares, laughter, and drums mingled together, creating a lively and extraordinary scene.
Gu Qingchen squeezed through the crowd, feeling much lighter. As agreed, she went up to the second floor of Wenxianglai Teahouse and found the private room mentioned in the letter.
She pushed open the door and called out with a smile, "Brother Lu, it's me..."
The sound stopped abruptly when the person inside the room was identified.
In the private room, sitting by the window was not her cousin Gu Lu, but Lin Jiayou, dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, smiling as he looked at her.
The smile on Gu Qingchen's face vanished instantly, replaced by an icy coldness.
"why you?"
Lin Jiayou stood up, his demeanor still gentle and refined, as if he were completely unaware of her indifference.
"Qingchen, it's been a long time."
Gu Qingchen's gaze fell on him like a knife: "You used my brother Lu's name to trick me into coming out?"
"If I don't do this, will you come out to see me?" Lin Jiayou walked slowly towards her, his tone carrying a hint of helpless indulgence, as if she was just being unreasonable.
This matter-of-fact attitude completely enraged Gu Qingchen.
"Lin Jiayou, what exactly do you want to do?" She took a step back, creating distance between them, her voice full of wariness and disgust.
"I'm just worried about you." Lin Jiayou stopped in front of her, looking intently at her. "I heard about the palace banquet. You were wronged."
His voice was gentle, and his eyes were full of affection. If it were before, Gu Qingchen might have been moved.
But now, she only feels that it is extremely hypocritical.
"My affairs are none of your business," Gu Qingchen coldly interrupted him. "You forged the letter, didn't you?"
Lin Jiayou tacitly agreed. He sighed, "Qingchen, why do you keep people at arm's length? Everything I've done is for you."
"For me?" Gu Qingchen seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world. "For me, you use such despicable means to trick me out? Lin Jiayou, put away your tricks. I am not Gu Lanxin."
When Gu Lanxin was mentioned, a shadow of gloom flashed across Lin Jiayou's eyes, but he quickly regained his affectionate expression.
"I know you're still angry with me. But Qingchen, look at your current situation. The Crown Prince won't let you off the hook, and neither will the Empress. Only I, only I can help you."
"I don't need it." Gu Qingchen said each word clearly and distinctly, "I'll say it again, my affairs are none of your business."
Below the teahouse, at the street corner.
Qian Zhenyun, dressed in an inconspicuous gray cloth, blended into the crowd, but his eyes never left the tightly closed window.
He saw Gu Qingchen go inside.
The time it takes to drink a cup of tea has passed.
His heart sank little by little.
Lin Jiayou's gentle expression remained unchanged; he simply lowered his eyes, his voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible bitterness.
"I don't know why you've grown tired of me, Qingchen. But have you ever thought about what it would be like if word got out that you're just going to turn around and leave now, and we part on bad terms in this teahouse?"
He raised his hand and pointed to the bustling street outside the window.
"They'll just say that Miss Gu from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was having a secret rendezvous in the palace, and then she got into an argument with another man at the temple fair. Don't you care about your reputation?"
Gu Qingchen's heart sank.
What she hated most was Lin Jiayou's ability to always see through her thoughts and exploit her weaknesses.
"Are you threatening me?" Her voice was even colder.
"This is not a threat, but a reminder." Lin Jiayou's tone remained gentle, even carrying a hint of concern.
"Qingchen, we all know how many people are watching you right now. The Empress, the Crown Prince, and those who are waiting to see the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion make a fool of itself. The more fiercely you resist, the more excited they will be."
He stepped forward, lowering his voice even further, with a seductive power.
"But what if we, like before, calmly stroll through this temple fair?"
He looked at her, his eyes filled with the tenderness she once knew so well.
"What will they think? They won't understand. If they don't understand, they won't dare to act rashly. You can buy yourself and Qian Zhenyun more time."
Gu Qingchen's fingernails dug deeply into her palms.
She had to admit that Lin Jiayou was right.
What she needs most right now is time, to confuse the public and keep everyone guessing about her next move.
Walking with him would be utterly disgusting. But at this moment, it might be the best smokescreen.
Seeing her expression soften, Lin Jiayou's lips curled into a very faint smile, so quick that it was impossible to catch.
"Qingchen, just for your own sake. Come walk with me, okay? Like when we were little, we sneaked out of the academy together, you kept asking for candied hawthorns, and I..."