As they left the Gu residence, the rain poured down even harder, pounding against the ground in sheets. Everyone in the group ended up soaked.
When Tangning lifted her long skirt to step into the carriage, Xiao Yan reached out with a curved arm, holding an umbrella above her. She froze momentarily, seeing him standing to the side, shielding her from the wind and rain. His voice, slightly muffled by the downpour, reached her.
“What are you standing there for?”
“N-nothing…”
Tangning quickly steadied herself with his arm and climbed into the carriage. Seeing how the rain lashed at the trees and leaves outside, she called out anxiously, “Big Brother, hurry and get in!”
Xiao Yan folded the umbrella and stepped into the carriage. His clothing was damp from the rain, his sleeves and hem soaked through. His face, as pale and chiseled as jade, seemed to carry a faint mist, with droplets of water trailing from his cheek down to his collar.
Tangning glanced at him and suddenly remembered Qian Qiyue’s teasing comment earlier: “Lord Xiao really is a feast for the eyes.”
She coughed lightly, avoiding his gaze, and handed him a handkerchief. “You’re all wet, Big Brother. Wipe yourself off quickly.”
Xiao Yan accepted the fragrant handkerchief, its faint scent distinctly hers. Seeing the slight flutter of her lashes, he chuckled softly, tilting his head to unfasten his damp collar. “We’re not heading back to Jiyun Alley just yet.”
“Ah?” Tangning looked up, confused.
Taking the handkerchief, Xiao Yan dabbed at the water clinging to his hairline. “Gu Helian is bound to argue with your aunt after he gets back. When he loses, he’ll come looking for us to vent his frustration. Earlier, you mentioned how much you liked the pastries from Xijue Tower. Let’s stop by there and pick some up before we visit the Qian family.”
Qian Qiyue had risked her reputation to persuade her father, Minister Qian, to help Tangning. Now that the Qian family was aligned with theirs, maintaining that relationship was essential. Besides, Xiao Yan knew Tangning and Qian Qiyue got along well, and he considered Qian Qiyue’s sincerity worth fostering.
Tangning smacked her forehead. “Oh right, Sister Ah Yue!”
Her sudden movement made her wince, and she immediately hissed in pain, clutching her arm. She slumped back, narrowly avoiding hitting the carriage wall, saved only by Xiao Yan’s long arm catching her mid-fall.
Xiao Yan pulled her closer. “Your shoulder is injured. Why are you moving around carelessly?”
Tangning held her shoulder, sheepishly. “It only hurts a little if I stretch too much.” Seeing his furrowed brows and displeased expression, she softened her voice, reassuring him, “Really, it’s just a tiny bit of pain.”
The young girl earnestly demonstrated, her fingers pinching to show how minor it was.
“Qin Sister’s medicine is very effective. I’ll apply it tonight, and it’ll be fine. You even helped massage the swelling earlier—I checked, and it’s barely swollen now…”
Before she could finish her sentence, she felt a weight on her shoulder.
“Big Brother?”
She turned to look, only for Xiao Yan to gently but firmly tilt her head back.
From the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of his slender hand brushing aside the strands of hair from her shoulder. His cool, pale fingers pressed against the back of her shoulder, carefully kneading the area.
When she gasped at the sudden pressure, shrinking slightly, he remarked dryly, “I thought it didn’t hurt?”
His touch lightened, but his voice carried a hint of reproach.
“If you’d said it hurt earlier, I wouldn’t have let you come along.”
Tangning flushed in embarrassment. “I’m not that delicate…”
“Little girls should be delicate.”
His words, though casual, carried an unfamiliar warmth that made Tangning’s heart flutter. It felt as though he had spoken them with deliberate care, leaving her slightly dazed.
“I’m not a child anymore, and you’re injured too,” she mumbled in protest.
The soft skin at the nape of her neck was gently pinched, cutting off her retort. Tangning froze, suddenly as docile as a kitten caught by the scruff. “I was wrong, I was wrong!” she quickly pleaded.
Xiao Yan released her with a quiet chuckle. “I’m not the same as you. I’ve grown used to injuries over the years. A few scars here and there don’t matter. If you’re not afraid of scarring yourself, then go ahead and copy me.”
Though his words were stern, his tone softened with a tinge of affection.
“If it still hurts later, call for Madam Qin. Don’t try to tough it out.”
Tangning’s ears burned, feeling as though her brother was more nagging than her own mother had ever been.
Xiao Yan gave her a light pat on the head. “Did you hear me?”
“Yes,” Tangning murmured, looking down like a chastised child.
Satisfied, Xiao Yan ruffled her hair gently before returning to massaging her shoulder. “Anywhere else?”
Tangning, though grumbling inwardly, obediently turned to indicate the left side.
Outside, the rain poured relentlessly. Canglang, perched atop the carriage and holding his treasured sword, listened to Xiao Yan’s uncharacteristically gentle tone. His expression shifted between disbelief and horror.
He turned to Jinyun, mouthing, The Governor and the girl?
Jinyun met his gaze with a look that said, Figure it out yourself, and focused on guiding the horses to keep the ride smooth.
Canglang: …
He was thunderstruck.
Recalling how he had earlier remarked on how well the young Miss Song would match that gentleman from the Fu family, he felt a chill run down his spine. Would he even survive the night?
Clutching his sword, he kicked Jinyun.
“What was that for?” Jinyun snapped.
“You ungrateful brat!” Canglang hissed, lowering his voice. “I saved your life once, remember?”
“And did I stop you?” Jinyun retorted, rolling his eyes.
Canglang: …
He wanted to cry.
Inside the carriage, Tangning and Xiao Yan were oblivious to the drama outside. Sitting across from Xiao Yan, Tangning suddenly said, “When you mentioned the Qian family earlier, I started worrying about Sister Ah Yue. I got distracted and forgot to ask—will Minister Qian punish her for what she did?”
Xiao Yan chuckled. “He’ll scold her for sure, but not too harshly.”
The Qian family’s love for their daughter was notorious.
Tangning nodded eagerly. “Then let’s hurry and visit her.”
Xiao Yan gave a short command to the coachman, and the carriage shifted direction toward Xijue Tower.
The rhythmic sound of the rain accompanied the journey. Tangning’s shoulder, no longer throbbing as painfully thanks to Xiao Yan’s earlier treatment, allowed her to relax. Her thoughts drifted to Gu Helian’s story.
“Big Brother,” she asked, “who do you think framed Uncle Gu back then?”
Xiao Yan responded with a question of his own. “Who do you think it was?”
Tangning hesitated. “One of the imperial consorts?”
They had already suspected that whoever sabotaged the Prince of Cheng’s marriage prospects must have been someone who admired him. This person could act with impunity in the royal hunting grounds, avoid suspicion from the Rong family and Gu Helian, and execute flawless schemes repeatedly.
The day of Rong Yue and the Prince of Cheng’s engagement, Gu Helian’s provocation and drunken outburst seemed too perfectly timed. The person who drugged Rong Yue clearly understood both Gu Helian’s temperament and the events unfolding at the time.
Such familiarity suggested someone close to the Rong family—or even Rong Yue herself.
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You can read ahead to chapterr 300 (100+ extra chapters) here
I think it the mother. She doesn't seem to approve of her son's wife and she's really the only other female we have information about that was around back then the others so far have mostly been name dropped at best. But I could be wrong but why else would he go along with it?
ReplyDeleteYea I was thinking the Dowager Lrincess too, for staging accidents for all his engagements, but I also wonder - isn’t the mother normally practically in charge of engagements in the first place? Why set up marriages if she’s just gonna sabotage them? I’m also kinda a little suspicious of Nanny Jiang now… hmmmmm
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