Yuwen Changqing looked at the moon in the sky and sighed with feeling. “I want to linger in this evening breeze and gaze at that unreachable jade disk in the heavens.”
Gu Chaobei pressed his lips together, thinking perhaps it was precisely because this person was as abnormal as himself that the two of them were brothers who had been through life and death together.
You’re sick—no problem, so am I.
Sighing, Gu Chaobei decided not to waste any more time on him. He dismounted directly, secured his horse, and prepared to climb over the wall.
“What are you doing?” Yuwen Changqing looked over in confusion. “Why climb over walls to return to the Shen residence?”
Gu Chaobei glanced back at him. “Naturally, I have special business that requires such measures. If General Yuwen truly cannot find his way back, when I come out, I’ll escort you back to the General’s residence.”
“What special business?” Yuwen Changqing became interested and immediately moved closer.
“Yuwen.” Gu Chaobei sighed and raised his hand to stop him from approaching, his expression becoming more serious. “If someone discovers you here in the dead of night, it will implicate the Shen family.”
Yuwen Changqing pressed his lips together and narrowed his eyes. “Do you really think I came on a whim? The two streets leading here all have my trusted men standing guard. What person could come and see me?”
Although he had impulsively passed by the Shen residence and didn’t want to continue forward, he wasn’t someone without any sense of propriety.
Moreover…
Drawing out a face covering, Yuwen Changqing looked pleased with himself. “Everything is prepared. If you’re climbing walls, take me with you.”
Gu Chaobei laughed in exasperation. What talk of getting lost—this fellow clearly came to play. He just didn’t know why he’d come to play at the Shen residence. Given his temperament, what could the Shen residence have to attract him?
“Since that’s the case, then General, please cover your face and go in first.” Gu Chaobei very graciously yielded the base of the wall.
Yuwen Changqing had excellent skills. This mere Vice Minister’s residence naturally couldn’t contain him. Since there was no need to worry, borrowing his help wasn’t a bad idea.
Rubbing his hands together eagerly, Yuwen Changqing covered his face, displayed his martial arts, and leaped elegantly into the back courtyard of the Shen residence.
“This courtyard wall is much shorter than city walls.” General Yuwen was in high spirits. But as soon as he turned his head, he came face to face with a dog.
The large yellow dog in the back courtyard, not tied up, bared its teeth. The corners of Yuwen Changqing’s mouth twitched. He gave it a dry laugh. “Heh heh.”
Outside, Gu Chaobei was doing warm-up exercises for wall climbing when he heard a burst of dog barking from inside, accompanied by human screams running from the other side of the courtyard wall into the courtyard.
Countless people in the residence were startled. All of the Shen residence’s household guards mobilized, chasing after that black shadow.
“Well done.” Gu Chaobei clapped his hands and climbed over. The courtyard already had no dog and no people.
The Shen residence’s security was fairly strict, but because Yuwen Changqing had drawn everyone away, Gu Chaobei very easily reached the ancestral hall where spirit tablets were enshrined. After searching for a while, he stole out Qin Shi’s spirit tablet.
However, just as he was leaving, two maids happened to pass by. Gu Chaobei quickly ducked to the other side to hide.
“Sister Xiurong, why do I feel like something just floated past?” The new country woman grabbed Xiurong’s hand and said in a low voice. “This place wouldn’t be unclean, would it?”
“What nonsense are you talking!” Xiurong scolded angrily, but couldn’t help looking around herself. “The ancestral hall has all of the Shen family’s ancestors. Naturally they will keep this place peaceful.”
“Didn’t they just recently put in a concubine who was poisoned to death?” the country woman said. “Many people in the residence say she was definitely murdered by someone.”
Xiurong shivered and pressed her lips together. “She’s already dead. Does it matter how she died?”
“You can’t say it like that.” The country woman said, “Where we’re from, we believe in these things. If someone is murdered, their spirit definitely won’t go far. They’ll haunt the person who harmed them.”
Xiurong was so frightened she trembled and pushed the woman away, her face deathly pale. “Your mouth is unclean. When the time comes and you can’t stay in the residence, don’t say I didn’t look after you!”
“Oh my, I won’t say it anymore. I’m scared too.” The country woman quickly followed behind Xiurong, hurriedly passing by the front of the ancestral hall.
Gu Chaobei hid in a tree nearby, watching that fiercer-looking maid. No matter how he looked at her, she seemed to have a guilty conscience.
Looking at the spirit tablet in his hand, he didn’t believe in such things. However, if someone had truly harmed Concubine Qin, he still hoped the vengeful spirit would haunt those who had harmed her.
That would save Yan’er from worrying.
Carrying the spirit tablet away from the Shen residence, he found the horse outside was gone. Gu Chaobei raised an eyebrow and saw one of Yuwen Changqing’s trusted men approach. “Master is waiting for you ahead. Please walk over.”
Leading his horse away—he seemed quite angry. Gu Chaobei chuckled quietly and followed the trusted man forward.
Yuwen Changqing sat on his horse with a dark expression. Seeing Gu Chaobei, he dismounted, wanting to hit him.
But then he saw him holding a spirit tablet.
“Why are you stealing someone’s spirit tablet?” Yuwen Changqing frowned. “That’s too disrespectful to the dead.”
“Yan’er wanted it.” Gu Chaobei shrugged. “It’s her birth mother’s spirit tablet. If there’s a spirit in heaven, she won’t blame me.”
Third Miss Shen’s birth mother’s spirit tablet? Yuwen Changqing froze and lowered his head to look carefully.
Spirit tablet of Shen Qin Shi Ruoshui.
He couldn’t bring himself to throw that punch anymore. The account of nearly being bitten by a dog was forgiven as well. Yuwen Changqing suddenly felt very unhappy and mounted his horse to leave.
“What’s wrong?” Gu Chaobei wasn’t surprised and just called out to him.
Yuwen Changqing waved his hand and disappeared into the street with his trusted men and his horse.
This man’s moods were unpredictable. Aside from him being able to somewhat understand, no one else could figure him out.
Having achieved his objective, Gu Chaobei mounted his horse and headed directly back to the Gu residence. Shen Guiyan was discussing school matters with Instructor Zhou. Turning her head and seeing he had returned, she hurried out to greet him.
“You got it?”
“Naturally.” Gu Chaobei placed the spirit tablet covered in black cloth with both hands behind the jade Buddha that was enshrined to the side, then turned and smiled. “Wife, don’t forget this husband’s reward.”
Shen Guiyan’s eyes were full of happiness. Without any coyness, she nodded. She had been discussing with the instructor what to say if Gu Chaobei failed, but unexpectedly he had already succeeded.
She had prepared several other methods as well, but it seemed they were all unnecessary. Having a husband who could climb walls and scale courtyards was good—she couldn’t trust leaving it to anyone else.
Shen Guiyan carefully offered incense, then had Instructor Zhou return to rest well. Finally, she returned to the room, let down her hair, and walked to Gu Chaobei with slightly flushed cheeks.
Gu Chaobei felt the timing was about right. After missing their wedding night, there had never been a good atmosphere suitable for consummating the marriage.
Today, there finally was.
The person before him had eyes full of stars, a face like peach blossoms, and full pink lips. Gu Chaobei felt that setting everything else aside, just this alluring sight alone meant he had profited.
“The duration of one incense stick.” Shen Guiyan was somewhat embarrassed, but still mustered her courage, took the initiative to push Gu Chaobei toward the bed, then leaned over and pressed down on him.
Fourth Young Master Gu had seen all manner of women’s charms—reserved, generous, enchanting, gentle. But perhaps it was because the lamplight in this room was too dim, as the person before him drew closer bit by bit, he actually felt a beauty beyond description. He couldn’t speak a single teasing word and just watched her slowly approach.
Pink lips covered his lips. Gu Chaobei’s heart warmed. He turned over and pressed her beneath him, his tongue prying open her teeth, skillfully conquering territory.
Shen Guiyan was so nervous she could barely breathe, staring at him with wide eyes. Gu Chaobei laughed softly and kissed her deeply.
Usually it was others who pleased him, using every trick they had. Now he wanted to use everything at his disposal to see some different expression on her face.
This woman was not simple—she had chosen to dishevel her own hair and marry him in that critical moment. But she was also very simple, because out of sympathy she could spend her dowry money to provide relief to the common people.
How much feeling did she have for him in her heart? Gu Chaobei couldn’t sense it, but he was very confident that in the days ahead, he would definitely make her bit by bit, little by little, slowly fall in love with him.
One incense stick had already burned out, and the clothes on Shen Guiyan’s body were nearly undone. A scoundrel was a scoundrel—he said kissing, but how could he truly be proper?
However, since they were already husband and wife, Shen Guiyan didn’t mind offering herself. Today the moon was full and beautiful. Why not…
“Master! Concubine Jiang is vomiting blood!” Outside the door, many maids suddenly surged forward, standing outside anxiously calling out. Shuangjiang stood at the front. Baoshan couldn’t stop them.
“Everyone, Young Madam has already gone to bed.” Baoshan frowned.
“This concerns a human life. What’s this about sleeping or not sleeping?” Shuangjiang urgently pushed Baoshan aside.
Shen Guiyan frowned, reached out to stop Gu Chaobei’s hand, turned over and sat up, closing her clothes. “What’s going on?”
The group of maids outside quieted for a moment, then Shuangjiang spoke again. “Please have Master go see Jiang Shi!”
Gu Chaobei took a deep breath, his brows tightly furrowed.
Such a perfect atmosphere! They had shouted it all away!
However, Jiang Shi was a concubine he had personally brought back, so she still held some weight. How could she be vomiting blood for no reason?
“You should go see.” Shen Guiyan turned to look at Gu Chaobei.
“Alright, I’ll return shortly.” Gu Chaobei helplessly stood up and went out to open the door.
“Lead the way.”
“Yes.” Shuangjiang glanced into the room, then quickly led Gu Chaobei toward Jiang Shi’s quarters.
Baoshan was very angry. Entering the door, she said discontentedly, “These servants raised by Fourth Young Master act like masters themselves. Simply no rules!”
Guiyan straightened her clothes and pressed her lips together. “Rules can be established slowly. First follow along to see how Jiang Shi is doing.”
“What could be wrong with her?” Baoshan muttered. “It’s definitely an act, just wanting to compete for favor.”
Shen Guiyan shook her head. Baoshan was being too petty. How could she think of others this way?
As it turned out, when they followed over to look, Baoshan really hadn’t wronged her. Where had Jiang Shi vomited any blood? It was just that her gums had bled a little, which she had wiped on a handkerchief, making all these maids overreact.
Gu Chaobei’s face was also somewhat livid. Jiang Shi fell to her knees with a thump. “This concubine has disturbed Master and Young Madam’s refined enjoyment. This concubine deserves death.”
“It’s nothing.” Gu Chaobei smiled faintly. “Just take good care of your health.”
“Sister Biyue is in such a state—won’t Master stay and keep her company?” Shuangjiang spoke up softly.