A responsible man can be entrusted with one’s life, but when he’s responsible for everyone, she has no way to handle him. Should she blame him? She can’t – he hasn’t done anything wrong. Should she not blame him? She still feels somewhat wronged.
When they were at the Chancellor’s mansion, their relationship was so good that she thought he must have placed her at the very top of his heart. However, now she realizes that while he did indeed place her at the top of his heart, his heart is as wide as a river dam, crowded with people. This would be fine if everyone were equal like it was back at the Chancellor’s mansion – she could accept that. But above all these people stands Jiang Taohua.
By now, Xu Yangui has probably returned to find the hairpin broken. Who knows how angry he is? Will he come chasing after her? Probably not, right? Even if he doesn’t consider their past relationship, he should at least remember how many clothes, handkerchiefs, and meals she made for him…
Just as she was thinking this, she suddenly heard the sound of hoofbeats behind her. Gu Huairou was startled, but Luoshan reacted quickly, picking her up and hiding in a nearby tree.
Gu Huairou frowned, wanting to struggle, but Luoshan turned her head to look down. Xu Yangui was riding towards them on horseback.
She immediately quieted down.
In the woods, a campfire was lit and straw was spread out, clearly signs of someone staying overnight, but no one was visible. Xu Yangui laughed coldly, lifting his eyes to scan the surroundings. “Still hiding?”
Gu Huairou was very nervous, but Luoshan smiled. He guided her hand to hold onto a tree branch, then flew down.
“Master.”
Xu Yangui looked at him, his expression displeased. “Do you know what you’re doing?”
“I do,” Luoshan said. “Saving someone.”
Saving someone? Xu Yangui laughed coldly. “Taking my person to elope – are you saving her or harming her?”
Luoshan smiled roguishly. “In the Master’s view, sleeping with someone makes her your woman? Then wouldn’t the courtesans in brothels be impossible to sort out whose they are?”
“Luoshan,” Xu Yangui’s voice turned cold. “Watch your words.”
“What’s there to watch? Master knows my temperament. If I say something wrong, Master can correct and teach me. But if what I say is right, you surely can’t use your status to suppress me?”
Dismounting, Xu Yangui walked up to him, looking down. “What do you want to say?”
“I want to say that Master is a good person, responsible to everyone. Even those used as tools for practicing martial arts, you’re willing to bring back and care for because of their chastity. But while you’re righteous, have you considered these women’s feelings? They were deceived by you, yet they still love you foolishly, being good to you. Don’t you feel guilty when you see this?”
Xu Yangui stared at him for a long while, then suddenly understood. “You’ve taken a liking to her?”
Luoshan was stunned, then laughed. “Where did Master get that idea?”
“If you hadn’t taken a liking to her, why would you say these things? Aren’t you usually the one who doesn’t meddle in others’ affairs?”
Gu Huairou listened, shaking her head. Luoshan’s behavior seemed more like he had a grudge against her from past lives. How could it be that he liked her?
However, Luoshan didn’t deny it. He just turned his head away and said, “Even if I’m meddling for once, she’s already decided to leave. Why did Master chase after her?”
“I…” Xu Yangui pressed his lips together. “She broke my jade hairpin. She can’t just leave without a word.”
So he did chase after her because of the jade hairpin. Gu Huairou held her breath, not daring to make a sound. Luoshan, however, laughed. “If Master cares so much about that hairpin, why not go find its owner? Why hold onto an innocent person?”
Xu Yangui fell silent, his eyes sweeping over Luoshan with displeasure for a while before saying, “Have you taken her pulse?”
“What?” Luoshan was confused. “Why take her pulse?”
“If I had been using her to practice my skills all along, she should be like the others in the Red Beauty Courtyard – weak and extremely cold inside. But she isn’t.”
Luoshan stiffened, instinctively glancing up at the tree.
Gu Huairou looked bewildered, unable to understand what they were talking about.
His expression softening, Xu Yangui leaped up and brought her down from the tree.
Not daring to make a sound, Gu Huairou closed her eyes and covered her face, playing dead.
“Come back with me,” Xu Yangui said. “Without me, how will you get by?”
Who says I can’t get by? I can live anywhere! Gu Huairou only thought this but didn’t say it out loud because she didn’t dare. As soon as she got close to Xu Yangui, her heart started to ache to its roots. She had left quite stylishly, but now she realized she still couldn’t let go.
Was she beyond hope?
Seeing her not resisting, Xu Yangui simply carried her onto the horse and left. Luoshan frowned as he watched, cursing, “Truly spineless.”
She knew the words were meant for her, but she couldn’t retort. She buried her head in Xu Yangui’s embrace, not knowing what to say.
“The jade hairpin is broken, so be it. I don’t blame you, don’t be afraid,” Xu Yangui said. “I’ve told you, you can do whatever you want here. There are no rules.”
No rules, so why did he keep other maids by his side, squeezing her out until she couldn’t stay? In the end, he must still look down on her a bit, right? Gu Huairou didn’t say this out loud, obediently returning with him to continue the life she had before leaving.
Luoshan was punished, sitting on her wall covered in injuries and cursing, “You might as well die a coward’s death. You even implicated me!”
Gu Huairou listened with gritted teeth, not talking back.
Every day, she continued to cook, wash clothes, and embroider pouches. Occasionally, she served in bed at night, and during the day, she’d listen to Luoshan’s snarky comments. Life began to pass smoothly and uneventfully.
But one day, Xu Yangui suddenly asked her, “Do you want to marry me?”
Gu Huairou instinctively shook her head.
She didn’t know why she shook her head. By the time she realized it, the person in front of her had already darkened his face and left the room.
Why suddenly talk about marriage? Weren’t they already like a married couple now?
Xu Yangui went to see Shen Zaiye.
Taohua was in the middle of recuperating, so naturally, Shen Zaiye wouldn’t let him in to see her. The two men squatted at the door and chatted for a while.
He asked, “What kind of person do you think Gu Huairou is?”
Shen Zaiye gave him a strange look. “Shouldn’t you know that better than I do?”
“I suddenly don’t understand anymore,” Xu Yangui shrugged. “I proposed to her, and she refused.”
Laughing lightly, Shen Zaiye said, “You deserve it.”
“I can’t figure it out,” Xu Yangui said. “I’m very gentle with her, and I don’t despise her for her ruined appearance. Why doesn’t she want to marry me?”
“Perhaps she doesn’t like you,” Shen Zaiye said with a schadenfreude smile. “She probably sees you as someone who just provides food, without any feelings, so she doesn’t want to marry you.”
(End of chapter)