The West Wing was already full, so the Gu family’s party had been housed in the courtyard at the far right end of the East Wing.
At that moment, the Qin Elder stood at the front gate bidding the Gu family head farewell. He’d meant to exchange a few words with Ziqing and Jun Beiyue too, but the couple had walked them only as far as the door and hadn’t come any further out.
Only the Gu family head courteously walked them a few extra steps.
Gu Suying and Jiang Chen stayed close behind the Gu family head the whole way, heads bowed, saying little.
Once the Qin Elder had left, the Gu family head let out a long sigh. Everything that had happened at last night’s gathering had truly been beyond anything he could have imagined—he still hadn’t quite recovered from the shock of it all.
Bai Feiyao’s provocation, the fire, Beiyue’s sudden appearance, the head of the Bai family showing up in person—all of it had unfolded in a single night!
But what had surprised, and delighted, him the most was undoubtedly Jun Beiyue’s return to consciousness!
The Gu family head turned quickly and looked over, seeing Jun Beiyue standing by the gate, gazing back toward them from a distance as well.
The family head sighed again and again, stroking his beard, shaking his head, laughing helplessly—and finally, unable to contain the surge of emotion any longer, called out loudly, “Beiyue!”
He was overjoyed, genuinely thrilled. In the past, though he’d approached Jun Beiyue with ulterior motives, forcing him to learn the Gu family’s internal power techniques, and though Jun Beiyue had never truly accepted him as a father, the two of them had still shared something like a bond of teacher and friend, an old, familiar closeness built up over the years.
In the past, Jun Beiyue might have offered him a faint, warm smile in return.
But now, knowing what he did—that the Gu family head, despite holding the title of family head, lacked the resolve and authority that title should carry, and had allowed his daughter and son-in-law’s countless foolish schemes to run unchecked, practically inviting wolves into the house—Jun Beiyue had lost nearly all the goodwill he’d once held for this man who had once abandoned his own mother.
Faced with the Gu family head’s overflowing warmth, Jun Beiyue simply gave a single nod, his expression completely blank.
The Gu family head felt as though he’d been doused with cold water, his heart sinking uneasily. Beiyue’s attitude was different from before—when exactly had he woken, and what exactly had Han Ziqing told him?
Truthfully, no matter what, his heart naturally still leaned toward his daughter. The concessions he’d made toward Han Ziqing had only been for Jun Beiyue’s sake—if he hadn’t feared Han Ziqing stirring up trouble and driving a wedge between him and his adopted son, he might never have yielded so much ground to her at all!
And now it seemed clear—Han Ziqing really had told him everything.
The Gu family head’s gaze flicked toward Ziqing beside him, resentment stirring in his heart. But he understood perfectly well—given how deeply Jun Beiyue cared for Han Ziqing, currying favor with her was the only way to secure Jun Beiyue’s continued support.
The family head stepped forward and grasped Jun Beiyue’s hand, his eyes reddening with emotion. “Beiyue… you’re finally awake! Do you know how these past months, your mother and I—your mother and I have longed, day and night, for you to wake?”
“Ziqing longed for it too,” Jun Beiyue said flatly, quietly slipping his hand free of the family head’s grip and leading Ziqing inside instead. He had no intention of returning to his room, however—he simply took a seat.
Seeing this, Jiang Chen and Gu Suying’s hearts sank with dread. They didn’t dare so much as meet Jun Beiyue’s eyes.
If Jun Beiyue and Han Ziqing had simply confronted them directly, that would almost have been a relief—at least they’d have had the chance to argue back, to demand proof.
But this couple had said nothing at all, leaving them utterly unable to guess what game they were playing—an impossible situation to guard against.
And they had no idea how much of the truth the couple actually knew, or to what extent. Did they know only about the poisoning? Did they know about the collusion with Bai Feiyao? Did they know both parties had betrayed the Gu family, or only that one of them had—and if so, which one?
This uncertainty was, for Jiang Chen and Gu Meiting, nothing short of psychological torture, an unbearable torment.
They couldn’t even raise their voices properly, weighing every single word carefully before daring to speak it aloud.
Better to say nothing at all—but even saying nothing, wouldn’t that invite questions too?
Jun Beiyue’s face remained expressionless, while Ziqing, unusually, smiled. “Family Head Gu, it seems this time, Suying actually heard you calling for her.”
Under normal circumstances, Gu Suying would have snapped back at once—she was, after all, plenty sharp-tongued and never one to back down.
But now, she kept her head bowed, not daring to make a sound, unable to guess what Han Ziqing might say next.
The Gu family head simply assumed Ziqing was being sarcastic, and seeing Gu Suying offer no retort, took it as a sign she was showing restraint with Beiyue present, feeling rather pleased.
Seeing Gu Suying behaving so meekly, Ziqing continued, “Second Miss, if it truly came to blows, would you dare fight Bai Feiyao yourself?”
This wasn’t idle sarcasm anymore—it was a direct question, one she had to answer!
Though her heart was racing with panic, Gu Suying still managed to lift her head with composure, saying, “Of course. Whether I could win or not is beside the point—whether I’m willing to fight is a matter of attitude! If Father asked me to fight, I certainly would!”
“Son-in-law Jiang!” Suddenly, without any warning, Ziqing called out loudly.
That startled Jiang Chen badly. The Gu family head glanced over, curious.
Jiang Chen, panicking, his back drenched in sweat, hurried to explain. “I was too tired, dozed off without meaning to—that’s why I—jumped a bit there!”
“It’s fine. I just wanted to ask, son-in-law—where exactly did you find that red yang-natured medicine last time?” Ziqing asked, once again completely without warning, bringing up the subject directly!
Not just Jiang Chen—even Gu Suying’s face changed drastically. If they hadn’t already been seated, they might well have collapsed to the ground on the spot.
What was Han Ziqing trying to do?
Was she about to expose their entire scheme?
Someone as sharp as her—would she dare expose them so openly without solid proof in hand?
If she meant to strike, they should be terrified. If she meant to drag this out, the torment would be unbearable either way.
Truly caught between a rock and a hard place—every advantage rested entirely in Jun Beiyue and Han Ziqing’s hands.
Jun Beiyue had remained silent this entire time—what was going on in his mind? Everything that had happened at the gathering had made it abundantly clear this man was far more ruthless, far more calculating, than even Han Ziqing.
A heart cold and merciless enough; methods seasoned and venomous enough!
Should they fall into his hands, the consequences would be unimaginable!
Jiang Chen was so frightened he couldn’t even open his mouth. Ziqing, unhurried, continued patiently, “Son-in-law, don’t panic. Think carefully—that medicine, and Beiyue just happening to take it, and just happening to wake up right after…”
At those words, the Gu family head immediately spoke up. “This old man was wondering the same thing. Beiyue, when exactly did you wake? There must be some hidden circumstance behind that fire!”
The family head had wanted to ask this all along—it was only because Jun Beiyue had pulled his hand free just now that he’d felt awkward and had to let it go for a moment.
He assumed that Jun Beiyue and Han Ziqing, sitting here together, must be planning to explain everything now.
Ziqing was just about to speak when Jun Beiyue beat her to it, saying flatly, “That fire was caused by Yingzi accidentally knocking over a candlestick. There’s nothing hidden about it at all.”
At those words, Ziqing couldn’t help but be amused!
The old saying “the wicked have their own reckoning” ought to be revised to “the wicked are ground down by the wicked”! Jun Beiyue truly was a wicked man—no, a devil!