Gu Huairou remained silent after hearing this. Luoshan glanced at her before walking away.
How pitiful such a woman seemed – her face ruined, only able to work in the shadows, doing tasks that might not even be appreciated. Yet she foolishly believed there was still hope.
Wouldn’t it be better to let go of this hope and live for herself?
Gu Huairou crouched in place, thinking for a long time. Without Jiang Taohua to consult, she had to make decisions on her own. The letter might reveal Xu Yangui’s true feelings. Should she read it or not?
While still pondering, her feet had already started moving. Xu Yangui was out, leaving his main room empty. She entered as usual, with no one stopping her.
Luoshan hadn’t lied. There was indeed a white jade hairpin in the drawer, seemingly a woman’s style. It looked familiar – likely Jiang Taohua’s possession.
She had once been relieved that he wasn’t Shen Zaiye, believing she still had a chance to win his heart. But now, seeing this, Gu Huairou felt desperate.
Taohua was an admirable woman, deserving of affection. But… if Xu Yangui liked her too, then she truly had no chance. After all, she was inferior to Jiang Taohua in every aspect.
Holding the pristine jade hairpin, Gu Huairou hesitated briefly before following Luoshan’s instructions. She went to the stone steps at the entrance and forcefully smashed the hairpin in half with a rock.
“Ah!” Someone screamed.
Startled, Gu Huairou looked up to see Fengwu covering her mouth, eyes wide with shock.
“You destroyed the master’s favorite treasure?”
Destroyed? Gu Huairou shook her head, wanting to explain she was just trying to retrieve something. But when she looked down, she realized the truth.
The hairpin was solid. There was no letter inside. It was simply broken.
Stunned, Gu Huairou instinctively looked back at the distant wall. Luoshan stood there, grinning maliciously before disappearing.
She had been tricked.
Her lips pale, Gu Huairou was grabbed by Fengwu in a daze. The hairpin was taken away, and she was pushed into a side room and locked in.
It seemed she had made a grave mistake. Crouching in the room, Gu Huairou thought, that if Xu Yangui truly cared for Jiang Taohua, then this hairpin must have been very important. Now that it was destroyed by her hands, would he let her off easily?
Nervous, Gu Huairou wanted to flee. She looked around, gathered some money, and prepared to escape through the window.
“What’s this?” Luoshan was guarding outside. Seeing her open the window, he immediately grinned. “Trying to leave?”
The sight of him instantly soured Gu Huairou’s mood. Without a word, she attempted to climb over the wall past him. But as a woman without martial arts skills and always proper behavior, how could she scale walls? After struggling for a while without success, Luoshan crouched nearby, laughing. Once he had his fill of amusement, he helped her over, leading her away from Yanguimen.
As soon as they landed, Gu Huairou walked straight ahead. Luoshan, displeased, caught up with her. “I helped you, didn’t I? Not even a word of thanks?”
“If not for you, I wouldn’t have to leave this place,” Gu Huairou said, looking down. “We’re even now. Our paths part here.”
Luoshan chuckled softly, following her down the mountain. Gu Huairou turned back irritably. “Why do you keep following me?”
“I want to follow you. Got a problem with that?” Luoshan held his sword, a roguish smile on his fairly handsome face. Gu Huairou felt extremely uncomfortable but couldn’t do anything about it. She could only continue walking reluctantly.
This place wasn’t too far from the capital. She could return to her maiden home to continue her life. Though it would be painful for a long time, even more so than when Shen Zaiye divorced her, she preferred to suffer alone rather than face Xu Yangui’s severe punishment for breaking the hairpin.
Xu Yangui had been in a good mood lately, feeling life was comfortable. He hadn’t pondered whose efforts contributed to this. However, when passing by an apothecary, he went in to consult a doctor.
“Is there any medicine that can restore a damaged face?”
The doctor looked at him oddly. “There’s no such medicine. If a face is ruined, it remains ruined.”
Sighing softly, Xu Yangui left and mounted his horse. Thinking of the woman in his courtyard who always wore a black veil and dared not raise her head, he felt a pang of sympathy.
Although she was just his maid, she was still his woman. If her face couldn’t be cured, he should think of other ways to help her.
However, as soon as he returned, Fengwu angrily rushed to him. “Master, Huairou broke your white jade hairpin and eloped with Luoshan!”
His heart sank. Xu Yangui frowned. “Eloped with Luoshan?”
How did she even know Luoshan?
Luoshan was one of his capable subordinates, skilled in martial arts but with an odd temperament that made him unpopular. How could Gu Huairou possibly leave with him?
“Master!” Fengwu stomped her foot, holding out the broken hairpin. “Isn’t this more important? You always treasured it, and she…”
“This was a gift from a friend,” Xu Yangui said. “It’s worth some money, but not too much. It’s broken, so be it. But can you tell me which direction they fled?”
Fengwu was dumbfounded. Seeing Xu Yangui’s expression, her mind raced. She lowered her gaze. “This servant doesn’t know where they fled, but Luoshan and Huairou have been involved for a while. That, this servant does know.”
His face darkened. Xu Yangui looked at her. “Do you know the consequences of lying to me?”
“This servant wouldn’t dare!” Fengwu quickly said. “Every word is true. Many people know, only you were kept in the dark! Luoshan went to the kitchen daily to see Huairou. They seemed quite close. Though they’re both unmarried, wasn’t Huairou already yours?”
Something twisted uncomfortably in his heart. Xu Yangui turned and headed down the mountain, pursuing towards the capital.
Gu Huairou’s carriage moved slowly, especially with the restless person on top. Halfway through the journey, the coachman couldn’t bear it anymore and kicked them both off.
So tonight, they had to camp outdoors.
Fortunately, it was spring and relatively warm. Luoshan cheerfully gathered firewood and straw, making a place for Gu Huairou to rest.
Gu Huairou watched him warily. “What exactly do you want?”
“Nothing. I just find you amusing,” Luoshan said. “Like a fool, leaving home to follow someone up the mountain, only to run back so miserably in the end.”
After a brief pause, Gu Huairou laughed bitterly. “It’s my fault for misunderstanding his intentions. I thought someone who wanted to take care of me for life just like me, but for him, it seems it was just a responsibility.”
(End of Chapter)