Unable to prevail in the struggle and prepared to accept death, Yuwen Houde had already closed his eyes. But after waiting a while, that blade merely flew past his temple, taking only a lock of his hair.
Even if not a beauty, Yuwen Houde finally received his heroic rescue. Gu Chaobei, who happened to be passing by carrying a pastry box, thought some ruffians were bullying a young lady and rushed over urgently to save the person.
Who would have known that upon rescuing him, it turned out to be Yuwen Houde.
When he opened his eyes and saw Gu Chaobei, Yuwen Houde nearly cried with gratitude. No wonder so many women who were rescued would clamor to pledge themselves in marriage. He had thought himself certain to die, yet this person descended from the heavens and gave him a chance at life.
He truly wanted to kneel down and kowtow to him several times.
Gu Chaobei on this side was quite depressed. His mood hadn’t been very good to begin with. Yan’er had mentioned wanting to eat pastries from the street vendor Haofulai, so thinking to clear his mind, he had gone out. Who knew he’d encounter such rotten luck.
Well, it wasn’t entirely rotten luck. He had originally wanted to win over Yuwen Houde anyway. The thugs he’d hired were already en route, but unexpectedly someone had actually acted before him, wanting to kill Yuwen Houde to silence him. This was equivalent to pushing the man toward his side.
So he’d unceremoniously accept him.
The two of them working together to deal with these five or six street thugs wasn’t a problem. Only Gu Chaobei sustained some injuries, getting cut by someone’s blade. Escaping the alley and reaching the main street, those thugs didn’t dare pursue them. Yuwen Houde supported Gu Chaobei as they ran all the way back to the Gu manor.
“What happened?”
The person entered with blood flowing from his arm, frightening Shen Guiyan until her face turned deathly pale. She stepped forward to support Gu Chaobei, frowning: “Just buying pastries—how did you end up bleeding so much?”
Yuwen Houde settled Gu Chaobei in a chair, his face full of guilt: “It’s all because of dragging this humble one down. Lord Gu stepped forward bravely and saved this humble one’s life.”
Han Jiangxue also came over. Her eyes swept over Yuwen Houde for quite a while. After confirming he was unharmed, she finally relaxed, then hurried to find a physician and fetch medicine.
For the first time, Gu Chaobei felt like a hero, leaning weakly against the chair, watching Yan’er’s face rarely show expression, secretly pleased in his heart.
He had thought she wouldn’t feel sorry for him. Seeing this reaction, taking that blade was worth it. Unfortunately, it was for a stinking man—not quite perfect.
Shen Guiyan waited for the physician to come, prescribe wound medicine, treat the injury, and change his clothes. After bustling about inside and out for a while, her complexion still didn’t look good.
Having enjoyed himself enough, Gu Chaobei smiled and said: “Wife need not worry too much. Your husband is fine. Those ruffian thugs are the ones who suffered—I beat them until their faces were black and blue everywhere.”
Shen Guiyan drew a deep breath and viciously stomped on his instep: “Going out alone, you still dare to brawl with a gang of ruffian thugs?”
“Hiss—” Gu Chaobei gasped, his face turning purple. He hadn’t expected Shen Guiyan to stomp so viciously. After quite a while he finally recovered enough to say: “I’m from the law enforcement background, and now I’m a dignified vice-general. A mere few thugs…”
Meeting her slightly reddened eyes, Gu Chaobei swallowed back all remaining words.
Shen Guiyan felt some regret. What was she saying about him not being suited for study but suited for armor and warhorses? Now that he’d truly become a military general, would she have to live in constant anxiety day and night? What if something happened to him—what would she do?
After treating the wound, Yuwen Houde still hadn’t left but sat dazedly in his seat. Seeing Shen Guiyan go out to discard the bloodied white cloth, he turned to look at Gu Chaobei: “Lord Gu is a good person. Only this time, this humble one has been targeted. That person’s backing is too solid. I fear death is inescapable ahead.”
“Did you learn some incredible secret that led to being hunted?” Gu Chaobei looked at him: “Spit out what you know. If you’re not the only one who knows, then you won’t need to die, right?”
Yuwen Houde slapped his thigh. Right, that made sense!
However, the secret he knew also involved the Gu family. Speaking it might cause a huge uproar. More likely, the Gu family wouldn’t spare him either.
After thinking it over, Yuwen Houde decided to tell half and hide half.
“Since it’s like this, this humble one will speak frankly.” Yuwen Houde lowered his eyes: “Does My Lord know about that singing girl who entered the Crown Prince’s manor some time ago?”
“I know.” Gu Chaobei said: “Wasn’t it arranged by you?”
Yuwen Houde laughed lightly: “Rather than saying I arranged it, better to say she had me arrange it. She’s a calculating woman who knows how to climb step by step. She sold herself to the Drunken Flower Shade, then using my financial resources, married into the Crown Prince’s manor. Most terrifying is—she’s a dead person.”
Gu Chaobei was startled: “A dead person?”
“Does My Lord remember the Gu family’s eldest young madam?” Yuwen Houde said: “She was supposed to have died, but she changed her identity and came back to life.”
Gu Chaobei frowned, thinking for a while before understanding his meaning: “You’re saying Han Lu is the eldest young madam of the Gu family?”
“Yes. Only those who knew her probably haven’t had the chance to see her face yet.” Yuwen Houde smiled: “She’s very clever. She’s already planned that even if you all see her in the future, she’ll pretend to have amnesia. As long as she doesn’t admit it and you have no proof, you can do nothing to her.”
What an excellent escape plan. Gu Chaobei couldn’t help but praise Shen Guiya. He had originally thought her brainless despite her figure, but unexpectedly when she put her mind to it, she had some capability. With this transformation she’d become the Crown Prince’s favored consort. Once the Crown Prince ascended the throne, wouldn’t she become an imperial consort?
Truly an excellent scheme, and the Crown Prince actually fell for her tricks.
“In this world, this humble one is probably the only person who knows her secret, so she’s eager to eliminate me.” Yuwen Houde sighed: “I never anticipated a woman would have such vicious thoughts.”
Gu Chaobei laughed lightly: “Did you think everyone was as easily fooled as that silly wife of yours? You lusted after beauty, so she played you like a fiddle. Look at you—your official position still came through her. Now that General Lian has grown cold toward you, she won’t help you rise again. Not stepping on you would already be kind. I think you’ll eventually be ruined by this woman until you have nothing left.”
Yuwen Houde understood this all too well. Today’s events had also made him see clearly that a woman like Shen Guiya couldn’t be relied upon.
“But now, what should I do?” Yuwen Houde smiled bitterly: “I’ve already fallen out with Changqing and can’t go back. Things are rather awkward in the Southern Camp…”
“Heaven never seals off all exits.” Gu Chaobei smiled casually: “If you don’t mind, I could point you toward a path.”
Yuwen Houde was slightly stunned.
When Shen Guiyan returned, she felt the atmosphere in the room had changed. Yuwen Houde had originally been in a daze, but now his expression was grave, still carrying some hesitation and indecision.
She had no favorable impression of this man, so whether he lived or died had nothing to do with her. Only it was getting late—shouldn’t he be leaving? Why was he still sitting here?
“This humble one will carefully consider what My Lord has said.” Yuwen Houde finally stood up: “I take my leave.”
“I won’t see you out.” Gu Chaobei yawned. Seeing Shen Guiyan enter, he immediately began wagging his tail again: “Wife has worked hard. Come rest a while.”
Shen Guiyan looked at him and sat down silently. Gu Chaobei then began his rambling apology: “Today I truly had no choice but to act. Wife, please forgive me. In the future I will certainly treasure my own body well. Even if not for myself, I’ll think of you and won’t act recklessly again…”
He had always felt Yan’er didn’t have him in her heart, that she was indifferent at all times. But today, seeing her slightly reddened eyes, he understood.
This person just wasn’t very expressive. Actually, she still cared about him quite a bit and would worry for him, feel sorry for him.
The matter that had been troubling him was resolved, and he’d gained an ally besides. Gu Chaobei’s mood instantly improved.
Shen Guiyan shook her head lightly and interrupted him: “Husband need not apologize anymore.”
Gu Chaobei grinned: “You’re not angry anymore?”
It wasn’t anger at all—just excessive worry. Like when any family’s child plays and gets lost, they’re certain to receive a beating when they return home.
Shen Guiyan sighed and gently leaned against his uninjured shoulder, saying softly: “I truly don’t seek any great wealth or glory from you anymore. As long as we two can live peacefully through this lifetime, that would already be a kind of blessing.”
Gu Chaobei raised an eyebrow: “If I remain an incompetent fool my whole life, wife wouldn’t mind?”
“I wouldn’t mind.” Shen Guiyan closed her eyes: “Peace and joy are most precious.”
She didn’t want to regret later—standing on high towers viewing new willows, regretting teaching her husband to seek nobility and titles.
Gu Chaobei made no commitment either way, only holding her shoulder and sighing lightly.
Sometimes one truly couldn’t help oneself.
Having failed to silence him, Han Lu felt uneasy about sleeping and eating in the Crown Prince’s manor. But thinking it over, as long as she secured the position of official consort, she would become an imperial consort in the future. No matter who exposed her, who would believe them?
So she worked even harder to please the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince was already willing for her to take the position of official consort. The key problem still to solve was the Empress.
Just as she was worrying about what to do, the Empress sent someone to summon her to the palace.
Not long after, the Crown Prince formally established the Drunken Flower Shade singing girl Han Lu as official consort, holding a banquet at the Crown Prince’s manor and inviting quite a few people.
Gu Chaobei and Shen Guiyan were naturally among those invited. Shen Guiyan only treated it as an ordinary banquet, but Gu Chaobei took her to dress up properly—a newly made pomegranate-colored double-breasted jacket embroidered with butterflies, with a pale yellow skirt embroidered at the hem inside, quite gorgeous.
However, Shen Guiyan’s figure could carry it. Whether elegant or gorgeous clothing, when worn, she displayed refinement. Gu Chaobei said to her mysteriously: “Shall I take you to see a big surprise?”
What surprise could there be? Shen Guiyan was somewhat curious and followed him all the way, but at the Crown Prince’s manor entrance, they encountered the Shen family parents.
Shen Shiqing had finally gotten his official seal back—the Chancellor had pleaded for mercy. However, having experienced this period of low fortune, he looked considerably older. Bao Shi had lost her daughter and her spirits weren’t good either. Fortunately, she had her legitimate son to lean on, so things were still passable.
“Father, Mother.” Going forward to bow, Bao Shi ignored her. Still, Lord Shen smiled and said: “No need for formalities. Now that you’re doing well, that’s enough.”
“She’s doing well indeed.” Bao Shi said sarcastically: “Paying no attention whatsoever to the family. Those who don’t know would think the Shen family owes her something.”