Chapter 48 Old Things

Mu Junyan slowly loosened his grip on her hand, took a step back, and gave her room to breathe.

Gu Huan's hands, which were forced to be raised above her head, became stiff. When she slowly lowered them, she felt her shoulder blades were about to crack.

His eyes fell on her snow-white soft hands, which were bruised by her grip.

That night, when he pinched her slender waist with his big hands covered with thick calluses, a red mark was rubbed on her waist.

The little girl is really too delicate.

Mu Junyan's depressed mood, which had been suppressed for most of the day, became even more blocked.

The candles of a pair of cloud crane lamps on the desk were about to burn out, and the candlelight flickered violently. The two of them looked towards the desk at the same time.

The awkward atmosphere suddenly solidified.

Gu Huan wanted to dig a hole in the ground for her to crawl into.

Fortunately, the candle burned out quickly.

The house fell into darkness.

The moonlight was also covered by clouds. Gu Huan breathed a sigh of relief. The darkness could hide her embarrassment and fear.

The only sounds in the room were heavy and light breathing.

"What are you writing?"

Mu Junyan changed the subject to ease the awkwardness.

Because he was blind and his hearing was particularly sensitive, he claimed that he had changed it to me, and his tone became much softer.

Gu Huan's heart, which had been in her throat, suddenly relaxed a little.

Her voice was soft and gentle: "I... am copying ancient books."

She didn't dare lie.

"Why?"

The tone of voice sounded a little softer.

“…I like watching it.”

"I'll give it to you. No need to copy it."

Gu Huan looked up. She couldn't see the other person's face clearly, but she could feel that what he said was true.

This is a rare copy of an ancient book. Are you going to give it to her just like that?

She couldn't show greed.

"Thank you, Duke, but it's too expensive. I won't accept it if I have done nothing."

He seemed to blurt out with an exhale: "Just consider it as two nights of hard work."

Gu Huan froze.

Mu Junyan: "..."

How could he say that?

It's so hurtful.

Mu Junyan walked towards the desk, inserted a new candle on the Yunhe lamp, and lit it again.

I casually flipped through the ancient books she had copied.

It turned out to be a unique copy given to him by the old tutor. In the eyes of literati, this book is a priceless treasure.

She actually likes such awkward words?

By the way, she seems to be copying books in exchange for silver.

Mu Junyan seemed to understand and pointed at the book with his finger: "Nothing special. It can only lie here on the bookshelf and collect dust. It's a good thing that someone can make it useful."

Gu Huan couldn't believe it, this was the only copy in the world!

It’s simply a golden rice bowl that can make gold.

Even famous scholars and writers all over the world want to collect it.

Did you really give it to her?

However, if it was given to her for other reasons, it would be acceptable.

Gu Huan bit her lip, the only pitiful bit of pride left in her anxious mind.

She straightened her stubborn waist and blessed him.

"My Lord, that night... was purely an accident. We had sex after drinking. You don't have to mind it. The second... the second time, I wanted to ask for your protection. I owe you. I dare not accept such a precious reward, and I cannot take it."

After saying that, he turned around and ran towards the door without saying anything else.

Mu Junyan: "..."

Why do you feel ashamed of hurting little girls?

"Stop, I want to ask you something."

Gu Huan had already stepped out of the threshold, but stopped without looking back.

He whispered, "Please ask, my Lord."

Mu Junyan walked behind her and stared at the top of her black hair: "Twelve years ago, did you give half a bun to a beggar?"

Gu Huan was startled and turned around suddenly.

Why would he suddenly ask this?

The injured beggar gave her a jade pendant and told her not to say she had ever met him.

She was still young and ignorant. She exchanged half a steamed bun for a jade pendant, so naturally she couldn't say a word.

Later, when she grew up and became sensible, she discovered that the jade pendant was of excellent quality. She guessed that the beggar was not an ordinary person, and she dared not reveal it to anyone.

Later, the jade pendant suddenly disappeared and there was no trace of it after a long search.

“I don’t remember.”

Gu Huan didn't want to lie to him, but she also had to keep her promise.

Mu Junyu stared at her, her beautiful eyes wandering.

She is lying.

I don't want to force her anymore, the matter will eventually be clarified.

His eyes fell on a transparent phoenix-head jade hairpin in her hair that was light green in color.

His eyebrows knitted slightly, and he thought for a moment: "What kind of flowers do you like?"

Why are you asking this suddenly?

Gu Huan said casually, "Magnolia."

"Um."

Looking at the faint curve on Mu Junyan's lips, as if smiling but not smiling, a chill ran down his spine.

Her heart was pounding, and she had no idea what he meant, so she moved back quietly with trembling legs.

Mu Junyan finally took a step forward, stepped out of the door, and said, "Don't copy too late."

Gu Huan keenly felt that the moment he turned around, the smile on his face instantly disappeared.

Even after the tall figure left, the pressure from him still lingered for a long time.

Gu Huan suddenly remembered and hurriedly took two steps forward, "Duke, which volume of the late Madam's manuscript do you want to copy?"

"Pick one or two at random."

Gu Huan stared blankly at the tall figure that disappeared.

She picked one or two at random?

Perhaps, any of his late wife's manuscripts would be a comfort to him.

Gu Huan thought about it, then turned back to the desk, looked at the rare copy, closed it resolutely, and took out Jiang's collection of poems and opened it.

Mu Junyan didn't have much time left before he left, so she had to copy at least two poetry collections so that Mu Junyan could take them with him when he traveled to southern Xinjiang, which would provide some comfort on lonely nights.

Before I knew it, the night watchman's drum had struck at midnight.

Donghua came over with a lantern in her hand: "My aunt, why are you still copying? We all thought you had just slept here."

Gu Huan shook her wrist and looked at the half-copied manuscript with great joy.

"I can finish copying one book tomorrow."

Donghua urged: "Go back and rest quickly."

Gu Huan put the copied manuscript neatly, tidied up the desk, and went back with Dong Hua.

Dong Qing brought a bowl of soothing soup simmering on the charcoal stove: "This is what Miss Shen made for you. She told you to drink it before going to bed."

Gu Huan took it and drank it in one gulp. A warm feeling flowed through her and she felt comfortable immediately.

I had a good sleep and when I woke up it was already noon.

I quickly got up and asked, "Why didn't you wake me up?"

"You didn't ask for anything. I worked so late last night. No one would mind if I stayed up late."

Donghua smiled and rolled up the curtain.

Dongqing came in with a copper tray of hot water, and the two men helped her wash up.

While eating breakfast, Gu Hua said, "I want to make some snacks and personally deliver them to the old lady. I have to pay my respects to her now."

She was under Mu Junyan's protection and lived a life without worries about food and clothing, so she had to do something useful to repay him.

Everyone in the world knows that Mu Junyan does not marry, but he is a filial son. If the old lady likes him, she will have an extra guarantee to stay in the Duke's Mansion.

"Ah?" Donghua stared.

Gu Huan turned to look at her: "I can't go?"

"Not really, it's just that the old lady has dementia and doesn't recognize people very well. Sometimes she even beats people."

Gu Huan was surprised: "Hit someone?"

Dong Qing combed her hair and comforted her: "Normally he doesn't hit her. It was only when the young lady and the young master came to visit for the first time that he slapped the young lady."

"Ah?" Gu Huan was surprised.

Has your eldest sister ever been beaten?

"Perhaps because of this, the young lady never paid her respects to the old lady again. The servants in the mansion all thought that the young lady was unfilial..."

Donghua was quite dissatisfied, but when she thought that the young lady was Miss Huan's elder sister, she quickly stopped talking.

"Why was my elder sister beaten?" Gu Huan asked quickly.

So that you don’t get beaten too.

Donghua tilted her head and thought for a while: "It seems that the young lady was not polite enough when she saluted."

Gu Huan breathed a sigh of relief.

She is very familiar with the standard etiquette and will never make mistakes.

"I've made snacks for the old lady twice, but I don't know if she likes them." Gu Huan was still a little nervous.

When the old lady was young, she was the first female general of Daliang and was personally conferred the title of lady by the late emperor. Even though she has dementia, her majesty is still there, so she still has to be cautious.

I don't know if I can please her.

"Yi Niang said that the old lady likes it. The old lady likes to eat sweets, especially those with osmanthus filling."

"That's great, come on, let's go to the kitchen and make some snacks."

Gu Huan became alert and led Donghua and Dongqing straight to the kitchen.