Chapter 612 Slap in the Face (Second Update)

That's awkward.

I've never felt so awkward in sixteen years.

Gu Jinyu never expected that Lord Gu and Zhuang Yuheng would appear here in the middle of the night.

It's understandable that Lord Gu would pass by, after all, he is the master of his mansion, but what about Zhuang Yuheng?

Why is he here?

Thinking about what she had said in her moment of panic, Gu Jinyu felt terrible!

She prayed they hadn't heard her at all, but their expressions told a completely different story.

They heard it, completely and clearly, word for word.

Gu Jinyu seemed to have been struck by lightning, frozen in place.

The brothers were quite surprised by the arrival of Lord Gu and Zhuang Yuheng, except for Gu Yan.

Zhuang Yuheng arrived in Gu Yan's carriage. Gu Yan knew he was at the mansion and that he had gone to discuss his marriage with Gu Jinyu with Lord Gu.

In fact, Zhuang Yuheng was a very responsible person. Long before Gu Jinyu came to his door, Lord Gu had already privately asked him to hand over the marriage certificate, and the marriage between the two was called off.

Lord Gu was afraid of upsetting Gu Jinyu, so he kept it a secret from her, thinking that it wouldn't be too late to let Gu Jinyu know after Zhuang Yuheng left, since there wouldn't be anything Gu Jinyu could do by then anyway.

But Gu Jinyu, unaware of the situation, went to great lengths. The day before Zhuang Yuheng was to leave, she found him and said she would elope with him to marry him.

She was so loyal and devoted that even if Zhuang Yuheng no longer had any romantic feelings for her, he couldn't abandon her.

But he wouldn't really let her be branded as someone who eloped, so he decided to come to the manor one last time to discuss their marriage with Lord Gu.

He would ask Lord Gu to marry Gu Jinyu to him and promise to treat her well for the rest of his life.

Just as the two finished exchanging pleasantries and were about to get down to business, a servant came to report that the young masters in the garden were making a fuss, seemingly about Gu Jinyu.

If it were just a domestic matter of the Marquis's residence, Zhuang Yuheng would not have come along. However, since it involved his fiancée, he still came to see her.

It was a pleasant surprise when I looked at it.

It would be a lie to say I'm not disappointed, but this isn't disappointment in the relationship itself, but rather disappointment in human nature.

How could someone be so capable of fooling those around them just to gain a good reputation?

That's fine.

There's no need to force yourself to spend the rest of your life treating someone you don't love with the utmost respect.

Gu Jinyu took in Zhuang Yuheng's expression, and her already flustered heart became even more uneasy: "Your Highness...please let me explain..."

Zhuang Yuheng ignored her and turned to bow to Lord Gu: "Lord Gu."

Lord Gu was completely stunned by Gu Jinyu's words and couldn't come to his senses for a long time.

Zhuang Yuheng called him several times before he came back to his senses, looking at Zhuang Yuheng as if waking from a dream: "...You...you just said in the study that you came to the manor to see me for something?"

Zhuang Yuheng paused, then took out a marriage certificate from his pocket: "I've come to return the marriage certificate. Since Miss Gu is unwilling to marry me, it's best to call off this marriage."

"Ah... I'll give up... um..." Lord Gu was in a state of utter confusion.

Although he had long hoped to get the marriage certificate back, when he actually got it, why wasn't he... so happy?

"My lord, please accept the marriage certificate." Seeing that Lord Gu did not reach out, Zhuang Yuheng took the initiative to hand over the marriage certificate.

Gu Yan walked over, took the marriage certificate, and said, "Alright, I'll keep it for my father."

Zhuang Yuheng said calmly, "It's nothing, I'll go back now."

"You can take my carriage back," Gu Yan said.

“Okay.” Zhuang Yuheng did not refuse.

Zhuang Yuheng has nothing now. If he doesn't take the same carriage he came in to go back, he'll have to walk until his legs break.

Gu Yan didn't lack carriages, but he didn't owe him anything either; giving him the carriage was a favor.

After all, he had been cleaning up chicken droppings for Gu Yan for so long, allowing Gu Yan, the middleman, to make a killing, so of course Gu Yan would treat him better.

Zhuang Yuheng turned and left.

Gu Jinyu called out to him, her voice choked with sobs, "Your Highness! Your Highness!"

Zhuang Yuheng turned slightly to the side, not completely facing Gu Jinyu, but said from a distance, "I just want to ask Miss Gu, was what happened at the teahouse... really just an accident?"

Gu Jinyu froze.

"Take care." Zhuang Yuheng said no more, nor did he expect any answer. He disappeared into the night without looking back.

As Gu Jinyu watched his profile gradually turn into his back view, a huge impulse surged in her heart for a moment.

She wanted to marry him, to marry such a responsible and principled man!

If even that cripple Xiao Liulang could rise to prominence so quickly, why can't Zhuang Yuheng make a comeback?

She was so caught up in the uproar over the broken engagement that she forgot to sit down and think it over properly.

If Zhuang Yuheng can live in Bishui Hutong, how bad can his relationship with Gu Jiao's family be?

Gu Jiao and Xiao Liulang are both favorites of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. Zhuang Yuheng may have been taken in by the Empress Dowager and the Emperor with their tacit approval. It seems that the Empress Dowager and the Emperor have not completely given up on Zhuang Yuheng!

He has a chance to turn the tide!

What commoner status, what voluntary exile—it's all just for show!

The Zhuang family has committed a grave offense. It would be impossible to appease public anger if Zhuang Yuheng were not punished. But once the public anger subsides, they can bring Zhuang Yuheng back to the capital!

Realizing what she had missed, Gu Jinyu chased after Zhuang Yuheng almost recklessly.

Gu Yan subtly stuck out his foot and tripped her.

"ah--"

Gu Jinyu fell flat on her face!

In fact, Gu Jinyu was overthinking it. Neither Empress Dowager Zhuang nor His Majesty intended to put on an act. Empress Dowager Zhuang, in particular, was not afraid of public outrage and was not afraid of being scolded.

If Zhuang Yuheng stays in the capital, she won't make things difficult for him; but if Zhuang Yuheng wants to venture out on his own, she won't stop him either.

The child is grown up; she should learn to let go.

Gu Jinyu had no idea; she was filled with regret!

But now is not the time to wallow in regret. Zhuang Yuheng is gone, but there are still Lord Gu and his brothers, including Gu Changqing.

Gu Changqing and the other two were very disappointed.

Tonight's whole thing was orchestrated by Gu Yan. Gu Yan didn't inform them beforehand, and Gu Changqing and Gu Chengfeng were genuinely trying to help Gu Jinyu leave.

Although they had no feelings for Gu Jinyu, Gu Jinyu's unwavering devotion to Prince An made it impossible for them to feel any aversion towards her.

"I didn't expect it to be fake. As expected, I shouldn't have had any expectations of you!" Gu Chengfeng said disdainfully.

Gu Changqing resumed his usual cold expression: "Ayan, let's go."

Gu Yan didn't leave; he wanted to watch the show.

Gu Changqing grabbed the man and put him on the horse: "It's so late, you should go to sleep. Staying up late is bad for your health."

"But I want to see what's going on."

"No naughtiness allowed."

"Can't I even be a little mischievous?"

"You've been acting silly all night."

Where would I find one?

Gu Yan's unwilling groans gradually faded into the distance.

Guard A and Guard B also vanished into thin air.

Gu Chenglin actually wanted to watch the excitement, but Gu Chengfeng pulled him away.

Only Lord Gu and Gu Jinyu remained in the garden.

Gu Jinyu looked at Lord Gu with a helpless expression: "Father...please let me explain..."

Lord Gu asked in a daze, "What's the deal with the teahouse?"

Gu Jinyu's expression changed: "Father—"

Lord Gu looked at her intently: "At the teahouse, Zhuang Yuheng was drugged, and you were almost assaulted by him. Is that what happened?"

Gu Yan suddenly popped out from behind the tree: "Of course not! She discovered that Zhuang Yuexi was trying to harm someone, so she followed to join in the fun, only to see Prince An fall for the trap! It wasn't Prince An who dragged her in through the door! She went in on her own!"

Gu Changqing sighed and pulled him over, saying, "Alright, are you done talking? Can you go back to sleep now?"

"I haven't said enough." Gu Yan broke free from Gu Changqing's embrace. Gu Changqing had taken him away, and he had begged and pleaded with Gu Changqing to use his lightness skill to bring him here. It was not easy for him to get here, and he wanted to finish what he had to say.

He roared at Lord Gu from across half the garden: "Prince An told her to run away! She wouldn't! Prince An couldn't control himself and had no choice but to stab himself!"

"She kept saying, 'Prince An, what's wrong with you? What happened? Should I call a doctor for you?' Call a doctor my ass! You watched Zhuang Yuexi drug him, don't you know what's wrong with him!"

Gu Changqing couldn't stand it anymore and was so angry that she was sobbing: "Who taught you to talk such nonsense!"

Gu Yan used to be very well-behaved, but ever since Marquis Xuanping moved into Bishui Hutong, Gu Yan has become more and more mischievous!

"I waaaaaahh ...

Gu Yan wanted to say something, but his mouth was covered. The boy's body was mercilessly picked up by Gu Changqing and carried out of the mansion using his lightness skill.

Lord Gu had no interest in the entanglement between Zhuang Yuexi and Zhuang Yuheng; he only cared about the role Gu Jinyu played in it.

He clenched his fists and looked at her: "Is what Gu Yan said true?"

If Gu Jiao had said these words, Lord Gu would not have believed a single one; he would have thought that Gu Jiao was framing Gu Jinyu.

To put it bluntly, he simply didn't understand Gu Jiao enough.

But he knows Gu Yan. If Gu Yan bullied Gu Jinyu, would he need to frame him? It was all perfectly obvious!

I'm just bullying you, what can you do about it!

My whole family spoils me because I'm sick!

This is Gu Yan.

Another very important point is that this matter did not involve Gu Jiao. However, if Gu Jiao were involved, Lord Gu would almost always unconditionally side with Gu Jinyu.

But now that only Gu Yan and Gu Jinyu are there, Lord Gu can view the whole matter relatively rationally.

If Gu Yan were to mention even a single word that Prince An had feelings for Gu Jiao, the whole thing would be ruined.

Gu Jinyu opened his mouth: "Father...I..."

If Gu Jinyu merely wanted to gain a good reputation while avoiding the hardships of the border, it could be considered a young woman's vanity. However, her taking advantage of the situation to scheme against Prince An and marry her is truly heartbreaking.

Lord Gu turned away in disappointment, clutching his chest.

His heart ached terribly.

Please give me a five-star review, I'm so excited!

(End of this chapter)