Chapter 3 Gentle Fatal
Oh no, my mouth is faster than my brain.
As soon as she said this, everyone turned to look at her.
The second young master of the Gu family was born with bad luck. He killed his own mother when he was six years old and angered the old Marquis Gu to death when he was eight. This was an open secret in the capital.
However, his face was just too outstanding. Even though he had stayed at Jingshan Temple for seven years, when he returned to the capital yesterday, many girls still lined the road to greet him and threw sachets at him.
Yu Wenxue bit her lower lip.
Her still-dazed mind could only manage to come up with these terrible ideas for the time being.
God, she just wanted to live!
In that brief moment, she imagined several possible outcomes.
First, Gu Yun Shen did not deny it and cooperated with her to finish the play, and everyone was happy.
Second, Gu Yunshen decisively severed ties with her, so she pretended to be Qin Xianglian, who had been abandoned by Chen Shimei, and took the opportunity to run back crying.
Thinking of this, she secretly glanced to the side.
At this moment, Gu Yun Shen raised his head, his eyes filled with a hint of inquiry.
She neither refuted nor accepted it; she could even read a sense of detached amusement in his ambiguous eyes.
No matter which of the two of them she offends, she's doomed, and she won't have to be a voyeur anymore.
A few tears fell uncontrollably, landing on the ground and disappearing into the shadows.
She didn't want to die.
I don't want to recall the cold operating table.
After a long while, Princess Tong'an smiled sinisterly and said, "In that case, I won't bother you any longer." With that, she led everyone away.
Having narrowly escaped death, Yu Wenxue casually wiped away her tears and straightened her dirty and torn dress.
The missing piece of cloth was tied around Gu Yun Shen's calf.
She steadied herself, walked up to him, lowered her head, and whispered, "I have a problem; I tend to say things without thinking when I'm nervous. Please don't mind it."
"You spoke without thinking..."
Gu Yun Shen smiled, his gaze sweeping over her lips. "Since they're useless, why not just cut them off?"
"Wh...what?"
Yu Wenxue touched her still-beating heart and wondered if this was really something a human could say.
She stammered for a long time without being able to give a coherent answer. Just as she was racking her brains to come up with what she thought was a perfect lie, she saw him pull out his longsword again and patiently wipe away the remaining bloodstains.
The sword gleamed with a cold white light under the moonlight, and she felt her neck ache again.
It must be said that his sword-wiping posture was very elegant, befitting a child raised in a wealthy family, exuding an air of nobility.
She just didn't think now was a good time to clean the sword; the gesture seemed to say: Think it through before you answer.
Yu Wenxue's eyelids twitched, and she explained sincerely again, "I can tell jokes, it would be such a pity if I cut them off."
"That's quite interesting, but unfortunately I can't hear it," Gu Yun Shen pointed to his left ear without looking at her. "Why did you remind me there's a snake here?"
How did we end up back here again?
Yu Wenxue sighed resignedly, "Because I am gentle, kind, bold, meticulous, resourceful, brave, and wise. I would never stand by and watch someone die. I am a truly great person!"
I almost got tongue-tied trying to say all that.
Gu Yunshen sheathed his sword, chuckled softly, and his handsome features became even more vivid.
"The Yu family is in the north, so they should have very little opportunity to come into contact with the Five Poisons. I didn't expect you to like reading this kind of book." He raised an eyebrow and gave a harmless smile: "I wonder what kind of book it is? May I borrow it to read?"
"It's probably some rare copy left over from the previous dynasty, but I can't remember exactly. I'm not very bright, and my memory isn't very good." Yu Wenxue added, "I'm also not good with words."
Gu Yun Shen seemed thoughtful, then said in a light tone, "Then thank you for your concern. It's time to go back." He paused, then said, word by word, "Cousin."
Don't call her "cousin" anymore, it makes her uncomfortable!
Yu Wenxue shrank back slightly. The night wind stung her face, and she dared not get too close to him, so she could only keep a distance from him and follow behind.
His figure was slightly thin, but he was very tall, and everything around him seemed to dim as he passed by.
The air was stuffy, and following behind him didn't make me feel warm at all; instead, I felt damp and cold.
It looks like it's going to rain.
*
The two walked through the woods one after the other, finally returning to the front yard just as the guests were leaving.
A young man in white robes walked towards us, with a gentle and refined demeanor, and a smile that was as warm as a spring breeze.
"Xun Han? What a coincidence, the two of you are together? I was just about to send someone to look for my cousin."
"I was busy yesterday and dealing with guests today, so I haven't had a proper welcome dinner for my cousin yet."
The person speaking must be the true male protagonist of the original book, Gu Rongting.
Yu Wenxue couldn't help but glance at Gu Yunshen beside her.
The two brothers look nothing alike. Although both are good-looking, Gu Rongting has a gentler appearance and more honest features, which makes people feel close to him.
Gu Yun Shen's beauty is even more striking. His eyes are more delicate, with narrow phoenix eyes, a straight nose, and an aloof temperament. When he smiles, his eyebrows and eyes curve into a natural arc, which softens his sharpness, making him look like a beautiful porcelain doll.
She glanced at it, turned around, glanced at it again, and then looked at Gu Rongting, smiling as she said, "Cousin, you're too kind."
The way she called him "cousin" was extremely stiff, almost as if it were just spilling from her throat, since she had absolutely no connection with the Marquis's household.
The old lady had no daughters and loved young girls the most. There were so many cousins like Yu Wenxue, who had no relatives and came to seek refuge in the Marquis's mansion, that you couldn't count them on two hands.
Most of their parents are still alive and hope to climb the social ladder by marrying into a noble family and find them a good marriage in the future.
Yu Wenxue's "parents" are no exception.
The original book only briefly mentioned this person's storyline. Yesterday, after she discovered that she had transmigrated into the book, she fainted when she heard about the task she needed to complete.
As for what happened and who she met, she seemed to have lost her memory.
If Gu Yun Shen is the biggest stumbling block for the male and female protagonists, then these cousins are the most troublesome tangled mess, impossible to untangle. Cousin number one and cousin number two are both entangled with Gu Rong Ting.
However, she was an exception, because the cousin surnamed Yu in the book died of illness less than a year after arriving at the Marquis's mansion.
Later, after the male and female leads confirmed their feelings for each other, a certain cousin, number N, tried to frame Lin Qingwan. Gu Rongting suddenly realized his mistake and took the opportunity to "send" everyone home, which angered the old lady so much that she didn't speak to him for half a month.
Seeing that she was still in a daze, Gu Rongting turned to look at Gu Yunshen, maintaining a smile on his face: "You and your cousin are about the same age, so you can visit each other often in the future."
“Cousin…” Gu Yun Shen’s lips curved slightly, then quickly withdrew, his fingertips resting on the scabbard, tapping it lightly as if intentionally or unintentionally, “She’s a good person.”
"She can also tell jokes."
Yu Wenxue: "..."
Gu Rongting: "By the way, my cousin was seasick and unconscious yesterday. It was Xun Han who brought you back. I haven't had a chance to ask her name yet?"
Yu Wenxue looked up abruptly, almost thinking she had misheard.
On the other hand, Gu Yun Shen's leisurely and carefree demeanor, without denying it, proves that the matter is true.
But how come I have no recollection of it at all?
She steadied herself and said, "My name is Yu Wenxue."
“Wen Xue…” Gu Rongting repeated, turning his head to pat Gu Yunshen’s shoulder, but Gu Yunshen dodged it without making a sound.
His outstretched hand froze in mid-air. Gu Rongting looked embarrassed for a moment, then smiled and said, "Wen Xue, Xun Han, your names are quite similar." After saying that, a look of guilt appeared on his face: "I've... let you down all these years."
“Brother, instead of worrying about me, you should worry about yourself,” Gu Yunshen said.
Yu Wenxue touched her arm and finally realized where that gloomy aura came from.
His smile makes it easy to overlook the crazy heart hidden beneath that beautiful exterior.
Gu Yun Shen harbored resentment towards his elder brother, hating that he lived in the sunlight and was showered with love and affection. He resorted to poisoning and assassination attempts, among other things.
In order to complete her mission, she either had to stop him from killing or kill him.
Thinking back to how he swung his sword just now...
Let's choose the former.
Yu Wenxue's mind raced, and she seized the opportunity to say, "Why don't you worry about me?"
"I was a stranger in this place, with no relatives or friends, living under someone else's roof, which was especially pitiful."
Gu Rongting said, "Cousin, don't worry. Grandmother loves girls the most. You can discuss anything you need with her."
"And Xunhan, I remember that the courtyard where you and your cousin live is not far away, so I'll trouble you to take care of him."
Gu Yun Shen neither agreed nor disagreed, closed his eyes, and listlessly played with the dagger.
Before the two could answer, Gu Rongting made a farewell gesture: "It's getting late. Sister Wan is still waiting for me. I promised to escort her back to her residence. You two chat."
Watching Gu Rongting's departing figure, Yu Wenxue remembered her mission, lifted her dirty and disheveled skirt, and followed him.
Lin Qingwan didn't fall in love with the villain, hehe, that's great!
After the footsteps disappeared, Gu Yun Shen suddenly opened his eyes, his fingertips resting on his wrist, the lingering scent of the woman's fragrance still present.
*
The entrance to the Marquis's mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and many officials' wives' carriages were parked there, exchanging pleasantries and polite words.
Yu Wenxue quietly followed Gu Rongting to a low-key, antique carriage.
A slender hand reached out from inside the carriage, lifting the curtain. A pair of shimmering peach blossom eyes, filled with shyness and timidity, whispered, "Brother Ting."
The woman slowly stepped off the carriage, carrying a bamboo basket in her hands. Her jade pendants jingled as she moved, and her sky-blue dress made her look like a celestial being.
"The cherry cake was made by Qingwan herself. I hope Brother Ting will pass it on to the old lady for me."
Gu Rongting accepted it with both hands and said, "Sister Wan is so kind. I will go and give it to Grandmother right away."
Meanwhile, Yu Wenxue hid in a corner, observing everything.
As expected of the male and female leads, they are a feast for the eyes when they stand together!
Lin Qingwan's voice is so beautiful!
She knew it! How could Lin Qingwan possibly have an affair with a member of the Gu family? She's the female lead!
I wonder who I bumped into during the day...
Yu Wenxue didn't think too much about it. She wanted to rush up and grab Gu Rongting by the collar and shout: "The cherry cake isn't for the old lady, it's for you!"
The real intention behind this is not the wine, do you understand?
But she held back.
Lin Qingwan reluctantly walked onto the carriage, turning back every few steps.
Gu Rongting nervously gripped the corner of his sleeve, his lips trembling for a long time before he uttered a shocking statement: "Grandmother is old and doesn't like sweets, so Wan-meimei doesn't need to bother anymore."
"..."
If you can't speak properly, then shut your mouth!
Yu Wenxue frowned, realizing that this could easily cause frown lines to appear, and quickly smoothed them out.
Seeing Lin Qingwan's face turn from red to white and then to green, she almost lost her balance. In a fit of anger, she picked up a small stone and threw it at Gu Rongting's leg.
A typical straight man!
Gu Rongting's legs went weak, and he suddenly lunged forward at Lin Qingwan. The two of them hugged each other and leaned against the wall. From her perspective, it looked like a wall slam...
[Congratulations, host! The beginner's quest is complete. Happy Ending progress: 1/100]
[Please note the hidden mission's time limit: seven days remaining]
Very good!
Everything is difficult at the beginning, but it will get better and better later!
Her gloomy mood vanished instantly, and Yu Wenxue, like a lively rabbit, hummed a song and hopped towards her little courtyard.
The pale pink skirt disappeared into the darkness, and a tall figure emerged from the shadows, a long sword striking a tree with a faint sound.
Gu Yun Shen's eyes were fixed on the weak and vulnerable rabbit.
As if answering someone else, yet also as if talking to himself, he murmured, "So, the real intention wasn't in the wine."
A note from the author:
Today, my crazy daughter says: Go home, go home, child! [Clown] Shut your mouth!
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