Chapter 16 Satisfying
Xiao Yu saw Qin Zhengqing and several other officials emerge from the private room on the second floor, greeting him with forced smiles and addressing him as "Second Prince" in front of the entire teahouse.
Only then did he realize something was wrong, and his vision blurred as he knew that tomorrow the memorials impeaching him would probably pile up on the emperor's desk.
Upon seeing this, Shen Qinglan and Mu Han simultaneously withdrew their hands and tacitly retreated to the sides of the people they were protecting.
Shen Qinglan stood next to Ling Wei and smiled at her: "Don't be afraid, what you just said was very good."
She felt out of place in the capital, preferring military uniform to makeup.
Her father couldn't stand it and kicked her out of the house, telling her to go play by herself.
She wanders around and has recently taken a liking to this teahouse. Firstly, the tea and snacks are delicious, and secondly, it's a place where scholars gather to listen to gossip.
Having just watched a grand spectacle here, she knew a thing or two about the atmosphere of the battlefield, having grown up on the frontier, but Du Qianqian's poem failed to resonate with her.
There was no other reason than that the soldiers in the desert were lonely and homesick, and the battlefield was a sea of blood. These things weighed heavily on her heart, and it felt strange that Du Qianqian recited them in such an admiring tone.
Fortunately, Ling Wei appeared, and her speech made Shen Qinglan want to applaud.
In modern terms, she found her mouth double!
This girl was the same one who helped her out last time.
Shen Qinglan excitedly slapped Ling Wei on the shoulder: "That was so satisfying!"
"Hiss—!" Ling Wei was caught off guard, and half of her shoulder went numb instantly, almost causing her to fall over.
Shen Qinglan then realized what had happened and apologized repeatedly, feeling extremely annoyed: "I'm so sorry! I'm naturally strong, and I forgot to hold back when I got excited!"
As soon as she said that, Ling Wei felt Su Jingyu's gaze become even more intense.
Ling Wei: "......"
Qin Zhengqing walked down the stairs with a livid face. Behind him were not only officials from the Hanlin Academy, but also censors. Xiao Yu could already imagine how the censors would berate him tomorrow.
Gu Qingyan followed Qin Zhengqing and the others out of the private room. As soon as he appeared, he was immediately recognized by many scholars.
"It's Lord Gu!"
"Gu Hanlin, who passed the imperial examination in three consecutive rounds!"
A low gasp of surprise and admiring glances rose from the crowd.
Gu Qingyan walked slowly to Ling Wei, first bowing to Xiao Yu with a composed demeanor and a clear voice: "Your Highness, please calm down. My cousin Ling Wei is young and innocent, and her words may have been offensive."
If I have offended Your Highness or Miss Du, it is all due to my inadequate upbringing. I am willing to accept the punishment on behalf of my sister, and I beg Your Highness's forgiveness.
If the Hanlin Academy is a sacred place for scholars, then Gu Qingyan is the idol revered within that sacred place. Because of his outstanding appearance, some scholars even collect his portrait and display it in their homes.
Upon hearing that their idol was going to take the blame for someone else, countless angry and condemning gazes instantly focused on Xiao Yu.
Xiao Yu felt a chill run down her spine, forcing out a smile that was more like a grimace: "Lord Gu... you flatter me! Just now... I was in a moment of panic and spoke without thinking..."
Gu Qingyan replied, "Your Highness is magnanimous and has a heart as vast as the sea. I am deeply grateful."
Xiao Yu was in a state of utter distress, and his mind was no longer on Gu Qingyan, but rather on the censor with a stern face.
The Imperial Censor stroked his beard, looking at Xiao Yu with a forced smile: "Your Highness, you are now of legal age, no longer a child. It is already inappropriate for you to frequent brothels, let alone attempt to assault a noblewoman in a bustling teahouse? If this were to reach His Majesty's ears..."
The unfinished business left Xiao Yu in a state of constant distress.
Du Qianqian's reaction was even more extreme. She looked at Gu Qingyan with teary eyes, "Brother Qingyan... I didn't, I really didn't..."
She shook her head desperately, as if she had become the heroine of a tragic drama, burdened with numerous false accusations but still strong and unyielding.
Gu Qingyan's tone was gentle yet distant: "Miss Du, Weiwei has already sincerely apologized. I hope you will forgive her and not take it to heart."
“You were on my side before!” Du Qianqian couldn’t help but say.
Ling Wei and the others all exclaimed in unison, "Hmm?" Their gazes instantly swept back and forth between Gu Qingyan and Du Qianqian.
Gu Qingyan remained calm and composed, her expression unchanged: "I'm simply stating the facts; there's no question of taking sides. If Miss Du insists on not forgiving my cousin..."
"Forgive me! I forgive you!" Du Qianqian wiped away her tears, then asked again, unwilling to give up, "Brother Qingyan, do you have to be so distant with me?"
Ling Wei exclaimed, "Wow!"
Hey! Big sister! Your second prince is watching from the side! His face and head are turning green.
The scholars nearby also started gossiping, their gazes shifting between Du Qianqian and Gu Qingyan.
Gu Qingyan's tone was distant and unquestionable: "Miss Du, I am not related to you by blood. I really dare not accept this title of 'brother'. Please take it back."
Ling Wei's eyes darted around, and she suddenly reached out and tugged at Gu Qingyan's sleeve, sweetly mimicking Du Qianqian's tone, "Brother Qingyan~~ Don't blame her~ Some people use 'brother' as a term of respect, you'll get used to it~"
Gu Qingyan was rendered speechless by the coquettish voice. He lowered his eyes to meet the cunning look in her eyes. Seeing that she seemed to be adding fuel to the fire, he lightly patted her hand that was gripping the side of his clothes and said in a low voice, "Don't make a fuss anymore."
A warm breath brushed past her ear, and Ling Wei immediately shut up obediently, but the corners of her mouth turned up high.
Hehehe, that felt great.
system:"......"
The commotion subsided, and everyone dispersed.
Qin Zhengqing poked his daughter's forehead and scolded her, "You little brat, what are you doing getting involved in this!" He then solemnly bowed to Ling Wei to express his gratitude.
"Thank you, Miss Ling, for speaking up for my daughter and helping her out of that predicament. Miss Ling is quick-witted and of noble character; I admire you greatly."
After offering a few words of praise, he left with Qin Wan, who kept turning back to look at him and saying, "Sister Ling, wait for me to come play with you."
Shen Qinglan and Ling Wei stood facing each other. Ling Wei asked her with concern if she was injured and thanked her for her help.
Shen Qinglan waved her hand and smiled, "It's nothing!" She looked at Ling Wei, unusually a little embarrassed, "Um, Miss Ling, may I...may I come to visit you? I don't have many friends in the capital..."
Ling Wei smiled brightly: "Of course!"
Shen Qinglan left satisfied, and Su Jingyu coughed lightly, "I'll see Miss Shen off." She quickly followed after her.
In the blink of an eye, the noise subsided, leaving only Gu Qingyan and Ling Wei standing in the same spot.
Gu Qingyan glanced at her and said indifferently, "Let's go." He then walked towards the door first.
Ling Wei quickly followed.
In a private room on the second floor, his companion glanced nervously at the rickety door frame and whispered, "Your hand... really shouldn't you see a doctor?"
He suddenly crushed the teacup and threw it, cracking the door in the process; it really scared him to death.
Opposite him, a young man dressed in a black-and-gold-patterned Golden Guard uniform seemed oblivious to the blood streaming from his hand cut by the shards, his gaze fixed intently on the figure below.
The girl, who had just been displaying her sharp wit and eloquent words under the spotlight, now resembled a cat with its claws folded, obediently following Gu Qingyan into the carriage.
He lowered his eyes, his knuckles still faintly white from the force he had just exerted: "No need."
Deputy Commander Wang followed his gaze and suddenly realized, "Gu Qingyan, isn't that your cousin? Tsk, and that eloquent girl from earlier, is she also your cousin from the Gu family? No wonder you wanted to rush down earlier; so I shouldn't have stopped you..."
"But we're both wearing these duty uniforms, can we just do whatever we want? What if we get impeached by the censor..."
Once that person started talking, he went on and on.
Xie Zhuo suddenly stood up.
"I'm leaving." He tossed a few pieces of silver to the waiter who had rushed over after hearing the commotion as compensation, then, without even glancing at his companion, pushed open the door and went out first.
"Hey! Wait for me!" His companion was taken aback, then chased after him.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com