Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Ah Yun is my wife, I will ask for the throne...
"Innocent." Gu Yanzhou nodded and continued to sleep.
After receiving the promise, Song Siyun narrowed his eyes. The stone hanging in his heart finally fell to the ground, and he shook himself up, "Gu Xiaochuan, now that we have found out that my Song family is innocent, then you have to settle the score for your previous accusations."
"Settle the account?" The man in front of her sat up straighter and looked at her with amusement, "Come, let me see how Miss Song II is going to settle the account."
Look down on me?
Song Siyun squinted at him, leaned back against the bed, and said lazily, "Forging evidence to frame an important official of the court is the first crime, which should be executed; secretly visiting the Grand Tutor's residence and peeping into the secrets of the Grand Tutor's study is the second crime, which should be punished by caning and exile."
"Gu Yanzhou, do you admit it or not?"
After I finished speaking, I saw that he was silent for a long time, his eyes were calm and I didn't know what he was thinking.
After a long time, only a light laugh was heard.
"Oh--"
Gu Yanzhou raised his eyes and looked straight at her. "Miss Song said I was framing you, do you have any evidence? If it's just empty talk, I will charge Miss Song with false accusations. As for the private investigation..."
He paused, his crow-like eyelashes drooping for a moment, then he stared at her again and said slowly, "Ah Yun, you and I are accomplices."
"You cannot escape punishment or exile."
The voice was still a little hoarse after just waking up, and it seemed even more bewitching under the dim candlelight at the head of the bed.
Song Siyun gradually became distracted.
She knew that he had always had a good appearance and had been a lovely white jade ball since childhood. As he grew older, he became more elegant, and his every move was like that of a jade gentleman. He was also the dream man of countless girls in the capital.
But they don’t know that although he is so handsome, he is actually a scoundrel!
As early as when he asked "Is there any evidence", her mind exploded back into her mind with the crackling of candlelight.
The more I listened, the more dumbfounded I became.
He had burned the forged letter to ashes long ago and it couldn't be put together. Where could she find evidence?
"Gu Yanzhou! You are cheating!" Song Siyun glared at him with bulging eyes and cursed.
He raised his eyebrows slightly, denying the truth. "Instead of scolding me, Miss Song, why not take a rest earlier? Maybe you can be more alert next time."
As he spoke, he stretched his arms, yawned, and lay down straight away.
Unfortunately, things don’t always go as planned.
Just as he was halfway down, he was grabbed by someone. He knew who it was without even thinking.
He raised his eyes lazily and looked quietly at the stubborn guy in front of him.
She met his gaze calmly, no longer speaking blindly, and directly stated her true purpose: "Tell me, who is behind this."
Seeing that he remained silent, Song Siyun continued, "Gu Yanzhou, this is very important to me. Since that person was able to mislead you to focus your attention on the Song Mansion, it is inevitable that he would take action against the Song Mansion himself. Even if it is for the sake of my parents' kindness to you in the past, tell me. Okay?"
She was answered by silence.
The two men, one above and one below, looked into each other's eyes, their anxious pleading visible to the naked eye.
but--
"Sorry." Gu Yanzhou lowered his eyes to avoid those bright eyes, brushed her hand away, and said, "This matter is dangerous. If you don't get involved, it will be the best protection for the Song family."
As he spoke, he turned over to avoid the burning gaze.
"Are you really not going to say anything?"
silence.
"Even if I beg you like this?"
"well--"
After a long sigh, he said helplessly: "Ah Yun, don't ask anymore."
She stared at the back of his head for a long time, then suddenly stood up and pulled away the pillow from underneath him.
Following a loud bang, the girl's angry voice was heard: "If you don't tell me, I'll check it myself."
"Gu Yanzhou, you better hide well and don't show your true colors."
Gu Yanzhou sat up, holding his head and gritting his teeth in pain.
By the candlelight beside the bed, he could see her figure gradually receding. After a long moment, he suddenly murmured, "She may not be very old, but she has a big temper."
“Hiss—”
That night, he slept with his arms as a pillow.
The next day at breakfast, seeing that his arm was not working properly, Song Siyun glanced at him and cursed, "Serves you right."
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that the breakfast was not going well.
Song Siyun asked the maid to take away whatever Gu Yanzhou wanted to eat. In the end, he only drank a bowl of porridge.
On the side, Madam Song and Grand Tutor Song watched cautiously, looked at each other, and dared not say a word.
As they were getting on the carriage, Madam Song couldn't help but pull her daughter aside and said earnestly, "Ah Yun, it's okay for a couple to be a little temperamental, but don't overdo it. Yan Zhou is your husband after all, so you should treat him better and give him some face when you're out."
Finally, he whispered, "You absolutely must not curse me by name like you did last night. Apart from anything else, the reputation alone is bad."
Seeing her eyes darting around, I knew she didn't listen at all.
Madam Song took a deep breath, raised her hand to straighten her collar, tugged it hard, and when she saw her looking at her, she said, "I think Yanzhou still cares about you and wants to live a good life with you. I heard from the servants that he carried you home last night when you were drunk? Although your marriage was granted by His Majesty, the love between husband and wife is not something that lasts only a day or a night. Since he is willing to live a good life with you and can tolerate you like this, you should restrain yourself and treat him better. In the future, don't-"
As he spoke, he caught sight of someone in front of him bowing and saying goodbye. He paused for a moment, then uttered, "In any case, be more reserved and don't let others down. But remember, don't let yourself down."
As soon as the words fell, Song Siyun suddenly burst out laughing. Holding her hand, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Mom, do you want me to hold back my temper or let me go out and not feel wronged?"
"This..." Mrs. Song was speechless and thought, and for a moment she couldn't explain it clearly.
Seeing this, she smiled even more happily.
The morning sunshine is always brilliant, and once you look up, you can’t look away.
In the golden mist, the girl smiled with her eyes narrowed and her mouth wide open, without any manners at all. But looking at her, one could not help but smile along.
She was always like this. When she laughed heartily, you couldn't help but curl your lips along with her; but when she was unhappy, she could always make you grit your teeth in anger.
Gu Yanzhou has a deep understanding of this.
Thinking of this, the smile on his lips faded slightly.
When he raised his eyes, he met the teasing gaze of Grand Tutor Song.
After a moment of silence, he caught a glimpse of Madam Song and Song Siyun approaching, and quickly changed the subject to greet them.
By the time the two of them got on the carriage, Mrs. Song still hadn't figured out the problem and was frowning.
Just by turning his head, he could see her face was filled with sorrow. Master Song could not help but wonder, "What is Madam thinking about? She is so lost in thought."
Mrs. Song looked up at him, sighed, and asked what Song Siyun had just asked.
"That's all?" Grand Tutor Song couldn't help but laugh, hugging her and comforting her, "Madam, don't worry. Although Ah Yun has a bad temper, he also knows when to advance and retreat. They are just quarreling with each other, there is no need to worry."
He raised his finger to smooth the wrinkles between her brows, and told her to stop worrying. She nodded as if relieved, but her eyes still stared at the carriage that was moving away.
Master Song sighed, said nothing more, and just pulled her into the mansion.
In the carriage, Song Siyun sat in the main seat and habitually reached out to touch the storybook. When he found nothing, he realized that this was not the carriage he usually rode in.
It was Gu Yanzhou's carriage.
The anger that had already been brewing last night flared up again. Glancing at Gu Yanzhou who was resting with his eyes closed, he became even more annoyed.
With a loud snort, he closed his eyes and imitated him in pretending to be an eyesore.
But she didn't know that after she closed her eyes, the man slowly opened his eyes.
Her eyes fell on the place where she had just touched nothing, and she pondered for a long time.
After a while, he closed his eyes quietly again.
The carriage was silent and no one spoke along the way.
When we returned to Gu Mansion, it was already three quarters past four.
The two had just gotten off the carriage and hadn't yet entered the mansion when they saw their brother and sister-in-law running over in a hurry, their faces serious: "Yanzhou, the Crown Prince is here."
"I've been waiting for half a cup of tea." Gu Yansheng added.
Seeing his expression tense and he hurried to the main hall, he hurriedly reminded her, "His Highness said he's waiting for you in the study."
He paused and silently turned towards Ruixue Pavilion.
Behind him, Song Siyun was about to catch up stealthily, but was stopped by Yu Nanzhi just as he was about to do so. "Ah Yun, it's hot today. Come with me to the kitchen to make some cold drinks."
Song Siyun couldn't refuse and had to agree.
Seeing this, Gu Yansheng hurriedly followed with his crutches, "I'll go with you."
In the kitchen of the Gu Mansion, while Yu Nanzhi and Gu Yansheng were busy kneading the red beans that had been soaked all night and steamed before dawn, she was pounding ice intermittently on the side.
His eyes kept glancing outwards.
No matter how you look at it, he seems absent-minded.
My mind was not in the kitchen, so naturally I didn't notice the teasing looks of my brother and sister-in-law behind me.
Yu Nanzhi was the first to notice. She poked Gu Yansheng, who was tinkering away, and motioned for him to look: "Look, it's only been a short time since we've been apart, and you're already thinking about it?"
He looked in the direction she pointed, his gentle eyebrows slightly curved, and he looked down at his wife who was smiling like a flower beside him, and whispered: "When you and I first got married, wasn't it like this? I just -"
Seeing that he was about to say more, Yu Nanzhi covered his mouth with her hand and scolded him shamelessly: "We are an old married couple, and you are not ashamed to say such things."
Without waiting for his response, she changed the subject and called out to Song Siyun, who was waiting anxiously beside her: "Ah Yun, how's Broken Ice?"
As he spoke, he walked over there. Knowing that she was embarrassed and annoyed, Gu Yansheng lowered his head, smiled silently, and continued to pound the red beans after a while.
After a while, she brought over three bowls of crushed ice, scooped up some mashed red bean paste with a porcelain spoon, poured some honey over it, and handed it to Song Siyun on a tray, smiling and saying, "Go ahead."
Seeing that she was confused, he smiled and made an excuse for her, "It's scorching hot, so I'll make some cold drinks for His Highness and Yanzhou to try. I'm tied up here, would Ah Yun be willing to come over?"
"Yes!" Song Siyun's face lit up with joy. He quickly took the tray and rushed to Ruixue Pavilion.
Ruixue Pavilion is not far away and we will arrive there in a short while.
The guard went in to announce it, and she stood at the door waiting.
It was a hot summer day. When Mu Jingheng learned that she was here to deliver a honey cold drink, he quickly waved her in. He even had the leisure to tease his friend: "Your bride is really attentive to you. I am also benefiting from your kindness today."
Upon hearing this, Gu Yanzhou twitched his lips but did not point out Song Siyun's true purpose.
She came in not just to bring you a cold drink.
Sure enough, she put the cold drink down for a long time without even asking to take it out.
He took a bowl of cold drink and sat down near the ice basin, eating slowly, his eyes glued to the ground, not daring to look up.
She looked so well-behaved.
Gu Yanzhou was curious and took a few more glances.
Mu Jingheng also looked at him in surprise. After all, the impression left by their meeting four years ago was too deep.
Could it be that in private, she was as quiet and demure as Imperial Concubine Song Sishu? If so, she seemed too formal and old-fashioned.
He looked at it carefully, examining it with great scrutiny.
The two of them were staring at each other without hiding their gazes. Even with her head lowered, Song Siyun could still feel the stares. She couldn't help but wonder what was going on between them. Couldn't they just pretend she didn't exist and get on with the point?
But if she wanted to stay, she had to keep pretending.
Therefore, I could only play dumb and continue eating.
The sweet aroma of red beans and honey spread in the air, accompanied by a refreshing coolness. Mu Jingheng finally shifted his gaze and looked at the cold drink beside him.
He stared at it for a long time before getting up and taking a bowl to savor it carefully.
But Gu Yanzhou didn't move a single step from beginning to end.
Even though Mu Jingheng said the cold drink was delicious and urged him to try it, he still didn't move.
A pair of sharp phoenix eyes were fixed on Song Siyun, who was pretending to be stupid and was rarely obedient.
Seeing that she had finished her bowl of ice drink, he said with a half-smile, "Madam, do you have anything else to say?"
Song Siyun replied without even looking up, "Have an ice drink."
His eyebrows barely raised, he leaned towards the tray and said, "Madam, this bowl is mine."
Song Siyun suddenly raised his eyes and met the man's teasing gaze. He immediately understood. Suppressing his anger, he asked back, "Do you really have to drive me away?"
"I am discussing confidential matters with His Highness, so Madam is not able to stay."
"What if I insist?"
"Eavesdropping on secrets, hanged."
Seeing her face turn pale after he finished speaking, Gu Yanzhou lowered his eyes to hide his amusement, snatched the empty bowl from her hand and placed it on the table, smiling gently: "Of course, Ah Yun is my wife, I will ask His Highness to leave your body intact."
"Gu Yanzhou!"
Song Siyun gritted his teeth, picked up the empty bowl on the table and slammed it down on the tray. He then turned to look at Mu Jingheng who was happily eating beside him, "Is your Highness enjoying his meal?"
Without waiting for him to speak, she took the cold drink from his hand and bowed with a smile: "It's not good to have too much cold drink. Your Highness should have had enough. In that case, I will not disturb you any more."
After saying this, he ignored Mu Jingheng's attempts to keep him and angrily retreated with the tray in his hand.
She didn't know that Mu Jingheng behind her silently withdrew his hand and muttered quietly: "I haven't eaten enough yet."
Gu Yanzhou withdrew his gaze from following her and looked at his friend beside him dimly: "Your Highness, as soon as I stepped into the door today, you boasted about how delicious the Sushan in East Street was, and even said that you ate three servings in one go."
"I haven't eaten enough yet." Mu Jingheng almost said the end of the sentence at the beginning, turning his face away, feeling inexplicably guilty.
After a moment, he straightened his expression and got down to business: "Yanzhou, do you really mean what you just said?"
Her amber eyes stared at him, sparkling, as if hoping for his denial rather than confirmation.
pity……
"What I said is absolutely true." Gu Yanzhou lowered his eyes, nodded with a stern face, and reminded: "Dayuan has always promoted the virtuous rather than the legitimate heir. That's why we have all forgotten His Royal Highness Prince An, who asked to go to Lizhou and has been living in peace for many years."
Having said this, he paused for a moment before saying, "It was only this time that I realized that we had been focusing on the Imperial Concubine all along, and had overlooked His Royal Highness Prince An, who is more capable and prestigious than the little prince."
"If something happens to His Highness, the little prince is too young to be entrusted with the task. At that time, there will only be His Majesty's former eldest brother, now His Highness Prince An." Gu Yanzhou narrowed his eyes and looked at Mu Jingheng who was stunned beside him, and his words gradually became dangerous.
"But he's not even in Kyoto, how could he..." Mu Jingheng came back to his senses and tried to refute.
When he was young, the eldest uncle was very kind to him.
At that time, the emperor's father was strict, and he loved to play. Every time he made a mistake, it was the uncle who interceded for him. He even secretly took him out of the palace without the emperor's grandfather and father's knowledge, and bought him snacks.
The first time he ate Sushan was with his uncle.
Even now, I can still recall the scene of the two of us eating Sushan around a small table at a street vendor.
How could it be...
His usually humble and elegant eyebrows were raised high, and his eyes were filled with disbelief.
Sighing inwardly, Gu Yanzhou stood up, patted his friend's shoulder, and silently comforted him.
For a long time afterwards, neither of them spoke.
It was not until dusk that the man, who had been sitting there like a stone statue for a long time, finally spoke: "Yanzhou, investigate first. When we have solid evidence, I will inform my father."
Facing his friend's pleading and hopeful gaze, he slowly replied "Okay" after a while.
Mu Jingheng smiled and stood up to say goodbye.
At that time, Yu Nanzhi sent someone to ask the prince whether he would stay for dinner.
The two men bumped into each other, and for the first time, the prince, who had always been gentle and polite, ignored the person kneeling beside him to apologize, and walked out of the Gu Mansion like a wandering soul.
Gu Yanzhou looked at it and fell silent.
After a moment of concentration, he withdrew his gaze, looked at the servants below, and ordered: "Get up and tell my sister-in-law that there is no need. The prince has already returned to the palace."
"Yes." The servant replied and stood up to report.
In fact, even if he didn't report it, Yu Nanzhi would have known it.
Although the prince left the palace in disguise and without any ceremonial guard, there were always people to report when he entered or left the palace.
Therefore, while she scolded Gu Yanzhou for being rude to the prince in apologizing, she was also worried that the two of them might have an unpleasant experience.
Otherwise, why would His Royal Highness the Crown Prince look so dejected?
She asked during dinner.
As soon as she spoke, Song Siyun, who was sitting next to Gu Yanzhou, pricked up his ears, trying to catch something.
Unfortunately, all I heard were the four words “nothing important”.
He curled his lips in boredom and ate his meal peacefully.
After dinner, everyone went back to their rooms.
The two of them returned to Ruixue Pavilion together. At the gate, Gu Yanzhou paused for a long time.
Only after he saw the person beside him glare at him suspiciously for several times and then impatiently step into the main bedroom did he point to the right corner of the courtyard and order: "Tomorrow, hire a few craftsmen to build a swing there. I'll draw the design for you later."
Just as Qing Feng was about to agree, he heard his master say, "Go find it sooner rather than later, and start work at noon."
Ling Feng, who had just returned home today, knew that Madam had to sleep until noon every day. He hesitated for a moment and said tentatively: "Master, Madam——"
He had barely begun to speak when he was interrupted by a glance. He immediately changed the subject, "Yes, I'll personally oversee it tomorrow and make sure they start work on time!"
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