Chapter 686: Ten years have passed, Qingchen, Jinguan City is not like the capital, people's hearts are fickle
Gu Qingchen frowned, "What are you yelling about? Is the sky falling?"
The servant took a deep breath, his face filled with mixed emotions as he reported loudly, "Miss! The eldest young master... no, it's Master Gu who has been promoted and returned to the capital. He's arriving today! He's also brought that... Master Lin with him!"
The noise in the private room suddenly stopped.
Gu Qingchen threw away the whip with a "bang", jumped off the chair, pushed away the table in front of him, and the dishes clattered.
"What did you say? Lin Jiayou is back?" She rushed to the servant and grabbed his collar.
"Yes, yes! The carriage should be almost at the city gate!"
"I'm going to pick him up!" Gu Qingchen announced loudly, turned around and rushed out.
"Qingchen."
A calm and gentle voice came from the corner, with a hint of helplessness.
Only then did everyone notice that there was a man sitting by the window, quietly sipping tea.
He was dressed in a simple and elegant moon-white gown, which was out of tune with the bustle around him and Gu Qingchen's fiery red.
Qian Zhenyun's gaze always followed the red figure imperceptibly.
He put down his teacup and slowly stood up. "The city gates must be under martial law at this moment. Lord Gu will not be able to enter the city for at least another hour."
Gu Qingchen didn't want to hear any of this. She rushed to Qian Zhenyun, shaking his arm excitedly, her eyes bright and amazing.
"GunGun, did you hear that? It's Lin Jiayou! Our childhood playmate, he's finally back!"
The nickname Qian Zhenyun was given to her by her mother because she thought her real name was too difficult to pronounce and because she saw that she was chubby when she was born.
Now she is the only one who is still shouting so unscrupulously.
In an instant, her mind flashed back to that dark night ten years ago, when the three of them were rummaging through the drawers in the princess's mansion.
The thin, pale boy who depended so closely on her was finally coming back.
She single-handedly sent him out of this dangerous place. Now that he has returned, he will definitely not be bullied again.
In her heart, Lin Jiayou is still the poor playmate who needs her protection and rescue.
Her memory of him had long been beautified into a perfect picture by time and distance.
The young man in the painting is talented and grateful. He is the white moonlight that she pulled out of the mire.
Gu Qingchen looked at Qian Zhenyun, his eyes full of justifiable joy, and he didn't understand the complex emotions deep in his eyes at all.
Qian Zhenyun let her sway, his eyes gentle enough to drip tears, but he still reminded her softly: "It's been ten years, Qingchen. The capital is not like Jinguan City, people's hearts..."
"He won't change!"
Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by Gu Qingchen waving his hand.
She pulled her arm free. "I've read every letter he wrote me! He said he's been studying hard, hoping to make a name for himself one day and come back to repay you and me! He's not the kind of ungrateful person!"
Qian Zhenyun looked at her and knew that it was useless to persuade her any further, so he could only swallow the rest of his words.
Gu Qingchen firmly believes in his own perspective on people, especially those he "saves".
She couldn't wait any longer, she wanted to give Lin Jiayou the warmest welcome.
She rushed downstairs in a hurry, and her voice came from the stairs: "GongGong, wait for me here!"
She would ride on her beloved Chiyan, go ten miles out of the city, and be the first to greet him outside the pavilion!
Looking at her disappearing back, Qian Zhenyun shook his head helplessly. He took out a few ingots of silver from his sleeve, placed them on the table, and paid the bill for her.
"Shopkeeper, calculate it clearly, refund the excess and compensate the shortfall."
Then he whispered a few more words to his servant, then stood up and followed him out.
He knew that with her temper, she would definitely cause trouble.
On the long street, a girl in red rode away from the crowd.
The fiery figure attracted the attention of passers-by, and Gu Qingchen's heart was filled with joy at the upcoming reunion.
What will he look like after not seeing him for ten years?
Do you still remember the promise she made to me back then, “I’ll protect you”?
At the same time, on the official road outside the city.
In an elegant carriage, the newly appointed Beijing official Gu Lu was giving gentle instructions to the young man beside him.
Lin Jiayou was dressed in a blue shirt, with clear features and a gentle temperament like jade. He sat upright and listened respectfully to his instructions.
However, when he lifted the corner of the curtain and looked at the towering outline of the capital city in the distance, there was a flash of ambition and calculation in the depths of his seemingly humble eyes.
Capital city.
For him, it is not his hometown.
But it was the hunting ground he had been planning for ten years and was about to embark on.
At the pavilion outside the city, Gu Qingchen reined in his horse and waited, his heart beating like a drum.
She was completely unaware that in a small forest not far away, Qian Zhenyun's figure was hidden behind a tree, staring at her calmly and observing his surroundings vigilantly.
His eyes did not fall on the official road, but turned vigilantly to another fork in the road.
There, a royal procession was quietly approaching, with bright yellow flags fluttering in the wind.
Gu Qingchen was getting a little impatient waiting on horseback. When she saw a group of carriages and horses approaching from afar, she immediately straightened her back and her eyes lit up.
But when she got closer, she could see clearly that the flag flying in front of the convoy was bright yellow with intricate dragon patterns.
It wasn’t the Gu family’s carriage at all.
It’s Crown Prince Zhao Chen’an.
The joy in her heart suddenly turned into a nameless anger and she felt unlucky.
She yanked the reins and turned the horse around, "Chiyan, let's go back to the city and wait!"
Zhuque Street has always been the most lively place in the capital. She just didn't believe that she couldn't run into him like this.
Inside the prince's carriage, the velvet cushions isolated most of the bumps.
A guard whispered outside the car window, "Your Highness, Miss Gu doesn't seem to have recognized the ceremonial procession and has turned back to the city."
A light response came from inside the car curtain.
"Well, let's go."
The voice was gentle and no emotion could be heard.
The guards received the order, and the convoy continued to move slowly towards the city gate.
…
Zhuque Street was bustling with people, and there were shops on both sides. The cries of vendors, the laughter of children, and the sound of wheels were intertwined.
Gu Qingchen had no intention of wandering around. She rode on her horse, her bright eyes anxiously searching the crowd.
Her bright red riding uniform had already become an eye-catching sight on the street, and passers-by avoided her one after another, fearing that they would bump into the daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo.
Just then, a burst of uniform horse hoofbeats sounded at the street corner.
Gu Qingchen's heart moved, and he suddenly pulled the reins and turned his horse's head to look.
The bright yellow flags and delicate dragon patterns proclaimed the noble status of the team's leader. It was the prince's carriage again!
Gu Qingchen's face darkened instantly. It was really haunting!
Didn't she check the almanac before going out today? Why does she keep running into him everywhere?
She didn't want to cause trouble, nor did she want to waste time bowing before the prince. She just wanted to leave as soon as possible.
"Chiyan, let's go!"
She kicked the horse's belly hard and tried to pass through the gap on the side of the guard of honor.
But Suzaku Street was already crowded, and the Crown Prince's procession took up most of the road. Even the Scarlet Flame Horse, though majestic, needed space.
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