Chapter 688 From "Playmate" to "Foil"
On the way to the East Palace, Gu Qingchen's attention was all on Lin Jiayou. He asked him about his life over the past ten years, whether he ate well, and whether he was used to living there...
She didn't notice at all that Qian Zhenyun, who was walking beside the prince, didn't say a word from beginning to end.
When they stepped into the East Palace, Zhao Chen'an took a half step behind, standing shoulder to shoulder with Qian Zhenyun, and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear: "That Lin Jiayou is not simple. Gu Qingchen is too easy to understand. Zhenyun, be careful."
Four people sat down in the East Palace Tea Room.
Zhao Chen'an raised his glass himself and said with a meaningful smile, "It's for reunion, but also for getting to know people. I hope everyone can see the person in front of them clearly and not be blinded by appearances."
As he spoke, his eyes swept over Lin Jiayou and finally stopped on Gu Qingchen.
The latter was staring at Lin Jiayou who was pouring tea for her, completely unaware.
Lin Jiayou understood the implication in the words, but pretended not to understand and respectfully presented the teacup to Gu Qingchen.
His gaze "accidentally" fell on Qian Zhenyun's wrist, where there was a thin layer of callus due to years of practice.
He asked with a look of concern, "Brother Qian, do you seem to have an old injury on your hand? Perhaps it's from the hard work of copying documents for His Highness?"
Gu Qingchen followed his gaze and saw the thin layer of calluses on the inside of Qian Zhenyun's wrist and the base of his thumb.
"Oh, that, I know!" She slammed the table and leaned over to explain excitedly, "When Gungun was little, he was timid. His mother, Aunt Song, always said that men should be strong, so she forced him to learn martial arts, saying it would strengthen his body."
"The calluses on his hands were all from sword practice back then, and he even got injured afterwards!"
There was no expression on Qian Zhenyun's face. Instead, he stretched out his hand and placed it on the table generously, meeting Lin Jiayou's gaze with a calm tone.
"Brother Lin seems very curious about me."
He didn't explain or refute. His calmness made Lin Jiayou's carefully prepared test feel like a punch hitting cotton.
The smile on Lin Jiayou's face froze for a moment, then returned to its gentle and harmless look.
He picked up the teacup, took a sip, and used a nostalgic tone to cover up his embarrassment.
"I'm sorry for being so abrupt. Seeing Brother Qian just reminds me of our childhood. Back then, the three of us were always together, inseparable, and we had such a great relationship."
He deliberately emphasized the words "the three of us" and turned his gaze gently to Gu Qingchen.
"I still remember," he continued, his voice filled with just the right amount of nostalgia, "that year on His Highness's birthday, a few of us pooled our money to find him a very special birthday gift."
As soon as this topic came up, Gu Qingchen's eyes lit up and he was instantly brought back to his carefree childhood.
"Yes, yes, yes! I still remember it!" she echoed excitedly, "In the end, that old tutor reported us to the Emperor..."
When talking about the old things, even the Crown Prince Zhao Chen'an showed a gentle smile on his face. He looked at Gu Qingchen's high spirits with gentle eyes.
"I remember too. You gave me the Jinghong Bow in the end!"
Gu Qingchen was even more rude after hearing what he said, "What are you talking about? That bow belongs to my father. Uncle Emperor has dug a big hole for me."
Zhao Chenan: "Didn't I return it to you in the end?"
"I bought it in exchange for a comic book. I even begged Brother Lu for it for a long time!"
Qian Zhenyun listened quietly, then added calmly, "It was Qingchen who said that the Jinghong Bow is unique and most suitable for Your Highness."
His words easily brought the focus of the conversation back to Gu Qingchen and the prince.
Lin Jiayou's fingertips tightened slightly as he held the teacup.
He originally wanted to use his shared memories to show his closeness with Gu Qingchen, but unexpectedly Qian Zhenyun turned this relationship into a "tribute from a subject to the monarch" in just a few words.
And he himself also changed from a "playmate" to a "foil".
Qian Zhenyun, after not seeing him for ten years, has become so thoughtful.
A trace of gloom flashed across his eyes, but he still had a smile on his face. He said to Gu Qingchen: "Yes, Qingchen was the most daring at that time, and he was always at the forefront of everything."
"Unlike me, who always follows you and Brother Qian."
He cleverly put himself in a weak position and successfully aroused Gu Qingchen's desire to protect him.
Gu Qingchen immediately defended her, "It's good that you're back now. I'll protect you from now on, and no one will dare to bully you!"
She patted her chest and made the same promise as she had made ten years ago, completely unaware that the expressions of the men present had changed because of her words.
Zhao Chenan's smile faded a little.
Qian Zhenyun lowered his eyes, and his long eyelashes concealed all the emotions in his eyes.
Lin Jiayou showed a smile of satisfaction, gratitude and dependence.
He knew that he had taken the first step firmly.
The group bid farewell to the East Palace.
Gu Qingchen was like a bird out of a cage, talking non-stop to Lin Jiayou, excitedly planning how to welcome him back home, which restaurant to go to, and which opera to watch.
In front of the carriage of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, Qian Zhenyun stopped Gu Qingchen who was about to help Lin Jiayou get in the car.
"Qingchen."
His voice was very low.
"People's hearts are hidden, especially in the capital. Go back and think about what happened on the street today."
Gu Qingchen was in high spirits, but after hearing this, he became a little impatient and waved his hand, "Go away, you're just thinking too much! Jiayou is not an outsider!"
After she finished speaking, she took Lin Jiayou into the carriage.
Qian Zhenyun watched the carriage curtain fall, blocking her bright smile and Lin Jiayou's gentle and harmless face.
He stood there for a long time without moving.
The carriage stopped steadily in front of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.
Gu Qingchen jumped out of the car first, proudly pointing to the imposing gate of the mansion, and said to Lin Jiayou who followed him, "Look, this is my home! From now on, you can live here, and no one will dare to bully you again!"
The pride in her words made her sound like a little beast guarding her territory, and Lin Jiayou was the companion she brought back who needed protection.
She was about to pull Lin Jiayou into the house when a tall figure walked out from the shadow of the porch.
The man was dressed in simple tights, with a weathered look between his eyebrows and eyes. He looked like a sheathed blade, silent but sharp.
The smile on Gu Qingchen's face paused, and his voice lowered.
"elder brother."
Gu Xuan's gaze passed over her and didn't even stay on Lin Jiayou for a moment.
He handed a half-worn cloth bag to Gu Qingchen.
"For my mother."
Gu Qingchen took it and the cloth bag was quite heavy.
She couldn't help but complain, "You always come to the door, why don't you go in and see me off yourself? It's been so long since what happened back then..."
"Just send it in if I tell you to." Gu Xuan interrupted her abruptly.
After saying this, his gaze finally fell on Lin Jiayou, as if he was assessing a potential threat.
There was no hostility in this look, but there was an insight that could penetrate the skin and go straight into Lin Jiayou's bones.
Lin Jiayou's fingertips, hidden in his sleeves, curled up uncontrollably.
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