Chapter 690 This bowl of sweet soup she made by herself seemed... not so sweet anymore
Gu Lanxin was like a frightened rabbit, her face turned red instantly. She took a step back in panic and distanced herself from Lin Jiayou.
Lin Jiayou turned around, a hint of just the right amount of surprise flashed across his face, then turned into a gentle smile.
"Qingchen, you're here."
He walked over and took the food box from her hand naturally.
"Just now, Sister Lanxin passed by and saw this osmanthus tree. She was reminded of her deceased fiancé, and I was just offering some words of comfort."
This explanation is perfect.
Gu Lanxin is a source of worry for the entire family, and the death of her fiancé is a scar that no one dares to mention.
The inexplicable anger and bitterness in Gu Qingchen's heart were instantly washed away by a huge sense of guilt.
She felt that she was such a mean person that she actually suspected Jiayou and her poor cousin.
"Ah... I'm sorry, Sister Lanxin, I, I didn't mean to disturb you." She was a little incoherent.
"Don't mention this matter again," Lin Jiayou glanced at Gu Lanxin and said softly to Gu Qingchen, "lest you make Sister Lanxin sad again."
With just one sentence, a secret that needed to be kept between the three of them was created.
Gu Lanxin glanced at Lin Jiayou, whispered "I'll go back first", and left in a hurry.
In Gu Qingchen's opinion, her reaction further confirmed Lin Jiayou's words.
Inside the room, Lin Jiayou ate the sweet soup contentedly, praising it constantly: "It tastes just like I remember, so sweet."
Gu Qingchen looked at him, trying hard to regain the joy he felt in the kitchen in the afternoon.
But for some reason, she always felt empty inside.
This bowl of sweet soup she made herself seemed... not so sweet.
Gu Qingchen walked back to his yard with a heavy heart. As soon as he reached the Moon Gate, he saw a familiar figure waiting there.
Qian Zhenyun saw that she looked unhappy and took two steps forward. "What's wrong?"
Gu Qingchen forced a smile and said, "Nothing, Jiayou really likes the sweet soup I made."
Qian Zhenyun followed her gaze and looked towards Tingzhuxuan in the distance, his eyes flashing.
He withdrew his gaze, and like a magic trick, took out a small bamboo dragonfly from his sleeve and handed it to her.
"Look, I bought this when I passed by the market. Does it look like the one we played with when we were kids?"
Gu Qingchen took the bamboo dragonfly and looked at the simple thing, and the annoyance in his heart suddenly disappeared.
She rubbed it hard and the bamboo dragonfly flew up with a buzzing sound.
"You're the best, GunGun!" She laughed heartily.
Qian Zhenyun looked at her eyes that had brightened up again, and the unhappiness he felt yesterday also disappeared.
Late at night, listening to the bamboo pavilion.
After Lin Jiayou sent Gu Qingchen away, the gentle smile on his face faded away, leaving only cold calculation.
He closed the door and took out an exquisite mutton-fat jade pendant from his sleeve.
There was an orchid bud carved on the jade pendant, which was the one that Gu Lanxin had dropped in her "panic" just now.
He stroked her smooth face with his fingertips, the corners of his mouth curled up as he whispered, "The young ladies of the Gu family are really... one is easier to understand than the other."
It was a clear and crisp autumn day, and news came from the palace.
Crown Prince Zhao Chen'an was going to hold an autumn hunting event at the royal enclosure in Xishan, and all the children of prominent families in the capital had received invitations.
This news made Gu Qingchen happier than the Chinese New Year.
The first person she thought of was Lin Jiayou.
"Jiayou, the prince is going to hold an autumn hunt, I'll take you with him!"
Lin Jiayou was sitting by the window reading a book. He raised his head when he heard this, with longing on his face, but a tone of somewhat inferiority.
"I really want to see the grandeur of the royal enclosure, but unfortunately, I'm just a scholar and can't even ride a horse. I'd only embarrass you if I went."
Gu Qingchen couldn't bear to hear this the most.
She walked over and slammed his book shut.
"Who dares to laugh at you? I'll teach you how to ride a horse myself. I guarantee you'll be able to ride like a pro before the autumn hunt."
On the other side, the Qian Mansion.
The prince's personal attendant handed a gold-embossed invitation to Qian Zhenyun.
"Mr. Qian, His Highness invites you to go to Xishan together."
When this news spread, the circle of noble ladies in the capital was in an uproar.
In the back garden of the Minister of Personnel's residence, several noble ladies in gorgeous clothes were sitting together.
The leader was none other than Wang Ruoyu, the daughter of the new Shangshu. She gently waved her round fan with a sneer of disdain on her lips.
"Have you heard? His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has also invited the person from the Zhenguo Mansion to this autumn hunt."
A woman in a light yellow silk dress next to her immediately chimed in, her tone sour, "Who says it isn't? A wild girl who wields swords and guns all day long, I wonder what His Highness likes about her."
"That's right. All the noble ladies in the capital are proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. But Gu Qingchen only knows how to ride a horse and commit violence. She is so vulgar."
Wang Ruoyu tapped the stone table lightly with the handle of her fan, her eyes swept over everyone, and her voice lowered a bit.
"The position of Crown Princess requires virtue, words, appearance and merit. Gu Qingchen only has family background, how can she be worthy of it?"
"That's right, Sister Ruoyu, you are the most suitable candidate."
Wang Ruoyu listened to the flattery, a hint of pride flashed in her eyes, and then turned into deep calculation.
"This West Mountain enclosure isn't her family's martial arts training ground. Since she loves the spotlight, let's help her and let her have a proper moment of glory in front of His Highness and everyone else."
She slowly told everyone about her plan. Several noble ladies listened with sparkling eyes and agreed one after another. A conspiracy against Gu Qingchen quietly took shape in this flower-filled back garden.
At the martial arts training ground of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, Gu Qingchen, who knew nothing about this, was patiently teaching Lin Jiayou how to ride a horse.
"Keep your back straight! Keep your legs together! Relax your hands, don't grab the reins like a lifeline!"
Gu Qingchen rode on the horse, circling around the docile pony that Lin Jiayou was sitting on, and kept giving orders.
Lin Jiayou sat on the horse, his body a little stiff, with a bitter smile of embarrassment on his face.
"Qingchen, I...I don't seem to have any talent."
As he spoke, his body swayed as if he was about to fall off the horse.
"careful!"
Gu Qingchen was quick-eyed and quick-handed. She pulled the reins and her horse came steadily forward. She reached out and held Lin Jiayou's arm.
"You're just too nervous!" she complained, looking at his clumsy appearance, feeling both angry and amused.
She rolled her eyes and dismounted with the agility of a cheetah.
"Don't move, I'll come up and teach you."
After saying that, she stepped on the stirrups, turned over and sat behind Lin Jiayou.
A horse carrying two people.
Her chest was almost against his back, and her hands passed under his armpits, covering his hands and holding the reins.
"Look, it's like this. Pull it gently and it will go left. Pull it again and it will go right."
Warm breath brushed past his ears, and Lin Jiayou's body stiffened instantly. Then, a gleam of light flashed in the depths of his eyes.
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