Chapter 714: The Purse Embroidered with the Word "Jia"
However, overnight, the heroic act of Miss Gu from the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion "kicking the prince away with one kick" spread like wildfire to every corner of the capital.
Various versions of rumors were rampant. Some said that she was jealous of Princess Jiahe and was vying for her favor; some said that she was arrogant because of her favor and had no respect for the emperor.
Eventually, these rumors coalesced into a resounding yet pointed title—"the most fierce woman in the capital."
Those noble ladies who once only dared to talk about her rudeness behind her back now subconsciously took a detour when they saw the carriage of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.
In the Zhenguo Mansion, Gu Qingchen's courtyard.
Chu Ruohan looked at her daughter wiping her longbow boredly, with no regrets on her face, and couldn't help but sigh.
"From today on, you will stay in the mansion and reflect on your actions. You are not allowed to go out and cause trouble again."
It is called punishment, but it is actually protection.
Gu Qingchen knew it in her heart. She put down the bow and nodded obediently, "I understand, mother."
The days suddenly became long.
Free from the hustle and bustle of the outside world, Gu Qingchen would either sweat profusely while training in the martial arts field or sit by the window and stare blankly.
She recalled the events of the palace banquet over and over again, and she still felt happy and had no regrets at all.
But her brother Gu Lu's words were like a small stone, often pricking her heart.
Her pleasure in taking revenge will indeed bring considerable trouble to her family.
This made her feel for the first time that her fists could not solve all problems.
In order to find some peace and quiet and to get rid of the boredom, Gu Qingchen strolled out of his yard and walked towards the guest house where Gu Lu and his sister were temporarily staying.
…
The guest house is always quiet.
As soon as Gu Qingchen walked out of the yard, he saw the scene inside through a half-open window lattice.
Gu Lanxin was sitting under the window, with her head lowered, concentrating on embroidering something in her hands.
The autumn afternoon sunlight shone through the window pane, softly shining on her profile, making her expression gentle and peaceful.
Gu Qingchen's heart softened, he walked in with lighter steps and pushed the door open.
"Sister Lan Xin."
"Ah!" Gu Lanxin trembled violently like a frightened rabbit, and hurriedly tried to stuff the embroidery in her hand under the sewing basket beside her.
That flustered look made it seem like he was trying to cover up his guilt.
Gu Qingchen was so skilled that before she could hide the thing, he flashed forward and grabbed the thing in his hands.
"What treasure is hidden so well?"
She had a somewhat joking tone, but when she saw what was in her hand, the smile on her face froze instantly.
It was a men's purse with exquisite embroidery. Several green bamboos were embroidered with silver thread on the indigo satin. The stitches were fine and lifelike.
But what is more dazzling than the green bamboo is the extremely clear words next to the bamboo leaves.
A word "Jia".
Gu Qingchen's head buzzed, as if it was hit hard by something.
Lin Jiayou.
The name popped up instantly.
She remembered the affectionate and insistent look on Lin Jiayou's face every time he saw her; she also remembered his painstaking efforts to endure humiliation and hardship after returning to Beijing just to be close to her.
But now, Sister Lan Xin is embroidering a purse for him.
An extremely strange feeling came over me.
It wasn't jealousy, but absurdity, confusion, and a hint of offended anger that she herself hadn't even noticed.
"Qingchen, give it back to me!"
Gu Lanxin's face turned pale. She practically rushed forward, snatched the purse back, and clutched it tightly in her hand, explaining incoherently, "It's not what you think... This, this... This is embroidered for a distant cousin. He, he happens to have the character 'Jia' in his name."
Gu Qingchen didn't grab it again.
She just looked at Gu Lanxin quietly, seeing the fear and avoidance in her eyes.
Even she herself didn't believe that pale explanation.
Gu Qingchen's heart sank.
She took the purse from Lan Xin's trembling hands and gently put it back on the table in front of her, her tone calm.
"Really? That's quite a coincidence."
She didn't get angry, nor did she ask any further questions.
But a huge wave had already risen in her heart.
Lin Jiayou showed his affection to her in every possible way, so why did Sister Lan Xin embroider a purse for him? Was it Sister Lan Xin's simple unrequited love, or was it Lin Jiayou...
This created the first deep crack in her newly established perception of Lin Jiayou as one of her own.
Gu Qingchen turned and left without saying another word.
Behind her, Gu Lanxin clutched the purse, as if all her strength had been drained away, and she sat down dejectedly on the chair.
The intimacy between the two of them in the past seemed to be separated by something at this moment, becoming more awkward than ever before.
…………
That night, Gu Qingchen tossed and turned, unable to sleep all night.
In her mind, she suddenly remembered Qian Zhenyun's smug smile when he used a funny joke to save her at the palace banquet.
For a moment, it was again the gentle and sad profile of Gu Lanxin as she lowered her head to embroider the purse with the word "Jia".
One is open and honest, the other... unfathomable.
"Lin Jiayou..." She muttered to herself towards the dark tent ceiling, "What kind of person are you?"
The next morning, it was still dark.
Gu Qingchen stood guard at the gate of the mansion and stopped Gu Lu who was about to go to court.
"Brother Lu."
Gu Lu saw that her eyes were slightly dark blue and her expression was serious, no longer as lively as before. He knew something was wrong. He stopped and signaled his followers to step back.
"What's wrong?"
Gu Qingchen took a deep breath, stopped beating around the bush, and asked directly, "Brother Lu, what kind of person do you think Lin Jiayou is?"
Gu Lu was stunned when he heard this, and then he noticed something from Gu Qingchen's serious expression, and his face darkened.
He was silent for a moment, without hiding anything, and told the whole story of how Lin Jiayou lay dormant after returning to Beijing, how he gained the trust of the Third Prince, and how he turned against him at the critical moment.
Finally, he looked at his sister, his voice low and serious.
"He's a good knife, but the blade is too sharp. If you're not careful, you could hurt your own people."
Gu Lu's eyes became sharp.
"You have a simple nature and can't hide your thoughts. Don't get involved with someone like Lin Jiayou."
It turns out that this is how she looks in the eyes of her brother, parents, and mother.
Being simple means being easily deceived. Being unable to hide one's thoughts means being unsophisticated...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
