Chapter 768 She has begun to see the world clearly, step by step
"Did I scare you?" The smile in his eyes did not fade. "Then consider it as an offense, and I apologize to you."
He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, but his eyes were clearly teasing.
Gu Qingchen glared at him unhappily: "Don't try that on me!"
"Okay, I won't tease you anymore." Qian Zhenyun stood up straight, his expression gradually becoming serious.
"You owe me a favor, so remember it for now. Later, when I need your help, you can't refuse."
"Of course!" Gu Qingchen agreed without hesitation, "As long as I can do it, I'll go through fire and water without hesitation!"
Her tone was firm, her eyes were clear, and she was as righteous and pure as ever.
Qian Zhenyun's gaze lingered on her face for a moment, a complex emotion flashed across his eyes, and finally he calmed down.
"Okay." He said softly, "I feel relieved with your words."
He did not mention the palace banquet last night, nor did he ask about her marriage to the prince, as if all that was just a passing cloud.
He just stood there, quietly accompanying her, letting the cold winter wind blow, but it could not blow away the tacit understanding between them that did not require words.
Gu Qingchen looked at him, and suddenly a warm feeling welled up in his heart.
She knew that no matter what happened, he would always stand behind her silently like this and be her strongest support.
"By the way, you came to me just to tell me this?" Gu Qingchen suddenly remembered something and asked.
Qian Zhenyun shook his head. "No. When I was paying New Year's greetings just now, I heard from the Duke that you got up early this morning and were relaxing in the courtyard."
"I thought you must have not slept well last night and were feeling upset. So I came to talk to you."
He looked at her with concern in his eyes: "Are you still thinking about how to deal with the entanglement between the Queen and the Prince?"
Gu Qingchen sighed and nodded, "Yes. The Queen's attitude is a little confusing to me. She seems to have suppressed this matter, but she also left me some room, as if telling me that she can make a comeback at any time."
"Also, I always feel that her attitude towards me is different from before. She used to be so nice to me, but now, she seems to just treat me as a tool to be used."
As she spoke, there was a hint of grievance and confusion in her voice.
Qian Zhenyun's eyes softened.
He knew that although she was usually lively and fearless, she was still an inexperienced girl when faced with the complexity of human relationships.
"Qingchen, do you still remember?" Qian Zhenyun asked softly, "When we were young, the Duke taught us how to play chess. He always said that the chessboard is like life, and every move must be made carefully."
Gu Qingchen nodded: "I remember. But what does this have to do with now?"
"Of course it's related." Qian Zhenyun smiled. "Every move the Queen makes is thoughtful and sophisticated. She's holding back now, not because she's giving up, but because she's waiting for the perfect opportunity."
"The best time?" Gu Qingchen looked at him puzzledly.
"Yes." Qian Zhenyun looked into the distance, a glint of wisdom flashing in his eyes. "She is waiting for the time when the storm between you and me has completely subsided and no one is discussing this matter anymore."
"By then, she can find a reason to marry you to the Crown Prince, and it will be a smooth process, with no one daring to interfere."
Gu Qingchen's heart sank suddenly.
She had vaguely guessed it before, but when Qian Zhenyun analyzed the Queen's intentions so clearly, she truly felt the powerlessness and despair.
"Then, what should we do?" She grabbed his sleeve in a panic, her voice trembling.
"Don't panic." Qian Zhenyun held her hand with his backhand, and the warmth from his palm calmed her disordered heartbeat a little.
"We still have time," he said gently, "as long as we can find a reason that the Queen cannot refute during this time, forcing her to give up this marriage, then we will win."
"But what reason can make the Queen give up?" Gu Qingchen's eyes were still confused.
Qian Zhenyun's eyes were deep. He looked at her and said word by word: "A reason for her to give up."
He didn't say it explicitly, but Gu Qingchen read something unusual in his eyes.
She looked at his gentle face and suddenly felt that he was far more unfathomable than she had imagined.
At this moment, a crisp voice broke the silence in the yard.
"Sister Qingchen!"
Gu Qingchen turned around and saw Gu Lanxin walking towards him from the Chaoshou Arcade with just the right amount of concern and worry on her face.
She changed into a goose yellow jacket and skirt, and pinned a small pearl flower on her hair. She looked much more energetic than in the morning.
However, her eyes were somewhat evasive.
Gu Qingchen's gaze lingered on her for a moment, then he glanced calmly at the small door behind her.
She did not forget Gu Lanxin's hurried back in the early morning and the small bag she hid behind her.
"Sister Lan." Gu Qingchen responded indifferently.
Gu Lanxin walked up to Gu Qingchen and glanced at Qian Zhenyun, but quickly calmed down. She bowed to Qian Zhenyun and called softly, "Mr. Qian."
Qian Zhenyun just nodded slightly without saying much.
"Sister Qingchen, are you okay?" Gu Lanxin held Gu Qingchen's hand, her tone concerned. "I heard about what happened at the palace banquet last night. You, don't take it to heart. Those rumors will eventually pass."
Gu Qingchen felt her cold fingers and his heart moved.
She looked at Gu Lanxin's seemingly worried eyes, but always felt that there was something hidden in them that she could not understand.
"Thank you for your concern, Sister Lan. I'm fine." Gu Qingchen withdrew his hand with a distant tone.
A hint of stiffness flashed across Gu Lanxin's face, and then her smile returned.
"I'm glad you're okay, I'm glad you're okay." She said softly, "I, I just went to pay my respects to my aunt, and she said there are many guests in the house today, so she asked me to ask Sister Qingchen if she needs any help."
"No need." Gu Qingchen refused directly, "There are servants in the house, so there is no need to trouble you, sister."
The smile on Gu Lanxin's face completely froze.
She bit her lip, and a hint of resentment flashed in her eyes, but she quickly concealed it.
"In that case, I won't disturb you two from reminiscing about the past." She forced a smile and turned to leave.
Gu Qingchen looked at her departing back, a hint of deep thought flashing in his eyes.
She always felt that something was wrong with Gu Lanxin today.
"What do you think of her?" Qian Zhenyun suddenly spoke, breaking the silence in the yard.
Gu Qingchen retracted his gaze and looked at Qian Zhenyun: "What do you mean?"
"She is a person," Qian Zhenyun said, "do you think she is worthy of your trust?"
Gu Qingchen was stunned for a moment, then shook his head: "I don't know. She has always been very good to me, but..."
She paused and didn't continue.
"But you always feel that there is something wrong with her, right?" Qian Zhenyun took over her words.
Gu Qingchen nodded: "Yes. I always feel that she is a little too cautious, and her eyes sometimes make me feel that she is hiding some secrets."
A glimmer of understanding flashed in Qian Zhenyun's eyes.
"Have you ever thought that she might have other purposes for being so nice to you?" he asked.
Gu Qingchen's heart skipped a beat.
She had this idea before.
Especially after what Chu Ruohan said last night, she began to re-evaluate her kindness to everyone.
"You mean..." Gu Qingchen's tone was a little hesitant.
"I'm just reminding you." Qian Zhenyun didn't answer directly. He just looked at her with a meaningful look in his eyes. "People's hearts are complicated. Sometimes, the people closest to you may not be the most trustworthy."
There was a storm in Gu Qingchen's heart.
She suddenly remembered Gu Lanxin's hurried back in the early morning and the small bag she hid behind her.
What is in there?
Where did she go again?
Lin Jiayou's gentle face appeared in Gu Qingchen's mind.
She knew that Gu Lanxin had always had some unusual feelings for Lin Jiayou.
Could it be that...
A bold guess gradually took shape in Gu Qingchen's mind.
She looked at Qian Zhenyun with a hint of inquiry in her eyes.
Qian Zhenyun just looked at her calmly and said nothing more.
He knew that there were some things that she needed to discover and figure out on her own.
Only in this way can she truly grow.
"Zhenyun, do me a favor." Gu Qingchen suddenly spoke, his voice firm.
"You say." Qian Zhenyun didn't hesitate at all.
"Help me check who Gu Lanxin has been meeting recently and where she has been going." Gu Qingchen's eyes flashed with a hint of coldness, "Especially, where did she go this morning?"
Qian Zhenyun's lips curled up in an imperceptible arc.
"Okay." He replied softly, "I'll take care of this."
He knew that she had begun, step by step, to see the world clearly.
And he will always be by her side, protecting her.
No matter what she has to face.
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