Shen Jintang led his men to capture Gu Zhixing. The carriage sped along the official road, raising a cloud of dust.
The carriage swayed slightly with the bumps, making everyone feel uneasy.
Liu Huo leaned close to Shen Jintang and lowered his voice, saying, "The young master discovered your bet with the princess. He even went to the storeroom, cut the keys in half, and looked inside everything."
After Liu Huo finished speaking, his eyes were full of difficulty. He looked at Shen Jintang cautiously and asked tentatively, "Master, things have come to this point. What should we do next?"
He knew perfectly well that Gu Zhixing knew about their scheme. It was already a favor that he didn't turn against them. How could he possibly let them continue to lead him by the nose?
Shen Jintang sat there, leaning back slightly, her eyes fixed on the car window. Her dark, bright eyes seemed to hold some secret. On the surface, she appeared calm, but the slightly white fingers on her knee betrayed her nervousness.
She lowered her eyes slightly, her eyelashes like feathers, concealing the emotions in her eyes, and said softly, "How will you know the result if you don't try?"
——
Spring Breeze Pavilion.
Gu Zhixing didn't usually like going to many places, and now that he was penniless, he couldn't use money to relieve his frustration.
So he could only wander aimlessly through the streets.
He was a universally disliked person; when he walked down the street, he was either surrounded by strangers or people who knew him but avoided him at all costs.
"Gu Zhixing, Gu Zhixing, you are truly pitiful." He sighed inwardly, for besides spending money, you didn't even have a way to pass the time.
Gu Yanqing and Ye Qingzhou could talk to each other, but they didn't know about Shen Jintang's situation, and he was too embarrassed to say that he had been deceived twice.
So he wandered aimlessly, not wanting to go back to the Princess's residence or see Shen Jintang again.
"Brother Gu!"
Suddenly, several voices came from above. Gu Zhixing looked up and saw a group of his former drinking buddies sitting in a private room on the second floor of Chunfeng Tower, leaning on the windowsill and waving at him.
"Brother Gu, come up and have a drink!" The leader was a young man in blue, who was smiling and beckoning to Gu Zhixing.
People who knew him but weren't close to him called him His Highness, while those who knew him well called him Gu Zhixing. But no one had ever called him "Brother Gu," which Gu Zhixing found rather novel.
Gu Zhixing narrowed his eyes, not having much of an impression of the young man in blue.
It seemed to be someone who had been following Ye Qingzhou around, surnamed Jiang... but he couldn't remember his exact name.
Who cares who he is!
Since he was in a bad mood anyway, going up for a drink wouldn't hurt; it was better than wandering the streets alone.
Gu Zhixing stepped into Chunfeng Tower, where the place was bustling with noise and filled with the aroma of wine.
He went straight to the private room on the second floor and pushed the door open.
A group of people were already sitting around inside. When he came in, they all stood up to greet him, and the atmosphere immediately became lively.
"Brother Gu, please have a seat here!" The young master surnamed Jiang, who was at the head of the group, greeted him warmly and patted the empty seat next to him.
Gu Zhixing smiled slightly, did not refuse, and sat down directly.
He raised his glass, clinked it with the others, and drank it all in one gulp. The liquor slid down his throat, bringing a spicy warmth.
After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became increasingly lively.
Everyone chatted and laughed, and Gu Zhixing joined in with a faint smile on his face.
Look, even when he's not at the Princess's residence, he can still have a great time elsewhere!
Just then, the young master surnamed Jiang's gaze fell on Gu Zhixing, and he asked, "Brother Gu, why are you dressed so simply today?"
When he goes out, he always likes to dress flamboyantly, in fine clothes and jewels, which can attract everyone's attention at a glance.
But his simple attire today made him almost unrecognizable.
Gu Zhixing looked down at the plain-colored long robe he was wearing. Although the material was ordinary, the cut was neat and clean.
"Oh, this outfit?" Gu Zhixing smiled slightly, his tone casual. "I was in a hurry to leave today, so I just picked one out without paying much attention."
He raised his hand and gently smoothed the hem of his clothes, but his gaze drifted slightly into the distance, as if he had remembered something, and the smile on his lips faded a little.
The young master surnamed Jiang did not notice the subtle change in his expression. He only felt that the simple attire made Gu Zhixing's temperament seem cold and aloof, quite different from his usual flamboyance, and it had a unique charm.
He shook his head with a smile: "Brother Gu's outfit is quite eye-catching, but I still prefer your usual flamboyant look, which is very lively."
Gu Zhixing looked down at his white clothes and couldn't help but think of Shen Jintang again, which made him feel depressed.
He poured himself another glass of wine and said, "Let's not talk about that, let's drink!"
Gu Zhixing had a high alcohol tolerance; after several rounds, his face was only slightly flushed, and he remained clear-headed.
However, the others were already dead drunk, sprawled haphazardly on the table.
Seeing this, Gu Zhixing felt bored and didn't want to drink with them anymore.
"Waiter, check please!" Gu Zhixing subconsciously reached for the purse at his waist, only to find it empty.
Only then did he belatedly realize that he didn't have a single penny left on him.
In an instant, his expression stiffened slightly, and an awkward look quietly crept onto his face.
But he quickly came to his senses.
They invited him to the dinner, so he shouldn't have to pay for it.
He was about to speak casually, telling them that he didn't bring any money this time and that he would treat them to a proper meal next time, thus smoothing things over.
However, at that moment, a skinny little follower who looked like a monkey suddenly jumped out, his voice sharp and shrill: "Why are you out drinking if you have no money?"
He had barely finished speaking when he added, "Brother Jiang called you up here to pay the bill, didn't he? What are you doing here if you don't have money?!"
This lackey didn't know Gu Zhixing, so he spoke without any restraint.
His understanding of Gu Zhixing came entirely from Young Master Jiang.
Young Master Jiang always followed Ye Qingzhou around, eating and drinking for free. Gu Zhixing always paid the bill. Therefore, in Young Master Jiang's eyes, Gu Zhixing was a "foolish and rich fool."
Upon seeing Gu Zhixing this time, he greeted him warmly, thinking that if Gu Zhixing came up for a drink, given his temperament, he would definitely pay for the meal again, thus saving himself some money.
When he shouted this, he had already informed everyone in advance that someone was going to pay for the meal.
So everyone waited with peace of mind for Gu Zhixing to pay the bill.
But given the current situation, it's clear that Gu Zhixing has no intention of paying. Everyone watched helplessly as the prize slipped away; how could they not be furious?
Upon hearing his follower's words, Gu Zhixing immediately understood.
It turned out that this group of people were using him as a mobile bank, hoping to squeeze some money out of him.
His voice couldn't help but carry a hint of anger: "How dare you! Who gave you the audacity to speak to me like that?"
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