Attending a banquet
Xiao Heng'an arrived as promised to present the betrothal gifts, and eighteen cartloads of them lined up at the entrance of the Gu residence, overflowing with them.
Xiao Heng'an himself did not possess such a substantial fortune; all of this was arranged by the Ministry of Rites at Xiao Juebai's behest. The Crown Prince's side also received eighteen cartloads of supplies, without exception. This demonstrates the importance Xiao Juebai placed on Xiao Heng'an.
Since it was a government-sponsored gift, Gu Jinning happily accepted it and made no further statements about not wanting to marry. She treated Xiao Heng'an with utmost respect, regarding him as an honored guest.
Gu Weiju saw this and finally felt a weight lifted from his heart.
The following day, Bai Sheng suddenly sent a message by carrier pigeon: someone had offered three thousand taels of silver to have the versatile young man steal the map of the Hua family's mine. He asked Gu Jinning whether to accept the order.
An order delivered to one's door so suddenly is bound to be suspicious, but three thousand taels is indeed tempting. Gu Jinning immediately went to the tea garden to ask Hua Lingchen for his opinion.
Hua Lingchen had just bought some chrysanthemums and planted them in the flowerbed. He was watering the chrysanthemum seedlings at the moment.
Gu Jinning helped him water the mine and asked about the mine map. Hua Lingchen explained, "The mine map has been kept by the Hua family patriarchs for generations and has been constantly updated and rebuilt. I have no way of knowing the terrain after the reconstruction."
Gu Jinning pondered, "So, the only option is to sneak into the Hua residence and steal it."
Hua Lingchen washed his hands with the water from the bucket and invited her into the pavilion to talk. The pavilion was filled with newly painted flower and bird paintings, which rustled crisply in the wind.
"I heard that the Prince of Jin has already offered his betrothal gifts. Are you still short of money?" Hua Lingchen asked as he rolled up the painting.
Gu Jinning confessed, "It's not about the money. At this critical juncture, there are only a few people who know about the existence of the versatile young man. They're trying to lure us out, so of course I have to play along."
Hua Lingchen shook his head helplessly and smiled, "You want to get revenge on him."
"That's right. He's been targeting me at every turn. This time, he's bound to lay a trap to catch me red-handed. If I don't go, wouldn't I look like a coward?"
Regardless of how Xiao Liao contacted her, the challenge had been issued, and she had no reason not to accept it.
Gu Jinning picked up the scroll and put it into a blue-and-white porcelain vase, saying, "How about I steal the map of the Hua family's mine and give it to you, returning it to its rightful owner?"
Hua Lingchen did not respond, but went into the house to retrieve an invitation.
"Take a look."
"What?" Gu Jinning opened it and saw that it was an invitation to Hua Lingchen to attend the 100-day celebration for Hua Lingteng's son.
"Wow, the sun has risen in the west! Hua Lingteng actually invited you to a banquet."
Hua Lingchen emphasized solemnly, "It was delivered yesterday."
Gu Jinning stopped joking and clapped her hands, saying, "This is the real way to lure someone into a trap."
Everything connected. Xiao Liao first found her through someone, pretending to be a buyer and offering a high price for the Hua family's mine map, throwing out bait. Then, he conspired with Hua Lingteng to use her son's 100-day celebration to weave a net, lure her in, and catch her in the act.
The city's defenses are still tight, and her disguise would easily be exposed. Xiao Liao had anticipated that she would take the risk and sneak in to steal the map amidst the hustle and bustle. What a brilliant plan!
On the day of the 100-day celebration, the checks at Huajiabao will be exceptionally strict.
Gu Jinning pondered for a moment and said to Hua Lingchen, "In that case, you don't need to go to the banquet. I have a brilliant plan."
Hua Lingchen pulled back the invitation and retorted, "If I don't go, how will you have a legitimate reason to get in?"
"Just lend me the invitation, that's fine."
Gu Jinning tried to snatch the invitation, but Hua Lingchen had already put it into his sleeve.
"You didn't receive the invitation yesterday, nor did His Highness Prince Jin, which means they intentionally didn't invite me. It would be truly impolite for me, as the elder brother, not to show up after receiving the invitation."
Knowing that he had made up his mind, Gu Jinning readily agreed, "Okay, then I will go with you and be your protector for a day."
Two days later, Hua Lingteng's son arrived, and the area outside Huajiabao was bustling with carriages and horses.
Because the Hua family's mines produced iron, they were skilled in sword forging. The Emperor bestowed upon them a fifth-rank official position, specifically tasking them with forging weapons for the army. Thus, although their official rank was middling, their status was considerable. It was also because of this that Hua Lingchen's aunt, Hua Yunshang, was able to marry into the Xu family, becoming the sister-in-law of Consort De.
Hua Yunshang's son, Xu Shouyan, is Xiao Lan's husband. Xiao Lan attended the birthday celebration as her cousin-in-law.
Sun Xianzhu and Xiao Liao were on good terms with Hua Lingteng, so they were naturally invited. Prince Wei, Xiao Liao, who followed Xiao Liao and was also the son of Consort De, was also among those invited.
Li Ranyi is her cousin from her maternal uncle's side, so she should naturally come.
For a time, Huajiabao became a gathering place for the powerful and wealthy in the capital.
Hua Lingteng personally greeted the distinguished guests outside the fortress, his gaze occasionally drifting into the distance, as if waiting for something.
Inside the carriage not far away, Gu Jinning lifted the curtain and complained, "Look at that calculating look on his face, he's definitely wondering why we haven't arrived yet."
She lowered the curtain and asked again, "Brother Hua, are you really going in?"
He was once the pride of the place, but later, his pride was ruthlessly trampled, leaving him with excruciating pain and despair. He was driven from his home and lost everything—what humiliation and suffering that was! Now, returning is nothing short of tearing open the healed wounds and rubbing salt into them, bit by bit.
Gu Jinning didn't want him to suffer another blow.
Hua Lingchen pulled down his sleeve to cover his wrist, and said calmly, "If you don't face it, you'll never get over it. Let's go."
Gu Jinning jumped out of the car first, helped him down, and said with concern, "Your wrist isn't fully healed yet, so don't exert yourself no matter what happens. I'll protect you if anything happens. If they dare to say anything disrespectful, I'll beat them to a pulp."
Hua Lingchen said, "You don't need to worry about me. I'm going home. What's there to be afraid of?"
That's true, but there's always the possibility of a villain.
Gu Jinning could already imagine the true colors of people like Hua Lingteng, and she couldn't help but feel a little guilty towards Hua Lingchen, after all, he had been drawn into this situation because of her.
As the two ascended the steps, the three large characters "Huajiabao" carved from massive stones became increasingly clear. The gate, bearing witness to a century of wind and rain, stood proudly, showcasing the enduring prestige of the Hua family.
Hua Lingteng, who was under the sect, saw the two of them, snorted, and stood there disdainfully.
Butler Hua noticed Hua Lingchen and couldn't help but widen his eyes. He went down two steps to take a closer look and confirmed that his old eyes were not failing him. He excitedly rushed down to greet him, "Young Master, you're back!"
Hua Lingchen smiled slightly at him, "Uncle, it's been a long time."
Old Man Hua burst into tears and reached out to help Hua Lingchen up, saying, "Young Master, you have suffered so much."
Hua Lingchen avoided his hand and said, "It's not bitter. The tea garden is unmanaged, which is much more comfortable than the old fortress."
As soon as Hua Lingchen appeared, he instantly attracted everyone's attention. Guests and servants who were still at the gate gathered around and spontaneously greeted him.
It was the young master Hua, the handsome and talented young man, the gentleman admired and envied by all. That hellish ordeal did not break him down; instead, he bided his time and grew into an even more ethereal figure.
Her blue and white robes fluttered in the wind, adorned with orchids that exuded a subtle fragrance; every frown and smile conveyed a sense of serenity.
Hua Lingteng's gaze gradually turned hateful.
Gu Jinning called out, "Hua Lingteng, your brother is back. Don't you know to greet him?"
Hua Lingteng tilted his head, took two steps forward, and teased, "Is he some high-ranking official that I have to greet him? Princess, I don't remember inviting you. What are you doing here?"
Gu Jinning raised her head and looked at him, saying, "Didn't you see? I was afraid that Brother Hua would be bullied, so I came with him to clear the way for him. You're blocking the way."
She pushed him aside and went inside.
Hua Lingteng was displeased and blocked his way, saying, "I am the head of the Hua family. I do not allow you to enter."
"Okay, I'll be going now."
Gu Jinning shrugged and turned to leave. Old Man Hua hurriedly said, "Princess, please wait. You are a friend of the eldest young master and are an honored guest. There is no reason for the host to turn away a guest. Please come to the fortress for a chat."
"Oh dear, I'm in such a dilemma."
Gu Jinning made a smug face at Hua Lingteng, then took Hua Lingchen's arm and stepped into Hua Family Fortress.
Huajiabao is situated on high ground with abundant rocks. When the fort was built, local materials were used to construct a castle with high and thick walls that were difficult for ordinary thieves to climb, making it extremely defensive.
Gu Jinning stood on the flat stones, her eyes meeting the cold walls all around her, and sighed inwardly that this was truly a perfect place to trap a turtle in a jar.
"Brother Hua, this place is so cold and desolate, it's really not as cozy as the tea garden."
Old Man Hua led the way, and after hearing what Gu Jinning said, he explained, "In recent years, the Hua family has become less prosperous and increasingly deserted, inevitably lacking in human warmth. Please forgive us, Princess."
Old Man Hua led the group into the living room, where Xiao Liao, Xiao Zi, Sun Xianzhu, Xiao Jun, and others were already drinking tea.
Sun Xianzhu saw Hua Lingchen and exclaimed in surprise, "Hua Lingchen, what are you doing here?"
Gu Jinning stepped forward and said, "This is his home. Why do you think he came here?"
Sun Xianzhu was speechless, rolled his eyes, and snapped, "Gu Jinning, why are you everywhere? It's his house, not yours. Why are you sticking your neck out? You're not related to us, yet you're swarming around like a fly."
Gu Jinning rubbed her hands together, her knuckles cracking as she clenched them. "Sun Xianzhu, haven't been beaten up in a long time, have you?"
Sun Xianzhu instinctively hid behind Xiao Liao, saying, "You, you mustn't do anything rash."
Hua Lingchen stopped Gu Jinning's restless advances and raised his hand to bow to Xiao Liao and Xiao Liu, saying, "Hua Lingchen greets His Highness Prince Qin and His Highness Princess Qin."
"Young Master Hua!"
Xiao Ling exclaimed in genuine surprise, his eyes almost welded to Hua Lingchen. His face was filled with a complex mix of emotions—surprise, delight, and unease—that he could not hide.
"You're back."
She couldn't help but get up, wanting to go over, but Xiao Liao coughed lightly, stopping her foolish behavior.
Xiao Lan sat back down and only then noticed Gu Jin Ning. Suddenly, her face turned cold, and she glared at her fiercely.
Gu Jinning pretended not to see it.
Xiao Liao spoke up, "Young Master, there's no need to be so polite. Today we are the guests, and you are the host. Please take a seat."
"Your Highness is too kind."
Hua Lingchen bowed again and sat down in the second seat on the left, directly opposite Xiao Ling.
Gu Jinning naturally sat down at the head of the left seat, poured herself two cups of tea, one for herself and half a cup for Hua Lingchen, and said, "I am also a guest, please show some respect."
Sun Xianzhu muttered under his breath, "Unreasonable."
Hua Lingchen moved the teacup slightly with his right hand, rested his arm on the table, his long sleeves covering his wrists, revealing only half of his slender fingers.
Xiao Lei asked with concern, "Young Master, is your hand alright?"
Hua Lingchen replied, "Thank you for your concern, cousin-in-law. It's an old wound, nothing to worry about."
The word "sister-in-law" broke her heart.
Yes, she was already married, so she had no right to think of him. All her affection could only be hidden deep in her heart, and could not be revealed to the world.
Gu Jinning glanced at Xiao Ling while drinking tea, secretly pleased. An Ning, this shrew, also had a story to tell.
Looking at Hua Lingchen's indifferent "don't come near me" expression, it's as if "I offered my heart to the bright moon, but the bright moon shines on the gutter."
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