Snow Plum Garden (3)
Her gaze was sharp as a knife, fixed on Gongsun Jinyao's face, which had turned deathly pale. Her other hand rested seemingly casually on the edge of the table, but in reality, it blocked all possible escape routes for Gongsun Jinyao.
A wave of panic and the terror of having her secret exposed instantly gripped Gongsun Jinyao, leaving her feeling as cold as if she had fallen into an ice cave. "You... what nonsense are you spouting? Where did this wild girl come from, daring to be so insolent in front of me? Do you know who I am? Let me go!"
She spoke in a low, menacing tone, her voice trembling uncontrollably, as she desperately tried to break free from Gu Jinghong's grip, frantically reaching with her other hand to cover her sleeve.
Gu Jinghong's lips curled into a cold smile, filled with undisguised mockery: "If Miss Gongsun doesn't deny it, does that mean she admits that you used 'Warmth Powder'? This drug is colorless and odorless, melts upon contact with heat, and has a potent effect... Although Miss Gongsun is a noble lady from a high-ranking family, her methods and audacity are no less than those of people in the martial arts world."
"I wonder what His Highness Prince Jin and the Empress Dowager would do if they knew that the pure, virtuous, and dignified eldest daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion had resorted to such despicable and vile means right under the nose of the Empress Dowager at the royal villa?"
Gongsun Jinyao was interrupted by a scream of shock and anger, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Her face drained of color, leaving only extreme panic and embarrassment.
She struggled violently, knocking over the fruit plate on the small table beside her. The delicate porcelain plate shattered with a crash, and candied fruit spilled all over the floor.
Seeing this, Gongsun Jingyao's voice became even sharper: "How dare you! You lowly servant, how dare you slander me and break the porcelain plate! Let me go! Otherwise, I will tell the Prince right now!"
"Is that so..."
Gu Jinghong smiled, but suddenly tightened her grip.
One is a high-ranking official in the Qianyuan Pavilion, and the other is a pampered noblewoman. It is clearly a contest with a huge disparity in strength, and someone is trying to break a rock with an egg.
Gongsun Jinyao burst into tears from the pain, but she remained defiant: "Let go, you lowly commoner!"
Gu Jinghong added three more points of force.
Gongsun Jingyao felt as if her slender wrist was about to break, and then she burst into tears.
At that very moment, two tall figures outside the pavilion looked towards the pavilion.
Upon seeing someone arrive, Gongsun Jingyao cried even harder, but she quietly stopped making a sound.
The two saw Gu Jinghong holding Gongsun Jinyao's wrist with an imposing aura, while Gongsun Jinyao's hair was disheveled, her face was pale, and she was crying with tears streaming down her face, looking pitiful as if she had been frightened and bullied.
"Ah Hong, what are you doing? Release Miss Gongsun at once!" Xie Yan followed closely behind and stepped in. Upon seeing this scene, his face darkened, and he sternly rebuked Gu Jinghong. At the same time, he quickly stepped forward and unhesitatingly freed Gongsun Jingyao's wrist from Gu Jinghong's grasp. He separated Gu Jinghong in a protective manner, but a faint hint of provocation flickered in his eyes.
Separated from Xie Yan, Gongsun Jingyao looked pitiful and murmured, "Young Master Xie, I don't know why your sister suddenly attacked me. I clearly, clearly only drank a sip of tea."
Seeing Gongsun Jingyao's expression, Gu Jinghong suddenly lowered her head and smiled—she claims to be the legitimate daughter of the Duke's mansion, yet she changes her face faster than she, a person from the martial arts world. I wonder how noble this noble lady is, is it just those elaborate and luxurious ornaments on her head?
When Gongsun Jingyao saw Gu Jinghong smile, she was even more beautiful than before, and she became even angrier. She was about to pounce on Xiao Chengyan.
Gu Jinghong pushed her away and then naturally put his hand in Xiao Chengyan's arm. He raised an eyebrow at Gongsun Jingyao and said, "Miss Gongsun, we should each have one of these two men. You can't have your cake and eat it too."
After he finished speaking, Gu Jinghong felt as if the gaze from the man beside her was a knife striking her.
Xiao Chengyan felt that familiar feeling reappear—what did this woman mean? Did she treat the two men as commodities to be possessed and compared with?
And what kind of look did she have? In what way can Xie Yan compare to him?
He casually pulled his arm out of Gu Jinghong's crook. "Nonsense!"
The two words were clearly cold, yet Xie Yan managed to detect a hint of indulgence and pampering in them. He gave Gu Jinghong a meaningful look, then glanced at Xiao Chengyan.
However, the two people opposite were completely unaware.
Gongsun Jinyao, on the other hand, seized the opportunity when she saw Xiao Chengyan actively "avoiding" Gu Jinghong. With tears in her eyes, she staggered and rushed directly towards Xiao Chengyan.
Then she looked up at him and said, "Your Highness, I'm scared."
Just as she threw herself into Xiao Chengyan's arms, the force of the impact and the cover of her wide sleeves allowed the last trace of powder remaining on her fingertips to be pressed and kneaded deep into the gold-embroidered cloud pattern folds of Xiao Chengyan's dark blue royal robe, using her startled posture and the concealment of her body.
At that moment, Xiao Chengyan was so engrossed in Gu Jinghong's "performance" that he failed to realize what a "well-behaved" noblewoman would do to him.
Then Gongsun Jingyao showed Xiao Chengyan her wrist, which had been pinched red by Gu Jinghong.
Logically, shouldn't the prince who brought her out today take her home after she's injured? Shouldn't the "warmth-inducing powder" take effect at this point?
Gongsun Jinyao felt a surge of joy in her heart; she could even picture Xiao Chengyan whispering sweet nothings in her ear!
Xiao Chengyan stiffened slightly and subconsciously moved a few steps away from Gongsun Jingyao.
At the same time, everyone heard Xie Yan apologize.
"Your Highness, please forgive me! My younger sister is unruly and must have offended Miss Gongsun with her improper words and actions! I, Xie Yan, have failed in my duty of disciplining her and am willing to accept punishment!"
These words took all the blame from Gu Jinghong.
Gu Jinghong said, "Xie Yan, are you stupid? Can't you see something this simple? Do you think I'm the kind of person who bullies weak women? You..."
"Jinghong! How dare you be so rude! Quickly apologize to the Prince!"
Xiao Chengyan remained calm and unhurried, looking only at Gu Jinghong: "You just said that you are not the kind of person who bullies weak women, which means that you were framed this time. Then you can clarify. With me here, I will not let you be wronged. Just say it."
Gu Jinghong stared coldly at Gongsun Jinyao.
"She poisoned you."
These five simple words stunned both Xiao Chengyan and Xie Yan: "Poisoning?!"
Gongsun Jingyao's face paled for a moment, then tears welled up in her eyes again: "This young lady is really... Why can't she tolerate me? Is it because I am the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, someone you can never reach? Since you said I am the daughter of the Duke's mansion, how could I possibly use such despicable methods as poisoning? Do you think I don't even care about the reputation of our Duke's mansion?!"
She was quite audacious, even daring to use the Duke's mansion's reputation at will. Her words were so powerful that Gu Jinghong couldn't find a strong point of rebuttal for a moment.
However, she gave a wicked smile.
"Since Miss Gongsun is so certain that she did not poison you, then I will escort you back to the Duke's Mansion today. The Duke's Mansion is quite far from Xuemei Garden, and given the prince's noble status and the cold weather today, it would be inappropriate for me to escort Miss Gongsun back to the mansion. However, it just so happens that I am going the same way as Miss Gongsun... I am not very talented, but I am willing to take on this important task."
Gongsun Jingyao said, "It's not that I'm putting on airs as a noble lady, but Miss Gu looks so thin and frail. It's fine if she can deal with me, but if we really encounter some bad guys on the road, we are both women. How can we escape alive?"
"Add my brother to that side!" Gu Jinghong refused to budge an inch.
Xie Yan stared blankly at Gu Jinghong, unable to figure out what she was planning to do.
However, his pleasure lay in thwarting Gu Jinghong's plans.
He cleared his throat, stepped forward, and bowed respectfully to Xiao Chengyan: "Prince Jin, my younger sister has caused such a great calamity, disturbing our distinguished guest; she truly deserves to die. However, Miss Gongsun is currently in a state of extreme shock and needs to be comforted and sent back as soon as possible. To avoid further complications and to give the Duke's mansion an explanation, it would be best if I personally escorted Miss Gongsun back to the mansion, explained the situation to the Duke, and apologized. As for my younger sister…"
He turned his gaze to Gu Jinghong, his expression stern with "heartache and indignation," and said, "Leave him to the Prince to deal with. Take him back to the Prince's residence and discipline him strictly. Punish him as you see fit, Xie Yan will have no complaints!"
Xiao Chengyan: "...!"
Gu Jinghong: "...!!"
Gongsun Jingyao: "...!!!"
Xiao Chengyan quickly calmed down. Although Xie Yan's suggestion was abrupt, it was the fastest way to quell the situation and separate these two troublesome women. More importantly, it was better to keep Gu Jinghong, whose identity was shrouded in mystery and whose behavior was strange, under his watchful eye rather than letting her run wild.
As for Xie Yan... his initiative to send Gongsun away—was it out of guilt? Or did he have ulterior motives? We should also be wary.
As his thoughts raced, Xiao Chengyan's eyes deepened, and he slowly nodded: "Thank you for your trouble, Young Master Xie."
"Your Highness?!" Gongsun Jingyao looked up abruptly, as if struck by lightning.
She never expected Xie Yan to pull this stunt, and she certainly didn't expect that King Jin would agree! She couldn't leave; the drug had already been administered to King Jin, and she had to stay with him, as its effects could kick in at any moment!
"No...I..." She was so anxious she could barely speak, gripping Xiao Chengyan's clothes even tighter, trying to find an excuse to stay, "Your Highness, Jinyao...Jinyao is panicking..."
How could Xie Yan allow her to ruin things?
With a skillful flick of his wrist, he gripped Gongsun Jinyao's arm like an iron hoop.
"No!" Gongsun Jingyao screamed, her other hand futilely trying to grab Xiao Chengyan's sleeve, but Xie Yan forcibly dragged her away without explanation, half-carrying her as he walked outside. She turned back and glared at Gu Jinghong, her eyes filled with boundless resentment and desperate pleading, but in the end, they were completely blocked by Xie Yan's tall figure.
Xie Yan's voice remained gentle: "Miss Gongsun, do not be afraid. If outsiders see you like this, it may cause gossip and damage your reputation. It is best to return to your residence as soon as possible. I, Xie, will certainly protect you."
As he spoke, he used a clever touch to almost kidnap her and pull her away from Xiao Chengyan.
"As for her—" Xie Yan turned around abruptly, his gaze like a poisonous hook piercing the silent Gu Jinghong. The feigned gentleness on his face instantly crumbled, leaving only naked malice and the pleasure of revenge. His voice was icy as he lashed out at Xiao Chengyan, "Disturbing an honored guest is an unforgivable offense! I request that Your Highness take her back to your residence and discipline her strictly! Punish her as you see fit!"
Everyone present was stunned by Xie Yan's words.
Xiao Chengyan watched Xie Yan leave with Gongsun Jinyao, leaving only him and Gu Jinghong in the warm pavilion.
A cold wind blew snowflakes into the pavilion. Gu Jinghong stood quietly, her previous sharpness completely concealed, and she returned to her aloof demeanor.
"You just said that she poisoned me," he said, his voice colder than the wind and snow outside the pavilion.
Gu Jinghong raised her eyes, neither flinching nor avoiding them: "Yes."
"evidence."
"...Not yet, but the poison will have a reaction..."
He stopped and looked at her: "Isn't there a reaction to all poisoning?"
Gu Jinghong also stopped in her tracks: "But this reaction is different from that of ordinary poisons."
"What's the difference?"
"...Your Highness, please forgive me. Since this poison was not administered by Jinghong, it is impossible to determine the possible reactions. I believe there should be a physician in the manor. Let's wait for the physician to examine the patient before making a diagnosis."
That seems to make some sense.
Xiao Chengyan's eyes suddenly turned cold. He stepped forward, his tall figure exuding an intense sense of oppression: "How did you know? And why did you tell me?"
"How I know is my business." Gu Jinghong met his gaze. "As for why I told the Prince—if I really wanted to harm you, I would have simply remained silent."
These words are extremely bold, yet also extremely sincere.
Xiao Chengyan stared at her.
This woman is like a veil of mystery. She exposed the poisoning, yet seemed to have ulterior motives. Her "sworn brother" dumped her on him, seemingly as punishment, but wasn't it also a way of going with the flow?
Too many questions and too many schemes were entangled around her.
Letting her roam freely will only lead to trouble. Only by keeping her in sight can we peel back her disguise bit by bit and see the truth beneath this mystery.
"Gu Jinghong." He called her name, his tone commanding and leaving no room for argument. "Come back to the manor with me. Until the poison and your identity are clarified, you are not to leave my sight for even a moment."
A barely perceptible smile flashed across Gu Jinghong's eyes, but her expression remained calm. She slightly curtsied: "Yes."
Two figures, one in green and one in white, walked through the Snow Plum Garden. In the thin winter sunlight, their figures gradually overlapped.
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