Chapter 2
Amidst the profound silence, Jiang Runchu, Jiang Jingchun’s elder brother, was the first to speak. His gaze fixed coldly on Jiang Jingchun, his voice almost chilling with frost, “What trouble are you causing here again?”
Today was March twentieth, a day of rest; neither he nor Gu Huaisheng were on duty.
Gu Huaisheng had taken advantage of the free time to accompany his mother, the Lady of the Hou Mansion, to visit the Elder Lady Jiang. The group had been gathered in the Rongde Hall, chatting casually, when a servant suddenly rushed in, reporting that Jiang Jingchun had been involved in a fight outside, injuring someone and causing quite a commotion.
The Lady Jiang was immediately distressed and tried to rush out, but Jiang Runchu, fearing that his mother’s interference would only escalate matters, stopped her and went himself. Worried, the Lady of the Hou Mansion asked Gu Huaisheng to accompany him.
By the time Jiang Runchu arrived, the family servant had already explained the whole incident. It began with a quarrel between the two young ladies during a polo match. The argument escalated, and when they retreated to the quiet room, they began grappling, which somehow turned into a physical fight.
Eventually, it was said that Jiang Jingchun had pushed someone down the stairs.
Jiang Runchu had never cared much for his troublesome younger sister. Prejudging her, he immediately chastised her upon arrival.
“If you injured someone by pushing them, you should apologize. There’s no need to be so disrespectful.”
After all, if the matter of Lou Yanyan falling down the stairs spread, everyone would blame Jiang Jingchun and, by extension, the Jiang family.
Jiang Jingchun wanted to protest, insisting it was not her fault.
“Why should I apologize? She started by having others speak ill of me, then hit me during the polo match. She even pushed me just now. Am I supposed to apologize just because she fell and I didn’t?”
This was not a matter of forgiveness or not; apologizing would be admitting fault, effectively declaring to everyone that the whole incident was her responsibility.
She was unwilling to accept that.
Jiang Runchu was momentarily stunned by her words. Just as the siblings were about to argue, Lou Yanyan sat nearby, watching the spectacle with a provocative glint in her eyes.
Seeing her triumphant expression, Jiang Jingchun grew even more frustrated, especially as her brother still tried to calm things down.
She turned away, refusing to lower her head.
Her youthful cheeks flushed deep red, and a hint of anger flashed in her eyes. Usually soft and gentle, today she resembled a hedgehog bristling with defiance.
Lou Yanyan, seeing her steadfast refusal, threatened to leave, “Fine, if you won’t admit anything, I’ll tell everyone about this and let them judge.”
“No way! You have a mouth, you tell them. I’ll tell your Wang brother about you too—let him see what kind of person you really are!”
She was just as stubborn.
Lou Yanyan’s face flushed when Jiang Jingchun mentioned her beloved. Everyone had kept that matter private, but now it was brought to the surface so abruptly.
Furious, she lunged forward to tear at Jiang Jingchun, but Jiang Runchu acted first.
He grabbed Jiang Jingchun, restraining her as she struggled, and scolded sharply, “Enough! How stubborn can you be? Where do you intend to take this?”
Jiang Jingchun didn’t care about quarreling or fighting with others, but she couldn’t tolerate her brother favoring outsiders.
He pulled her roughly, causing pain, and her eyes involuntarily reddened.
“You are not our mother; there’s no need for you to act like this in front of us,” Jiang Runchu said with a darkened face.
He didn’t realize how harsh his words were, thinking she was just putting on a show to avoid punishment.
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“My brother is unreasonable and unfair,” she said, unwilling to engage further, turning her head away, refusing even to look at him.
Her voice was filled with grievance, her eyes moist with tears barely held back.
As the tension grew, Gu Huaisheng finally spoke.
He glanced at Jiang Jingchun, then patted Jiang Runchu on the shoulder, signaling him to stop the dispute.
He then walked toward Lou Yanyan.
A spring breeze brushed past, fluttering his garment’s hem. Those nearby instinctively stepped back to give him space.
After all, he was still Jiang Jingchun’s cousin. With such an incident today, if it ended in a deadlock, it would be difficult to explain to the family later.
No matter what, the matter had to be settled first.
He approached Lou Yanyan and politely asked, “Miss Lou, may I have a word with you?”
His voice was gentle and clear, like the delicate sound of jade being struck, crisp and pleasing to the ear.
Lou Yanyan looked up at the man who had suddenly approached. Though her expression was still sour, she nodded.
The two moved aside. Gu Huaisheng first spoke, “From what my cousin said, it seems you were the first to make a move?”
Lou Yanyan was taken aback by Gu Huaisheng’s direct question, hesitating for a moment before he continued, “Recently, a servant in the Gu family was dismissed for misbehavior. Somehow, the rumor spread and reached my cousin. My aunt was very concerned and kept mentioning it at home.”
His tone remained calm, yet to Lou Yanyan’s ears, it was sharp and cutting.
Her complexion paled involuntarily.
Others might not understand the implication of Gu Huaisheng’s words, but she certainly did.
If they were to delve deeper, who was right or wrong might be clear.
Moreover, the rumors involving Jiang Jingchun inevitably implicated the Hou Mansion as well.
“What do you mean by that, Young Master Hou?” Lou Yanyan’s expression darkened.
Gu Huaisheng replied coolly, “Miss Lou, I believe you know very well what you have done. You understand perfectly what I mean.”
They spoke quietly away from the others. Jiang Jingchun’s gaze remained fixed on Gu Huaisheng’s back, nervously fidgeting with her fingers, lost in thought.
Finally, the two finished their conversation and returned under everyone’s watchful eyes.
Whatever Gu Huaisheng said to Lou Yanyan, she no longer argued but shot Jiang Jingchun a fierce glare before sweeping away with a flick of her sleeve.
After they left, Jiang Runchu glanced at the still silent Jiang Jingchun.
“Still standing there dazed?”
Jiang Jingchun ignored him and instead approached Gu Huaisheng, lowering her eyes to say, “Thank you, cousin.”
Though the matter was resolved, Jiang Jingchun did not feel any better.
Especially since Gu Huaisheng had seen her earlier attitude—would he think she was unruly?
He must despise such a side of her.
The young girl’s eyes were still red, and she looked as if she was deeply wronged.
Gu Huaisheng’s face remained impassive as he replied softly, “It’s nothing.”
With the matter mostly settled, the gathered crowd began to disperse. The three of them left the polo grounds and headed back to the Jiang residence.
Jiang Jingchun followed behind, boarding a carriage with the others. But barely had she settled when Jiang Runchu spoke.
“You came here in your own carriage, didn’t you? It’s overcrowded. Go back to your own.”
The carriage was spacious, draped with silk curtains studded with jewels, pulled aside so sunlight streamed in, brightening the interior.
Such a large carriage could easily seat four or five people. How could three be too crowded for him?
Jiang Runchu had always been at odds with Jiang Jingchun.
They were siblings, sharing the same parents. Jiang Runchu, at twenty-two, was six years her senior and currently held a post at the Hanlin Academy. Compared to Gu Huaisheng, he was more mature but habitually wore a stern expression, especially around Jiang Jingchun, as if she owed him a fortune.
Jiang Jingchun’s reckless and troublesome nature was understandably disliked by the rigid and dutiful Jiang Runchu.
Yet Jiang Jingchun disliked him too. Usually, she avoided riding with him, but today, with Gu Huaisheng present, she refused to get off.
Ignoring Jiang Runchu’s words, she climbed into the carriage and sat beside Gu Huaisheng.
She glanced discreetly at Gu Huaisheng beside her. Seeing no displeasure on his face, she relaxed.
After all, he was her kinsman.
Gu Huaisheng was like a rare alpine flower, aloof and untouched by mundane troubles. He never bothered with trivial disputes.
Like a mischievous child dancing before an adult: the more one engaged, the more the child delighted; it was easier to just ignore.
As long as she didn’t cross him, he would sit expressionless beside her, not even glancing her way.
Suddenly, the sound of powerful hoofbeats came from outside as the splendid carriage began to move.
Jiang Jingchun was still brooding over the earlier incident when Jiang Runchu started lecturing again.
“Can you at least fix your hair? It looks a mess.”
After the polo match, her ponytail was disheveled. Compared to the two prim and proper men, she looked rather unkempt.
Jiang Jingchun pouted in displeasure but, considering Gu Huaisheng was nearby, refrained from arguing.
“Got it.”
Reluctantly, she untied her hair and began to fashion a simple bun.
Though she sat apart from Gu Huaisheng, her movements inevitably brushed against him. Her hair was silky and fine, scented with jasmine oil, carrying a faint, refreshing fragrance. Unintentionally, it swept across Gu Huaisheng’s cheek.
He felt a sudden tickle on his face, suspecting she did it on purpose to tease him, his handsome brows furrowed.
Jiang Runchu noticed Gu Huaisheng’s growing impatience and was about to chide Jiang Jingchun to behave when, unexpectedly, the speeding carriage came to a sudden, harsh halt.
Inside, everyone lurched unsteadily.
The two men managed to stay upright, but Jiang Jingchun, in the middle of tying her hair, lost her balance and fell directly against the person beside her.
The sweet, fresh scent of the young girl abruptly filled the air, invading Gu Huaisheng’s senses. Though his brows knitted tighter, he still reached out to steady her as she unexpectedly collapsed into his arms.