Then Gu Qiang turned around for her horse. Surprisingly, Shen Qianshan didn’t hold her back. She walked past him. When he smelt her faint fragrance of pear blossom, his eyes twinkled.
After Gu Qiang left, Ziyan who was picking lanterns aside found the nice sister she just got had left. Then she walked over and wanted to hold Shen Qianshan’s hand. But he dodged and moved towards his house.
Perhaps Ziyan was accustomed to his manner. She followed him and asked curiously, “Brother, where did Miss Gu go? Are you seeing her?”
Shen Qianshan paused with an impenetrable expression. Seeing that, Ziyan walked to him and was curious about his answer. But he said nothing and then moved on alone.
Ziyan was anxious to call him behind, but she was stopped by a secret guard emerging from nowhere.
“Your Highness, please return. It’s getting late.” The secret guard said slowly.
Infanta Ziyan’s face looked terrible. She turned around and said coldly to the secret guard, “Do you know I’m an infanta? He is my brother. Pay attention to the way you talk to me.”
She looked cute when she was angry, flushing and pouting with a contemptuous look.
The secret guard stood there silently with a cold expression. It told Ziyan clearly that she wouldn’t have a chance to approach Shen Qianshan no matter what she said.
Though Ziyan was upset, she had to accept the result, because it was not the first time.
It was late at night when Gu Qiang returned to her house. The moon hid behind clouds. After entering the yard, she found Chui Xue and Ting Feng discussing something in the room.
Seeing Gu Qiang back, the two servant girls got out of bed immediately and showed her a piece of cloth, saying they would prepare new clothes for her.
Gu Qiang served herself a cup of tea. The two servant girls retreated instantly. She sat before the window, took out the diary and flipped through it. There was nothing in it just as it used to be. She ground ink, but her mind was messy. Finally, she gave up and put her writing brush aside.
Nothing special happened today.
Her encounter with Shen Zhongbai and her story with Shen Qianshan were inevitable, so she could do nothing but accept them.
The cold wind blew above the palace. Gu Qiang, who was thirty years old, touched the place where her heart was supposed to be. She still couldn’t hear any sound. Her heart should have been there, but it was so empty that she felt scared.
Her memory was increasing at each moment. She knew those were what she experienced when she was fifteen years old. She even knew she tried to change them at that age. Though she lost a chance before, the other her was doing her best to change her story.
No matter what she chose and how she changed the situation, she could accept the result.
During the days when she floated above the palace, she had no future. Only the past belonged to her. She recollected the past every day, but it made her feel more terrible. The memories pricked her heart like a needle.
Fortunately, someone could change the memory finally. Indeed, with such a chance, she should have a different life. What kind of life would the Ninth Duke have? He was doomed to die. Would he suffer from his destination or make vigorous efforts and change her life completely?
Gu Qiang closed her eyes slowly, feeling her body as light as a leaf. She hoped something changed. However, she could do nothing but wait for the other her to change it.
In the plum blossom garden, moonlight streamed like water. The breeze blew to Shen Zhongbai and made him shiver. He had stood in the cold pool for six hours. He thought his secret guards would come to save him instantly, but they didn’t.
Though his body stopped sinking, he couldn’t come out. The cold of mud penetrated his bones and made his legs numb.
At last, a secret guard came at dawn. The guard pulled Shen Zhongbai out of the cold pool and helped him put on clean clothes.
Shen Zhongbai looked expressionless from beginning to end. Though his body was extremely cold, he was still formidable. The guard shuddered on his knees.
“Get your punishment!” Shen Zhongbai said coldly and then was carried back to his house.
The secret guard parted his lips but he knew he had no chance to explain. After he saw Shen Zhongbai fall into the poll, he intended to emerge and save him. But he was stopped by a guy skilled in Kung Fu. After dealing with the latter for a long time, he managed to extricate himself and came to save his master.
However, a master wouldn’t give a chance to a secret guard for explanation.
The moonlight was as chilly as water. The body of a secret guard lied in the plum blossom garden. No one was around. Jin Ye stood on the top of a tree, tiptoed lightly, and then flew away. Yes, the guy encountered by the secret guard was Jin Ye, but no one knew it.
The next morning, Shen Zhongbai got up. His body was as cold as when he was in the pool.
A secret guard walked to him. Seeing Shen Zhongbai’s cold face, he couldn’t help shivering, but he still stood before Shen Zhongbai. After all, it was not easy to earn his salary. To be in the prince’s company was tantamount to living with a tiger.
“Where is Gu Qiang? Didn’t she ask you for help last night?” Shen Zhongbai put on one more coat, but he still felt cold.
The secret guard lowered his head and answered, “My Royal Highness, Miss Gu went to Anning Street with the Ninth Duke to enjoy lanterns at midnight.”
Enjoyed lanterns?! Shen Zhongbai’s blood was up. She dated another man while he was left in the cold pool. Did she leave him there on purpose? Or was his suffering caused by her?
Why did she do that? Women of Gu Family all adored Shen Zhongbai. Why did she treat him so coldly and even scheme against him? What was worse, his Kung Fu was gong suddenly. It must be related to her.
How strange Gu Qiang was! Shen Zhongbai had seen many women. All of them wished to enter the royal family, but she was exceptional and made him interested in her.
No women in the world couldn’t be conquered by Shen Zhongbai.
He ordered a servant girl to give him a winter coat and then told the secret guard besides him, “Spread the news that Gu Qiang saved me and I am very grateful.”
The secret guard sighed in relief and went out immediately.
Gu Qiang woke up in the morning in the backyard of Gu Family. After a disturbing night, she felt sore all over, but she still got up. Ye was peevish. If she greeted Ye late in the morning, Ye would get angry.
According to Ye’s personality, she might not lose temper in front of Gu Qiang, but she would probably trip Gu Qiang up secretly.
Ye was drinking on a chair in the yard. The air was fresh in the morning, and plants were wet with dews. She picked up a cake from the table, put it into her mouth elegantly and then wiped her mouth with a handkerchief.
Gu Zhihua sat beside her. After drinking the jujube soup, she turned around to look at her mother.
Of course, Ye felt Gu Zhihua’s eyes and said in a cold voice suddenly, “Do you have any questions?”
Gu Zhihua flushed, lowered her head, and said in a low voice, “Mother, is the rumor true?”
Ye sighed heavily. Before she answered the question, she saw Gu Qiang walking over with a suit of white clothes and straight back.
“Let’s talk about it later!” Ye said coldly. Gu Zhihua curled her lips and turned around to look at Gu Qiang, too.
Gu Qiang approached and saluted Ye gracefully. She looked calm and no emotion could be found on her face.
“Qiang, take it easy. Sit down. Let’s talk.” Ye hid her unhappiness, looked up and gave Gu Qiang a big smile.
Gu Qiang was surprised and rolled her eyes. From Ye’s expression, Gu Qiang knew Ye had an evil thought against her. But Ye was the mistress of Gu Family. Though Gu Qiang was the eldest daughter of Gu Family, she had to show her respect for Ye.
Besides, Now Ye managed Gu Family. Though Gu Qiang felt unfair, she could do nothing. After all, her mother died early.
Therefore, Gu Qiang sat slowly next to Ye and Gu Zhihua. Ye pushed the tea before her to Gu Qiang, smiled kindly and said, “Qiang, this morning I heard that you saved the Third Prince. Is it true?”
Gu Qiang paused her hands instantly. Hearing what Ye said, Gu Zhihua straightened up, but her face stayed calm. Obviously, she was eager to hear Gu Qiang’s explanation. Only half of the night had passed since it happened, but Ye had heard of it. Gu Qiang didn’t believe that no one made trouble.
Gu Qiang was stricken dumb for a second. Then she picked up the cup and said casually, “No, it was only hearsay.”
Gu Qiang felt clearly that Gu Zhihua relaxed like a ball with its gas discharged. Gu Qiang smiled. The girl couldn’t control her anxiety to marry the Third Prince.
Ye coughed lightly. Apparently, she knew it wouldn’t be so simple. But Gu Qiang didn’t confess, and she could do nothing.
“Qiang, you know, the reputation of our Family is quite good in the capital. It owes a great deal to you and your sister. Now, the rumor about you and the Third Prince was spread around the capital. As your mother, I feel ashamed.” Ye said in a soft voice which was like spring water.
Gu Qiang turned around to look at Ye with luminous eyes and no expression. When did Ye begin to care about her?