Chapter 15: Against the Rules

The person speaking met her gaze, words stuck in their mouth, staring at her blankly with an open mouth, like a suddenly frozen robot.

She had thought it would be some heavenly man discussing how to please someone and vie for favor, but it turned out to be just an utterly ordinary, sleazy man she wouldn’t bother to look at twice in a crowd.

Zhu Wansheng gave a cold laugh, “I see you two are quite interested in my affairs. Don’t talk behind my back.” She lightly tapped the table. “Come, there’s still a seat here. Sit in front of me and speak. If I’m satisfied with what I hear, I’ll cover your drinks for tonight.”

The person’s face instantly turned red, stammering: “I didn’t say anything about you…”

“Is there a second legitimate daughter of the Zhu family?” She emphasized ‘legitimate daughter’ heavily, her voice not loud but chilling.

The person’s face turned from red to white, their hand holding the wine bottle starting to tremble slightly. “Great Zhu, please be merciful and forgive us this once. We won’t dare to do it again in the future.”

Zhu Wansheng snorted, “Since you two know me so well, you should also know I’m not a generous person. Forgiveness? Impossible.”

The two trembled, looking at each other, not daring to speak.

Zhu Wansheng gave them a cold look and continued: “Where there’s one, there’s bound to be two. Those words just now were truly unpleasant to hear. Whoever said them, come over and apologize to Master Gu. Then we can put this matter to rest. Otherwise, I happen to be free tonight and particularly want to find some entertainment. I think you two would do nicely. If you don’t apologize, none of us will be leaving this shop standing upright.”

Gu Yingqing was stunned, looking at Zhu Wansheng with a complex expression.

The two hesitated, exchanging glances. Zhu Wansheng’s finger tapped the chair rhythmically, her face emotionless yet terrifying.

A woman drinking at the next table put down her wine. Her hand resting on her knee swayed in the air, making a metallic clinking sound. Her eyes shone, lips curled up as she said softly: “Interesting.”

Moments later, more and more people around were looking over.

Zhu Wansheng remained calm, sitting there as if in meditation, staring intently at the two.

The person felt unnerved by her gaze. Recalling the various deeds of this Zhu family’s legitimate daughter in the past, they became even more afraid. Slowly standing up, they went to Gu Yingqing’s side, hands down, and said in a low voice: “Master Gu, I was blind and offended you. I’m sorry.”

Zhu Wansheng clicked her tongue, startling the person who was nearly in tears from anxiety.

She raised her finger slightly, using her index finger to lightly tap her ear. “Am I deaf? Did someone just speak or was that a mosquito buzzing?”

The person was on the verge of kneeling, their voice trembling as they repeated loudly once more.

More and more gazes turned their way from the surroundings.

Gu Yingqing smiled, amused by Zhu Wansheng’s little tyrant act.

Not wanting to be the center of attention, he waved his hand at the nearly crying person.

Seeing he was somewhat satisfied, Zhu Wansheng nodded.

The person, as if released from prison, anxiously ran away. Not daring to sit behind them anymore, they grabbed their wine jug and scurried far away to sit.

Zhu Wansheng put the previously rolled noodle ball into her mouth. Having waited too long, the noodles had become somewhat sticky, tasteless. She lowered her head and finished it in a few bites.

Gu Yingqing, however, couldn’t eat anymore. He stirred the noodles with his chopsticks, the red soup swirling with the chopsticks’ movement.

He occasionally glanced up at Zhu Wansheng secretly, doubting if he was dreaming.

After eating and drinking their fill, Zhu Wansheng habitually reached for some tissues to wipe her mouth. Her hand grasped at empty air, so she had to use a handkerchief: she really wasn’t used to dirtying such a beautiful and delicate handkerchief.

Though Lanfan didn’t require her to wash it and always had new ones ready, she still felt somewhat distressed.

Noticing the person across stirring the noodles without eating, Zhu Wansheng asked in surprise: “You’re not eating anymore?” The bowl was only half-finished. Strange, this figure actually ate less than her.

Gu Yingqing nodded, “Let’s go back.”

After paying the bill, as soon as they opened the restaurant door, a cold gust hit their faces. The rain, far from lessening, had grown heavier, with rolling thunder one wave after another. Gu Yingqing opened an umbrella, still walking one step behind her, holding the umbrella straight over her.

“Come up and walk beside me,” Zhu Wansheng stopped, waiting for him.

But when she stopped, he stopped too.

Only his hand holding the umbrella remained extended forward, ensuring Zhu Wansheng wouldn’t be caught in the rain.

He said, “It’s against the rules.”

Zhu Wansheng shrugged, not forcing the issue. Not just Gu Yingqing, but Lanfan and Xiaosuda too, often strictly adhered to rules. Forcing them to change would only make them uncomfortable.

After boarding the carriage, Gu Yingqing lightly flicked off the water droplets from his body. Once the carriage set off into the night, he finally spoke: “Why did you stand up for me earlier?”

Given Zhu Wansheng’s personality, it would have been more in line with reason for her to join those two in criticizing him.

The carriage swayed up and down, and it was a long while before Zhu Wansheng responded: “Rumors stop with the wise. Those people seek momentary pleasure, exaggerating things they don’t understand at all. If I hadn’t stopped them, who knows how they would have embellished those non-existent matters after leaving the restaurant.”

“I could have ignored it. Rumors are useless against me. But not everyone has thick skin like me. Some people are thin-skinned and will care about those unpleasant words.” At this point, her voice began to tremble slightly. She bit her lower lip, tilting her head up slightly.

Gu Yingqing’s heart quivered.

Zhu Wansheng cleared her throat, composing herself, then continued: “Those rumor-mongers don’t consider how troubled the lives of those caught in rumors become, and if they can’t get out of it, no one will help them, understand them, or speak up for them empathetically.”

Even just remembering, her heart still ached. Those scars she thought she had forgotten were just hidden in a corner, unexpectedly touched one day, still causing pain.

Zhu Wansheng glanced away, “One of my senior sisters died because of rumors. Even if those two people tonight had power and influence, even if it meant dragging myself down, I would still have done it.”

That senior sister who was gentle, hardworking, and lovely, died from depression because of those ridiculous rumors.

Such a lovely girl, because of those people’s groundless accusations and one-sided words, sank into a quagmire. She left, while those despicable people are still alive, completely unaffected and without any sense of guilt.

“Are you alright?” He raised his hand, stopping abruptly when it was just a centimeter from her shoulder, then withdrew it. The corners of her eyes were red, wanting to cry but suppressing it repeatedly, stubbornly holding back her sadness. This fragile yet stubborn appearance inexplicably stirred something in his heart.

She turned to look at him, their eyes meeting. It was the first time she saw emotion in his eyes.

It was also the first time she heard… him use such a gentle tone…

She forced a smile, “It’s nothing, it’s all from a very, very long time ago…”

***

As midnight approached, the two finally returned to the Zhu residence. Once again, it was pitch dark. The directionally-challenged Zhu Wansheng awkwardly stopped after entering the main gate of the Zhu residence, coughing lightly twice.

Gu Yingqing was initially confused, but after realizing, he smiled and voluntarily walked half a step in front of her.

Usually quite imposing, but afraid of ghosts in the dark, how curious.

Zhu Wansheng teased him, “Not following the rules now?”

Gu Yingqing looked at her twice, lifting his leg as if to walk behind her. Zhu Wansheng instantly surrendered, “I spoke out of turn, please continue. Don’t follow this rule by any means…”

She really had a loose tongue, why provoke him…

While Zhu Wansheng was still wracking her brain to remember this winding bluestone path, suddenly her mind went “buzz,” and she bumped into a solid, muscular back that formed a wall.

“Why did you stop walking?” she asked, rubbing her head.

Gu Yingqing made a shushing gesture. His expression was quite serious, making Zhu Wansheng’s hair stand on end.

Gu Yingqing lowered his voice and said, “Someone is watching us. Don’t turn around, just keep walking slowly with me.”

The image of the person who entered her room that night instantly appeared in her mind. Now her heart was in her throat. Focusing to listen, she could only hear the pitter-patter of rain, occasional thunder, and the rustling of bamboo in the wind.

Human voices? She couldn’t hear any…

Zhu Wansheng mechanically followed him, her palms sweating lightly.

“Where? I can’t sense anything?”

“In the bamboo grove.”

The bamboo grove was right beside her, a mass of darkness. If the person suddenly rushed out, would she still be able to throw aluminum powder to save herself? Would there be enough time?

And if the other person had a knife or sword, she would certainly be powerless to resist.

Would she fall into a pool of blood in an instant…

Never to wake up again…

Gu Yingqing seemed to have guessed her thoughts. He switched positions with her and leaned slightly towards her ear, “It’s alright. There’s only one person. If they really want to make a move, I might not necessarily lose.”

Remembering that he was trained, and that there were two of them, worst case she could ask the system for some sulfuric acid or something, they probably wouldn’t die too quickly.

Zhu Wansheng breathed a sigh of relief, though her eyes still occasionally glanced towards the bamboo grove. Why couldn’t she hear or see anything?

***

After bathing, Zhu Chidi hadn’t gone to sleep yet. Fentai knelt beside her, massaging her thighs. Both were looking out the half-open window.

It had been raining all day, and those two had been out for an entire day as well. Hopefully, they would bring back good news.

When footsteps were heard, Zhu Chidi withdrew her leg and gestured for Fentai to retreat.

Yingshi bowed first, then began reporting with an expressionless face.

Zhu Chidi nodded with satisfaction, her smile deepening. “Is that really what was said?” Yingshi affirmed, “This servant followed the whole way, naturally wouldn’t see or hear wrongly.” Zhu Chidi asked further, “Did they return together? And after returning? Did they part ways? What was Wansheng’s expression?” Yingshi recalled for a moment, “They returned to the Zhu residence together. After entering the main gate, I didn’t follow further, but the young mistress seemed happy.” “Very good.”

Previously, she had been too indulgent with the two, allowing that musician to take advantage of the situation. Now she knew, without some pressure, those two would only drift further apart.

With Ji Shubai’s background and status, if Wansheng wanted to play around, she wouldn’t care or interfere. But Wansheng kept making a fuss about breaking her grandmother’s promise, wanting to divorce Gu Yingqing and marry that person instead.

She would never agree to that. A mere plaything, going to great lengths, wanting to defy fate, it was preposterous.