Chapter 85: Pursuing Her Husband Across a Thousand Miles

After Gu Qingyang and Bairou stepped out of the gates, the smile on Bairou’s face vanished. The wounded look she had seen on Gu Qinghan’s face moments ago had pained her deeply.

Quietly, Bairou said to Gu Qingyang, “Young Master Qingyang, perhaps we should stop pretending. He seemed so heartbroken just now.”

Gu Qingyang cast a helpless glance at Princess Bairou. “Your Highness, are you soft-hearted already? It’s clearly my elder brother’s own fault—what does it matter what status the person you love holds? But the moment he learned you were a princess, he began to shrink back. If he isn’t taught a lesson this time, he’ll retreat again next time.”

“But he…”

“No more buts. Let’s just do as Yanzhi arranged. She’s trying to help you and my brother. Think about it—she’s with child now, yet she’s gone to all this trouble to set up this little play for you two star-crossed lovers. If you don’t cooperate, all her efforts will be in vain.” Gu Qingyang’s tone was patient, even quoting some of the words his little sister had used to persuade him.

“Alright then. Let’s follow Yan’er’s plan.” Bairou nodded. Gu Qingyang was right; this time, she must make Gu Qinghan face his true feelings.

So the two of them really did as Zhanyan had planned and went out to Sunset Lake near Wenyang Town for a leisurely trip. However, they hadn’t gone far before Gu Qingyang sensed someone following them. At first, he thought it was his brother, but after observing for a while, he realized it wasn’t. If his brother had chosen to follow, he would have concealed himself much better. And judging by the person’s movements, they didn’t know martial arts at all. Gu Qingyang frowned—what was going on? Who would send someone without martial skill to follow them?

Feigning ignorance, Gu Qingyang continued walking toward Sunset Lake. All the while, he was attentive and considerate toward Bairou, finding topics to chat about and sharing many entertaining tales from his travels. Bairou listened with great interest, often smiling at the amusing parts. The two of them walking together made a striking couple, handsome and beautiful, perfectly matched. To any onlooker, they seemed like a pair of deeply affectionate newlyweds. If Gu Qinghan saw them, he would surely be overcome with jealousy. Gu Qingyang was, after all, a charming and elegant gentleman—if Bairou’s heart weren’t already taken, she might well have been captivated by him.

They spent a long time chatting by the lakeside before finally heading back. Gu Qingyang kept a watchful eye on their pursuer, who never left but kept a distance of ten or so paces behind them. He began to wonder if the fellow was also out for a lakeside stroll.

When they returned to the Gu family residence, their pursuer arrived as well, hiding in a corner. Finally, Gu Qingyang’s patience was exhausted. He called out loudly, his voice losing its usual mildness and becoming much deeper, “Who are you, and why have you been following us?”

Startled, the person turned and ran. But Gu Qingyang was ready—he had allowed the person to follow them home precisely so he could capture and interrogate them. With a light leap, he landed in front of the man, swiftly seized him, and lifted him up. The man was surprisingly petite, but Gu Qingyang didn’t dwell on it. He dragged the man inside, Bairou looking utterly bewildered. She hadn’t noticed they were being followed—perhaps she had been too preoccupied with her own thoughts. Seeing Gu Qingyang enter, she hurried after him to see what was going on.

Steward Yang rushed in to report as soon as he saw Gu Qingyang bringing someone in. Gu Qingyang marched straight into the main hall and unceremoniously dropped the man, who yelped in pain as he landed.

Gu Qingyang glared fiercely at the small man before him. “Speak—who are you, and why have you been following us?”

The man, confronted by Gu Qingyang’s questioning, didn’t answer. Instead, he burst into tears.

“Hey, I’m talking to you! Why are you crying? Aren’t you ashamed, a grown man crying like this?” Gu Qingyang was at a loss. The person, though small, was dressed in men’s clothes—surely a man. He had never seen a man cry so easily before.

Hearing the commotion, everyone in the house came to see what was happening. Several of the elders arrived as well, and Steward Yang informed Zhongli Yu and Zhanyan, who both hurried over. Gu Qinghan was there too, and the first thing he heard was Gu Qingyang’s impatient shout.

The petite man kept crying without pause, leaving everyone baffled. Only Zhanyan, ever observant, noticed something odd in the crying voice—it sounded like a woman. And since this person had followed Gu Qingyang here, it seemed there was some drama to unfold.

At last, the “man” stopped crying and looked at Gu Qingyang with a face full of grievance. Between sobs, the person said, “Gu Qingyang, you heartless man! I’ve come all this way to find you, and you treat me like a chicken, grabbing me and throwing me to the ground. How could you?”

“What? You came all this way to find me? Who are you? Do I know you?” Gu Qingyang was baffled. The person seemed familiar, but he couldn’t quite place them.

Hearing this, the man wanted to cry again.

“Hey, don’t start crying again! Just tell me clearly who you are.” Gu Qingyang was starting to get a headache—when had he ever known such a weepy man?

“Isn’t this Lin’er? Lin’er, why are you here?” Gu Qinghan, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. His junior brother was truly hopeless—he’d attracted a girl who had tracked him all this way, yet he didn’t even recognize her.

“Brother Qinghan, wuwu, Gu Qingyang is too much. No wonder he didn’t want to elope with me—he already has someone else in his heart. Why didn’t he tell me before that he had such a beautiful beloved?” Lin’er, seeing Gu Qinghan recognize her, turned to him with a look of injustice. After all, apart from Gu Qingyang, the only person she knew here was Gu Qinghan.

“Lin…Lin’er, what are you doing here?” Gu Qingyang finally realized—so it was Lin’er! No wonder he hadn’t recognized her, dressed as a man and all. He couldn’t be blamed for not realizing.

Lin’er gazed at Gu Qingyang with a face full of grievance. “My father wants me to marry the local magistrate’s son. I refused, so I ran away to find you.” The thought of marrying that lecherous son made her scalp crawl; she found him repulsive and couldn’t possibly marry him.

“Jiangnan is a thousand miles from here. How did you find your way?” Gu Qingyang looked at her dirty little face, noticing she had grown thinner and darker since he’d last seen her a year ago. He felt a pang of pity.

“I remembered you once said you lived not far from the capital, so I searched every town nearby for a family named Gu. Today, when I came to this little town, I saw you walking with that beautiful girl.” Lin’er’s voice grew softer as she spoke. She had been heartbroken to find him already accompanied by someone else. She had only wanted to see him a few more times before leaving quietly, but he had discovered her.

“No, Lin’er, listen. It’s not what you think between me and this young lady.” Gu Qingyang didn’t know why he felt the need to explain, but seeing her so upset, he couldn’t help wanting to comfort her—perhaps because she had come so far to find him.

“What did you say, Gu Qingyang?” Gu Qinghan’s voice was cold and heavy. His younger brother was truly infuriating—entangling Bairou, and now, upon seeing Lin’er, trying to distance himself from Bairou. Gu Qinghan was filled with rage.

“Brother, it’s not what you think. Listen, I—” Before he could finish, Gu Qinghan punched him, leaving a bruise on his forehead. Everyone was stunned—no one expected the usually composed Gu Qinghan to act so impulsively. Gu Qingyang, angered in turn, swung back, his fist meeting Gu Qinghan’s handsome face. And so the two brothers began trading blows, neither giving way, both using only their fists and feet, not their inner strength. In no time, both of them were sporting bruises and cuts.

Gu Yan didn’t seem surprised, letting them fight it out. Zhanyan watched with evident amusement, thinking that it was a bountiful year for romance in the Gu family. If they wanted to fight, let them—she was happy to watch. Zhongli Yu wore the same expression, as though watching a play.

The others, too, seemed entertained, except for Bairou and Lin’er, who were both anxious and distressed at seeing their beloveds get hurt.

“Stop fighting, both of you!” the two girls cried in unison.

But the brothers, caught up in their brawl, paid no heed and continued to exchange blows.

Unable to bear it any longer, Bairou looked pleadingly at Zhanyan. “Yan’er, please stop them. If they keep this up, they’ll get hurt.”

Yan’er replied innocently, “Bairou, I’m with child now. It’s not convenient for me to intervene physically.”

Bairou considered this—she was right. If anything happened to the baby, it would be a disaster. She didn’t know the others well enough to ask for their help, so, steeling herself, she strode forward. Seizing a gap in Gu Qinghan’s movements, she threw her arms around him, exclaiming urgently, “Young Master Gu, please stop!”

Gu Qinghan tried to break free, but seeing Bairou clinging to him so tightly, he was afraid to use force and hurt her. He said, frustrated, “So you care for him that much? Afraid I’ll hurt him?”

“I’m worried about you,” Bairou blurted out without a second thought.

At once, the room fell silent. Gu Qingyang had already stopped fighting the moment Bairou embraced Gu Qinghan, his anger spent after their scuffle.

Gu Qinghan, immobilized by Bairou’s embrace, was stunned by her words. His face betrayed a host of emotions as he stared at her, bewildered. Wasn’t Bairou in love with Qingyang? Why did she care about him instead?

“You… you’re worried about me?” Gu Qinghan stammered.

“Yes, I’m worried about you.”

“What about Qingyang?”

“Qingyang? Why should I worry about him?”

“Don’t you like him?”

“The one I love is you.”

This time, Gu Qinghan was completely stunned. Only he could feel how wildly his heart was pounding—he could scarcely believe it was real. Happiness threatened to overwhelm him, but he didn’t let it cloud his mind. After a moment’s thought, he muttered a curse under his breath. Damn it, he’d been played. Normally quick-witted, he only now realized what had happened. Seeing everyone around him grinning as though watching a farce, his face darkened. Scooping Bairou into his arms, he vaulted over the wall and disappeared from the Gu family estate.

As everyone watched Gu Qinghan vanish, they finally burst out laughing. Gu Yan was the first to look at Zhanyan with great interest. “Yan girl, it seems I’ve missed some marvelous scene. Hurry up and tell Grandpa what happened.”

“It’s just as you saw. You’re about to have a granddaughter-in-law, that’s all,” Zhanyan replied cheerfully.

“Hm, but how did those two end up fighting? You must tell me, or I won’t be able to sleep tonight.” Gu Yan was relentless, insisting Zhanyan recount the whole story. The others listened eagerly.

Zhanyan had no choice but to explain how she had arranged for Gu Qingyang and Bairou to put on an act. The elders, all over fifty, burst out laughing.

Gu Yan laughed for a long while, pointing at Zhanyan. “You little rascal, with such a cunning mind. Be careful, Han boy might come back and settle the score with you.”

“Grandpa, how am I the bad one? I was thinking of my brother’s happiness, working hard for him, and you call me bad?” Zhanyan protested. It wasn’t easy being a matchmaker.

“Well, you have a point. But whether Han boy is grateful or not, I can’t say. If he comes after you, you’d better not complain,” Gu Yan said gleefully.

“I’m not worried. I have my husband to protect me, don’t I?” Zhanyan glanced sweetly at Zhongli Yu.

Zhongli Yu tapped her nose indulgently. “You little mischief.” His heart was full of joy at her words.

After a round of laughter, everyone remembered there was still an unresolved matter—this young woman named Lin’er, who had come all the way from Jiangnan to find Qingyang. What was her story?

Lin’er had already helped Gu Qingyang to a chair and was gently tending his wounds, muttering, “If you’re going to act, act. Why did you have to fight with Brother Qinghan? Look at you, all battered—doesn’t it hurt?”

With a grand flourish, Gu Qingyang declared, “It’s nothing. It’s been a long time since I fought my brother. This was a satisfying match.”

Lin’er became anxious. “Don’t move about! Look, your wound’s opened up.”

Zhanyan, smiling, walked over to Lin’er and said kindly, “Don’t worry about him, Lin’er. He’s tough—the injuries won’t kill him. We’ll just have Physician Meng apply some medicine.”

Lin’er looked up at Zhanyan and was stunned. How could there be such a beautiful woman in the world? Dressed in a pure white strapless silk gown, her figure was graceful, her brows like ink paintings, the ends raised just enough to give her a lively air. Her eyes were like sparkling peach blossoms, expressive and lovely; her clear gaze held both wisdom and mischief. Her nose was delicate and straight, and her rosy lips looked like luscious strawberries, tempting one to take a bite. Her skin was as milky and smooth as cream, with a faint glow of elegance about her, making her appear noble and extraordinary. At this moment, she wore a gentle, friendly smile.

Lin’er suddenly felt nervous. The girl with Gu Qingyang earlier had already been beautiful enough; now, another had appeared, even more radiant. Compared to them, Lin’er felt as insignificant as a speck of dust. Her heart sank—she realized she had no strength left to fight. Faced with the girl Gu Qinghan had taken away, she could feel jealousy and even dislike, but toward the gentle, smiling woman before her, she simply couldn’t muster any resentment. She slumped into a chair, silent and dejected.

Lin’er was a simple soul, and her expressions revealed her every thought. Zhanyan could easily guess what was going through her mind and couldn’t help but find her adorable. Such courage—to travel a thousand miles in pursuit of love, to defy her parents’ arranged marriage for a man who had made her no promise, whose whereabouts were unknown. Zhanyan admired her, and no matter what her second brother decided, she intended to make Lin’er her friend.

Her voice even softer, Zhanyan said, “Lin’er, my name is Zhanyan. I’m Gu Qingyang’s younger sister. You must be tired after your journey. I’ve had hot water prepared for you. Why not wash and change your clothes first?”

Lin’er was surprised. “You’re Gu Qingyang’s sister?” She felt foolish for not having asked before and just assuming the girl was interested in Gu Qingyang.

Overjoyed, she said, “You’re really his sister?”

Zhanyan smiled and nodded, not missing the delight on Lin’er’s face.

Lin’er, a little shy, said, “Hello, my name is Jiang Lin’er. I’m from Jiangnan.”

“Yes, my brother has mentioned you.”

“Really? He really talked about me?” Lin’er asked excitedly. She was so innocent—her thoughts were all written on her face, and her mouth, too, couldn’t keep a secret.

“He did. He even told me how you met,” Zhanyan replied with a smile.

“Ahem, little sister, must you embarrass me here?” Gu Qingyang coughed, glancing at Zhanyan. “I’ll handle things with Lin’er myself.” He was warning her not to meddle too much—after what she’d done with his elder brother, he’d had enough of his little sister’s schemes. He didn’t want her coming up with plans regarding him and Lin’er as well.