Chapter 720: I Take It Myself
Chapter 720: Chapter 720: I Take It Myself
In Wutong Garden, the lanterns were brightly lit.
Yuan’er leaned on the shoulder of Marquis Gu, her jet-black hair cascaded like a waterfall, gleaming and tantalizing, resembling fine black satin that one would be tempted to touch.
"Did you tell him where?" Yuan’er asked with a smile.
Marquis Gu extended his hand for her to see: "And you talk of karma to someone like me? I never believed in it. If there were karma, how did my father and brother end up like this? And why did the Former Crown Prince, a near-divine figure, meet such an end?
As I see it, if the heavens won’t grant it, I will take it myself."
A thin layer of callus covered his palm and fingers, his thumb strong, four fingers slender, and the lines in his palm were clear and profound.
This hand’s owner indeed has the means to say and do such things.
Yuan’er asked: "Then tell me, what kind of retribution do you desire?"
Marquis Gu’s lips slightly pursed, a kind of indescribable desolation on his cold and proud face.
He released his tight hold around Yuan’er’s waist, got up, and walked to the window. Outside, the autumn insects tirelessly sang with all their might, seemingly aware that the fated cold winter was not far off.
Staring at the shadows beyond where the lamplight couldn’t reach, Marquis Gu finally asked the question: "Yuan’er, you are the wisest, what do you think?"
Yuan’er laughed: "I’m not your husband, how would I know what fits your mind? But I’ve heard Mencius say, kill one’s father, others will kill your father; kill one’s brother, others will kill your brother. But it’s not oneself who does the killing, just hearsay."
Marquis Gu trembled.
Yes, kill my father, and I will also kill his father. Kill my brother, and I will also kill his brother. Even though it wasn’t he who killed my father and brother, it is as if he did.
Yuan’er continued: "If two armies confront each other, and a father or brother dies on the battlefield, everyone serves their own lord. You drove the Yelv family out of the Northern Border and brought back the hostage, which is indeed a great vendetta avenged."
Marquis Gu did not turn around.
His body became more rigid, back straight, hands gripping the window rail tightly, forcing words through clenched teeth: "What if otherwise?"
Though having speculated before, Yuan’er froze, unable to speak.
Marquis Gu waited and waited without hearing his young wife speak, sighed, lifted the curtain, and strode out.
Awakening from her daze, Yuan’er hurriedly got up, shouting: "Don’t go, husband, don’t go."
Marquis Gu’s voice came through the window, low and deep: "Do you know what you’re saying?"
"I know!" Yuan’er replied frantically: "Husband need not doubt me, what I said before is the same as now."
As soon as she finished speaking, there was a "bang" sound, it turned out Marquis Gu came back through the half-open window, breaking half of the window rail in the process.
The loud noise startled the little maids standing in the corridor, who screamed out in shock.
But the couple acted as if they hadn’t heard, hugging each other tightly.
Gu Baoshu happened to stroll over, saw them from afar, and exclaimed in surprise: "Oh my, what’s going on? All huddled together, where’s my third brother and sister-in-law?"
Saying that she was about to rush inside.
Xiao Hong hurriedly stepped forward a few steps, embracing Gu Baoshu’s leg, looking up earnestly: "This, um, this, the Marquis suddenly wanted to catch a bug for the madam to see and accidentally broke the window rail."
"...Right, right," everyone hurriedly nodded: "That’s exactly it."
"Really?" Gu Baoshu looked dubious, hands behind her back: "With my third brother’s martial arts, could he break a window rail just to catch a bug? Is he seriously injured for it to be so? You’d better let me through, don’t block the way, let me in to take a look."
Xiao Hong’s mouth gaped: "Ah?!"
Everyone: "..."
Fortunately, Marquis Gu finally spoke: "It’s so late, my wife and I are about to rest, why have you come now?"
Gu Baoshu gave a few sycophantic laughs: "Of course, I have major matters to find third brother."
Qin Yuan pushed Marquis Gu lightly, extricating herself from his embrace with a smile: "Your third brother is just teasing; come in quickly."
Gu Baoshu hurriedly hopped in three steps at a time.
As soon as she entered, she said: "Third brother, you’ve returned. I plan to leave tomorrow, you promised to give me Sixteen, you need to keep your word."
Qin Yuan was shocked: "Why so soon?"
Gu Baoshu replied: "Third sister-in-law, did you forget what you arranged for me? Once the Ninth Princess realizes, it will be too late for me to leave."
Marquis Gu glanced at Qin Yuan.
Qin Yuan was perplexed: "I... I arranged for you... Oh, right, the Ninth Princess and that bandit... What exactly did you do?"
Gu Baoshu looked aggrieved.
"Didn’t third sister-in-law want me to thread the needle, facilitate the good marriage between the Ninth Princess and Brother Ximen? Naturally, I did all I could to get them together."
"Did all you could?"
Qin Yuan, her head a muddle, struggled to understand these words.
Gu Baoshu puffed up her little chest: "I had the fortune not to dishonor the mission. The Ninth Princess and Brother Ximen both got the Love Package prepared by Xiao Dong. We even made Brother Ximen feint, helping take him to the Princess’s Mansion."
Brother Ximen, handsome and charming, with the Ninth Princess infatuated with his romantic prowess, naturally, it was like dry firewood meeting an intense flame. After consummating the good deed, they surely would be inseparable.
That’s how the storybooks tell it.
Weren’t third brother and third sister-in-law the same?
Luckily, third sister-in-law isn’t that Daji, nor is third brother that King Zhou, otherwise Gu Baoshu would fear ending up like Bi Gan.
Qin Yuan looked at Gu Baoshu, utterly incredulous.
Marquis Gu sighed: "Gu Baoshu, oh Gu Baoshu, you are quite something."
"Of course!" Gu Baoshu couldn’t discern praise from reproach, as long as she was complimented, she was content, immediately bragging: "I have always acted like this, it’s not much, just being bold in thought and action.’
Third brother, you must keep your word, give me Sixteen."
Marquis Gu sneered: "What else did you do besides this? Speak truthfully now?"
Qin Yuan added: "Even if the Ninth Princess knows, she’d just think you’re catering to her; what else did you do to suddenly need to run away?"
"...This...this..." Gu Baoshu couldn’t answer.
Marquis Gu said: "What other outrageous tricks have you been up to? I suggest you’d better lay it all out. Don’t let it end with the whole family cleaning up after you."
Gu Baoshu’s eyes rolled back and forth but refused to speak the truth.
"In that case, stay put, wait for mother to allow you to leave before leaving."
Gu Baoshu looked helpless.
"Third brother, I beg you, let me leave quickly. Third sister-in-law initially said there would be a Mid-Autumn Festival banquet today for our family and Sister-in-law Cheng’s family, along with Mr. Songshan to enjoy together. But you’ve been busy catching bandits, let alone examining Mrs. Zhao and Monk Zhiguang; I was supposed to leave after the Mid-Autumn Festival. If it drags on, when will I ever leave the Capital City to the White Crane Academy?"
Marquis Gu simply refused.