Hua Jianwei stared at her for a moment before slowly saying, “Qingtong, I heard you accepted gifts from the Rui Prince?”
Gu Qingtong was surprised the news had spread so quickly but laughed indifferently: “So what?”
“Are you refusing me because you’ve found someone better?” Hua Jianwei’s expression was strange as he glared at Gu Qingtong.
“Hah, do you think the Rui Prince would like me?”
Seeing her unconcerned attitude, Hua Jianwei became furious: “The Rui Prince sent you gifts, and you accepted them.”
Although Gu Qingtong had nothing with Yuan Zherui, she didn’t want to explain to Hua Jianwei, so she said casually: “Young Master Hua, we’re not related. Even if something were happening between me and the Rui Prince, I wouldn’t need to explain to you.”
“Not related? We shared a bed for three days,” Hua Jianwei’s face darkened, and he suddenly stepped closer.
Gu Qingtong quickly dodged and ran to the door, wanting to escape, but Hua Jianwei actually lunged and grabbed her waist.
“Qingtong, come with me. My grandmother has agreed to take you as a concubine. I truly like you. Don’t go with the Rui Prince. He’s not a good man!”
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Just as Gu Qingtong was about to say that if the Rui Prince wasn’t a good man, was he any better, her arm hurt as someone pulled her away.
“I’m not a good man?” Yuan Zherui raised his chin and firmly pressed Gu Qingtong into his embrace.
Gu Qingtong tried to break free, but he was too strong, and she couldn’t even lift her head. However, fearing someone might pass by and see her, she didn’t want to cause gossip.
Seeing it was the Rui Prince, Hua Jianwei was stunned: “Your Highness, I didn’t mean…”
“What did you mean?”
“Nothing. I just shared three days of intimacy with Gu Qinniang and heard she received a hairpin from Your Highness, so I was just showing concern.”
“Just a few hairpins, and you go to such lengths to kidnap her and question my character?”
“No, no, Your Highness misunderstood.”
Gu Qingtong listened, and Hua Jinwei, who had just been aggressive, now became a soft-shelled shrimp, unable to help but laugh out loud.
Hua Jinwei heard her laughter and became embarrassed and angry. However, in front of the Rui Wang, he was just a commoner and didn’t dare to act rashly.
“Don’t covet my woman,” Rui Wang stared fixedly at Hua Jinwei.
“This commoner doesn’t dare,” Hua Jinwei finally couldn’t stand it, found a way to retreat, and quickly left Zhiwei Pavilion.
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Yuan Zherui watched Hua Jinwei run away and led Gu Qingtong into another private room, ordering food to be served.
Gu Qingtong didn’t dare to argue with him now. The fact that he had given her a hairpin was already known, and rumors might spread that she was being kept.
“Gu Qingtong, you’re quite capable,” Yuan Zherui drank his wine, his voice cold.
“Your Highness, Qingtong needs to return to Huahaoyueyuan Pavilion soon and won’t disturb the prince,” Gu Qingtong said, preparing to leave.
Yuan Zherui’s voice turned gloomy as he grabbed her wrist: “Am I a flood beast?”
Gu Qingtong hurriedly denied: “Your Highness is elegant and charming. How could you be a flood beast?”
“Then why do you avoid me?”
“Qingtong and Your Highness have different statuses and cannot overstep. I dare not tarnish Your Highness’s reputation.”
“Tarnish my reputation?” Yuan Zherui laughed, “I’m afraid of being tainted by finding a woman?”
Gu Qingtong knew that Rui Wang had no romantic feelings for her, but she couldn’t understand why he was putting on this act.
“I know you mind your status as a trial wife, but as long as you serve me well, changing your status is just a matter of words.”
Gu Qingtong knew very well that getting benefits from Rui Wang would come at a price.
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She took a big step back: “Qingtong likes her current life and doesn’t mind being a trial wife. Your Highness need not trouble himself.”
“I will trouble myself,” Yuan Zherui said, suddenly shouting outside for the shopkeeper to enter.
“Yuan Er, this restaurant is now under Miss Gu’s name, a gift from me,” he stated.
The shopkeeper nodded: “Yes.”
“Remove the signboard tomorrow. From now on, it will be called Qingtong Pavilion.”
“Yes.”
Gu Qingtong watched in shock.
“Gu Qingtong, do you like this gift from me?” Yuan Zherui asked.
Gu Qingtong felt she had nothing worth coveting, but Rui Wang’s intentions were clear – he wanted something from her. But what? She couldn’t figure it out.
“Gu Qingtong, if you like this, I can give you an even bigger gift. But you must also give me something.”
“What?”
Yuan Zherui lifted her wrist: “This white jade bracelet is quite elegant. I want it.”
Gu Qingtong covered it: “This was left to me by my mother. I cannot give it away.”
“I’m exchanging a restaurant for a bracelet. Isn’t that a good deal?”
Gu Qingtong didn’t understand why he first wanted a hairpin and now a bracelet – both items left by her mother.
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But she knew this time, she absolutely couldn’t let him succeed: “Your Highness, it’s not about whether it’s a good deal. This bracelet is my only memento. I cannot lose it.”
“Then I’ll borrow it for a few days and return it.”
Gu Qingtong thought that if he wanted the bracelet, it would be like robbery, and she couldn’t resist. But he was acting like it was an “equivalent exchange.” She couldn’t fathom his intentions.
Yuan Zherui saw her silence and slowly began to pry her fingers open. Gu Qingtong couldn’t resist him, but her fingers still stubbornly refused to let go.
“Gu Qingtong!”
“Young Master Jiang?” Gu Qingtong didn’t expect him to be here too. The door was open, and he walked straight in. She was distracted, and her hand loosened, allowing the bracelet to fall into Yuan Zherui’s hand.
Jiang Shangheng saw they were in a confrontation and immediately pulled Gu Qingtong behind him, noticing her reddened wrist and the bracelet forcibly taken.
“Gu Qingtong, you’re truly something. Not done causing trouble with me, you’ve already flirted with Hua Jinwei, and now you’re entangled with Young Master Jiang.”
Jiang Shangheng, seeing Gu Qingtong seemed a bit scared, pulled her to the doorway: “Your Highness, Gu Qingtong is my fiancée. Please do not slander her.”
“Fiancée?”
“Yes, we are betrothed from birth!”
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Gu Qingtong never expected Jiang Shangheng to reveal this secret. Originally, only a few people knew about it, but now everyone in Zhiwei Pavilion knew, and people were already whispering and pointing.
“Betrothed from birth?” Yuan Zherui narrowed his eyes and strode forward. Gu Qingtong felt that Jiang Shangheng was overshadowed by Yuan Zherui’s imposing presence.
Jiang Shangheng had a preliminary plan. The engagement must be made public, otherwise his mother would never agree. However, Rui Wang’s tone and demeanor were yet to be determined.
Gu Qingtong could answer yes or no, but facing the Prince of Rui, she became hesitant. If she admitted it, she didn’t know if the prince would let her go, but she had already responded to the Jiang family, which was clearly going back on her word. If she denied it, the Prince of Rui would surely continue to pester her.
Yuan Zherui laughed at Gu Qingtong’s conflicted expression, patting Jiang Shangheng’s shoulder: “Shangheng, you want to save the beauty, but the beauty doesn’t appreciate it.”
Jiang Shangheng could guess Gu Qingtong’s concerns and sighed: “Qingqing, you can vent any dissatisfaction to me, but don’t joke about the parents’ arrangement.”
