“I know you may still have some grudge against me, but what happened was your own doing. Luo Xue is my disciple, and she’s young. Please don’t deceive her because of me,” Gu Qingtong said, suppressing her anger.
Yun Lushi let out a cold laugh: “Gu Qingniang, you’re thinking too highly of yourself. I, towards you, no longer have any feelings. As for Luo Xue, I find her interesting.”
Hearing his sarcastic tone, Gu Qingtong looked around, wanting to throw something at him, but ultimately restrained herself and pointed to the door: “Get out!”
Yun Lushi laughed even more brazenly and strode away, but hearing Gu Qingtong’s low angry outburst behind him, he gripped his fist tighter in his sleeve.
Lü Guo had already guessed what had happened and brought a bowl of lotus seed soup.
Gu Qingtong angrily drank it and then threw the bowl aside.
She still wanted to start with Luo Xue, thinking of letting her cool down for a few days to diminish her thoughts.
Lü Guo secretly observed her expression and pursed her lips.
Gu Qingtong was about to ask her something when she saw her like this and frowned: “Lü Guo, what’s wrong?”
“Miss, I’m telling you, don’t blame me for being nosy,” Lü Guo said with a strange look, lowering her voice.
“Just say it.”
“The two young ladies of the Leng family, though young, are not easy to deal with. The eldest is superficially obedient and charming, but she has many tricks up her sleeve. As for the second young lady, she’s even more calculating. Miss, you must be careful.”
Gu Qingtong thought about it and felt it seemed true, but was surprised to see this usually taciturn maid: “Why didn’t you say this before?”
“Before, I saw that miss was bewitched by the eldest young lady and might not listen to me, so I held back. Now that miss has seen the eldest young lady’s absurdity and the second young lady’s scheming, I finally dared to speak.”
“Mm.” Gu Qingtong nodded. However, although Lü Guo was her maid, she always felt her heart was not with her, and usually just maintained a nominal master-servant relationship. But now that she warned her about the two young girls, she suddenly became wary of Lü Guo.
The people around her all had their own thoughts. And she had just begun to understand this environment.
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While she wouldn’t make mistakes again, Gu Qingtong felt constrained, as if she were in shackles. Pressing her forehead, she felt truly frustrated.
“Miss?” While Gu Qingtong was thinking about finding something to calm her nerves, Lüguo brought in a bowl of crushed ice.
“Where did this crushed ice come from?” Gu Qingtong picked up a piece and put it in her mouth, instantly feeling cool.
“Because Liang Qingniang is afraid of heat, the master ordered the steward to bring a bucket of ice blocks. The steward cares for the young miss, so he had me bring some over.”
“Hmm, is this from last winter?”
“Yes, it was originally well water, frozen into ice blocks in wooden barrels during winter, and stored in the ice cellar. When summer comes, it’s taken out, clean and refreshing,” Lüguo smiled. “But the ice melts quickly, so the young miss should eat it quickly.”
“Hmm, but it doesn’t taste good. Go get some honey.”
“Certainly.”
In the afternoon, Gu Qingtong stirred the bowl of ice, sitting bored inside the room, avoiding getting involved in Liang Luoxian’s affairs.
At night, when it became quiet, she quietly went out, sending Lüguo away to stroll along the corridor.
“Cloud Lang…”
“Liang Qingniang, don’t call me that.”
Gu Qingtong was startled, wondering when the cloud musician had gotten involved with Liang Luoxian again. She found a cluster of gardenia flowers and hid behind them to watch.
plaintext Liang Luoxian was dressed in a red dress, without any maids around, clutching the cloud musician’s sleeve: “Cloud Lang, you can’t do this.”
“Liang Qingniang, I’ve always respected every qingniang in the Flower and Moon Pavilion, treating them like respected young ladies. But you’ve degraded yourself and lied to me. I don’t blame you, so what else do you want?”
“Cloud Lang, I truly love you, have always loved you. You don’t know, I even have your child.” Liang Luoxian was crying.
“You, what are you saying?” The cloud musician’s face was full of shock, looking at her in disbelief.
“It’s fine, I’m already pregnant with your child. I know we can’t be together, so I’ll frame the master. I just want to give our child a good future.”
The cloud musician had no feelings for Liang Luoxian, and even less for this sudden child. He shook off her hand, speaking incoherently: “You, you, you’ve already decided what to do, so why are you telling me?”
“I’m leaving tomorrow, and this child will call someone else father. Aren’t you heartbroken?”
“This, what child? It’s entirely your own fault. What does it have to do with me? Don’t drag me into this.”
“Cloud Lang, I love you so much. Can’t you be a little kinder to me? I’m telling you before I leave, just to let you know that a woman once loved you completely, was dead set on loving you.”
“I don’t know when I ever provoked you, but from tomorrow, you’ll be the master’s woman.”
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“Be careful not to let anyone hear, or it’ll harm me instead.”
Liang Luoxian wouldn’t let go of his sleeve, so the cloud musician kept stepping back. They were now closer to Gu Qingtong, who had to crouch down and hide in the bushes.
“Sister, is the matter between Yun Leshi and Liang Qingniang true?” Luo Xue’s eyes were hollow as she asked blankly.
“You were nearby just now?” Gu Qingtong frowned.
“I originally brought a bowl of chilled aloe vera soup to apologize to my sister, but I saw her secretly leave and send Green Fruit away. So I followed her and overheard the conversation between Yun Leshi and Liang Qingniang. However, I couldn’t bear to listen and came back first.”
Gu Qingtong sighed helplessly: “Luo Xue, you are still young and don’t understand many things. As for Yun Leshi, you should have seen through him by now, and don’t be so foolish in the future.”
“I understand, sister,” Luo Xue’s eyes welled up with tears.
“You were just deceived by Yun Leshi. From now on, just put those thoughts aside,” Gu Qingtong wiped her tears, “Tomorrow, you don’t need to be confined. Go to Li Leshi to learn vocal music, and don’t fall behind in your studies.”
“Mm,” Luo Xue walked out in a daze.
Luo Xue’s tears had again dampened Gu Qingtong’s mood. She threw herself onto the bed to sleep. Perhaps she should visit Yuan Yu Temple tomorrow to relax?
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This idea seemed quite good, as long as she didn’t run into that overbearing Miss Jiang Xiuluan or that rascal Young Master Jiang Shangheng.
“Green Fruit, you’ll be resting tomorrow. I want to visit Yuan Yu Temple, so wake me up early.”
“Yes,” Green Fruit blew out the lamp and left.
Gu Qingtong still had a good impression of Yuan Yu Temple, which she had only visited once. Moreover, on this hot day, the temple was surrounded by sandalwood, cool and pleasant.
Gu Qingtong knelt and prayed, and her heart gradually calmed, her entire body feeling relaxed. But when she turned around, her face fell.
True to form, Jiang Shangheng was leaning against the door, watching her with a smile.
Gu Qingtong was helpless. She couldn’t pretend not to recognize him, especially with an old nun nearby, so she couldn’t disregard etiquette.
“I’ll go to the lake and won’t disturb Young Master Jiang,” Gu Qingtong bowed and politely excused herself, heading towards the back of the temple.
“Mm,” Jiang Shangheng softly responded and followed her.
