Indeed, all the other carriages were already prepared, with some young women lifting the curtains to glance at her before looking disappointed.
Liang Luoxian also lifted the carriage curtain, laughing: “Gu Qingniang, you really know how to make an entrance.”
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“Although she wasn’t that Liang Luoxian, they were equally annoying. Gu Qingtong was instantly angry.
“Tong Tong, get in the carriage quickly!” Han Yue’an emerged from the front carriage and shouted.
Gu Qingtong thought she was too impulsive and blamed herself, shaking her head and following the blue-clothed girl into the carriage.
“Greetings, Miss Ji Qingniang.” Lüguo placed the small box down and bowed to the blue-clothed girl.
Gu Qingtong found these “grand household” etiquettes troublesome, but Han Yue’an treated them like well-bred young ladies, so she had to pay attention to avoid future mistakes.
The blue-clothed girl saw Gu Qingtong staring at Lüguo and slapped her hand unhappily: “Why are you only remembering Lüguo now? Have you forgotten about Orange?”
Gu Qingtong looked up in surprise: “Orange?”
Ji Chen saw her like this, frowning and tugging at her sleeve: “Tong’er, what are you looking at?”
“Nothing.” Gu Qingtong curved her mouth slightly and turned to worship with Ji Chen step by step. Amid the thick sandalwood fragrance, she felt her body and mind calm.
“Tong’er, let’s go to Qianming Lake.” After worshipping, Ji Chen happily pulled her wrist and walked back.
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Gu Qingtong never expected there would be a lake next to this seemingly small temple, feeling quite surprised.
Arriving at Qianming Lake, she realized the temple actually occupied an extremely vast area, with scenery behind far more beautiful than before. Only the lake was blocked by the high walls of the temple in front, and would be difficult to discover without deliberately turning around.
“Orange, let’s take that one.” Gu Qingtong pointed at the pleasure boat moored under a willow tree, which looked much more exquisite than the others.
“Okay.”
Gu Qingtong and Ji Chen ran over with small steps, both having boarded and paid, but unexpectedly were pulled down by two rushing maids.
“Our young lady has claimed this boat.”
Ji Chen and Gu Qingtong were stunned, slightly turning to see a girl walking over proudly, directly boarding the boat.
Gu Qingtong wanted to argue, but was held back by Ji Chen: “That’s the daughter of the Princess, Jiang Xiuluan. We can’t offend her.”
“But we’ve already paid. Shouldn’t there be a first-come, first-served principle?”
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Although the information she knew was not much, it was enough to fabricate a story, and the Yang family who entrusted her with the marriage trial could temporarily serve as a shield.
“Qingtong?” Hua Jianwei seemed disbelieving, pressing his chest, “Qingtong, I know you were beaten by Han Yue’an, so you’re denying your previous words. But grandmother has already agreed to let me marry you as a concubine, so you’ll come with me, and no one would dare say otherwise.”
Gu Qingtong was stunned. Would Madam Hua actually agree to let a trial marriage woman enter the household as a concubine? Regardless of whether the previous Gu Qingtong had any feelings for him, she certainly did not. She quickly bowed and declined: “Qingtong is grateful for Second Young Master’s kindness, but my status is too low to match the Second Young Master. Moreover, Qingtong’s heart is only with the Flower and Moon Pavilion. Please do not trouble yourself.”
“Qingtong, you cannot treat me like this!”
Gu Qingtong realized her words had no effect on Hua Jianwei. Looking around, many pleasure boats had already gathered to watch the spectacle, which was extremely vexing.
While Gu Qingtong was distracted and frustrated, Hua Jianwei had already stepped onto her pleasure boat.
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“I truly have no such feelings for you,” Gu Qingtong knew she must draw a clear line with Hua Jianwei and kept stepping back. Ji Chen wanted to stand between them, but the boat was swaying, and he fell onto the deck. Lü Guo and Mang Xiang hurried to help him.
“Qingtong, come with me,” Hua Jianwei’s eyes were only on Gu Qingtong, who was stepping back.
Hua Jianwei was getting closer to her. Gu Qingtong was almost at the boat’s bow, feeling utterly helpless. A large boat was approaching in the distance, and someone in an indigo robe at the bow seemed to be Han Yue’an. The surrounding pleasure boats immediately retreated slightly.
Hua Jianwei also saw Han Yue’an and became anxious, reaching out to grab her. Gu Qingtong dodged backward, but her foot slipped, and she fell into the lake.
“Tong’er!”
“Qingtong!”
The surrounding boats caused significant waves. Gu Qingtong felt wave after wave hitting her, with water filling her mouth and ears.
“Qingtong!” Hua Jianwei called out, wanting to jump in but was held back by his servant.
“Young Master, you cannot go down!”
“Then you go rescue her!”
“Young Master, I cannot swim either!”
Gu Qingtong’s wet clothes were heavy, and after struggling a few times, she began to sink, thinking she was about to drown. Finally, a strong hand lifted her up.
“Miss?”
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Gu Qingtong could hear the voice but couldn’t open her eyes, her throat blocked. After a while, a warm breath touched her lips.
“Cough cough…” Gu Qingtong coughed as her nose was pinched, and her throat cleared.
“Awake?” The voice was slightly familiar, his hand still supporting her waist and neck, with a noticeable warmth that felt comfortable.
Jiang Shangheng was momentarily speechless, and she was lying on top of him. Gu Qingtong only realized she was exposed when she lowered her chin and hurriedly covered herself with her hand: “Young Master Jiang?”
Jiang Shangheng lowered his voice to make her get up and crawled out from underneath her. He helped her sit down and caught her small foot: “Let me take a look.”
Although Gu Qingtong was a carefree modern person, having her ankle gripped by a young man made her blush deeply.
Jiang Shangheng frowned: “Dislocated. Bear with it.”
“Ah?” Gu Qingtong looked up in surprise. The next moment, a pain shot through her ankle, and her light exclamation of surprise turned into a cry. But she immediately bit the back of her hand to stifle her scream.
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Jiang Shangheng glanced at her stoic and enduring appearance and smiled faintly. He massaged her ankle, suddenly remembering that if a woman’s foot was seen by a man, she was supposed to offer herself in marriage. He glanced at the white jade bracelet on her wrist: However, she was a trial bride and probably wouldn’t have such thoughts.
Gu Qingtong spoke up: “Since you’ve seen my foot, do you have to marry me?”
Jiang Shangheng was stunned: Was she… trying to pin him down?
Gu Qingtong saw his incredulous expression and laughed: “I’m just teasing you!”
Jiang Shangheng didn’t feel relieved. Instead, he felt somewhat uncomfortable and stared at her large eyes. Her gaze was frank, without a hint of calculation or shame. He slowly put down her ankle: “Sit and rest. Don’t move around.”
“Okay.”
“Brother Heng, Brother Heng!”
Hearing Luan’er’s call from outside, he stood up at the shallow shore: “I’m here, and…” he turned back: “What’s your name?”
“Gu Qingtong.”
“Are you Han Yue’an’s adopted daughter?”
