newbobooks Chapter 730 He's been pretending for too long; even he himself probably believes it's real
Chapter 730 He's been pretending for too long; even he himself probably believes it's real
He heard Gu Qingchen's footsteps as she returned, but he didn't turn around. Instead, he cut off a branch of osmanthus that was blooming too profusely and handed it to her.
"You're so angry, calm down."
His voice was gentle, like a breeze blowing in the courtyard, easily soothing the restlessness surging in Gu Qingchen's heart.
Gu Qingchen took the osmanthus branch, held it to her nose and gently sniffed it. The sweet fragrance relaxed her tense nerves a little.
She didn't mention what happened in the carriage, and Qian Zhenyun didn't ask.
The two stood there in silence, one pruning the flowers, the other watching him prune.
Peaceful and serene...
Just then, an inconspicuous figure appeared outside the courtyard gate like a ghost, bowing slightly in the direction of Qian Zhenyun.
Qian Zhenyun put down the scissors, wiped his hands, and said to Gu Qingchen, "Wait for me a moment."
He walked outside, and the man immediately stepped forward, lowered his voice, and quickly reported a few words.
A moment later, Qian Zhenyun returned, carrying a sheet of drawing paper in his hand.
He spread the drawing paper out on the stone table.
Gu Qingchen leaned closer to look and saw a gold hairpin drawn on the paper, the style of which was not particularly outstanding.
"What is this?" Gu Qingchen asked.
“Those thugs in the south of the city have confessed.” Qian Zhenyun’s voice was calm and composed. “They were paid to do things, and the money came from a pawnshop. This is the piece of jewelry that was pawned.”
Gu Qingchen's gaze was fixed on the gold hairpin, and his eyes gradually turned cold.
She recognized the hairpin.
She had seen him at the Duke of England's birthday banquet.
The headdress worn by Princess Jiahe's personal maid at that time was this very one.
She would never mistake that bead with the red dot.
“Princess Jiahe.” Gu Qingchen slowly uttered these four words, a cold smile curving his lips.
It turned out to be the case.
While she was still racking her brains over how to deal with the Crown Prince's coercion, Princess Jiahe was secretly trying to ruin her reputation with the most insidious and despicable methods.
She made a note of this debt.
Qian Zhenyun saw the murderous intent surging in her eyes and was about to speak to her to calm down when a servant rushed in to report from outside the courtyard gate.
"Young master, young lady, Young Master Lin has come to visit late at night, saying he has something extremely urgent to discuss."
Lin Chia-yu?
Gu Qingchen and Qian Zhenyun exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of surprise in each other's eyes.
Before they could speak, Lin Jiayou had already hurried in.
He seemed to have run all the way here; his breathing was still a little rapid, and his usually meticulously styled hair was slightly disheveled. His face was haggard, with dark circles under his eyes, as if he hadn't slept for days.
"Qingchen!" When he saw Gu Qingchen, his eyes lit up at first, but then the light dimmed and turned into an overwhelming weariness and guilt.
He was also holding a piece of paper in his hand.
"Qingchen, I've found out." Lin Jiayou strode to the stone table, unfolded the drawing paper in his hand, and said in a hoarse voice, "It's a rumor spread behind the scenes by someone close to Princess Jiahe."
On the drawing paper, there was the same gold hairpin, and even the red dot on the bead was drawn exactly the same.
Gu Qingchen looked at the drawing paper, then at Lin Jiayou's face, which was filled with exhaustion and anxiety, and her heart sank.
At Qingfeng Tower, in front of everyone, she questioned and humiliated him in such a harsh and stern manner.
After suffering such injustice, he didn't utter a single word of defense, but secretly worked tirelessly through the night to clear her name.
Gu Qingchen took a deep breath, stepped forward, and bowed respectfully to him.
"Lin Jiayou, I'm sorry. I misunderstood you."
Lin Jiayou seemed startled by her action and quickly reached out to support her arm, stopping her from bowing down.
"Qingchen, what are you doing!"
His eyes instantly reddened, but instead of saying "it's okay," he held her arms and forced her to look up and meet his gaze.
His eyes were like two whirlpools, filled with a tenderness and grievance that could drown a person.
"I don't care what the world thinks of me, nor do I care whether I've been wronged."
He gazed into her eyes, speaking slowly and deliberately, his voice trembling, "Qingchen, all I care about is whether you believe me or not."
Gu Qingchen understood the meaning behind his words and what Lin Jiayou was referring to, but she didn't respond.
Do you believe him?
Reason told her that Lin Jiayou's affection carried an unsettling sense of oppression.
She awkwardly looked away, avoiding his overly intense gaze, unable to respond.
Qian Zhenyun, standing to the side, took in all of this.
He watched as Lin Jiayou skillfully wove Gu Qingchen's guilt into a new web called "trust," and he quietly clenched his fist in his sleeve.
Gu Qingchen broke free from Lin Jiayou's hand, turned around abruptly, and slammed the evidence on the table.
With a loud "bang," the suffocatingly ambiguous atmosphere was completely shattered.
"Princess Jiahe!" Her eyes blazed with fury. "She's courting death!"
Lin Chia-yu knew when to quit while he was ahead and immediately switched roles.
He frowned, a look of worry on his face: "The princess's actions are indeed vicious, but she is, after all, the legitimate daughter of the Prince of Yongding. Qingchen, do not act impulsively, lest you give others something to criticize."
His words sounded like he was entirely thinking of her best interests.
"I know what I'm doing," Gu Qingchen sneered.
She stopped looking at Lin Jiayou and instead turned her gaze to the person who had remained silent throughout.
Qian Zhenyun met her gaze, said nothing more, just nodded slightly, his eyes calm and firm.
In that instant, Gu Qingchen understood with absolute clarity who was the one who would stand unconditionally by her side no matter what.
"Doesn't Jiahe like to resort to these underhanded tactics?" Gu Qingchen's lips curled into a bloodthirsty smile. "Then let's play a big game with her!"
The night was dark.
At the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, a slender figure had been waiting for a long time.
Gu Lanxin twisted the handkerchief in her hand tightly, her eyes fixed on the direction of the Qian family's courtyard.
When she saw Lin Jiayou walk out of the courtyard, her heart jumped into her throat.
Under the moonlight, Lin Jiayou's profile no longer showed exhaustion and grievance, but rather a hint of satisfaction after his scheme had succeeded.
That smile, like a poisonous thorn, pierced deeply into Gu Lanxin's heart.
As soon as Lin Jiayou turned the corner, the smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a preoccupied expression.
He saw Gu Lanxin waiting there, quickly stepped forward, and took her cold hand in his.
"Lanxin, what are you doing here? It's late and the dew is heavy. What if you catch a cold?"
Gu Lanxin looked at the concern in his eyes, but the pain in her heart did not lessen in the slightest. Her voice was trembling with sobs as she said, "Jiayou, I heard what they were saying outside. How could they... how could they slander you and Qingchen like that?"
Lin Jiayou sighed, pulled her into his arms, and gently patted her back.
"All of this is a tactic used in court infighting; those people want to use us to deal with the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion."
He blamed all the blame on an unseen enemy, portraying himself as a pawn caught in the middle.
He cupped her face in his hands, his eyes filled with deep affection and strength.
"Lanxin, that's why I need to become stronger. Strong enough to protect you under my wings, so that no rumors can hurt you in the slightest."
Looking into his deep eyes and listening to his resounding promise, all of Gu Lanxin's doubts and resentment melted away completely at that moment.
She nodded vigorously, her eyes filled with infatuation and adoration, becoming increasingly devoted.