newbobooks Chapter 691 This is more like a self-directed and self-acted self-inflicted injury scheme.
Chapter 691 This is more like a self-directed and self-acted self-inflicted injury scheme.
He obediently let her control his hands, his voice carrying a hint of panic as he was enveloped by the girl's presence.
"Qingchen, isn't this... a bit against the rules?"
"What rules or regulations!" Gu Qingchen said nonchalantly. "I'm teaching you how to ride a horse. It's the fastest way! Don't think too much about it. Just feel the rhythm of the horse."
Her world was simple and pure; she felt this was the most efficient way to teach.
But she didn't see that Lin Jiayou's lips had already curled up slightly from an angle she couldn't see.
Not far from the training ground, under the moon gate, Qian Zhenyun stood quietly, carrying a food box.
He looked at the two people embracing tightly on the horse in the sunlight, at Gu Qingchen's focused and patient profile, and at Lin Jiayou's seemingly stiff but actually enjoying posture.
His knuckles were white from the force he used to hold the food box.
A gust of wind blew by, carrying the girl's clear laughter to his ears.
"See, you can do it now! I told you you could!"
Qian Zhenyun lowered his eyes. Inside the food box was a freshly baked rose cake, which he had specially sought out for Gu Qingchen, her favorite food.
Still steaming.
Then a bitter smile appeared on her face. Even without Lin Jiayou and the Crown Prince, the Emperor and Empress had already decided that Gu Qingchen would be the Crown Princess since they were young.
In the end, it was all wishful thinking on his part.
Gu Qingchen patted Lin Jiayou, dismounted, and said, "Ride like this, try it yourself."
She saw Qian Zhenyun. Gun Gun must have brought her some delicious food again!
Lin Jiayou saw it too, and he didn't want Gu Qingchen to go over.
He swayed, cried out in surprise, and fell straight off the horse.
"Jiayou!"
Gu Qingchen's face turned pale. Without thinking, she rushed over to help him up and checked him over.
"Where did you fall? Are you alright?"
Lin Jiayou used her strength to steady himself, and took her hand in turn, his face full of gratitude.
"Qingchen, you're so good to me."
"I will definitely try my best to learn so as not to disappoint you."
Qian Zhenyun walked over.
He didn't look at the two clasped hands, but walked straight to the gentle flame.
He reached under the saddle and pulled out a sharp pebble.
"This is not an accident."
His voice was calm.
When Gu Qingchen saw the pebble, the worry on his face instantly turned into raging anger.
She shook off Lin Jiayou's hand and shouted sharply.
"Men! Investigate!"
"Who is this blind fool who dares to do such a thing in the Duke's mansion!"
She instinctively thought it was either the servants in the mansion being negligent, or some ignorant person trying to give Lin Jiayou a hard time.
Qian Zhenyun handed the pebble to the guard captain who had rushed over upon hearing the news.
"Go and find out where these pebbles came from."
His gaze swept over Lin Jiayou, who looked visibly shaken.
The servants in the manor would never dare to do such a thing.
This is more like a self-directed and self-acted ploy.
The captain of the guards of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion is extremely efficient.
Within half an hour, the results were found and reported back.
“Miss, I have inquired and found that during that period, the servants who were sweeping around the training ground all saw Miss Lanxin’s personal maid loitering nearby.”
Gu Qingchen's anger froze.
"Who are you talking about?"
“Cui’er is Miss Lanxin’s maid.” The captain of the guards lowered his head, his voice firm.
This result left Gu Qingchen's mind blank. How could it be Sister Lan?
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
“Those servants must have made a mistake!” Gu Qingchen said decisively.
She didn't believe it, not a single word of it.
Lifting her skirt, she stormed through the corridor and headed straight for the courtyard where Gu Lanxin lived.
Gu Lanxin was doing needlework by the window when she heard the loud noise of the door being pushed open. Her hand holding the embroidery needle trembled, and the needle tip pricked her fingertip, drawing a small bead of blood.
She looked up and was somewhat taken aback when she saw Gu Qingchen's angry face.
"Qingchen, what's wrong with you?"
"Sister Lan!"
Gu Qingchen rushed to her and told her the whole story in one breath, then stared intently into her eyes.
"They say they saw your maid acting suspiciously near the training ground. Tell me that's not true!"
Gu Lanxin was speechless. She put down the embroidery hoop in her hand and gently sucked away the blood droplets on her fingertips.
"I did go to the back garden to relax, and Cui'er came with me. It wasn't far from the training ground. But I know nothing about those pebbles."
Her voice was soft, her expression calm, and her eyes held a sense of grievance and helplessness at being doubted.
Gu Qingchen's anger deflated instantly, like a punch landing on cotton.
Looking at Gu Lanxin's face, she could no longer utter a single question.
Ultimately, the matter was left unresolved.
Gu Qingchen, seething with anger, came out of Gu Lanxin's courtyard and bumped into Lin Jiayou.
He seemed to be waiting for her on purpose.
"Qingchen, I've heard about it." Lin Jiayou's face was filled with worry. "Please don't let my matter ruin our relationship."
"But that stone..."
"Don't you know what kind of person Sister Lanxin is?"
Lin Jiayou interrupted her gently, "She wouldn't even hurt a rabbit, so how could she do something like this? In my opinion, someone is trying to use us to do this, deliberately framing us to sow discord within the Gu family."
His words struck a chord with Gu Qingchen.
She believed it immediately.
Yes, Sister Lan is such a good person, how could she possibly harm anyone? Someone must be jealous of Jia You and want to use Sister Lan to frame him!
Gu Qingchen looked at Lin Jiayou. He was clearly the victim, yet he was still thinking of others.
This generosity and thoughtfulness moved her deeply.
"Jiayou, you're so kind."
The doubts in her heart completely dissipated, and her trust in Lin Jiayou deepened. She decided to suppress the matter completely.
The night was as dark as ink.
A figure appeared silently outside Tingzhu Pavilion, like a ghost.
Gu Xuan was dressed in black, blending into the darkness.
He didn't go in; he simply walked to Lin Jiayou's door, flicked his wrist, and a blunt, unsharpened dagger silently pierced the door panel.
A small piece of paper was tied to the blade.
After doing all this, he glanced at the closed door, turned around, and disappeared into the night as if he had never been there.
Inside the room, Lin Jiayou remained awake.
He keenly sensed the commotion outside the door, but did not get up immediately.
He waited until the people outside had completely disappeared before putting on his coat and slowly walking to the door.
He pulled out the dagger and took the note.
Under the moonlight, there were only four characters on the note, written with sharp strokes that seemed to penetrate the paper.
Be law-abiding.
Lin Jiayou immediately understood that this was a warning from Gu Qingchen's older brother.
He wasn't panicked; instead, a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
It seems that although Gu Xuan lives in the military camp, he is very clear about what is happening in the Duke's mansion.
Qian Zhenyun, you really know how to call in reinforcements.
Instead of restraining himself, he carefully put the dagger and the note into a hidden compartment in his book box.
This is not a threat.
This is a piece of "evidence".
If anything changes in the future, this will be irrefutable proof that the Gu family has abused their power and coerced him.