On the pavilion terrace outside the racing grounds, Guan Yunji stood beneath the eaves, gazing up at the gyrfalcon circling overhead. His eyes were filled with pure admiration.
Inside the pavilion, a small red stove glowed faintly. Gu Ruhui personally brewed tea, filling four cups before draining one alone. She laughed as she set it down. “What day is it today? The lot of you—one lost in thought, one watching hawks, one racing horses. We’ve gathered like a bunch of idle rich folk savoring their leisure.”
Guan Yunji snapped back to attention, turned, and returned to his seat. He raised his cup to Gu Ruhui. “Second Sister, forgive me. You know me. I don’t care for much beyond hawks. In a city full of birds, yours is the finest. Blossom Ashes is simply peerless. The moment I see it, I turn into a fool.”
He drank the light tea as though it were wine. Despite his youth, his expression shifted seamlessly between moods, and he showed no arrogance in the presence of the two Gu family members. Calm and composed, he continued, “Ignore Dongchen. He’s always mingling with the servants. He’ll be at it for a while, talking loud and long. He won’t be back anytime soon.”
“It’s just as well he’s gone. His ears catch everything, but his mouth can’t hold water.” Gu Pinghan emerged from his own world, his cool tone joining the conversation. “Yunji, you came here today specifically, asking me to bring Second Sister along. Is there news from the Second Prince?”
In the distance, Zhang Dengqing felt a surge of excitement. Oh my god, are they finally getting to something substantial?
The moment the four of them entered the pavilion, he had circulated his inner power, sharpening his hearing. Partly out of gossip and partly out of a desire to protect his brother, he’d been eavesdropping like a rabbit with its ears perpetually pricked. Who knew they’d just spout nonsense for ages? And maybe it was his imagination, but halfway through, he kept feeling Gu Pinghan’s gaze sweep in his direction.
He wasn’t very familiar with the newly arrived Ge Dongchen and Guan Yunji, but he knew the families behind them.
The Ge family was a military clan second only to the Gu family. The Gu family boasted the Prince Zhenbei, their military merits tied to the Northern Border. The Ge family was connected to the Southern Border. Interestingly, the family heads of both the Gu and Ge clans were singularly devoted husbands. Each had only one wife. A single romantic entanglement apiece.
Gu Yan had an excellent reputation. When he married An Ruoyi, the An family was in decline. He defied all obstacles to marry his childhood betrothed and supported her younger brother, An Zhenwen.
The Ge family head’s romantic history was even juicier. He’d married a commoner woman from the southern borderlands—possibly even a foreign captive. Years ago, he could have become the fourth Non-Royal Prince through illustrious military service, but he chose to reject the Emperor’s bestowed marriage for this southern woman. His stellar career had stalled at the second-rank title of Cloud Banner General.
Ge Dongchen was the sole son of that southern woman—and unquestionably the next heir to the Ge family.
Guan Yunji’s Guan family also had significant clout. Among civil official families, they were the second most powerful after the Su family. The Su family’s eldest daughter was a Noble Consort in the palace, and so was the Guan family’s legitimate daughter, who was the birth mother of the current Second Prince.
Gu Ruhui had recently been discussing marriage with this Second Prince. The Guan family and the Second Prince were related through the maternal line, so Guan Yunji’s visit today was likely about the details of this match.
As Zhang Dengqing was mulling this over, Guan Yunji’s voice reached him.
“Yes, Heir. Second Sister Gu’s match with the Second Prince… is likely off.”
Oh ho.
Zhang Dengqing thought, This juicy news must be shared with Xiaodeng tonight!
Gu Pinghan’s reaction remained cool. “As expected.”
Gu Ruhui’s tone rose with a lilt at the end. “Did the Crown Princess interfere?”
Guan Yunji replied quickly. “Yes. The Second Prince said the Crown Princess advised His Majesty, severing your match. Two months ago, she chose Jinyu as a study companion, aiming to make the Gu family submit to her. Naturally, she wouldn’t let this marriage succeed.”
Gu Pinghan simply grunted, his reaction still calm. “This match was always rash. After dragging on for over a month, the dust has settled. Second Sister is left swallowing all the bitter fruit.”
Gu Ruhui laughed quietly beside them, saying nothing. She just kept smiling—gently, strangely.
Guan Yunji was silent for a moment before continuing. “Second Sister, the Second Prince asked me to convey his apologies. He said his sincerity toward you far outweighs any gain. He cherished the friendship you’ve shared since childhood. He proposed marriage genuinely, wanting to be bound to you. It’s just… a thousand words can’t match a single regret. If you are affected by this, your marriage delayed because of him, he will not marry as long as you remain unwed.”
Gu Ruhui smiled and declined. “Yunji, thank you for your efforts. When you see the Second Prince, please convey my thanks. I never blamed him. Today’s situation is my family reaping what we’ve sown. I wouldn’t dare trouble him further. Since fate has denied us, it’s best to let go.”
Zhang Dengqing forced himself to eavesdrop a while longer. The biggest takeaway from all the listening was how complicated their relationships were. Everything was tangled up—flour mixed with rouge, patches of red and purple. The dough looked pretty from afar, but it couldn’t be eaten. It choked the throat.
Gu Ruhui’s voice still carried a smile as she sidestepped the marriage topic, flowing smoothly around Gu Pinghan. “Third Brother will take the Autumn Examination in September for the first time. If it goes well, by this time next year, he’ll be discussing marriage, too. Yunji has many sisters. Perhaps then…”
Gu Pinghan interrupted coolly. “It might not go well. I may not pass.”
Guan Yunji smiled. “Heir, you joke. If you don’t pass, how many of the candidates in Changluo could possibly make the list? Even if the worst happens and you stumble, putting aside the Prince’s own plans for you, the Second Prince, the Su family, and even our Guan family will certainly help.”
Listening to this conversation, Zhang Dengqing easily forgot that everyone in that pavilion was still in their teens.
Just then, a fourth voice rang from the pavilion—the hearty Ge Dongchen.
“I’m back! You lot must have been whispering secrets while I was gone, right?”
The other three shifted the topic in unison. Guan Yunji clicked his tongue. “I haven’t even started on how you spend your days with disreputable types. A waste of my family’s fine scholarly heritage. Sometimes I desperately want to swap identities with you. Heaven knows how much I want to be a military family’s son.”
Ge Dongchen laughed loudly. “Alright, let’s do it! Let’s go home—you to mine, me to yours! I’ll go to the Guan household, face the Minister, and call out ‘Greetings, Father!’ Then I’ll pay respects to all his lovely concubines one by one. The only tricky part is that Minister Guan has so many concubines and daughters. I’m afraid I’d mistake a concubine for a sister and a sister for a concubine. That would be a joke! The Ge family is much simpler. Just a strict father and a kind mother in the General’s Mansion—a Central Plains father with a foreign mother. A pairing with more idle chatter than a room full of comedians! You want to go?”
“You wretch…” Guan Yunji’s voice rose with both anger and exasperation. “Please, shut that divine mouth of yours! I surrender to your tongue. In all of Changluo, only you, Ge Dongchen, dare mock our Guan family like this!”
“Yo, I’m just speaking the truth. Where’s the mockery?”
Zhang Dengqing’s ears were stretched to the limit. Finally, some gossip I like.
Ge Dongchen and Guan Yunji traded verbal barbs back and forth, a fine display of linguistic artistry. They held each family’s private jokes up to the heavens. But the more excessive the mockery, the clearer the depth of the two boys’ friendship. Otherwise, they would have long since darkened their faces and stormed off.
After their word battle raged on for a while, their spears suddenly aligned outward. Ge Dongchen turned to the Gu siblings. “Second Sister, Third Brother, what’s going on with your family? I remember the Gu and An family branches being quite simple. So simple they’re sparse. Where did this Gu Xiaodeng crawl out from between the rocks?”
Guan Yunji chimed in. “Yes, I’m not usually a gossip. Every family has its secrets. It’s nothing. But your Gu family has five children—from the eldest sister who is the peace-marriage consort, down to Little Shouyi. Each one is a dragon among men. How does some uncouth country bumpkin suddenly appear? He drags down the Gu family’s reputation.”
Ge Dongchen mocked, “That kid is dumb and stupid. I asked him about his parents’ ancestral lineage, and he couldn’t answer a word. He just gave me that innocent, silly grin. Good act, that pure, innocent one. Have you verified his identity? Is he really not a con artist?”
Zhang Dengqing’s knuckles itched.
“We have verified it. There’s no mistake. He is indeed a relative of the Gu family—a distant one, separated by several generations. He came from afar seeking shelter. Mother Consort is kind-hearted and took him in. It’s just clearing a courtyard and adding a bowl and chopsticks.” Gu Ruhui spoke as if idly gossiping. “It’s no great matter. He’s not important. Not worth Dongchen’s discerning eye, nor fit for Yunji’s noble tongue.”
Gu Pinghan added, “The reason he couldn’t name his family lineage is that he suffered a serious illness as a child. He forgot seven years of memories. That’s also why he’s so dull. Born deficient, damaged later. Just consider it the Gu family opening a soup kitchen. We’re raising a cripple.”
Zhang Dengqing: “…”
“I thought so. No wonder he looks so slow. He’s got a broken brain.” Ge Dongchen tutted softly. “But what’s the point of raising him? This would suit the Su family. Su Mingya is so frail and sickly, he pants after three steps. Chancellor Su and his wife wish they could help a hundred people a day just to earn karma for his long life. In my opinion, you might as well send this little fool to the Su family. It would fulfill the elders’ charitable wishes.”
