Chapter Twenty: Saving the Beauty

Qin Muchuan dared not linger a moment longer. Before the scholar could utter a word, he turned and ran for his life. He had barely gone a few steps when Sun Ruosi saw him suddenly double back, dashing toward them once more.

“What on earth…” Sun Ruosi began, but Qin Muchuan shouted at the top of his lungs, “Run! They’re after us!” Behind him thundered a dozen or so enforcers from the gambling house.

“Heh, boys, the one in white up ahead—beat him within an inch of his life! Whoever breaks his legs gets a hundred taels from me!”

Glancing back, Qin Muchuan saw that only Sun Ruosi wore white and couldn’t help but yell, “Where did you dig up these fiends from?”

Sun Ruosi was on the verge of tears. “I have no idea!” Such a formation, he thought, could only be provoked by the gravest of crimes—murder or worse. Heaven knew that while he had the reputation of a wastrel, he had never once harassed an innocent woman. Kill someone? Impossible! He didn’t even have the nerve to slaughter a chicken!

There was no time to think. The situation was dire, and the only course was to run. But both young men were sons of noble families, coddled and pampered, hardly a match for the trained thugs pursuing them. Before long, they were nearly overtaken.

Seeing the cudgels and iron blades in their pursuers’ hands, Qin Muchuan gritted his teeth and charged toward the carriage—better to be beaten to death by his own father than to die at the hands of these men, for that would be too humiliating!

Inside the carriage, Gu Qiulan rested her chin in her palm, gazing with rapt delight at Qin Muchuan’s desperate sprint. “Ah… truly the capital’s most beautiful little gentleman—even now, he’s so lovely.”

Qiaoyun looked on in silence. “Miss, if you don’t step in, your little beauty will be beaten to death. Is it really alright to just watch?”

The look of rapture faded to one of distress. Gu Qiulan pursed her lips, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “But if my husband discovers how rough I can be, will he ever pay me heed again? This morning, just because the maids gave him the cold shoulder, he thought I’d ordered it and sneaked out of the house in protest. If he finds out I’ve been hiding my skills… oh, the thought alone frightens me.”

Qiaoyun said, “Honestly, aren’t you just getting back at Qin Muchuan for blaming you?”

Gu Qiulan: Heh, I heard nothing…

Qiaoyun: And what’s with that look. Really now.

“That’s right, I want him to know that my feelings are not to be trampled on. If I let it slide that he ran away on our wedding night, that’s my magnanimity. But today, he sneaks out again, even encourages his manservant to lie for him. Just because he’s pretty, does he think he can do as he pleases? Time to let him learn a hard lesson, my dear lord husband!”

Qiaoyun: …

Qin Muchuan ran for his life toward the carriage, but it was unexpectedly quiet there.

Could it be empty? Or were its occupants gambling inside?

Either way, a carriage would be faster than two legs.

Suddenly, a hand seized his shoulder, nearly sending him sprawling. In a blink, he and Sun Ruosi were surrounded by enforcers.

“Well, why don’t you try running now?” The bearded brute at the front was burly and broad-shouldered.

“Who are you people? Do you know who I am?” Qin Muchuan, seeing no point in hiding, shouted, “If any of you so much as lay a finger on me, the Duke of Founding’s household will crush you!”

“The Duke of Founding? Aren’t you the unfilial son, Qin Muchuan?” The brute sneered.

They know who I am! Qin Muchuan was stunned, but greater surprises were yet to come. “Don’t worry, you’re not our target.” He pointed at Sun Ruosi. “We only need to break this brat’s legs.”

Qin Muchuan looked helplessly at Sun Ruosi. “You really are a jinx!”

Sun Ruosi forced a laugh; only now did he recall who was behind this. “So it’s him. The only one with such a grudge and so much effort to spare is Zhou Tianyou.”

Qin Muchuan knew of Zhou Tianyou—the son of the Assistant Minister of War. Their acquaintance was casual at best, and Zhou had never struck him as so venomous.

Sun Ruosi sighed. “It’s a long story.” He straightened his back and called out to the thugs, “Since this matter has nothing to do with Brother Qin, come at me alone!”

The brute replied, “Relax, we won’t lay a finger on Young Master Qin. But if we let him go fetch help, our efforts would be ruined.”

Qin Muchuan sneered, “You think I’m the sort to abandon a friend? If you want revenge, do it openly—what hero stoops to such treachery?”

Gu Qiulan, watching from the carriage, shook her head. “My husband is so naïve. Revenge is sweetest with a surprise blow, not by playing fair. It’s obvious he’s never been in a real fight—childish scuffles at best!”

Qiaoyun’s lips twitched, but she held her tongue. Sometimes, silence was golden.

Under the blazing noon sun, Qin Muchuan was drenched in sweat and already bore fresh bruises. The thugs outnumbered them; if this continued, Sun Ruosi’s legs might truly be broken. Something had to be done. If only they could reach the carriage…

“Boss, there’s a carriage over there!” a thug suddenly shouted.

The brute noticed, waving a few men over.

Qiaoyun stiffened. “Miss, they’re coming.”

“Hm?” Gu Qiulan lifted the curtain slightly.

“Miss, I just thought of something,” Qiaoyun said.

“What is it?”

“If Qin Muchuan finds out you were here all along, watching him get beaten instead of fetching help, or if he learns you’re skilled but still let him take a beating, which would make him angrier, I wonder?”

Gu Qiulan: ……………………………………

The thugs were running toward the carriage when, out of nowhere, the horse whinnied and charged at them like a beast gone mad. Before they could react, the carriage crashed through, sending them flying.

“Damn you, Zhou Tianyou! Just wait!” Inside, Gu Qiulan’s eyes blazed with fury, her anger at its peak. Qiaoyun, drenched in sweat, could only think: This was pure vengeance.

In an instant, the carriage barreled toward the brute. Qin Muchuan looked up in shock. “Qiaoyun?!” Before he could finish, the horse’s hooves landed squarely on the brute’s shoulders. Qiaoyun lashed her whip—crack!—leaving a bloody welt across the brute’s back.

“My lord, hurry up!” Gu Qiulan reached out, hauling Qin Muchuan aboard. In moments, the thugs were writhing on the ground in agony.

Still shaken, Qin Muchuan suddenly found himself embraced by someone, who clung to his waist and sobbed, “My lord, I was so frightened just now. Are you alright? I was so useless, too scared to move. If only I’d been braver, I could have helped you.” Her small face burrowed into his chest.

Qin Muchuan sat stunned in the carriage, unable to react. Sun Ruosi, seizing the chaos, scrambled in as well. Hearing the words just spoken, he realized this must be the wife Qin Muchuan had recently married—the Minister of Rites’ sheltered daughter. She must have come to catch her runaway husband and been caught up in the chaos. Seeing she brought only a maid, Sun Ruosi could understand her fear.

“You… don’t worry about it,” Qin Muchuan said after a moment’s thought. “Having Qiaoyun drive the carriage in was brave enough.”

“Really?” Gu Qiulan trembled. “But… but I didn’t go for help. And your face…”

“In that situation, it’s understandable you were scared stiff. In the end, it was my fault for putting you in danger.” Qin Muchuan gently took her hand. Even frightened as she was, she’d dared rush in to save him. For that, he felt a sudden and unexpected gratitude.

As Qin Muchuan and Gu Qiulan gazed at each other, lost in their own world, Sun Ruosi coughed, reminding them of his presence.

Gu Qiulan suddenly found Sun Ruosi an eyesore. If not for the trouble he’d caused, would she have had to put on such an act? Infuriating! And that cursed Zhou Tianyou deserved execution as well!

In the woods, cries of pain echoed.

Elsewhere, the meek scholar reappeared, gazing at the battered enforcers sprawled about. A gentle smile played on his lips.

—Lan’er, you’re as headstrong as ever.