Chapter Twenty-Five: Moonlit Night

Qin Muchuan had endured an entire afternoon of his father’s admonishments, his mind so muddled he no longer knew east from west. At last, when the elder Qin was parched and exhausted, he barked at his son to get lost. Overjoyed, Qin Muchuan promptly took his leave.

Upon returning to Bright Moon Pavilion, he found Gu Qiulan leaning languidly against the railing, her gaze distant and spiritless. Since her marriage into the household, this was the first time Qin Muchuan had ever seen such an expression on her face. “Zhou Tianyou…” Qin Muchuan muttered the name through clenched teeth, wishing he could bite the man to death.

“Husband, you’re back.” At the sound of his footsteps, Gu Qiulan turned and forced a smile. “You’ve had a hard day at the academy examination, haven’t you?”

“It was nothing,” Qin Muchuan waved off her concern with an easy air. “With your husband’s talent and wit, handling a mere academy exam is child’s play.”

Gu Qiulan delighted in this unfounded confidence of his and hurried to agree, “Exactly! Husband, shall we practice calligraphy again tonight?”

“Calligraphy…?” Qin Muchuan bit his lip, a roguish grin spreading across his face. The memory of teaching his little wife to write was still fresh and vivid. Truly, reading and practicing calligraphy were excellent pastimes—a hobby well worth cultivating together.

After a warm and peaceful dinner, just as the pair were about to close the study doors and enjoy their evening, Gu Qiulan’s father arrived unannounced.

The two old men promptly hauled Qin Muchuan off to the Cedar Hall once more. Gu Qiulan tried to follow but was briskly informed that this was men’s business—no women allowed.

“Damn it! To hell with them! They won’t let me in?” The moment the door shut, Gu Qiulan could no longer restrain her fierce temper.

“Whose father do you think you are!” The door cracked open, revealing Minister Gu’s face—his fierceness surpassing hers.

Gu Qiulan was left speechless.

“Behave yourself, young lady, and don’t cause trouble!” Minister Gu frowned, lowering his voice urgently. “Go back to your courtyard at once!”

Bang—the door closed again.

Minister Gu’s demeanor changed instantly, warm and genteel. “Please excuse my daughter’s willful nature; it’s rather embarrassing.” Every gesture radiated the grace of a learned official.

The Duke of Qin could only sigh. “To be honest, dear in-law, daughters are indeed less worrisome—thoughtful, considerate, always mindful of the bigger picture.”

Minister Gu’s smile grew even gentler. Though he lacked the vigor of youth, the refinement honed by years of experience lent him an air of unhurried elegance, the very image of a gentleman of old. His effortless poise made the burly general and the ornamental scholar in the room seem almost crude by comparison. It was no wonder that Gu Qiulan had married so well; with a father so refined, his daughter was surely a paragon of grace and gentility.

Minister Gu succinctly relayed the Emperor Chongde’s wishes to the Duke of Qin. As he mentioned Qin Muchuan and Sun Ruosi’s trip to the eastern part of the city, a vein throbbed at the Duke’s temple, and Qin Muchuan’s own heart skipped a beat.

Noting the growing agitation on the war hero’s face, Minister Gu wisely chose to take his leave and return to his own residence without further provocation.

“You wretched little scoundrel!”

Crash—the Duke of Qin swept his hand across the desk, sending brushes, ink, and paper clattering to the floor. He smacked Qin Muchuan on the back of the head. “You’ve managed to gamble and let word of it reach the Emperor’s ears! You really are something!”

Qin Muchuan protested, wounded, “Father, I swear I wasn’t gambling!”

“Then what were you doing? Drinking and feasting at the gambling house?!”

“I…” Qin Muchuan was at a loss. He couldn’t possibly reveal the truth about Sun Ruosi. If his father found out and blabbed to Grand Academician Sun at court…

Seeing his son’s evasiveness only fueled the Duke’s anger. But reason prevailed: since Qin Muchuan was about to be granted a scholarly title, it wouldn’t do for him to show up with a bruised face—what a disgrace for a scholar!

Shaking with fury, the Duke roared, “Go kneel before our ancestors and reflect on your actions! You’re not to come out before morning!”

Qin Muchuan was left speechless.

Why was he always the one to suffer?

Why did nothing good ever happen whenever he left the house and returned?

Gu Qiulan watched as her handsome husband was shut into the little dark room, feeling utterly helpless. With so many idle sons in the capital, why was it her husband who was remembered by the Emperor? Was it because of his face?

Gu Qiulan fell into deep thought. Competing with the Emperor for a man was no easy feat.

Qiaoyun whispered, “There’s a Consort Zhou in the palace, highly favored by His Majesty. She has a younger brother named Zhou Tianyou.”

Well, wasn’t that simply a delightful family connection.

“Miss, miss! Where are you going at this hour?!” Qiaoyun cried as Gu Qiulan darted away and vanished into the night. She was too startled to shout for fear of drawing attention.

Tonight, the moon shone bright amidst sparse stars. It was curfew; the streets were deserted. Overhead, a shadow flickered by. Gu Qiulan, still clad in her ornate palace dress, soared through the air. Her broad skirts billowed with each leap, and the sashes twined around her arms streamed elegantly behind her. She moved with all the grace and arrogance of a goddess descending from the moon.

“I heard Minister Gu hurried to the Duke’s residence tonight, so I guessed you’d turn up here,” Zhou Tianyou remarked, his mood evidently pleased as he watched the woman appear silently in the courtyard.

Gu Qiulan said nothing, and Zhou Tianyou didn’t mind. Taking a few steps closer, his heart pounded ever faster. “Let me guess what you’re thinking: ‘If I’d known it would come to this, I’d have killed that Zhou brat back in Yanzhou! How dare he covet my man—he must be tired of living.’ Is that it?” The crude words sounded strangely out of place, spoken from such a gentle face.

Gu Qiulan yawned, spotted a stone bench in the yard, and sat without ceremony. Crossing her legs and folding her arms, she looked thoroughly impatient. “What exactly do you want?”

Zhou Tianyou replied innocently, “What do I want? I haven’t done anything.”

Gu Qiulan regarded the troublesome beauty before her with some exasperation. “Three years ago in Yanzhou, I wronged you. But every debt has its debtor—don’t involve the innocent.”

“Tsk, no wonder you’re the new favorite,” Zhou Tianyou leaned on the stone table, bending close to meet her eyes. “He must be special, to make you care so much. Qin’s looks are truly irresistible.”

“You say that as if I never cared for you.” Suddenly Gu Qiulan reached out, hooking a finger under Zhou Tianyou’s chin, her eyes narrowing with a mischievous light. “If you keep this up, I’ll think you’re jealous.”

Zhou Tianyou was struck speechless.

“Why are you backing away so quickly?” Gu Qiulan rose at last, advancing step by step through the moonlight. For every step Zhou Tianyou retreated, she drew nearer. At last, with nowhere left to run, Gu Qiulan pinned him against the wall, her hand on his shoulder.

“Aha, I see now. You must really be jealous. Don’t be like that, little beauty—I can’t bear to see you upset. After all, we had our time together. If you hadn’t been so contrary and difficult back in Yanzhou, perhaps today I’d be entering your family’s door instead. But it’s not too late…” Her fingers gently traced his cheek. “Enough. I’ll divorce and we’ll return to Yanzhou together. Why torture yourself? Look at you—you’re even thinner than before. Come with me; we can start over, just the two of us. Wouldn’t that be nice?”

The tenderness in that gaze, the longing in those words—one could scarcely breathe beneath their weight. No eyes in this world could be more full of emotion.

“Qiulan…”

“Mm?”

A slap came out of nowhere. Gu Qiulan jerked her head aside, dodging it.

“Don’t disgust me!” Zhou Tianyou exploded in rage. “Look at yourself—so coarse and boorish! Any man who fancies you must be blind! You make me sick just being near you!”

“You—!” Gu Qiulan shouted, “How dare you talk to me like that, you little brat! You’ve got some nerve!”

“I’ve always had nerve! Do you? Do you?!”

Gu Qiulan was left speechless.