Chapter Eight: In Need of a Beating

Though he had come to meet his brother-in-law, Qin Muchuan couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d stumbled upon the scene of an illicit affair. Especially the way Gu Qiulan gazed at Gu Zhongyun, her eyes soft and gentle as flowing water.

“Qiulan, didn’t you say you wanted to talk to Mother?” Qin Muchuan withdrew his sleeve, replacing it with his hand for her to hold instead.

This small gesture happened to meet Gu Zhongyun’s amused eyes. Qin Muchuan instantly straightened, a faint smile playing on his lips; his beauty rivaled polished jade, and though his stature was less imposing, his bearing made up for it. He refused to let Gu Zhongyun outshine him!

Here they stood: one a wandering hero of the four seas, the other a scion of the capital’s wealthiest family. Gu Qiulan swallowed nervously—standing between two dazzling men, she felt she might lose control at any moment.

“My lady, aren’t you going to see Madam?” came the cold voice of Qiaoyun, the former wild Black Cavalry guard turned housemaid, who seemed eternally devoted to ruining the mood.

“Isn’t this Qiaoyun?” Gu Zhongyun ignored the childish man, his mature smile unfurling. “Take Qiulan along, don’t keep Mother waiting.”

No! I haven’t seen enough yet!

Reluctantly, Gu Qiulan left, glancing back every few steps, her gaze clinging like sugar. Qin Muchuan suddenly found Gu Zhongyun insufferably obstructive; since marrying Qiulan, she’d never looked at another man like that.

The eldest Gu brother tried to step forward and smooth things over, but Gu Zhongyun suddenly threw an arm around Qin Muchuan’s neck. “Big Brother, you’ve met our brother-in-law before, but I haven’t had a proper chat with him yet. I’ll borrow him for a while! Hahaha!”

“Zhongyun, you—”

But before the eldest Gu could react, Gu Zhongyun darted off, dragging Qin Muchuan away like a whirlwind.

The third Gu brother stared, dumbfounded. “Big Brother, do you still want that ginseng or not?”

The eldest brother was speechless.

Qin Muchuan had never experienced anything like this. Though the legitimate son of Duke Qin, his doting mother Lady Zhou never let him study martial arts. Now, being whisked away like a chick by an eagle—what humiliation!

Gu Zhongyun released him abruptly, and Qin Muchuan, unable to keep his footing, tumbled to the ground.

“Cough, cough—what do you mean by this!” he sputtered, scrambling up, disheveled and indignant.

Gu Zhongyun leaned casually against an ancient pagoda tree, arms folded, his figure half-shrouded in shadow. “Nothing much. I simply wanted to ask my dear brother-in-law about someone. Do you know Miss Yinyin from the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion?”

Yinyin!

A jolt of foreboding shot through Qin Muchuan.

“Tell me, between my little sister and Yinyin, who do you think is superior?”

“I…” Qin Muchuan glanced around uneasily, not expecting Gu Zhongyun to know about this! Comparing their martial prowess, Qin Muchuan felt he might not leave this place alive.

Who had tattled?

The answer was obvious—Gu Zhongyun hadn’t shown up since the wedding day; today, upon their return, Qiulan was the first to meet him.

“If you already know, Second Brother, do as you please.” Qin Muchuan didn’t bother to dodge, though inside he seethed. Gu Qiulan, you two-faced woman! Stabbing me in the back!

“My dear brother-in-law, you should be grateful I’m the only one who knows. My father and mother remain in the dark. If they found out… heh, the illustrious Duke’s household has truly raised a fine son!” Gu Zhongyun stepped out of the shadows, each footfall thickening the air, until he stood beside Qin Muchuan.

With barely parted lips, he spoke each word with deliberate force:

“If you are dissatisfied with this marriage, divorce my sister as soon as possible! Otherwise, if I ever find you’ve wronged Qiulan… heh. Killing a man is only a matter of one stroke. Rest assured, no one will ever find your body.”

It was as if, in an instant, all the air had been sucked away.

Not until Gu Zhongyun had walked off did Qin Muchuan’s heartbeat return. Pale-faced, he clung to the wall, gasping for breath. After a long moment, he calmed himself and looked around—damn it, where had Gu Zhongyun dragged him?

Furious and mortified, veins bulging on the back of his hand, he slammed his fist against the opposite wall—“Ow! Ow, ow, ow…”

“Honestly, Second Brother always appears and disappears like a ghost,” Qiulan was complaining to Lady Gu within the Gu residence.

Suddenly, a handsome face appeared just outside the window: “Little sister, gossiping about Second Brother behind my back again?”

Lady Gu started in fright, nearly flinging her shoe at him. “Why can’t you use a door like a proper person—what mischief are you up to now?”

Gu Zhongyun laughed, lightly vaulting through the window. Qiulan, her face cold, said bluntly, “Mother, Second Brother was so rough just now. Look—” She raised her sleeve to reveal faint red marks left from their sparring in the courtyard.

Lady Gu’s expression darkened, her glare sharp as a knife.

“Innocent, I swear.” Gu Zhongyun pulled open his collar. “Mother, look—she almost strangled me! My neck is nearly bruised black!”

“Your sister’s heavy-handed, but so are you. She’s young and ignorant, but must you join in her mischief?”

Chastened, Gu Zhongyun muttered, “I must not be your real son…”

“What was that?!”

He immediately replied, “Mother is wise and heroic; little sister’s cleverness is all your teaching.”

“Hmph!” Lady Gu flicked her sleeve, unimpressed.

Qiulan, meanwhile, wished to question Gu Zhongyun. “Mother, I haven’t seen Second Brother in so long, let us talk awhile.”

Lady Gu eyed them suspiciously but eventually agreed. No sooner had she left than the door was locked firmly behind her.

Qiulan’s voice turned icy. “Is Yinyin’s matter your doing?”

Gu Zhongyun sprawled carelessly in a chair, pouring himself tea with exaggerated nonchalance. Qiulan lost patience and demanded, “Well? Was it you?”

“Why bother with a philandering man?” Gu Zhongyun pulled a face. “Divorce at once so I can tell Brother Yan to prepare his betrothal gifts and marry you—he’s been waiting for you, devoted as ever.”

“Who wants to marry him? I like Qin Muchuan! I’ll marry no one but him!”

“Just because he’s good-looking? I promise you, I’ll find someone even more handsome and wholeheartedly devoted to you!”

“Ha…” Qiulan sneered, “My Qin Muchuan is second to none in looks—there’s not a man alive who’d dare claim first!”

Gu Zhongyun held his forehead. “There isn’t a man who’d want to claim first, believe me.”

“Stubborn as ever!” Qiulan circled him twice. “New clothes, new boots, and yet you pretend not to care? Even if Qin Muchuan wore old rags, he’d still outshine you, Second Brother. Just admit it!”

Incensed, Gu Zhongyun slapped the table. “So what if he’s handsome? Is he better at martial arts than I am?” The wooden table splintered with fine cracks.

Qiulan slapped her palm down as well. “Want to compare martial skills?” The table collapsed entirely.

Gu Zhongyun was speechless.

“In any case, that Qin fellow isn’t good enough for you. On his wedding night, he was off chasing another woman—worse than a beast!”

“Second Brother…”

“What? Still defending him?”

“I did plenty of beastly things in Yan Prefecture myself, didn’t I?”

“Being involved with a courtesan is hardly worth mentioning!” Qiulan planted a foot on a stool. “That’s nothing to me!”

Who was Gu Qiulan? Back in Yan Prefecture, she’d served in the army, led troops, slain foes on horseback, and commanded respect off it. She could thrash brutes with her fists and compose scandalous poetry with her pen. She’d abducted young scholars, brawled with pretty boys—truly, her beastliness knew no bounds. If not for Qin Muchuan’s unmatched beauty, she might still be wreaking havoc in Yan Prefecture.

After a long while, Qiulan finally withdrew her leg. Really now, she kept forgetting to act gentle and demure—thank goodness Qin Muchuan wasn’t here.

Gu Zhongyun was finally subdued, his own memories of those wild days in Yan Prefecture stirred. Heaven knows what Brother Yan ever saw in her; Gu Zhongyun felt he was meddling for nothing. Yet he’d once boasted to Yan Xingdong that Qiulan wouldn’t last a month in the Duke’s household…

Qin Muchuan—how could a man look like that and still have any shame left!

Qiulan grinned in triumph. It was getting late; before sunset she had to return to the Duke’s estate with Qin Muchuan. Upon seeing him, she was startled. “Husband, why are your clothes so dirty?”

Qin Muchuan’s gaze shot past her to Gu Zhongyun. He brushed Qiulan’s hand away. “Just slipped and fell, nothing more.”

Qiulan stared at her hand—had something happened behind her back? She glanced at Gu Zhongyun, who wore an expression of utter innocence. Well, pampered beauties needed coaxing; she’d get answers from Qin Muchuan back at the estate.

Qiulan was planning how to extract the truth when, as they reached the Duke’s gate, Steward Zhao was already waiting.

“Young Master, Young Madam, how was your journey?”

Qiulan smiled and nodded.

Steward Zhao said, “Master has been awaiting your return; he has urgent matters to discuss with you.”

Qiulan, puzzled, was about to ask more, but Qin Muchuan, already irritated with her, cut in, “If so, take me to him at once!” With that, he strode off without a backward glance.

Steward Zhao, seeing Qiulan left behind, felt a pang of pity. His own daughter was of similar age to Qiulan, and her forlorn look reminded him of the daughter he had married off far away. “Young Madam, don’t mind him. The Young Master is just… just quick-tempered.”

“Mm.” Qiulan nodded absentmindedly.

But this display, in the eyes of the Duke’s entire household, gave rise to a host of new rumors.