He knew that aside from him and his sister, his mother’s greatest weakness was the Sun family.
But he had never liked his cousin. He had warned his mother about him time and again, yet she had knowingly let this happen.
Xiao Ye pressed his lips together. Seeing that his mother was about to continue arguing with Lanyin, his thick brows furrowed, and his voice sank.
“How much longer do you intend to make a scene?”
He wanted to say more, but his strength—both physical and mental—was already at its limit. His lips were dry and pale. As soon as he opened his mouth, a violent coughing fit overtook him.
“Ye’er!”
Madam Xiao’s face changed drastically.
Seeing Xiao Ye on the verge of collapse, she could no longer spare the energy to argue with Gu Lanyin. She hurriedly called for the servants to support him and help him toward the carriage, following closely behind.
Gu Qing had been waiting beside the carriage all this time.
She had long recovered from her initial shock.
Being treated like this by Xiao Ye in public, Gu Qing naturally felt humiliated. But she couldn’t bear to leave, nor did she dare to. She finally understood that a crying, fussing child only gets sweets if the giver is willing. Back when Xiao Ye cherished her and spoiled her, she could cry and make a fuss as she pleased. But now, if she turned and left, she feared that apart from Xueya, there wouldn’t be a single person in Bianjing who would come looking for her.
So no matter how humiliating it was, she did not leave.
At this moment, seeing Xiao Ye being supported as he walked over, his pale face and dejected, wounded expression made her heart ache. She forgot his earlier coldness toward her, wiped away her tears, and still ran toward him.
“Ah Ye…”
She reached out, trying to support Xiao Ye.
The servants escorting him hesitated. After a brief pause, one of them stepped aside, intending to give Gu Qing space to take his place. But no one expected that as soon as her fingers touched Xiao Ye’s arm, he would forcefully fling her away.
Gu Qing stumbled and nearly fell. When she barely managed to steady herself, she could only watch as Xiao Ye, without even looking back, clutched his wounded arm and walked away with his sword.
The other servants were dumbfounded. Clearly, they had not expected this outcome. But looking at Xiao Ye’s staggering figure, they feared that if something happened to him, Madam Xiao would hold them accountable. So, not daring to linger, they quickly followed after him.
As for Madam Xiao—
She had never liked Gu Qing in the first place, and after what Gu Lanyin did today, her hatred for these two sisters had reached its peak. Seeing Xiao Ye’s attitude now, she naturally had no intention of intervening.
She strode away without a word.
No one paid any attention to Gu Qing. They all headed straight for the carriage.
In just a short moment, the carriage was gone, leaving Gu Qing behind as if she had been entirely forgotten.
In the silent alley, Gu Qing stared blankly ahead, seemingly still in a daze. It wasn’t until the evening breeze swept past, causing her thick eyelashes to tremble slightly, that her unfocused gaze finally came back together. Her outstretched hand was still frozen in midair.
Staring at the departing carriage, her expression shifted. She immediately lifted her foot to chase after it, but how could a person outrun a carriage? In just a few breaths, the carriage had disappeared from her sight.
Her steps came to a halt once more.
Gu Qing could feel the countless gazes falling upon her from behind. She knew exactly who was watching her. Her back stiffened, and she didn’t dare turn around.
To be honest, she had forgotten most of her memories before the age of six. She didn’t remember being kidnapped by traffickers, nor did she recall the joyful years before that. Perhaps there were some faint impressions—vague shadows in her mind—but nothing deep.
All she knew was that from the moment she could remember, she had never been abandoned like this before.
Her adoptive parents had only one daughter—her. Though she wasn’t their biological child, they treated her no differently than if she were. When she returned to the marquis’s manor, though everything was unfamiliar, she had her mother’s protection, so no one dared treat her poorly.
And as for Xiao Ye—
Even though he couldn’t marry her, whenever she needed him, no matter how far away, he would always come to see her.
She had thought Xiao Ye would always protect and cherish her, just like her adoptive parents and her mother. She never expected that today, he would abandon her.
Shame and grievance swirled in her heart. The more she thought about how Gu Lanyin had seen her in such a state, the more she felt humiliated to the point of death. Her eyes instantly reddened with fury and shame.
The last thing she wanted was for Gu Lanyin to see her like this.
Gu Lanyin, however, didn’t care what she was thinking, nor did she bother to figure it out. She didn’t even spare her a second glance.
Turning around, she handed the sword in her hand back to Tianqing. When she reached Ting Yun’s side, she casually instructed, “Send someone to watch her. It doesn’t matter what she wants to do—just make sure she doesn’t get into trouble.”
She did not possess such boundless compassion.
Not taking action against her was already the greatest tolerance she could offer.
Lanyin continued walking forward and saw that Qi Yubai had already stood up. She quickly adjusted her expression and hurried over.
“Are you alright?”
He had not let anyone assist him and was standing alone, appearing no different from usual. If not for the large stain of blood on his clothes, no one would have guessed that he had been injured.
“Why didn’t you help him?” She furrowed her delicate brows and questioned Song Yue.
Just as Song Yue was about to respond, Qi Yubai had already spoken to Lanyin. “It’s nothing serious, no need to worry.”
Though he said so, his voice was noticeably weaker than before, and his long brows were tightly furrowed. He was clearly uncomfortable. He even turned his head to cough lightly, causing the wound on his shoulder—barely stabilized—to start bleeding again.
Seeing the fresh blood seeping out, Lanyin’s eyes reddened with worry. At this moment, she cared nothing for propriety. Seeing his indifferent demeanor, she hurriedly stepped forward, took hold of his arm, and frowned.
“You always say ‘it’s nothing serious’ or ‘it’s no big deal.’ Then what would you consider serious?”
She hadn’t even realized that her tone carried urgency and reprimand—something that would have been utterly impossible in the past.
Qi Yubai hadn’t expected his injury to evoke such a strong reaction from her. He was briefly surprised, but when he realized why she was so agitated, a faint smile appeared in his eyes.
If suffering one injury could bring about such treatment from her, he thought it was well worth it.
Lanyin didn’t notice. If she had known he was smiling at such a moment, she might have been even more upset.
Right now, all her focus was on his injury. Looking at his left shoulder, she asked in a soft voice, “Shall I summon a physician for you?”
“No need.”
Qi Yubai had barely finished speaking when he saw her lift her gaze, lips slightly pursed. He immediately understood that she thought he was making excuses again. Amused yet content to let her care for him, he explained gently, “It’s just a superficial wound. A simple cleansing and application of medicine will suffice. There’s no need to make a fuss over it.”
Hearing this, Lanyin did not insist further. She simply said, “Then I’ll help you back.”
Qi Yubai remained silent for a moment before replying, “Grandmother must be waiting for me. If she sees me like this, she’ll surely worry.”
That was true.
Tonight’s events could not be entirely concealed, but if Qi Yubai returned home covered in wounds, his grandmother would likely be unable to sleep through the night with worry.
Realizing this, Lanyin did not hesitate and instead suggested, “If you don’t mind, why not come to my residence first to clean up?”
Qi Yubai had been waiting for an opportunity like this—how could he possibly mind?
With a slight nod, he allowed Lanyin to support him as they entered her estate.
Ting Yun had matters to attend to regarding Gu Qing. Shi Yu, seeing them leave, was about to follow when Zhusheng blocked her path.
With his broad shoulders and tall frame, he effectively obstructed her view. Feigning sorrow, he sighed, “Ah, Sister Shi Yu, today’s incident has caused quite the stir. We’ll likely need you and Brother Song Yue to bring a few servants and visit the neighbors. Otherwise, who knows what kind of rumors will spread by morning?”
At his words, Shi Yu’s expression changed immediately.
She valued Lanyin’s reputation above all else. Hearing this, she forgot all about following Lanyin inside. With a darkened face, she cursed the Xiao family as a disaster, then quickly called for Song Yue, Shanxi, and the others to accompany Zhusheng in paying visits to the surrounding neighbors.
——
This was Qi Yubai’s first time entering the Gu estate.
He had often gazed at it from his window and imagined what it might look like inside. Now, standing within its walls, he realized that it was exactly as he had envisioned.
Just like her, her residence exuded an air of elegance.
In the distance, apricot blossoms swayed gently in the breeze, and a brook murmured softly. Under the glow of lanterns, a few koi fish flicked their tails playfully in the pond. Further ahead, beneath a plantain tree, a Xiangfei chaise had been placed, with a book and a cloud-patterned brocade blanket resting atop it. Everything was arranged in a way that evoked a sense of tranquil days and peaceful years.
Lanyin noticed it as well.
It was something she had instructed to be moved out earlier when she returned to her study. She had intended to sit there, but before she had the chance, Dan Xi had rushed in to inform her of Xiao Ye’s arrival. Now, seeing it again, she felt a little embarrassed. Lowering her gaze, she hesitated slightly before murmuring, “There aren’t many people in the house most days, so I don’t tidy up much.”
“It’s nice.”
“…What?”
Lanyin was unsure of what he meant and lifted her gaze to look at him again.
Qi Yubai met her eyes. Under the lantern light, his pitch-black pupils seemed to shimmer with rippling brilliance. He looked at Lanyin and said, “It feels like a home. That’s nice.”
The bright moonlight and distant lantern glow illuminated his brows and eyes against the night, making his expression appear particularly clear. Compared to earlier, Qi Yubai now seemed especially approachable.
Lanyin was momentarily dazed.
Before she could say anything, voices from Hong Xing and the others sounded from afar. Seeing them approaching, she quickly instructed, “Prepare hot water and hemostatic powder.” Then, without further ado, she continued to support Qi Yubai toward the guest hall.
Qi Yubai was settled into the flower hall to rest.
Meanwhile, Lanyin waited outside, separated by only a curtain, as Hong Xing and the others busied themselves.
The hot water had already been brought in. When she saw Hong Xing running toward her, out of breath, Lanyin reached out to steady her and asked, “Where are they?”
Panting, Hong Xing answered, “This servant inquired around. Sister Shi Yu took some people along with the two Qi family guards to visit the neighbors.”
Understanding their purpose, Lanyin nodded and said no more.
However, with Tianqing and Zhusheng both absent, and the maids all treating Qi Yubai with a certain reverence, the question of who would apply medicine to him became a problem.
Xiao Hong, though young and fearless, was still inexperienced in such matters. Lanyin worried that the girls wouldn’t be careful enough and might end up causing Qi Yubai more pain. After some thought, she hesitated for a moment before sighing softly.
Taking the hemostatic powder from Hong Xing’s hands, she instructed, “Wait outside.”
The moment Hong Xing heard this, she knew what Lanyin intended to do. Seeing her about to lift the silk curtain, Hong Xing’s expression changed drastically. She quickly grasped Lanyin’s arm and shook her head vigorously.
“Master, you can’t! If word of this gets out, in the future—”
“It doesn’t matter.” Lanyin’s voice was calm.
A woman’s reputation was mostly about securing a good marriage. But she had long since given up on the idea of marrying. To her, Qi Yubai’s injury was the only thing that mattered right now.
Still, she found it ironic. Barely an hour ago, she had been thinking of keeping her distance from him. And now…
She shook her head.
Saying nothing more, she lifted the curtain and stepped inside.
The silk curtain dimmed the light from outside.
Qi Yubai sat upright in his chair. As he watched Lanyin approach through the warm candlelit room, his phoenix-like eyes deepened slightly. The hand that had been resting quietly on the table finally moved—just a little.