“Why are you here?”
“Why are you here!”
Fu Xian and Gu Yu spoke at the same time, and after they did, they stared at each other with wide eyes.
Gu Yu shot Fu Xian a glare, then grabbed Gu Wuyou and tried to leave. This was the academy, after all. Although this place was usually deserted, if someone were to see them together with the people from Buzhi Hall, who knew what kind of rumors would spread?
“They’re probably also here for Da—” Gu Wuyou lightly bit the tip of her tongue, swallowing back the title and changing her words. “Li Qinyuan’s matter.”
“Then all the better, let them investigate!” Gu Yu had never agreed with Gu Wuyou getting involved in this.
“No.” Gu Wuyou shook her head firmly, her stance unwavering. She couldn’t ignore the matter of the Great General.
“You!”
Gu Yu was almost infuriated to death by her. How had she never noticed before that Gu Wuyou was this stubborn? No, actually, when they argued or gave each other the cold shoulder, she was just as obstinate—if she said she wouldn’t talk to someone, she really wouldn’t.
“If you’re worried, you can go back first and let Second Sister know.” Gu Wuyou thought she was afraid of being seen and breaking some taboo, so she whispered this suggestion.
“What right do you have to order me around?” Gu Yu glared at her. She had been about to leave but then stopped, turning instead with an impatient expression to look at Fu Xian and the others. With evident displeasure, she spoke up, “What have you found out?”
She had no desire to see them.
Fu Xian wasn’t happy to see them either. One was a little pepper, the other had a hot temper—neither of them was easy to get along with. He couldn’t understand how they were sisters, yet so vastly different from Sister Tiao.
Now, he simply raised his chin, snorted lightly through his nose, and turned his face away, ignoring them completely.
“You!”
Gu Yu was even more annoyed seeing Fu Xian’s attitude.
It was Jing Yubai who, after a brief moment of surprise, regained his composure. He cupped his hands toward Gu Wuyou and Gu Yu, then smiled warmly. “Since we’re all here for Qilang’s matter, there’s no need for internal strife at a time like this.”
After saying this, he took the initiative to answer Gu Yu’s question. “We just sent someone to call over all the young male and female servants who were near this area around that time yesterday. We plan to interrogate them properly.”
“And you?”
Jing Yubai looked at Gu Wuyou and asked with a smile, “Have you found anything?”
With his intervention, the previously divided groups could no longer continue their conflict. Though Gu Yu didn’t say anything, her expression also looked less hostile.
Gu Wuyou had no particular opinion about them. After all, in her past life, these three had called her “sister-in-law” for several years. Now that she was being asked, she answered truthfully, “Same as you. We’re also waiting for those servants to be brought over.”
It seemed they had the same idea.
Jing Yubai chuckled, and with that, no one spoke further. Soon, someone arrived, bringing over the summoned servants.
Gu Wuyou was anxious. Seeing them arrive, she didn’t even wait for them to greet her before asking, “Yesterday at the time of Shen (15:00-16:59), you were all around this area. Did you hear anything unusual?”
Fu Xian, seeing her seize the lead in questioning, shot her a glare. He couldn’t understand why this little pepper seemed even more anxious about Qilang’s matter than they were.
But since it was for Qilang’s sake, he didn’t say anything and simply stood to the side, glaring at the gathered servants while lowering his voice in a menacing tone, “Tell us everything you know. If anyone hides the truth, don’t blame us for being merciless.”
They were all the most distinguished people in the academy—who would dare to deceive them?
None of the gathered servants even dared to exchange glances. One by one, they recounted everything they had seen and heard, but either their words were too similar, or they were just spouting useless information.
Gu Wuyou listened for a while, her small face gradually darkening.
Not only him, but even Fu Xian and the others’ expressions turned grim. Everyone who could have possibly heard any sounds yesterday was already here, yet from their accounts, only Qilang and Zhou Changbai were present in this area at that time.
By the time they discovered the scene, Qilang was already grabbing Zhou Changbai’s hair and slamming his head against a tree.
How could this possibly clear his name?
“Maybe we should just go ask Qilang and get a clear answer,” Qi Xu furrowed his brows and suggested in a low voice.
“He refuses to talk,” Gu Wuyou answered softly.
Fu Xian had been about to respond to Qi Xu, but upon hearing this, he froze and turned to look at Gu Wuyou. With obvious confusion, he blurted out, “How do you know?”
At this moment, Gu Wuyou had no mind to answer him.
Fu Xian wanted to press further, but Jing Yubai reached out and tugged on his arm, stopping him.
The maidservant who had originally brought the group of people over spoke up in a soft voice, “Young masters, noble ladies, they can’t stay out for too long. If you’re finished asking, I will take them back now.”
They hadn’t gotten the answers they needed.
Jing Yubai was also somewhat disappointed, but he still nodded and only gave a simple reminder: “Tell them not to speak recklessly.”
“Yes, I understand,” the maidservant answered quickly. She was just about to lead the group away when suddenly, a voice rang out behind her.
“Did anyone see Miss Huang from the Ministry of Rites’ family yesterday?”
The people who were about to leave stopped in their tracks, and Gu Yu and the others all turned their heads to look at Gu Wuyou.
Gu Wuyou, however, seemed not to notice their gazes. She kept her eyes fixed on the group and asked, “At that time yesterday, did any of you see her here?”
“Ah!”
A young maidservant dressed in yellow suddenly let out a small exclamation. Seeing everyone’s eyes turn toward her, her face flushed red, and she answered in a low voice, “Yesterday, I ran into Miss Huang here. She was rushing over as if someone was chasing her and accidentally bumped into me.”
“I was worried something had happened to her and called out to her a few times, but Miss Huang didn’t even turn her head back. She ran off very quickly. I had other things to do, so I didn’t follow her.”
The chaotic mess of thoughts in Gu Wuyou’s mind suddenly began to connect like pieces of a puzzle.
Why would the Great General, who never resorted to violence, suddenly beat up Zhou Changbai in the academy?
Why would Huang Fu, who was timid to the extreme, be seen speaking with the Great General on the main street today?
And why had Huang Fu suddenly withdrawn from school?
…
Everything was becoming clear.
Gu Wuyou couldn’t stay still for another second. She took a step forward, ready to leave.
Gu Yu was momentarily stunned by her actions. Realizing what was happening, she hurriedly caught up and grabbed her wrist. “Where are you going now?”
“I—” Gu Wuyou opened her mouth, wanting to answer. But then she thought of how the Great General refused to say anything even while being misunderstood, and she didn’t want to speak carelessly and let others overthink the situation. Instead, she simply said, “I think I understand what happened.”
“You all go back first. I’ll be back soon.”
Then she turned to Gu Yu and added, “Tell Second Sister that I’ll have to miss the two afternoon classes.”
After saying that, she pulled her hand from Gu Yu’s grip and ran outside.
“Gu Wuyou, come back here! You haven’t even eaten lunch yet!”
Gu Yu shouted several times after her, but Gu Wuyou never turned back. Frustrated, she was about to chase after her when Jing Yubai called out, “Miss Gu Yu.”
Jing Yubai was not Fu Xian.
Gu Yu couldn’t treat Jing Yubai with the same attitude she used on Fu Xian, so she stopped in her tracks and frowned, asking, “What is it?”
Jing Yubai smiled and said, “The Commandery Princess of Leping has probably discovered something. Rather than all of us rushing over together, it’s better to follow her lead. Besides… someone still needs to inform Miss Gu.”
Thinking of her Second Sister, Gu Yu hesitated and couldn’t take another step forward.
She stood where she was, watching as Gu Wuyou’s figure ran farther and farther away. After a long pause, she muttered a low curse, “Annoying troublemaker.” Then, pursing her lips, she turned and walked toward Pingshuo Hall.
After she left, the head maid led the group of servants away as well.
Fu Xian still had a puzzled look on his face. “What exactly did that little pepper figure out? No, wait, why does she care so much about Qilang’s matter?”
“Hmm.”
Qi Xu tilted his head, thinking for a moment. “She seemed pretty concerned about Qilang yesterday too.”
“I know that! What I’m asking is why does she care so much about Qilang?!” Fu Xian still looked completely baffled. “That little pepper is such a troublemaker. She wouldn’t be planning to torment Qilang, would she?”
Jing Yubai gave Fu Xian a speechless look. Normally, Fu Xian seemed quite sharp—how was he being so dense now? What kind of girl torments people in this way? Shaking his head with a sigh, Jing Yubai said nothing and simply walked off.
“Dabai, where are you going?” Fu Xian called out behind him.
Jing Yubai didn’t even turn his head as he replied, “To eat.”
“Oh.” Fu Xian responded and followed along, matching his steps with Jing Yubai. At the same time, he slung an arm around Qi Xu’s shoulder. “Xiao Xu, do you think we should tell Qilang to be careful of that little pepper?”
“Hmm.”
Qi Xu felt that something wasn’t quite right. “I don’t think that’s necessary…”
“How is it not necessary?!” Fu Xian said anxiously. “I’ve suffered plenty at that little pepper’s hands.”
“But I feel like…”
Before Qi Xu could finish his sentence, Fu Xian had already made up his mind. “Alright, after school today, I’ll go tell Qilang to be careful so he doesn’t get bullied by that little pepper.”
“Well… okay then.”
—
Gu Wuyou took a carriage straight to the Huang residence.
Unlike other aristocratic families, the Huang family’s estate was a modest two-courtyard residence. It was said that the Huang family’s ancestral home wasn’t in the capital, and only because Huang Chang was highly capable and gained the Emperor’s favor was he transferred here.
But outsiders could never compare to those with deep-rooted connections. As a result, their residence was in a remote area, and the number of servants was limited.
After Gu Wuyou announced her identity and reason for visiting, the gatekeeper’s eyes widened in shock as he stared at her, stammering, “Y-you, please wait a moment. I-I will go inform them right away.”
With that, he dashed inside as if he were running toward a fire.
Watching his reaction, Gu Wuyou sighed.
She suddenly understood why Huang Fu was so timid—why she wouldn’t even dare to speak up when being bullied.
It wasn’t long before someone came out to receive her. It was none other than Madam Huang herself.
Gu Wuyou had sharp eyes and immediately noticed that even though Madam Huang had applied powder to her face, her eyes were still swollen, and her eyelids were tinged with red.
Pressing her lips together, the answer in her heart became even clearer.
“Commandery Princess of Leping.”
Madam Huang wanted to bow to her, but Gu Wuyou reached out to stop her. Her voice was gentle, and her tone remained calm. “You are an elder, there is no need for formalities. I came today to see Miss Huang.”
“Your Highness…”
Madam Huang looked troubled, her voice slightly hoarse. “My daughter Ah Fu is not feeling well today, she might not be able to—” Before she could finish her sentence, a delicate female voice came from behind her.
“Mother, I’m fine.”
“Ah Fu?!”
Hearing the voice, Madam Huang immediately turned around and saw Huang Fu stepping out without a cloak. She became anxious and, forgetting about Gu Wuyou for the moment, rushed over to grab her daughter’s hand, speaking in a hushed voice, “Didn’t I tell you to stay inside? It’s so cold out here, why did you come out?”
“I’m fine.”