Male Lead Is Always That Heartless

Chapter 48

After Gu Yi said something awkward and polite, she turned around to leave. However, Zhou Tinghe suddenly grabbed the corner of her cloak. Gu Yi was frightened and narrowly avoided it.

You, a big brother with no rank, openly pulling a palace consort, both of us may be in trouble!

She sternly said, “Mr. Zhou, please respect yourself!”

Zhou Tinghe saw Gu Yi was shocked until her eyes widened and her voice trembled, so he could only withdraw his hand in dismay. “Yes. I was rude –”

Gu Yi didn’t want to stay any longer and immediately put down the hairpin in her hand. This Zhou Tinghe was like a fire pit. She had no idea what kind of sadomasochistic love he had with the original Beauty Gu. She turned her head and glanced at Zhao Wan, who was also shocked, and urged, “Let’s go.”

Zhao Wan raised her eyes and looked closer at Gu Yi, whose face was anxious but not sad. She wasn’t like seeing an old lover with a hateful parting. But Zhou Tinghe’s words and behavior showed that he still remembered Lady of Fairness Gu. Zhao Wan averted her eyes and lowered her eyebrows, nodding yes. They hurried downstairs, exited the Zhubao Pavilion, and entered the carriage.

Bad luck. She even ran into a suspected ex-boyfriend when she strolled in the street. Gu Yi’s enthusiasm for vacation was dashed to pieces. Sitting on the soft cushions of the carriage, she couldn’t help but take a deep breath. Today, all of the servants in the Gu family won’t talk nonsense.

Gu Yi hesitantly glanced at Zhao Wan.

Zhao Wan understood and said, “Sister Yi, don’t worry. Today’s matter, I will keep my mouth shut.”

Gu Yi shook her head, “It’s not a big deal. It’s just an old acquaintance. A Wan doesn’t have to put it in her heart.”

This matter, she had to say it herself. If Xiao Yan eventually knew, it would be much less misunderstanding if she confessed than for others to fuel the fire. Besides, she had nothing to fear. She had no relationship with Zhou Tinghe!

According to Doggy Xiao’s character, if any concubine dared to have an affair and planted a green hat on his head, he would beat her to death in a minute and might implicate the whole family. She has worked so hard for so long and must not end up miserable because of unfounded charges.

Gu Yi made up her mind. When the carriage returned to the Gu family, Mrs. Gu hurriedly waved away her subordinates and personally closed the carved window in the room. She looked at Gu Yi with a look of ‘not knowing-where-to-start.’

Understood. So you’re going to give me information.

Gu Yi sat on the bench and smiled faintly, “Mother, say what you have to say.”

Know yourself and your enemy so you can survive to the end.

Mrs. Gu sighed a long breath, “Last month, when I heard that Zhou Tinghe came back from Qingzhou, I wondered if he would run into you on this trip. Unexpectedly, what I feared happened. You indeed meet coincidentally today ……” She sighed again. “It’s fate, ah.”

My mom, ah, say the point!

Gu Yi asked tentatively, “Why did Young Master Zhou return from Qingzhou?” What was his relationship with me before? Say it honestly!

Mrs. Gu: “The Zhou family has close business dealings with Qingzhou. Now the situation looks bad, and Zhou Tinghe is the only son, so I think the Zhou family will call him back……..”

Gu Yi saw her pause and did not continue. Her heart became more anxious. Continue to say, ah!

Mrs. Gu saw Gu Yi’s brows knit tightly, and her face was anxious, so her heart sank. Xiao Yi should not still be interested in Zhou Tinghe, right?

She sighed and persuaded: “Although Zhou Tinghe is handsome, he is just a commoner. No matter how big the Zhou family is, they are just a low merchant. We spoiled you so much back then and didn’t discipline you. You insisted on marrying Zhou Tinghe, and your father didn’t say much. He also promised that if Zhou Tinghe came to the mansion as the appointment that day, your father would not let you go to the capital as a candidate. But — since he didn’t come to the appointment that day, Xiao Yi — didn’t you understand his intentions? Zhou Tinghe has no interest in you, and the Emperor has already favored you; you must forget him.”

The original Beauty Gu indeed adored that Young Master Zhou! She even wanted to marry him! Holy shit!

Gu Yi burst into tears again, “Mother, you’re right.” She said firmly, “I already forgot about him a long time ago!”

Mrs. Gu half-heartedly surveyed her and gently held her hand, “It’s good you’ve forgotten. Accompanying a king is like accompanying a tiger. Don’t let your heart wander.”

Gu Yi nodded, “I know.” Move forward and avoid it. I won’t see him again for the rest of my life!

Mrs. Gu silently sighed again. She actually couldn’t bear to let Gu Yi go to the palace. Initially, she thought that if Zhou Tinghe had feelings, Gu Yi would marry him and be his legal wife. Mr. Gu was the governor of Fuzhou, and Xiao Yi could live a happy life. Why must she go to the palace, where all flowers compete and be humble? However, Zhou Tinghe was not a good man and had failed Xiao Yi’s heart.

Winter sunshine sprinkled down, shining on Fu City’s long alleys. When Zhou Tinghe boarded the carriage, his face was still cold and hard. After he saw Gu Yi, his mind was uneasy. The boy who followed him to guard the Jade Buddha sat in the carriage without saying a word. He could not understand why the Gu family’s lady returned to Fuzhou and why the Young Master was still thinking about Miss Gu. Should he report to Master Zhou?

The Zhou family resided in the east of Fu City. It was a courtyard with three entrances and exits, white walls, and black tiles. Although it wasn’t a large courtyard, two stone steps were in front of the house. Mountains and rivers were engraved into the walls, and the courtyard was full of flowers and trees. There was no merchant’s atmosphere; it was like a scholarly family. Zhou’s family has been in the tea business for many years, from the previous decades in Qingzhou, Fuzhou, Cangzhou, and all over the world. Now, the person in charge was the eldest son of the eldest house, Zhou Long, but he had no children, so he wanted to leave the family business to Zhou Tinghe, the eldest son of the second house.

King Shen had proclaimed himself the Emperor of Qingzhou for two years, and now the situation was becoming increasingly intense. The Luo River, which flowed through Qingzhou and Cangzhou, was an important waterway. To the north, it could reach Fuzhou and Qu City, and if it kept going north, it could reach Monan and Mobei. It was the waterway for tea trading. But some days ago, Luo River’s ships could not escape Qingzhou. Zhou Long was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

The guest sitting opposite him advised, “Boss Zhou, there is no need to worry. This Luo River’s thing can not be blocked for too long. No one can forcefully dominate a river for a long time.”

Zhou Long looked at the opposite man in black, frowning. “Brother Gu, ah. Your Qingzhou family also produces tea. Tea season is over; the tea will be stale and damp, and a year of hard work will be wasted!”

In the middle of the conversation, the family’s servant boy entered the east wing and reported, “Master, Young Master Tinghe is back!”

As soon as the words fell, Zhou Tinghe lifted the curtain and bowed: “Greetings, Uncle. Did Uncle just come back today?”

Zhou Long took two steps forward, helped Zhou Tinghe get up, looked him up and down, and said happily, “Good, good. After returning from this training, Tinghe has become more and more stable!”

He slightly turned sideways and introduced Zhou Tinghe to the person behind him. “This is the Qingzhou tea merchant, Boss Gu. When I was in Qingzhou, I received his care. In the future, you guys should contact each other often.”

Zhou Tinghe raised his head and looked closely at the man, seeing that he was tall, not strong, but lean, with a gnarled beard covering his face. He bowed and said, “Greetings, Boss Gu.”

Boss Gu helped him to get up, “Young Master Zhou is courteous. I’m a rough man, making you laugh.” The voice was, however, majestic and profound.

Zhou Tinghe had traveled to Qingzhou and Cangzhou for a long time, but he had yet to see this tea merchant. With a smile, he asked, “Boss Gu used to come to Fuzhou often?”

Boss Gu shook his head and laughed, “Someone sent the tea produced at home to Fuzhou, but this is the first time I’ve been here.”

Zhou Long laughed, saying, “It is fortunate that Boss Gu can come!” He also asked Zhou Tinghe, “I heard you went to fetch the old lady’s Jade Buddha. Is it going well these days? I heard from the servants that someone from the Ministry of Revenue in the capital seems to have come. Have you seen who it is?”

Zhou Tinghe answered one by one: “The old lady’s Jade Buddha has been retrieved and can be delivered at the birthday banquet today. I have been busy taking inventory of Fuzhou warehouses these days, and it has been going well. I heard the Ministry of Revenue sent people to measure the land, which is not a big deal. The person who came is Wang Zibo, the newly appointed Yuanwailang (*) this year, the youngest son of Wang Chongguang, the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Works.”

T/N: Fifth-ranked officer based outside the capital.

Zhou Long nodded: “The servant said that Wang Zibo is slippery and tight-lipped. We sent several gifts, but he didn’t reveal the rules for collecting tax land. If merchants didn’t own land, following the old rules, the service would be returned to the land, so without land, there will be no taxes –”

Zhou Tinghe stared, thinking carefully for a moment, “Listen to the words of Mr. Wang …… it seems that he wants to separate farmers and merchants, but how to separate them?”

Zhou Long heard and paused. He said, “Tomorrow, you and I will visit Officer Gu. Let’s hear what he said!”

Zhou Tinghe was stunned momentarily before slowly nodding, “Yes, I will go with my eldest uncle.” But he didn’t mention Gu Yi in Fuzhou.

Half past Xushi (7-9 pm), Xiao Yan and Gu Changtong have yet to return to the house. The ladies and Gu Zhao had to have dinner alone.

Back in the wing room, Tao Jia had prepared hot water for bathing, but Gu Yi was still worried about the encounter with Zhou Tinghe during the day. She was still nervous. She said to Tao Jia, “You don’t need to serve me tonight. You should go to bed early.”

Tao Jia said, “Are you tired? I’ll serve you a bowl of sleeping soup medicine. This sleeping soup is so useful during the trip.”

Gu Yi nodded, “Go. There is no hurry. Cool it down before bringing it.”

Tao Jia received the order and went.

Gu Yi removed a silver hairpin on her temples, picked the candle by the bedside, leaned over, and touched the rosewood treasure box hidden beside the pillow. Silver bills were at the bottom; she took it out and looked at it—five hundred taels of silver bills.

According to the plot, their southern tour will stop outside Luo River, Qingzhoufu. After returning to the palace, Zhao Wan will jump several levels to become an Imperial Concubine, and the six palaces will henceforth be virtually nonexistent. After the Zhao family overturns the case, Xiao Yan scatters the six palaces for Zhao Wan. Right now, the timeline of the southern tour has advanced, so will the timeline afterward also advance?

She still had five hundred taels of cash in the palace, and her life as a rich woman had taken shape. Now that Father Gu’s official fortune was prosperous, he wouldn’t bear to see her death if she had trouble in the future. But will she be allowed to marry again in the future?

Gu Yi thought of this and smiled. Definitely not. The Emperor’s woman, even if he let the concubines return home, the others won’t dare to marry. However, the Gu family was still in Fuzhou. If she had left the palace and had no place to stay in the capital, she could have found a small courtyard with beautiful mountains and rivers in Fuzhou.

Knock, knock, knock.

Someone knocked lightly on the door. Three soft sounds interrupting Gu Yi’s thoughts. “Who’s outside?”

“Sister, it’s me.” Outside the door was Gu Zhao’s voice.