Chapter 42: A Heart Split Into Two
Qin Yuan said angrily, “I’m not setting up a stall under the overpass to tell fortunes.”

The few of them stopped making noises and walked into the hall, where they saw the brothers Gu Jinghui and Gu Jingjun sitting as host and guest respectively. The atmosphere was not warm.

Gu Jingjun was wearing a green Taoist robe and holding a folding fan in his hand. He was gentle and refined, and a pair of peach blossom eyes on his jade-white face glanced over. He smiled before speaking, looking very considerate and gentle.

No wonder the servants in the mansion all said that Sixth Master Gu was very popular with women and there were always people throwing themselves at him. If it weren’t for Old Madam Gu’s strict supervision, I’m afraid Sixth Master would have already had dozens of concubines.

Although Gu Jinghui, who was tall and handsome in his dark uniform, was stern and cold, making people afraid to get too close to him.

Qin Yuan thought to himself that these two brothers were completely different and their relationship didn’t seem to be close.

Seeing her come in, Gu Jinghui said, “Madam is here. Sixth brother has something to discuss with you, but you have to come to make the decision on this matter.”

Gu Jingjun quickly stood up and said with a smile, “Meet the Third Sister-in-law.”

They both exchanged a half-bow as a token of acquaintance, and then sat down separately.

The maidservant beside her hurriedly brought tea.

Gu Jingjun didn’t dare to look directly at the stunning third sister-in-law. He just glanced at her briefly and then looked away.

Qin Yuan said, “My dear, what’s the matter with my sixth brother?”

The voice was soft and gentle, and it sounded quite lingering in the ears, with a bit of the tenderness of the Jiangnan water town.

I think my third sister-in-law is from the south of the Yangtze River. If she sings the south-of-the-river tune accompanied by the pipa, it must sound beautiful.

Gu Jingjun’s mind began to drift away.

Gu Jinghui said, “Sixth brother learned that you wanted to stock up on pepper, so he came to ask you how much you wanted to buy and what your price was. He has a friend who happens to have some pepper and wants to sell it so that he can free up money for other businesses.”

Qin Yuan was a little surprised.

Gu Jingjun quickly replied, “Third sister-in-law, this guy is my friend, from Wujiang. He has been studying in the inner dormitory of the Imperial College for six years, but he was not promoted to the upper dormitory. He was ordered to drop out and sent back home. He could only take the exam in Wujiang. He wanted to clear out all the inventory on hand and buy some things that southerners like to take back and sell. With this trip, he has the money. I went out for a drink a few days ago and happened to hear about this. It’s a coincidence.”

Gu Jinghui felt a little uncomfortable when he saw him walk past him to talk to Qin Yuan, but he couldn’t tell why. He just looked at Qin Yuan with a gloomy expression.

Qin Yuan pondered in silence.

If you say that you are not moved, that would be a lie.

But this person has a special identity. Her father is the chief academic officer of the Imperial College. If she is involved in something inappropriate, she will be in trouble for no reason.

“Thank you for your help, Sixth Brother. This is indeed a coincidence.” Qin Yuan saw that Gu Jingjun’s jade-white face was slightly agitated, so she quickly thanked him.

No matter what, Mr. Gu Liu is trying to show goodwill, and she has to be tactful.

Gu Jingjun opened his folding fan and waved it gently twice, with a rather elegant manner as he walked. He smiled and said, “I’m afraid that Third Sister-in-law’s brother-in-law, Young Master Lin, also knows about this person. We’ve had a drink together.”

He put Lin Ziqi on the stage to reassure Qin Yuan.

Gu Jinghui, who was sitting nearby, had a gloomy expression on his face and asked, “Sixth brother also has contact with Mr. Lin?”

Gu Jingjun smiled and said, “Yes, because of my third sister-in-law, I have become closer to Mr. Lin than before. I met him in the poetry club before, but I only knew his talent and reputation, but I didn’t talk to him much. Now we are relatives, Mr. Lin is talented and has the talent to become a Jinshi, so how can I, as a younger brother, not make friends with him?”

To make friends with Jinshi is to make connections.

The son-in-law that Qin Jijiu likes can’t be bad.

It was perfectly normal for Gu Jingjun to make friends with Lin Ziqi through Qin Yuan’s relationship.

He said this to show that he respected his third brother, his third sister-in-law, and valued his third sister-in-law’s relatives.

But Gu Jinghui couldn’t be happy. He raised his teacup and pretended to drink tea, looking at Qin Yuan with an obscure look.

Qin Yuan was thinking about how to tactfully reject Gu Jingjun’s kindness and did not notice the change in Lord Gu. She pondered for a while and said, “The person introduced by Sixth Brother must be reliable, but…”

“Just what?” Gu Jingjun asked hurriedly.

Qin Yuan lowered her head and looked at her little hand on her knee, and said softly, “It’s just that this man is a student of the Imperial College, and my father is the chief priest of the Imperial College. I wonder if I should avoid suspicion.”

Gu Jingjun was stunned.

Gu Jinghui glanced at Qin Yuan with appreciation.

After a while, Gu Jingjun murmured, “Could it be that Third Sister-in-law is afraid of causing criticism to the Lord of the Imperial Court?”

Qin Yuan sighed, “That’s right. He can’t be promoted from the inner quarters to the upper quarters now, and he was sent back home. I don’t know what he’s thinking. If I buy his pepper, I’m afraid it will be troublesome if we argue about it in the future.”

It was also common for the censors in the Censorate to report upon hearing the news.

I’m just afraid that someone will deliberately cause trouble.

Although the chief academic officer of the Imperial College was of the fifth rank, he was also the leader among the literati and the mainstay of the clean stream.

No matter how smooth Qin Jijiu is, he still has his rivals.

Gu Jingjun put away his folding fan, tapped his palm heavily, and said angrily: “Third sister-in-law has considered everything, I was wrong.”

I thought my third sister-in-law was a woman with little knowledge, but she could actually think of this.

The daughter raised by Qin Jijiu is indeed extraordinary.

Gu Jingjun thought with envy: “Why does Third Brother always get the best in the world?”

Seeing that his annoyance was not fake, Qin Yuan quickly comforted him: “Sixth brother, if it wasn’t for your family, why would you not avoid the heat and come to tell me this. It’s obvious that Sixth brother respects the Marquis and takes my matter to heart. I can’t thank you enough, but I… I have failed Sixth brother’s kindness.”

After hearing these words, Gu Jingjun was agitated, and his mind turned over and over again. Finally, he sighed, “It’s such a small matter, it’s not worth mentioning. Third sister-in-law is really polite. I will help her to find out later.”

Qin Yuan stood up, bowed to Gu Jingjun, and said, “Thank you very much, Sixth Brother.”

Gu Jingjun quickly stood up and returned the greeting, saying, “Third sister-in-law, you’re too polite.”

After both of them sat down, Gu Jingjun continued, “I heard that Third Sister-in-law wants to stock up on a lot of pepper, but we should be more cautious.”

He couldn’t help but sincerely want to persuade Qin Yuan.

Qin Yuan said: “I appreciate Sixth Brother’s kindness. Mother and husband have advised me in this way. I really need to be cautious.”

Gu Jingjun glanced at Gu Jinghui, who had been silent for a long time with a gloomy face, and said quickly: “I don’t have anything to do, so I won’t bother you anymore. Third brother has been hit by the heat, I’m afraid he’s not feeling well, you need to rest well.”

Gu Jinghui nodded slowly and said, “Okay, Sixth Brother, come find me next time.”

Qin Yuan also said, “Sixth brother, take care.”

Gu Jingjun left Wutong Garden in a daze and wandered around the yard, not wanting to go back to his main courtyard.

He walked leisurely along the path to Aunt Zheng’s courtyard.

In the yard, Aunt Zheng was singing a song.

“My heart is split into two halves. Oh, my dear, you are in each half…”

The long sleeves were swung in an alluring arc.

If it were usual, Gu Jingjun would have already been relaxed and happy.

But at this moment, his heart was filled with inexplicable sorrow.

(End of this chapter)