Chapter 219: Gu Huai Arrives

Chapter 219: Gu Huai Arrives

In the courtyard.

The bamboo forest rustled, peach blossoms held the night's rain, and the willows were green with morning mist.

Lu Mingchao sat on a stone stool, gently twirling a bamboo leaf in her palm, carefully rubbing it. The spring breeze lightly brushed her hair, and the bright spring sunlight made it a perfect season.

"Elder brother..."

"Mingchao."

Suddenly, Lu Lei cut her off, "Mingchao, I know what you want to ask."

"Yesterday, I did go to the county jail to visit Cheng Zhi, but I have absolutely no intention of rekindling anything."

Lu Mingchao blinked slowly, pondering in her heart.

She knew that Lu Lei had gone to great lengths to learn a few simple and delicious dishes from the chef at Baiwei Restaurant in Changhe County and had taken a food box to visit the prison.

But Lu Lei insisted he had no intention of rekindling anything.

For a moment, she couldn't tell if his feelings had faded or his obsession had grown, burying all emotions beneath a calm surface.

"Elder brother, if you don't make a clean break, you'll face chaos. If you hesitate, there will be future troubles."

Lu Lei's eyes darkened, and he gave a bitter smile.

"Elder brother, would you go to Lingnan for me?"

"The Chaofu Clinic in Lingnan is about to be completed. Elder brother, you could take the secret miasma cure and oversee Lingnan. With Xie Sui's old connections to protect you, you will surely be safe." Lu Mingchao propped her chin on her hand, her voice warm as she asked.

Lu Lei didn't hesitate much and nodded in agreement.

Changhe County was a place of sorrow, and there was also his mother, who kept nagging him to marry every few days.

Leaving Changhe for Lingnan temporarily wasn't a bad idea.

As the sky darkened, the spring rain came quietly and suddenly, falling in fine, slanting lines.

Xie Yan came home in the evening rain, his handsome face less striking than the spirited look in his eyes.

"Mistress."

Yun Zheng had finally fulfilled his wish of transitioning from the shadows to being a carriage-driving errand boy.

Xie Yan glanced at Yun Zheng. Before he could call out to Mingchao, Yun Zheng had already spoken first.

Yun Zheng, a former Shadow Guard, was quite capable, but he rarely stopped talking. During the time he had been following Xie Yan around, his mouth had rarely been quiet.

Xie Yan suspected Commander Mi of the Shadow Guard had found Yun Zheng too noisy and had thus kicked him out.

Yun Zheng blinked his clear, round eyes, innocent and sincere, "Mistress, someone from the city sent people to the young master!"

With that, he disappeared in a flash.

Lu Mingchao looked at Xie Yan with a teasing gaze, joking, "A beauty?"

Xie Yan took off his damp outer robe and walked up to Lu Mingchao, his voice tinged with amusement, "Yu Geng wants a piece of the action, so he brought his daughter to test the waters."

"Do you know what I said, Mingchao?"

Lu Mingchao reached up to wipe the fine rain from Xie Yan's forehead. "You probably got it wrong."

Even if he had taken it, he wouldn't dare brag about it to her.

Xie Yan held Lu Mingchao's hand, speaking mysteriously, "Not at all, not at all."

"I straight up told Yu Geng that you are the sole owner of Chaofu Trading, and I am just an ordinary hunter mooching off you."

"When Yu Geng heard that, his face went green. He might be looking for a handsome guy to send your way as an apology."

Lu Mingchao raised an eyebrow, "How good-looking are we talking?"

"Would he be better-looking than A Yan?"

Xie Yan pretended to be annoyed, widening his eyes, "Would you really take him if he were better-looking than me?"

Lu Mingchao looked troubled, sighing, "Well, it's a nice gesture. It might not be appropriate to refuse directly."

Xie Yan: His Mingchao is finally being thoughtful!

People, always someone else's people.

Xie Yan cupped Lu Mingchao's face, "That's not goodwill, that's scheming."

He and Mingchao, together in life, together in death.

Anyone who tries to come between us should be swept away like dead leaves.

...

Yet another dreary, rainy day.

Gu Huai made a grand entrance into Changhe County.

The heir of the Duke's family, the imperial envoy personally appointed by the emperor!

Either title was enough to awe the officials of Changhe County.

Officials of all ranks were quaking in their boots, afraid of offending Gu Huai with inadequate hospitality.

To everyone's surprise, Gu Huai turned down Magistrate Xu's lavish welcome banquet and instead ordered Magistrate Xu to request a meeting with Lu Mingchao of Chaofu Trading.

Magistrate Xu was baffled.

"Even in the capital, I've heard of Magistrate Xu's fearless and fair reputation. Meeting you today, I see the praise is well-earned."

Gu Huai sat upright on a carved armchair, dressed in a brocade robe with a jade crown, his demeanor bright and elegant, his eyes clear and brows well-defined, exuding an air of nobility and authority.

Magistrate Xu thought to himself, truly a noble son from the Duke's family, steeped in luxury and splendor.

His sheer presence and dignity made it hard to meet his gaze.

Backed by his family's power, he shone like the sun and moon, vast as the stars.

No wonder the Yongning Marquis was so eager to keep Heir Gu as a son-in-law.

"Imperial Envoy Gu, you flatter this humble official." Magistrate Xu hurriedly bowed and clasped his hands, "It's just my duty, doing my best, and hardly deserving of such praise."

Before his father returned to Runnan, he repeatedly instructed him to do his utmost to look after Xie Yan and Lu Mingchao. If he encountered any situation beyond his control, he could write to the clan for help.

At that time, he had boasted in front of his father, claiming that Changhe County was under his protection.

The rebuke came so swiftly!

Gu Huai, with an unreadable expression, said indifferently, "Then go and inform Mr. Lu of Chaofu Trading."

Magistrate Xu pursed his lips, his expression hesitant.

After much deliberation, he respectfully said, "Your Excellency Gu, you might not be aware that after the New Year, Mr. Xie, the husband of Mr. Lu, assumed control of all affairs at Chaofu Trading. He is the true person in charge of Chaofu Trading."

Gu Huai's hand, which was caressing the sachet, paused, and he murmured softly, "Has Lu Mingchao once again been left to prepare the wedding dress for someone else?"

Magistrate Xu barely caught the words, but his peripheral vision caught the sachet embroidered with ducks and geese at Gu Huai's waist, feeling a sense of unease.

The sachet's embroidery was not even as refined as his wife's, who was not skilled in needlework, and it was utterly incongruous with Heir Gu's dignified bearing.

"Magistrate Xu, this envoy refuses to meet a despicable man who exploits his wife's assets."

"This envoy demands to see Mr. Lu, who single-handedly built Chaofu Trading and has been praised for his numerous acts of kindness."

Gu Huai slightly raised his voice, his brows furrowed slightly in displeasure at the defiance.

Magistrate Xu's heart sank.

Heir Gu made no effort to conceal his contempt and disdain for Xie Yan.

"This official will see to it at once."

Magistrate Xu could find no reason to refuse and said respectfully.

Gu Huai reminded, "She is of a delicate disposition. Instruct the maid to make the carriage more comfortable, remove the incense, prepare some soft and light pastries, the tea should be Phoenix Dancong, and place some peach and pear blossoms in the sweet white glazed vase."

For the longest time, he had believed he felt nothing for A Chao, nor had he spared any effort to understand A Chao.

But when he calmed down, he realized that A Chao's preferences had somehow etched themselves deeply into his memory.

Magistrate Xu's expression grew more and more peculiar.

Was the imperial inspection merely a ruse, with the true aim being to take another man's wife?

Also, is Lu Mingchao delicate?

Does Heir Gu have some misunderstanding about Lu Mingchao?

He had dealt with Lu Mingchao many times; that woman was intelligent and resilient, and delicacy had nothing to do with her.

Reunion.