Chapter 366 Second Miss Gu

Chapter 366: Second Miss Gu

After Nie Zhiyao returned, Meng Wan felt much more at ease. It happened that Song Tingzhou finally had some time off as well. He hadn't had the chance to go out alone with Meng Wan in a long while, so he specially sought advice from the former Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, the previous Imperial Uncle, and now the Grand Tutor and Minister of Personnel—Lord Ran.

The old man loved traveling and sightseeing and was knowledgeable from his wide experience. Being stuck in the position of Minister of Personnel was already frustrating enough. When Song Tingzhou asked him, he said with some melancholy: "A place like the capital is disturbed by worldly affairs. If there's any place that still counts as having some spiritual charm, it would be the plum grove at Baoguo Temple. That's where I picked up Little Four back then."

...A certain child he had taken home.

Speaking of which, he also wanted to go to Baoguo Temple to admire the plum blossoms and quiet his mind.

There weren't many sights to enjoy in winter, and Baoguo Temple was considered a popular spot. Not only did the ladies of the inner quarters and young lords of the capital who rarely went out favor it, but even scholars arriving for the imperial examinations came in droves, drawn by its reputation.

"Still this many people even at the end of the year?" Meng Wan lifted the carriage curtain and noticed carriages both ahead and behind his own. Gazing further into the distance, he realized everyone was heading toward Baoguo Temple.

The ground was covered in snow, especially beneath the trees where accumulated drifts could reach past a person's calves. The north wind blew up snow dust that drifted in through the curtain Meng Wan had opened, dusting his face.

Song Tingzhou pulled him back to his side and used a handkerchief to wipe away the snowflakes clinging to his lashes. At the light touch, the tiny blossoms turned to droplets of water, moistening Meng Wan's already long lashes until they were dark and straight, tempting one to pluck them.

The carriage was empty of others. Song Tingzhou tossed aside the handkerchief and pressed his warm lips to Meng Wan's eyelid. "It's rare to have free time. Many of those people are officials accompanying their families to Baoguo Temple to burn incense and pray for blessings."

Meng Wan pressed his wind-chilled face against Song Tingzhou's collar. "True. I think I spotted the Kou family's carriage earlier—there might be other acquaintances here too."

Not having a phone was truly inconvenient. In the dead of winter, there was no need to keep sending servants running back and forth with messages. When bored, one simply went directly to friends' houses—those who could visit without sending a formal notice first were all close confidants. At the moment, there was no way to tell if any of their friends had also come to Baoguo Temple to admire the plum blossoms.

What they admired wasn't all that important anyway—being with the one you loved made everything worth seeing take on a special flavor.

The carriage was equipped with a charcoal brazier, hand warmers, and woolen blankets. Song Tingzhou draped a blanket over Meng Wan, pulling both him and the blanket into his embrace. He planted light kisses on Meng Wan's lips, which gradually deepened into a passionate kiss of intertwined tongues.

Song Tingzhou usually appeared cold and aloof, and he was always respectful toward Meng Wan in his conduct. But when they were alone together, he transformed into an insatiable wolf—wild and domineering.

Meng Wan was trapped in his embrace. At first, he could still trade affection back and forth, but soon he could only surrender to Song Tingzhou's relentless plundering.

Chi Yu was still outside driving the carriage. Once Song Tingzhou had quenched his thirst, he returned to his usual composed demeanor. As he helped Meng Wan down from the carriage, they attracted some covert glances.

Song Tingzhou didn't care. He was holding his own husband—there was no law against that.

The moment they stepped down, a cold wind swept through. Song Tingzhou helped Meng Wan pull up the hood of his cloak and tightened the ties at his collar. Meng Wan tilted his chin up slightly to accommodate him. "Should we follow the crowd to burn incense and pray first, then go admire the plum blossoms after donating some incense offering?"

Song Tingzhou finished adjusting him and took Meng Wan's hand. "Alright."

Their household was simple—no retinue of servants crowding around. There was only one clumsy Chi Yu finding a place to park the carriage, and two diligent employers who had already prepared their hand warmers and incense, waiting for him nearby.

Huguo Temple was thriving with incense offerings. The temple was built into the mountainside, featuring a bell tower, drum tower, Hall of Heavenly Kings, main hall, Buddhist pavilions, and rear courtyards. Visitors had to park their carriages at the foot of the mountain and climb halfway up.

Chi Yu moved swiftly, nimble as a wild monkey in the mountains. Meng Wan and Song Tingzhou strolled leisurely up the path, enjoying the scenery along the way. They ran into Lord Kou and his family, who had come to pray for their son. The metropolitan exam was fast approaching—half the people at Huguo Temple were there to pray for their family members to pass, while the other half were imperial examination candidates praying for their own success.

Once through the mountain gate, they found the massive incense burner already crammed full of sticks, with layers upon layers of accumulated ash.

Meng Wan hadn't believed in such things before, but later he decided there was no need to be too rigid about it. What people worshipped wasn't necessarily some ethereal Buddha, but rather a prayer whispered to their own hearts.

He kowtowed devoutly three times and donated a considerable sum of incense money. The venerable monks of Huguo Temple were known for their compassion, often descending the mountain to aid the poor and taking in homeless children.

After completing these two tasks, Meng Wan had no interest in seeking out monks to listen to sutras or practice Zen meditation. He pulled Song Tingzhou along and headed straight for the plum grove that others had pointed out.

The plum grove was on the rear mountain of Huguo Temple, requiring a bit more climbing. Chi Yu followed behind the two, darting into the woods to pick bright red holly berries one moment, then playing with his slingshot at birds the next—exactly like one of Meng Wan's old hyperactive classmates.

The northern winter was bleak and dull, with a silent expanse of white everywhere. Occasional voices drifted through, but without summer's clamor and bustle. The dark brown branches standing proudly in the snow sprawled in wild, clawing shapes. The falling snow couldn't cover them entirely. Crimson plum blossoms dotted the branches in full bloom, clustered in small bunches that formed strings and swaths of red.

Gazing further into the distance, halfway up the mountain was occupied by sparse red plum trees. The first thing one saw was the dazzling crimson blossoms, and only then the people in variously colored clothing weaving through them.

It somewhat marred the scenery, yet if no one were there to appreciate these beautiful views, it would feel rather a pity.

Meng Wan pulled Song Tingzhou into the plum grove. The two wore matching gray mink cloaks of the same color and material. With their striking appearances, they formed a lovely scene wherever they went—especially Meng Wan, whose face was even more stunning than the winter plums, drawing frequent attention from onlookers.

The people in the grove were either families out enjoying the flowers or young ladies accompanied by maidservants gathering blossoms to make perfume. There were also plenty of scholars hoping to encounter a young lady from a prestigious family.

A group of promising youths, hoping to pass the jinshi examination and find a beautiful bride in the capital, couldn't help but gaze at them repeatedly, their young hearts drawn to beauty.

Song Tingzhou's already cold and stern expression darkened like a storm cloud. Rather than finding it intimidating, Meng Wan found it lively and amusing. He couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile.

That turned covert glances into blatant, lovestruck stares. Even knowing Meng Wan had a husband, most people couldn't help but take a second look at someone so extraordinarily handsome, regardless of gender. There was nothing lewd in their thoughts—just pure admiration.

Song Tingzhou pressed his lips together in silence and simply pulled Meng Wan toward a more secluded area.

Chi Yu trailed far behind the two, keeping a moderate distance.

The rear mountain of Huguo Temple wasn't just home to the plum grove. Right at the edge of the grove stood several ancient pine trees hundreds of years old. But since everyone came for the red plum blossoms covering the mountain, the area around the old pines was much quieter.

Song Tingzhou led Meng Wan toward the pines. The snow crunched softly underfoot, startling a few gray sparrows resting on the branches. Thick white snow weighed down the pine needles, and when the cold wind blew, residual snow fell with a soft rustle, landing at their feet.

The sound was rustling and murmuring, not loud enough to drown out the deliberately lowered, angry voice demanding answers from behind the old pine.

"Who are you!"

"And who are you? I meant no offense—I had arranged to meet Second Miss Gu here to admire the plum blossoms. I saw a young lady whose figure resembled hers, so I followed."

"How dare you! When did I ever arrange to meet you to admire plum blossoms?"

"I never said it was you, miss! The one I'm looking for is the Second Miss of the Gu family..."

"You... As a scholar, you spout nonsense and ruin my reputation!"

Meng Wan halted mid-step and exchanged a glance with Song Tingzhou beside him. "It's the second young lady of the Gu family."

"I'll go fetch Chi Yu." Song Tingzhou knew that the Empress had previously asked Meng Wan to find a way to appease the Gu family. Things had just started improving, and the Gu family was willing to accept the olive branch. Now that Gu Zhiru was being harassed, the two of them couldn't possibly stand by and do nothing.

Meng Wan waited in place for Chi Yu to arrive. Song Tingzhou stayed behind to keep watch for propriety's sake. When Meng Wan walked further in, the two inside were still locked in their dispute.

"You claim to be a daughter of the Gu family, miss, yet how is it your appearance differs from the Second Miss Gu I've seen before?"

"I don't know what you're talking about!"

Gu Zhiru was both humiliated and furious. Two young maidservants flanked her, trying to escort her out, but a scholar in an old cotton robe blocked their path.

"I'm quite confused myself. I hope you can enlighten me, miss." The scholar spoke with righteous indignation, as if he were merely seeking clarity.

Gu Zhiru was on the verge of tears, covering her face with a handkerchief. "How would I know which Miss Gu arranged to meet you? It certainly wasn't me. Let me go at once, or my family will make you pay!"

The two maidservants tried to shield Gu Zhiru and move in one direction, but the scholar blocked their way each time. A young lady couldn't have physical contact with an outside man. Gu Zhiru was delicate—the few steps she managed to run were quickly overtaken. Yet she didn't dare attract a crowd, or her reputation would be ruined beyond repair.

"Second Miss Gu, there you are! I've been looking everywhere for you."

Meng Wan emerged from the plum grove with Chi Yu in tow. The moment he stood beside Gu Zhiru, her tears fell instantly. "Master Meng, save me."

The scholar was startled at the sight of Meng Wan, then seemed to recall something. "It's you? The other day on the street, you looked quite familiar with the heir of Marquis Zhongyi."

Gu Zhiru's fingers tightened around her handkerchief at those words, then slowly relaxed. The Gu family had long known about the friendship between the Song family and the Zhongyi Marquis Residence. Master Meng had avoided mentioning Qin Jiao in front of her out of concern for her feelings, not deliberate concealment—she understood that much.

"Truly worthy of a scholar—sharp-tongued indeed." Meng Wan immediately thought of that group of scholars who had cornered Qin Jiao on the street that day.

His thoughts raced through several possibilities, but his mouth asked unhurriedly, "Where did you get the news that Second Miss Gu would come to Huguo Temple to admire the plum blossoms?"

The scholar answered without hesitation, "Naturally, Second Miss Gu invited me in person. I even have her letter. You just called this young lady Second Miss Gu, and she..."

"You say Second Miss Gu invited you in person—do you have any witness? And you claim to have received her letter; who knows if you didn't write it yourself." Meng Wan fired off question after question.

"You—" the scholar sputtered, growing flustered, "The two of us are acquainted, and to protect the young lady's reputation, we never revealed it in public. The letter is right here. If only Second Miss Gu would come out and meet me, I would return it to her."

Gu Zhiru clutched Meng Wan's sleeve, her voice trembling, "Brother Wan'er, I didn't."

Meng Wan gave her a reassuring glance, pulled a pack of dried mango out of his cloth satchel, and handed it to her. "Don't be afraid. Go stand behind Chi Yu and have a snack."

He stuffed an oil-paper package into the hand that clutched his sleeve, and her heart suddenly calmed. Meng Wan's easy confidence did more than a thousand words of comfort could. She took a slow breath, actually stepped back two paces, tore open the oil-paper, looked at the yellow dried fruit inside, and curiously took a piece to eat.

The two maids beside her were dumbfounded. "Miss, are you... alright?" How could she still be thinking about eating at a time like this? Was she out of her mind from anger?

"It's quite tasty—you two try it too." Gu Zhiru genuinely found it delicious and shared a slice with each of her maids.

Today, Lady Gu and her sisters-in-law had all brought their children, so there were many people and many maids. Gu Zhiru's two senior maids had been lent to her sister-in-law to help with the children, and the two young maids beside her were not old, a bit greedy. "Really, miss?"

The young lady and her two maids shared the dried mango.

The scholar, watching this scene, was speechless: "..."

He composed himself, cleared his throat, "Ahem... you may have misunderstood, sir. I mean no harm; I merely arranged to meet Second Miss Gu here to admire the plum blossoms, yet I don't know why this young lady came instead. I only wish to clarify matters. If I have offended, please forgive me, miss."

This speech seemed refined and reasonable, but every word was putting Gu Zhiru on the hot seat.

Meng Wan snorted coldly, "You don't even know who she is, yet you keep insisting you arranged to meet Second Miss Gu here. Even when a stranger appears, you stick to the same story. You know full well what your intentions are."

Gu Zhiru's reputation had already taken a hit from the broken engagement; if this scholar's vague words got around, she might as well be dead.

The scholar seemed stunned by the question, "I have no intention of ruining anyone's reputation. Second Miss Gu and I are deeply attached; I only wished to wait until I passed the imperial exams before proposing. I meant no such thing!"

Meng Wan gave a crisp clap of his hands, speaking lightly, "Fine. You say you and Second Miss Gu are deeply attached. Then let's do this: Lady Gu is currently burning incense in Huguo Temple. Come with me to meet her, and let Miss Gu meet you in her mother's presence. How about that?"

Hearing Meng Wan mention meeting Lady Gu, the scholar immediately stepped back two paces.

Steady footsteps approached from afar. Song Tingzhou dragged over a maidservant in a yellow jacket-and-skirt outfit, his strength great as he grabbed the maid by the back of the neck and tossed her between the scholar and Meng Wan.

"She was lurking nearby, acting suspiciously." After speaking, Song Tingzhou retreated a few steps, able to both keep an eye on the plum grove for anyone approaching and watch Meng Wan.

"Qing Luo? Aren't you supposed to be with my sister-in-law? Why are you here?"

Gu Zhiru was the first to recognize the personal maidservant who had grown up with her, "You were nearby watching me being blocked just now—why didn't you go inform my mother?"

Qing Luo kept her head down, lying prostrate in the snow, trembling, "Miss... this servant... this servant..."

The scholar recognized her voice, crouched down to look at her, and said in disbelief, "Who is Qing Luo? Aren't you Second Miss Gu?"