Feng Lanqing was a scholar at a young age. He lost his father early, and it was his mother who raised him and supported his studies. Naturally, it was extremely difficult for her.
Gu Liyue had always felt a sense of kindred spirit towards Feng Lanqing. She had lost her parents, and he had lost his father. They were both pitiful souls. Moreover, they had been betrothed since childhood. Even though she didn't have any romantic feelings for him, she still cared about him deeply.
At that time, when the Feng family was on the verge of collapse, it was quite common for Gu Liyue to secretly help them behind her aunt's back. Even though her help was just a drop in the bucket, it came from the bottom of her heart.
It was a pity that Feng Lanqing really let down her sincere feelings.
Gu Liyue heaved a long sigh. When she was pushed into the water that day, how lost and confused she had been! Later, she was ill for such a long time, but Feng Lanqing never came to visit her even once, and Mrs. Feng didn't say a single word either.
Even when it came to the matter of calling off the engagement, the Feng family pretended not to know and turned a blind eye to it.
Such a spineless young man. Gu Liyue had been kind to him for so many years.
However, if one were to say that she had liked him, it wasn't that much. Of course, when Feng Lanqing and Liu Qinting conspired to harm her, she was only shocked, not heart - broken. Perhaps it was because the engagement had been made in childhood and had taken deep root.
Gu Liyue whispered to Yunniang, "I remember that the engagement between Feng Lanqing and Liu Qinting has been finalized, right?"
Yunniang nodded.
Gu Liyue remembered that once when she met Aunt Cao, Aunt Cao told her that Mrs. Feng and Liu Qinting were as close as a family.
At that time, Aunt Cao was indignant on her behalf, but Gu Liyue knew that Mrs. Feng was a good actress. Before, she had coaxed Gu Liyue to support Feng Lanqing together. After Gu Liyue left, naturally, she had to rely on Liu Qinting for support. If she didn't treat Liu Qinting well, how could she get so many benefits?
However, since Liu Qinting had her mother to help her, she wouldn't end up as miserable as Gu Liyue used to be. Gu Liyue used to stay up late every night doing embroidery, and she didn't even know how many times she had pricked her fingers.
Thinking of those unbearable past events, Gu Liyue felt a lump in her throat. She didn't want to stay here and look at Feng Lanqing anymore. So she pulled Yunniang's hand, lowered her head, and tried to bypass them and get out of the door quickly.
Just then, Feng Lanqing and the young woman happened to walk over and bumped into Gu Liyue face - to - face.
Gu Liyue blushed and tried to pretend not to know him.
However, Feng Lanqing had already smiled and said, "Isn't this Gu Liyue? Why, are you here too? The things here are quite expensive. You've been kicked out of the Liu family. Can you afford to buy anything?"
Gu Liyue was stunned for a moment. In the past, when Feng Lanqing was with her, he used to talk very little. He would only say a few touching words when taking her money. When had he ever been so sarcastic like today?
People say that it's easy to know a person's face but hard to know their heart. It was really true.
Although she was ridiculed, Gu Liyue wasn't a person who liked to cause trouble. She lowered her head and pulled Yunniang, trying to bypass them.
But Feng Lanqing raised his head high and said, "You really have no vision. You broke off the engagement with me. Now, do you regret it?"
People at that time were all honest, and marriage was arranged by parents. How could one break off an engagement for no reason? For a moment, everyone in the store looked over, and their gazes towards Gu Liyue were filled with contempt.
Gu Liyue wanted to leave, but she was blocked again and again. She felt annoyed in her heart and was also angry at Feng Lanqing's shifting of blame. So she simply raised her head and asked, "Why should I regret? Others may not know the reason for the broken engagement, but don't you know? As for you, now that you've engaged with Liu Qinting, why are you flirting with other women?"
The young woman beside Feng Lanqing had been as arrogant as him. But after hearing this, she was stunned for a moment, then glared at Feng Lanqing and said, "You're engaged? Didn't you tell me that you had a childhood engagement, but that woman was immoral and broke off the engagement with you because your family was poor?"
Feng Lanqing quickly said, "Qiaomei, don't listen to her nonsense. She is my former fiancée. The engagement was made when my father was still alive. Although I disliked her ugliness, since we were engaged, I just wanted to live a good life with her. Who would have thought that later she was promiscuous and insisted on breaking off the engagement. Qiaomei, she is just jealous of you and deliberately wants to break us up."
Qiaomei then looked back at Gu Liyue with a disgusted expression on her face and said, "Now that you see that Qinglang has passed the imperial examination and become a scholar, do you regret it? Let me tell you, a woman like you, Qinglang will never look at you again. There's no need for you to be so glib - tongued and deceive others."
Gu Liyue was almost angry enough to laugh. She didn't like to cause trouble and originally didn't want to have any more dealings with Feng Lanqing. Unexpectedly, it was really a narrow path for enemies. Moreover, it seemed that Feng Lanqing had already passed the imperial examination and become a scholar. No wonder he was so arrogant.
She raised her eyebrows and looked at the woman, only asking, "You just believe his sweet words?"
Feng Lanqing's heart skipped a beat. He had come here to show off, not to cause trouble. Qiaomei's family was wealthy. If he could get involved with Qiaomei, he wouldn't have to worry about continuing his imperial - examination studies.
But this Gu Liyue, who usually kept quiet, had really changed her nature today. If he had known this, he should have pretended not to see her. Feng Lanqing immediately shouted, "Gu Liyue, I don't want to see you anymore. Get out of here quickly!"
Gu Liyue was soft - tempered, but she wasn't someone who could be easily bullied. She continued, "He betrayed me first, flirted with other women, and almost killed me. Miss, you look so beautiful. Why do you want to be deceived by such a man?"
Feng Lanqing was extremely angry and pointed at Gu Liyue and said, "Don't talk nonsense..."
Gu Liyue straightened her back and said, "Whether I'm talking nonsense or not, the neighbors of the Liu family in Yangxin Town all know. You and my cousin pushed me into the water, trying to kill me. Before, I couldn't figure out why. Now I understand. I'm an orphan and not valued in my uncle's family. Naturally, I'm no match for my cousin."
Seeing that Gu Liyue was saying more and more, Feng Lanqing raised his hand and was about to hit her.
Gu Liyue asked, "Do you want to use force because you know you're in the wrong?"
Feng Lanqing really didn't expect that the soft - spoken and quiet Gu Liyue would be so sharp - tongued now. He didn't have the time to trouble Gu Liyue. He immediately said to Qiaomei, "Qiaomei, don't listen to her nonsense. She is immoral and was driven out of her uncle's family because she couldn't be tolerated..."
Gu Liyue sneered again and again, "Feng Lanqing, you're really unworthy of being a scholar. Your ability to shift the blame is really remarkable. You're used to sweet - talking to people. What for? Just so that you can take the imperial examinations with peace of mind. Your mother alone couldn't support the whole family. Before, I stayed up late at night doing embroidery to support your studies, but you still weren't satisfied and hooked up with my cousin. Now what? Is my cousin not enough to support your studies? Which other girl have you hooked up with?"
Hearing this, Qiaomei took two steps back, keeping a distance from Feng Lanqing. Her family owned two wine shops and was considered well - off in the county. Originally, she had been in love with scholars whole - heartedly, but after hearing Gu Liyue's words, she began to have doubts in her heart. She had known Feng Lanqing for two months, and she had spent nearly one or two taels of silver on him.
If what Gu Liyue said was true, wouldn't she have become a stepping - stone for Feng Lanqing?
Feng Lanqing quickly shook his head and swore to heaven, "Qiaomei, my feelings for you can be witnessed by heaven and earth. You can't doubt me just because you've heard this bitch's nonsense."