Jiang Che was strolling in the market with his friend. "Is it really possible to find Liu Zheng's authentic works in a place like this?"
His friend nodded. "Yes, it's right here. We have to look carefully. If we find one, it'll be a priceless treasure."
Jiang Che was a bit skeptical. He looked around and subconsciously looked up, only to be filled with doubt. The figure by the window on the second floor of that teahouse seemed familiar.
Seeing him in a daze, his friend nudged him and asked, "What are you looking at?"
Jiang Che carefully sized up the figure and was sure it was Gu Liyue. Moreover, she seemed to be shivering. He looked around curiously. Apart from two fine carriages in front of the teahouse, he didn't see any other guards. Had something happened to Gu Liyue?
He patted his friend's hand. "I have something to attend to. I'll be back soon."
...
Gu Liyue sneered. "My business is none of your concern. Leave now, and I'll act as if nothing has happened. Otherwise..."
Feng Lanqing also stood up and said coldly, "Gu Liyue, I've treated you with courtesy and wanted to marry you properly. But you're so ungrateful. You've wasted my deep affection."
There came a few claps. Gu Liyue looked up and saw Jiang Che walking in, clapping while sneering.
"You've really wasted this young master's true feelings! I've been in the capital for so long, but I've never known which family's young master you are. You don't even put the young lady of the Gu family in your eyes?"
Gu Liyue let out a big sigh of relief. She didn't like Jiang Che, but even so, he was much better than Feng Lanqing. At least Jiang Che was a gentle and modest gentleman. He might be a bit muddled at times, but he would never act recklessly in private.
Feng Lanqing's face turned extremely ugly. He looked at Jiang Che and then at Gu Liyue and asked, "Who is this?"
Jiang Che folded and then opened his fan, smiling slightly. "I'm Jiang Che, the third young master of the Duke Jiang's Mansion. And who are you?"
Gu Liyue took a deep breath and said to Jiang Che, "Thank you, Third Young Master Jiang, for your help. I'm not feeling well. I'll go back first."
Feng Lanqing tried to stop Gu Liyue, but Jiang Che tapped his wrist with the fan. He quickly pulled his hand back in pain.
Jiang Che whispered to Gu Liyue, "Miss Gu, don't worry. I'll handle this matter properly. You should go back quickly."
Gu Liyue sat in the carriage, feeling a splitting headache. She had been too agitated just now. Now, she was a bit more composed. No matter how Feng Lanqing had gotten in touch with Fang Min, today's incident had been pre - arranged. She had been too careless.
Even after returning to the Gu family, she was no stranger to the cruel things in the inner courtyard. When she got home later, she would tell her fourth brother and ask him to help her find a suitable tool... A weapon was not a good choice as it could easily be snatched by villains. It would be best to find a hairpin or ring. It would be inconspicuous when worn on the head and could be useful in special situations.
Gu Liyue reached out and took off the jade hairpin on her head. The hairpin was blunt, but if she exerted force... She tried stabbing forward. Well, if she stabbed it hard into someone's eye, it should be able to deter them.
Forget it. These things were for self - defense. In the future, she would bring more people with her and be extremely cautious. She must never trust others easily. And the maids around her were all too careless. They all needed to be retrained.
The carriage suddenly made a "bang" sound. The coachman let out a startled cry. Gu Liyue quickly asked, "What's going on?"
There was no answer from the coachman. Gu Liyue's heart skipped a beat. She heard footsteps. Someone was approaching, and someone was climbing onto the carriage. They were about to get in. She tightly grasped the jade hairpin in her hand. If it was an acquaintance, they wouldn't be so quiet. If it was a prank, the people who would play pranks on her were all good at martial arts and she would never be able to hurt them.
The moment the door opened, Gu Liyue stabbed out the jade hairpin with all her might.
"Ah! You bitch!"
Liu Zhenghui reached out and slapped her. In pain, Gu Liyue didn't let go of the hairpin. She pulled it out and stabbed again.
"Ah!"
Liu Zhenghui pushed Gu Liyue away and rolled out of the carriage.
Gu Liyue was still in shock. She managed to crawl to the carriage door and saw Liu Zhenghui lying on the ground, covering his left eye, which was still bleeding. Looking at the jade hairpin in her hand, it was also dripping with blood.
She subconsciously wanted to throw the hairpin away, but then she remembered that it was a gift from Lu Jinchen. How could she bear to throw it away?
Gritting her teeth, Gu Liyue didn't care about anything else. She carefully identified their location and found that they were in an abandoned garden in the city. Liu Zhenghui's accomplices were probably Liu Anping and Mrs. Miao. If she shouted loudly, they would come over soon, and she would be in big trouble.
She jumped out of the carriage from the other side and planned to find a way to escape.
But Liu Zhenghui had somehow managed to get up and was chasing after her. He covered one eye, and the other was wide open. Blood was all over his face. He looked extremely terrifying.
With just one push from Liu Zhenghui, Gu Liyue lost her balance and fell to the ground. She looked back at him in panic.
"Gu Liyue, you don't know how to appreciate favors, do you? Today is your death day!"
Gu Liyue raised the hairpin and stabbed again, but Liu Zhenghui was prepared. He kicked her wrist and knocked the jade hairpin out of her hand.
Then, Liu Zhenghui let go of his hand. The blood - oozing hole was still there, making him look like a blood - thirsty ghost. Seemingly oblivious to the pain, he grabbed Gu Liyue's neck with both hands and said fiercely, "I'm going to kill you, you bitch. I shouldn't have spared you back then! I'm going to kill you..."
Gu Liyue's face turned purple from being choked. She couldn't breathe. She also realized that today was her death day. She had finally returned to the Gu family and had a family who loved her so much, including her grandparents, uncles and aunts, and her brothers, especially her fourth brother, Gu Chengzhi. They had treated her so well, and she hadn't repaid them yet...
There was also Lu Jinchen. Their marriage had been arranged. He had even told her fourth brother that he would come to see her when he returned.
Just then, Liu Qinting rushed over and pulled Liu Zhenghui. Looking at the hairpins on Gu Liyue's head and the brocade clothes on her body, she was so jealous that her teeth itched. She lowered her voice and said, "Brother, you can't kill her. If you do, we'll all die!"
Liu Zhenghui shouted, "Look at what I've become. I'm as good as dead. I must take someone with me!"
Liu Qinting looked at her brother's terrifying appearance and endured the nausea. Gu Liyue couldn't die. She mustn't die. She used to want Gu Liyue to die, but now, she wanted Gu Liyue to be disgraced and live a life worse than death. She wanted to see if the Gu family would still want a daughter who had lost her reputation!
"Brother! You've lost an eye. You can't let her off even more. You should marry her and torture her every day to avenge today's humiliation!"
Liu Zhenghui hesitated for a moment, then loosened his hands around Gu Liyue's neck. He covered his eye and let Liu Qinting bandage it for him. He looked at Gu Liyue menacingly. "Yes, I can't let her die so easily. If she has to die, I'll make sure it's worth it! Gu Liyue, after not seeing you for over a year, you've grown into such a beauty. Humph, you look down on me, don't you? I'll drag you to the underworld with me even if I have to!"
He pounced on Gu Liyue and began to tear at her clothes randomly.