Chapter 187: Wind and Snow Befall the Figures of Old

He didn't recognize them.

She recognized him.

He was Mr. Gu.

When Jiurong's father and mother passed away, she wasn't quite four years old yet and it wasn't the time for her enlightenment, so there were no plans made for her education.

After they came to Prince Huai's mansion, it was her sister who took charge of Jiurong's enlightenment.

The emperor was also concerned about Prince Huai's enlightenment and ordered that a teacher be selected for him, but after much deliberation there was never a suitable candidate.

They understood why there were no suitable candidates; who would want to get involved with a place like Prince Huai's mansion.

Later, when she married Lu Yunqi, he found a tutor for Jiurong.

This tutor was named Gu Qing, from Huzhou, a candidate for the imperial civil service examination who had not passed, and Lu Yunqi said his knowledge was not bad.

She and her sister had both seen him and felt very satisfied, although even if they weren't, there was no other option.

For them, there was no choice but to accept.

Thus, Mr. Gu came to Prince Huai's mansion to start educating Jiurong. Although she had already left the mansion by then, when she met Jiurong during the New Year, Jiurong was very happy and often mentioned Mr. Gu, showing a strong liking for him.

Princess Jiuli also said he was very good.

Anyhow, in Princess Jiuli's eyes there was nothing bad, but she was still uneasy and met with Mr. Gu once more. He spoke softly and with humor, always polite and considerate.

In truth, she couldn't find out much; even if he was sent by the emperor to corrupt Jiurong, could they stop him?

Stopping this one meant facing the next one.

Princess Jiuli was somewhat discouraged.

Perhaps noticing her discouragement, Mr. Gu, who was about to leave, paused.

"Is your teacher Sir Zhang?" he asked.

Princess Jiuli's studying medicine under Zhang Qingshan was kept a secret, for a princess couldn't just go around learning medicine. The explanation given to the imperial grandfather and the rest of the family by her parents was that Jiuli was fostered at the Imperial Temple to pray for blessings for the prince.

Not many cared about the whereabouts of a princess, especially when such actions were seen as signs of Jiuli's lack of favor.

Princess Jiuling was already less favored compared to Princess Jiuli, who had a much more prominent reputation before others.

But her surprise was minimal when Mr. Gu mentioned it.

If he was someone brought by Lu Yunqi, it was normal for him to know these things.

Even if her studying medicine was secret, Lu Yunqi should have been able to find out.

"Sir Zhang is a great talent," Mr. Gu said. "To walk with him for a while is truly a blessing in life."

She didn't see what was so blessed about it at the time; in fact, she should be considered quite unfortunate.

"Observing mountains, water, the myriad things of the world, understanding sentiments, savoring the many flavors of life—that is not something everyone can do," Mr. Gu said with a smile. "Being born human, you should live as one—this is indeed a great fortune of life."

Is this what constitutes a good fortune in life? It seems too simple.

"Simple? But many cannot achieve it. The simpler things are, the harder they tend to be," Mr. Gu said with a smile. "So, I hope Prince Huai becomes a person blessed with a simple life, to be a true human being."

To put it plainly, he meant that Jiurong should stop coveting the imperial throne and just be content as a prince.

This was something she and her sisters had thought of long ago, but she didn't expect someone to express it so pleasantly and happily.

Regardless, Mr. Gu's attitude was open and sincere—at least, Jiurong was happy.

Her sister was right; as long as Jiurong was happy, that was good.

Mr. Gu stayed at Prince Huai's mansion, just like Prince Huai and her sister, no longer leaving home; at least, in the two years she was alive, Mr. Gu never once left the mansion, blending into it as her sister and brother did.

Why had he left today?

Was he also in disguise all along?

Now that she was dead and her sister married, did he no longer need to keep up appearances?

Shielded by the falling snowflakes, relying on this new face and the medicine chest, Miss Jun watched him unflinchingly.

Mr. Gu didn't look at her again, because of the unfamiliar face and medicine chest.

He didn't recognize them; he knew them as bell healers.

His gaze briefly swept over and then quickly descended the steps and briskly walked eastward.

Miss Jun's gaze followed him; was he heading towards Lu Mansion?

"Miss," Liu'er unfurled the flag and held it above Miss Jun's head. "Does that man have an ominous sign?"

Miss Jun glanced at Prince Huai's mansion's closed gate. Jiurong... she really wanted to rush in, being so close.

She took several deep breaths before looking again towards Mr. Gu.

Mr. Gu had indeed stopped in front of Lu Mansion.

"Let's go back," Miss Jun said.

Without waiting for Liu'er to react, she turned and walked back the way they came, heading towards Lu Mansion.

Go back? Liu'er was taken aback, too rushed to think more as she hurriedly chased after with the flag in hand.

Meanwhile, the doorkeeper at the Lu Mansion was also startled.

It was rare to see someone who wasn't Jinyiwei calling at the gate of the Lu Mansion.

"Who are you?" the doorkeeper asked from within.

"I am from Prince Huai's mansion," Mr. Gu replied from outside.

Prince Huai's mansion?

Silence fell behind the door.

For an instant, the only sound between heaven and earth was the rustling of snowflakes.

"I just want to see Lord Lu," Mr. Gu continued.

Still, there was silence within.

Watching the figure of the man standing in the snow, blocked outside the door, Miss Jun stopped.

Like them, was he also unable to meet with anyone at will? And others didn't meet with him casually either? Not even Lu Yunqi?

There was no further response from inside, and Mr. Gu didn't speak again, simply standing by the door.

The snowflakes gradually turned bigger, and a north wind picked up, blowing the snowflakes into a dance between heaven and earth.

A layer of snow quickly covered his body.

Despite their thick clothing, their feet were starting to feel cold.

Miss Jun slowly walked over, catching a glimpse from the corner of her eye; Mr. Gu in front of the door stamped his feet.

He was dressed quite thinly, it seemed he had hurried out, even without wearing a cloak; could it be that his shoes were still those he wore inside the house?

What had happened?

Miss Jun slowly walked into the narrow alley and stopped, knowing that although she could avoid Mr. Gu's sight here, she couldn't escape the eyes of the Jinyiwei.

Yet she didn't want to leave, contemplating risking it one more time on account of her face, her medicine box, and the current festive season.

This man must herald a great omen of disaster, Liu'er thought, forcibly unfurling the small flag above Miss Jun's head, though it hardly blocked anything.

But they didn't have to wait long before the urgent sound of horse hooves echoed in the streets, and Lu Yunqi came galloping through the snow, with the usual Jinyiwei who flanked him left trailing behind.

As soon as his horse steadied, he leaped down, his body and head covered in a layer of snow as well. Like Mr. Gu, he hadn't worn a cloak or cap, appearing to have also rushed from home in a hurry.

Home.

His home should have been here, but he had come from elsewhere, which naturally meant he had been at another residence.

Miss Jun remained motionless, well aware that with Lu Yunqi's arrival, the surveillance here would only be more extensive.

As soon as Mr. Gu heard the horse hooves, he swiftly walked up to the gate.

Miss Jun watched them stand together, Mr. Gu said something, Lu Yunqi didn't ask further and quickly got back on the horse and moved forward, with Mr. Gu following him closely.

The Jinyiwei also followed suit.

The group of horsemen almost didn't stop as they moved onward.

Their direction was Prince Huai's mansion.

Miss Jun watched the figures disappear into the snow.

Although she couldn't hear what Mr. Gu had said, she recognized two shapes formed by Mr. Gu's mouth.

Prince Huai.

Jiurong.

It couldn't be such bad luck; could Jiurong also be in trouble?

She turned sharply and headed down the alley, with Liu'er, who hadn't yet reacted, following behind, struggling with her sore arm.

The cold, scrutinizing gaze that had been fixed on Miss Jun in the snowstorm withdrew.

"Why not just break her legs?"

"Yeah, what if we broke her legs? She can't always carry her imperial decree with her."

"What if she is carrying it?"

"To come and provoke us at the gentleman's gate like this is intolerable."

"Forget it; for now, don't bother with her, the gentleman has more important things to do."

The low voices dissipated, and several figures once more vanished into the snowstorm.

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Passing another year.

Thanks to book friends 160208005419343, Wood Some 2004, Zize, ?The Last Gun?, Xiuyu Burial Flowers, Ice from the South, and md12 for their rewards of the He's Bi.

Thanks to Tencent book friend Shen Lan for rewarding the He's Bi.