Chapter 144: The Most Cherished Third Brother

Gu Kang and Gu Huai are close in age; the two have grown up together since childhood, and there is still some affection between them.

Gu Huai repeatedly apologizes, saying that he left Jing Cheng for a few days to visit a schoolmate's home and only just returned.

Gu Kang was locked here by his elder brother Gu Cheng, beaten and left hungry and cold; he has never even left the courtyard that confines him, so naturally he cannot tell whether Gu Huai's story is true or false, letting him fabricate as he wishes.

Gu Kang snorts coldly, "You know it's good that I, your second brother, exist; why don't you let me out at once?"

"My elder brother seized my silver, but I don't keep a grudge. Now I don't want to see him; you tell him to give the silver back to me…"

When Gu Kang says this, Gu Cheng's cold, forest‑like eyes flash through his mind, and his heart involuntarily trembles a bit: "You can have him return even half of it."

"That silver originally came from the Du family as my inheritance; even my elder sister doesn't dispute it. How can he just hold it in his hand like that?"

Gu Huai's eyes flicker, and he smiles, "Second brother, don't be angry. The elder brother has always been rather strict with us two, perhaps fearing that if you take the silver you can't hide it and will be deceived."

"Pah! I think he's trying to snatch my silver!" Gu Kang finally sees through it, "That's my silver; on what grounds does he decide?"

"Moreover, the young master's silver is his to spend as he wishes; it's none of his business!"

Gu Huai's gaze shows a hint of urgency; he must get this fool into the Emerald Red Tower quickly, otherwise that woman's corpse will be discovered and cause trouble.

Although he ordered Yao Qing to scrape off the two characters "Gu Huai" from the wall, the woman's body still bears a "Gu" character; if they don't find a scapegoat, those people will surely have a follow‑up move.

The Spring Gate is drawing near, and he really cannot ruin it at the Emerald Red Tower.

Anyway, Gu Kang is incompetent; now that he's quarreled with the elder brother over the silver, consider it helping the elder brother eliminate a nuisance.

After all, Gu Kang is the legitimate son of the Gu family; as long as he lives, the elder brother, a secondary eldest son, will be nominally kept under Gu Kang's thumb.

Gu Huai quickly grabs Gu Kang's wrist and laughs, "Second brother, don't be angry. How about this: I'll treat you to a drink outside; then we can discuss things in detail. First, go to the clean room to bathe and change."

When Gu Kang hears the words "drink" and "wine", his eyes instantly light up.

He has always led a muddled life of wine and meat, and never in his whole life has he been punished as he is these past few days.

Gu Cheng, that scoundrel, is the one who dares to beat Gu Kang, the legitimate son of the Gu family.

After he goes out and restores his health, he will certainly have a word with him.

Father favors him, but throughout Southern Qi there is still a distinction between legitimate and secondary children; never has a secondary son locked up a legitimate son, beaten him and left him hungry—this is a reversal!

When he goes out this time, he will not only retrieve the silver left by his maternal grandfather, but also reclaim control over the Gu family's secondary affairs.

This beating made Gu Kang see things clearly; forging iron requires one to be hard oneself!

At this moment, Gu Huai's words whet his appetite; considering the favor of being invited for a drink, he decides to forgive his brother Gu Huai.

Soon after, Gu Huai orders someone to bring a set of clean clothes, helps Gu Kang change, and then leads him out of the courtyard.

Gu Kang steps out of the courtyard and is startled to see a green‑veil carriage parked at the gate, capable of moving within the courtyard.

The carriage is completely shrouded, and he likes such ornately decorated carriages, though sitting in one feels uncomfortable.

Gu Huai seems to have guessed his thoughts and laughs softly, "You may not know that I let you out for a drink, but you are wounded now and not fit to ride."

"Second brother, just make do for now; once the elder brother and father have cooled down, we can go out and have fun again."

"Hehe! You are still so thoughtful!" Gu Kang pats Gu Huai's shoulder, lifts the curtain, and sits inside.

He casually lifts the carriage curtain and waves at Gu Huai, "Third brother, you come up too!"

Gu Huai's eyes, subtly shifting, are hidden in the night and unclear; he laughs, "Alright! Second brother, give me a pull!"

Gu Kang smiles, extends his arm and grabs Gu Huai's hand, just as when they were children, tired from studying, sneaking out to play and climbing trees, Gu Kang would pull his younger brother onto the carriage.

Gu Huai climbs up laughing, then suddenly lunges forward, throwing himself onto Gu Kang's front.

Gu Kang scolds with a laugh, "You rascal, how can you get on the carriage and not stand steady, even worse than me… whine…"

Gu Kang suddenly stares intently at the person before him; he slams a cloth soaked with anesthetic over his mouth and nose.

Gu Huai's gaze no longer holds the previous gentle scholarly warmth; it now bears a chilling, ruthless cold.

In that instant, Gu Kang finds it hard to believe that the obedient younger brother before him could treat him this way.

He and Gu Kang have studied together since childhood, sharing their enlightenment.

All three Gu brothers inherited Gu Shijie's talent for scholarship; in childhood Gu Kang even surpassed Gu Huai in interpreting texts, but the Lin clan sent a servant to constantly lure him to the bustling pleasure districts, allowing him to run amok in the Gu household.

After all, he is the legitimate son; the Lin clan even told him he need not study so hard, that his future would be bright.

Gu Kang gradually developed a love for play, yet also felt compassion for the third brother's diligent studies; all the third brother's books, picture albums, even his complete set of brushes and ink from childhood were bought by Gu Kang.

He respects the elder brother, is close to the second sister, finds the eldest sister foolish and avoids befriending her, but gives his utmost sincerity to this third brother.

Gu Kang stares steadily at Gu Huai's face before him; from overexertion it is slightly flushed, his eyes frantic, expression feral, so unfamiliar…

He slowly closes his eyes and collapses.

Soon after, Gu Huai jumps down from the carriage, whispers to the driver, "Take it to the Emerald Red Tower; someone will be waiting, remember to go through the side gate."

"Yes! Third Master!"

Gu Huai watches the carriage fade from his sight, slowly pulls out his handkerchief and wipes his hand little by little.

He wears a blue robe, poised with elegant refinement, yet his eyes are so cold they make one shiver.

"I'm sorry, second brother; you and Gu Jiu Ling were born to be stepping stones for the rest of us, to shield me from disaster—that's your duty, inevitable."

"This time at the Spring Gate, I must succeed!"

At dawn, the last streak of darkness is about to lift, and the day is about to brighten.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps shatter the sweet dream, reaching the Peach Blossom Pavilion where Gu Jiu Ling resides.

These past days Xiao Yin has regained his fief, with too many affairs to attend, rarely disturbing her; Gu Jiu Ling sleeps rather soundly.

Jiu Yue is first startled awake by the footsteps outside, quickly gets up and leaves the warm chamber; it is the Gu family's steward matriarch Wang who sent her husband to Rui Wang Fu to deliver a message.

Zhou Fu and his wife deliberate and think the matter must alert the Princess Consort of Rui; after all they share the same mother, even though they quarreled before, they are still from the same womb.

"Miss Jiu Yue! Second master has had an incident!"

Zhou Fu's face turns pale with shock; previously the second master was locked in the rear courtyard and tormented by the elder master, and they don't know how he was released last night to drink, causing a massive disaster!

Jiu Yue grows increasingly alarmed, turns, lifts the lamp, and walks back into the warm chamber.

The attending Jinzhi has already helped the master sit up.

Gu Jiu Ling's head was all muddled; she woke up with a terrible morning temper, and the baby in her belly was well along—she was already feeling uncomfortable.

"What's wrong?" Gu Jiu Ling's face grew grim.

Jiu Yue walked over cautiously and reported in a low voice: "Master, Second Master has gotten into trouble."

"Last night, Second Master was drinking at the Crimson Red Pavilion when he tried to seize the maid attending the Bei Di princess but failed, and instead, drunk on wine, he killed that maid."

"Because it involves the Bei Di royal family, Second Master has already been locked up in the Ministry of Justice's great prison—he's likely..."

Jiu Yue didn't dare continue.

Gu Jiu Ling suddenly jolted awake, grew a bit clearer, and stared fixedly at Jiu Yue: "What? He killed a Bei Di woman?"