Chapter 168: Wedding Gift (5)

The sky was just bright. Gu Yun was hanging on a tree doing pull-ups after morning running. This was the exercise she insisted on every day, and it was also her habit for many years. There was a knock on the door outside the courtyard. Gu Yun guessed that it should be Ming Shu sending her clothes, and said loudly: "Come in."

The door opened gently. It was indeed Ming Shu, holding a large tray in his hand, on which were five colors."

Forty-eight... forty-nine... fifty!

After doing today's amount, Gu Yun let go and landed gracefully and freely. Just focusing on exercise, she didn't notice that there was a ten-year-old girl standing at the courtyard gate. She was dressed in cloth, looking very fresh and pleasant, her smart big eyes wide open, staring at her, full of surprise and curiosity.

Gu Yun laughed. After staying in the General's Mansion for a long time, she wasn't used to seeing women. The child simply put her emotions directly on her face. Gu Yun felt she was very frank and cute, and smiled: "Who is she?"

Ming Shu beckoned to the girl, signaling her to come in. After the girl walked to Gu Yun and saluted respectfully, Ming Shu explained: "She is my niece, clever, let her comb and wash for you, so you can go out quickly, this old servant acted on his own, please forgive me, young lady."

Yes! She only thought of clothes, but didn't think about the hairstyle. She couldn't wear a long skirt and then match it with a ponytail. Thinking about it herself, she felt it was very funny, so she replied gratefully: "Ming Shu, you are really thoughtful, thank you."

Ming Shu shook his head gently and smiled warmly: "Don't dare, this old servant will retreat first." Miss Qing

Ming Shu retreated, and Gu Yun walked into the room, saying to the girl who was still standing blankly in the courtyard, "Come in."

The girl timidly entered the room. Gu Yun was covered in sweat and was just about to walk over to the water basin to wash her face, but the little girl moved faster than her, wet the towel, wrung it out, and handed it to Gu Yun.

Gu Yun was slightly stunned. Whether at home or at the General's Mansion, she had always been self-reliant for the twenty-plus years she had been alive. Suddenly having someone take care of her so meticulously made her feel a bit unaccustomed.

Awkwardly taking the towel, Gu Yun asked, "What is your name?"

The girl lowered her head slightly, her voice as thin as an ant's, "Moli."

"Hmm, a very fresh name." It suited her quite well. Gu Yun didn't really know how to get along with such overly shy girls, so she simply walked to the tray and picked up some clothes to hold against herself. The clothes Ming Shu had picked for her were already in relatively elegant, light colors. Gu Yun casually chose a pale purple dress suitable for a wedding and said to the little girl behind her, "I want to wear this set; you can just comb my hair into the simplest style to match it."

"Yes." The girl glanced at the clothing and accessories in Gu Yun's hand and probably knew what kind of hairstyle to do, but since the young lady said she wanted it simple, the girl wasn't quite sure and asked hesitantly, "Then shall I comb a Luoxia Bun for you, or... a Liuyun Bun?"

Gu Yun didn't understand at all and just emphasized one point, "Whatever, just keep it simple."

"Yes." Not daring to ask again, the girl pondered for a good while before starting to comb Gu Yun's hair.

Half an hour later—

Gu Yun was already getting a bit impatient. Finally, the girl's soft voice said with a smile, "It's done, Young Lady, please see if you are satisfied."

Finally done! Gu Yun scanned herself in the bronze mirror casually. A simple bun was coiled at the back of her head, with carefully braided strands interwoven within it, looking very layered without appearing overly complex. Gu Yun was very satisfied and was just about to get up to change clothes when the girl brought over a tray of gorgeous, pure gold hair accessories and asked, "Young Lady, which hair accessory would you like to use?"

Gu Yun only felt dazzled by the bright glare. Although the gold hair accessories were beautiful, they didn't match her simple hairstyle at all and looked rather tacky. Pushing the tray away, Gu Yun smiled and said, "No need, just like this."

The girl said with a troubled expression, "That won't do, how can someone have their hair styled without wearing a hairpin!" It wouldn't do? Gu Yun really didn't understand why there was such a rule, and her brows furrowed tightly together.

It was clear that the young lady definitely didn't like these gaudy gold ornaments. The little girl picked up the emerald hairpin placed beside the bronze mirror and suggested, "Then let's wear this one." The young lady had placed it by the bronze mirror, so it must be a beloved item.

Gu Yun glanced at the hairpin. By comparison, she would choose it. Gu Yun replied without objection, "Let's go with that one."

The sun had already risen high, and it would be too late if she didn't leave soon. Casually inserting the hairpin into her hair and changing into the long dress with Moli's help, with no makeup on her face, Gu Yun hurried toward the outside of the mansion.

Long dresses are really not meant for people to wear! Gu Yun cursed inwardly. After tripping over the hem of her skirt for the twentieth time, Gu Yun finally reached the gate of the General's Mansion.

Ming Shu seemed to have been waiting there for a long time. Seeing her walk over, he hurriedly went to meet her, looking at Gu Yun's beautiful attire with satisfaction, and smiled, "Young Lady, the carriage is ready."

Gu Yun nodded. In this outfit, it would be difficult to ride a horse!

With a dark face, Gu Yun had just stepped outside the courtyard when a surprised male voice called out, "Wow! You are today... finally like a woman!"

Today, she was in a pale purple dress, which made her petite and soft figure appear even more slender. Paired with her bright and beautiful appearance, she looked even more pitiful and lovely. Actually, Su Yu wanted to say, you are... very beautiful today, but the words reached his lips and he felt too embarrassed to say them, so that was the sentence that blurted out. He felt a bit annoyed, but he saw Gu Yun just roll her eyes at him without getting angry.

It would be strange if anything good could come out of Su Yu's mouth! Gu Yun couldn't be bothered with him and walked toward the carriage. Suddenly, an intense gaze that could not be ignored landed straight on her. Gu Yun frowned and looked up to see a familiar tall figure standing beside a pure black steed.

It was him? Seeing him in front of the General's Mansion was the most normal thing, but under the scrutiny of those eagle-like eyes, Gu Yun felt an inexplicable tension.

At this moment, it was not just Su Yu whose heart was pounding. Meeting those clear eyes, Su Ling found he could no longer look away. She was indeed a unique woman, able to blend softness and sharpness together. Just like now, although she was dressed in delicate women's clothing, her clear eyes and cold, arrogant temperament remained undiminished, and amidst her elegant and ethereal air, there was a faint, overbearing spirit that looked down upon all others. Seeing clearly that Gu Yun only had one hairpin in her hair, which was exactly the emerald hairpin he had given her, a ripple that took a long time to dissipate rose in Su Ling's heart.

Wearing this outfit and being stared at intently by his deep eyes, Gu Yun's palms were actually sweating slightly, and she felt both embarrassed and awkward.

Fortunately, Su Ling didn't say anything. A moment later, he nimbly mounted his horse and rode away.

After he left, that feeling of unease vanished instantly. Gu Yun breathed a secret sigh of relief, looked at Su Yu, and asked curiously, "Where is he in such a hurry to go?"

Su Yu's expression was not good, and he replied in a low voice, "The Emperor has issued an imperial decree, urgently summoning Big Brother to the palace." For some reason, seeing his big brother staring at her without letting go, his heart became inexplicably irritable.

"Did something happen?"

"I don't know." Su Yu coldly dropped this sentence and turned to enter the mansion. Gu Yun felt a bit baffled. They say a woman's heart is a needle at the bottom of the sea; a man's heart is probably sand at the bottom of the sea. She shook her head and stepped into the long-awaited carriage.

Gu Yun straightened up and said apologetically, "I'm sorry."

Walking back to the General's Mansion, she happened to run into Su Yu at the gate. Gu Yun still remembered his teasing from the morning and didn't want to pay attention to him, but Su Yu looked surprised when he saw her, "You... why are you back?"

Gu Yun stopped and hummed lowly, "Can't I come back?" Qing's wedding wasn't her wedding, couldn't she take a break?

Seeing her expression wasn't good, Su Yu frowned and asked in a low voice, "Did something happen at the Prime Minister's Mansion?"

Su Yu was very strange today! Gu Yun narrowed her eyes slightly, looked at him calmly, and asked, "What could happen at the Prime Minister's Mansion?"

Two consecutive questions made Su Yu unsure whether she knew or didn't know, so he could only laugh sheepishly, "No, nothing! I was just asking!"

Gu Yun stared at him coldly. Su Yu felt uncomfortable all over and lifted his foot to go out, but a slender hand blocked his path. Gu Yun pressed, "What are you panicking about?"

"Panicking? I'm not panicking! Just kidding!" Su Yu swallowed. His feigned calmness was still seen through by Gu Yun. Worried that something might have happened to Zhuo Qing, Gu Yun urged, "What happened?!"

"I don't know!" Su Yu shook his head firmly, turned his back, and walked into the General's Mansion again.

Grabbing Su Yu's shoulder, Gu Yun wouldn't let him go and shouted sternly, "Tell the truth!"

Su Yu turned around in frustration and sighed, "I really don't know. Wasn't Big Brother summoned to the palace early this morning? Just now, Second Brother was also summoned to the palace in a great hurry. I heard that the two rebel leaders Second Brother captured, after entering the capital, insisted that..."

Speaking to this point, Su Yu paused, and facing Gu Yun's pressing gaze, he still said in a low voice, "The ones who colluded with them back then and planned the Golden Case were none other than the Prime Minister and his son!"

"What?!" Gu Yun was so shocked that her grip on Su Yu's arm shook. This was impossible! It wasn't that she trusted the character of Lou Xiyan and his father so much, but she was present during the siege of the rebels. At that time, there were indeed signs indicating that the rebels were colluding with court officials, but it shouldn't have been Lou Xiyan and his father! Lou Muhai could be considered to have made an indelible contribution in the matter of suppressing the rebels!

After pondering for a while, Gu Yun asked, "What evidence did they produce?"

Su Yu shook his head helplessly, "Big Brother and Second Brother have both been summoned to the palace, I don't know what evidence Second Brother brought back either!"

Actually, the rebels' confession was not the most important thing. As the Prime Minister of a country, Lou Xiyan could absolutely not be brought down by the confessions of a few small thieves. The most important thing was what evidence they had produced, and also, if this was a deliberate frame-up by their political rivals in court, working from the inside and outside, then the pressure Lou Xiyan would face would be even greater!

Releasing Su Yu, Gu Yun turned and left the General's Mansion. Su Yu hurried to follow, "Where are you going? You can't go and tip them off!"

Gu Yun narrowed her sharp eyes and replied coldly, "I have my own sense of propriety!"

Su Yu still couldn't rest easy and followed Gu Yun to the Prime Minister's Mansion.

Inside the Prime Minister's Mansion, it was packed with royal relatives and officials of all ranks who had come to observe the ceremony. Gu Yun was in a hurry to find the room where Zhuo Qing was resting. Seeing from afar that the main hall was crowded with onlookers, she squinted and saw Lou Xiyan holding Zhuo Qing's hand as they walked toward the main hall.

Gu Yun pushed through the crowd, and after finally making it into the main hall, she heard the ceremonial officer shout loudly, "The newlyweds shall bow!"

Lou Xiyan's eyes were clear, but his face was already a bit flushed, presumably from drinking quite a bit of wine. Standing still in the main hall, Gu Yun prepared to wait for them to finish the bowing ceremony before finding Qing to tell her about this matter!

"First bow to Heaven and Earth!" The ceremonial officer's high-pitched voice rang out for a long time. The two bowed deeply to the heavens.

"Second bow to the high hall!" Turning around, the two bowed deeply to both sets of parents.

"Husband and..." The call had just begun when a more majestic male voice interrupted this final bow.

"The Imperial Decree has arrived!"

(End of chapter)