Chapter 2824: The Stand-in Was Forcefully Taken by the Mountain Bandit's Wife 30

After that day in the bamboo grove, Gu Fanghe used the excuse that Jin Chen had been frightened and needed quiet recuperation, never leaving his side in the warm pavilion; he temporarily handed over all stronghold affairs to Chen Xiaoshan and Liu Mianfeng, only briefly inquiring when necessary, and Jin Chen was pleased to see him so attentive.

In the warm pavilion, charcoal fires constantly burned, and the scents of tea and wine lingered.

Thus three days passed.

Meanwhile, Ruan Shutong, confined to the West Side Courtyard, did not have a peaceful three days.

Besides that small courtyard, he could go nowhere; day and night, bandits guarded outside in shifts, calling it protection but actually surveillance.

Ruan Shutong had not lacked ideas.

On the first day, he calculated that Chen Xiaoshan would return from leading a mountain patrol and pass near the side courtyard, so he waited early at the gate; seeing Chen Xiaoshan appear, he stepped forward and called through the fence, 'Chen Second Brother, wait!'

Chen Xiaoshan stopped, looked at him, and said, 'Young Master Ruan, what is it?'

Ruan Shutong drew a slight breath, his tone sincere: 'Chen Second Brother, I know Chief Gu and the stronghold folks have some misunderstandings about me, but my father's illness is grave and he urgently needs those few herbs that grow on the cliffs of Black Mountain Cliff to sustain his life.'

I have already been delayed several days here; my heart is truly anxious as if burning. Might I… ask you, Chen Second Brother, to intercede and let me bring people up the mountain to gather medicine? I promise that once I have gathered the herbs I will leave immediately and will cause the stronghold no further trouble.

Chen Xiaoshan furrowed his brows, silent.

He indeed remembered Ruan Shutong's favor from three years ago, but Chief Gu's attitude was clear, and he dared not act on his own.

'Yo, Young Master Ruan, you said that, but you weren't anxious when the rain stopped two days ago and the sky cleared; now you're acting as if your eyebrows are on fire.'

Liu Mianfeng swayed his fan, having somehow come over and leaned against an old tree not far away, watching this scene.

Ruan Shutong's chest tightened; he gave a bitter laugh: 'Third Brother Liu, you're joking—I was…'

'What is that?' Liu Mianfeng cut him off, lightly tapping his fan in his palm, 'Back then you thought your two attendants could succeed, but instead you messed up, right?'

'Third Brother Liu has misunderstood; I certainly didn't mean that! I was merely thinking that, as an old acquaintance of the stronghold folks, perhaps…'

'Old acquaintances are old acquaintances, rules are rules.' Liu Mianfeng put away his fan, his tone fading: 'Since Chief Gu has ordered Young Master Ruan to recuperate here, Young Master Ruan should just rest easy.'

'Gathering medicine isn't urgent; if you're not in a hurry, we're even less so, right, Second Brother?'

Liu Mianfeng glanced at Chen Xiaoshan, his eyes flickering with a hidden warning.

Being disturbed by Liu Mianfeng, Gu Fanghe recalled that the matter of Chu Yi and Chu Ming remained unresolved, Chief Gu's attitude was unclear, and he suppressed that hint of pity.

Gu Fanghe said, 'Young Master Ruan, I cannot decide this matter; please rest easy and wait a few more days for Chief Gu's word.'

Having said that, he nodded at Liu Mianfeng, turned, and led his people away.

Ruan Shutong: '……'

Liu Mianfeng… this smiling fox! Three years ago he was already lukewarm toward him, and now he's openly targeting him!

On the second day, Ruan Shutong waited for A Dong's shift; three years ago, while he was in the stronghold, to earn Gu Fanghe's trust he had also sent precious medicinal herbs to A Dong, Gu Fanghe's trusted aide who was ill at the time.

Ruan Shutong called softly, 'A Dong Brother.'

A Dong jumped, looked left and right, then walked to the window and lowered his voice: 'Young Master Ruan, are you looking for me?'

Ruan Shutong took a silver ingot from his sleeve and slipped it into his hand: 'A Dong Brother, I'd like to ask a favor… I want to see Chief Gu once.'

A Dong held the silver ingot, stunned for a moment: 'Why?'

Ruan Shutong pressed on, 'A Dong Brother, I know the stronghold now has misunderstandings about me; please help me, help me pass a word to Chief Gu, or… take me out for a moment? I'll go find him myself.'

Upon hearing this, A Dong's face changed, he stepped back several paces: 'No, this won't do! Chief Gu has ordered that you may not leave this courtyard; I cannot defy Chief Gu's command.'

Ruan Shutong hadn't expected such a blunt refusal; anxiety surged and he blurted, 'A Dong, you forgot… three years ago Chief Gu even painted a portrait of me, hanging it in the study…'

Who would have thought—A Dong's face darkened at the words 'portrait,' and the warmth stemming from past gratitude vanished completely.

'Young Master Ruan! I respect you for saving someone three years ago, so I speak to you politely, but don't push your luck! Chief Gu himself said that the portrait in the study depicts Young Master Jin, not you!'

'How dare you bring this up—are you trying to drive a wedge between Chief Gu and Young Master Jin? I tell you, no way!'

A Dong turned and ran to the courtyard gate, his back to Ruan Shutong, refusing to look back.

Ruan Shutong stood where he was, as if struck by lightning.

Gu Fanghe… actually spoke that way to everyone in the stronghold.

He trembled with rage, wanting to smash the fence before him; leaving the side courtyard would not be difficult, but for now he still could not go.

He must not expose himself, must not let all his prior efforts come to nothing.

Over the next few days, whether Ruan Shutong sought the boy who delivered meals or the children playing in the courtyard, he offered great rewards or feigned misery to gain sympathy.

But no matter who, none were willing to help.

Throughout the stronghold, not a single person believed him.

——

After three days, Jin Chen felt his recuperation was sufficient and no longer spent all day holed up in the warm pavilion.

Seeing Jin Chen's complexion rosy and his spirits lively, Gu Fanghe felt somewhat relieved; moreover, stronghold affairs indeed needed handling, so he resumed his routine and assigned additional guards to protect the vicinity of the warm pavilion.

That morning he went to the training field, which was the stronghold's enclosed area specially for training the elite team, in preparation for future resistance against the court.

Ruan Shutong finally got his chance.

He took advantage of the guard shift change, slipped out of the West Side Courtyard, and made his way all the way to the outside of the training field.

The guards immediately stepped forward to block him: 'Halt! Who goes there?'

'I want to see Chief Gu!'

Gu Fanghe frowned, sheathed his blade, and looked over.

He saw Ruan Shutong ignoring the guards' obstruction and gazing toward him.

Gu Fanghe's grip on his sword tightened as he recalled his promise to Jin Chen that day—to personally kill Ruan Shutong.

He waved at the guards: 'Let him in.'

The guards relaxed their hold; Ruan Shutong hurried to the center of the field, and as he drew near, Gu Fanghe signaled with his eyes—two elite team members stationed at the edges immediately stepped forward, one on each side, and seized him.

Ruan Shutong started, looked up at Gu Fanghe, and saw the horizontal blade in his hand flash coldly in the sunlight, its tip aimed at his chest.

'Chief Gu……' Ruan Shutong's voice trembled, 'Please hear me out—I… had a dream last night.'

Gu Fanghe's gaze stalled, his eyes dark and unfathomable.

Ruan Sutong felt a faint joy, and hurriedly continued, 'I dreamed…… and your past lives.'

Gu Fanghe's pupils suddenly contracted.

Past lives — again this word, just like what Ruan Sutong said in the dream.

He stared at Ruan Sutong for a few seconds, turned, and walked toward the small hut behind the training ground.

Speak inside.

Ruan Sutong felt a surge of joy and hurriedly followed.

No one had imagined things would turn out this way.

Yan Qi now admires Jin Chen wholeheartedly; he jumped up immediately, 'Dage, what are you doing? You wouldn't really believe Ruan Sutong's nonsense, would you?'

Liu Mianfeng waved his fan, 'Go, deliver the news to Young Master Jin.'

Yan Qi nodded, beckoned and called over a young bandit, and whispered a few instructions in his ear.

The young bandit's face changed, and he turned and ran toward the warm pavilion.