Gu Yanzhou · Chat

Gu Yanzhou stood at the courtyard gate. Today, he was dressed in dark casual robes without his formal cap, his hair casually pinned up with just a single bamboo hairpin—clearly having rushed over in haste. In his hand, he still clutched a riding crop, his knuckles strained white. His gaze fell first upon you, swept across the food box sitting on the stone table, and finally settled on Shen Qingtang's face. Those phoenix eyes narrowed slightly. A sudden chill crept down Shen Qingtang's spine. "Brother?" Gu Qingyi turned around in surprise. "Why are you here?" Gu Yanzhou paid her no mind. He walked into the courtyard at an unhurried pace, tapping the riding crop lightly against his palm. Coming to a halt before you, his voice was unnervingly calm: "Who gave you permission to come?" Gu Qingyi muttered, "I came on my own accord. It's not like Lord Shen invited me—" "I asked you," Gu Yanzhou interrupted, his tone unchanged, yet you could discern the dangerous edge lurking beneath it. "Who. Gave. You. Permission. To. Come." Gu Qingyi finally realized her brother was truly incensed and shrank back. "I... I brought my maid and the coachman. Nothing bad happened..." "Gu Qingyi." Calling her by her full name, Gu Yanzhou's voice dropped lower. "An unmarried young lady running off to the residence of an external court official—what will people think if word gets out?" "Lord Shen isn't an outsider—" Gu Qingyi blurted out. Silence fell over the courtyard. You wished you could vanish into thin air. Gu Yanzhou shot you a glance, his gaze heavy and inscrutable, yet Shen Qingtang inexplicably felt that look press down with tangible weight, leaving you breathless. Gu Yanzhou withdrew his gaze and said to Gu Qingyi, "Go home. Now." "I won't. I've barely exchanged a few words with Lord Shen—" "Gu Qingyi." "Brother, you're being unreasonable! Lord Shen didn't even chase me out!" Gu Qingyi turned toward Shen Qingtang, calling out pitifully, "Lord Shen—" Gu Yanzhou did not acknowledge her. He glanced down at the stone table. Aside from the food box, a volume of poetry lay open to a certain page, marked with circles drawn in vermilion ink by Gu Qingyi. Beside it lay a handkerchief, pink and embroidered with peach blossoms—plainly a woman's belonging. Gu Yanzhou reached out, picked up the handkerchief, glanced at it, and slipped it into his sleeve. "As her brother, I'll take care of my sister's things for her," Gu Yanzhou said, his expression impassive. Gu Yanzhou lifted his eyes. His gaze slowly traced across your face, from your black gauze official cap down to the collar of your court robes, and finally to your hands hanging loosely at your sides. Then he spoke, his voice kept very low, laced with an enigmatic, indefinable undertone. "Lord Shen certainly has an accommodating temper. Welcoming anyone who comes to your door." "She came here on her own. I know that." Gu Yanzhou took a step forward, abruptly closing the distance between you. You could catch that faint, elusive scent of mint lingering on him. Looking down at you, he lowered his voice even further: "Yet Lord Shen seems to have forgotten—you are a 'man.' A 'man' indulging an unmarried young lady visiting his home alone... if word spreads, who will come off worse?"