GTB Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Informing

Ji Shutíng’s eyes widened again, and she asked curiously:

“Jiuchu, who is it exactly! Tell me, and I’ll help you think of a solution?”

Jiang Jiuchu glanced at Ji Shutíng with some dejection, “It’s the Seventh Prince.”

“What?”

After a cry of surprise, Ji Shutíng immediately lowered her voice, looking at Jiang Jiuchu in disbelief, “I didn’t hear wrong, did I! It’s the Seventh Prince?”

Jiang Jiuchu nodded helplessly, “That’s right, it’s him.”

Seeing Shutíng’s shocked appearance, she felt even more hopeless.

Ji Shutíng moved closer to Jiang Jiuchu, hooking her arm.

“That… don’t be sad! I saw the Seventh Prince once at a palace banquet before, he was like a celestial being, unbelievably handsome, really, I’m not lying to you at all.”

Jiang Jiuchu twitched the corner of her mouth, turning her body away in dissatisfaction, not wanting to look at Ji Shutíng. Was this about looks? She felt like she was talking to a brick wall.

Sure enough, only she could truly understand her own troubles; even the best of friends couldn’t comprehend.

Ji Shutíng, after receiving a dissatisfied glare, finally remembered an important point she had forgotten: Jiuchu already had someone she liked.

She said somewhat guiltily: “That… I’m sorry! I was too shocked just now and forgot that you said you have someone you like.”

“By the way, who is the person you like? Does he like you too?”

Jiang Jiuchu turned her head to look at Ji Shutíng, instructing her: “I’m telling you this, you have to keep it a secret.”

Upon hearing this, Ji Shutíng patted her chest to guarantee, “Don’t worry, I would never tell a soul! You’re practically going to be with the Seventh Prince… how could I not know what’s important?”

Jiang Jiuchu replied, “You’ve met him before, it’s Brother Fu who saved me.”

Ji Shutíng looked astonished upon hearing this, but soon wore a knowing expression. She had long felt that Brother Fu’s attitude towards Jiuchu was indescribable; turns out it wasn’t so simple.

However… wasn’t this developing a bit too quickly? But upon further thought, it was understandable, after all, Brother Fu was Jiuchu’s savior.

What she didn’t know was that, just ten days ago, Song Fuge had saved Jiang Jiuchu again.

“Do you know what that Brother Fu’s background is?”

Although Ji Shutíng asked this, she knew in her heart that no matter what his background, it would be difficult to contend with a prince.

“He’s not royalty or nobility, just a merchant; Mo Feng Pavilion is his.” Jiang Jiuchu concealed his identity as the master of Hidden Trace Pavilion.

“The owner of Mo Feng Pavilion?” Ji Shutíng was somewhat surprised. She hadn’t expected Brother Fu to actually be the owner of Mo Feng Pavilion, but he was just rich and powerless, which was indeed very difficult. It could be said they were worlds apart.

She looked at Jiang Jiuchu and weakly advised, “Why don’t you… face the facts?”

“Unless you and that Brother Fu elope, there’s probably no other way to go. I estimate that even without the Seventh Prince, your parents might not agree to you marrying a merchant.”

Ji Shutíng’s words struck Jiang Jiuchu’s heart, making her expression even more dim.

“By the way, does that Brother Fu know about this?” Ji Shutíng was somewhat curious about Brother Fu’s attitude towards this matter.

“I haven’t told him yet. I’ll go find him later. Can you wait for me at Jade Shop? We can go back together then.”

“Okay, no problem.” Ji Shutíng readily agreed, then asked doubtfully:

“But I haven’t heard any rumors about you and the Seventh Prince! And you don’t even know each other, and your social statuses don’t seem to match! How did you suddenly end up marrying the Seventh Prince?”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Jiuchu explained about the painter coming to paint portraits, and asked Ji Shutíng, “Didn’t the painter come to your house?”

Ji Shutíng shook her head, “My brother is a Third Rank official, so he probably didn’t come! But he hasn’t come to our house before either! Maybe my brother’s position is too sensitive!”

Jiang Jiuchu nodded in agreement. After all, the sister of the commander of the Imperial Guards, unless she was marrying the Crown Prince, other princes would definitely avoid suspicion.

Mo Feng Pavilion

Jiang Jiuchu entered Song Fuge’s private room but found it empty. She called out in confusion, “Brother Fu…”

Strange, Leng Da clearly said that Brother Fu was inside, why isn’t he here?

“I’m here!” Song Fuge’s figure appeared before Jiang Jiuchu as a carved partition was moved.

Jiang Jiuchu turned her head to look. It was the familiar handsome face, and those eyes that looked at her with a smile, always like a pool of clear spring water reflecting the stars, shining on her.

Having not seen him for only seven days, she suddenly had an inexplicable feeling, as if Song Fuge was both near and far at the same time. This feeling made her heart seem unable to find solid ground.

“Is there another room inside?” She walked over and looked inside. She saw that the space inside was half the size of the outside, with a tea table and a chaise lounge, and the rest were bookshelves.

Seeing that her expression seemed different, Song Fuge assumed that she was still embarrassed about what happened last time, so he deliberately ignored her expression and pulled her into the room.

“This is where I rest during the day.”

As he spoke, he handed Jiang Jiuchu the two books he had found earlier.

“Here, take these first. There are three volumes, upper, middle, and lower. When I find the other one for you, you’ll definitely enjoy reading it.” He had originally planned to find the books and give them to Jiang Jiuchu. Having not seen her for many days, he missed her dearly.

The words “Essences and Oddities of Spirits and Monsters” instantly lit up her eyes, but only for a moment, before they dimmed again.

“Here.” Song Fuge finally found the last volume, closed the cabinet door, and led Jiang Jiuchu out of the inner room.

Song Fuge poured a cup of tea and placed it in front of Jiang Jiuchu. Seeing that she sat down with a somewhat silent expression, unlike her usual talkative self, he said with a smile, “Chuer… could it be that you’re still thinking about what happened last time?”

Jiang Jiuchu was wondering how to start when she heard Song Fuge suddenly say this. After realizing what he meant, her face instantly turned red, and she called out in embarrassment, “Brother Fu… Brother Fu is not allowed to mention that matter again in the future, and not allowed to remember it either.”

She felt like she would never forget that matter in this lifetime. She had barely managed to stop thinking about it after several days, but Brother Fu actually brought it up again in front of her.

“Alright, alright, it’s all Brother Fu’s fault, I’ll forget it now, I promise I’ll never remember it again.” Seeing the little girl become embarrassed and angry, Song Fuge quickly promised obediently.

Jiang Jiuchu had something on her mind, so she didn’t want to be too embarrassed. Her thoughts quickly returned to the main issue, and she looked at Song Fuge: “Brother Fu, I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?” Song Fuge suddenly felt that the little girl’s mood was off. There was something else going on, and his expression couldn’t help but become serious.

Jiang Jiuchu paused, then slowly opened her mouth: “A few days ago, a court painter, on the order of the Empress Dowager, came to paint portraits of the daughters of various families, to give to the Seventh Prince…”

Jiang Jiuchu’s words were only halfway through when Song Fuge’s pupils suddenly contracted, and the aura around him seemed to freeze instantly.

After a long while, he asked Jiang Jiuchu, “Does Chuer want to marry him?”