GTB Chapter 54

Chapter 54 Flower Lantern Festival—Elopement Night

The night sky was as dark as ink, with a bright moon hanging high. The streets were already filled with pedestrians, vendors hawking their wares, crowds watching street performers, and lanterns hanging high, creating a lively scene.

Jiang Jiuchu walked to a vendor selling masks and asked Ji Shutíng, “Do you want to wear one?”

“No, I don’t want to,” Ji Shutíng replied to Jiang Jiuchu while looking at the passersby, as if hoping to meet the person she wanted to see on this Lantern Festival night.

Hearing this, Jiang Jiuchu bought a mask for herself and Lu Luo each, as these masks could help her avoid attention.

An hour later, the two walked towards the carriage parked at the end of the street, preparing to return home separately.

Seeing Ji Shutíng get into the carriage, Jiang Jiuchu looked around. Soon, a maid of about her height walked over.

“Lu Yi, why are you here?” Lu Luo asked curiously, seeing that Lu Yi was dressed in the same men’s clothing as her young lady and was also holding a small package in her hand.

Before Lu Yi could answer, Jiang Jiuchu said, “I asked her to come.”

As she spoke, she took off her mask and handed it to Lu Yi, “Wear it! Go back with Lu Luo in my place.”

After saying that, she took the package from Lu Yi’s hand.

“Miss?” Both maids were shocked to hear this. Lu Luo seemed to realize something in an instant, “Miss, are you… not going back?”

Jiang Jiuchu shook her head. “Lu Luo, I am your mistress, you have to listen to me. Take Lu Yi back together, don’t give it away. I’ve already left a letter, pleading for you. I believe my parents and brother won’t punish you.”

Lu Luo’s eyes instantly turned red, and she still asked uncertainly, “Is the young lady not coming back?” She couldn’t believe that her young lady would go this far for Young Master Fu.

Lu Yi was also equally stunned. Although she was confused by her young lady’s instructions, she didn’t guess her intention. She usually didn’t go out with her young lady often, and knew little about Young Master Fu.

So, the young lady asked her to dress like this, waiting here early, actually to have her switch places.

“Alright, go back quickly!” After Jiang Jiuchu finished speaking, she turned around and walked back towards the bustling street, quickly disappearing into the crowd.

“Wear it!” Lu Luo withdrew her gaze from the crowd and looked at the mask in Lu Yi’s hand, saying softly.

She hoped that Young Master Fu could treat her young lady well, and hoped that everything her young lady did today would be worth it.

When Jiang Jiuchu arrived at the Magpie Bridge, it was already Hai hour (9:00 PM). At this time, there were fewer and fewer pedestrians on the street, and the noisy and lively scene was coming to an end.

She waited for a little over half an hour and didn’t see Song Fuge. Seeing that the Mo Feng Pavilion across the bridge didn’t seem to be closed yet, she hesitated for a while and quickly ran towards the Mo Feng Pavilion.

“Shopkeeper, is your Pavilion Master here?” The old shopkeeper shook his head, saying that the Pavilion Master didn’t come to the Mo Feng Pavilion today. If the young master is looking for the Pavilion Master, come back and take a look tomorrow.

“Oh!” Hearing this, Jiang Jiuchu quickly ran back to the Magpie Bridge, thinking that it was all her fault for not telling Brother Fu the specific time. The main reason was that she didn’t know when she could come.

She lay on the bridge railing and looked towards the river, watching two boats leisurely wandering in the river. On the boats, there seemed to be a pair of matched lovers, sitting side by side on the bow, looking up at the moon.

Time passed little by little, and until the stalls were all removed and the pedestrians had all dispersed, Jiang Jiuchu still hadn’t waited for Song Fuge’s figure.

Could it be… that Brother Fu forgot? She shook her head, denying the thought in her heart. Impossible, Brother Fu must have been delayed by something. Brother Fu would never forget such an important matter.

She continued to wait, but until it was almost past Hai hour, she still couldn’t wait for Song Fuge. She inexplicably felt a little uneasy in her heart.

Why hasn’t Brother Fu come yet? She couldn’t help but start to think wildly, but in her thoughts, she would never think that Song Fuge would deliberately break his promise.

The night was deep, there was no one on the street anymore, and there were no more boats wandering on the river. Under the moonlight, the water was deep and calm.

In the distance, the shops along the street, except for a few restaurants and places of entertainment that were still brightly lit, were all closed.

Jiang Jiuchu stood on the Magpie Bridge, looking up at the sky. The moon was very round tonight. Such a round and bright moon was so auspicious!

Brother Fu will definitely come, it’s just that he’s late. It’s still Zi hour (11:00 PM – 1:00 AM), maybe Brother Fu is planning to come in the second half of the night!

“Yo! Where did this handsome young man come from? It’s so late, why are you still outside? Are you waiting for this brother?”

She was looking at the round moon in the sky, looking forward to the beautiful life ahead, when suddenly a teasing male voice came from behind her.

Startled, she quickly turned her head and saw a short, thin man in gorgeous clothes, hugging another relatively tall and handsome man, walking up to her.

Jiang Jiuchu’s eyes widened. Goodness, her eyes were really opened. This, this, this is the legendary dragon yang hobby!

Originally wanting to roll her eyes in disgust, she immediately paused and glanced at the seven or eight tall and strong subordinates behind the two men, instantly shutting her mouth.

After thinking for a while, she said in a rough voice, “I’m waiting for my elder brother, he’ll be here soon.”

The short, thin man released the handsome man he was hugging and took a step towards Jiang Jiuchu, “Elder brother? Could it be a lover? Is he as handsome as you?”

Jiang Jiuchu took half a step back and said with a flattering smile, “You’re joking, sir. I’m a man, how can I have a lover?”

“Hey, men are good! The pleasure of men is also wonderful. Why don’t I take you to try it?” As he spoke, the short, thin man wanted to touch Jiang Jiuchu.

Seeing this, Jiang Jiuchu immediately dodged, glanced again at the subordinates behind him, and asked in a friendly tone, “You, you, do you like men?”

Hearing this, the short, thin man admitted without hesitation, “Yes, I only like good-looking and tender men like you?”

“Then you might be disappointed, sir. I… I’m not a man, I’m a woman.”

Jiang Jiuchu recovered her female voice, turned her head to look on both sides, hoping that her Brother Fu could come quickly, or at least, hoping that a night patrol team could pass by quickly.

“Woman?” The short, thin man looked Jiang Jiuchu up and down.

“Yes, yes, yes, I’m not a man.” Fearing that he wouldn’t believe her, Jiang Jiuchu quickly replied, and pulled off the hairband on her head, instantly scattering the high-up male hairstyle.

Seeing this, the people present instantly widened their eyes, each showing a look of amazement.

“Haha, women are good! It’s the first time I’ve met such a beautiful girl,” the short, thin man walked towards Jiang Jiuchu again with lustful eyes, and the people behind him followed.

Jiang Jiuchu’s face turned pale. Who would tell her what kind of monster this person was? Didn’t they all say that people who were fond of the same sex were extremely disgusted with women?

She retreated in fear, forcing herself to stall for time, “Sir, don’t you like men? You, you, you… don’t come over.”

“I like men, but I didn’t say I don’t like women! Each has its own fun, only those who know how to enjoy it understand.”

“Don’t be afraid, girl! Follow me, I guarantee you’ll have no worries about food and clothing. I’m the cousin of the current Second Prince. As long as you serve me well, I’ll take you in and favor you alone.”

Jiang Jiuchu felt a burst of nausea, but she couldn’t reveal her identity casually like this man, so she said, “I already have no worries about food and clothing, because I am also a member of the royal family. If you dare to do anything to me, you will definitely regret it.”

“Yo! You’re really good at bluffing. Why don’t you tell me, which member of the royal family are you?”

The short, thin man obviously didn’t believe her, looking at Jiang Jiuchu in front of him as if he was looking at something in his pocket, leisurely chatting with her.

“Which young lady of a noble family would be standing here with a package in the middle of the night? It can’t be that a young lady… is waiting for a poor scholar to elope, right!”