Chapter 32

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Gu Yan Fei and Gu Yun Zhen were led by a maid from Jing Wang Manor to a table by the window. On the table were a few plates of fruit and snacks, along with a plum vase holding several stems of green chrysanthemums.

As the breeze blew, a faint and elegant chrysanthemum fragrance wafted through the waterside pavilion.

After the sisters sat down, Gu Yan Fei dismissed the maid and personally poured two cups of tea—one for herself and one for Gu Yun Zhen.

Gu Yun Zhen took a sip of her tea and raised her eyes toward the Princess of Changqing. The recently arrived trio—a man, a woman, and a younger boy—were exchanging polite greetings with the Princess. The girl in blue seemed particularly close to Gu Yun Rong, affectionately holding her arm as they laughed and chatted.

“That’s the eldest daughter and fourth young master of General Li’s household. The younger boy looks unfamiliar; he’s likely not a member of the Li family,” Gu Yun Zhen softly explained to Gu Yan Fei. “Elder Miss Li is Third Sister’s close friend.”

Ever attentive, Gu Yun Zhen continued introducing the notable guests to Gu Yan Fei. The young lady who had taken a pink chrysanthemum from the vase and was now toying with it was the third daughter of the Earl of Chang’an. The girl in pale pink was the ninth young lady from the Prince of Yu’s residence. Meanwhile, the gentleman in elegant attire who had just arrived at the entrance was the third young master of Jing Wang Manor, Chu Jun Hao.

The waterside pavilion was filled with cheerful chatter and laughter. Some were casually catching up, others raised their cups for a toast, and a few had started a game of guessing riddles hidden under cups. The atmosphere was lively and spirited.

After chatting with the Princess of Changqing for a while, Gu Yun Rong approached Gu Yan Fei and Gu Yun Zhen, led by another maid. In her hand was a narrow red headband, about a finger’s width.

The maids of Jing Wang Manor were distributing headbands for the upcoming polo match. Today’s game was led by the siblings Chu Jun Hao and the Princess of Changqing, divided into two teams distinguished by red and blue headbands.

The participants, brimming with enthusiasm, were eager to showcase their skills, their expressions full of anticipation.

“Second Sister, the game is about to start. Do you want to give it a try?” Gu Yun Rong stopped in front of their table, her cheerful smile lighting up her clear eyes.

Yesterday, Old Madam Gu had specifically instructed Gu Yun Rong to bring Gu Yan Fei along. Without hesitation, Gu Yun Rong had agreed.

For Gu Yan Fei, returning to the Gu family meant she would inevitably need to integrate into the social circle of noble ladies. More importantly, today, Fang Ming Feng would also be present.

At the thought of Fang Ming Feng, Gu Yun Rong’s eyelashes fluttered slightly.

The Gu and Fang families had long-standing ties, and the eldest daughter of the Gu family’s main branch was betrothed to Fang Ming Feng from childhood. However, Gu Yan Fei seemed to harbor some misunderstandings about him and was staunchly resistant to this marriage. Gu Yun Rong had made up her mind to create an opportunity for the two to meet face-to-face.

Once they were successfully married, she would no longer owe Gu Yan Fei anything. Their accounts would be settled, and she could let go of the past.

Gu Yan Fei sipped her tea gracefully, her eyes half-lowered, responding with a faint, enigmatic smile but saying nothing.

Seeing this, Gu Yun Zhen assumed that Gu Yan Fei wasn’t interested in polo and quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “Second Sister, why don’t you sit with me and watch them play?”

Gu Yun Rong shared the same assumption and didn’t press the matter. No need to force her, she thought. Once Fang Ming Feng arrives, I’ll bring him over myself. Her smile grew even brighter as she added, “The Princess has set up a betting game today with prizes for the winners. Even if you’re not playing, you can place bets.”

“I’ll definitely win,” Gu Yun Rong declared confidently, her eyes sparkling with self-assurance.

Gu Yun Zhen chuckled at her enthusiasm and was just about to reply when the cheerful voice of the Princess of Changqing called out from not far away, “Yun Rong, we’re waiting on you!”

Just as she had settled into her seat, Gu Yun Rong excused herself with a quick “Pardon me,” and hurried off to join the Princess of Changqing and the others as they exited the waterside pavilion.

Gu Yan Fei and Gu Yun Zhen remained by the window-side table, leisurely sipping tea, nibbling on snacks, and admiring the lake view.

To the east of the pavilion lay a serene lake, while to the west stretched a vast, flat polo field, three hundred steps long and wide. The edges of the field were marked with colorful flags, and a few bamboo pavilions had been set up as viewing stands.

Under the central bamboo pavilion stood a man with his horse. Fang Ming Feng, dressed in a sky-blue collared nomadic-style outfit, stood calmly with a pure white horse by his side. His fair skin and refined features made him stand out, and his gaze softened, becoming as gentle as spring water, the moment his eyes met Gu Yun Rong’s.

“Yun Rong,” he greeted politely, bowing slightly with a refined gesture. His every move exuded the elegance befitting the heir of a noble house. With genuine concern, he asked, “I heard from my younger sister that you were feeling unwell a few days ago. Are you feeling better now?”

Fang Ming Feng’s gaze swept over Gu Yun Rong. The silk sash tied at her waist accentuated her slender figure, making her seem delicate and fragile. In the half-month since he last saw her, she had noticeably lost weight.

“Just a touch of the seasonal chill,” Gu Yun Rong replied with a poised smile. “A couple of days of ginger tea, and I was fine. It’s nothing to worry about.”

“…” Fang Ming Feng pressed his thin lips together, hesitant to speak. The reasons for her weight loss and illness were all too obvious.

After exchanging a few polite words, Gu Yun Rong subtly shifted the conversation. Raising her hand, she gestured toward the Zhuoxin Pavilion a few yards away. “My Second Sister is here as well. She’s seated over there.”

The autumn breeze swept across the lake, lifting the layers of light gauze draped around the pavilion. Through the fluttering veils, the silhouettes of two young women could be faintly seen. One had her back to him, while the other revealed an exquisitely beautiful profile.

Gu Yun Rong, her expression bright and playful, winked at Fang Ming Feng and leaned in to whisper mischievously, “My Second Sister is quite the rare beauty.”

Her tone carried a teasing familiarity that only close acquaintances could manage.

“…” Fang Ming Feng’s expression stiffened as he gazed distantly at Gu Yan Fei’s side profile. Memories of their brief and poignant encounter at the gates of Danyang City came flooding back.

For some time now, the events of that day had clung to Fang Ming Feng like a shadow, relentless and suffocating, akin to a leech draining him. His irritation bubbled to the surface, and his gaze grew darker, more menacing. A single thought surfaced in his mind:

If only she had died in Danyang City.

If Gu Yan Fei had perished in Danyang, no one in the capital would have known she existed. Gu Yun Rong would still be recognized as the second young lady of the Gu family—the one engaged to him.

This is all Gu Yan Fei’s fault! Why is she still alive?

A flicker of secret sorrow and hatred slowly surfaced in the depths of Fang Ming Feng’s dark eyes.

At the nearby table, the Princess of Changqing caught a snippet of Gu Yun Rong’s earlier comment and casually asked, “Yun Rong, is she a distant cousin of yours?”

The Princess was aware that the Gu family girls of this generation shared the “Yun” character in their names. Gu Yan Fei clearly didn’t fit the pattern, so she assumed she must belong to a distant branch of the family.

Gu Yun Rong’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, and the cheerful smile on her face faltered, betraying a hint of discomfort. Her relationship with Gu Yan Fei was far too complicated to explain in just a few words. Moreover…

“She’s my cousin,” Gu Yun Rong answered vaguely before adding, “My Second Sister has… a connection with the heir…”

Gu Yun Rong had been eager to announce that Gu Yan Fei was betrothed to Fang Ming Feng, impatient to make the matter public. However, just as the words were forming, Fang Ming Feng abruptly interrupted her, his tone hurried and anxious:

“The match is about to start. Let’s discuss our strategy.”

He turned to the Princess of Changqing and continued without missing a beat. “Your Highness, your third brother excels at defense and will likely take that position. Third and Fourth Young Masters of the Wang family have great teamwork, so they’ll surely play as dual forwards. County Princess An Le is versatile—she’s strong in both offense and defense, but her horse is a new mount and notoriously unruly…”

Gu Yun Rong understood that he was deliberately steering the conversation away, and she sighed inwardly, feeling a twinge of frustration.

Just then, she felt a scorching gaze boring into her back. She instinctively turned around, and a familiar figure not far away came into view. Her body froze instantly.