After the Cold and Aloof Husband's Mask Falls - Chapter 22

For a moment, silence reigned at the palace gates.

Even Cui Qiong, after his initial shock, fell silent, his eyes fixed on Gu Wanlan with a look of deep resentment—as if she had just made off with his most prized possession.

Gu Wanlan rubbed the goosebumps on her arms. After exchanging a meaningful glance with Cui Jue, she led Xiao Chen a short distance away to speak privately.

Standing a bit further off, the two brothers’ conversation was inaudible to them.

Cui Qiong glanced at Cui Jue, his heart feeling as though it were being fried in oil. Finally, unable to bear it, he spoke up. “Do you have some secret scheme in mind, marrying the daughter of the Protector Duke?”

Cui Jue’s expression remained indifferent as he withdrew his gaze from the distance. “I am not marrying her.”

Cui Qiong’s heart leaped with joy, and he let out a long sigh of relief. “I knew it. How could she possibly be worthy of you…”

“I am joining her household as a matrilocal groom.”

“Huh?!”

Cui Qiong was genuinely stunned, nearly falling over. He—the formidable head of the Cui family—was going to be a live-in son-in-law?! Was his hearing broken, or had the world gone mad?

“Brother, I don’t understand! Why would you, a man of your status, ever agree to join her family—”

Panicked, Cui Qiong grabbed Cui Jue’s sleeve for the first time without regard for decorum, whispering rapidly.

“The reason?” Cui Jue let out a light chuckle, but the look he gave Cui Qiong was chillingly cold. “Cui Qiong, she is more important than anyone else in the Cui family.”

Cui Qiong froze. He pulled his hand back as if he had been stung by a serpent. He understood the implicit warning in Cui Jue’s tone and the weight of his regard for Gu Wanlan.

But… could his cold, indifferent brother truly have someone he cares for so deeply?

Cui Qiong’s heart was a tangle of emotions—he was happy that Cui Jue finally showed a spark of human life, but indignant that the spark was for Gu Wanlan. He looked over at her and saw her still chatting with Xiao Chen, looking very close.

And the way Xiao Chen looked at Gu Wanlan was clearly not “innocent.”

Cui Qiong glanced back at his brother, who seemed entirely unbothered, staring up at the clouds in the sky. A surge of stifled frustration rose in Cui Qiong’s chest.

“Since she is someone you value, I won’t say anything reckless in the future. But if she causes you pain, I will not forgive her!”

He threw out the threat and prepared to storm off. But after a few steps, the image of Xiao Chen and Gu Wanlan together flashed in his mind. He turned back.

“Even if you are willing to be her groom, there are matters of ethics and morality—” Cui Qiong’s eyes flicked upward, glancing pointedly at Cui Jue’s hair. “You must never tolerate them.”

(Translator’s Note: He is implying the “green hat,” a Chinese metaphor for being cheated on.)

Gu Wanlan had no idea that Cui Qiong was already worrying about the color of her future husband’s hat. She had stepped aside with Xiao Chen solely to thank him properly.

If Xiao Chen hadn’t mentioned her to Emperor Qingyuan, she wouldn’t have been summoned, let alone promoted to be Xiao Chen’s superior. She didn’t want to lose a friend like him because of this.

After hearing her out, Xiao Chen shook his head with a smile. “You worry too much. The position of Commander has always gone to the most capable. No one is better suited to monitor the Rouran hostage from the shadows than you.”

Gu Wanlan saw no falsehood in his expression and relaxed. “I was overthinking. You’ve helped me so much since I came to Xijing; I owe you a drink.”

“It was all within my duty. But if you truly wish to thank me, could I perhaps ask for a martial arts sparring session one day?”

Gu Wanlan’s eyes lit up. “Of course! I’ve been dying for someone to practice with. I’m at your service whenever you’re ready!”

“Good.”

Seeing their business was concluded, Gu Wanlan cupped her hands. “Master Xiao, I have urgent matters at home. I shall take my leave.”

As she turned to go, Xiao Chen took a step forward, finally asking the question that had been circling his heart. “Lady Gu, about what was said just now…” He struggled to force the words through his teeth. “The marriage… is it truly of your own will?”

Gu Wanlan paused, not expecting the question. She instinctively looked over at Cui Jue, only to find him looking directly back at her. Before she could feel embarrassed, he looked away as if it were a mere coincidence.

Gu Wanlan felt a subtle thrill. Hah, he wasn’t this indifferent back at the palace gates.

“Naturally, it is of my own will.”

Under the sunlight, Xiao Chen saw Gu Wanlan beam at him. Her eyes curved into crescents—a look of radiant joy he had never seen on her before. He felt his heartbeat stutter into chaos.

“Come and have a wedding drink when the time comes, Master Xiao!”

“…I will.” Xiao Chen gripped the hilt of his blade, offering a bitter smile.

Only now did he realize that his “righteous assistance” and “duty” were actually an uncontrollable love for the girl before him.

“Please take me back to the Protector Duke’s manor.”

After saying goodbye to Xiao Chen, Gu Wanlan entered Cui Jue’s carriage. To her surprise, Cui Qiong was gone. She peeked out the window. “Where’s that firecracker? He seemed to have a whole basket of complaints about me.”

Inside the luxurious, carpeted carriage, Cui Jue poured her a cup of hot tea. “If you don’t like him, I won’t let him appear before you again.”

Oh? Sidelining his brother for a woman so easily?

Gu Wanlan didn’t take the tea. Instead, she leaned her upper body across the small table, closing the distance between them. She stared into his eyes and blinked. “Speaking of which… back at the palace gates… were you perhaps jealous because of Master Xiao?”

Cui Jue’s hand shook, and hot tea splashed onto his skin, turning it red instantly. He seemed not to notice. He set the cup down and reached out a hand to hover behind her, ready to catch her if the carriage jolted. He looked at her with a light smile. “Am I not allowed?”

Gu Wanlan froze. She hadn’t expected him to stop being shy and actually tease her back!

“It’s not about being ‘allowed.’ I just didn’t want you to overthink. Master Xiao and I have nothing—”

As she grumbled and tried to slip back to her seat, a loud CLACK sounded. Something fell out of her sleeve and onto the table.

Gu Wanlan’s heart stopped. It was the jade pendant Xiao Chen had pressed into her hand earlier—the one with his name on it. She had forgotten to return it!

She lunged for the pendant, but Cui Jue was faster. She missed and, unable to stop her momentum, tumbled directly onto him.

But—it got more awkward.

In the confusion, Gu Wanlan felt her hand grab something it shouldn’t have. Her mind went blank, and she instinctively squeezed.

Her face turned a deep, burning crimson. She froze, paralyzed with embarrassment, wishing a mortal enemy would attack right now just to give her an excuse to escape the carriage.

“Let go…” Cui Jue’s face was flushed. Fine beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.

Internally, Gu Wanlan wanted to die of embarrassment, but outwardly she acted with stoic calm. She sat up abruptly with a stern face. “Oh, it’s just a jade pendant. I wasn’t trying to steal it from you. You can have it back.”

“The pendant… where is the one I just dropped?” She turned her back to him and began fumbling around the carriage seat with a look of extreme, professional focus, as if searching for a lost national treasure.

Cui Jue finally managed to steady his breathing and sit up. But one look at her posture nearly made him lose his breath again. Does she have any idea what she’s doing?!

“Sit properly!” he suppressed a shout.

“Huh?” Gu Wanlan realized her current pose was rather undignified. she quickly sat up straight, unable to pretend she didn’t know anymore. “Ahem. Sorry.”

Cui Jue picked up Xiao Chen’s pendant and placed it on the table. “No need to apologize. Your things—take them.”

“Are you… are you angry?” She didn’t take the pendant, watching his grim expression. A horrifying thought occurred to her, and her face went pale. Oh heavens! Did I… accidentally injure him just now?!

This was serious. She threw embarrassment to the wind. “If you’re uncomfortable, don’t endure it! We can find a doctor right now; there might still be hope!”

She gritted her teeth and reached out to pull at his robes. “No, we have to let it breathe. If it’s injured, it shouldn’t be stifled!”

“Gu Wanlan! Stop!”

Cui Jue grabbed her hands. Only then did he realize the wild direction her thoughts had taken. He had to grit his teeth to explain. “I… am not injured.”

“Oh! Why didn’t you say so? It’s great that you’re not hurt.” Relieved, she patted her chest and slumped back into his personal space, accidentally resting her weight against him.

Cui Jue looked down. From his angle, her snowy white neck was completely exposed to his gaze. In the darkening shadows of the carriage, his voice dropped to a low, husky rasp.

“Lady Gu, you weren’t wrong. I am angry.”

Gu Wanlan suddenly remembered the scene in the cave. She didn’t dare look up, mumbling with her head down, “W-why are you angry?”

Cui Jue took her hand, his fingertips stroking hers with agonizing gentleness. His voice was a whisper. “Because you seem to have forgotten one thing…”

“W-what?”

A strange, unbearable itch traveled from her fingertips to her entire body. She instinctively tried to pull her hand away—but Cui Jue tightened his grip, pulling her down against the table. His eyes were fierce, like a wolf ready to pounce.