After the Cold and Aloof Husband's Mask Falls - Chapter 50

Under the same moonlight.

Amidst the swirling mist, Xiao Sun was soaked in a bath, his torso bare. He reached out to stroke the hideous scar on his chest, looking somewhat lost in thought.

After leaving the Protector Duke’s Manor during the day, he happened to run into Gu Baozhu. That Eldest Miss, who not long ago had been at daggers drawn with Gu Wanlan, trying to stomp her into the mud, had actually dared to speak harsh words to his face, warning him not to provoke Gu Wanlan again.

Xiao Sun didn’t get angry. He dismissed the attendants who wanted to step forward, finding the situation quite amusing. “Lady, perhaps you recall that just an hour ago, you were using this Prince to attack Gu Wanlan.”

“As you said, that was the ‘me’ from an hour ago. The ‘me’ now will not allow you to harbor bad intentions toward her!” Getting defensive, Gu Baozhu nearly snapped at him. “In short! She is an extremely gentle and good person!”

Gu Wanlan… gentle? A good person?

Xiao Sun had almost laughed out loud. After he returned, he ordered a detailed investigation into Gu Wanlan’s reputation in Xijing. He discovered that her current reputation was actually quite good; even the couple from the Gu family’s second branch, who had been “bullied” harshly by her, had never uttered a single bad word about her to outsiders.

She was worlds apart from the person she had been in Roulan.

Back then, she was a wolf cub loathed by everyone. From the way she stabbed him without hesitation just to escape Roulan, one could tell what a cold-hearted woman she was. He was almost looking forward to the day when people like Gu Baozhu and Cui Jue, who were currently deceived by her, finally saw her true colors.

Xiao Sun let out a low laugh.

Wanlan, in this world, only I can truly understand you. Because we are the same kind—always loving ourselves most. He would wait for the day she returned to his side.

“Your Highness, a letter from Roulan.”

The voice of a secret guard sounded from behind the door. Xiao Sun stepped out of the steaming bath and casually donned the outer robe hanging on the screen.

“Enter.”

He was now out in the open before Emperor Qingyuan and had been assigned an old noble residence not far from the Imperial City Street. Most of the people in the manor were prepared by Emperor Qingyuan. Half of his own men had been killed by the Roulan King’s assassins on the way to Great Xia; of the remaining half, a portion had been dispatched to investigate an old matter, while the remaining ten secret guards hid in his inner courtyard. They usually didn’t seek him out unless something happened. It seemed that the investigation into that old news had finally yielded results.

The secret guard entered the room, not daring to look up. He kept his head bowed and respectfully handed over a sealed letter. Xiao Sun took the letter and unfolded it casually.

Years ago, he had endured much and plotted carefully, intending to take the throne in one fell swoop after the old King died. Unexpectedly, his plan seemed to have been known in advance; someone hidden in the shadows opposed him at every turn. Ultimately, he failed and was forced to flee pathetically. If his mother’s people hadn’t held the line for a moment, he would have been a pile of bleached bones long ago.

He had once thought the mastermind was his “dear” Royal Uncle, but he had tested him on the day of his failure, and his uncle knew nothing about it. As long as such a dangerous and mysterious enemy remained undiscovered, he could never be at peace. Thus, even during his most difficult period of flight, he didn’t forget to allocate manpower to secretly investigate. Unfortunately, that person had worked too cleanly; though messages arrived over the years, no useful information had been found.

Xiao Sun expected the same this time. However, with just a casual glance at the letter, he froze in place from sheer shock. His pupils constricted, and the veins on his right hand bulged as he gripped the paper.

“The Cui family?! The one who ruined this Prince’s great undertaking back then… how could it be the Cui family of Great Xia?!”

He had considered many enemies in Roulan, but he never imagined that everything would eventually point to the Cui family of Great Xia, tens of thousands of miles away!

The Cui family, the Cui family… Xiao Sun quickly mapped out every connection he could imagine in his mind, but no matter which line he followed, it was hard to explain why they had moved against him back then. His expression shifted repeatedly. Suddenly, his gaze landed on a nearby candle stand.

Not long ago, on a similar candle stand, he had burned another piece of news related to the Cui family.

Cui Jue: a son of the Cui family whose mother is unknown and who is not recognized by the family.

Cui Jue’s mad actions that night, combined with his true identity… Xiao Sun suddenly had an earth-shattering realization.

“If all of this is true, then… this is truly interesting.” Xiao Sun reached out, held the letter over the candle to ignite it, and watched as the flames gradually consumed the paper. His eyes flickered with an uncertain light.

“Find a way to send a message to that person. I want to see her.”

Having just started her period, Gu Wanlan was kept in bed for two days by Qi Rong and the others before she was finally allowed to get up for some air.

After checking her pulse, Gu Lehua looked at Gu Wanlan with a hesitant expression. “While you were lying down these past few days, the matter of Gu Baozhu has spread all over Xijing. She actually managed to go door-to-door to apologize to every girl she once bullied. What kind of spell did you cast on her?”

Having been bedridden for two days, Gu Wanlan felt quite wilted. She got up and stretched. “She did it of her own will. Let her be.”

Gu Lehua pursed her lips. “You are certainly broad-minded, not caring at all that she plotted against you multiple times.”

Gu Wanlan limbered up her joints and said casually, “It’s not broad-mindedness. It’s just that bullying a young girl until she cries doesn’t give much of a sense of achievement—”

“Wait.” Gu Wanlan realized something a second late and turned to look at Gu Lehua. “Why do I feel… like you’re being jealous today?”

With a clack, Gu Lehua snapped her medicine box shut and said crossly, “What? I can’t be? No matter what, you are my sister!! But now everyone outside is talking about how Gu Baozhu has changed her ways under your guidance, and how the two of you are like sisters!”

Gu Wanlan realized. She hurriedly grabbed Gu Lehua’s arm and gave it a playful shake as if begging for mercy. “Good Lehua, don’t be angry. I just happen to be heading out of the manor in a bit, and I can’t do without you!”

Gu Lehua stiffened. She looked in astonishment at Gu Wanlan clutching her arm. Her mouth opened, but she didn’t know what to say for a moment. Is Sister actually… acting spoiled with me? Is her brain muddled from sleeping too much?!

Sensing Gu Lehua’s shocked gaze, Gu Wanlan rubbed her nose in embarrassment. During her two days in bed, she had thought things through. Since there were things she couldn’t quite let go of, she might as well “enjoy wine today while there is wine” before the day she had to leave, and fully experience everything this city of Xijing had to offer. When the day of departure truly came, she would cross that bridge when she got to it.

Gu Wanlan smiled and patted Gu Lehua’s back. “Good Lehua, let’s go! Go change your clothes; Sister is taking you shopping!”

Gu Lehua thought “shopping” was a euphemism for something else, but Gu Wanlan truly just took her shopping. First, she had her help pick out bundles of clothes, jade, and stationery for Qi Rong, the Protector Duke, and Cui Jue.

That wasn’t all.

If she glanced at a stall for even a second longer, Gu Wanlan would lead her over. If she showed even a hint of liking an item, Gu Wanlan paid on the spot. All the items were wrapped by the shopkeepers and sent directly to the Protector Duke’s Manor. By the end, Gu Lehua didn’t even dare let her eyes wander, fearing Gu Wanlan would notice and buy whatever she looked at.

“Enough, enough, Sister. I have enough jewelry and dresses to last me all next year. No need to buy more.”

Gu Wanlan was still full of enthusiasm. “How can a girl’s shopping trip end so quickly! You’ve bought enough, but I’m not finished yet! Truthfully, you’ve helped me so many times that I’ve wanted to bring you out for a long time, I just couldn’t find the time. This time, buy boldly—don’t think about saving money for me.”

Including her monthly allowance as the Duke’s daughter, she was a woman with three sources of income every month. Not to mention, her “Ji Lin” account still held plenty of reward silver that she hadn’t touched.

Gu Wanlan twirled her coin purse on her finger and casually scanned the shops on the street to see what else she could buy for the family. Suddenly, at a street corner, a refined gentleman in a pine-green robe flashed by.

Gu Wanlan’s gaze instinctively followed him.

“Sister? What are you looking at?” Seeing Gu Wanlan dazed, Gu Lehua followed her gaze. Looking at the discreet sign of a Nanfeng House (a male brothel) at the corner, Gu Lehua fell silent. “Sister, surely you aren’t interested in the gentlemen there?”

Gu Wanlan’s expression turned heavy as she nodded. “I might have to find a way to get inside.”

As soon as she spoke, she realized the look in Gu Lehua’s eyes had changed. Gu Wanlan hurriedly tried to explain: “I did see that the gentleman just now wasn’t bad… No! I wasn’t looking at the gentleman! I saw Xiao Sun enter that Nanfeng House, which is why I’m interested. It’s not what you think!”

Gu Lehua was amused. “Why is Sister so anxious to explain? Are you afraid I’ll tell Brother-in-law?”

Gu Wanlan choked. “What does it have to do with him? I just don’t want to ruin my image in your heart. Anyway, it involves Xiao Sun; I need to follow him and take a look. You go back first today.”

Gu Wanlan turned to leave, but Gu Lehua grabbed her arm and laughed. “Sister, you really are an honest person. At a time like this, what you need is exactly someone like me who can provide cover for your visit to the Nanfeng House. Otherwise, if someone asks later, won’t it be easy for you to get exposed? Don’t worry, I definitely won’t tell Brother-in-law.”

Gu Lehua gave Gu Wanlan a playful wink.

Gu Wanlan nodded as if possessed. But very quickly, she regretted her decision.

Help.

In the short time she was distracted searching for Xiao Sun’s silhouette in the main hall, Gu Lehua had actually ordered ten young male hosts to accompany them. And when the ten living men were brought into their private room, Gu Wanlan nearly fainted.

Ten of them. Every single one was exactly Cui Jue’s type.