The Daily Face-Slapping of the Junior Tutor - Chapter 3

Gu Jintang felt a pang of anguish, but she had no choice but to lower her head and begin searching.

“Young master, what are you looking for?” the woman asked, her eyes filled with curiosity.

“Quiet,” Gu Jintang snapped, harboring no goodwill toward her. Not only had the woman bumped into her, but she had also caused her to lose her meal money.

“Are you looking for this?” The woman extended her hand right under Gu Jintang’s nose, revealing a warm copper coin lying in her palm.

Gu Jintang suddenly felt tears welling up in her eyes. She had never been so humiliated in her life, yet here she was, trembling over a single copper coin. Could it be that I’ve lived too comfortably, and even the heavens are displeased?

“Thank you,” Gu Jintang said, reaching for the coin. But the woman withdrew her hand as if teasing her, leaving Gu Jintang to stare up at her in astonishment.

The woman wore practical, close-fitting clothes and stood half a head taller than Gu Jintang. Her hair was tied in a high ponytail, with a few wisps framing her forehead, giving her a dashing, heroic air, like a legendary martial arts heroine.

“I did find it on the ground,” the woman said, leaning closer, her narrow eyes sparkling with amusement. “But what proof do you have that this coin is yours?”

“More evidence?” Gu Jintang’s eyes widened in disbelief. Seriously? It’s clearly mine! It’s just one copper coin. Why are you making such a fuss?

The woman gazed into Gu Jintang’s watery, pitiful eyes, which reminded her of a wronged fawn. A smile tugged at her lips. “Young master, why don’t you tell me your name? Then I’ll return the coin. How about that?”

Another female rogue, Gu Jintang thought.

She reached out her hand, her voice low and hoarse. “Give it back!”

The rogue’s lips curved into a sly smile. She grabbed Gu Jintang’s hand and pulled her closer. Just as Gu Jintang was about to curse her, the rogue leaned in close to her ear and whispered, “Young master, you look just like the person in that wanted poster. Should I take you in for the ten thousand taels of gold? You’re quite bold, thinking no one would recognize you. Gu Jintang…“

Gu Jintang’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t expected to be recognized even with her face covered and disguised as a man. Damn it…

As she was thinking this, the woman placed the copper coin back in her palm. “Here’s your coin.” Still holding her hand, she watched Gu Jintang’s reaction with amusement.

Gu Jintang felt like she was walking on cotton, her mind detached from her body, as if her soul might float away at any moment.

“Young master, I won’t tell anyone for now, but you’d better be careful! Oh, by the way, my name is Xiao Jianyun. I’ll come find you when I run out of money!”

Gu Jintang stumbled, nearly falling, and staggered a long way before stopping. Cold sweat broke out on her face as she clutched her stomach and cursed, “Bastard!”

Damn it! I won’t let anyone catch me! Xiao Jianyun, huh? That son of a bitch is as annoying as the Black Widow. I’ll never see her again!

Speaking of which, Xiao Jianyun’s eyes were like built-in X-ray machines. She recognized her with just one glance.

As Gu Jintang grumbled to herself, she walked toward a nearby steamed bun stall. Finally, she was going to get something to eat. She needed to fill her stomach first.

“Boss, hurry and give me a steamed bun!” Gu Jintang’s eyes lit up so brightly that she startled the middle-aged woman behind the counter. The woman eyed her disdainfully and muttered, “Looks like she hasn’t eaten in eight lifetimes, like a starving ghost.”

“Here, this is the last one. Take it!” The owner was about to close up shop.

Gu Jintang thought happily, Finally, I won’t starve to death!

But before she could even take the wrapped bun, a sudden burst of energy struck her hand, making her flinch in pain.

Fuck! She watched helplessly as her last lifeline fell to the ground, bounced once, and became coated in dust.

The owner began to scold her, “Are you crippled? Can’t even hold a bun properly? Let me tell you, whatever’s on the ground is yours now, hmph!”

Gu Jintang stood frozen for a moment. In her mind, anything that fell on the ground was inedible. But these were desperate times. She was starving to death, who cared about dignity anymore?

If I pick it up and peel off the outer layer, it should still be edible, right?

Dizzy with hunger, Gu Jintang licked her lips and slowly crouched down to retrieve the bun. Suddenly, footsteps approached from a distance with rhythm strangely familiar.

But the person didn’t turn; they came straight toward her, a cold laugh accompanying their approach. A foot stomped down menacingly toward her bun.

“Hey, buddy! Are you blind?!”

Gu Jintang, terrified, stumbled and fell to the ground. Ignoring the searing pain coursing through her body, she gripped the man’s ankle with all her might, gritting her teeth as she pleaded, “Brother, please lift your foot!”

“Brother?” A cold, mocking female voice cut through the air. “Gu Jintang, have you been pretending to be a man for so long that you’ve forgotten you’re a woman? ‘Brother’? Who’s your brother here?!”

With that, she viciously stomped down.

Gu Jintang was utterly stunned. She had endured a series of shocks, but seeing her steamed bun crushed beyond recognition felt like the destruction of her last shred of hope.

She tilted her head back to gaze at the newcomer.

The woman wore a long, dark robe with her hair bound in a jade crown. Her features were sharp and strikingly handsome and her cold beauty looked unapproachable. In Gu Jintang’s eyes, she remained neither man nor woman, a grotesque imitation of both.

Gu Jintang suddenly noticed Xiao Qi standing nearby, immediately realizing this woman was the one who had rescued her in the alley.

A chilling thought struck her, linking back to the wanted posters. Could this woman be another enemy? Why else would she seek her out specifically?

“Y-you… who are you?” Even though she already knew the answer in her heart, she had to ask again.

Was this the Black Widow, Lu Nan?

Lu Nan laughed. “I didn’t expect Lord Gu’s memory to have deteriorated so much in just three months. You can’t even recognize your mortal enemy anymore? Well, I suppose Lord Gu is doing quite well these days. You probably don’t have time for old acquaintances like me.”

Two words flashed through Gu Jintang’s mind: I’m done for.

“N-no… you’ve mistaken me for someone else. I’m not her!” Gu Jintang frantically released Lu Nan’s ankle and scrambled to escape.

Lu Nan easily grabbed her by the collar. Gu Jintang cried out with tears streaming down her face, “Help! Someone’s trying to kidnap me!”

Her voice wasn’t loud, but a crowd had already gathered to watch the spectacle. Seeing Gu Jintang’s delicate and pitiful appearance, they began to rally to her defense.

“What are you doing? Let go of this young master immediately!”

Lu Nan glanced at Xiao Qi behind her. Unexpectedly, Xiao Qi cleared her throat and said, “It’s nothing, everyone! Just my mistress’s little husband throwing a tantrum and running off. Please disperse, please disperse…”

As soon as the words left Xiao Qi’s lips, Gu Jintang’s face darkened, and Lu Nan’s expression turned grim as she glared fiercely at Xiao Qi, clearly displeased with the explanation.

Kill a thousand enemies, lose eight hundred of your own.

Still, this risky tactic had its effect.

“Haha, this young lady looks so refined and capable! How could she possibly be stealing someone’s husband?”

“Exactly! This little husband is just spoiled and doesn’t know what he has. He has such a wonderful wife and doesn’t appreciate her, running off in a fit of pique.”

“Take your quarrel home! You’re making a scene in the street and embarrassing yourselves!”

“Yes, yes…”

Gu Jintang’s eyes widened in disbelief. Were these people blind?

Indeed, swayed by Lu Nan’s captivating appearance, they had chosen to believe that beauty equals justice.

And so, Gu Jintang was dragged away with her mouth covered by Lu Nan and Xiao Qi.

In the crowd, Xiao Jianyun watched the entire scene unfold, sighing. Ten thousand taels of gold, gone. What a pity. If only she had tied up Gu Jintang first.

Clicking her tongue twice, she shook her head and turned to leave.

******

Gu Jintang was dragged into a dark alley and finally released, collapsing onto the ground. She was completely drained, and if the Black Widow exerted even a little effort to torture her, she would surely die.

“You wouldn’t… kill me here, would you?” Gu Jintang gasped, struggling for breath.

Lu Nan raised an eyebrow and scoffed coldly. “Kill you? It’s not that simple. Tell me, where did you hide Marquis Zhenyuan’s Tiger Tally?”

*Tiger Tally? Gu Jintang was startled. No wonder Lu Nan had gone to such lengths to find her. It seemed the original owner of this body had once again become entangled with the Tiger Tally.

“I don’t know.” Right now, she genuinely knew nothing. Playing dumb was her best option.

“Hmph~ Still lying?” Lu Nan glared at her, her dark eyes devoid of warmth.

Gu Jintang didn’t care whether Lu Nan believed her or not. She was starving to the point of collapse and couldn’t focus on anything else. If she didn’t eat soon, she would truly die.

“I need… food,” she croaked, her face deathly pale, cold sweat beading on her forehead. A nauseating sensation churned in her stomach, forcing her to curl into a fetal position in agony.

Lu Nan watched her pitiful state without a shred of sympathy. She grabbed Gu Jintang’s hand. “Tell me where the Tiger Tally is first!”

Gu Jintang’s stomach churned even more violently when Lu Nan yanked her arm. Tears welled in her eyes as she whimpered, “I feel sick… Get away from me.”

This display of delicate weakness momentarily stunned Lu Nan. Snapping back to reality, she cursed inwardly, Gu Jintang is such a pretty boy. After pretending to be a man for so long, she’s really gotten into the act.

Just as she was thinking this, Gu Jintang suddenly retched violently.

Lu Nan stared at the acidic vomit splattered across her clothes, her mind reeling as if her soul had left her body. It took her a long moment to recover. “Gu Jintang, you dare… you actually dare…”

Though not particularly fastidious, Lu Nan valued cleanliness. Her garments were meticulously scented with incense before she wore them. Now, this damned Gu Jintang had vomited all over her!

The stench nearly made her faint.

Lu Nan’s face darkened as she ripped off her outer robe, her fists clenching. She was about to land a punch on Gu Jintang’s pretty-boy face when, before she could even touch her, Gu Jintang’s eyes rolled back and she collapsed, conveniently falling into Lu Nan’s arms.

Xiao Qi rushed over and nearly dropped her jaw at the sight. “Mistress, what are you two doing?” she asked, her tone laced with suspicion. “Hugging and cuddling? Are you trying to humiliate Gu Jintang?”

Lu Nan’s patience snapped. She shoved Gu Jintang away. “Take her back to the inn first.”

******

When Gu Jintang regain conciousness, she suddenly felt no discomfort in her abdomen. Had she gone to heaven?

Opening her eyes, she saw her surroundings were filled with antique furnishings and decor. As she rose from the bed, a figure emerged from behind the screen—Xiao Qi.

“You’re awake?” Now that Xiao Qi knew her true identity, she regarded Gu Jintang with a look of utter contempt, as if she were trash.

Gu Jintang chuckled dryly. “Don’t look at me like that. It’s rather embarrassing.”

“Lord Gu, embarrassed?” A mocking voice echoed from outside as Lu Nan, the Black Widow, entered the room.

Dressed in a silk robe with her hair simply tied back with a ribbon, Lu Nan exuded an air of casual ease. She settled onto the opposite bench and, as if interrogating a criminal, demanded, “Don’t waste my time. Confess everything.”

This is just ridiculous! She’s bored and looking for trouble! Gu Jintang cursed inwardly, her face still plastered with a servile smile.

“Madam, is it? I think there’s been a misunderstanding. Why are you so certain I took the Tiger Tally? Maybe someone else did.”

Lu Nan’s face twisted into a mocking grin, as if to say, Do you really think I believe that?

Gu Jintang threw her hands up in exasperation. “I have nothing left. Why would I risk my life for the Tiger Tally?”

Honestly, only a fool would hold onto that useless trinket. Anyone with sense would ditch such a dangerous item immediately. Who in their right mind would carry it to their death?

Lu Nan’s eyes turned icy. “Gu Jintang, don’t forget you were the one who privately messaged me, claiming the Tiger Tally was in your possession. Are you trying to deny it now?”

At these words, Gu Jintang nearly tumbled off the bed in shock!

******

Note:

*Tiger tally/Hufu:

According to the Chinese tradition, the tiger was a symbol of valour; therefore, a tiger-shaped tally symbolized the expectation that an imperial command should be completed as promptly and as courageously as a tiger with the authorization of the emperor.

Support The Daily Face-Slapping of the Junior Tutor