Chapter Twenty-Six: Kindred Spirits

“Would you mind lifting your foot, young master?” Qin Shu knew this noble youth, whose family background was still a mystery, feared neither heaven nor earth, but it truly wasn’t right to keep Master Liu’s son pinned to the ground like this. If Lord Liu dared not vent his anger on this young man, all the trouble would surely fall on himself.

“No.”

Jiang Lan’s curt, unhesitating refusal left Qin Shu feeling utterly defeated.

“Couldn’t you make an exception?” Qin Shu realized he had met a particularly obstinate noble and even changed his mode of address accordingly.

Jiang Lan considered a moment. “Very well, but only if he apologizes to me.”

Qin Shu let out a long sigh of relief—finally, a concession!

“Young Master Liu, I’ve negotiated for you. This gentleman is willing to release you if you apologize. That’s all it takes.”

Qin Shu spoke kindly, but Liu Heng would hear none of it. To apologize now would mean admitting he was in the wrong from the start, leaving him no ground to defend himself for the beating he’d taken.

“No way!” came his defiant cry, followed by a yelp as pain forced him to relent. “Fine, I’ll do it, is that enough?”

Jiang Lan withdrew his foot and stood calmly aside, waiting for Liu Heng to scramble up and apologize.

But as soon as Liu Heng got to his feet, he unexpectedly drew a knife. Jiang Lan, caught off guard, instinctively leaned back and nearly fell—when a cool hand caught his waist, steadying him with uncanny precision.

Before Jiang Lan could gather his wits, a gentle voice, soft as spring breeze and flowing like a mountain stream, broke through the clamor. It warmed like sunlight breaking winter’s ice, yet carried the chill of early spring—one phrase was enough to intoxicate, to lift one’s soul as if upon the clouds.

Though the speaker’s face was unseen, Jiang Lan felt utterly entranced.

And besides—how familiar that voice sounded.

“Young Master Liu, how bold of you, to commit violence in broad daylight before so many witnesses. It’s truly frightening. I think I’d best petition His Majesty to let me return home to recover from my illness—this city is far too chaotic.”

Liu Heng hadn’t expected to run into Gu Ruo, the most troublesome person he knew. If only he could take back what he’d done—he’d gladly apologize a hundred times on his knees!

“Master Gu, it’s all a misunderstanding!” Liu Heng exclaimed, taking several hurried steps forward. “It really is a misunderstanding!”

He forgot all about the dagger still clutched in his hand, and his frantic advance made the onlookers behind Gu Ruo recoil in alarm.

Jiang Lan, cradled in strong arms, was oblivious to the commotion. As the crowd shouted, she steadied herself and stood upright.

“My thanks for your rescue, sir, I am…”

Perhaps no time passed at all, or perhaps it simply ceased to flow. Jiang Lan stared in a daze; the surrounding noise faded, as if the world had paused, people moving in slow motion, even the sunlight seeming to slow.

That person before her was just as in her dreams: long, dark hair streaming in the wind, sword-like brows, thin lips, eyes deep and indifferent—passionless, yet not cold. He wore a white robe fastened with a jade belt, and over it a white coat with delicate openwork patterns.

Jiang Lan’s eyes reddened. “Ruoru…”

The man paused and looked back at her. Jiang Lan took several steps away in retreat.

“No, no—you’re not him.” There was no teardrop-shaped mark on his brow.

She backed up until her shoulders met a broad chest. Jiang Lan turned. “Cousin.”

Her heart had already been weak—and now, overwhelmed by emotion, her blood surged and darkness overtook her.

“Lan—Lan!” Xue Mingrui caught Jiang Lan in his arms. He glanced from Liu Heng, still gripping his knife, to the aloof Gu Ruo, and then to the cowering magistrate Qin Shu.

Xue Kai murmured a few words at his side, and Xue Mingrui’s face went from pale to thunderous.

Though he still wore a smile as he looked at Liu Heng, his eyes burned with rage.

“Liu Heng, you’d best pray every day that my cousin comes to no harm, or even your family name won’t suffice to pay the price.” He instructed Xue Kai to give burial money to old Weng Sheng, then carried his cousin to the carriage.

Liu Heng’s grievance surged within him, threatening to spill over. That scoundrel had not only stolen his pretty prize, but also trampled and beaten him. And the fainting spell—that was clearly from seeing Master Gu!

As he brooded, Liu Heng glanced at Gu Ruo, seeking a sympathetic ally.

“Master Gu, this second son of the Duke of Yingguo’s Xue family is far too rude, acting as if you weren’t even there. Clearly it was that boy—” But a single cool glance from Gu Ruo made Liu Heng swallow the rest of his words and clamp his mouth shut.

Liu Heng had always preferred the company of beautiful youths. By the age of fifteen or sixteen, he was already frequenting brothels and pleasure houses. The most famous courtesans were either his lovers or, if they happened to be from poor families but blessed with good looks, he’d find a way to claim them too. Even at home, any pretty servant had likely warmed his bed. Yet he kept up impeccable appearances, never leaving a trace.

With a high-ranking father and a well-connected mother’s family, he might act willfully at times outside but always knew his limits, and whatever dirty deeds he did were done cleanly—no outsider could ever pin anything on him.

Today had been a coincidence as well. He’d run into Qian Qian at a wine shop, who promised to introduce him to a handsome, reputable young man. Liu Heng had seen Weng Sheng before—perhaps not striking, but with a scholarly air that invited pity.

Desire surged, blood rushed, and reason dulled—that’s how the quarrel with Jiang Lan began.

Liu Heng was obsessed with beauty, but dared not even risk a lingering glance at Master Gu before him.

Gu Ruo seemed gentle as spring, but in truth…

But what did Xue Mingrui mean by calling Jiang Lan his cousin? The Xue family had several branches: the eldest, the second, and the fourth were legitimate, the third and fifth illegitimate. The two eldest sons, the eldest and second, came from the main line, their mother the principal daughter of the Wang family of Taiyuan.

The Wang family of Taiyuan boasted many officials at court; if Jiang Lan were really a Wang, things could get complicated. But Liu Heng consoled himself: families as bound by tradition as the Wang clan wouldn’t come looking for trouble no matter what.

The other Xue branches were also prominent, but none outranked the principal wife of the house, so Liu Heng saw little cause for fear. There were two Xue daughters, both legitimate. The elder had married into the Marquis of Yong’an and was now a marchioness, but had only a daughter, no sons. The younger had died young, but her status was the most distinguished of all, for she had a son—the favored heir of the Duke of Weiguo, the emperor’s own cousin.

But it couldn’t possibly be that one!

Liu Heng was certain. He’d never seen the boy, but rumor had it he was frail and short—how could someone like that have beaten up Liu Heng’s men so thoroughly? Impossible, it had to be a lesser branch of the Wang family, a hotheaded youth acting rashly.

He had given his name and still been treated thus—must be a poorly brought-up side branch. If his parents found out, they might even come to apologize.

Thinking this way, Liu Heng promptly dismissed Xue Mingrui’s warning.

He told himself Xue Mingrui must be bluffing to scare him off, to keep him from complaining to his family.

The more he pondered, the more reasonable it seemed. But why was that Wang family youth so delicate? He’d managed to beat Liu Heng like this yet fainted at the mere sight of Master Gu.

Liu Heng sneaked a glance at Gu Ruo standing nearby—truly a figure like a banished immortal. Was it possible the Wang family youth had been stunned by his beauty?

He seemed to recall that youth calling out “Ruoru”—wasn’t that Master Gu’s given name? Could it be this country-bred Wang was a fellow aficionado?

Why else would he step in when Liu Heng tried to approach Weng Sheng? And then faint at Gu Ruo’s beauty?

Yes, that must be it!

Having sorted it all out to his satisfaction, Liu Heng felt at ease and stole a few more glances at the ethereal figure. He noticed Gu Ruo’s brows carried a trace of melancholy, his gaze drifting toward the Xue family’s carriage.

Liu Heng quietly committed the Wang family youth to memory. Though he dared not covet Master Gu himself, he certainly wouldn’t allow anyone less worthy to do so.

With these thoughts, Liu Heng turned his attention to the timid magistrate cowering in the shadows.