freenovelworld Chapter 731 An eye for an eye
Chapter 731 An eye for an eye
The study in the Qian family courtyard was brightly lit.
Gu Qingchen laid the two sheets of paper depicting gold hairpins side by side on the table, tapping them lightly with his fingertips, producing a dull sound.
The anger she felt at being wronged and schemed against had subsided, turning into a cold glint in her eyes.
"What does Princess Jiahe care about most?" she asked, her voice very calm.
Qian Zhenyun was grinding ink nearby and didn't even look up when he heard this. "The position of Crown Princess, and the Crown Prince Zhao Chen'an."
"Then smash the thing she cares about most to pieces right in front of her." Gu Qingchen's lips curled into a cold smile.
What she wanted was neither a verbal argument nor petty revenge.
What she wanted was a fatal blow, one that would prevent Princess Jiahe from ever getting back up, turning all her delusions into a laughingstock throughout the capital.
Qian Zhenyun paused, then looked up at her.
He said nothing, but simply pushed the ground ink toward her.
The next day, Qian Zhenyun placed a file in front of Gu Qingchen.
"Chen Jing'an, from the Marquis of Anyuan's residence," he said succinctly.
Gu Qingchen unfolded the file, which recorded the life story of a down-on-his-luck young master.
This young master Chen was once a renowned scholar in the capital, known for his elegance and charm, especially his talent in poetry. Before his downfall, he had a close relationship with Princess Jiahe of the Yongding Prince's Mansion.
The two exchanged poems and lyrics, with the beauty adding fragrance to their lives; they were just one step away from breaking through the final barrier.
Later, the Anyuan Earl's Mansion suffered a misfortune and its family fell into decline. Princess Yongding, being a snob, forcibly separated the two and drove Chen Jing'an out of the capital.
"Where is this person now?" Gu Qingchen asked.
“I returned to Beijing a year ago, but I was destitute and spent my days in casinos and brothels.”
Qian Zhenyun added, "He's a clever person who's been blinded by wealth and then broken by reality. This kind of person is the most useful."
Gu Qingchen closed the file. "Three days later is the prayer fair at Jingxin Nunnery on Qixia Mountain, which the Crown Prince attends every year."
She looked at Qian Zhenyun, a calculating look in her eyes. "There's a plum grove on the back mountain there, a very secluded place, perfect for performing operas."
Qian Zhenyun understood immediately and grasped her meaning.
He didn't send anyone to threaten Chen Jing'an. Instead, he had his men find the down-on-his-luck young man who was drunk at the entrance of the gambling den on a rainy night. Without saying anything more, he simply delivered a silver note that was enough for him to pay off all his gambling debts, along with a sentence.
"Three days later, in the plum grove behind Jingxin Nunnery, an old friend will want to relive your past. If you want to make a comeback, this is your only chance."
Driven by greed, Chen Jing'an immediately kowtowed and agreed.
The plan was proceeding smoothly when an uninvited guest disrupted the peace.
Lin Jiayou came to his door on the second night.
He seemed to have also found a lead on Chen Jing'an, and with a hint of excitement on his face, he said to Gu Qingchen, "Qingchen, just letting them 'bump into each other' isn't enough. Princess Jiahe is eloquent and will surely be able to clear herself of all charges."
As he spoke, he took out something wrapped in a silk handkerchief from his sleeve and carefully unfolded it.
It was a piece of mutton fat jade of excellent quality, with the character "安" (An) engraved on it.
"This is a token of love that Chen Jing'an gave to Jiahe back then. I spent a lot of money to buy it from his servant."
A sinister glint flashed in Lin Jiayou's eyes. "On the day of the temple fair, we need to find a way to get this jade pendant on Jiahe. Then we'll catch her red-handed, and she won't be able to defend herself. Her life will be ruined."
The air in the study suddenly turned cold.
Gu Qingchen looked at Lin Jiayou's face, which was slightly distorted with excitement, and suddenly the image of Old Carpenter Li's desperate eyes flashed through his mind, as did the crippled hand of the chief镖头 (head镖师) of the镖局 (镖局 is a type of security escort agency).
She suddenly felt nauseous.
"No need," she said coldly.
Lin Jiayou's smile froze, and he looked at her in confusion: "Qingchen, this is the best way to ensure she will never have a chance to recover!"
"I just want her to back down and stop her aggression." Gu Qingchen stood up, looked directly at him, and had an unprecedented sense of detachment in her eyes. "I don't want to use such despicable means to completely destroy a woman."
She looked at him, speaking slowly and deliberately, as if announcing a result.
"Lin Jiayou, we are not the same kind of people."
These words, like a knife, completely tore apart the thin veil of "childhood sweethearts" between the two.
Lin Jiayou's face instantly turned ugly. He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.
Gu Qingchen didn't look at him again, turned around and walked out of the study.
Qian Zhenyun stood outside the door, and he had obviously heard all the conversation inside. He didn't ask anything, but as Gu Qingchen walked past him, he placed a warm cup of tea into her slightly cool hand.
That silent understanding and acceptance is more powerful than any words.
Three days later, the Lantern Festival will arrive.
Jingxin Nunnery on Qixia Mountain was brightly decorated, packed with people, and its incense was burning brightly.
Princess Jiahe dressed up with extra care today, wearing a lotus-root-colored dress that made her already fair skin look even more delicate.
Accompanied by her personal maid, she moved through the crowd, her eyes constantly glancing towards the gathering of high-ranking officials and nobles, determined to leave the most perfect impression on the Crown Prince.
Just as she was getting a little anxious, a handsome young novice monk walked up to her, put his hands together, and bowed respectfully.
"Princess, His Highness the Crown Prince is waiting for you in the plum grove behind the mountain. He said he would like to invite you to enjoy the plum blossoms together."
Princess Jiahe's heart skipped a beat.
She suppressed her overwhelming joy, nodded demurely, waved away the maids behind her, and walked alone, lifting her skirt, towards the back mountain with light steps.
The plum grove path is a winding and secluded route.
The further you go in, the fewer voices there are, with only the rustling of the wind through the branches remaining.
Princess Jiahe was happily imagining being alone with the Crown Prince when a figure suddenly appeared from behind a thick plum tree, blocking her path.
The man wore a faded old scholar's robe, his face was haggard, but his eyes shone with an alarming brightness, carrying an almost manic infatuation.
"Jia'er!" He rushed forward, excitedly calling out her childhood nickname, "It really is you! I knew it, you still think of me!"
Princess Jiahe was so frightened by this sudden turn of events that she turned pale and took two steps back before she could see the face of the person who had come to her.
It's Chen Jing'an.
The man who should have disappeared from her life long ago, representing her unbearable past.
"Insolence!" she shouted angrily, her heart pounding. "Who are you to dare spout nonsense and offend this princess!"
Chen Jing'an seemed not to hear her reprimand at all, and stepped forward to grab Princess Jiahe's wrist.
"Jia'er, don't you recognize me? It's me, Jing'an!" He gripped it tightly. "You left so resolutely back then, do you know how I've been these past few years? I've thought of you day and night, tossed and turned in bed, and my dreams are filled with you!"
"Are you crazy! Let me go!" Princess Jiahe was both shocked and furious, and tried desperately to break free, but the man's strength was astonishing.
Just then, from the corner of the plum grove path not far away, came several suppressed gasps.
Several elegantly dressed young ladies from prominent families were covering their mouths, staring at this scene in shock.
"Isn't that Princess Jiahe?"
"My God, who is that man? How dare he flirt with the princess in broad daylight..."
"What a shame!"
The whispers were like a bucket of ice water poured over Princess Jiahe's head. Her face instantly drained of color, and her mind went blank.
It’s over.
"Let go!" she cried, tears welling in her eyes, her voice shrill. "Help! Help!"
However, the more she struggled, the tighter Chen Jing'an held her, still lamenting his longing for her. To outsiders, his infatuated appearance seemed like a complicated and tangled love affair.
Just as Princess Jiahe was speechless with anger and frustration, and was on the verge of fainting, a clear, cold voice rang out from not far away, instantly drowning out all the noise.
"Jiahe, what a refined taste you have."
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw that Crown Prince Zhao Chen'an had been standing there with his hands behind his back, dressed in a black brocade robe, his face ashen.
Princess Yongding also came along...
Princess Jiahe was struck dumb, her entire body stiffening. Looking into Zhao Chen'an's cold, disappointed eyes, her heart sank to the bottom.
Chen Jing'an was also startled by the scene and subconsciously let go of her hand.
In the chaos, a smooth, lustrous mutton-fat jade pendant "accidentally" slipped from his wide sleeve, fell to the ground with a crisp sound, and rolled right next to Princess Jiahe's embroidered shoes.
Princess Yongding's gaze instantly locked onto the jade pendant.
The flamboyant "An" character on the jade pendant was like a red-hot branding iron, burning fiercely into her eyes.
She recognized it at a glance—it was the very token of their love that he had ordered his daughter to throw away years ago, which had caused him to fly into a rage!