freenovelworld Chapter 687 Qian Zhenyun, how long are you going to wait? Come out!
Chapter 687 Qian Zhenyun, how long are you going to wait? Come out!
"Shut up!"
A guard leading the way saw a fiery red horse charging recklessly towards them. His expression changed drastically, and he immediately crossed his halberd to try and intercept it.
"How dare you! The Crown Prince's entourage is here. Dismount immediately!"
Gu Qingchen was in a state of agitation and couldn't hear the warning.
With a flick of her wrist, the riding whip cracked in the air, as she attempted to force her way through the guards' halberds.
The Crimson Flame Horse understood and suddenly reared up, its front hooves barely clearing the long halberd.
However, when it landed, it was unable to avoid the impact and crashed heavily into a guard's mount.
"boom!"
A dull thud was heard.
The guard and his horse were knocked off balance and nearly fell over.
The honor guard behind him suddenly stirred, and the neat formation was instantly disrupted.
"Xilulu——"
Gu Qingchen's horse was startled and let out a long neigh. Its front hooves suddenly rose high, almost throwing Gu Qingchen off its back.
Chaos erupted on the street as pedestrians screamed and scattered in all directions.
Gu Qingchen was startled by this sudden turn of events, her heart skipped a beat, and she gripped the reins tightly, squeezing the horse's belly with her legs to try and steady it.
But "Crimson Flame" had completely lost control. Its eyes were bloodshot as it madly charged toward the direction of the prince's carriage.
From the crowd, a black pebble flew out silently, carrying the force of wind, and struck the "Huantiao" acupoint on the side of the horse's hindquarters with perfect accuracy.
A tremendous sense of paralysis instantly spread throughout the horse's body, abruptly halting "Crimson Flame's" frenzied forward charge. The horse's legs buckled, and it staggered.
Qian Zhenyun stood in the crowd and withdrew his hand expressionlessly.
In that very second that the wild horse hesitated.
A figure in blue leaped out of the second-floor window of the teahouse next door like an arrow, landing squarely in front of the horse.
It was Lin Chia-yu.
He seized the opportunity and lunged forward just before the horse was about to exert its strength again, grabbing the reins of "Crimson Flame".
A "human-horse wrestling match" took place in the middle of the street.
Lin Jiayou staggered several steps as the raging horse dragged him along, but he held on tightly and finally managed to bring the "Crimson Flame," which had lost most of its strength, to a stop.
He tossed the reins to a terrified groom next to him, then turned and strode quickly to the front of the horse to help Gu Qingchen up.
"Qingchen, are you alright? You scared me to death!"
Gu Qingchen, still shaken, looked up and met Lin Jiayou's eyes, which were filled with worry.
After ten years apart, the boy from her memories reunited with her in such a heroic way.
Her heart skipped a beat.
The people on the street, recovering from their shock, erupted in thunderous cheers, praising the handsome, unknown scholar for his extraordinary courage.
The story of "sacrificing himself to save a beauty" spread throughout the entire street in an instant, along with the gossip that "the troublemaker of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion has caused trouble again."
Deep within the crowd, Qian Zhenyun looked at the undisguised admiration and dependence in Gu Qingchen's eyes. That gaze was like a fine needle, pricking his heart with waves of pain.
He could see very clearly that Lin Jiayou's appearance was too coincidental, and his actions, though seemingly dangerous, were actually full of calculation.
He felt a sense of helplessness at her naivety, but couldn't bring himself to speak.
At this moment, the door of the Crown Prince's carriage was pushed open, and Zhao Chen'an stepped out in brocade robes.
He glanced at the crowd drawn by the "hero saves the beauty" scene, his gaze swept over the moved-looking Gu Qingchen, and finally settled on Lin Jiayou, his eyes filled with a meaningful look.
Lin Jiayou immediately stepped forward, shielding Gu Qingchen behind him, and bowed deeply to the Crown Prince.
"Your Highness, please calm your anger! Miss Gu acted rashly out of longing for her loved ones and had no intention of disturbing His Majesty! Lin Jiayou is willing to bear all the blame!"
He once again positioned himself as the “protector.”
Gu Qingchen was deeply moved by Lin Jiayou's sense of responsibility.
She grabbed his arm and shouted at the Crown Prince, "Zhao Chen'an, this has nothing to do with him! It was my fault. If you want to punish someone, punish me alone!"
She was the only one in the entire capital who dared to address the Crown Prince by his given name.
But at this moment, she is defending another man in front of him.
Zhao Chen'an's face was so gloomy it could drip water.
He completely ignored Lin Jiayou's "righteousness and integrity".
Instead, he looked towards a corner of the crowd and said, "Qian Zhenyun, how long are you going to hide? Come out."
Unable to hide any longer, Qian Zhenyun stepped out from the crowd and bowed to the Crown Prince.
"I have met His Highness."
Gu Qingchen: "Gun Gun? What are you doing here?"
Zhao Chen'an glanced at her, "Isn't it because you don't trust me?"
Gu Qingchen's cheeks flushed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure, turned his eyes, leaned closer to the Crown Prince, and lowered his voice.
"For the sake of our relationship, let's just let this go?"
"What is our relationship?" Zhao Chen'an asked meaningfully.
Gu Qingchen rolled her eyes at him. This damn prince always tries to gain an advantage verbally.
She immediately changed her tune: "Isn't Qian Zhenyun your study companion? For the sake of being your study companion..."
Upon hearing this, a crack appeared in the gentle smile on Lin Jiayou's face for the first time.
He glanced quickly at Qian Zhenyun, whose face was expressionless.
This "follower" whom he had never paid any attention to, after not seeing him for several years, had become the prince's study companion.
Zhao Chen'an said "Oh," then turned to Qian Zhenyun and said in a familiar tone with a slight reproach, "Zhenyun, Miss Gu is your friend. How could you let her act so recklessly? It seems I have been too lenient with you."
Gu Qingchen cursed him inwardly for being pretentious...
Looking at her expression, Zhao Chen'an knew that she definitely wasn't saying anything nice.
But I'm willing to spoil her!
Zhao Chen'an's gaze swept over the inconspicuous red dot on the horse's rump, and then he exchanged a glance with Qian Zhenyun.
With a single glance, the two understood each other without saying a word.
Zhao Chen'an knew that the real hero who saved the emperor was someone else.
Lin Jiayou then deliberately spoke up, his tone tinged with disappointment: "In the years I've been gone, Zhenyun has become the Crown Prince's study companion, yet he doesn't mention it in his letters. It seems he's grown distant from me."
Without thinking, Gu Qingchen blurted out, "Although he's my study companion, he's also my little follower! He's been following me around since we were kids!"
Her tone was innocent, without malice, and even carried a hint of boastfulness.
The phrase "follower" sounds particularly jarring under the spotlight.
A barely perceptible sneer appeared on Lin Jiayou's lips.
Qian Zhenyun's body stiffened, and his hands, hanging at his sides, quietly clenched into fists.
Even Crown Prince Zhao Chen'an frowned slightly.
Qian Zhenyun loosened his fist and simply said, "It's hard to explain in just a few words in a letter, and I don't know when you'll be back."
Zhao Chen'an broke the awkward silence and turned to Lin Jiayou: "So you are the disciple that Gu Luxin has mentioned repeatedly. I have heard that you are exceptionally talented. It has been a long time since I last saw you. Why don't you come with me to the East Palace for a cup of tea?"
No one could refuse the Crown Prince's invitation.
With their own thoughts and intentions, the group headed towards the Eastern Palace.