Jin Ziyuan stood at the door, whispering, "I’m leaving now, take care of yourself."
Gu Youyou thought to herself: I’m safer now that you’re gone.
"Go quickly, and be careful yourself. It’s better to be caught by the emperor than by the State Preceptor. If you fall into his hands again, you’ll probably turn stupid again."
Jin Ziyuan, recalling those years when he had been a fool, suddenly grew somber.
Just as he was making a gesture of farewell, both Jin Ziyuan and Gu Youyou frowned at the same time.
Oh no, Jin Ziyuan had dawdled too long, and Jin Zijin had arrived.
Gu Youyou hid in the water barrel, trapped and unable to move. If the two of them started fighting, she couldn’t even break it up, which spelled trouble.
Jin Ziyuan’s face turned stern, and with an outstretched hand, he grasped a short sword.
As he parried another blow, Gu Youyou heard the jarring clash of weapons.
Jin Zijin had really come, and without a word, drew his weapon.
Jin Ziyuan had stepped back outside the door. Gu Youyou couldn’t see them, but she could hear the sound of clashing weapons in the outer bedroom, sensing that a major incident was unfolding.
Gu Youyou felt her heart sink. Given tonight’s situation, if both men were discovered by the house servants of the residence, she would really be at a loss for words.
Without further consideration, she hurried out of the water barrel, not caring whether she was dry, and immediately began pulling on her clothes.
Disaster was imminent!
She had only pulled her clothes on halfway when a flash of cold light came towards her, and something struck her back. Her foot slipped, and she fell back into the water barrel, water splashing everywhere.
Gu Youyou was spluttering a mouthful of water as she emerged from it, only to see that Jin Zijin and Jin Ziyuan’s battlefield had moved from her bedroom to the bathroom.
She quickly hid herself well in the water again, wiped the water off her face, and looked towards the two men.
Gu Youyou grew angry and said, "Hey hey, can you two find another place to fight? Can you consider my feelings, please?"
Both men looked at Gu Youyou and stopped.
Jin Zijin held a bright red dagger in his hand and said gravely, "What are you doing here?"
Jin Ziyuan was actually no less stern, clutching his short sword and coldly retorted, "What about you? What are you doing here?"
Footsteps sounded from outside the door, and all three of them heard it.
Gu Youyou, sensing trouble, said to the two squinting men, "Stop bickering. Someone’s coming. You both hurry up and leave, both of you!"
The two continued to glare at each other for a moment before reluctantly leaving.
Gu Youyou breathed a sigh of relief, and a moment later, a maid rushed in.
"Miss, what happened?"
Gu Youyou, lying in the water, let out a breath and said, "Help me up first."
With the maid’s assistance, she dressed, only to find Uncle Xingyi sitting in her room.
"Youyou, what’s the matter?"
Gu Youyou followed his gaze and saw Xiang Chun collapsed in a corner of the wall.
"What happened to Xiang Chun?" Gu Youyou exclaimed in shock.
The maid replied, "I don’t know why Sister Xiang Chun fainted here."
It must have been that Jin Ziyuan’s doing.
Gu Youyou relaxed, then addressed Lin Xingyi, "Uncle, Youyou is fine, just that earlier... She glanced at the others!"
Lin Xingyi got the hint and waved his hand, "All of you leave us."
Everyone left, taking the faint Xiang Chun with them.
Lin Xingyi stared at Gu Youyou, speaking in a deep voice, "Now tell me, and I hope you won’t hide anything from me."
Gu Youyou wasn’t sure how much Jin Zijin had told Lin Xingyi, or what precisely was going on between them.
She lowered her head, pondering for a moment, then said, "Youyou was bathing in the bathroom. I’m not sure of the details. How about... Uncle asks Zijin? He was just here."