Jin Zijin hastened his pace, a faint voice drifting over, "What do you think?"
Yue Rujing sped up his horse to catch up, loudly saying, "He’s trying to incite internal strife within the Dao Family, or perhaps within the imperial court. I heard he’s also looking for the remaining ’medicinal people’, but I’ll keep a close eye on him and won’t let him succeed."
"Knowing that is enough." Glancing at the people ahead, Jin Zijin’s lips curved up slightly.
The two of them sped up, sticking close behind Gu Youyou and Lin Qianqing.
As the road ahead came into view, Yue Rujing increased his speed.
"Miss Gu, take the left path."
Gu Youyou pulled on the reins, and her horse neighed, coming to a stop at the crossroads ahead.
"How much farther?" Gu Youyou called to the person catching up behind her.
Yue Rujing pointed to the lake in front of them and said, "Not far now, just on the other side of that lake. We should go around the left side, or else we’ll need to take a boat." He paused for a moment before adding, "Taking a boat isn’t as fast as riding, and I didn’t prepare one in advance."
Oh, then we can only ride.
Gu Youyou tugged on the reins and continued to the left.
Lin Qianqing glanced back at the two men following them and curiously asked Gu Youyou, "Cousin, I can understand why the Princely Heir Yue is following us, but why is Tianzong’s eldest senior brother with us? Do you also have a relationship with him?"
Gu Youyou said, "Of course, I do have a relationship with him!"
"What kind of relationship?" Lin Qianqing’s heart skipped a beat, what kind of relationship could have enticed him to act as a guard?
Gu Youyou started laughing, not intending to deceive Lin Qianqing, so she simply said with a smile, "I can’t tell you about this matter yet, we’ll talk about it later. In any case, he won’t harm us."
Lin Qianqing replied awkwardly, "Everything about you is mysterious, I really don’t know how you spent your days before coming to the Lin Family. You’ve got a connection with the Princely Heir Yue and also a profound relationship with Tianzong’s eldest senior brother."
Far behind them, Jin Zijin and Yue Rujing followed at a distance, Yue Rujing asking with a laugh, "I heard that Madam Lin has found a good marriage prospect for Miss Gu?"
Jin Zijin was in a good mood initially, but his expression darkened when Yue Rujing brought up the matter, saying, "A bast*rd son of the Hu family steward, is he even worthy?"
Seeing his senior brother looking jealous for once, Yue Rujing burst into laughter, "Exactly, no one but you is worthy. But that’s only what you think. I heard that Madam Lin thinks they’re quite well-matched and she’s probably going to send for a matchmaker soon. Miss Gu might not know about this yet. Senior brother, what do you plan to do?"
Jin Zijin gave Yue Rujing a meaningful glance and said, "Isn’t this sort of thing your forte? Do you really need to ask me?"
"Me to handle it?" Yue Rujing was dumbfounded, "My tricks are for dealing with women, but... the Hu family steward is a government official, it wouldn’t be proper, would it?"
Jin Zijin shirked the responsibility, stating, "This, I won’t handle. I have to take care of the old man lately, I won’t have time for the Hu family or the Li family. In short, you sort it out, or come back and take care of the old man yourself. Choose one."
Yue Rujing’s mouth twitched, an old man who wasn’t confused was already difficult to serve, a confused one even more so, how annoying his senior brother was!
"I choose to deal with the Hu family."
Before long, they indeed saw a manor.
Near the lakeside, amid a grove of green willow trees and further in, crisscrossing paths divided fields of waving golden wheat in the wind. It was a rare rural beauty.
They’d picked a good time, what a treat for the eyes.
Upon reaching the ridge, they dismounted. Gu Youyou led Lin Qianqing to the lakeside first to wash the dirt from their faces. The sun was intense at this hour, and upon exposure, their faces truly felt a bit of stinging sensation.