Chapter 587: 283 Siblings (One more update) Chapter 587: 283 Siblings (One more update) Gu Changqing’s hand missed its mark, lingering by his temples for a long while.
Gu Yan didn’t utter a word, nor did he look his way. His rejection was palpable.
However, Gu Changqing couldn’t be sure that this resistance was specifically towards him, or all men. After all, given the sickening treatment he had received from Tang Ming, it was normal to repel touch from others.
Thinking this, Gu Changqing moved his hand, which had hung in mid-air, and stared at Gu Yan with a gentleness he hadn’t even realized he had, “When did you wake up?”
“This morning,” Gu Yan spoke softly, his gaze lowered, his tone somewhat distant.
Gu Changqing’s heart ached at his appearance, hating himself for not mutilating Tang Ming more. A wisp of hair fell onto Gu Yan’s pale and thin cheek.
Gu Changqing instinctively raised his hand to brush away the unruly hair, but remembering the circumstances, he silently put his hand down.
“I just came to see you,”
He said cautiously, not daring to get too close to Gu Yan, fearful of inadvertently stirring up bad memories. On the other hand, he couldn’t fully explain why.
It felt as if Gu Yan had changed; their relationship had subtly shifted.
He didn’t wish to overthink it, so he blamed it all on Tang Ming.
Gu Changqing looked at Gu Yan steadily: “It’s getting late. Rest early. I have some matters to attend to so I’ll be leaving.”
Having said that, he stood, intending to leave, but his gaze fell on the medicine bucket, from which no warmth remained, and he stooped over.
Gu Yan interrupted, “No need, I want to soak for a while longer.”
“…Alright,” Gu Changqing responded, putting the cloth he held back on the medicine bucket he said to him, “Then, I’ll be going.”
Gu Yan remained silent.
From the moment Gu Changqing entered, Gu Yan didn’t look at him, save for a single glance. His gaze never rested on Gu Changqing again until the latter had left.
He heard Gu Changqing leave the room.
Yet he wasn’t sure whether it was a hallucination, but he also heard the sound of chains.
The chain on Gu Changqing’s leg had been broken off completely while a small piece remained on his hand. It must have fallen out of his sleeve when he left, bumping against the shackles.
Gu Changqing hurriedly grabbed the chain and looked back at the mansion as if he was trying to penetrate the thick night and look at Gu Yan.
He turned away after a moment and got on his horse.
He rode back to the military camp.
At the gate, a large group of fully armed soldiers surrounded him. The soldier he had knocked out earlier had regained consciousness and was standing next to Deputy Hu.
“Ah! Deputy Hu! It’s Officer Gu!” The man who spotted Gu Changqing drew his sword from his belt. Despite being scared, he braved himself and stood before Deputy Hu, “He’s the one who killed Xiaozheng and Liao Yi! And he knocked me out!”
His gaze at Gu Changqing was full of hatred and vigilance, completely oblivious to the fact that, had Gu Changqing not knocked him out intentionally, he’d be charged with dereliction of duty for standing there in a daze.
That was Gu Changqing for you.
Doing the most honourable deeds, bearing the most vilified reputations.
Never explaining himself, never clarifying matters.
Deputy Hu, with a complex expression, looked at Gu Changqing: “Arrest Officer Gu!”
The crowd surrounded Gu Changqing but with his intimidating demeanour, no one truly dared to apprehend him first.
Getting off his horse, Gu Changqing faced the soldiers.
Seeing this, everyone couldn’t help but collectively take a step back.
Slowly, Gu Changqing extended both hands, ready to be arrested.
Garnering some bravery, they came forward with shackles, ripping off his old ones with apprehension before replacing them with a new set.
Deputy Hu let out a sigh of relief, saying, “Take him to the punishment room. Tomorrow, he will face judgment from Lord Tang!”
The rain poured heavily the entire night until dawn.
Due to the wet ground from the night’s rain, Xiaojing fell again when he left the house.
Gu Jiao picked him up, wiped his small hands, changed his clothes, and sent him to school.
As the duty at the Hanlin Academy started very early, Xiao Liulang left before dawn.
After dropping off Xiaojing at the Guozijian, Gu Jiao headed to the Medical Hall.
The shopkeeper was guiding his servants as they loaded crates of medicine onto a horse cart.
Gu Jiao took a glance and asked, “Where is this being sent?”
The shopkeeper replied, “Ah, Little Gu is here. I haven’t seen you in a few days. Is everything alright at home?”
Gu Jiao hadn’t visited the Medical Hall in a few days, saying she’d been busy at home. She didn’t elaborate on why she’d been so busy, and the shopkeeper had discretely refrained from asking.