Legend of Concubine's Daughter Minglan 知否知否 应是绿肥红瘦

C97. Cold Night, River, Leakage and Expose (3)

Gu Tingye sat down in a chair near the door, which was ten paces from Minglan. And then he commanded toughly, "Sit down." Minglan sat down at once and quietly waited for his instructions.

Gu Tingye said slowly in a gentle voice, "I have two things to tell you. First, I will deal with the people who saw you and block the passage of information so that no one outside will know that you fell into the water tonight. As for your servants, you should make a proper management."

Minglan suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with joy. She gave him a big smile, revealing two beautiful dimples on her white and smooth cheeks, sweet as sugar. Gu Tingye curled his lips into a faint smile, which was unknown to Minglan because his heavy moustache covered his expression. Then he continued, "Second, don't tell anyone that I'm involved in this matter. Suffice it to say that the members of Cao Bang saved you, understand?"

Minglan nodded repeatedly. No matter what a great achievement Gu Tingye had made in the circle of martial arts practitioners, he would be despised by the noblemen if they knew his deeds. In the eyes of high officials and noble lords, warriors and swordsmen were humble professionals, who were ordered about by the nobles and dignitaries to guard houses or were used as pawns to fight by the organizations behind them.

It was ignoble for the young master of Marquis Household to be a leader of warriors and swordsmen. For example, Chen Jialuo, the leader of Red Flower Gang, was an illustrious personage in the circle of swordsmen. However, to the Chen family that was noble and illustrious for generations in Haining City, he was just a good-for-nothing who didn't make progress in the official career. They even felt ashamed of him because he rebelled against the imperial family. What a stupid thing!

"Uncle, trust me." Minglan immediately made a firm and solemn promise, "I only called you uncle once on the boat. Afterwards I never mentioned you in front of the servants, so they won't know you are here."

Gu Tingye nodded with satisfaction.

Then, they looked at each other in silence. Minglan threw a glance at Gu Tingye who sat still, and could not think of exactly the right thing to say. So she turned to gawk at the oil lamp beside her. The flame was as small as a bean, giving off a dim light. Its inner cone was light blue, curved slightly in the breeze, just as the young lady's arched eyebrow. Gu Tingye abruptly asked, "Why is it excusable?"

Strangely enough, Minglan had expected that he would ask this question. Although he changed his identity from the high-profile descendant of the nobility to the swordsman who socialized with the lower orders, in his bone he was a stubborn man who liked to get to the root of a matter, just as what he had done to Minglan in Marquis Xiangyang Household before.

Minglan had prepared scripted answers in her mind that would surely induce a feeling of satisfaction to him. But before she uttered them, Gu Tingye added, "If you treat me as a friend, just tell me the truth. For the past twenty years, I have heard too many perfunctory remarks."

His handsome face was covered by the bushy beard so that no one could read his expression, but his dark eyes were clear and gloomy.

Minglan was choked by his words. She swallowed all the prepared words and fiddled with her embroidered sleeves, feeling awkward. Gu Tingye fixed his eyes upon Minglan and was attracted by her alabaster neck. In the dim light, a few blue blood-vessels were clear under her translucent skin.

She suddenly said in a calm voice, "Uncle, there are so many other ladies in the capital. Why did you try several times to win the marriage with Sister Yanran?"

Gu Tingye was stunned for a second as he didn't expect Minglan to ask him this question all of a sudden. Minglan didn't wait for his answer but went on speaking, "It's because Sister Yanran is meek, virtuous, courteous and magnanimous. And she always puts the family interest above her own feelings. If you marry her, she will surely allow Manniang to stay by your side and treat your illegal son and daughter well."