Chapter 22: The Unmarried Couple

Chapter 22

"You silly girl!" Yanzhi bit her lip, a little angry, "Master Jiang is nowhere near as good as the young master. Let's not watch anymore, alright?"

Gu Ying pulled her mouth into a smile. "What nonsense you speak. My lady does not cling to him, she came here on purpose to laugh at him."

Hearing this, Yanzhi felt a little better. "My lady should have said so earlier, you scared my heart into thumping wildly."

Gu Ying did not want to watch any longer, and turned to leave.

But before she could, a cold, sharp male voice suddenly called out to her. "Second Miss Gu, what brings you here?"

It seemed he thought of something, for his voice quickly took on a mocking, disdainful tone. "Could it be Second Miss has come specifically to watch my engagement?"

He knew, all her previous actions were but an act, a facade.

She cared for him in her heart, unwilling to let him marry her elder sister.

Gu Ying silently rolled her eyes, turned around, and looked upon Jiang Yin's slender figure. She smiled breezily, entirely at ease. "Brother-in-law, shouldn't you be inside speaking of marriage with Grandmother instead of out here?"

Jiang Ling'er had silently come up by now, and grasped Jiang Yin's washed-out white sleeve with her small hand. "Brother, do not quarrel with the young miss from the Gu manor... let us go back..." Her voice was timid, eyes glimmering wetly with a faint flush, giving off a helpless and feeble air that evoked pity.

The icy look in Jiang Yin's eyes softened, showing some tenderness towards Jiang Ling'er.

Gu Ying gave a cold mocking laugh.

She was truly blind before, to not have noticed such obvious affection between master and concubine. She had been earnest and attentive towards Jiang Ling'er, treating the young miss well enough that she ended up in her own husband's bed, becoming pregnant ahead of his proper wife.

"Brother, the young miss from Gu manor comes from a prestigious family, we common folk should not offend her... don't be... fierce with her." Although Jiang Ling'er's looks were ordinary, her voice was timid, eyes shimmering with moisture and tinged red - altogether presenting a helpless and frail appearance that tugged at one's heartstrings.

"Ling'er, go back first, I'll return shortly."

Having said thus, Jiang Yin roughly grabbed Gu Ying's wrist and pulled her into a nearby alley, forcefully pushing her against the wall.

"Gu Ying." The man narrowed his long eyes fiercely, dropping the pretense of a gentle lamb, revealing unfamiliar viciousness. "Just what are you trying to do? Although I've said before I don't like you, you've stubbornly pestered me relentlessly. And now, just when I'm willing to marry you, you deliberately act aloof and indifferent - are you trying to get my attention?"

The narrow alley was deserted.

Yanzhi anxiously stood guard at the entrance, fearing someone would chance by and see.

"Y-young...master... I... I did not... she seduced me."

Zhao Changdu's face was like an cold deity, a slight knit of his brow exponentially increased the pressure, enough to weaken Jiang Yin's legs and make him want to kneel.

"Did you seduce him?" Zhao Changdu lowered his eyes to look at the coquettish girl in his arms.

Gu Ying wrinkled her brow and shook her head. "Young master, I did not. You alone have my heart, no other man. He slanders me."

The line of the man's jaw tightened minutely, his sexy, low voice devoid of any emotion in the snowy landscape. "I see."

Just four simple words, an indifferent tone, yet seething with menace.

Jiang Yin considered himself ruthless, yet in this man's presence, he was reduced in magnitude.

"Young master, I swear!" He clenched his fists and knelt with a thud in the thick snow. Anxiously he pleaded, "This lowly one harbors no improper thoughts about your fiancée!"

Zhao Changdu's eyes were lazy and aloof. "Huai An."

Huai An stepped forward and halted. "Young master?"

Zhao Changdu did not deign to look at Jiang Yin's spineless form. His voice was low. "Beat him up, but don't maim him. And leave no visible wounds."

Having said thus, he turned, still holding Gu Ying, and even graciously reminded, "Don't let his blood sully Second Miss's sight."

Gu Ying gave an amused chuckle, touched at being shielded unreasonably for the first time. A faint blush tinged her cheeks.

Once out of the narrow alley, her body stiffened upon smelling the faint sandalwood scent of the unfamiliar man holding her, bringing back unpleasant memories of her past life...

Her lips were pale as she struggled. "Young master, you can let me go now."

"Use me then toss me away?"

"I did not mean it that way..." Gu Ying's tone grew urgent. This man's aura was powerful, holding her petite body was like clutching a mountain. She grew nervous, and looked up earnestly to explain, "It wouldn't look proper for us to be like this on the main street."

Zhao Changdu lowered his gaze. This girl had willow brows and apricot eyes, her face no larger than a palm, yet was shockingly pretty.

In a rare gentle tone he solemnly said, "Nothing improper about a betrothed couple. What matter if others see?"