Chapter 397: Chapter 398: Who Gave You the Courage?

Connecting the dots, Ning Yuchen gritted his teeth. ’So Gu Wenheng was the real adulterer all along, and I just ended up taking the fall for him.’

"What are you muttering about?" Liu Shijiang asked, passing by with an impatient look on his face. "Have you finished organizing those documents from yesterday? I need to deliver them to Lord Gong soon."

Ning Yuchen replied, "Mr. Liu, I’ll go organize them right now."

"Stop fixating on other people all day and just take care of your own work." After saying this, Liu Shijiang brushed past and left, not noticing the twisted expression on Ning Yuchen’s face.

「 」

Just as Gu Wenheng was about to board his carriage to head home, Ning Yuchen suddenly darted out and grabbed him. At his side, Hong Da and Ming Feng immediately moved to shield their master, but Ning Yuchen refused to let go.

"Lord Ning, what is the meaning of this?"

"Mr. Gu, you know what this is about. We’re both men who understand the situation, so don’t play dumb."

Gu Wenheng stared at the hand gripping his robe. "I don’t understand what you’re talking about, Lord Ning. Besides, isn’t your conduct a bit improper?"

"Ms. Xiao’s lover... it was you all along, wasn’t it?"

"Watch your words, Lord Ning." Gu Wenheng was no longer in a hurry to board his carriage. He pushed aside Ming Feng, who was standing in front of him. "I just don’t understand. What unforgivable crime have I committed against you that makes you so determined to slander me?"

Ning Yuchen said, "Don’t give me that nonsense. Just tell me—the lover was you."

"Hah." Gu Wenheng knocked his hand off his robe. "Don’t you feel any guilt saying that, Lord Ning? Have you already forgotten your little scheme at the Huang Mansion? If I were truly having an affair with Ms. Xiao, why would you have needed to go to such lengths to set me up?

"It seems to me that you’re just desperate to shift the blame. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been in such a rush to take her into your home during a mourning period, only to now try and pin the whole mess on me.

"What, did you think that just because I’ve never bothered to stoop to your level, you could walk all over me?

"Who gave you the audacity to think I would tolerate you again and again?"

With each successive question, Ning Yuchen could feel the air around him turn frigid, and a crushing pressure bore down on him.

’That’s right.’ In his mind, he only saw Gu Wenheng as someone who had passed the examinations to become an Advanced Scholar in the same year as him. He’d forgotten that the man was now several ranks his superior.

’No, he actually knew that perfectly well; he just refused to admit it.’

That was why he always used this feigned ignorance as an excuse not to bow to Gu Wenheng. And since the other man never made an issue of it, he had only grown more brazen.

But thinking of his own predicament, he gritted his teeth. "Back then, Ms. Xiao was trying to frame you. I just don’t know how you got wind of it and managed to turn the tables on her instead.

"If you weren’t secretly involved with her, why would she have gone to all that trouble?"

Gu Wenheng sized him up, his gaze so intense that Ning Yuchen’s scalp prickled. Only then did he speak, his voice cold. "I truly have no idea how you’ve gotten this far with a brain like yours.

"Use that head of yours to think for a moment. Must I really stand here and spell everything out for you?"

Gu Wenheng’s expression, as if he were looking at a complete idiot, made rage surge through Ning Yuchen. But before he could retort, Gu Wenheng dealt him another heavy blow.

"To be honest, I really didn’t want to bring this up if you hadn’t mentioned it.

"What makes you think that when you’re scheming against others, they can’t fight back?

"Is that how it works? Only you, Ning Yuchen, are allowed to play dirty, but no one is allowed to return the favor?

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"Besides, if you hadn’t been swayed by lust, why would you have taken Ms. Xiao into your home?

"Now that trouble has erupted, you’re desperate to wash your hands of it, completely forgetting how triumphant you were just a short while ago."

Ning Yuchen still refused to accept the truth. "If you’re really so innocent, then why did Ms. Xiao try to frame you?"

Gu Wenheng rolled his eyes at him. "You’ll have to ask her that. It’s like how you seem to find fault with me at every turn. I’d like to ask you—I’ve never offended you, so why do you insist on targeting me?"

A look of discomfort finally appeared on Ning Yuchen’s face. ’Of course he knew the reason. It was nothing but jealousy and a bitter sense of injustice.’

’They had been just one step apart, and their current statuses could easily have been reversed. Fueled by his grandmother’s constant brainwashing, he deeply felt that Gu Wenheng had stolen his rightful title as the top scholar.’

Gu Wenheng didn’t expect an answer. In fact, it was better to have everything out in the open. He was tired of seeing this man constantly making a nuisance of himself.

By the time Gu Wenheng turned and boarded his carriage, Ning Yuchen still hadn’t snapped out of his daze, lost in his own thoughts.

...

Gu Lehuan braced himself and went to Gu Wenheng’s study.

"Is there something you need?" Gu Wenheng saw that the young man hadn’t said a word since entering and, sighing inwardly, decided to ask directly.

Gu Lehuan took a deep breath and mustered his courage. "Seventh Uncle, I..."

Gu Wenheng had no desire to listen to a long, drawn-out story. "Is this about that Miss Xu?"

Gu Lehuan was stunned. "Seventh Uncle, you already know."

Gu Wenheng said, "You’ve been in Shangjing for many days. I’m not deaf or blind, so how could I not know?

"Now, tell me. Why have you come to see me? What are your plans?"

Gu Lehuan said, "Seventh Uncle, I’ve thought about it long and hard, and I don’t want to live with regrets. Even if no one approves, I want to try."

"And so?"

Gu Lehuan gritted his teeth. "I don’t plan on going back with Fourth Uncle and the others this time. I’m going to rent a small courtyard house, get engaged first, and stay here so I can look after Mr. Xu."

Gu Wenheng asked, "And what about your parents? They raised you all these years, and you’re just going to abandon them?"

Unable to read Gu Wenheng’s expression, Gu Lehuan couldn’t guess his true thoughts and could only answer from the heart. "My parents are living a decent life right now. I know this choice is unfilial, but I’ll work hard to earn Silver in the future. I won’t neglect my duties to support them."

Gu Wenheng scoffed. "Hah, truly the blood of the Gu family runs in your veins. Once you’ve made a decision, you follow it through without a second thought.

"I hope you remember the decision you’ve made today.

"Since you’ve made your choice, you must also bear the consequences yourself.

"Go back and think about how you’re going to explain this to your parents. When the time comes, have the steward send a letter back for you. Don’t let them needlessly disturb your grandmother."

Gu Lehuan knew this meant his uncle wasn’t opposed, and a bright smile immediately lit up his face. "Yes, Seventh Uncle, I’ll explain everything clearly."

Gu Wenheng waved his hand to dismiss him and went back to the book he had just acquired.

Jin Qianqian came in with tea and snacks, happening to see him writing annotations. She couldn’t help but peek over his shoulder. "That’s such a good habit you have, writing down your thoughts after every book you read. I can never seem to form a habit like that."

"Why did you bring this over yourself?" Gu Wenheng walked over, took the tray of refreshments from her, and placed it on the table. He then took her hand, feeling how cold it was to the touch.

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