The next day, Gu Xingzhao prepared many nourishing items to bring to He’s residence, intending to help Lu Youtiao recover her health.
To her surprise, as soon as she arrived, she saw He Zhen standing at the courtyard gate, talking to a young man accompanied by a servant carrying a large number of items.
“Sir, Miss Lu has said she won’t see anyone. Please return.”
The young man hesitated. “Madam He, could you pass along a message for me? Tell her that an old friend, Jiang Shao, has come to visit, and I request an audience.”
He Zhen remained silent for a moment. The truth was, Lu Youtiao was still sleeping. Her maid, Qiuyue, had conveyed her instructions from the previous night: if anyone came to visit today, she wasn’t to see anyone.
He Zhen had heard about the Lu family’s affairs from her father. The Jiang and Lu families were once close, but ever since the Lu family broke off the engagement, their relationship had been cut off.
Who would’ve thought, Lu Youtiao had just finalized her divorce last night, and here was Jiang Shao, rushing over so soon?
If it weren’t for the fact that he had a servant behind him carrying many gifts, she might’ve suspected that the Jiang family was here to add insult to injury.
He Zhen sighed, gesturing to the maid beside her, “Please tell Young Master Jiang to wait for a moment.”
Hearing the name “Jiang Shao,” Gu Xingzhao immediately knew who he was and, out of curiosity, made her way over to He Zhen’s side for a better look. She was taken aback. Wow… he’s really stunning.
Gu Xingzhao rarely used the word “stunning” to describe a man, but Jiang Shao had a face even more beautiful than many women. If he were in the modern entertainment industry, he’d surely have a massive following of adoring fans.
Thinking back to Yang Fang’s appearance, Gu Xingzhao suddenly understood—Lu Youtiao wasn’t into pretty boys. She preferred mature, steady types.
In terms of family background, the son of the Minister of Revenue easily outclassed the Yang family.
As for emotional ties, they were childhood sweethearts.
Ah, kid, your only shortcoming is that you’re just too delicate-looking.
Jiang Shao stood there with his gifts, patiently waiting, while his servant behind him wanted to urge him to return. If their master found out that Jiang Shao had secretly come to visit Lu Youtiao, he’d surely get a scolding.
After waiting for a while, the maid returned and led Jiang Shao toward the courtyard where Lu Youtiao was currently staying.
Gu Xingzhao, her curiosity piqued, followed closely behind, her interest in this situation burning like a flame.
When Jiang Shao entered, Qiu yue and Dong shuang, Lu Youtiao’s maids, had mixed reactions. Both had been sold into the Lu family at a young age and had served the eldest daughter for years. They knew all too well about the relationship between her and Jiang Shao.
Everyone said that childhood friends grow too familiar with each other, and that’s why there was no spark between them.
Qiu yue, in particular, couldn’t help but wonder if things would’ve turned out better for her mistress if she had married Jiang Shao instead of ending up heartbroken as she was now.
Standing at the door, Jiang Shao hesitated, “Maybe I should just stay here at the door…”
When they were younger, there were no strict boundaries between men and women. They could joke around and play together without concern. Back then, both families had tacitly approved of their marriage, and he’d always thought it was a done deal, never imagining things would change.
At first, he’d blamed the Lu family for breaking off the engagement, not understanding why he lost to Yang Fang. But later, he came to realize that matters of the heart couldn’t be forced.
After Lu Youtiao’s marriage, he’d avoided her out of respect for propriety. Even when they crossed paths at social events, they hadn’t exchanged a word.
When he saw the divorce papers last night and realized the Lu family was now in exile, with likely no one left in the capital to help her, he immediately went to the Yang residence. But he arrived too late. He heard from nearby neighbors that Lu Youtiao had taken her dowry and left, eventually ending up at He’s residence.
This morning, he brought many health supplements, including high-quality ginseng, as well as food she used to enjoy, jewelry, and her favorite cosmetics from before. He hoped that seeing these things might lift her spirits in such a difficult time.
However, things were different now. She had just divorced. If he entered her room, rumors would certainly spread, damaging her reputation.
Gu Xingzhao couldn’t help but sigh—Lu Youtiao was truly blind to what she had.
Qiu yue, not thinking much of the situation, urged Jiang Shao to enter, while Dong shuang, more thoughtful, discreetly dismissed the nearby servants.
“Young Master Jiang, Miss Lu is unwell and unable to get out of bed. Please come inside to speak with her.”
Jiang Shao froze, “She’s sick?”
Upon hearing she was ill, he no longer cared about propriety. He handed the gifts to the maids and quickly strode into the room.
“A-tiao?”
The sight of Lu Youtiao pained Jiang Shao deeply, as if a knife were repeatedly cutting into his heart.
The woman before him was thin, her complexion pale, and the lively sparkle that used to fill her eyes was gone. It looked as though the slightest breeze could sweep her away.
He vividly remembered the spirited, playful girl who had once wrestled and climbed trees with him, the one he had cherished and protected. He never would have let her cry, yet now she had been worn down by someone else to this sorry state.
Seeing an old friend again, Lu Youtiao felt complicated emotions, but before she could gather her thoughts, Jiang Shao turned to leave with a dark expression. Panicked, she called out, “Jiang Shao!”
In her haste, she tried to leap from the bed and fell to the ground.
With a loud thud, everyone outside rushed into the room but quickly withdrew after seeing the scene.
Jiang Shao hurriedly helped Lu Youtiao back to bed. Up close, he could see how weak she had become—so frail that she could hardly get out of bed without stumbling. His heart ached even more.
Once she was settled back in bed, leaning against the pillows, Lu Youtiao clutched his sleeve tightly. “Don’t go.”
Jiang Shao’s lips pressed into a thin line as he stood by the bed, looking down at her. His tone was displeased, “Where would I go?”
Lu Youtiao’s eyes reddened.
Jiang Shao had tried to stay composed, but seeing her like this, his heart softened completely. “Alright, alright. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stay here and watch over you.”
He spoke through gritted teeth, holding back his urge to berate her for allowing herself to end up like this. But how could he say such things now?
Lu Youtiao finally released her grip.
She remembered how, when she was younger, she had injured her leg after being teased by some boys. Jiang Shao had remained silent, wearing that same stern expression. The next day, those boys had been beaten black and blue and couldn’t leave their beds. Jiang Shao’s father was later reprimanded for poor parenting, fined a month’s salary, and Jiang Shao was confined to the house for three months.
If Jiang Shao went to find Yang Fang now, there would surely be bloodshed…
Gu Xingzhao couldn’t help but smile. She had just felt a real sense of murderous intent from Jiang Shao. If Lu Youtiao hadn’t fallen off the bed, Jiang Shao would probably have stormed over to the Yang residence by now.
The key detail was that Lu Youtiao knew Jiang Shao so well.
Sigh, Lu Youtiao… you really need to learn more from your grandfather. At least his judgment of character is far better than yours.
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