Chapter 446: Chapter 442: Master Tao’s Innate Goodness—Tao Gu Extra (Part 8)

Taixing, year sixteen, March.

By this month, there was only one major event left in the entire Capital City.

The Crown Prince’s grand wedding.

Tao Fen, as a newly appointed scholar and being the respected senior of both the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort, naturally sought a ceremonial position and busied himself with their wedding arrangements.

On the day he went to the Duke Yan Mansion to deliver the gift list, Tao Fen looked around and casually asked, “The Crown Princess Consort is getting married soon, why aren’t any of her sisters helping with the preparations?”

Second Miss Tang glanced at him, “That remark will reach my sister’s ears.”

Tao Fen’s back suddenly shivered, and he hurriedly explained, “I just thought Miss Tang was working too hard alone, and it would be nice if there were cousins available to help!”

Second Miss Tang closed the gift list and said, “Most of my wedding arrangements are handled by the Ministry of Rites, and there are people from both the Duke Yan Mansion and Eastern Palace involved, aren’t you among them?”

Tao Fen gave an awkward smile.

“However, my aunt and cousins from the Gu Family did assist greatly, and before you came, the eldest cousin from the Gu Family just left—” At this point, Second Miss Tang paused, thoughtfully looking at him, “Which one are you asking about, senior brother?”

“No, no, I was just asking casually.” Tao Fen waved his hand in denial.

Second Miss Tang smiled and changed the topic, “Have you set the wedding date with Miss Zhong yet, senior brother?”

“Uh…” Tao Fen hesitated briefly, then was interrupted by someone sent by Miss Tang.

Leaving the Duke Yan Mansion, Tao Fen felt a bit disappointed.

Indeed, he wanted to indirectly inquire about Fifth Miss Gu.

The last time he saw the young girl was before the New Year, and now it’s been four months.

Since she left in anger last time, Tao Fen couldn’t help but worry a little more.

That day, for some reason, he simply wanted to tease her into a huff.

He regretted this quite a bit afterward, thinking that he must apologize properly the next time he saw her.

Unexpectedly, he never got the chance to encounter her again.

He even intentionally passed by the Gu Mansion several times, yet he didn’t see her.

The more he didn’t see her, the more he worried, wondering if he had offended the young miss harshly.

Or why wouldn’t she even come to congratulate his success in the imperial examination?

But as a grown man, it was inappropriate to openly inquire about a young lady without seeming like he had ulterior motives.

What should he do?

…

The opportunity came unexpectedly.

On the second day of April, the Crown Prince had his grand wedding.

That night, Duchess Yan Gu had a difficult childbirth.

Although it was perilous but not life-threatening, it frightened her three children greatly.

Originally, Little General Tang was set to lead troops to eradicate the worldly society organization Tonghua Valley, but now he adamantly refused to go.

Thus, the leader was changed to the third young master of the Gu Family, Gu Wei.

Tao Fen, who had been gathering information on Tonghua Valley, took the initiative to visit the Gu Mansion and discuss the eradication plans with Gu Wei.

Aristocratic families have their own rules, and it’s almost impossible to accidentally encounter the ladies of a household.

The only opportunity is when entering or exiting the Gu Mansion.

However, before Tao Fen reached the front gate, he was welcomed through a side door by someone Gu Wei sent, taking a deserted path where not even half a shadow could be seen.

Gu Wei explained expressionlessly, “This eradication is a secret operation, sorry for the inconvenience, Master Tao.”

Master Tao had nothing to say.

Though it was a secret, it didn’t need to be this furtive.

But the inexplicable vigilance in Gu Wei’s eyes made Tao Fen inexplicably uneasy.

He thought there was no chance today, yet as he was leaving Gu Wei’s residence, he inadvertently turned and saw Gu Qinglan.

In a smoky purple silk dress, hair like cascading flowers, walking gracefully like flowing clouds and wind through the bamboo grove, beautifully like a meticulously painted beauty.

When she looked up toward him, Tao Fen’s heart soared, and even his lips couldn’t help but curl upward.

But midway through, he froze.

Only to see Gu Wei step forward, blocking his line of sight: “Is there something you need, sister?”

“I didn’t know brother had a guest, pardon my interruption.” The young girl’s voice was gentle and soft.

“It’s fine, I was about to see the guest out, just wait for me at the little pavilion.” Gu Wei finished then turned, casting a stern look toward Tao Fen.

“Please, Master Tao!”

Tao Fen returned the smile, but quickly turned his head while Gu Wei wasn’t paying attention.

However, the girl among the bamboo had quietly turned away, without a trace of reluctance.

“Master Tao!” Gu Wei raised his voice upon noticing him turning back.

This shout didn’t change the pace at which Gu Qinglan was leaving at all.

Could she still be angry with him? Tao Fen worried.

“Master Tao, please this way!” Gu Wei said coldly.

Tao Fen had no choice but to leave.

At the door, Gu Wei expressionlessly asked, “I’ve heard your wedding is imminent, at that time, I must come and drink a cup of celebratory wine!”

Tao Fen raised his eyebrows in surprise, “Who did Third Young Master hear this from?”

…

The engagement with Zhong Chuchu was dissolved after the New Year.

How could there possibly be a “wedding is imminent”?

But upon hearing he had called off the engagement, Gu Wei became even less polite, “escorting” him out of the Gu Mansion.

Tao Fen was baffled, “Did I inadvertently offend the Gu Family at some point?”

“Reflect on whether you’ve been coveting something from the Gu Family recently?” Zhong Chuchu suggested, while distractedly cracking open walnuts.

Tao Fen replied earnestly, “I, Tao Fen, am not that kind of person!”

Zhong Chuchu looked at him as if he were an idiot.

Tao Fen was no fool: “I understand your implication, but Fifth Miss Gu is only a year older than the Crown Princess Consort and in my eyes, she’s just a young girl. I treat her like a younger sister; it’s not what you think!” His expression was stern.

“Oh.” Zhong Chuchu said, raising a small silver hammer and “bang,” cracked open a walnut in front of her.

Despite the engagement dissolution, the two still interacted as before.

Zhong Chuchu unapologetically continued to stick around Tao Fen.

Tao Fen didn’t mind the expense, and after all these years, he had long regarded Zhong Chuchu as family, treating her as a younger sister after the engagement ended.

However, only a few days later, Zhong Chuchu suddenly left a letter and departed.

Tao Fen looked at the words “Overdrawn favor now cleared, no longer to trouble” on the letter and recalled Zhong Chuchu cracking walnuts while sitting casually a few days ago, feeling something was off. He frowned and asked the maid, “Where has the girl been these past few days? Whom did she meet?”

Could it be that she heard some idle gossip and got irked away?

But Chuchu is not someone who easily gets upset…

“She visited the teahouse in southern city, the tavern in western city…” recalled the maid.

Ever since Zhong Chuchu’s health improved, she especially loved wandering around, particularly in lively places, listening to storytelling and such.

“She also visited the Gu Mansion!” the maid suddenly remembered.

Tao Fen’s heart stirred, “What did she do at the Gu Mansion?”

“The girl went to the Gu Mansion and met Fifth Miss Gu!”

…

“…Want to ask Fifth Miss what Chuchu and she talked about? How did she suddenly decide to leave home?” Tao Fen frowned and sighed.

Gu Qinglan listened silently and then laughed, “Does Master Tao blame an outsider for not keeping a close watch on your fiancée?”

The laughter did not reach the eyes, instead revealing full sarcasm.

Tao Fen was pricked by this gaze and blurted out, “She’s not my fiancée; we have already dissolved the engagement!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep