sjar Chapter 605 Gun Gun, did you fall into an ink vat? How did you get so black?
Chapter 605 Gun Gun, did you fall into an ink vat? How did you get so black?
"No problem!" Gu Qingchen patted his chest to assure her, afraid that his mother would change her mind.
Having received the pardon, Gu Qingchen, like a bird just released from its cage, dashed off to Qingfeng Garden in the southeast corner of the mansion.
That was the residence of Physician Qian and his family in the Duke's Mansion.
Before she even arrived, she heard Song Ruyan's powerful reprimand coming from the courtyard, mixed with Qian Zhenyun's weak groans.
Gu Qingchen peeked out and saw Qian Zhenyun in a horse stance, his face flushed red, sweat dripping down his chubby cheeks, and his clothes soaked through.
Song Ruyan then took a thin bamboo stick and tapped his trembling thigh lightly.
"Stand still! Keep your back straight! With your amateurish skills, how are you going to protect your wife in the future?"
"Mother, I... I'm going to break my leg..." Qian Zhenyun cried with a mournful face.
"It can't be broken!" Song Ruyan glared with her almond-shaped eyes.
"Aunt Song!" Gu Qingchen couldn't stand it anymore and rushed in like a gust of wind, spreading her arms to protect Qian Zhenyun.
"Oh, our Chen girl has come out of seclusion?" Upon seeing her, Song Ruyan's anger instantly turned into a smile.
Gu Qingchen chuckled and immediately stepped forward, taking Song Ruyan's arm and using the same tactics he used on his own mother.
“Aunt Song, my mother has already agreed to let me go back to the academy. Look, Gun Gun has fallen far behind in his studies, so please don’t force him to practice this damn kung fu!”
As she spoke, she winked at Qian Zhenyun. Qian Zhenyun immediately understood and let out a painful groan in response.
Song Ruyan was both annoyed and amused by her persistence, so she reached out and tapped her forehead with her finger.
"You silly girl, all you do is protect him. His father is a frail doctor. What will happen if he gets bullied in the future if he doesn't get stronger?"
"I'm here!" Gu Qingchen patted his chest proudly. "I'll be the first to object to anyone who dares to bully Gun Gun! Besides, there's His Highness the Crown Prince and Lin Jiayou, right? With so many of us, who would dare to touch him?"
"Aunt Song, please forgive him this time. Let him come back to the academy with me; we can look after each other!"
Qian Zhenyun looked pitifully at his mother from behind, his little eyes full of pleading.
Looking at the two children, one sharp-tongued and the other pitiful, Song Ruyan finally softened.
"Alright, alright." She put away the bamboo branch and sighed helplessly. "Consider yourself lucky, kid! Go change your clothes and go with your sister Qingchen!"
"Thank you, Mother!" Qian Zhenyun felt as if he had been granted a pardon and limped into the house.
Gu Qingchen smiled and thanked Song Ruyan sweetly, then pulled Qian Zhenyun, who had changed his clothes, along with him.
Two teenagers, run away quickly...
They were afraid that if they ran too slowly, the pardon would be revoked.
Just as he rounded the covered walkway, a series of hurried footsteps approached. Gu Qingchen was running so fast that he almost bumped into the other person's arms.
"Ouch!" She stopped abruptly, looked up, and saw an unfamiliar eunuch dressed in a gray-blue official's robe, with a solemn expression.
Qian Zhenyun, who was following behind, also recognized him. He tugged at Gu Qingchen's sleeve and whispered a reminder: "This is someone from the Eastern Palace."
Two junior eunuchs followed behind the eunuch, each carrying a tray.
His gaze swept over the two children in front of him, a fawning smile on his face, clearly indicating that he recognized them.
"We've met Miss Gu and Mr. Qian before."
Just then, Chu Ruohan arrived after hearing the news.
Seeing this scene, she already understood seven or eight parts of the situation. She stepped forward and bowed, saying, "I did not know that you would grace us with your presence, sir. I am so sorry for not welcoming you properly."
"You're too kind, Duchess." The eunuch stepped aside to avoid the half-bow and said loudly, "I am here on His Highness the Crown Prince's orders to deliver a message."
"Ten days from now is His Highness the Crown Prince's birthday. His Highness has specially prepared a banquet at the East Palace and would like to invite Miss Gu, Young Master Qian, and Young Master Lin from the Yong Prince's Mansion to come to the palace together for a lively celebration."
The young prince's birthday banquet?
Gu Qingchen's eyes lit up, and without thinking, she immediately agreed.
"Yes, yes! Thank you for conveying the message, Father-in-law. We will definitely go!"
"Then I'll go back and report." The eunuch nodded with a smile. His mission accomplished, he didn't linger any longer.
Chu Ruohan personally and respectfully saw the person out of the mansion.
Only when the figures of those eunuchs completely disappeared around the street corner did Chu Ruohan's smile vanish instantly, and when she turned around, her face was icy cold.
She looked at her excited daughter and said, "You're not allowed to go."
"Why?" Gu Qingchen's smile froze. "Mother, I already agreed!"
"I have my reasons." Chu Ruohan's gaze was sharp as a knife. "I know exactly what the Empress is planning. You are still young, and the palace is not a place for you."
Gu Qingchen stomped her foot in protest: "But I've already promised His Highness the Crown Prince!"
"At that time, I will send someone to the palace to say that you have caught a cold and cannot get up."
Chu Ruohan's daughter's stubborn face softened as she said, "Qingchen, if you don't listen, then you can stay at home. You don't need to go to the academy anymore."
These words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the flame in Gu Qingchen's heart completely.
Her face turned red with anger, her chest heaving, but she dared not argue back any further.
She grabbed Qian Zhenyun, who was staring in disbelief, and turned to leave, her back view filled with grievance.
In the academy, Lin Jiayou looked up and saw Gu Qingchen and Qian Zhenyun walking in with their heads down.
He put down his book, his gaze falling on Qian Zhenyun, and he raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Gungung, did you fall into an ink vat? How did you get so black?"
Qian Zhenyun scratched his head, his face full of unspeakable sorrow: "Don't even mention it. In short, I was in dire straits and barely managed to escape."
Lin Jiayou then looked at Gu Qingchen and saw that she looked dejected, so he wanted to say something happy to cheer her up.
"By the way, has anyone from the palace mentioned the Crown Prince's birthday banquet? We can go together and celebrate your lifting of the ban."
Upon hearing this, Gu Qingchen's face fell even more.
Qian Zhenyun quickly tugged at Lin Jiayou's sleeve and whispered, "Auntie won't let her go."
Lin Jiayou was stunned. Looking at Gu Qingchen's angry expression, he knew that there was no room for negotiation.
Gu Qingchen sighed, forcing himself to cheer up: "Never mind, I can't go, but you two can. The three of us are going together, so we can't be careless with our manners."
As she spoke, she reached out and touched her purse, which was completely empty.
She frowned and said, "But I don't have any money."
She's been confined to her home by her mother for the past two weeks, and her monthly allowance has long been cut off; she's now penniless.
"I have some here!" Lin Jiayou said immediately, making a move to open his money pouch.
"I don't want yours," Gu Qingchen refused outright.
She's someone who audited the accounts with her own abilities and almost caught the corrupt officials in the household; how could she possibly spend her friend's money?
She lowered her head and pondered for a moment, then a sly glint suddenly flashed in her eyes, which had been dulled by boredom.
Gu Qingchen slammed his hand on the table, raised his head, and his face was no longer dejected; instead, it was filled with a confident and self-assured air.
"I know how to get the money!"