At first, Gu Shengyin felt a hint of embarrassment. Even though she hadn't personally experienced such a situation, it was clear to everyone present what the sounds they overheard implied.
However, her expression soon shifted. As she listened more carefully, she realized with growing dread that the voices were shockingly familiar.
Her initial shyness evaporated, replaced by a deep unease. Driven by instinct, she glanced toward the source of the noise. That single glance drained all the color from her face. The woman with her half-opened skirt, bare shoulders, and flushed face was none other than her younger half-sister, Jiang Yunshan. The man leaning over her, his movements unmistakable, was Ji Ye—the Crown Prince to whom Gu Shengyin was betrothed.
Ji Yu, who had accompanied Gu Shengyin, observed her reaction. The shock on her face and her trembling composure made it evident that she had suffered a severe emotional blow. She appeared so distraught, so fragile, that he couldn't help but feel an unexpected wave of pity.
Abandoning formalities, he stepped forward and offered her his arm for support. "Do you know them?" he asked gently.
For a brief moment, Gu Shengyin noticed a faint scent of lotus flowers clinging to him, an oddity given that it was not the season for lotuses to bloom.
At his question, she shook her head slightly, her teeth biting down on her lower lip to hold back any further reaction.
Ji Yu, understanding her reluctance, did not press her further. Instead, he signaled discreetly to the two maidservants standing behind her, their faces pale with shock. Together, the group retreated quietly from the scene.
The walk back was silent. Ji Yu eventually escorted them to the edge of the back mountain, ensuring their safe departure.
By then, Gu Shengyin's outward demeanor had returned to calm. She turned to him and offered a polite nod. "Thank you for your kindness, sir."
Though her face showed composure, her slightly unfocused gaze betrayed her inner turmoil. Ji Yu, sensing her fragile state, offered only a few measured words before taking his leave.
Returning to his secluded bamboo house, Ji Yu closed the door behind him. His expression, serene and detached in public, transformed as soon as he was alone.
Ji Yu possessed a naturally refined and striking appearance. To most, he seemed like an ethereal figure—someone aloof and untouchable, as if he belonged in the clouds, drinking wine amidst the heavens. But now, the warmth and gentleness that usually adorned his face had vanished, replaced by an icy resolve. His usually calm eyes glinted with a sharp, steely intensity.
"Investigate the identity of the woman who visited today," he commanded, his voice cool and devoid of emotion. "And find out who was involved with my second brother."
A faint voice answered from the shadows, "Understood." The air stirred briefly, and then all was quiet again, the bamboo swaying in the breeze.
Ji Yu poured himself a cup of tea and sat down slowly in a woven rattan chair. His mind lingered on the woman he had encountered earlier.
He had noticed her the moment she arrived near his secluded dwelling. What had captured his attention was the expression in her eyes—a genuine curiosity, untainted by pretense or insincerity. Her gaze reflected wonder at the world around her.
From a distance, he had observed her as she marveled at an unusual plant, recoiled slightly at the sudden flight of an insect, and then watched it with fascination. Although her actions seemed subtle and restrained, Ji Yu could read the nuances in her eyes. Despite this underlying wonder, she had carried herself with the elegance and composure expected of someone from a noble family.
It was this striking contrast that intrigued him. In another world, this phenomenon might have been called a "charming contradiction," but to Ji Yu, it was simply unique.
His life had been one of cold isolation, thrust into this temple as a child and left to fend for himself emotionally. Over the years, he had cultivated an orderly and detached temperament, and very few things or people ever managed to stir him.
Gu Shengyin was an exception.
Yet, today's events weighed heavily on his mind. Her reaction upon seeing his second brother hinted at a deeper connection. Ji Yu frowned, his thoughts growing darker as he pieced together what little he knew.
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