Chapter 243: Red Sleeves Adding Fragrance
Gu Fei curtsied. "Take care, Young Master."
Su Chen grabbed Mr. Xu. "Brother Xu, let’s go!"
Mr. Xu snapped his fan shut. "Hey, why are we leaving? I haven’t even finished my cup of tea."
Without another word, Su Chen gave Gu Fei an apologetic smile and dragged him out the door.
A short carriage ride later, they arrived at a bookstore.
Su Chen was browsing the shelves when Mr. Xu suddenly chuckled. "Mr. Su, you really have a knack for these things. To think you’d uncover a pair of peerless beauties hidden away in this common market."
Su Chen’s expression changed. "Brother Xu, choose your words carefully."
"Miss Gu and I are old acquaintances. It’s not what you think."
He thought for a moment before adding, "Besides, Miss Gu and her cousin are both from respectable families. You can’t just speak about them so flippantly behind their backs!"
Mr. Xu was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled. "A slip of the tongue, my apologies. But I wonder, Mr. Su, do you happen to know where Miss Gu’s cousin lives? Is she betrothed?"
At that moment, Su Chen bitterly regretted bringing Mr. Xu to Gu Fei’s inn. In a cold voice, he said, "I don’t know. Why are you asking?"
Mr. Xu glanced at him. "What a question. I’m no rake. I’m asking so I can go to her home and properly offer betrothal gifts."
"I saw the young lady during the Lantern Festival. She’s breathtakingly beautiful—truly the woman of my dreams. She deserves to be treated with respect."
Su Chen frowned. ’From the sound of it, Mr. Xu plans to take Lan Zhi as a concubine?’
After he spoke, Mr. Xu shot Su Chen a look and nudged him with his fan. "And what about you, Mr. Su? You’ve taken a fancy to Miss Gu, haven’t you? Are you just going to let her run an inn, showing her face in public like that?"
"I say you should take Miss Gu as a concubine as soon as possible. Then you’ll have a beautiful companion for your late-night studies."
Su Chen’s face flushed crimson. "What nonsense are you spouting!"
"How dare you degrade Miss Gu like that!"
Mr. Xu gave him a strange look. "Why are you so angry, Mr. Su?"
"Did I say something wrong? For a girl from the common market, if a man of our standing takes a fancy to her, isn’t it common practice to take her as a concubine?"
Su Chen retorted angrily, "Miss Gu is not like other women! Even though she comes from a farming family, her talent and character are in no way inferior to those of a highborn lady!"
"Besides, she’s an innocent and respectable young woman! How can you say such things behind her back!"
Having said his piece, Su Chen flung his sleeves, left Mr. Xu standing there, and stormed out.
Mr. Xu watched his retreating back and muttered, "That man is really something else..."
At that moment, a woman emerged from behind a bookshelf. She curtsied to Mr. Xu. "Mr. Xu."
Startled, Mr. Xu turned and saw it was Qin Ying, the granddaughter of the academy’s Mountain Master.
He hurriedly bowed.
Qin Ying gave a faint smile. "I just overheard you and Young Master Su discussing a certain young lady."
Mr. Xu gave an embarrassed laugh. "Ah, no, Miss. You must have misheard."
’He’d thought it was just him and Su Chen in the bookstore; he never expected Qin Ying was standing behind the shelves. It wasn’t proper for someone to overhear that kind of talk. How could a man who studies the classics be so focused on a woman’s charms!’
But Qin Ying pressed, "I did hear the two of you mention a Miss Gu of outstanding talent. It piqued my curiosity. Who is this Miss Gu?"
Mr. Xu hesitated. "Well... Miss Gu is an old acquaintance of Young Master Su. As for her talents, I wouldn’t know."
Qin Ying nodded. "In that case, could you tell me, sir, which inn Miss Gu is at?"
’A glint appeared in Mr. Xu’s eyes. He recalled how Su Chen had stormed off, and now Miss Qin was pressing him relentlessly. He hesitated, unsure whether he should speak.’