Taixing, Year Fourteen, Ninth Month.
Capital City, in front of Duke Yan Mansion.
Tao Fen parted ways with the gatekeeper Zhou Xun, slung his simple luggage over his back, mounted his horse, and left Qinren Street, heading towards the West City Gate.
In the streets of the Capital City, few dared to gallop; it would be no laughing matter if soone collided with a noble.
Tao Fen wasn’t in a hurry, so he let his horse walk leisurely forward.
The eastern part of the city was ho to many nobles; the streets were filled with fine horses and ornate carriages, among them carriages carrying elegantly or splendidly adorned won.
Occasionally, a carriage brushed past him, leaving a whiff of fragrant breeze.
Tao Fen sniffed and thought that the girl from this family had quite a taste; the fragrance she used was extrely delicate and elegant.
Maybe she’s a young lady from a scholarly family, he thought.
However, there were many scholarly families in the Capital City, and many daughters from such families, so Tao Fen didn’t pay it much attention.
Even when a female voice inside the passing carriage called to stop, Tao Fen didn’t find it special.
At most, he thought the girl’s voice still carried so youthful innocence, suggesting she wasn’t very old.
He didn’t realize it had anything to do with him.
Until a clear and crisp, jewel-like call from behind rang out: "Is that Master Tao from Xinfeng up ahead?"
Oh?
Tao Fen turned his head back in surprise.
The curtain at the side of the carriage was lifted, revealing half a young girl’s face, looking quite reserved.
Probably seeing that he hadn’t reacted, the girl leaned slightly forward, and a pair of bright and clear eyes suddenly entered Tao Fen’s view.
She looked like a child caught in the act of mischief, a flurry of panic flashing in her eyes, quickly pulling her head back.
Tao Fen chuckled.
It’s a little girl!
He nudged his horse a few steps closer, cupped his hands, and said, "Yes, it is I, Tao. What can I do for you, Miss?"
The young girl, who had just withdrawn her face into the shadows, peeked out a little again, staying within the car window with a touch of reserve, and began to introduce herself, "I am the daughter of the Gu Family, cousin of the Second Miss Tang, the fifth in my family sequence."
Before she spoke, Tao Fen had already recognized her.
"So it’s Fifth Miss Gu!" Realizing it was soone he knew, a bit more of a smile appeared on Tao Fen’s face.
The fifth young lady of the Gu Family, the eldest daughter from the third branch of the Gu family.
She was a year older than the Second Miss Tang, thirteen this year, truly a little girl.
He had seen this little girl a few tis before, but they hadn’t conversed.
The Gu Family was a prestigious family from Jiangnan, known for their accomplished and graceful daughters, not soone a coarse man like him would easily chat with.
He wondered what business this young girl had with him?
"I heard that Master Tao accompanied the Liangzhou Inspection Envoy to the Northwest. When did you return to the Capital City?"
Tao Fen smiled.
He hadn’t gone with the Liangzhou Inspection Envoy, but had escorted the Second Miss Tang to find her father and brother.
But saying he had gone with the Second Miss Tang sounded rather inappropriate.
Indeed, ladies of prominent families spoke flawlessly.
"Returned just last night, entrusted with so matters to handle and am now leaving again, though whether I’m needed over there is uncertain, it’s good to be around," Tao Fen, aware of the closeness between Fifth Miss Gu and Second Miss Tang, answered as much as he could.
After Fifth Miss Gu stealthily inquired about the Second Miss Tang’s recent situation, she suddenly switched topics, "Recently, I’ve encountered Miss Zhong a few tis—"
Tao Fen raised an eyebrow, surprised.
He wasn’t dense, he could read between the lines.
This "a few encounters" didn’t sound particularly friendly.
Zhong Chuchu was his fiancée, currently staying at Duke Yan Mansion.
Since Fifth Miss Gu was a cousin at Duke Yan Mansion, was there so conflict during her visits?
"Chuchu is frail and I have perhaps spoiled her into so degree of ignorance. Hopefully, she hasn’t troubled you, Fifth Miss?" Tao Fen asked with a smile.
Fifth Miss Gu was silent for a mont, then said, "No, it’s just that since Miss Zhong is fragile and likely seldom goes out, she might feel lonely staying ho for long. Master Tao, if you have the ti, you should keep Miss Zhong more company," pausing for a mont then adding, "After all, Miss Zhong is your fiancée."
The last line was said with a slight abruptness, as if it was ant to emphasize.
Actually, the entire conversation was rather abrupt.
Tao Fen smiled a little and said, "You’re right, Fifth Miss, I will rember that."
Miss Gu seed to realize her words had been overly familiar for soone with a shallow relationship, and withdrew her pretty face inward.
From Tao Fen’s perspective, he only saw her eyes flicker nervously twice, then she lowered her eyelids: "I have disturbed you, Master Tao." The curtain suddenly fluttered down like rippling water.
Tao Fen chuckled, even though the young girl could no longer see him, he still cupped his hands towards the window: "Thank you, Fifth Miss, for the reminder. Once things are settled outside, I will certainly spend more ti with Chuchu."
The young girl inside the carriage reflected on this for a mont, then said, "I wish you a smooth journey, Master Tao."
With those words, the carriage slowly moved away.
Tao Fen smiled as he watched, then turned around and continued heading towards the West City Gate.
Yet he couldn’t help but ponder internally.
What kind of conflict did Chuchu have with this young girl?
However, ultimately it was just a minor dispute among young girls, and Tao Fen didn’t dwell on it, soon putting it out of his mind.
Until he t this Fifth Miss Gu again.
...
The next ti he saw Fifth Miss Gu was at a welcoming banquet at the Duke Yan Mansion.
...
In the seventh month of the sixteenth year of Taixing, Tao Fen returned to the Capital City alongside Tang Ziqian and Tang Jiaojiao, the brother and sister.
This ti, they returned carrying great military achievents.
Not only had the Western Turkic state in Northwest been annihilated, but the Northern Border Turkic were also driven back by a thousand miles.
Thus, the welcoming banquet at Duke Yan Mansion was exceptionally lively.
However, as they approached the Capital City, a close maid of the Little General Tang was unfortunately assassinated.
Although Tao Fen wasn’t familiar with the maid, it didn’t put him in the mood for revelry.
After drinking for a while in a cursory manner, he went to fetch Zhong Chuchu to leave.
Over the past year, Zhong Chuchu’s health had noticeably improved, not only could she walk unassisted, but she also enjoyed attending banquets, which greatly pleased Tao Fen.
As he smiled and went to support Zhong Chuchu, he suddenly felt a gaze land on him.
Turning to look, he spotted a girl in a lotus-colored gauze dress.
Her hair was like silk, her eyebrows curved, her features graceful, though her gaze seed sowhat somber.
Having been caught, the girl didn’t shy away but rely nodded with a faint smile, pulling her white shawl around herself as she walked away.
Her steps were graceful, her ornants silent.
Though young, her deanor was graceful and composed, indicating an illustrious background.
"Is that a young lady from the Gu Family?" Tao Fen asked casually.
With such deanor, there was likely none other than the Gu family among the ladies invited to the Duke Yan Mansion’s welcoming banquet.
"It’s Fifth Miss Gu," Zhong Chuchu replied.
Tao Fen paused, suddenly recalling the scene when he’d t Fifth Miss Gu the previous year, and asked, "Do you know Fifth Miss Gu well?"
Zhong Chuchu pursed her lips, saying, "That kid doesn’t like !"
"Why?"
There was a mont of darkness in Zhong Chuchu’s eyes, then she laughed nonchalantly, "Who knows why?"
Since she wouldn’t say, Tao Fen asked the maid beside her, "Have you and Fifth Miss Gu ever had a quarrel?"
The maid appeared confused, thinking hard before shaking her head, "No, not really. We’ve only t once or twice, didn’t even exchange many words."
Zhong Chuchu snorted, "You don’t believe it! Fifth Miss is just a kid, how could I have quarrels with her?"
Tao Fen was left in mild doubt.
...
The very next day, he encountered Fifth Miss Gu again.
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