Junjie's cheeks were flushed red, and his heart felt as intoxicating as fine wine. Just thinking about Gu Ying's sweet and alluring little face made his chest burn like fire, restless with excitement.
He lifted the corner of the grand banquet tent and walked out into the lively feast.
Outside, the wind and snow were raging, the frigid weather biting his face like knives.
Yet he did not feel cold at all. Following Hongfen's directions, he stumbled tipsily towards the tent for storing prey.
Gu Ying watched as he stepped closer and closer to that tent, a cold smile slowly forming at the corner of her lips.
She had already arranged for Yin Zhu to hide in that tent. Once Jiang Yin went in, he wouldn't be able to come out for a while.
During those two years when she was alone, how she had hoped that Jiang Yin would want her...
But now, she hoped even more to see him intimately embrace Gu Jia, letting all the officials and nobles in Bianjing see their true faces!
A feeling of exhilaration welled up inside her, making her want to laugh, but she knew now was not yet the time to rejoice.
Hearing the stifled noises coming from the tent, a woman's soft moans soon intertwined with a man's heavy breaths, the sound of their panting explicit and arousing.
Before long, Gu Jia let out a cry, painful yet pleasurable.
Gu Ying knew the deed was done.
She swallowed down the excitement and joy churning within, closing her eyes to calm herself.
Then she had Yin Lan toss a lit match into the corner of the tent, before tremblingly grasping Yin Lan's arm and whispering urgently, "Let's go, Yin Lan, hurry."
Yin Lan did not understand why her young miss would do this, nor the pained yet gleeful look in her eyes.
But gazing at the gentle, tranquil side of her miss's face, and those sparkling eyes, her heart ached inexplicably.
The young miss looks like she's been hurt far too deeply... that must be why she bears such a resigned pain.
Gu Ying's heart pounded as she calmly returned to the banquet tent, where no one yet knew what was happening next door.
But soon panicked shouts rang out, "Help! Fire! There's a fire!"
Hearing the cries from outside, the tent erupted into chaos as everyone rushed out to watch the spectacle unfold.
"What's going on? How could a fire start in this cold weather?"
"Luckily it was just the storage for some unimportant game, no one was inside. Hurry and put out the fire!"
"A fire starting for no reason like this... could it be something unlucky has happened?"
Ill omens were the most taboo thing for such a grand occasion.
The Tianqi Emperor and Concubine Wan also came out, standing under the brilliant yellow canopy as they peered towards the blaze.
Gu Ying discreetly followed the crowd out of the tent, watching from afar as the store tent burned brightly.
Just as she anticipated, a disheveled couple came stumbling desperately out of the flames, clasped in each other's arms.
Once clear of the fire's heat, they collapsed in the snow, gasping for air in frightened shock as they stared at the inferno.
But the noble ladies and gentlemen gathered could all clearly see the messy debauched state of the pair’s clothing and bodies.
The woman's cheeks were flushed, her hair disheveled with locks falling onto bare shoulders, her skirt torn to reveal two pale bare legs.
The man was slightly more put together, but the strange damp marks on his clothes hinted at what had occurred, his outer robe nowhere to be seen. Scratch marks were visible on his bared chest, and his handsome face was also flushed red, eyes still blurred in a drunken daze, unaware of what was happening.
The noble ladies all turned their faces away in embarrassment.
The wives cried out in anger, "Heavens! What kind of adulterous couple is this, to dare commit such lewd acts at the royal hunt!"
"That girl looks so familiar! Isn't she the eldest miss of the Gu family of Dongping Earl Manor?"
"And the man with her, it's Jiang Yin, the new top scholar!"
"Weren't these two engaged to marry? Why so impatient that they would do this before the wedding, even burning down the storehouse? How passionate they must have been..."
"Such indecency right before His Majesty! Jiang Yin was a promising scholar, does he still want a future now? And this young miss Gu, I always heard it was the second miss who had her eyes on Jiang, but now it turns out the eldest was entangled with him all along! No wonder there were undercurrents in that family... With this scandal, I'm afraid..."
Hearing this, Gu Jia was already in tearful panic surrounded by the imperial guards. She was cold, afraid, and full of hatred, staring at Jiang Yin with twisted crimson fury in her eyes. The drugs had worn off and she finally understood what had happened.
She had been set up!
And Jiang Yin had dared violate her!
Now she had no hope of marrying into a prestigious household.
She had been defiled, dirtied!
Gu Jia wept piteously, heartbroken and despairing, hating herself for falling into this trap.
Concubine Wan's mouth quirked in a faint smile, saying nothing.
The Tianqi Emperor was enraged, glaring coldly at Jiang Yin's ragged, debauched state. He let out an icy snort. "Good! Well done! The so-called scholar of my Dong Li, the top scholar! A man so lacking in propriety, how could he possibly serve in office in the future? Seize them, get them out of the noble ladies' sight!"
At the emperor's command, Gu Jia and Jiang Yin were both dumbstruck.
Several of the imperial guards came to apprehend them.
Gu Jia wept without dignity, crying, "Mother, save me! I've been falsely accused! This wasn't me! He was the one who—!"
Someone muffled her shrill objections.
With tearful eyes she looked pleadingly through the crowd for someone who could help her, but Lady Liu was already frozen stiff in fear, not daring to stand out before the emperor and empress to plead for her.
She even directed desperate appeals towards Gu Ying in the crowd.
But of course Gu Ying would not help her.
Her gaze was tranquil as she looked across the sea of people at Gu Jia and Jiang Yin, the corners of her lips curving up slowly. Soundlessly, she mouthed, "Do you like this gift I've given you?"
In that moment, Gu Jia was struck by lightning, her entire body going cold as the blood drained from her face.
And Jiang Yin, also seized alongside her, saw the words on her lips.
His dark eyes pierced her icily, gaze so frigid it could freeze.
But Gu Ying did not care one bit.
From this moment on, this wretched couple would have no more reputation or standing in Bianjing.
Want an official appointment?
No chance!
Aspire to be Prime Minister?
Not anymore!
