C15 The Strange past

Lu Huaiqi spotted the Shea brothers and slammed his chopsticks down with a loud "bang." "Those little punks have the nerve to show up here!"

"Cousin Lu, don't lose your cool!" Wu Chenggang quickly tried to hold him back. Lu Huaiqi struggled but couldn't break free, his teeth grinding in frustration.

"Turnabout is fair play!" Jing Bao suddenly pointed at a plate of braised pork on the table and grinned. "Take this dish over to them and say it's a gift from the Seventh Master. And pass along a message: 'Who cares for whom? It's not set in stone.'"

The waiter picked up the plate and hurried over to deliver the message. Jing Bao watched from the corner of his eye as the Shea brothers looked back at him. Their eyes met, sparks flying, making Wu Chenggang's heart race with anxiety.

One refuses a toast only to drink a forfeit, and the other is no better than a beast...

Just then, two young boys, around ten years old, emerged from the back. They were handsome, with delicate features and a touch of rouge on their lips. They approached the Shea brothers' table, snuggling up to them—one feeding them wine, the other offering food, acting quite affectionately.

Wu Chenggang whispered, "Those brothers must have been monks in a past life, now they swing both ways. Those young boys are their favorites; they've got a pair of sisters hidden upstairs too. Rumor has it they've left a trail of broken hearts behind them."

Lu Huaiqi's face tightened with anger, veins pulsing at his temples.

Jing Bao felt a pang of concern and whispered, "Brother-in-law, this place is really seedy. You should avoid coming here."

Wu Chenggang shook his head, saying, "Seedy places have their own kind of fun, just like respectable ones do. Bao, you've only been in the capital a few days, so you don't know who runs the Fragrance Seeking Pavilion. If you did, you wouldn't say that!"

"Who is it?" Jing Bao asked, intrigued.

"The manager's name is Gu Yuvhua. She was once the most renowned woman in the capital for her talents. Her father was the first Chief Minister of the country!"

Jing Bao looked at him in surprise. "How did the daughter of such a prominent official end up running a place like this?"

Wu Chenggang furrowed his brow, glanced around cautiously, and lowered his voice. "Little Seven, have you ever heard of the Gu family scandal?"

Jing Bao was even more astonished. "The Gu family from Hebei?"

The Gu family was a founding pillar of the nation, and the current emperor rose to power with their support. Unfortunately, the family was eventually executed in disgrace.

"Exactly!" Wu Chenggang nodded. "On the day of Gu Yuvhua's wedding, her family was sentenced to execution. She survived because she was already married, but..."

Wu Chenggang showed a hint of sympathy, and Jing Bao continued, "Her husband's family abandoned her, right?"

"Yes."

Wu Chenggang nodded, "The Gu family faced a great disaster, and naturally, the Sulv King didn't want to take on such a burden. On the wedding day, he had his son divorce his wife. With the fall of the Gu family, Gu Yuvhua had nowhere to go, leading to the creation of this establishment."

Jing Bao was momentarily lost in thought. From a cherished daughter to a performer relying on her talents, Gu Yuvhua must have incredible resilience. Truly, she is a remarkable woman.

She asked, "And what happened to Gu Yuvhua's original husband?"

Wu Chenggang shrugged, "He was a hostage. After divorcing Gu Yuvhua, he returned to Sulv and became the current Sulv King."

Jing Bao raised an eyebrow, sneering, "If he weren't so heartless, he wouldn't have risen to such a position!"

Wu Chenggang and Lu Huaiqi's faces turned pale with shock.

Lu Huaiqi, quick as lightning, covered Jing Bao's mouth, "Little Seven, you can say such things to me in private, but never speak like that in public!"

Jing Bao pushed his hand away, her face flushed with anger, "Why are you covering my mouth? Have some manners!"

Lu Huaiqi, baffled by her scolding, turned his head to see Jing Bao's small, fair earlobe turning red with anger. For some reason, he found himself smiling.

Seeing Lu Huaiqi acting so meek, Wu Chenggang thought, "Lu, who is usually so unruly in the Marquis Mansion, turns into a docile kitten around his brother-in-law. It seems even the toughest need someone tougher to keep them in check."

Jing Bao turned his head and asked, "The Libationer at the Imperial College is named Gu too. Are they related?"

"Yes."

Jing Bao was shocked. "How did he survive?"

Wu Chenggang shook his head. "I don't know. But there are two rumors going around, and it's hard to tell which one is true."

Jing Bao couldn't hold back. "Tell me quickly."

Wu Chenggang glanced around, leaned in closer, and lowered his voice. "Some say he's the illegitimate son of a prominent Gu family member, raised outside, so he escaped when the family was wiped out."

Jing Bao nodded, finding this explanation somewhat believable.

Wu Chenggang continued, "Others say the Empress Dowager threatened the Emperor with a hunger strike, and out of gratitude for past kindness, he spared one Gu family member."

Jing Bao listened, wide-eyed, his mind reeling with the revelation.

Who would have thought that the man with such an air of mystery had such a complicated background?

But being the descendant of a disgraced family, how did he manage to climb to the position of Libationer at the Imperial College without some extraordinary skills?

He took a sip of hot soup, forcing down the shock. It seemed that when he entered the Imperial College in the future, he would have to find a way to avoid crossing paths with Libationer Gu. This was not someone to mess with; better to steer clear!

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