Clouds and Moon Shadow

Chapter 326 Born with a Trouble-Prone Physique

When we arrived at the shop, Manager Wang was instructing the staff to arrange the tables and chairs, and then pointed out that the painting on the wall had been moved to a different position.

"Manager, where should this jade bottle be placed?" A new employee eagerly asked Manager Wang, who was busy and parched.

"Place it on the small table diagonally in front of that painting, and on the small table over there, put another jade vase," Manager Wang pointed to the area next to the window.

The young waiter quickly and eagerly placed the vase neatly on top of it.

After Gu Qingyue and her two companions went upstairs, they saw Manager Wang personally directing the staff to make arrangements.

Upon seeing Gu Qingyue approach, Steward Wang quickly stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

After the group carefully inspected the shop's layout from top to bottom and discussed it further, Gu Qingyue finally decided to open the shop before the end of March.

After giving her many more detailed instructions, she got up and led Jiang Wan and the other two out the back door, winding their way to the small courtyard where Yue Ran and the others were staying.

"Master," Yu Mo was practicing her sword in the courtyard. When she saw the group, she paused for a moment and quickly stepped forward to greet them.

"Notify those outside the city to come in in batches and stand by."

Gu Qingyue knew that the Prince An's Mansion would not let the matter rest, and that the Eldest Princess and Princess Chaoyue would probably not let it go either. Therefore, she had to make all possible preparations for dealing with the situation.

"Yes!" Yu Mo cupped his hands in greeting.

"Where are they?" Gu Qingyue asked when she noticed that Yue Ran and Jiang Luo were not there.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Jiang Luo went to the outskirts of Prince An's residence, and Brother Yue Ran went to the outskirts of Princess Chang's residence."

Gu Qingyue nodded. "Did you find anything?"

"We have successfully delivered the people into these two mansions, but we have not yet been able to enter the inner courtyard. We are waiting for the right opportunity."

Two disciples from Moon Shadow Pavilion have been sent in disguise to infiltrate these two residences. Gu Qingyue instructed them to do this as soon as the Spring Appreciation Banquet ended, and it seems that they have succeeded.

Yu Mo lowered her voice, "Also, Brother Yue Ran said that yesterday the Princess's residence threw two corpses into the mass grave. According to the investigation, they were people close to Princess Chaoyue."

Gu Qingyue understood; if the mission wasn't completed, the maid and the old woman would surely die.

Although Mu Wanqing was the one who ultimately suffered, Princess Chaoyue's plan was ultimately ruined by Gu Qingyue. How could someone like Princess Chaoyue tolerate such a failure?

Taking out your anger on those around you is the first step.

Gu Qingyue was also very upset. As soon as she returned to the capital, she attended a spring appreciation banquet and offended two noble ladies of the capital.

One came from a royal family, and the other from the residence of a princess.

Uh-----she really does have a knack for causing trouble!

"Continue to investigate. Once the people from outside the city come in, have Yue Ling come to see me," Gu Qingyue thought for a moment, then gave some more instructions before returning to the Duke's mansion.

She had barely returned to Feiyue Pavilion and hadn't even sat down when Sangzhi, who was beside Qin Shi, came over.

Seeing the several invitations she respectfully placed in front of her, Gu Qingyue raised an eyebrow. She flipped through them and saw that there were invitations from Princess Pei, Headmaster Lin, and even the tutor Zhang Xubai.

Gu Qingyue looked up at Sangzhi, who said softly, "Reporting to Miss, the stewards of these families who delivered the invitations said that their masters are waiting for Miss's reply and are still waiting in the outer courtyard flower hall."

Gu Qingyue was a little confused for a moment.

Princess Pei's invitation could still be considered a friendly exchange between women, even though Princess Pei was of noble status.

However, Gu Qingyue's status as the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion is enough to make her stand out among the noble ladies of the capital's upper-class aristocratic circle, which is completely understandable.

But what about Headmaster Lin and Master Zhang Xubai...?

"Little sister," Gu Qingyue was frowning when she heard Gu Yuanen's voice.

"Fourth Brother," Gu Qingyue greeted him lazily, then looked down again to look through the posts.

"You've come at the right time. Your headmaster and Master Zhang have both sent me invitations. Can you help me analyze what they mean?"

Gu Qingyue remembered that her fourth brother was a disciple of Master Lin and they had a very close relationship, so she decided to grab him and ask him about it.

Surely it's not like Headmaster Lin is thinking about what happened at Tiger Peak Village last time and wants to ask her something.

Gu Yuanen glanced at the post and said, "You forgot what I said before? Our Headmaster Lin is a painting fanatic, and Master Zhang not only loves painting, but is also very good at music. Do you understand?"

"What do you mean? Headmaster Lin wants to discuss painting techniques with me? Master Zhang is here because of my flute playing?"

Gu Qingyue's eyes widened. Were all the scholars and abbots here so courteous and friendly?

She considered her painting skills and flute playing to be just okay, nothing special. Their main advantage was their uniqueness; they had simply never seen them before.

"Most likely, but none of that matters. What matters is that they've all invited you," Gu Yuanen said with great interest.

Gu Qingyue rubbed her forehead, then looked up and asked, "So, do you think it'll be convenient for me to attend the Linfeng Academy competition in half a month?"

In the post, both Headmaster Lin and Master Zhang invited her to watch the triennial competition of the Six Arts of Gentlemen held at Linfeng Academy.

"Why wouldn't you go? I'm going to compete too. As your sister, shouldn't you come and cheer me on?"

Gu Qingyue did some mental calculations. Half a month later, wouldn't that be the opening day of Wenxianglou?

"Uh... Wenxianglou will open in half a month," Gu Qingyue said softly, touching her nose.

"What a coincidence?" Gu Yuanen frowned.

“It’s just such a coincidence,” Gu Qingyue said.

However, the date has only been set for now, and it may be changed later. If you have time, you can go to Linfeng Academy to see the so-called "Six Arts of Gentlemen Competition".

"It's alright, it's perfect. I'll come and support you after the competition." Gu Yuanen thought for a moment. His younger sister was so beautiful. If she went to Linfeng Academy to watch the competition, there would be a huge crowd. How many brats would see her? It was better not to go.

Thinking of this, he immediately stood up and said, "I'll go write the post."

"To whom is it written?" Gu Qingyue asked suspiciously.

"My classmate, let's go to Wenxianglou for dinner after the competition," Gu Yuanen said, and then hurriedly left.

"Sigh------", Gu Qingyue sighed helplessly as her raised hand grasped at empty air. When did her fourth brother become so impulsive? He's never been very composed.

Of course, she couldn't have imagined that in the hearts of Gu Yuanen and his brothers, their sister's matter was of paramount importance. If they didn't help, who would?

However, Gu Qingyue was still a little troubled. How should she reply to the posts from Headmaster Lin and Master Zhang?

After thinking for a moment, he handed all the posts to Sangzhi.

"Let the steward go back first. I will try my best to attend Princess Pei's banquet in a month. As for Headmaster Lin and Master Zhang, just tell them that I have important business to attend to that day and I will visit them in advance."

"Yes," Gu Qingyue said, watching Sang Zhi leave with the invitation. She slumped into her chair, exhausted from the whole day.

However, it's not time to rest yet.

After dinner, Gu Qingyue went to the old Duke's study.

Under normal circumstances, the study of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion is a highly confidential place within the mansion, and outsiders are absolutely not allowed to set foot there.

But since Gu Qingyue came back, she has already gone there several times.

The old Duke could only laugh at her and never criticized her.

Therefore, Gu Qingyue was completely unaware of how important this place was. She went straight into the study, and the guards outside did not stop her at all.