“Ah?” Gu Ling looked utterly confused. Staring at Meng Ruyi with a puzzled look in his eyes, he scratched his head and said, “What dog?” What kind of dog could be so fierce as to bite someone on the mouth?
Meng Ruyi gave him a half - smiling look.
Although Gu Ling was a bit slow on the uptake for the moment, his survival instinct was extremely strong. Seeing Meng Ruyi's expression, he knew she didn't want him to ask further. So he obediently shut his mouth and asked her, “Why did you guys call me here today?”
“We need two invitations to the Gu family's banquet.”
Gu Ling's face instantly fell. Looking at the two of them, he said, “You guys...”
“What do you take me for? They wouldn't not leave invitations for you to such an important banquet!” Gu Ling looked accusing, his lips drooping, and his head gradually hanging lower. He sighed, “It's been a while, but why have we become so estranged?”
Meng Ruyi: “...”
Although she knew Gu Ling was trying to ease the previous awkwardness, he really looked a bit silly. It was as if Gu Ling hadn't changed at all and was still the same as he was when they were kids.
Thinking this way, Meng Ruyi's gaze softened unconsciously. Looking at the person in front of her with a faint smile in her eyes, she explained, “No, there's something else. The invitation Brother Song mentioned was just an add - on.”
“Did you invite people from the Shangguan family?”
“Yes.” Gu Ling replied, then asked, “You don't want them to come? Well, that's perfect. The invitations are still in my hand. I won't give them to them then.”
“...”
“Can you just decide not to give the invitations?” Meng Ruyi was shocked. Looking at Gu Ling, she said, “Have you already taken over the Gu family?”
“Of course.” Gu Ling smiled brightly and said, “Moreover, I don't like any of those people from the Shangguan family. They always oppose my father. The things that happened back then might also be related to them.”
“Now the capital is not peaceful. If I act a bit rashly, the one above will be happier.”
[Why does Gu Ling seem smart, but not completely smart?]
[Hahaha, I was about to say the same! How come this scheming puppy acts stupid from time to time.]
[Gu Ling is really so cute. I think he's not bad either. Oh no, I'm wavering. Can Ruyi have them all?]
[The sister above has a really dangerous thought!!!]
Meng Ruyi: “...”
What do you mean “have them all”!
“No.” Seeing Meng Ruyi lost in thought, Song Huaizhi, who was sitting beside her, answered on her behalf, “We just want you to keep an eye on the Shangguan family and the Crown Prince. They will definitely cause some trouble at this banquet.”
“Tsk.”
Gu Ling sneered and complained, “My father should see this. Since we haven't been back to the capital for a few years, in the eyes of these people, it's as if we're dead.”
“How dare they cause trouble at my Gu family's banquet.”
“Indeed.” Song Huaizhi said, “This time, the Shangguan family has decided to officially ally with the Crown Prince by marrying Shangguan Xue to him.”
“But we plan to let Wen Xiuzhi catch them in the act, then ally with Wen Xiuzhi, and by the way, lock the Crown Prince up for a while.”
Gu Ling frowned, realizing a problem. “Won't the Crown Prince get angry? Zheng Yuanjia is not a good - tempered person. What you're doing might be...”
“It's too late.” Meng Ruyi looked into Gu Ling's eyes and said amidst his hesitation, “The rainy season is coming soon. We must find a way to expose this matter this time and make sure the Crown Prince can never turn things around.”
As she said this, her gentle eyes gradually turned cold, like a knife. Then she turned to look out of the window silently.
...
After the two finished talking to Gu Ling, they were about to return to the academy.
Unexpectedly, Gu Ling suddenly leaned over. Somehow, there was a luggage in his hand. Looking at the two of them, he said, “Let's go. Let's go back to the academy together.”
“Huh?” Meng Ruyi stopped her action of getting into the carriage. Turning to look at him, she said, “What do you mean 'together'? Aren't you going home?”
“Not going back for the time being.” Gu Ling touched his nose. Obviously a bit guilty, he said, “I finally managed to get out. Of course, I'm going to stay with you guys for a few days and go back when the banquet is about to start.”
“Fine.”
Thinking that Gu Ling still had to help them with a lot of things, Meng Ruyi didn't drive him away. She just sighed and said, “Do you want to stay in the same courtyard as Brother Song? It's so sudden. I haven't told Mr. Lin yet.”
“No problem!”
As he said this, Gu Ling skillfully got into the carriage and sat beside Song Huaizhi.
The inside of the carriage was dim, and it was hard to see Song Huaizhi's expression clearly.
Looking at the overly familiar Gu Ling, Song Huaizhi hadn't felt the urge to throw someone out for a long time. Seeing that Gu Ling couldn't stop talking since he got on the carriage and had been chatting with Meng Ruyi, he felt annoyed.
“Shut up and rest for a while.”
He gave Gu Ling a cold look and said, “We haven't seen each other for a few years, but you've become more talkative.”
Gu Ling was already used to Song Huaizhi's cold attitude towards him. Hearing this, he smiled, scratched the back of his head and said, “Brother Song still treats me the same way. Sigh!”
It wasn't long before they arrived at the academy. Gu Ling jumped out of the carriage neatly and reached out his hand to Meng Ruyi, saying, “Come on, get out. I'll hold your hand.”
Seeing this, Song Huaizhi couldn't help but sneer in his heart. He jumped out of the carriage and said to Meng Ruyi, “Yuyu, I'll help you.”
So childish!
Looking at the two people who were both looking at her, Meng Ruyi wailed in her heart. Without hesitating for too long, she jumped out between the two of them and said, “I'm not a kid anymore. Why do I still need someone to help me?”
“Hehe.” Gu Ling smiled and replied, “Sister Ruyi is right.”
Song Huaizhi gave him a cold look and said nothing.
When they returned to the small courtyard, Meng Ruyi saw a person standing in front of her courtyard gate. Getting closer, she found that it was the servant of the divine doctor, the male protagonist Cheng Lang. Seeing them coming, the servant stepped forward respectfully and said, “Miss Meng, Young Master Cheng has something to talk to you.”
Before Meng Ruyi could say anything, she heard Gu Ling beside her ask, “Young Master Cheng? Who is this?”
“Okay, I'll go find him later.”
The servant stepped back. Gu Ling felt uncomfortable. Like a big dog, he pestered Meng Ruyi and Song Huaizhi and asked, “Who is this guy? I haven't been away for that long. Why...”
He looked as resentful as a spurned young girl, staring at the two of them with a gloomy look in his eyes.
Song Huaizhi still didn't say anything. Meng Ruyi explained, “Cheng Lang is a doctor we met on our way to the capital. His medical skills are quite good.”
Gu Ling had a hunch that this Cheng Lang was not simple. But if he asked further, it would seem that he was too eager. So he had no choice but to nod, secretly making a mental note of Cheng Lang.
Meng Ruyi could of course understand Gu Ling's expression. She knew that he had taken a grudge against Cheng Lang.
It was a very strange feeling. In the original script, these two were rivals vying for the female protagonist. Now that they were facing each other, she wondered if they would be like in the original book and start arguing as soon as they met.
They had just sat down for a while when there was a knock on the door of the small courtyard.
“Miss Meng, Young Master Song, it's me.”
Gu Ling's expression changed.