Chapter 2818 The Substitute Was Forcibly Taken by the Bandit's Wife 23

As dawn broke, the rain started falling again.

The pattering rain on the eaves lulled me to sleep.

The room was dimly lit. Jin Chen was still holding Gu Fanghe, her arms loosely draped over her waist, fast asleep with her hand on the ties of her nightgown.

Gu Fanghe woke up early, but didn't move, just quietly watching him.

The sound of rain outside grew louder.

Suddenly, there was a very soft knock on the door. It was very considerate; it only knocked twice and then stopped.

Gu Fanghe frowned slightly, raised his hand and gently covered Jin Chen's ears. He moved slightly but didn't wake up. His nose brushed against his chest, causing a slight itch.

The knocking stopped.

Gu Fanghe tried to get up to check, but as soon as he moved, Jin Chen tightened his grip on his waist.

Jin Chen was half-asleep, her voice nasal, lazy and sticky, "It's raining, what's the rush to go out?"

I stayed up late last night and was disturbed by the rain for the rest of the night, so now I'm finally able to sleep soundly.

Gu Fanghe's hand was still covering his ear. Seeing that Jin Chen's eyes were still closed, but his brows were furrowed, he was unhappy about being disturbed.

His appearance was so alluring that Gu Fanghe's heart softened. He leaned down and kissed Jin Chen on the forehead, saying, "Sleep a little longer."

Jin Chen then opened his eyes. The rain shone through the window paper, making the room hazy. His eyes were still sleepy, misty, like glass soaked in water.

He raised his hand and gently brushed aside a stray lock of hair from Gu Fanghe's forehead, then leaned in and placed a very light kiss on his brow.

"I was thinking that since it's raining today, it would be a good time to relax and have some wine with you. The chief is really busy."

As Jin Chen spoke, he pinched Gu Fanghe's earlobe with his fingers.

Gu Fanghe recalled last night, the gentle patter of rain, the warm candlelight in the cozy pavilion, and then thought of today's annoying rain and the inexplicable urgent matter outside the door. Now, with Jin Chen staring at him like this, he slowly hummed in acknowledgment, "...I'm sorry."

Jin Chen chuckled, glancing down at the lingering marks beneath Gu Fanghe's open robe.

Last night, in the heat of passion, he certainly didn't hold back much, and the marks are still there, adding a touch of alluring sensuality.

His gaze lingered on the mark for a moment, then slowly moved upwards, and suddenly leaned down to kiss the corner of Gu Fanghe's eye.

Gu Fanghe now really enjoys Jin Chen's kiss here. He closed his eyes and let the gentle touch linger on the sensitive scar.

The two exchanged a passionate kiss.

Jin Chen's fingertips traced the marks on Gu Fanghe's chest, a mischievous smile curving his lips. Gu Fanghe groaned, grabbed Jin Chen's mischievous hand, and pecked him on the lips before reluctantly letting go, saying in a hoarse voice, "I really have to go."

Jin Chen ignored him and wrapped her other arm around his neck, deepening the kiss.

Jin Chen only let go of him when his breathing became erratic, and gently pushed his shoulder:

"Go."

Her voice still carried the slight panting of a kiss, her eyes were red at the corners, and her lips were strikingly vibrant.

Gu Fanghe then got up, went barefoot from the bed, and walked behind the screen to get dressed.

Jin Chen lay on her side on the bed, propping her head up with one hand, her gaze lingering on the silhouette through the hazy gauze of the screen.

Watching Gu Fanghe put on his inner robe, tie his belt, and then pick up his outer robe...

Gu Fanghe hesitated for a moment, then took out a clean white cotton cloth from the drawer of the curio cabinet, exposed the chest with many bite marks, and wrapped it around the pectoral muscles.

The strips of cloth were wrapped around the taut muscles and finally tied in a simple knot on the side; otherwise, the marks would have been unbearable chafing against the fabric.

Jin Chen watched and couldn't help but chuckle softly. As the instigator, he felt no guilt whatsoever.

Gu Fanghe dressed neatly, walked to the bedside, leaned down and kissed his lips again, "Sleep a little longer, there's some porridge on the stove, when you wake up, let Ayan serve it to you."

"Mmm." Jin Chen responded, closed her eyes, and shrank back into the blanket, only revealing half of her face.

Gu Fanghe looked at him for a moment before turning around and walking out of the inner room, gently closing the door behind him.

In the courtyard, the rain was still falling, but it was lighter than at night, turning into fine drizzle.

A young bandit wearing a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat stood with his hands at his sides waiting under the eaves. When he saw Gu Fanghe come out, he quickly stepped forward, clasped his hands and whispered, "Boss, the second-in-command is waiting for you in the council room. It's a very important matter."

Gu Fanghe hummed in agreement, then stepped outside. His gaze swept over Ayan, who was guarding the corridor, and he paused, then instructed, "The rain hasn't stopped yet, and it's getting chilly. Go and light a charcoal brazier for the young master's room, but make sure he doesn't get too hot from the smoke."

"Then find his silver fox fur trimmed cloak and keep it warm. If he gets up and feels cold, put it on him."

Ayan quickly bowed and replied, "Yes, Master, I understand."

Gu Fanghe then strode into the fine rain.

Inside the room, Jin Chen turned over and continued sleeping, her fingertip lightly touching the mattress.

In a corner of the small corridor, two brightly colored snakes silently slithered out from a crack in the wall and swam out of the courtyard gate.

-

Inside the council chamber.

When Gu Fanghe pushed open the door, there were already three people inside.

Chen Xiaoshan stood by the window with his hands behind his back, looking at the rain outside with a furrowed brow.

Liu Mianfeng sat on a grand chair to the side, slowly waving the jade bone fan that he never parted with, but the waving motion was much slower than usual, and his eyes were somewhat somber.

Meanwhile, sitting in the guest seats on the other side...

Gu Fanghe's face instantly darkened.

Ruan Shutong sat upright, dressed in white, with her usual gentle and calm expression.

"What are you doing here?" Gu Fanghe asked coldly.

Ruan Shutong's smile faltered for a moment, and she stood up. "Brother Gu, please don't be offended."

"The situation in the court has been turbulent recently. Although I am away from the capital, I have made some friends in the capital who have connections in the palace. Perhaps they can be of some help to the Black Mountain Stronghold in its current predicament. I would like to discuss this with you leaders."

His smile was gentle, and his words were sincere. “Shu Tong had no other intentions. He was just thinking of the kindness of the mountain stronghold that took him in back then, and he couldn’t bear to see his old friend in danger. He hoped that Brother Gu would not misunderstand.”

Chen Xiaoshan looked at Gu Fanghe, his tone disapproving: "Brother, Young Master Ruan meant well, why do you..."

"Alright." Gu Fanghe interrupted him, no longer looking at Ruan Shutong, and walked to the main seat to sit down. His voice was devoid of emotion, completely businesslike.

"Then tell us, what good news do you have for us?"

This attitude is a world apart from the exceptionally courteous treatment given to Ruan Shutong three years ago.

Ruan Shutong lowered his eyes, concealing the fleeting gloom in them. When he looked up again, he was once again the gentle and refined man. He put down his teacup and said seriously, "Now the struggle between the Crown Prince's faction and the Third Prince's faction in the court is becoming increasingly fierce. His Majesty's health is not good, and all forces are making moves in the shadows. The matter of the General's Tiger Tally... is likely to be brought up again."

Gu Fanghe listened silently, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest, his expression calm and revealing no emotion. Chen Xiaoshan and Liu Mianfeng also listened attentively.

As Ruan Shutong spoke, she subtly observed Gu Fanghe, and the more she observed, the heavier the doubts in her heart became.

wrong.

Totally wrong.

Gu Fanghe was truly indifferent to him, and even his politeness seemed perfunctory.

What puzzled him even more was Gu Fanghe's attitude towards Jin Chen.

If Gu Fanghe only saw him as a substitute because of his resemblance to Jin Chen, then his feelings for Jin Chen must have been complex and twisted, including contempt or resentment.