Chapter 24

Huo Qiyan was clearly unfamiliar with her, a nobody, but still put on an elegant smile and greeted politely, “So it’s Miss Gu, what an honor.”

The doubts in her heart grew deeper, mixed with some awkward guilt.

Gu Ying's fine brows furrowed. After all, she had accidentally "defiled" this woman's husband once.

She forced a smile, awkward but not impolite as she bowed to Huo Qiyan, “I’ve heard of Miss Huo's reputation for a while. Meeting you today, you truly live up to it."

Such flattery was no doubt tiresome to hear.

Huo Qiyan gave a faint smile, quickly shifting her gaze away from Gu Ying. She took dainty steps towards the man, smiling gently as she said, “Cousin, I’ve picked a good saddle. Would you take a look for Qiyan?”

Zhao Changdu murmured in agreement and let Huo Qiyan pull him over to see the gold saddle she had chosen.

The two young men and women, talented and beautiful, well-matched in status and family, were naturally more intimate than her, an outsider.

Gu Ying now felt the situation was extremely awkward.

Her maid Bai Zhi also came over, tugging at her young mistress’ sleeve unhappily, pouting her lips, “Miss, we shouldn't have come. Don't you feel Miss Huo looks at us with some hostility?"

Gu Ying, now wiser, said lightly, “Hostility is normal.”

Bai Zhi mused, “It must be because Young Master is so handsome, Miss Huo probably likes him too?”

Gu Ying curled her fingers, feeling a sudden weightlessness in her heart. She paused, then laughed, “That’s probably it.”

She was no longer an innocent girl ignorant of the world.

A woman's liking for a man could not be hidden. The gaze Huo Qiyan had towards the Young Master was full of admiration. As for the Young Master, his brows were long and eyes deep like an ancient well, making his emotions hard to discern.

But his lifelong devotion in his past life to a vicious woman like Gu Jia showed he must be a cultivated, graceful gentleman.

Since he was willing to accompany Huo Qiyan to buy a saddle even in the dead of winter, he was clearly no ordinary man.

Having been married, she knew what a couple without love looked like.

A man so patient and willing to keep a woman company must dote on this cousin very much.

Gu Ying had never received such devotion. Her heart felt a faint sourness spreading, unwilling to admit jealousy but unable to deny it either.

A woman like her was unfit for the Young Master.

Fortunately, their ties would not last long. In less than three months, after resolving the matters of the Gu Family manor, she would take the initiative to annul the marriage.

No matter who he married in the future, she would sincerely wish him well.

Gu Ying sighed inwardly. She did not dare wish for the Young Master to actually help pick a saddle for her. She simply browsed the shop herself.

“Miss, what about this one?” Bai Zhi’s attention quickly turned to the saddles. After all, this was the first royal winter hunt the young miss would attend before her rite of passage.

She naturally hoped her miss could make a great impression, letting the princes and young masters of Bianjing and the noble young ladies see her grace.

“This saddle has a golden phoenix emblem. It looks beautiful and light. Riding this, you’ll surely perform wonderfully and impress all the noblewomen of Bianjing!”

Gu Ying's gaze fell upon the saddle. The variety of decorations on it did make it appealing to women.

But Bianjing had many skilled artisans. Zhou Ji’s saddles were far from the most luxurious and exquisite. The wealthy households even kept their own saddle artisans, so how could this compare?

She had chosen Zhou Ji not for its extravagance, but for the comfort of its saddles modified specifically for women riders.

“I’ll take this one.”

Gu Ying was about to look away when she heard that deep, mellow, sexy masculine voice behind her.

She turned around to see the man and Huo Qiyan walking over together.

He picked up the crossed pommel saddle on her left and handed it to her. “This suits you. The front arch is tall and upright while the rear slopes downwards. The improved contour makes mounting and dismounting easier and more comfortable for the rider. It is well suited for women."

Gu Ying was amazed that his perspective aligned so closely with hers. Somewhat stunned, she stammered, “Th...thank you.” She had also favored this saddle, not just for its simplicity and lack of embellishment, but because its design was ideal for women riders.

It seemed the Young Master had some experience in this area.

Zhao Changdu's gaze was deep as he gave a soft “hm” in reply.

However, Huo Qiyan beside him was displeased.

It wasn't just because this unfamiliar Gu girl was even prettier than her.

More because her taciturn and aloof cousin who rarely spoke had avoided her all morning despite agreeing to accompany her out today. As soon as they entered the shop he said he was stepping out for some air, clearly wanting nothing to do with her.

Yet not only did he personally select a saddle for Gu Ying, he even spoke those many words to her, leaving Huo Qiyan very unhappy.

The usually obedient girl suddenly threw caution to the wind. Laughing brightly, she declared, "Cousin, I suddenly want this saddle too."

Gu Ying had just hugged the saddle, about to go pay, when she heard the crisp voice.

She stopped, somewhat awkward, "But...Miss Huo, this is...the one I picked."

Huo Qiyan laughed harmlessly and generously. "I can offer double, even buy out every saddle here except this one. Any other you want, just say it Miss Gu, and will you let me have this saddle instead?" Well, the rich really were different.

Gu Ying tightened her hold on the saddle, hesitating slightly. "Thank you kindly for the offer, Miss Huo, but I can afford to buy it myself."

Seeing Gu Ying hesitate, Huo Qiyan was even more convinced of her petty bourgeois mentality.

Though unfamiliar with Gu Ying, she knew the Earl of Dongping's estate held little sway in Bianjing, much less his daughters who certainly had no standing.

That Gu Jia or Elder Miss Gu didn't even dare speak in her presence, let alone some unknown daughter of the Gu family.

Today, the saddle her cousin picked, she was determined to obtain. "But there's only one in the shop. Cousin—"

Huo Qiyan bit her lip, plucking up her courage to demand, "Won't you put in a good word and ask Miss Gu to give it to me?"

Gu Ying's brows furrowed.

Zhao Changdu was even more impatient, knitting his sword-like brows. He cast a cold glance over Huo Qiyan's girlish face, the charm on his handsome features freezing over. "Huo Qiyan, don't go too far."

"I—" Huo Qiyan hadn't expected her cousin to snap at her for a stranger. Her eyes instantly reddened with grievance as she complained, "Uncle said today cousin was to accompany me out to clear my head. Is cousin being so harsh to upset me?"

She was the honorable first daughter of the Huo family, undeserving of this saddle?