However, Chu Yu had misjudged Gu Chusheng’s perception of the Imperial Princess.
In his previous life, when Gu Chusheng first met the Imperial Princess, he had already returned from the battlefield, hardened by war, and was serving as an official in the Ministry of Revenue’s Gold Department. The Imperial Princess held him in high regard, and to Gu Chusheng, she was an excellent ally who, despite her occasional outrageous behavior, knew her limits. He assumed that her summons must be for some important matter.
Moreover, he longed to see Chu Yu.
Although Chu Yu was now living in the same compound as him, Wei Yun had been guarding her vigilantly, giving him no opportunity to catch a glimpse of her. Now that Chu Yu had invited him, he was determined to go, even if it meant entering a dragon’s lair or a tiger’s den.
So he prepared early, spending the night selecting his clothes.
Zhang Deng, watching Gu Chusheng compare his garments one by one under the lamplight, asked curiously, “Young Master, what are you doing?”
Fearing that Zhang Deng might discern his childish desire to make a good impression on his beloved, Gu Chusheng feigned nonchalance and replied, “Tomorrow, I’ll be accompanying the First Madam to attend a banquet at the Imperial Princess’s residence. I’m just looking for suitable attire.”
Zhang Deng, finding nothing unusual, joined Gu Chusheng in selecting clothes.
The next day, Chu Yu first went to inform Wei Yun about yesterday’s outcome. After hearing the Imperial Princess’s plan, Wei Yun nodded and said, “That’s manageable. When the time comes, I’ll send a group of men to chase Gu Chusheng from His Majesty’s presence.”
“Just running like that might not be convincing enough,” Chu Yu pondered. After some thought, she added, “In the afternoon, I’ll ask him if he can create some wounds on his body. If we could inflict a cut in a non-vital area, that would be even better.”
Hearing this, Wei Yun’s heart trembled. He glanced at Chu Yu, seeing her seriously contemplating the matter. Remembering that Gu Chusheng was Chu Yu’s former lover, Wei Yun thought this must be her way of seeking revenge.
He remained silent, thinking to himself that indeed, a woman’s revenge could be terrifying.
Chu Yu discussed some more details with him before preparing to leave. As she was about to go, she suddenly asked, “Xiao Qi, what’s your opinion on keeping male companions?”
Hearing this, Wei Yun immediately exclaimed anxiously, “That’s why I say Sister-in-law shouldn’t get too close to that Imperial Princess!”
Chu Yu understood then that the path of Wei Furen keeping male companions wasn’t feasible. She sighed wistfully, shaking her head, “Never mind then. I was thinking that if I couldn’t find a suitable husband in the future, maybe I could stay in the Wei household for life.”
Keeping two…
She didn’t finish the sentence to provoke Wei Yun further. Instead, she just shook her head and waved her hand as she left.
Wei Yun stared blankly at Chu Yu’s retreating figure, his mind fixated on the phrase “Stay in the Wei household for life.”
He didn’t actively consider how this lifetime would be spent; just hearing those words made him unable to suppress the smile tugging at his lips.
After lunch, when it was time for the appointment set by the Imperial Princess’s invitation, Chu Yu called for Gu Chusheng to leave.
Gu Chusheng had been waiting at the door early.
He had dressed up for the occasion, deliberately wearing a crimson outer robe, draped with pure white fox fur. His hair was bound with a golden hairpin, and a jade pendant hung at his waist. As he stood at the entrance, he caught the attention of many young ladies passing by.
Gu Chusheng remembered that Chu Yu loved seeing him in red. In the past, most of the clothes she had prepared for his wardrobe were of this color. Whenever he wore them, she would always look at him with a smile, as if she could never get enough of the sight.
After her death, he grew fond of wearing this color. Even when he grew old, he had worried in front of the mirror that Chu Yu might find his appearance displeasing on the road to the underworld.
But now, in his youth, this color suited him perfectly.
Even though his inner self had aged, no longer fond of overly bright things, this particular shade of red that Chu Yu liked was the one thing he never refused.
Chu Yu spotted Gu Chusheng from afar, noticing his attire. As she approached, she realized he even wore perfume and had adorned himself with jade accessories. For the usually simple Gu Chusheng, this level of preparation was practically formal attire.
She was surprised at how accommodating Gu Chusheng was and then thought that he was indeed capable of adapting. No wonder he had managed to marry her in the past despite his apparent dislike.
Unsure whether to feel disgusted or impressed, she quickly glanced at him before averting her gaze. Without even waiting for Gu Chusheng to greet her, she walked past him, instructing, “Get in the carriage.”
With that, she boarded her carriage. Wan Yue came forward and respectfully invited Gu Chusheng into the carriage behind.
Seeing Chu Yu’s cold demeanor, Gu Chusheng frowned. Watching her enter the carriage without so much as a glance at him, he shook his head resignedly and boarded the carriage behind her.
They arrived together at the Imperial Princess’s residence. After disembarking, Gu Chusheng followed half a step behind Chu Yu as they were led to the courtyard by the steward.
Finding an opportunity to speak with Chu Yu, he chose to discuss official matters: “Has the Imperial Princess summoned me regarding the matter of the imperial petition?”
Chu Yu, not intending to deceive him, replied directly, “I don’t know.”
Gu Chusheng thought she was still upset, blaming him for refusing to elope.
Having passed the period of nervous excitement due to his feelings, Gu Chusheng had calmed down and noticed something amiss. Chu Yu’s feelings for him had been so steadfast in the past; how could they have disappeared just because she married Wei Jun? He figured it was merely her maintaining distance due to her position as Wei Furen. Sometimes this distance even carried a hint of malice, which, after much consideration, he attributed to a young woman’s resentment towards him.
Thinking this way, he found the fifteen-year-old Chu Yu utterly adorable.
He quietly observed her, his gaze making Chu Yu’s back tingle with unease. She finally couldn’t help but stop and turn to look at him, saying, “You…”
However, she didn’t finish her sentence.
What was she going to ask?
Ask why he liked her even though he had refused to elope. Or why he liked her now?
But what was the point of asking such questions? Even if he gave a million reasons, what difference would it make?
It’s not as if she would fall for him again, and there was no point in blaming a young man who hadn’t done anything wrong.
Gu Chusheng waited quietly for Chu Yu to speak. Seeing her fall silent, he gently said, “Take your time, I’m listening.”
He had never been so kind to her before, but the kinder he was, the more uncomfortable Chu Yu felt, thinking that her past self must have been incredibly foolish.
She calmed herself and said indifferently, “It’s nothing, let’s go.”
With that, she turned and led Gu Chusheng into the main hall. Gu Chusheng furrowed his brow, finally sensing that something was amiss. However, he didn’t speak up, only quietly observing.
As they entered the hall, the Imperial Princess was already waiting inside.
Although it was the dead of winter, with braziers burning in the room, the Imperial Princess was still wearing a cherry-colored gauze dress. She held a small golden fan, sitting regally in the center of the hall, smiling as she said, “You’ve finally arrived.”
Seeing her attire, Chu Yu couldn’t help but smile: “Princess when I saw you yesterday, you were still wrapped in a quilt. Has your cold improved today?”
The Imperial Princess, hearing the teasing tone in Chu Yu’s voice, didn’t seem embarrassed. She waved her small fan and said, “Today, in your presence, all illnesses vanish. Madam Wei underestimates me.”
Gu Chusheng, who was just taking his seat, frowned upon hearing the Imperial Princess’s tone, instinctively sensing something was off.
He looked up at Chu Yu, seeing her expression remain calm as she chatted casually with the Imperial Princess. Although the Imperial Princess was talking to Chu Yu, her gaze occasionally flitted to Gu Chusheng. He felt uncomfortable under her scrutiny, but maintained a neutral expression, looking straight ahead and sipping his wine in silence.
The Imperial Princess and Chu Yu had discussed what needed to be said yesterday, so now they could only chat about trivial matters like cosmetics and household affairs. Gu Chusheng listened impatiently, feeling uneasy under the Imperial Princess’s gaze. He finally couldn’t suppress his desire to end the conversation and leave early, so he looked up at the Imperial Princess and said seriously, “Has Your Highness invited this official today to give some instructions?”
Hearing this, the Imperial Princess burst into laughter. She looked down at Chu Yu, hiding half her face behind her small fan, and said, “This Princess merely heard that Lord Gu possesses extraordinary charm and invited him here especially. Lord Gu need not be so formal. Please consider this Princess a friend, drink, chat, and feel free to be at ease.”
The Imperial Princess was never one to hide her intentions, and with these words, Gu Chusheng understood her meaning.
He quietly glanced at Chu Yu, seeing her calmly drinking wine with an air of detachment. Gu Chusheng felt anger rising from within, but knowing he couldn’t lose his composure in front of the Imperial Princess, he suppressed his emotions and remained silent, his face cold.
The Imperial Princess noticed Gu Chusheng’s anger and seemed to realize she had gone too far. She coughed lightly and raised her cup towards Chu Yu, saying, “Come, Madam Wei, let’s have another drink.”
However, just as she extended her cup, the Imperial Princess suddenly bumped into Chu Yu’s raised hand, spilling wine all over her. The Imperial Princess hurriedly exclaimed, “Oh my, it’s so cold in winter, this won’t do!”
Chu Yu understood the Imperial Princess’s intention. She had originally planned to invite only Gu Chusheng today, and now probably wanted to speak with him alone. Chu Yu wasn’t inconsiderate, so she quickly smiled and stood up, saying, “It’s no matter. I always keep spare clothes in my carriage. I apologize for the inconvenience, Princess. I’ll change and return shortly.”
With that, Chu Yu rose, bowed, and took her leave.
How could Gu Chusheng not understand their little act? He clenched his fists, his gaze falling on Chu Yu’s composed retreating figure.
She truly didn’t show any emotion at all.
Knowing full well what kind of person the Imperial Princess was, knowing her intentions, she left without hesitation, without a trace of reluctance.
If she truly liked him, how could she remain unmoved in this situation?
If she truly liked him, yet remained so indifferent, what kind of cold-hearted person was she?
A pain and humiliation he had never experienced since his rebirth welled up in Gu Chusheng’s chest. He lowered his eyes, his body tense, afraid others might see the tumultuous emotions in his heart.
After Chu Yu left, the Imperial Princess waved her hand, and everyone else in the room also left. The Imperial Princess remained silent for a moment, seeing Gu Chusheng keeping his head down. She then approached him with her small fan, half-crouching to examine him closely.
“Young Lord truly has a handsome face,” the Imperial Princess praised. “When you entered earlier, I felt the entire hall was illuminated. You’re like the sun and moon, truly dazzling.”
The Imperial Princess had used “I” instead of “This Princess,” a form of address that could be considered quite courteous.
However, Gu Chusheng remained silent. The Imperial Princess realized that these flowery words did not affect him. She smiled and said, “Lord Gu is still a ninth-rank county magistrate, right? I wonder if, during your time in Kunyang, you ever missed the splendor of the capital?”
Gu Chusheng still didn’t respond. The Imperial Princess began to find it a bit boring. She returned to her seat, resting her chin on her hand and twirling her small golden fan. “Lord Gu, do you know that without special circumstances, given your father’s crimes, no matter how talented you are, you might have to spend your entire life in Kunyang? Why not find a shortcut for yourself?”
She leaned forward slightly. “Lord Gu, why not look at me? I’m not that ugly, am I?”
This time, Gu Chusheng finally looked up.
He gazed calmly at the Imperial Princess and said quietly, “You’ve never changed the person by your side, so why pretend to be fickle and try to provoke others?”
Hearing this, the Imperial Princess’s expression changed dramatically.
Gu Chusheng stood up gracefully, his tone indifferent: “I am grateful for today’s banquet. The Imperial Princess is not one to force others against their will. If there’s nothing else, I shall take my leave.”
With that, he walked towards the exit. The Imperial Princess watched his retreating figure, seemingly suppressing some emotion, and laughed mockingly.
He had stung her, so naturally, she wouldn’t let him off easily. She curved her lips and said coldly, “I’ve already told Madam Wei clearly why you’re here today.”
Gu Chusheng paused in his steps. After a moment, he said hoarsely, “I know.”
With that, he strode out quickly. The Imperial Princess grabbed the golden cup beside her and hurled it at him.
Gu Chusheng didn’t stop, continuing straight out. Not long after, a man dressed in a water-blue wide-sleeved robe entered. He had clear, gentle features.
He walked up to the Imperial Princess, bent down to pick up the wine cup, and said with a smile, “Couldn’t keep him here?”
The Imperial Princess snorted coldly and called out to the outside, “This Princess found him boring and doesn’t want him anymore!”
“Then what about the promise to Madam Wei?”
The man placed the wine cup upside down on the Imperial Princess’s table. She waved her hand dismissively, “I don’t quarrel with money.”
The man laughed, ignoring her contradictory words. He draped the fox fur over her shoulders and said gently, “Wear more next time. It’s cold. You look good in something fluffy.”
The Imperial Princess gave a cold laugh and turned her head away, but didn’t say anything more.
Chu Yu had changed her clothes and was standing at the door waiting. It had started drizzling outside. She wore a crane-feather cloak, holding a hand warmer, looking up at the rain falling on the blue tiles, dropping down like threads.
Footsteps sounded behind her. Without turning around, she asked, “Does the Imperial Princess intend to continue the banquet? If so, please tell her I’m feeling unwell and will leave first. Don’t worry about Gu Chusheng…”
As she spoke, she turned her head and saw Gu Chusheng standing before her. She was slightly startled, her eyes slowly widening, “Why are you here?”
Gu Chusheng looked at her silently, his gaze seeming to burn with intense fire. Chu Yu, holding her hand warmer, slowly realized and laughed, “You dressed up so nicely today, I thought you knew the Imperial Princess’s intentions and came on purpose. It seems I misunderstood.”
Gu Chusheng didn’t speak. Wan Yue opened an umbrella, and Chu Yu put on her wooden clogs, walking into the rain. She said indifferently, “Let’s go back then.”
Gu Chusheng clenched his fists, watching her composed figure, feeling a bitter taste in his throat.
He suppressed all his impulses and followed Chu Yu out of the residence. When they reached the carriage, he was about to order departure when he saw a pair of hands suddenly grab the edge of the carriage. Then the curtain was lifted, revealing Gu Chusheng’s stern face.
A cold wind rushed in. Gu Chusheng hadn’t brought an umbrella, and the winter rain pelted down on him, ruining his carefully prepared attire.
Chu Yu looked at him quietly. Wan Yue stepped forward and said coldly, “Please return to your carriage, Lord Gu, or this servant will have to be discourteous.”
Gu Chusheng didn’t speak. He just stared at Chu Yu. Though he said nothing, Chu Yu knew he wouldn’t leave the carriage.
She sighed, somewhat helplessly, “If you have something to say, come in and say it. You don’t look good like this.”
Wan Yue frowned, glanced at Chu Yu, and seeing her calmly leaning against the carriage holding her hand warmer, understood her meaning and left for the other carriage.
Gu Chusheng finally entered, sitting in the corner farthest from Chu Yu. She pulled her cloak tighter and looked up at him, “If you have something to say, just say it.”
“You… knew the Imperial Princess’s intentions.”
He spoke hoarsely, and as the words came out, he suddenly realized this wasn’t him questioning her.
It was her stabbing him, and he was slowly pulling out the knife, its blade cutting through his innards, making even breathing painful.
Chu Yu responded calmly, “Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I thought you knew.”
“I didn’t know.” Gu Chusheng raised his head, staring at her, enunciating each word, “I didn’t know her intentions. I dressed nicely for you to see. I came to talk to you more. I came for you, not for her.”
Chu Yu was slightly taken aback. She had never faced such a Gu Chusheng before. She suddenly felt a bit awkward, unconsciously turning her head away, saying calmly, “I understand now.”
“You didn’t understand before?”
Gu Chusheng spoke mockingly, staring at her as if he wanted to swallow her whole.
“When I said I liked you, I wanted to take you away, I wanted to marry you, did you think I was joking with you?!”
Chu Yu didn’t speak. When Gu Chusheng said he liked her, she always felt as if she was dreaming.
She even wondered if this was truly a rebirth, or if she had entered a dream.
In the dream, she learned to let go, to not be obsessed, while her obsession began to beg pitifully.
Everything she wanted had been fulfilled perfectly, so perfectly that it seemed somewhat illogical.
She couldn’t help but laugh lightly, looking at Gu Chusheng in front of her, and couldn’t resist saying, “What does that have to do with me?”
These were the words Gu Chusheng had said to her in the past.
Back then, when she had sincerely told him, “Gu Chusheng, I like you,” he had also crossed his arms and laughed coldly, saying, “What does that have to do with me?”
Come to think of it, her tone was much better than he had been.
Gu Chusheng also remembered these words, so when Chu Yu spoke them, he couldn’t help but be stunned.
He looked at the girl in front of him, feeling as if everything from his previous life had been turned upside down.
Back then, he had mocked her; now, she was mocking him.
He slowly closed his eyes, clenching his fists.
“Yes, it has nothing to do with you,” he said with difficulty, suppressing the turmoil in his blood, “But even if you disdain this affection, you shouldn’t trample on it. You knew I liked you, how could you…”
“Trample?”
Hearing this word, Chu Yu couldn’t help but laugh.
Once memories opened up, they couldn’t be closed. Chu Yu looked at the familiar face before her, and from that “I like you,” countless memories poured down.
Those memories made her hands and feet cold. She stared at him intently, for a moment unable to distinguish whether it was the previous life or this one.
The wine from the Princess’s palace was too strong, making her head spin. She felt her emotions were magnified, looking at Gu Chusheng in front of her as if seeing the person from her previous life sitting before her.
She gripped the hand warmer tightly, her body trembling slightly.
Gu Chusheng, seeing her attitude, was filled with questions.
Why would she react like this?
Even if she didn’t like him, even if she hated him, how could she be disgusted to this extent? As if, if she didn’t control herself, she might draw a sword and kill him at any moment.
He had seen that look before, at the moment of Chu Yu’s death in the previous life, when she said, “In the next life, we’ll have no more entanglements,” her eyes contained such anger and hatred.
Gu Chusheng’s hands and feet turned cold, feeling he had overlooked something.
Chu Yu, unable to suppress herself, turned to look at him and laughed coldly, “Gu Chusheng, do you like to hear stories?”
He wanted to say no, but he couldn’t speak. He just stared at her blankly as Chu Yu laughed and said, “You said I trampled on your affection, right? Let me tell you a story, and you listen. I’ll tell you what real trampling is.”
“There was a girl who liked someone. That person fell from grace and was exiled from the capital. So she abandoned her wealth and honor, traveled thousands of miles at night, and finally found him. Would you say this affection was deep?”
Hearing this, Gu Chusheng’s mind exploded!
Exiled from the capital, traveling thousands of miles at night.
He stared at Chu Yu, his eyes full of disbelief. However, Chu Yu was so immersed in her own emotions that she didn’t notice Gu Chusheng’s current expression.
“If traveling thousands of miles at night doesn’t count for much, then later she spent all her money, used all her martial skills to protect him and help him rise to the position of an official in the Gold Department. Would that count as a great kindness?”
Spent all her money, officially in the Gold Department.
Gu Chusheng slowly closed his eyes.
Outside, the rain pattered, and in his mind, he was back in that year, on a rainy night on the official road to Kunyang. The young girl in a red dress stained with mud and rain, holding a long sword, riding alone on horseback, traveling thousands of miles to reach him.
“Don’t be afraid,” she smiled outside the carriage, her face wet with rain, her smile enough to dispel the clouds and mist, brightening one’s heart. She looked at him, her eyes full of affection.
“Gu Chusheng, I’ve come to send you off.”
This send-off lasted a lifetime.
She sent him to Kunyang, sent him from a ninth-rank county magistrate to an official in the Gold Department, then up to Minister of Revenue, into the Cabinet as a Grand Secretary, and finally to the position of Prime Minister.
She accompanied him all the way, for a full twelve years.
He thought that by being reborn, he was starting anew with her, but at this moment, he finally understood.
He had come back only to face this long-overdue judgment.
What he owed her in his previous life, he would have to repay in this life.
The carriage swayed, and she spoke in someone else’s voice, narrating their lifetime together.
“When her maid died, she begged him,” her voice was weary. “She had never regretted her feelings. He didn’t like her, didn’t want to be good to her, it was her who forced it. It was then that she felt she regretted it. She shouldn’t have liked him, shouldn’t have forced it.”
Gu Chusheng heard the weakness and fatigue in her voice. He raised his head and looked at her quietly.
Chu Yu’s eyes were devoid of him.
Her voice was calm, seeming to have lost interest.
“Later, she left the capital and went to that man’s hometown to serve his parents. After his mother passed away, she stayed there alone. Who knows how many years passed, she fell ill and wanted to go back to see her father. By then, there was no one left by her side. She wrote letter after letter to him, until the very end, she never saw her father.”
“Gu Chusheng,” her gaze finally turned to him, as if she were a bodhisattva, without joy or sorrow, “You say I trampled on you. Now do you know to what extent a person can trample on another’s feelings? It’s fine not to like someone, but to not like someone yet not let them go, to keep them by your side, forcing them until they die, that is the greatest cruelty. So, don’t force the matter of liking or not liking.”
Chu Yu felt her sanity returning somewhat. She smiled.
“Don’t put your heart under someone else’s feet, and you won’t be trampled on.”
Gu Chusheng didn’t speak. How could he not understand Chu Yu’s attitude now?
He had no chance. Once Chu Yu knew he was the Gu Chusheng from his previous life, he would have absolutely no chance.
Chu Yu knew him too well. He couldn’t let her go, not in the previous life, not in this life.
But he could also understand that if Chu Yu had been reborn with such thoughts about him, how disgusted she must be looking at him now, how much she must want him dead.
The only reason he hadn’t been stabbed through by Chu Yu now was because she didn’t know he was that sinner.
He didn’t dare tell her, he didn’t dare speak. He was afraid that any movement would give him away.
Chu Yu ignored him. She lay in the carriage, watching the curtains rise and fall.
After a long while, Chu Yu heard voices from outside. The carriage stopped, and Wei Yun’s clear voice came from outside the window.
“Sister-in-law, the rain is heavy today, so I’ve come to pick you up.”
Little Scene:
Wei Yun: Do you know why you lost?
Gu Chusheng: Because I… am older?
Wei Yun: That’s not the main reason.
Gu Chusheng (frowning): What else?
Wei Yun: Because I’m the little sweetheart specially sent to deliver love and warmth (makes a heart gesture with his hands ? ( ????` ))
Gu Chusheng: Damn it!