Wei Yun received the news of Gu Chusheng’s disappearance two days later.
Although Wei Qiu couldn’t save Gu Chusheng, he managed to find Gu’s attendant, Zhang Deng. Zhang Deng was holding onto the bundle Gu Chusheng had with him when he left. Wei Qiu brought Zhang Deng along to Hua Jing, but Zhang refused to hand over the package. Wei Qiu didn’t dare to be too forceful with Zhang, fearing that Wei Yun might intend to befriend Gu Chusheng. As a result, he never knew what was inside the package.
However, Wei Yun could guess the contents without checking. Zhang Deng’s bundle likely contained evidence Gu Chusheng had prepared. Since Gu Chusheng had anticipated Yao Yong’s move against him, he wasn’t one to sit idly by. The reason for his extended stay in Kunyang was probably to gather this evidence.
Now that Zhang Deng wouldn’t hand over the package, Wei Yun could forcefully take it, but without Gu Chusheng, he would have to take the lead in this matter. As a “descendant of a criminal” pardoned by the Emperor, if he were to use this evidence to accuse Yao Yong, the Emperor might not believe him.
In any case, it would be best if Gu Chusheng handled this himself. Moreover, out of a sense of moral duty, Wei Yun didn’t want to let Gu Chusheng, who had saved the people of Bai City, die because of this.
If someone who performed such a righteous deed were to be killed by evil people without anyone caring or asking questions, no one in this world would dare to be a good person anymore.
As Wei Yun pondered Gu Chusheng’s situation, he instructed Wei Xia, “Please ask Sister-in-law to come here.”
Wei Xia acknowledged and soon brought Chu Yu over.
Chu Yu had been practicing swordplay in the courtyard. Now that everything had settled down, Liu Xueyang didn’t restrict her much, and with Jiang Chun efficiently handling household matters, she had resumed her old lifestyle.
She entered while wiping sweat with a handkerchief, her hair styled in the manner she wore before marriage. As she walked in, she asked, “Has something happened?”
Wei Yun watched her come in.
Chu Yu, with her maiden hairstyle, gave him a sense of familiarity different from usual. She lacked the usual steady air of the Wei family’s First Madam, instead exuding a lively, girlish charm.
Since her conversation with Chu Jin, she seemed to have let go of something, shedding the subtle, heartbreaking bitterness and restraint of the past. She finally showed some of the spoiled demeanor he had heard about regarding the “Eldest Miss of the Chu family.”
Before her marriage, he had inquired about her on behalf of his brother. She was known to be a girl who loved and hated with equal passion. He had heard that when the Third Miss of the Wang family once mocked her at the horse grounds, Chu Yu had whipped her off her horse. She endured ten military lashes at home but stubbornly refused to apologize.
After marrying into the Wei family, Chu Yu had been composed for so long that Wei Yun had forgotten about her past “glorious deeds.” Such a willful and unrestrained noble lady was unique in the capital. Back then, he had even advised his brother to reconsider. Although the engagement was set, given the Wei family’s current status and Wei Jun’s position as the heir, people would understand if they broke off the engagement with this fierce woman.
But Wei Jun had stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, and said, “It should be fine… If the Chu family can handle her, why can’t our Wei family?”
Remembering Wei Jun’s words from that time, Wei Yun couldn’t help but smile.
Chu Yu found Wei Yun’s laughter puzzling and stopped wiping her sweat. “What are you laughing at?”
“I remembered when you whipped the Third Miss of the Wang family,” Wei Yun said with a smile. “I used to think Sister-in-law shouldn’t be that kind of person, but now I see you indeed have that kind of spirit.”
“She was gossipy, and I couldn’t out-talk her, so I just whipped her,” Chu Yu said nonchalantly, spreading her hands. “After all, I could handle ten military lashes, but she pretended to be sick in bed for half a month after that one whip. Must have been quite tiring for her.”
Wei Yun suppressed a smile and invited Chu Yu to sit down, offering her some pear soup. “Have some pear soup first. My Second Sister-in-law says it nourishes yin and reduces internal heat. You practice martial arts outside every day, and Wan Yue worries you’ll catch a cold, giving you bowl after bowl of ginger soup. You might get too much internal heat.”
As he spoke, Wei Yun had someone bring over an outer garment and turned to her, saying, “When you practice swordplay, your body heats up, but you should put on an outer garment when you stop. This way…”
“Let’s not talk about these trivial matters now,” Chu Yu interrupted, finding Wei Yun’s nagging headache-inducing. She didn’t understand how Wei Yun, who barely spoke outside, could be so fussy here. She waved her hand and said, “You must have called me here because something has happened, right?”
Seeing Chu Yu’s impatience, Wei Yun dropped the subject and said directly, “Gu Chusheng can’t be found.”
Chu Yu looked up in surprise. Wei Yun slowly returned to his seat and explained, “Yao Yong still chose to kill him. He jumped into the river and escaped. Wei Qiu lost track of him. Now he must be heading to Hua Jing under an assumed identity.”
Chu Yu frowned as she listened, and by the last sentence, she seemed to understand. “Is he coming to Hua Jing to seek refuge with you, or to petition the Emperor?”
“Is there any difference between the two?” Wei Yun took a sip of hot tea. “If he comes to petition the Emperor, he’s seeking refuge with me.”
“You want to bring down Yao Yong and use Gu Chusheng as your entry point?”
Chu Yu pondered, thinking of that person, always feeling a bit strange.
However, it was just a slight feeling of strangeness. She had let go, so she wouldn’t dwell on it. Whether it was good thoughts or bad ones, they stopped here.
Wei Yun didn’t notice any change in Chu Yu’s mood. He nodded and said, “Since he’s sent me this entry point, I naturally won’t disappoint him.”
“Now that he can’t be found, what do you plan to do?”
Chu Yu wasn’t worried at all that Gu Chusheng couldn’t be found. This person had always been slippery as an eel. If Yao Yong had killed him, he wouldn’t have reached his later position.
But then Chu Yu thought that she might be trusting Gu Chusheng’s abilities too much. In her previous life, Gu Chusheng was indeed cunning and calculating, but now he was only seventeen. At seventeen in her previous life, Gu Chusheng had nearly died several times, and it was she who went out to save him. She had almost lost all the secret guards she had trained for this purpose.
Thinking about this, Chu Yu felt particularly heartbroken, suddenly realizing that being reborn had its advantages – it saved money.
Hearing Chu Yu’s words, Wei Yun stroked his teacup and carefully said, “Of course, we must continue to search for him. But how to search is the question now.”
“How so?”
Chu Yu drank the pear soup, feeling quite cheerful. Wei Yun said somewhat helplessly, “Gu Chusheng doesn’t know my people, so he probably won’t trust them.”
Hearing this, Chu Yu was slightly taken aback.
That’s right, the Wei family were military officials who had long resided on the border. Most of the people Wei Yun knew were from military families. Gu Chusheng, on the other hand, was a genuine civil official, with not a single military official in his family’s history. It was normal that the Wei family had no connection with Gu Chusheng.
Given Gu Chusheng’s abilities, if someone unfamiliar with him were looking, he could change his appearance, and the Wei family guards might not even recognize him. How could they find him then?
Chu Yu understood why Wei Yun had called her. “Are you asking if I have anyone familiar with Gu Chusheng?”
Wei Yun felt quite embarrassed. He roughly knew that Gu Chusheng and Chu Yu seemed to have had some history, although he had repeatedly confirmed with Chu Yu that there wasn’t anything significant between them. Still, asking Chu Yu’s people to find Gu Chusheng made him feel somewhat awkward.
He nodded hesitantly and then said, “It’s alright if you don’t. I’ll find someone else.”
Chu Yu didn’t speak.
She naturally had people who knew Gu Chusheng – Wan Yue and Chang Yue both knew him. But now that Gu Chusheng was missing, it was clear he had run away and didn’t want to be found. It would be difficult to find him.
She believed she understood Gu Chusheng well enough. If she went to look for him, she might be able to guess his habits and movements. If others went, they might not be able to find him.
If they couldn’t find him, it wouldn’t be too bad. But if Yao Yong’s people found him first, Wei Yun’s plans might need to be rearranged. Moreover, Gu Chusheng was the pillar of finance and civilian affairs behind the battlefield in the future. If he died here, who would replace him later?
Although he was black-hearted and ruthless, finding someone who could replace him would indeed be quite difficult.
As Chu Yu pondered, Wei Yun became uneasy and quickly said, “I think Song Shilan should know him. I’ll write a letter right away…”
“I’ll go,” Chu Yu suddenly spoke up. Wei Yun looked up sharply, and after a moment, he immediately reacted, “No. He’s being hunted by Yao Yong now. It’s dangerous. If you go…”
“Xiao Qi,” Chu Yu looked at him calmly, her gaze composed and cool, yet carrying an intangible pressure, “Don’t turn me into a caged bird.”
Hearing her words, Wei Yun slowly realized.
Chu Yu was different from Jiang Chun and Liu Xueyang.
She was born on the border, and except for being a woman, all her growing-up experiences were no different from his. For her, so-called protection might be another form of humiliation. When she says she can do it, you have to trust that she can.
Wei Yun couldn’t speak. He was decisive with others, but with this person, if she said one, he couldn’t say two.
He remained silent, and Chu Yu explained to him, “Gu Chusheng is hard to find. This time, we’re racing to see who can find him first, so the faster we find him, the better. I’ve known him since childhood and am very familiar with his methods. If I go to find him, I’ll be faster.”
Wei Yun still didn’t speak. He had intended to agree, but hearing Chu Yu say she was very familiar with Gu Chusheng, he suddenly felt irritated for some reason, pressing his lips tightly, unwilling to speak.
Seeing that his expression wasn’t good, Chu Yu continued to persuade him, “Moreover, he’s naturally suspicious. Even if I send Chang Yue and Wan Yue, he might not fully cooperate. If I go, he should feel at ease. Then, he can come back to Hua Jing with me more quickly.”
In her previous life, although Gu Chusheng wasn’t particularly good to her, he had indeed never doubted her. Several times at critical moments, he had entrusted the most valuable things to her. She could guarantee Gu Chusheng’s trust in her.
The more Wei Yun listened, the worse his expression became. Chu Yu didn’t know what Wei Yun was worried about, so she could only continue, “And also…”
“Alright, I understand,” Wei Yun finally couldn’t listen anymore and said with a stern face, “I know Sister-in-law is an old acquaintance of his and very familiar with him. You’re probably worried about his safety too. Go if you must, it’s not a big deal.”
Chu Yu looked at Wei Yun kneeling on the ground, his fists clenched, his gaze cold and staring straight ahead, and sensed that something wasn’t quite right. She guessed that Wei Yun was annoyed that she wouldn’t listen to advice and was worried about her safety. She felt warm inside, feeling as if she had gained a younger brother. She reached out and ruffled Wei Yun’s hair, smiling as she said, “Don’t worry, I’m quite capable, you know.”
Wei Yun was stunned for a moment when she ruffled his hair, but then he felt his heart slowly relax as if he wasn’t so angry anymore. It was like a bristling little dog that had its fur gently smoothed, becoming docile and quiet.
He still maintained a stern face, but his voice had softened considerably. Trying to sound stiff but full of concern, he said, “I’ll give you the Tian-rank guards. Take them with you. Save Gu Chusheng if you can, but it’s not a big deal if you can’t.”
“He can die,” Wei Yun looked at Chu Yu seriously, his eyes full of solemnity, “but you can’t lose a single hair. Do you understand?”
“Alright, alright, I know,” Chu Yu had always known Wei Yun was protective, but she hadn’t expected him to be this protective. She stood up, not wanting to fuss with Wei Yun, and walked towards the door. “I won’t talk to you anymore. I’m leaving.”
Wei Yun watched her back and couldn’t help but say, “Be careful with everything, don’t be rash. If anything happens…”
“I know,” Chu Yu, with her back to him, waved her hand and said in a drawn-out voice, “Miss Wei, I know.”
“You…”
Wei Yun felt a lump in his throat. Watching her with one hand behind her back and the other waving goodbye, looking completely carefree, he couldn’t say anything for a moment. After a while, he finally sighed and said somewhat helplessly, “When will Sister-in-law finally grow some sense?”
Wei Xia, standing behind him, rolled her eyes.
“Perhaps you have too much sense, Young Master.”
Wei Yun: “…”
As Chu Yu walked along the corridor, watching snowflakes drift in the courtyard, her heart was filled with peace and tranquility.
She raised her head, unable to suppress a smile.
She had told Chu Jin that if it was a tangle of fate, she would unravel it; if it was a knot of karma, she would cut it. Wasn’t she also saying this to herself?
She had never thought of forgiving Gu Chusheng—
But being able to let go might also be a form of redemption.
“Alright,” Chu Yu murmured, looking into the distance, “I’ll save you one more time. You’d better treat our Xiao Qi well in this life, just like you did in the last one.”
Short Play
Gu Chusheng: “A Yu, you’ve finally come to save me. You still love me, don’t you!”
Chu Yu: “I’ve come to save you, but you must promise me one thing.”
Gu Chusheng: “Say it. I’ll promise you anything, even if it means climbing mountains of knives or diving into seas of fire!”
Chu Yu: “In the future, please take good care of our Xiao Qi’s rear. Thanks!”
Gu Chusheng: “…”
Gu Chusheng felt a mouthful of blood stuck in his chest. The End.