Chang Yue and Wan Yue knew Chu Yu was joking. Before her marriage, she had always been this playful.
But Chu Yu genuinely felt she needed to calm herself down.
Gu Chusheng calling her name? Impossible, absolutely impossible.
If asked who Gu Chusheng hated most in her previous life, Chu Yu believed it was herself. After all, he could be polite to everyone else, but to her, he was always harsh. He could rationally weigh gains and losses with others, but his dislike for her exceeded his rationality.
Him calling her name was absolutely impossible.
But on second thought, Chu Yu became uncertain.
Actually, before she rushed to find Gu Chusheng that night, she didn’t know him well. Back then, Gu Chusheng was just a perfect older brother figure in her mind. What were Gu Chusheng’s feelings for her at that time?
She didn’t know.
Chu Yu suddenly had a narcissistic thought: could Gu Chusheng have liked her at first? Was it because of certain events later, or her attempt to elope, that changed his attitude?
It couldn’t be that Gu Chusheng had also been reborn, could it?
As soon as this thought occurred, Chu Yu immediately dismissed it.
Her twelve-year entanglement with Gu Chusheng saw their relationship deteriorate step by step, eventually leading to mutual disgust. When they first married, things weren’t so bad. Occasionally, Gu Chusheng would be kind to her, especially when he wasn’t fully conscious. For instance, when they lived in the shabby county magistrate’s office, which was drafty at night, sometimes when he was half-asleep and the wind blew in, he would drowsily hold her tight and ask, “Are you cold?”
But later?
Later, their relationship worsened gradually. She couldn’t stand many of his underhanded actions, and he couldn’t tolerate her unladylike recklessness. When they returned to Hua Jing and Chu Jin appeared, his desire to welcome Chu Jin into the household led to endless arguments.
Her jealousy distorted her features, while his loss of composure made him repulsive.
This relationship, or rather her one-sided feelings, by the twelfth year, could only be described as utterly devastated.
If Gu Chusheng had been reborn, he would probably be disgusted at the sight of her now, and would surely run as far away as possible, not dawdling for a moment.
Reflecting on her past life, Chu Yu’s ridiculous notions slowly faded. She didn’t want to know why Gu Chusheng had called her name. After all, in this life, this person had nothing to do with her.
She glanced back at Gu Chusheng on the bed and instructed Wei Qiu, “Take good care of him. I’m going to rest now.”
With that, she returned to her own room.
After days of travel, she was quite tired. Although her current body was much better than when she had fallen ill in her previous life, it still couldn’t handle too much strain.
In this life, she wanted to take good care of herself, cherish her life, and never again do foolish things for unworthy people.
She slept well. After waking up, Chang Yue and Wan Yue helped her get ready. Gu Chusheng was still unconscious, so Chu Yu took Chang Yue and Wan Yue out for a stroll. They found a roast duck, ate it, and packed some to take back for Wei Qiu.
When they returned, Gu Chusheng had finally woken up. Chu Yu entered the room to check on him.
As she entered, Gu Chusheng was drinking porridge, with seven or eight Wei family guards eating nearby. When Chu Yu came in with the roast duck, the room filled with a delicious aroma. Gu Chusheng looked up at her, his eyes instantly brightening. Chu Yu pretended not to notice his expression and distributed the packed roast duck to the guards before approaching Gu Chusheng.
Gu Chusheng’s gaze fell on the roast duck and didn’t move. Chu Yu thought he was craving it and said, “You should stick to porridge for now. It’s not suitable for you to eat those things yet.”
Hearing this, Gu Chusheng’s heart trembled slightly.
It had been a long time since he had received such care from Chu Yu.
In the twenty years since her death, countless people had expressed concern for him, but none had made him feel that their concern was genuine and heartfelt. Even Chu Jin, who had cared for him for twenty years in the latter half of his life, had never made him feel truly at ease.
Holding the bowl of porridge, countless bitter emotions welled up inside him.
He wanted to tell her about these twenty years, to tell her how difficult life had been without her. But the words caught in his throat, and only hot tears welled up, suddenly falling when Chu Yu said, “Hurry and finish your porridge…”
Chu Yu was startled by Gu Chusheng’s tears, swallowing the rest of her sentence, “…so we can get on the road.” She had never seen Gu Chusheng cry in this life, not even when his father was executed and he fell from grace. In his most difficult times, he would only say hoarsely to her, “Come here.”
Then he would hold her, bury his head in her embrace, his body trembling, teeth clenched, without saying a word.
Knowing how proud the young Gu Chusheng was, Chu Yu cautiously asked, “Has… something terrible happened?”
In this life, Gu Chusheng’s most painful moment was when his father died, and he didn’t cry then. Why was he crying now? Could there be something even more upsetting than his father’s death?
Or was it that without her by his side in this life, Gu Chusheng’s temperament had changed dramatically?
Gu Chusheng raised one hand holding the porridge and used the other to wipe his tears. Then he looked up with a smile and said, “It’s nothing. It’s just been a long time since anyone has been so kind to me. I was momentarily overcome with emotion.”
This reason…
Chu Yu chose to believe it.
Otherwise, she couldn’t think of any other explanation.
Seeing the young man before her with red eyes, holding the porridge, she felt a wave of emotion and sighed, “Hurry and drink your porridge, take your medicine, and rest. Don’t think too much; it’s not good for your recovery. We need to set off soon…”
“Then let’s set off,” Gu Chusheng said decisively. “I can still manage.”
“No, no!” Chu Yu was frightened by Gu Chusheng’s desperate attitude. Just last night, the doctor had told her that this man was too hard on himself, and if he pushed any harder, he might lose his life. She was here to bring him back to file a complaint to the emperor, not to collect his corpse. So she hurriedly said, “Don’t move around. Rest well. It’s not that urgent now. You still have a battle to fight when you return, so save some strength for yourself.”
Hearing this, Gu Chusheng pondered for a moment before finally nodding.
He lowered his head and drank the porridge, while Chu Yu sat nearby chatting with the guards and eating roast duck.
He watched quietly from the side. In the past, what he hated most was Chu Yu’s unrestrained nature, her lack of propriety between men and women, her boldness among soldiers in the military camp, and how at home, though presentable in public, she had none of the demeanor of a proper lady in private. Such a personality might be acceptable in a military family, but in the eyes of Gu Chusheng, who came from a scholarly background, it was a great sin.
However, after twenty years, having seen too much filth and corruption, now watching Chu Yu cracking sunflower seeds, he found it endearing.
But Chu Yu chatted for a long time, and even after he finished his porridge, she didn’t say a word to him. He couldn’t help feeling hurt. Although he understood that she was now the Grand Madam of the Wei family and it was fine for her to chat with Wei family guards, it wouldn’t be appropriate to be too friendly with an outsider. Still, he couldn’t bear the bitterness in his heart.
Why couldn’t he have been reborn earlier…
Gu Chusheng closed his eyes, somewhat resentful of himself. If he had been reborn when he was still the eldest young master of the Gu family, when Chu Yu hadn’t married yet, he would have done everything to snatch this marriage for himself.
He took a deep breath, slowly opened his eyes, and finally decided to take the initiative. He spoke up, “Grand Madam.”
Hearing Gu Chusheng address her this way, Chu Yu felt quite pleased and turned to look at him. “What is it, Lord Gu?”
“There are some matters I wish to discuss with the Grand Madam. Would it be possible to dismiss those around us?”
Chu Yu hadn’t expected Gu Chusheng to say this. She glanced at Wei Qiu, who appeared calm, showing no objection. Chu Yu hesitated for a moment, knowing that Gu Chusheng never acted without reason and must have something important to say to request privacy. So after some thought, she raised her hand and said, “Then, would Young Master Gu please lower the bed curtain?”
By asking Gu Chusheng to lower the bed curtain, creating a barrier between them, Chu Yu was making her stance clear.
Gu Chusheng hadn’t expected Chu Yu to say such a thing. After a moment of surprise, he felt a bitterness in his heart.
They had been husband and wife for a lifetime, yet had never met with a curtain between them.
However, he could only maintain a calm expression and raised his hand slightly, saying, “Please lower the curtain.”
Wan Yue and Chang Yue came forward to lower the bed curtain for Gu Chusheng. Chu Yu nodded to Wei Qiu, who then led everyone out. After hearing the door close, Chu Yu sat by the table and calmly said, “Lord Gu, you may speak now.”
“This time you came, it was Wei Yun who sent you, right?”
Gu Chusheng listened to Chu Yu’s voice from outside, his heart filled with bitterness. Now that there was no one else in the room, Chu Yu still maintained this attitude, clearly intending to draw a line between them.
But it shouldn’t be like this…
Gu Chusheng couldn’t understand. How could she, who loved him so much and was willing to elope with him at the cost of her reputation, become… like this?
Gu Chusheng controlled his emotions and listened as Chu Yu said from outside, “Indeed, the Young Marquis sent this humble one to rescue Lord Gu. Zhang Deng has already been rescued by our Wei family, and we are fully aware of Lord Gu’s actions. Now that Lord Gu is being pursued by Yao Yong, the Young Marquis is concerned for Lord Gu’s safety and sent this humble one to rescue Lord Gu and bring him back to the capital. We will then present Yao Yong’s matter to His Majesty, seeking justice for Lord Gu.”
Gu Chusheng didn’t speak. He listened to Chu Yu repeatedly saying “our Wei family” and felt as if his heart was being cut by a knife.
What relationship did the Wei family have with her? Wei Jun was dead, Wei Jun was gone, they hadn’t even consummated their marriage, she might not have even met that man, yet she was willing to give her whole life to him?!
Countless emotions surged in his mind, almost destroying his usual rationality. But he still controlled himself, looking at the plum blossoms embroidered on the bed curtain, and calmly said, “The Young Marquis’s next step is to have me file a complaint to the emperor, and then he will join with others to protect me. I wonder, while I’m dealing with His Majesty, what other plans does the Young Marquis have?”
Listening to Gu Chusheng’s analysis, Chu Yu, who had always trusted his intelligence and schemes, asked, “What kind of plans is Lord Gu referring to?”
“This complaint of mine is merely planting a seed in His Majesty’s mind. I wonder if the Young Marquis has other preparations to water and fertilize this seed, to help it take root and sprout?”
“Of course, there are such preparations,” Chu Yu reassured Gu Chusheng. If Gu Chusheng knew she was planning to face Yao Yong alone, he definitely wouldn’t agree. So she could only placate him, “Lord Gu just needs to focus on his own task. The Young Marquis will arrange everything else.”
“Does Madam Wei know that what I’m doing puts my life at risk?”
Gu Chusheng watched the plum blossoms swaying, feeling he could no longer contain himself.
She was just outside. He could lift the curtain and see her, take one more step and embrace her.
Yet at this moment, he could do nothing, not even call her anything but Madam Wei.
Hearing Gu Chusheng’s words, Chu Yu couldn’t help but smile. She knew Gu Chusheng must have ulterior motives for doing these things. So she took a sip of tea and said with a smile, “Lord Gu, rest assured. After this matter is settled, the Wei family will not mistreat you. Whatever Lord Gu desires, please feel free to say it.”
She thought that at this moment, what Gu Chusheng wanted was nothing more than those benefits in officialdom. Even if Gu Chusheng didn’t ask, she would persuade Wei Yun to give them. With Gu Chusheng’s abilities, it would be a waste for him to be just a county magistrate.
But the person inside remained silent for a long time.
Chu Yu was a bit puzzled and inquired, “Lord Gu?”
“A’Yu,” the voice inside finally spoke again, mixed with Gu Chusheng’s hoarse tone, “What if I want you?”
These words left Chu Yu completely stunned.
Gu Chusheng closed his eyes.
He shouldn’t have said it at this moment, but he couldn’t bear it anymore, he couldn’t contain himself. He couldn’t stand seeing her so indifferent and detached, nor could he bear hiding his own misery.
In the past, many people had accused him of having wild ambitions, and indeed, they were right.
He had always been a lone wolf. Once he set his sights on something, he would never let go until he got it.
“Before your marriage, you sent me a letter, inviting me to elope with you.” Gu Chusheng slowly opened his eyes, lifted the curtain, revealing his exquisite, jade-like face.
The young man’s eyes were filled with passion and fervent devotion. He stared at Chu Yu and said earnestly, “I’ve agreed. Now I’m here. Come with me.”
Mini Scene:
Gu Chusheng: A’Yu, what if I want you?
Wei Yun: The enemy troops will arrive on the battlefield in thirty seconds.