Chapter 43

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Gu Yan Fei tilted her head upward, gazing at the azure sky. Her face, as flawless as white jade, remained calm and composed, betraying neither anger nor surprise. Internally, she mused: As expected of the one favored by the heavens.

Gu Yun Rong likely believed the heavens were unjust to her, hence her earlier declaration of “the heavens are indifferent” before the Empress Dowager.

But Gu Yun Rong was mistaken. The heavens treat all beings equally. Even for a world’s chosen child, the favored one of destiny, the indulgence granted by the heavenly laws is never boundless.

Kang Wang, Chu You, felt as though his heart had been slashed with a knife. He blamed Gu Yan Fei for everything, his hatred for her so intense he could scarcely stop himself from drawing blood then and there. Grasping Gu Yun Rong’s hand tightly in his own, he raised his voice, resolutely declaring his intentions to Empress Dowager Yuan:

“Mother, I will marry no one but Yun Rong! Please, do not be misled by slander or manipulation!”

He grasped Gu Yun Rong’s hand, intending to leave, his gaze unwavering like a solid rock.

Gu Yun Rong said nothing, but she shook off Chu You’s hand, her cherry lips pressed tightly together as bitterness spread through her chest. Once, she had believed that birth and status were unimportant. As long as Kang Wang treated her sincerely, and she returned that sincerity, it would be enough.

Only now, in this moment, did she fully grasp the unassailable power of imperial authority and filial piety in this era. Even someone as lofty as Chu You, a prince of the blood, could not defy the Empress Dowager. A single word from her was enough to dictate Gu Yun Rong’s marriage… or even her fate.

The heavens are unjust!

With a respectful and composed bow to Empress Dowager Yuan, Gu Yun Rong turned and walked away without looking back, her every step dignified yet resolute, despite the murmurs and sympathetic gazes that followed her.

“Yun Rong!” Chu You’s anguished voice rang out behind her, but she did not pause, her figure disappearing into the distance.

Chu You realized she was angry and hurried after her.

The hall fell into silence, the atmosphere thick with tension. No one dared to speak, exchanging uneasy glances and keeping their mouths tightly shut, fearful of incurring the Empress Dowager’s wrath.

Empress Dowager Yuan was livid, her right hand clenching tightly around her sleeve. As a woman of a prestigious family, she placed great importance on decorum. Her self-restraint was formidable; even in the midst of seething anger, she maintained her composure, though her posture betrayed a faint stiffness.

“Your Majesty,” a cheerful voice broke the tension as Li Zhulang stepped forward, grinning as he spoke up to lighten the mood. “Did you place a bet in the earlier wager?”

Li Zhulang’s maternal grandmother was the Empress Dowager’s first cousin, and his sweet-talking nature had earned him her favor since childhood.

Empress Dowager Yuan swiftly adjusted her emotions, her tone cool and measured as she replied, “Zhulang, you all set up a wager?”

Seeing that the Empress Dowager hadn’t turned her anger on Li Zhulang, the others in the room collectively breathed a sigh of relief, the strained atmosphere easing slightly.

Grinning mischievously, Li Zhulang nodded. “Your Majesty, it’s rare for me to act as the house.”

His lighthearted tone began to thaw the frozen room.

“We ended with a draw, meaning everyone lost. Looks like you, the house, were the only winner,” the Princess of Changqing remarked with a faint smile, her tone teasing.

“Wrong, Your Highness!” Li Zhulang wagged his index finger playfully. “Someone did bet on a draw.”

As he spoke, a finely dressed young page approached, carrying a box brimming with winnings. With a beaming smile, he placed it directly in front of Gu Yan Fei. Even without him saying a word, everyone instantly realized who had made the winning bet. All eyes turned toward Gu Yan Fei.

For a moment, the room fell silent, only to erupt into murmurs of astonishment.

Once again, Gu Yan Fei found herself the center of attention.

The Princess of Changqing blinked in disbelief. “Second Young Lady Gu bet on a draw?”

“She did, she did,” the young page affirmed with an enthusiastic nod, his tone still tinged with incredulity.

The chances of a draw had been less than one in ten, yet not only had the beauty made that unlikely bet, she had won. The sheer luck of it was astounding!

If it weren’t for his cousin’s inability to convince the Princess of Changqing and her team to throw the match, the young page might have suspected his cousin had orchestrated the outcome just to deliver winnings to the beauty.

Li Zhulang handed the box of bets toward Gu Yan Fei, his gaze lingering on her exquisite and stunningly beautiful face. His heartbeat quickened.

Fantastic! So the beauty isn’t engaged after all—there’s still hope for me!

He didn’t fear rivals; what he feared was that she might already be spoken for.

Li Zhulang’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he grasped for an excuse to keep the conversation going. “Second Young Lady Gu, how did you guess it would be a draw?”

Nearby, a few young gentlemen twirled their folding fans and shook their heads dismissively, thinking that Li Zhulang, despite his usual reputation for smooth talking, seemed utterly tongue-tied in front of the beauty. What was there to ask? A woman of such rare elegance—whatever she did must naturally be right!

Gu Yan Fei raised her finger and gave it a playful wag, a light smile gracing her lips. “I calculated it,” she said casually, her tone as carefree as if she had been commenting on the weather.

The simplicity of her reply only deepened the mystique surrounding her, leaving the crowd intrigued and enchanted.

Li Zhulang didn’t take it seriously at all. He clapped his hands together cheerfully, playing along. “So the young lady knows fortune-telling, does she?”

He eagerly extended his left hand toward Gu Yan Fei, palm up, grinning as he said, “Please, take a look for me.”

Gu Yan Fei glanced at him nonchalantly, her brow arching slightly. She casually offered a cryptic warning, “Young Master Li, you should be cautious around birds today.”

“Didn’t you knock over a crow’s nest two days ago, cousin? I heard crows hold grudges like no other!” The young page burst into gleeful laughter, clearly taking Gu Yan Fei’s words as a joke.

Li Zhulang didn’t think much of it either. Seizing the chance to keep talking to Gu Yan Fei, he asked with a smile, “Crows, is it?”

A group of young gentlemen, friends of Li Zhulang, quickly gathered around to join in the fun. They began tossing out remarks, their teasing voices overlapping:

“Li, I suggest you stay indoors for the next few days. Crows band together like monkeys, you know.”

“And they love plucking hair. Imagine if one pecks you bald—how awful would that look?”

Their playful banter filled the air, lighthearted and carefree, as the crowd laughed and ribbed Li Zhulang. Meanwhile, Gu Yan Fei’s enigmatic expression lingered in their minds, a perfect blend of charm and intrigue.

The group continued to tease Li Zhulang, knowing he was good-natured and wouldn’t take offense. Their lighthearted banter filled the air, gradually warming the atmosphere and bringing back a sense of ease.

Empress Dowager Yuan, however, remained indifferent, her expression cool and unreadable. After sitting for half a tea’s time more, she gracefully rose, excusing herself with a brief mention of feeling tired.

The Princess of Jing and the Princess of Changqing immediately followed suit, accompanying her as she left.

Everyone present bowed in unison, offering a respectful send-off to the Empress Dowager.

As her party departed, the lively atmosphere faded into an awkward silence, broken only by the faint rustle of sparrows flitting through the branches above.

The earlier tension and the abrupt departure had left everyone a little distracted. Glances kept darting toward Gu Yan Fei, the remaining focus of attention now that the other central figures—Kang Wang, Gu Yun Rong, and the Empress Dowager—had all left.

But the energy never fully returned to its previous excitement.

Many noblewomen had come to the event specifically for the chance to impress the Empress Dowager, and now they felt as though a bucket of cold water had been poured over their enthusiasm, leaving them dispirited and disinterested.

With the polo match concluded, the noblewomen began taking their leave one after another. It wasn’t long before half of the guests had already departed.

Gu Yan Fei accompanied Gu Yun Zhen to bid farewell to the Princess of Changqing, and the two sisters made their way to the Inner Ceremony Gate. By the time they arrived, most of the carriages from other households were already gone, leaving only the Marquis of Dingyuan’s two carriages standing alone in the open space.

Gu Yun Zhen had assumed that Gu Yun Rong must have already left, but seeing her carriage still there meant she hadn’t departed yet. She clenched her handkerchief tightly, a hint of worry furrowing her delicate brows. Turning to a rough-clad maidservant accompanying the household, she asked, “Have you seen Third Young Lady anywhere?”

The maid shook her head, her expression confused.

Looking around and still not seeing Gu Yun Rong, Gu Yun Zhen bit her lip lightly and said gently, “Second Sister, you go ahead and get on the carriage. I’ll wait here a bit longer.”

Gu Yan Fei paused briefly, her eyes sweeping over the courtyard before nodding. “Alright, but don’t wait too long. It’s getting late.”

She stepped gracefully into her carriage, while Gu Yun Zhen remained behind, her gaze anxiously scanning the surrounding area. She called over one of the manor’s maids, inquiring further about Gu Yun Rong’s whereabouts.

Meanwhile, Gu Yan Fei, accompanied by Juan Bi, exited the Inner Ceremony Gate and approached the second carriage.

The curtain of the carriage had been lifted halfway. Supporting herself on Juan Bi’s hand, Gu Yan Fei stepped gracefully inside. As her face entered the dim interior of the carriage, she was met by two pairs of eyes—one large and one small.

Inside the carriage sat not only the tri-colored cat, Qing Guang, but also a tall and slender figure. The man’s waterfall-like black hair was half tied, half loose, cascading over his white robes as pristine as fresh snow. He exuded a graceful air, as elegant as an orchid or jade tree.

He was seated on the left, while Qing Guang crouched on the right. Man and cat, separated by three feet, stared at each other in silent confrontation. Large eyes locked with small ones, neither making a sound.

The scene was so surreal that Gu Yan Fei’s brow twitched slightly, a trace of amusement tugging at the corner of her lips.