Chapter 51

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When the news reached the capital, Chu You was utterly stunned.

He had clearly struck an agreement with the Nan Yue people, and the Nan Yue Emperor had even expressed in his letter a willingness to send representatives to Danyang City for detailed discussions. Yet, at this critical juncture, the Nan Yue people had abruptly turned their backs on him. Not only had they set fire to the city, but they had also assassinated Governor He, effectively wresting control of Danyang City from his grasp.

At the time of the incident, Chu Yi was also in Danyang City.

If one were to call it a coincidence, it seemed far too coincidental. But if one were to claim that Chu Yi had orchestrated something, there was no concrete evidence to support the claim.

Since returning to the capital, Chu Yi had done nothing out of the ordinary. He had maintained his usual sickly appearance, rarely meeting with outsiders. The only notable outing he had made was a visit to Jing Wang Manor a few days prior.

Yuan Zhe, deep in thought, finally spoke in a low voice: “In any case, as long as the Eldest Prince is alive, he remains a threat.”

Chu You nodded silently, a faint acknowledgment.

“Your Highness, shall we investigate who this beauty by the Eldest Prince’s side truly is?” Yuan Zhe’s gaze once again fell upon the faintly visible figure lingering near Chu Yi. He mused inwardly: The Eldest Prince is already eighteen. Had he not been a hostage in Nan Yue for so many years, he would have long since been married.

Just as the Empress Dowager was preoccupied with arranging Kang Wang’s marriage, the Emperor was also considering the matter of the Eldest Prince’s matrimonial prospects.

Chu You initially wanted to dismiss the idea outright—after all, he didn’t see the need to concern himself with something as trivial as a mere woman. However, just as the words were about to leave his mouth, a thought struck him. The side profile he had glimpsed through the gap in the bamboo curtain earlier seemed vaguely familiar.

Once more, he tilted his head upward, his sharp gaze locking onto the indistinct but elegant silhouette framed by the window. The young girl behind the Xiangfei bamboo curtain suddenly leaned forward, reaching out to lower the partially raised curtain back into place.

This movement revealed her profile in full, the delicate features now clearly visible to Chu You below. It’s her! Chu You’s eyes widened abruptly, a look of utter shock flashing across his face.

“Your Highness, do you recognize this young lady?” Yuan Zhe, observing the change in Chu You’s expression, couldn’t help but ask in a measured tone.

Chu You was momentarily at a loss for words. This is…

Why is she with Chu Yi?!

The events that had unfolded at Jing Wang Manor remained fresh in Chu You’s memory. Originally, he had intended to have his mother grant him a marriage decree with Yun Rong, yet his plans had been utterly derailed by Gu Yan Fei. Chu You instinctively clenched his fists, the sound of his knuckles cracking breaking the tense silence. A sense of unease crept into his heart. Gu Yan Fei—a mere rustic girl, newly arrived from the countryside. How on earth did she and Chu Yi, two people so vastly different, end up entangled together?! 

This feeling of uncertainty gnawed at Chu You, filling him with disdain. It was as if something had slipped beyond his control—a sensation he deeply loathed. His gaze darkened and flickered with indecision as the bamboo curtain fell, its soft swish echoing like the sound of a door closing before him and Yuan Zhe. 

The curtain blocked the harsh sunlight streaming in from outside, casting a softer light within the elegant private room. Gu Yan Fei, finding the ambiance more agreeable, shifted into a relaxed posture, her demeanor serene. 

The shopkeeper approached with meticulous care, arranging seven or eight wine jars and several small dishes on the table. His face was lit with a beaming smile as he bowed repeatedly and said, “These are the wines the young lady ordered. Please, enjoy at your leisure.”

The shopkeeper finished speaking and quickly exited the private room, leaving behind an air rich with the mingling aromas of various wines, forming a heady and intoxicating scent.

Gu Yan Fei glanced at the assortment of drinks she had just ordered. Her eyes curved in delight as she rolled up her sleeves. With practiced hands, she skillfully combined yellow rice wine, honey water, and rose syrup, shaking the wine jar gently to mix everything thoroughly. Finally, she sprinkled a handful of delicate rose petals into the liquid. Her movements were smooth and elegant, as effortless as flowing water.

Pouring two cups of the fragrant concoction, she handed one to Chu Yi while keeping the other for herself. Smiling brightly, she said, “Try it. Consider it an apology on behalf of my Qing Guang. I went back and clipped its nails right away.”

She pointed at Chu Yi’s sleeve, clearly referencing the incident where her calico cat had scratched and ruined it.

“…” Chu Yi could almost picture the three-colored cat’s shocked expression, as if questioning the purpose of its existence, when its nails were trimmed. The thought brought a light laugh to his lips.

His laughter was soft and melodious, like a summer brook running over smooth stones, a sound that gently grazed the listener’s ears and left them tingling.

Raising his hand, Chu Yi accepted the cup of wine. He took a small sip, his lips just brushing the rim of the cup as he savored the taste. A trace of warmth softened his previously cool and detached expression, bringing a pleasant glow to his features.

Chu Yi drank slowly, savoring each sip as though he were tasting fine tea. In contrast, Gu Yan Fei was much more carefree, downing her drink in one bold gulp.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Gu Yan Fei left Qiong Fang Zhai with a faint flush on her cheeks, a light tipsiness softening her features. She felt refreshed and invigorated.

Since it was rare for her to venture out, she decided not to return to the Marquis of Dingyuan Residence right away. Instead, she wandered leisurely along Zhenhua Street. In her previous life, although she had lived in the capital for a few years, she had barely stepped foot outside the confines of the Marquis’s residence.

With the silver she had just won from the polo match in hand, she indulged herself as she strolled along. She purchased snacks, sachets, and silk flowers, but also stocked up on practical items like cinnabar, talisman paper, silver needles, and medicinal herbs before finally making her way back home at an unhurried pace.

By the time she returned to the Marquis of Dingyuan Residence, it was already nearing dusk.

The setting sun sank low in the west, its fiery rays igniting the drifting clouds with vibrant hues of purple and red, painting a breathtaking sunset. The evening wind howled through the streets, and the parasol tree leaves that had fallen during days of continuous drizzle lay scattered. Only the bare, gnarled branches remained, reaching skyward like skeletal hands clawing at the heavens.

Entering the Marquis’s residence through the side gate, Gu Yan Fei immediately noticed a double-horse-drawn carriage parked near the outer ceremonial gate. Its green canopy, adorned with pearl tassels and an elaborate Eight Treasures design, stood out in its opulence. She paused in her steps, her gaze lingering on the ornate carriage for a moment. It was unmistakably the vehicle of the Duchess of Ying, a sight she had seen before in her past life.

Gu Yan Fei remained silent, but the gatekeeper, an elderly woman, caught her attention and said cheerfully, “Second Miss, the Duchess of Ying arrived about half an hour ago.” The woman’s eyes sparkled, her expression brimming with an odd sort of exhilaration.

With the chilly evening wind sweeping past her, carrying fragments of withered leaves and fallen petals, Gu Yan Fei continued forward, her face calm. The Duchess of Ying was someone she was far from unfamiliar with. In her previous life, after returning to the capital, she had accompanied the Marquis’s wife, Madam Wang, on a visit to the Duke of Ying’s household. She still vividly remembered how the Duchess had scrutinized her with unrelenting criticism. The woman’s disdainful gaze had felt like needles piercing her skin, leaving an impression she could never forget.

At that time, the Duchess of Ying had barely spoken to Gu Yan Fei directly. Most of her words were addressed to Madam Wang, but they were laced with veiled sarcasm. She remarked that Gu Yan Fei was just a rustic girl, whose manners and bearing were completely unfit for high society. Then, she casually questioned what Gu Yan Fei could have possibly experienced in her fourteen years of life. 

Finally, she criticized her supposed lack of skills, commenting that Gu Yan Fei knew nothing of the four arts—music, chess, calligraphy, or painting—and couldn’t even recognize large characters. “How will she ever manage a household or discipline the servants in the future?”

Those biting words had left Gu Yan Fei utterly humiliated, making her wish she could dig a hole and disappear into it. The memories surged vividly in her mind, flashing by like scenes from a lantern show, filling her with a mix of anger and bitterness.

“Second Miss!” A slightly excited female voice called out from the other side of the outer ceremonial gate, abruptly pulling Gu Yan Fei back to reality. The elderly gatekeeper behind her clapped her hands in realization and said, “It’s Miss Qing Shuang—she’s been waiting for you for quite a while!”

As the words were spoken, a delicate and graceful maid dressed in a blue uniform emerged from the outer ceremonial gate. She approached Gu Yan Fei, curtsied lightly, and said, “Second Miss, the Old Madam has asked for you to come over.”

Gu Yan Fei halted her steps, her gaze once again shifting toward the luxurious carriage a few yards away. The evening glow painted the vehicle in a radiant, dreamlike hue, as if wrapping it in a gilded sunset.

The Duke of Ying’s household was a dominant force in the imperial court, its influence far surpassing that of the faltering Marquis of Dingyuan. It was clear that the Marquis’s household was at fault for the last-minute switch in betrothal arrangements. It was equally clear that the Duke’s household had always looked down on her. Yet, in her previous life, why had they begrudgingly accepted the engagement in the first place?

Half a year later, the Fang family had found an excuse to dissolve the engagement, citing her supposed impropriety for riding in a carriage with a man during her time in Danyang City.

To this day, Gu Yan Fei still couldn’t unravel the reasoning behind it all.