181 Demonstration
Then, the dark shadows on the roof, walls, and treetops quietly hid in the darkness.
Si Hai glanced at Chu Yi's gaze and raised his hand to gesture for him to retreat.
In the next moment, the surrounding royal guards retreated like a tide, without hesitation.
The torches retreated with them, and the surroundings darkened again.
On a night without the wind and snow, the stars and moon in the sky appeared hazily between the dark clouds. It was quiet and peaceful.
The courtyard instantly became empty again, leaving only muddy footprints on the snow.
Chu Yi smiled warmly at Gu Yanfei and raised his eyebrows slightly. There was a smile at the corners of his eyes and a gentle expression.
Gu Yanfei's eyes darted around. She held her snow-white cheek with her right hand and exchanged a look with him.
"Better late than never. I'm thinking of helping Young Master Xia Hou seize the State of Yue's power."
When she spoke, she still spoke in that casual tone, as if she was playing a game.
The old man outside the pavilion winced again.
Chu Yi's gaze gently swept across the red and purple marks on Gu Yanfei's neck. His voice was tinged with coldness as he continued indifferently, "This matter is simple. Young Master Xia Hou, do you want to hear me out?"
He imitated Gu Yanfei's tone and called him Young Master Xia Hou. With one sentence, he drew an invisible line between the three of them.
He and Gu Yanfei were here, and Xia Houqing was on the other side.
"Simple?" Xia Houqing's voice rose at the end, and his eyes curved into a treacherous arc. No one could tell if he was happy or angry, let alone his true emotions.
"Yes." Chu Yi nodded decisively. His smile was as clean as spring water after snow. "Do you want to talk?"
As the gentle evening wind blew, the snow on the bamboo leaves fell like icing sugar. The low, unbroken bamboo straightened its back proudly, still green.
A faint, cold bamboo fragrance floated in the air, mixed with traces of cold water vapor. It was quiet and elegant.
Xia Houqing's fingers began to rub the blood ring again. He looked at Chu Yi and then at Gu Yanfei.
Back at Tianyin Pavilion, the two of them were also together.
"Tell me," Xia Houqing finally said. His lips pursed into an evil smile.
As he spoke, Chu Yi's gaze swept across the short sword on the table and the red sleeve cloth on the ground. He knew that Gu Yanfei had definitely not suffered a loss.
Chu Yi casually picked up the short sword and said slowly, "The current Sage of the State of Yue, Baili Hong, has been on the throne for more than 20 years. He established the flourishing era of Qianming and was once at the peak of the country's power."
"However, in the past five to six years, Baili Hong has been old and weak. He's been living an extravagant life and has indulged in pleasure. He no longer has the ambition to expand his territory or the determination to work hard in the past."
"The State of Yue seems to be flourishing, but it's actually already showing signs of decline."
His warm voice flowed in the cold air. He was smiling slightly, and there was a confidence in his bones that carried an imposing aura and was difficult to ignore.
After a pause, he glanced at Gu Yanfei's focused little face from the corner of his eye. The corners of his eyes curved into a warm smile.
The flowers and trees in the courtyard danced in the evening breeze, rustling like a low moan.
"According to the hexagram, the monarch is seriously ill." Gu Yanfei pointed at the compass with her index finger and said seriously, "The Crown Prince is supervising the country, the brothers are fighting, and the nine sons are fighting for the peak… Your country is really chaotic!" She concluded with emotion.
"I remember that the 15th son of the Emperor is one year old," Chu Yi added at the right time.
The two of them were singing the same tune. They were just short of saying that they might as well threaten the Emperor to order the princes?!
The corners of Xia Houqing's eyes twitched imperceptibly. He began to examine the two of them again, his charming pupils as deep as an unfathomable valley.
He was at least certain that Chu Yi and Baili Yin were definitely not in cahoots.
"It's much more interesting to really stand in that supreme position than watching the war between the Yue and Jin countries from afar." Chu Yi took out a handkerchief and slowly wiped the sword.
The silver blade had a chill colder than snow in the light.
The corners of Xia Houqing's mouth narrowed slightly. He stroked his damaged left sleeve and hid it under the stone table. Out of sight, out of mind. At the same time, he tilted his head slightly to look at Chu Yi. His beautiful side profile was smiling and mocking in the dim yellow light.
The young man in white was fair and thin, giving off a weak aura.
"Young Master Yi." Xia Houqing smiled, his flawless eyebrows appearing even more beautiful and dazzling. "You've been in the State of Yue for eight years without revealing a single trace. It's been hard on you."
What a sick young master!
Chu Yi's words were clear and convincing. Naturally, he did not have good intentions. He wanted the State of Yue to be in chaos so that the State of Jin could have breathing space. It was similar to his "diverting misfortune" plan.
Xia Houqing clapped his hands in admiration and mocked, "I'm ashamed of my inferiority!"
The narrow, thin, shiny, and smooth blade clearly reflected Chu Yi's eyes that were deeper than the night sky.
Chu Yi smiled without saying anything. Suddenly, he twisted his wrist and moved the beautiful sword flower toward Xia Houqing, shining with silver light.
However, Xia Houqing did not dodge at all. Instead, the old man's expression changed and he exclaimed, "My Lord!"
The sword flashed and disappeared. In the next moment, the short sword had been sheathed with a crisp clang.
The action of returning to the sheath was as smooth and natural as flowing water. There was no hesitation at all.
There was a bloody mark on the back of Xia Houqing's right hand.
The contrast between red blood and white skin was stark.
This was equivalent to Chu Yi's response.
It was also a demonstration, right?
Xia Houqing's gaze thoughtfully swept across the few strangulation marks on Gu Yanfei's neck. He licked the blood off the back of his hand with the tip of his tongue, and his lower lip was stained with a little blood, making him look even more charming.
182 Covering the Sky
Xia Houqing licked the blood from his lower lip in boredom. He suddenly stood up and lazily said,
"It's getting late. I'm tired."
Xia Houqing left just like that, walking away with the tung oil umbrella.
Other than the sleeves that had been cut off, his red robe was not stained by the mud and snow on the ground.
!
The silver-haired old man followed closely behind.
They did not leave the manor and continued to stay here, as if they were just ordinary passersby.
It was cold, and Chu Yi and Gu Yanfei did not sit in the pavilion for long. They walked towards the main courtyard together.
Gu Yuan and Si Hai followed behind them.
Towards the end, she felt a faint smell of gunpowder lingering at the tip of her nose. Her steps were unsteady, and she was still a little shocked by the calamity.
The wind had begun to pick up again, blowing the lantern slightly from Juan Bi's hand. The dim yellow light swayed, and light and shadow intertwined.
Layers of dark clouds covered most of the moon and stars, as if the next snowstorm would return at any moment.
"Why are you here?" Gu Yanfei blinked and asked Chu Yi with a smile. She put the short sword on her waist and walked valiantly but elegantly, chatting and laughing.
It was as if the life-and-death crisis just now had left no trace in her heart.
Meeting her eyes that were as bright as stars, Chu Yi chuckled and explained, "I saw that the snowstorm was heavy tonight and you didn't return to the residence at this time. I thought that something had happened on the way, so I brought people over immediately."
Seeing the two people in front of him chatting happily, Gu Yuan, who was two steps behind, paused. He could hear a hint of praise in Chu Yi's casual words.
Gu Yuan glanced sideways at Chu Yi, who was smiling like the spring breeze. He could not help but feel the sour feeling of jealousy.
Gu Yuan was on duty today. After returning to the capital from the hunting ground, he stayed in the palace.
Before nightfall, his servant, Wu Tong, rushed over to tell him that Juan Bi had sent someone back to the residence to report, but Madam had not arranged for a carriage to pick up the Second Lady.
Gu Yuan was immediately anxious and immediately went to look for Chu Yi to ask for leave. He planned to pick his sister up personally and told Chu Yi about his sister being trapped in the manor by the heavy snow.
Chu Yi's expression instantly changed. He threw away the half-carved seal in his hand and immediately ordered someone to leave the capital with him.
At that time, Gu Yuan was still in a daze. He felt that his sister was at least in the Gu family's own manor, so it was not that urgent.
Also, why was the Eldest Prince following him when he was going to pick up his sister?!
Unexpectedly, as soon as he arrived at the manor, Gu Yuan felt that there were experts lying in ambush. He was so frightened that his heart skipped a beat. Only then did he understand why Chu Yi was so anxious?!
Fortunately!
Gu Yuan let out a long breath.
It was only now that he was completely relieved. Warmth returned to his cold heart, and he thought to himself, 'As long as my sister is fine.'
"Chu Yi." In front, Gu Yanfei's brisk voice sounded again with a hint of curiosity. "Did you meet Baili Yin on the way?"
Hearing Baili Yin's name, Gu Yuan pursed his thin lips, and his expression became strange again.
Originally, he had planned to get his scoundrel friends to put a sack on Baili Yin tonight. Now, he would have to find another time.
Chu Yi looked sideways at Gu Yanfei with a gentle and quiet smile. "We did meet, but we didn't alarm him."
Baili Yin was in the capital, but he thought that he could hide his whereabouts like he did in the State of Yue, and felt that he could hide it from the world. In fact, Chu Yi knew the moment he left the capital at dusk and ordered someone to follow him secretly.
The subordinates Baili Yin had brought out of the capital on this trip were all elites. They were filled with killing intent and were obviously going to ambush someone.
Originally, Chu Yi only needed to wait and see.
Who would have thought…
Chu Yi stared at Gu Yanfei without blinking. Thinking about how she had been implicated for no reason today, he almost…
His pale fingers, hidden in his sleeve, curled slightly.
Chu Yi quickly controlled his emotions and continued as if nothing had happened, "He's already returned to the capital."
At that time, when he saw a red light suddenly rise from the direction of the manor, Baili Yin's expression changed drastically. He had immediately turned around and returned to the capital.
Chu Yi knew that something was wrong and rushed over.
A cold evening breeze blew in his face. Chu Yi's eyelashes fluttered twice, and his eyes darkened.
Gu Yanfei smiled faintly and said, "It seems that Baili Yin is very afraid of Young Master Xia Hou."
"Indeed," Chu Yi said gently. "Baili Yin and his eldest brother, Baili Zhao, have been afraid of Xia Houqing for a long time."
183 Covering the Sky
"Now, in the State of Yue, Xia Houqing can cover the sky with one hand. Although Baili Zhao is the Crown Prince, he is also suppressed by him. Even the Sage of the State of Yue has to fear him."
"Only by getting rid of Xia Houqing can Baili Zhao completely sit firmly on his throne."
"Xia Houqing clearly knows this very well. That's why he used himself as bait to lure Baili Yin into giving it his all."
Chu Yi did not lower his voice. Even Gu Yuan, who was behind him, heard him clearly.
!
The image of the young man who was as demonic as blood appeared in Gu Yuan's mind. His eyes gradually darkened as he thought to himself, 'Xia Houqing is too ruthless and vicious. Even if he doesn't slaughter the village, he can still achieve his goal. However, in order to save time, he didn't hesitate to sacrifice hundreds of lives in the village…'
This person really lived up to his reputation and could not be underestimated!
"Rustle…"
The shadows of the trees swayed with the wind. The snow that had stopped for a moment began to fall sporadically again, fluttering.
A snowflake happened to land, making Gu Yuan's nose itch slightly.
Afraid that his sister would catch a cold from the snow, Gu Yuan took off his cloak and planned to put it on her. However, just as he untied the tether of the cloak, he saw that Chu Yi had already taken a bamboo-moon-colored tung oil umbrella from Si Hai and held it above him and Gu Yanfei.
The huge umbrella tilted slightly in Gu Yanfei's direction, and a few snowflakes landed on Chu Yi's shoulder.
Gu Yanfei was tightly enveloped under the umbrella.
The slender girl looked especially petite against the young man beside her.
I've been beaten to it again! This thought clearly appeared in Gu Yuan's heart. He felt that something was wrong.
Gu Yanfei stroked her chin thoughtfully and muttered, "Young Master Xia Hou shouldn't have come just for Baili Yin, right?"
A figure who could do whatever he wanted in the State of Yue had "sung" for so long in the capital's opera house. It was really a waste of talent for a mere Baili Yin.
Gu Yuan looked back and forth between the two of them and felt that he was a little redundant. He opened his mouth to show his presence and asked, "Sister, how did you know that person was Xia Houqing?"
"I calculated it," Gu Yanfei said with a smile. It seemed real but also fake. There was a hint of cunning, teasing, and pride in her expression. "I just counted with my fingers…"
She casually raised her right hand. She originally only wanted to make an orchid gesture, but her chest tightened. The blood that she had painstakingly suppressed could no longer be suppressed, and churned like a sea inside her body.
Her legs gave way and she stumbled a little. She lost her balance and fell forward, her thick black hair cascading down like a waterfall…
She was telling the truth. She had indeed calculated Xia Houqing's identity.
The other party had come menacingly tonight with a group of death warriors. Since she knew nothing about him, she could not negotiate.
Unfortunately, this matter also involved her own life and death. Being in a situation, it was even more difficult to deduce a way to break out of it.
She tried repeatedly and risked losing a few years of her lifespan to finally calculate a hint.
A beauty was born from fire; a blood-robed Asura was bathed in blood.
This was certainly not enough. Fortunately, she knew that the other party was from the State of Yue.
To avoid fire, she began another divination…
She used all kinds of clues to divine. It took her 49 divinations to figure out the name "Xia Houqing".
If not for the fact that Xia Houqing was only a mortal, she would not have been able to do it now.
Gu Yanfei felt a faint metallic taste in her throat. Because she was exhausted, her vision was a little blurry, as if it was covered by a thin veil.
"Be careful!"
"Sister!"
Two concerned male voices sounded at the same time.
Gu Yanfei only fell a little when she felt something tighten around her waist. Chu Yi's left arm was firmly across her waist, supporting her.
Gu Yuan looked at his hand that had missed because he was a step slower.
"Are you alright?" Chu Yi looked down at Gu Yanfei and asked gently.
His dark eyes were as deep as the night sky and as clear as the lake, clearly reflecting her shadow.
The dark red mole at the end of his eye made his gentle and beautiful eyebrows look more charming.
"I'm fine." Gu Yanfei grabbed a parasol tree beside her with one hand and stabilized herself. Her cherry lips were slightly pale, but her eyes were still bright and spirited.
Gu Yuan was still worried. He frowned and raised his hand to test Gu Yanfei's forehead temperature when he heard Chu Yi instruct, "Go get a sedan chair."
"There should be a sedan chair inside," Juan Bi added, immediately running in the direction of the main courtyard.
The ground was covered in snow and muddy and slippery. She was distracted and almost slipped.
Gu Yuan looked at Juan Bi in disdain. He felt that she was unreliable no matter how he looked at her, so he decided to go himself. He quickly said, "Sister, wait for me here!"
Gu Yuan walked quickly and caught up to Juan Bi in two to three steps.
Looking at her eldest brother's energetic back, Gu Yanfei chuckled brightly.
The haze that lingered in her heart after seeing Granny Pang completely dissipated with this smile.
Her Big Brother was still very good. He was not delinquent, not depressed, and not infected with smallpox…
Facing the night wind, Gu Yanfei's smile deepened.
She had always been nonchalant and did whatever was comfortable. At first, she rested her hand on the tree trunk. Later, she simply leaned lazily against the tree trunk beside her and looked up at the night sky with her chin slightly raised.
In the vast night sky, snowflakes slowly fell sporadically, dancing like white pear petals.
It was quiet and peaceful, ethereal and eternal.
This calamity was over!
The corners of Gu Yanfei's lips curled up slightly, and a handsome curve appeared on her chin.
Gu Yanfei was looking at the night sky while Chu Yi was looking at her.
...
184 Success
The night sky was cold and gloomy, and sparkling snowflakes flickered in the light. When the girl leaned against the tree and smiled, a layer of gentle light seemed to linger around her, lighting up the surroundings.
Chu Yi's gaze landed on the white jade plum blossom hairpin on Gu Yanfei's bun. The two red plum blossoms at the end of the hairpin were bright red.
A faint smile appeared on his face. "Do you like it very much?" he asked in a low voice. He kept it on.
The question came out of nowhere.
!
"Yes!" Gu Yanfei understood what he was asking. She laughed loudly and nodded calmly.
Her beautiful and flawless face was always filled with vitality. Her eyes were as bright as the brightest stars in the night sky, brightening his heart.
'I'm glad she likes it!' Chu Yi looked at her and his smile deepened, like a spring wind blowing through the snow and warming the air.
Gu Yanfei raised her hand and touched the hairpin in her bun. Her movements were gentle as she thought to herself, 'Of course I like it. It's all thanks to this hairpin. Otherwise, I would be in big trouble today!'
'I would have to think of a way to find more antiques,' Gu Yanfei thought to herself.
She leaned against the tree trunk and rested for a while before enjoying the cold wind. Gu Yanfei felt more comfortable, but the cold wind burrowed into her collar.
Her confrontation with Xia Houqing tonight had almost exhausted all her spiritual energy and energy. She needed to "recover".
"I'm better. Let's go." Gu Yanfei held the tree trunk with one hand and tried to straighten up. "Let's not wait anymore."
Seeing that she was struggling to stand, Chu Yi subconsciously reached out his left hand to help her, but Gu Yanfei had already turned around, causing his hand to miss.
Even though her feet were unstable, Gu Yanfei still slowly walked forward, one step after another.
The evening wind fluttered her cloak, making her gait look even more unsteady, as if she were floating forward.
Chu Yi pursed his lips. Seeing that she had no intention of asking him to help, he withdrew his hand.
He walked beside her, silently holding an umbrella for her. He looked at her soft, exquisite side profile and the corners of her lips, which had always been slightly curved like a crescent moon, and thought to himself, 'She seems very used to relying on herself.'
The two of them walked leisurely side by side.
Chu Yi's attention was almost completely focused on the girl beside him.
They were very close. Occasionally their arms brushed against each other as they walked, their shoulders touching.
He could smell the quiet bamboo scent of her, picked up by the snow around her. It was clear and refreshing.
When they walked past the guest courtyard, Gu Yanfei suddenly stopped. She reached out and grabbed Chu Yi's sleeve, shaking it gently.
Her other hand pointed ahead. She stood on tiptoe and whispered to him, "Look over there."
"Huh?" Chu Yi was stunned. He looked down at the two fingers holding his sleeve and smiled.
Under the light, his eyes and lips were filled with a warm smile.
Gu Yanfei smiled slyly at him. Her bright smile was as gentle as the winter sun. She held up a finger with her left hand and counted.
"One, two, three."
When she counted to three, she heard a crash on the flats ahead as a house in the guest wing collapsed.
The roof, together with the thick snow above, instantly collapsed. The ground below shook slightly, and several screams came from inside the house.
Countless snowflakes and dust floated in the air, forming a gray fog that covered the sky!
There was a large patch of gray snow and broken tiles on the ground inside the courtyard wall. It was a mess.
"…" Chu Yi raised his eyebrows without changing his expression.
He naturally remembered that Xia Houqing had walked towards this courtyard just now.
"A cloud-piercing arrow, a thousand troops come to meet each other!" Gu Yanfei smiled happily and patted Chu Yi's shoulder in high spirits.
The girl's carefree laughter echoed in the night wind.
It was naturally impossible for her to carry any cloud-piercing arrow with her. That red light was the effect of a talisman. It was drawn on the paper crane she had asked Juan Bi to give to Xia Houqing.
The talisman was not very useful. It was just a red firework.
However, the paper crane was indoors. Apart from the red light that soared into the sky, the roof would definitely be impacted and damaged.
It had just snowed, and the damaged roof was covered in thick snow. It was obvious that it would not last long…
Back then, her master always said that she liked to study some messy talismans.
If she had the chance to go back, she would definitely talk to her master.
Gu Yanfei raised her hand and touched it. The pinch marks on her neck still hurt a little, and she raised her chin proudly.
185 Success
Hmph! She should let Xia Houqing suffer!
Anyway, this manor had been in disrepair for a long time. It was normal for a roof to collapse… right?
Seeing her silly joy, Chu Yi smiled, his eyes gentle. As long as she was happy!
The two of them continued slowly. From time to time, the sound of gravel and debris fell from the guest courtyard behind them. In the distance, the crows gloated again…
When Gu Yanfei returned to the main courtyard, she saw Steward Huang peering around the entrance.
Of course, he had also heard the sound of the guest courtyard collapsing. However, Gu Yanfei had long instructed him not to step out of the courtyard casually.
"Go and tidy up two more guest rooms. If there's nothing else, rest early," Gu Yanfei instructed Steward Huang as she continued walking in.
Her calm appearance made Steward Huang feel at ease.
"Yes, yes, yes. I'll do it now," Steward Huang rubbed his hands and replied.
As they spoke, they arrived under the corridor in front of the central room. Gu Yanfei picked a chair nearby and sat down, while Si Hai and the other guards guarded outside the main courtyard.
Gu Yuan was only two steps behind them. He quickly strode into the house with a frown on his handsome face.
"There are no sedan chairs in this manor," he instructed Steward Wang coldly. "It's impossible not to have a sedan chair in the manor. We have to prepare one in the future."
Steward Huang agreed again and thought to himself, 'The masters haven't been to the manor for more than ten years. The sedan chair in the past has long been broken.'
Gu Yuan did not care about Steward Huang. He quickly walked to Gu Yanfei's side and asked gently, "Sister, are you feeling better? Do you want me to get a doctor to take a look at you?"
Gu Yanfei waved her hand, wanting to say that she was the best doctor. However, before she could say anything, she heard an old female voice outside the house.
"Miss… Young Master…"
Outside the central room, a short, fat, black figure came trudging toward them.
It was Granny Pang.
Granny Pang was wearing a black cloak that was neither new nor old. Her forehead was still tied with the white cloth from before, and her gray hair was a little messy in the wind.
Steward Huang's daughter carefully held Granny Pang's arm. The little girl explained slowly, "When Granny Pang heard that the Eldest Young Master was here, she insisted on coming over to pay her respects."
"Eldest Young Master!" Even though they had not seen each other for so many years, Granny Pang still recognized Gu Yuan, who was beside Gu Yanfei, at a glance. Her red and swollen eyes were filled with tears again.
When she left, Gu Yuan was still a six-year-old child. Now, he has grown into an outstanding handsome man.
Granny Pang still did not look good, but she was clearly in a good mood. When her turbid old eyes looked at Gu Yuan and Gu Yanfei, they lit up.
Gu Yuan's eyes widened slightly as he also recognized Granny Pang, whom he had not seen for many years.
10 years had allowed an ignorant child to grow into a heroic young man. At the same time, it had cruelly carved countless wrinkles and silver threads on Granny Pang's round face and hair.
"Granny." Gu Yuan was first shocked that Granny Pang was also in this manor. Then, he realized that she was injured and his voice was hoarse. "How did you…"
"I picked up Granny Pang on the way here with Jiaoniang and the others to hide from the snow," Gu Yanfei explained on behalf of Granny Pang, leaning lazily against the high-backed chair. "At that time, Granny Pang's head was injured and she had fallen by the roadside."
"Granny said she went to the residence today, but she was beaten up."
Gu Yanfei's words were concise and did not say much. She could not hide the fatigue between her eyebrows.
Gu Yuan's pupils dilated and his thin lips pursed tightly. His right hand subconsciously grabbed the arm of the chair.
"Granny…" His gaze moved again to Granny Pang's forehead, which was wrapped in white cloth. There was an indiscernible tremble in his usually cold and steady voice.
He was not stupid. From Gu Yanfei's few words, he immediately understood something. Granny Pang had been attacked to silence her.
But why?!
Gu Yuan's eyes were cold and dark, as if they contained tens of thousand years of ice.
The figures of those blood relatives crossed each other in their hearts.
Gu Yuan pursed his thin lips tightly and vaguely felt a sense of oppression…
Juan Bi nimbly served tea to everyone. Only Gu Yanfei's cup was personally handed to her by Juan Bi.
There was no good tea in the manor, so Juan Bi used the flower tea she had brought with her. A faint fragrance of plum blossom tea wafted into the air with the steam of the tea.
After drinking a few mouthfuls of hot tea, Gu Yanfei's face turned a little red from the heat, but her body was still weak, and her lips were a little pale.
Gu Yanfei examined Gu Yuan's complicated expression. Her eyes were deep as she slowly asked, "Big Brother, have you ever had smallpox?"
Because of her exhaustion, her voice was not as clear as usual. Against the snow outside the house, it had a hint of vicissitudes.
Granny Pang could not help but tighten her grip on her handkerchief when she heard this. Her dry and pale lips trembled.
When he heard the word "smallpox", even Chu Yi, who was quietly drinking tea, reacted and glanced at Gu Yuan.
"…" Gu Yuan raised his eyebrows in confusion, not knowing why his sister would ask this.
After thinking about it, he said honestly, "I remember one time when I was three or four years old, I was very sick and kept having a fever. I was groggy… Grandma said it was smallpox."
"Was it really smallpox?" Gu Yanfei stared intently into Gu Yuan's eyes and tried her best to pull herself together. She asked again, "Didn't Big Brother suspect anything?"
Her face was slightly pale, and the gaze she looked at Gu Yuan with became deeper and more complicated.
Gu Yuan was speechless.
Gu Yuan narrowed his eyes, and his expression gradually became serious. Of course, his sister would not speak without thinking…
186 Extravagant
The siblings' eyes met in silence. There was a suffocating silence in the room, except for Granny Pang's tense and heavy breathing, which echoed in the air.
The silence was like an invisible net slowly tightening.
Looking at the silent Gu Yuan, Gu Yanfei's eyelashes lowered slightly, casting a shadow on her porcelain face.
She sighed inwardly, but she was not disappointed.
!
It was normal for Gu Yuan not to suspect anything about what happened back then. At that time, Gu Yuan was only three years old. What did a three-year-old child know? Whatever illness he had, he would naturally do as Madam said.
Moreover, most people probably could not remember many things when they were three or four years old.
Just like her, after 200 years, she had also forgotten many people and many things… It was only recently that she slowly recalled some perhaps insignificant details.
Gu Yanfei raised her hand and rubbed the space between her eyebrows. A wave of fatigue surged up uncontrollably. Gu Yuan suddenly said, "By the way, Father seemed to have asked me about it back then…"
Granny Pang's eyes widened and her body trembled violently. She did not even notice the handkerchief in her hand leave her hand.
Even Gu Yanfei was stunned for a moment. Her eyes were slightly open, and her heart trembled violently.
She asked in a low voice, "What happened next?"
Gu Yuan took a deep breath and tried his best to calm the dark tide in his heart. There seemed to be a ball of air in his chest, muffled and deep. He continued, "After that, Father brought Gu Yunrong and me to Yangzhou until…" Read lat𝙚st chapters at nov(𝒆) Only
His voice grew slower and lower, until it stopped abruptly.
He didn't continue, but everyone present understood his unfinished words—
Until Yangzhou fell!
Gu Yuan's eyes became abnormally deep and he pursed his lips. Eight years had passed, but what had happened back then was still deeply engraved in his heart, leaving a scar that would never be erased.
He had lost his father in that battle. Everyone said that his father had betrayed his country and submitted to the enemy. Even his grandmother felt humiliated for his father…
His world suddenly collapsed!
Gu Yuan's expression was still, and there was a faint sadness on his face.
Gu Yanfei looked at Gu Yuan's cold side profile in a daze. Her gaze was a little dazed and cold, as if she was staring at the man she had only seen in her two lives.
Her father…
"Bang!"
The main door of the central room suddenly creaked as it was rudely kicked open from the outside. One of the doors flew to the ground and cracked in half.
Outside the central room, three people could be seen standing under the eaves outside the door.
Walking in the middle was Xia Houqing in red. Standing beside him were the old man and the young man.
Xia Houqing's clothes were as red as fire, still as spotless as before.
The other two were dusty and battered, as if they had rolled in dust and gravel.
Xia Houqing glanced at the young man in disdain. He moved two fingers on his right hand slightly, and the silver-haired old man tactfully took a step back, then half a step.
"…" Steward Huang's wife was left behind by Xia Houqing and the other two. She looked embarrassed and felt that this guest who was staying overnight was too rude. She had just said that the lady and the Eldest Young Master were busy, but the other party insisted on barging in!
Gu Yanfei's gaze darted around Xia Houqing's brand new red clothes, but she did not find any dust. She thought to herself, 'What a pity.'
Xia Houqing did not say a word. He was as comfortable as if he was not here uninvited but the master of the place.
He expressionlessly crossed the threshold into the central room and walked straight ahead. Then, he casually lifted his robe and sat down arrogantly on the armchair at the head of the table.
"I'll stay here today." Xia Houqing shamelessly announced that he planned to take over the main courtyard.
The silver-haired elder did not enter the house immediately. Instead, he stood under the porch and clapped his hands gently.
Clap! Clap!
In the next moment, a group of men in black quickly walked into the main courtyard. Everyone was not empty-handed. Screens, incense burners, horsetail whisks, chair cushions, red clay stoves, tea sets, and other items were all moved in and arranged.
Dark red draperies were drawn from the rafters. On the east side were dazzlingly colorful three rosewood side seats with jade-flowered throne screens. A dark red Persian wool carpet was laid on the ground. A rosewood armchair was brought over again and a large red embroidered golden-threaded kirin pillow was placed.
187 Extravagant
Someone also placed a three-legged incense burner in the corner behind the screen…
Their movements were very skilled and well-trained, as if they had done them countless times. In just a moment, Xia Houqing's surroundings were decorated.
These ornaments were all exquisite and gorgeous. Every one of them was priceless, turning such an ordinary central room into a magnificent palace.
A thin plume of green smoke curled up from the incense burner and filled the air. The fragrance was unique, crisp, and mellow, with a hint of sweetness.
!
Gu Yanfei was dumbfounded and thought to herself, 'Does Xia Houqing have to bring everything in the house with him when he goes out?'
"My Lord, have some tea." A man in black nimbly brewed a pot of tea for Xia Houqing on the spot.
The fragrance of elegant and pure tea wafted over. Gu Yanfei's nose twitched, and her eyes lit up.
The fragrance of this tea was high and clear, pure and sharp. It was thick and pure, signs of a high-grade tea.
In an instant, Gu Yanfei felt that the cup of plum blossom tea in her hand had become dull.
The silver-haired old man called Old Qi walked silently towards Gu Yanfei and the others. He stood upright and said coldly, "Our Lord likes peace and quiet and doesn't like noise. Please."
He naturally gave the order to leave.
"…" Gu Yanfei regretted it. She felt that she should have drawn an additional Lightning Fire Talisman on the paper crane just now and caused the entire house to collapse.
Chu Yi elegantly drank the plum blossom tea in his cup. His movements and posture were as pleasing to the eye as usual. He ignored the actions of Xia Houqing and the others.
After carefully tasting the tea, Chu Yi said indifferently, "Young Master Xia Hou, are you here for Emperor Taizu's handwritten letter?"
His gentle voice sounded slowly, and a faint smile appeared on his face. His eyes were so bright that he seemed to be able to see through everything in the world, illuminating the room.
After he finished speaking, the room was silent. Other than the sound of boiling water on the small red clay stove, there was no other sound. The men in black brought by Xia Houqing seemed to be silent.
Xia Houqing did not comment. He glanced at the dust on the table in disgust and took out a new handkerchief. Then he slowly wiped his hands and stroked his sleeves.
What was Emperor Taizu's handwritten letter? This was the first time Gu Yanfei had heard of Emperor Taizu's handwritten letter. She propped her chin on her hand and looked at Chu Yi on her right.
Her clear eyes seemed to speak, and Chu Yi immediately understood what she meant.
"These are the notes my great-grandfather left behind when he was alive." Chu Yi smiled at her. His handsome face softened with this smile, and he was as gentle as a spring breeze. "My great-grandfather recorded many ideas that he couldn't realize when he was alive."
"My great-grandfather wanted to improve looms, ships, gunpowder, steelmaking… He also said that the wine here is too weak to be called wine at all. He has a way to make real wine."
Gu Yanfei listened attentively and had an idea.
She felt that some of the things Chu Yi had described were familiar. She seemed to have seen them somewhere before.
Where exactly was it?
Gu Yanfei tried her best to search through her memories.
She had not been reborn for long, so she was sure that it was not in this life. Then it must have been in her previous life… When was it in her previous life?
Chu Yi smiled and said, "My great-grandfather was an interesting madman. He had many wild ideas. He said that people could fly one day, and that cars could reach a thousand miles in two days if they were on track. He even said that there would be a 'cannon' that could blow up a city at once…"
As he spoke, he glanced at Xia Houqing, his eyes flickering in the candlelight.
The screen blocked Xia Houqing's figure, leaving only a well-defined profile.
Behind the screen, Xia Houqing was pretending to drink tea. His demonic red lips curled into a cold smile behind the teacup.
He did not take Chu Yi's words seriously. Young Master Yi was clearly testing him!
Gu Yanfei thought seriously and tried her best to focus. However, the harder she tried, the harder it was to focus…
Her vision suddenly darkened as a few double images flashed past. Her upper body swayed, and she almost fell.
She quickly held her forehead and heard Xia Houqing's mocking laughter from the direction of the head of the table.
She regretted it again.
If not for the fact that she really did not have any spiritual energy, she would have drawn a few hundred more Fire Thunder Talismans and blown him up.
Gu Yanfei's consciousness drifted, and she was in a daze for a moment. Then, she suddenly shivered.
That night, she drew talismans, read fortunes, and fought tit-for-tat. She was at her limit in spirit and stamina, especially since there was a lack of spiritual energy here. She was practically using her life to do divination and was almost hollowed out.
"You should rest." Chu Yi's gentle voice was like a spring breeze turning to rain.
Indeed, Gu Yanfei would never force herself. She stood up obediently.
But she was too tired. As soon as she stood up, she felt a strong wave of fatigue sweep over her. Her eyelids were heavy, and her feet began to float again.
Chu Yi quickly caught her. His eyes were filled with a gentle smile, and his eyebrows were beautiful.
His gaze seemed to say that he was there.
Gu Yanfei's eyes glazed over again. She smiled tiredly at him.
Her heavy eyelids finally lowered, and endless darkness surged over…
The last thought in her mind before the darkness overwhelmed her completely was—
Where had she seen this letter before?
188 Rushing Joy
As soon as she fell asleep, she fell into a deep sleep. She wished she could sleep until the end of time…
When she opened her eyes again and saw the familiar sky-blue bed canopy above, she realized that she had returned to Yuheng Garden.
Feeling a heavy weight on her chest, she looked down and saw the calico cat lying on the brocade blanket with its green cat eyes fixated on her.
"Meow—"
!
The calico cat yawned lazily, its white beard trembling slightly. In the next moment, a petite figure rushed in from the outside.
"My Lady!"
A brocade curtain embroidered with a cat playing with a peony was roughly beaten up and brushed down, swaying in midair.
Juan Bi heard the commotion and rushed to Gu Yanfei's bed in one breath. Her face was filled with anxiety as she said anxiously,
"You're finally awake. I was really worried. You've been sleeping for three days and three nights!"
"Grumble…"
As if to verify Juan Bi's words, the sound of hungry stomachs came from below, where the calico cat was squatting.
Gu Yanfei and the calico cat on top of her stared at each other. The cat meowed softly and licked its right front paw. Its mocking tone seemed to be saying, 'It's not me!'
"… No wonder I'm hungry." Gu Yanfei grabbed the back of the cat's neck with one hand and lifted it up. At the same time, she sat up.
As soon as the kitten, which was about four months old, was pinched in the vitals, it revealed its dumbfounded look again, its claws spreading into pink plum blossoms in midair.
Hearing Gu Yanfei say that she was hungry, Juan Bi hurriedly shouted outside and asked someone to quickly get food.
There was a small kitchen in Yuheng Garden with a stove and stove. Over the past few days, the porridge and chicken soup had been kept warm on the stove, thinking that they would be ready to eat when the girl woke up.
Soon, the maidservant handed in a bowl of shredded chicken porridge and handed it to Gu Yanfei. Gu Yanfei was not in a hurry to wash up and change her clothes, so she sat at the table by the window and ate first.
After eating a bowl of porridge, she was still not satisfied. She asked for another bowl of steaming chicken soup noodles and finished all the noodles and soup before feeling more comfortable.
While she was eating, the cat's mouth never stopped either. It basked in the light and ate some boiled chicken shreds.
Juan Bi served at the side. As she tore chicken shreds for the cat, she rambled on about the past three days.
"Miss, after you fell asleep in the manor that day, we thought that you were just tired and were momentarily exhausted, so I carried you to the couch to rest. Unexpectedly, the next morning, you still didn't wake up. This worried the Eldest Young Master so much that Granny Pang almost pinched you." The sourc𝗲 of this content nov(𝒆l)bi((n))
"Afraid that you're sick, the Eldest Young Master quickly sent a car to send you back to the capital. In the past two days, not only has he invited several doctors from the capital, but he has also specially invited the imperial physician to the Marquis Mansion to take your pulse…"
Gu Yanfei finished the last mouthful of chicken soup. When she put down the spoon, she asked casually, "What did the imperial physician say?"
Juan Bi tried her best to recall the imperial physician's genteel words and answered truthfully, "The imperial physician said that you're mentally and physically exhausted and have lost your vital energy. You're also devoid of yin and yang, causing your exhaustion… You have to recuperate well these few days and can't work too hard."
Gu Yanfei wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and picked up the teacup before the cat could reach its claws into it.
Amidst the cat's dissatisfied meow, she took two leisurely sips of tea.
Seeing this harmonious scene, Juan Bi's face lit up with a silly smile again. The anxiety of the past few days had been swept away, and only then did she feel that everything was normal.
Gu Yanfei took two more sips of tea before giving the teacup to the cat. At the same time, she asked, "Big Brother…"
Before she could finish her sentence, the maidservant's clear voice sounded outside the curtain. "Miss, the Eldest Lady is here to visit you!"
"Big Sister is back?" Gu Yanfei raised her eyebrows and her eyes lit up.
A few days ago, Gu Yunzhen's maternal grandmother held a birthday banquet and brought Third Madam Yan and Gu Yunzhen to the Yan family to stay for a while.
"The Eldest Lady returned yesterday. As soon as she returned to the residence, she came to Yuheng Garden to see you."
As Juan Bi spoke, her hands did not stop. She tidied Gu Yanfei's hair slightly and skillfully tied her black hair behind her head with a headband before putting a cloak on her.
After a while, Gu Yunzhen arrived leisurely.
She was wearing an aqua-green embroidered green collared jacket with green plum branches, matched with a green plum bamboo skirt. The well-tailored jacket made her figure look exquisite.
189 Breaking the Happiness
As the girl slowly walked over, her skirt swayed gently. She was elegant and dignified, as quiet as water.
"Big Sister."
Gu Yanfei smiled when she saw Gu Yunzhen, but Gu Yunzhen frowned and raised her hand to cover her forehead. At the same time, she asked, "Juan Bi, when did your lady wake up? Has she eaten?"
When she faced Gu Yunzhen, Juan Bi straightened her back and felt a sense of respect. She answered truthfully.
!
Gu Yunzhen was relieved to hear that Gu Yanfei had already eaten the porridge and noodles.
If she had a good appetite, it meant that she was fine.
Gu Yunzhen turned to face Gu Yanfei and reached out an index finger to gently tap the tip of her nose. She scolded softly, "Did you not rest well tonight because you wanted to look at the painting book?"
"Even Qing Guang knows to sleep more when tired. You're already an adult, why can't you be as obedient as a cat!"
When Gu Yunzhen heard yesterday that Gu Yanfei had tired herself out, her heart ached, and she felt a little helpless.
Qing Guang, who was eating chicken shreds, heard its name and subconsciously meowed. It wanted to look up, but Gu Yanfei pressed it back into the cat bowl.
Gu Yanfei giggled and hugged Gu Yunzhen's slender waist. She giggled and rubbed against her shoulder like a cat.
Blood had returned to her pale skin and her laughter was crisp again.
Being hugged by Gu Yanfei like this, Gu Yunzhen could not continue scolding her. She raised her hand and hugged her slender shoulder intimately.
Qing Guang glanced at the annoying sisters in disdain and leaped out of the window to play outside.
The snow had stopped a long time ago. Outside, the roof and treetops were piled high with snow. The white snow reflected the morning sun, making it a dazzling crystal, and even the house was much brighter.
Gu Yanfei's eyes darted around, and she said coquettishly, "Big Sister, why are you back so early?"
She had originally heard that Gu Yunzhen and Madam Yan would only return before the new year.
"It's getting late." Gu Yunzhen's expression was a little indescribable. She reached out and tapped the tip of Gu Yanfei's nose again. "It's already the 27th of December today."
She sighed faintly, as if to say, 'You've really slept for the past three days.'
Gu Yanfei could only pretend to be obedient. She smiled and continued to change the topic. "Big Sister, why are you dressed so plainly?"
She sized Gu Yunzhen up. Not only was Gu Yunzhen dressed plainly today, but her accessories were also plain. Her bun was the simplest, and there was only a jade hairpin in her hair. There was no color on her body.
Gu Yunzhen pursed her lips with a fleeting gaze and hesitated for a moment.
Thinking that there were no outsiders here, she said, "I'm going to the Murong family with Madam later. The Old Madam of the Murong family is seriously ill."
Gu Yanfei obediently handed her tea.
Gu Yunzhen did not stand on ceremony with Gu Yanfei. She took the teacup and took a sip before saying in a low voice, "…My marriage might be brought forward."
Marriage brought forward?! Gu Yanfei was stunned. The pink teacup in her hand stopped in midair, and her fingers subconsciously turned the cup slightly.
Faced with her sister, Gu Yunzhen did not beat around the bush. She pursed her lips and said bluntly, "The Old Madam is seriously ill. The Murong family said that they want to bring forward the marriage to bring joy to the Old Madam."
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
She lowered her eyelashes, and her small chin was slightly lowered in a delicate manner.
Gu Yanfei frowned and asked, "Big Sister, what did Third Aunt say?"
Gu Yunzhen's half-lowered eyelashes fluttered slightly. The watery light of the tea was reflected in her autumn eyes as she said slowly, "Grandma said that it's good that the marriage is brought forward. Otherwise, the Murong family might have to observe three years of filial piety, and I'll be too old by that time."
"Mother thought so too."
Gu Yanfei put down the teacup in her hand and tried her best to recall what had happened in her previous life. Her eyes narrowed.
Was there such a thing in her previous life?!
In her previous life, Gu Yanfei knew too little about the Murong family.
She only knew that because her eldest sister had injured her face, her marriage with Murong Yong had been delayed for half a year and was set to take place in August of the following year. After that, the marriage was held as scheduled without any delay because of "filial piety". In other words, the Old Madam of the Murong family had not died of illness in her previous life?
Why had she changed so much in this life?
Gu Yanfei's eyes darted around slightly. After thinking for a moment, she asked tactfully, "Did Big Brother tell you about Murong Yong?"
Ever since he returned from Tianyin Pavilion that day, Gu Yuan had asked his friends to investigate Murong Yong. Murong Yong indeed had two mistresses. One was an actress, and the other was a courtesan. He had set up two residences outside and did not bring her back to the residence.
"Big Brother told me." Gu Yunzhen nodded slightly. There was an almost invisible hoarseness in her neutral voice.
Her face was half-lowered, revealing a fair and delicate neck with beautiful lines.
Yesterday, as soon as Gu Yunzhen returned to the Marquis Mansion, Gu Yuan told her that Murong Yong was raising a mistress outside.
It was not just these two mistresses. Murong Yong still had a concubine with an open face.
That concubine was his personal maidservant and had served him for seven to eight years. Last year, she was pregnant. After being drugged by Madam Murong, she lost a lot of blood and was eventually carried out dead on a straw mat…
Gu Yunzhen turned her face to the window and stared blankly at the cat outside. Her long eyelashes cast faint shadows on her fair cheeks.
The calico cat was frolicking in the sunny courtyard, carefree and meowing non-stop.
The atmosphere in the room was unusually quiet and lonely.
Gu Yunzhen sighed slightly, and her eyes dimmed for a moment, as if something was slowly sinking into a deep pool of water.
190 Unwilling
Gu Yanfei stared at Gu Yunzhen for a long time and noticed the subtle change in her expression.
Gu Yunzhen retracted her gaze from the cat and met Gu Yanfei's clear pupils. There was a gentle smile on her beautiful face.
She picked up her teacup and took another sip before saying calmly, "My father is a concubine's son in the Marquis Mansion. Apart from my mother, he has a concubine and two concubines by his side."
"That's it." Her red lips curled up slightly as she smiled at Gu Yanfei with a serious expression on her pearl-like face. "Everyone says that my father has peace and quiet around him. They all praise my mother for her good fortune."
"Also, do you know how many concubines Second Uncle has?"
The Second Uncle Gu Yunzhen was talking about was naturally the Marquis of Dingyuan, Gu Jian.
"…" Gu Yanfei shook her head silently.
How could she know? She only knew two aunts with children from the second branch.
Gu Yunzhen raised four fingers at her.
He also had concubines.
Gu Yanfei had yet to reach marriageable age. Gu Yunzhen actually did not want to dirty her sister's ears by saying these things, but Gu Yanfei was already at the age to talk about marriage. However, her mother was no longer around, and her grandmother would definitely not tell her these things from the bottom of her heart.
She was the eldest sister, and the eldest sister was like a mother who should take care of her sister.
Just as her mother had said, a girl had to get married eventually. Before she got married, she was a precious daughter at home. When she got married in the future, she would have to face the scheming of her husband's family. She would have to be filial to her in-laws and take care of the house…
Gu Yunzhen clenched the handkerchief in her hand tightly. Her slender fingers straightened as she continued rationally, "In this huge capital, almost every family has concubines."
"It's the way of the world."
She wasn't complaining about anything. She was just rationally stating the current situation as a fact, without any criticism.
The golden morning light shone from the window on the side of Gu Yunzhen's face. The sunlight and tree shadows gently brushed her slightly furrowed eyebrows.
"Big Sister, are you willing?" Gu Yanfei reached out and hooked Gu Yunzhen's ring finger.
Gu Yunzhen did not answer. Her eyes lowered again, and she slowly raised her hand to take the teacup.
Ever since her father passed away, the third branch no longer had a man who could support the family. They were also marginalized at the Marquis Mansion. Moreover, the third branch was a concubine's branch.
It was Madam's intention to let her bring joy by getting married.
If she did not marry, Mother's life in the Marquis Mansion would probably not be easy in the future…
"Meow, meow, meow—"
Outside the window, the kitten meowed happily again. The cat was enjoying itself, free and easy. Suddenly, it flew onto a plum tree, but its claws did not tighten. Its body slid down again, its sharp claws leaving long scratches on the trunk.
Gu Yunzhen could not help but smile. Her beautiful eyes curved, and her eyebrows relaxed.
Scenes of her father carrying her to build a snowman and break plum blossoms appeared in her mind.
Gu Yanfei held Gu Yunzhen's hand and said gently, "As long as Big Sister is unwilling, don't marry him."
She smiled with a moon-white indifference. There was a faint freedom between her eyebrows, an arrogance that ignored rules and etiquette.
Gu Yunzhen looked at Gu Yanfei's exquisite and beautiful face and was in a daze for a moment. Then, she smiled.
She raised her hand and gently stroked the top of Gu Yanfei's head. Her smile was gentle as she said solemnly, "In the future, let Big Brother choose your marriage for you. Don't let Grandma interfere…"
Gu Yunzhen was as clear as a mirror. She had long understood and thought it through.
Their grandmother only cared about the future of the Marquis Mansion and only wanted to pave the way for the Marquis Mansion and Gu Yunrong. The marriage of their grandchildren would only become a bargaining chip in their grandmother's hands.
Gu Yunzhen's expression was calm as she said in a low voice, "Even if the other party's family background isn't that high, it's fine as long as they're good."
Get married. Gu Yanfei sighed silently in her heart. Her expression was neither expectant nor disgusted.
In her previous life, she was just cannon fodder. For no reason, she was involved in the jealousy between Gu Yunrong, Fang Mingfeng, and Chu You. For some reason, she became known as someone who had broken off the engagement.
Later, she passed away early and never discussed marriage again before she died.
It had only been more than two months since she returned to this small world. She had never realized that she needed to "get married" too.