Destined

Shen Ming shuddered.

He thought Gu Jiusi was being overly dramatic.

He nudged Gu Jiusi and whispered, "Brother, let's be reasonable. Hitting sister-in-law would definitely hurt more than hitting you. Look how thick-skinned you are, while sister-in-law is so delicate—it would surely hurt her more."

Gu Jiusi: "..."

He felt that Shen Ming's bluntness far exceeded his own in his younger days. When they got off the carriage, Gu Jiusi patted Shen Ming's shoulder and said, "You're still young."

Who hadn't been young once? In his youth, he'd even stuffed banknotes into his wife's hands while she was crying!

Shen Ming knocked on the main gate, and the two entered the house together. As Gu Jiusi walked into the inner courtyard and reached the doorway, Munan stopped him. Before Munan could speak, Gu Jiusi looked up and said, "It's me."

"Young master?!"

Munan was taken aback. Gu Jiusi lowered his head and said, "I'm going to see my wife."

Understanding, Munan quickly led Gu Jiusi inside. As they walked through the inner courtyard, Gu Jiusi asked, "How is my wife?"

"Madam is asleep now," Munan replied softly, glancing nervously at Shen Ming. Shen Ming nodded, and Munan breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that Gu Jiusi already knew everything. He continued, "The physician examined her earlier and said she'll be fine with proper rest."

Gu Jiusi acknowledged this without another word. When they reached the door, he dismissed the others and carefully pushed it open.

Liu Yuru lay in bed. Though the pain made it hard to sleep, exhaustion weighed heavily on her. The physician had given her a sedative, and she drifted in a hazy state between sleep and wakefulness—torn by pain and drowsiness, though the pain had lessened considerably.

Her thoughts were with Gu Jiusi, but she didn't want to see him just yet. Knowing his temperament, she feared what he might do if he found out what had happened. Half-asleep, she planned to send someone later to check if Ye Shi'an and Shen Ming had returned and what news they might have brought. As she pondered this, she sensed someone enter and sit by her bedside.

Assuming it was Ye Yun, she asked in a weak voice, "Has your brother returned?"

Gu Jiusi paused, realizing she had mistaken him for someone else. A flicker of displeasure stirred within him—here she was, asking about Ye Shi'an instead of him. Sulking, he remained silent and simply watched her.

Today, she looked exceptionally frail: her face pale, a fine sweat on her brow, her eyebrows tightly knit, lacking her usual composure.

Gu Jiusi studied her quietly as she continued, "Did he mention Jiusi to you?"

Hearing this, his heart eased, like a curled leaf slowly unfurling in water. He took off his outer robe, lay down beside her, and whispered, "I'm back."

Liu Yuru's breath hitched. Gu Jiusi rested his head on his hand, gazing at her sideways. After a moment, as if suffocating from holding her breath, she suddenly opened her eyes and turned to look at him.

Gu Jiusi smiled, his eyes fixed entirely on her. Liu Yuru stared at him for a long time before finally rasping, "How did you..."

"I came back to see you.""His Majesty permitted it?" Liu Yuru sounded puzzled. Gu Jiusi's smile stiffened slightly, but he still nodded. "Yes, His Majesty allowed it. He said you were injured and told me to come back to accompany you."

"I specifically told him not to mention these things to you."

Liu Yuru frowned, seemingly displeased. Not wanting to let Fan Xuan take the blame, Gu Jiusi quickly added, "I actually figured it out myself first."

"You're far too clever," Liu Yuru said with a bitter smile. Gu Jiusi reached out and let her rest her head on his arm.

She's truly suffering, Gu Jiusi thought.

The outer robe he was wearing belonged to Ye Shi'an. Under normal circumstances, Liu Yuru would have noticed immediately, but now she remained completely unaware. She simply curled up against him like a helpless kitten, relying on him entirely.

"Have you finished handling all the matters?"

Liu Yuru still remembered to ask him. Gu Jiusi responded softly, "Yes, it's all done."

"What was decided?"

"Luo Zishang has been transferred away, elite troops have been deployed to the Eastern Capital, Li Yunshang's marriage was used to pressure the Empress Dowager into dropping the case, which was then handed over to the Censorate. The case was concluded as a treasury silver theft, with Liu Chun and others committing suicide out of guilt. Lu Yong has resigned from his post, recommending my uncle for the Minister position, and I've been reinstated to my official post."

Gu Jiusi laid out everything smoothly, unsure whether Liu Yuru fully understood. Seeing her leaning against him, he raised his hand to massage her head gently and said softly, "In any case, don't worry. I'm here."

His words "I'm here" were light, yet carried the weight of a thousand gold, bringing comfort to anyone who heard them.

Leaning against him and listening to his heartbeat, Liu Yuru slowly said, "I've been thinking a lot these days. I feel that I'm ultimately still somewhat useless."

This took Gu Jiusi by surprise, and he chuckled. "I was the one imprisoned, yet you worked tirelessly for me and suffered on my behalf." He paused, waiting for his tone to steady before continuing slowly, "I haven't even begun to reflect on myself yet. Why are you reflecting first?"

"Jiusi," Liu Yuru said with half-closed eyes, "the princess was right. I really can't help you."

"Are you still dwelling on what she said?" Gu Jiusi didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "You..."

"But I also want to have you all to myself."

Liu Yuru murmured drowsily. Hearing this, Gu Jiusi's heartbeat quickened abruptly, and joy spread through his chest. For some reason, he found himself unable to say a single word.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but his usually silver tongue suddenly lost its ability. Holding the person in his arms, he listened as she continued, "I used to think that as long as it was for your good, whether it was taking a concubine for you or sharing you with others, I could endure it. Everyone lives like this, and I could too. As long as you had me in your heart, that was enough for me."

"But now I realize that human greed is insatiable. The princess was right about everything. She can offer you more than I can. She's beautiful and has a charming personality. I think if she were to enter our household, over time, you would come to like her too."

Gu Jiusi listened while gently stroking her back and said tenderly, "That won't happen. I only like you."Yet Liu Yuru seemed unable to hear him clearly, murmuring vaguely, "I know, I know you've always liked me. And I like you too, unwilling to share you with anyone. I'm so selfish, obstructing your path. I ought to compensate you. But not only have I failed to compensate you, I couldn't even save you. Just thinking about it makes me feel utterly miserable."

Gu Jiusi finally couldn't hold back and laughed aloud: "You usually appear so dignified, how can you be this childish?"

Liu Yuru leaned against him without speaking. After a long while, listening to his laughter and feeling the vibration in his chest, she whispered: "I've always been childish."

Her voice grew even softer: "I'm still young, after all."

Gu Jiusi couldn't stop laughing. He pulled her into his embrace, holding her tightly for a moment: "You really are my treasure."

Then he released her, carefully lifting her hand as he said tenderly: "Let me take a look."

Liu Yuru finally grew somewhat embarrassed and tried to withdraw her hand. Gu Jiusi quickly grasped her wrist: "Don't hide, let me see."

Blushing, Liu Yuru remained silent. Gu Jiusi examined each of her fingers one by one before finally saying nothing. He simply embraced her again, this time holding her especially tight and forceful.

"Yuru," he said hoarsely, "I won't fail you."

"I don't care whether you fail me or not," Liu Yuru said softly. "What I care about is that you don't fail yourself."

After speaking, she hesitated for a moment before finally adding: "Jiusi, if there's anything you can't figure out in the future, just think about the past. Think about Yang Wenchang, think about why you became an official."

"I understand."

Holding Liu Yuru, Gu Jiusi murmured: "I'll remember everything you've said."

Liu Yuru said no more. The two simply leaned against each other quietly, listening to each other's breathing and heartbeat, feeling each other's warmth, skin, and the pulse of their blood.

Gu Jiusi stayed with Liu Yuru throughout the night.

Meanwhile, Ye Shi'an was tossing and turning in his prison cell, unable to sleep.

He felt deceived by Gu Jiusi.

Gu Jiusi had said the prison was comfortable, but this wasn't true at all. Though the stone bed was covered with bedding, dampness still seeped through from below, giving the blankets and mattress an indescribable musty chill. Left with no choice, he could only lay the blanket underneath as well, hoping the combined layers would provide more comfort. Eventually he discovered this didn't help much either, and finally resorted to lying on the bed himself, using his own body heat to dry out the bedding.

Gu Jiusi had said there were books in the cell to pass the time. But the so-called books in this room were nothing but various maps and some folk storybooks.

All this he could have endured, until midnight when he needed to relieve himself.

After searching around and calling for someone for a long time, he finally discovered a wooden bucket placed nearby.

Staring at this bucket, Ye Shi'an suddenly broke down.

Liar.

That big liar!!