Destined

The wind blew coldly. Qin Nan quietly watched Jiang He. The man opposite showed none of the exposed emotions he himself displayed, maintaining instead the calm detachment of an outsider, as if everything that had happened twenty-one years ago had nothing to do with him.

Qin Nan couldn't understand it.

Couldn't comprehend how such a person could exist.

He felt an unprecedented surge of anger rising within him, yet under the other's gaze, that anger cooled bit by bit before reaching its peak. When it had completely subsided, Qin Nan actually felt pathetic.

Yes, pathetic.

His twenty-one years, Luo Yishui's entire life—under this person's indifferent gaze, seemed so pitiful and wretched.

Jiang He observed all the shifting expressions on Qin Nan's face, remaining impassive throughout. After a long while, as the wind carried a light drizzle, Jiang He composed his expression, turned around and said, "Lord Qin, let's go back."

"Don't you feel any guilt?"

Qin Nan suddenly spoke up. Jiang He paused in his steps, quietly gazing at a flourishing crabapple tree in the courtyard ahead. After a long time, he finally said, "When a person dies, the lamp goes out. Lord Qin, what's past is past. Let's not mention it anymore."

"Do you feel guilty?"

Qin Nan was unusually persistent: "Do you know what she did for you..."

"Did she want me to know?"

Jiang He suddenly interrupted, stunning Qin Nan into silence. Jiang He turned back, calmly watching Qin Nan.

He finally lost his usual smile and that air of frivolity, looking at Qin Nan with seriousness and coldness: "Was she willing?"

Willing?

Qin Nan was stunned by the question.

He had always been slow-witted, never able to understand that woman's carefree and elusive thoughts in her presence. Having grown up following rules and studying the Four Books and Five Classics, he couldn't comprehend, yet he knew that Luo Yishui had never revealed even half a word back then—how could that mean she was willing?

Seeing Qin Nan's expression, Jiang He lowered his gaze: "Qin Nan, actually, you never understood her."

"In her heart, everything she did wasn't a sacrifice for me—it was her choice. She didn't want my pity."

"And to answer your question," Jiang He raised his eyes to look at Qin Nan, "I feel no guilt, nor any regret. When I, Jiang He, do something, I never look back once it's done. You can resent me, hate me, despise me. If you have the capability, you can avenge her by killing me."

"The only reason I don't want to bring up the past is out of consideration for her reputation. Do whatever you want today," Jiang He warned, "but don't drag the deceased into this."

Qin Nan remained silent. Jiang He cupped his hands in a salute, then turned and left.

Jiang He entered the house. This time he had come out in a hurry, without his usual maidservant, alone.

He entered the room, stood for a while, then sat down at the desk. He opened the incense burner and lit the freshly replaced incense coil.

Gu Jiusi sat in the room, watching the three hesitant men.

He had explained the compensation plan to the three of them, but they had remained silent. Gu Jiusi wasn't in a hurry, giving them time to think it over slowly. After a long while, Zhao Master forced a difficult smile and said, "Lord Gu, although we were at fault, it could be said we've atoned through our merits...""Master Zhao," Gu Jiusi set down his teacup and spoke slowly, "I believe I've made it clear to you that this matter isn't something I can decide alone. Today I've already done my utmost to help. Either we let Lord Li continue his investigation - just the charge of treason alone would be enough to wipe out all your families completely. Or you follow my suggestion: hand over the money, and we'll pretend these past few days never happened. We'll only pursue the evidence we already have, and for crimes other than heinous acts like murder, I can ask Lord Li to consider leniency according to the law. Gentlemen," Gu Jiusi lowered his voice, "while there's life, there's hope."

Everyone fell silent. The three men had already prepared themselves before coming, and this wasn't an unacceptable outcome. After a long while, Master Chen was the first to stand up. He knelt on the ground, kowtowed, and said quietly, "I'll send someone with the silver tomorrow. Thank you for your mercy, sir."

With someone setting the example, the others stopped resisting. They stood up, followed with their bows, and then left the room.

After they departed, Gu Jiusi hesitated in the room for a moment before finally standing up and going directly to Jiang He's quarters.

When he entered, he saw Jiang He lost in thought - a rare sight that gave him pause. After some hesitation, he finally spoke: "Uncle."

Jiang He turned to look at Gu Jiusi, who bowed respectfully. Jiang He nodded: "Settled?"

"Settled."

As he spoke, Gu Jiusi entered the room and sat opposite Jiang He. Jiang He poured him tea, and neither spoke - Jiang He was clever enough that the details needed no elaboration.

When the tea was poured, Jiang He said calmly, "Ask whatever you want to ask."

Gu Jiusi remained silent for a long time before saying, "You were out of character today, Uncle."

Jiang He didn't respond.

Gu Jiusi continued, "You shouldn't have interrupted and emphasized who you were to Lord Qin beforehand."

"What's wrong with that?"

Jiang He swirled his teacup. Gu Jiusi watched him and said quietly, "Lord Qin knows you."

"Perhaps."

"I asked you before if you knew Lord Qin, and you said no."

"Was I wrong?"

"Are you still going to lie to me at this point?"

Gu Jiusi stared at Jiang He, whose hand holding the cup stilled. He looked up at Gu Jiusi.

The sound of falling rain echoed outside. Jiang He gazed at him calmly before finally setting down his teacup.

"I have no children - I've always regarded you as my own since you were young." He leaned back in his chair, looking at Gu Jiusi. "Our Jiang family originally had three children. My eldest brother died, I have no heirs, only your mother gave birth to you. When you were young, I wanted to raise you properly, but your parents spoiled you too much, and I lacked patience. Still, I knew you were clever - I just never imagined you'd be this perceptive."

Leaning forward, he asked: "Why do you think I know Qin Nan?"

"He recognized you and wanted to say your name first, and you knew he recognized you, so you introduced yourself preemptively.As Gu Jiusi stated his conclusion, Jiang He made a noncommittal sound and perfunctorily said: "So, I have matters from my past that I'd rather keep private." Must you know everything?"Gu Jiusi remained silent for a moment, then took a deep breath and finally said, "Since you're unwilling to speak of it, I won't press further. Though I don't know the specifics, I've already grasped the general situation. I only have one question for you."

Gu Jiusi looked intently at Jiang He and asked solemnly, "Will this have any impact on future circumstances?"

Jiang He didn't respond immediately. After a long pause, he finally said, "If you're referring to that child, I can say with certainty—no."

"But if you mean matters involving old acquaintances," Jiang He smiled, his eyes tinged with helplessness, "then it's not so certain."

"You're on my side, aren't you?" Gu Jiusi watched Jiang He closely.

Jiang He replied calmly, "Jiusi," his voice earnest, "we are family."

Gu Jiusi took another deep breath, bowed deeply to the ground, and said respectfully, "Please remember this."

"I remember."

Jiang He turned to look outside at the fine rain pattering on the branches. "I am a member of the Jiang family—this, I remember more clearly than anyone."

Their conversation ended there. After paying his respects, Gu Jiusi rose and returned to his room.

When he entered, Liu Yu Ru was lying in bed reading. Seeing him come in, she quickly got up to approach him, but Gu Jiusi stopped her, removing his outer garments himself. "My clothes carry the chill from outside, don't come too close."

After saying this, he set his clothes aside and entered the room properly. Only after warming up did he beckon Liu Yu Ru over. She came before him, and he held her tightly in his embrace. After holding her for a long moment, he finally released her and asked, "Why aren't you asleep yet?"

"I was waiting for you," Liu Yu Ru said with a smile. "When you're not here, the room feels empty and I can't sleep."

"Then I'll come back earlier from now on."

Gu Jiusi released her, gave her a kiss, then began his nightly ablutions. After washing up, they both settled into bed and began discussing the day's events in detail.

Unlike ordinary couples who might gossip about trivial household matters at bedtime—which over time could either make the husband overly concerned with such things or lead to conflicts—Gu Jiusi and Liu Yu Ru never faced such issues. They always had plenty to talk about each day.

After discussing arrangements for the local gentry, they moved on to various families' reactions, and from there to Liu Yu Ru's warehouses.

"With the new warehouses just built, I'm worried something might go wrong if I completely step back now. But if I continue exhausting myself with these matters and something happens to the child, would you blame me?"

Liu Yu Ru spoke these words in the dim light of night, glancing up at Gu Jiusi. Hearing this, he took her hand and sighed somewhat helplessly. "I'm not afraid of you laughing at me, and please don't be angry, but even now, I still don't feel much connection with this child."

"Oh?"

"At first I was happy, thinking we were going to have a child. But then I became somewhat afraid—I still feel like a child myself. How can I become a father? Will I be a good one? When I imagine what our child will look like, I hope they take after you. Thinking it over, I've come to realize that I don't actually love this child that much—it's only because you're the child's mother that I care for them."Liu Yu Ru remained silent, quietly listening as Gu Jiusi spoke. Gu Jiusi turned over, pulling Liu Yu Ru closer to him. Gazing blankly at the bed canopy, he murmured, "You're the one carrying the child, enduring the hardships, making the sacrifices. Since I can't do much, I naturally won't interfere. Just do what you think is best. If you want to continue managing the warehouses, tell me what needs to be done. Let me handle whatever tasks I can. If anything goes wrong later, I'd never blame you—I'd only feel it's my own incompetence for not being able to carry this child for you."

Hearing this, Liu Yu Ru couldn't help but chuckle softly. Leaning against Gu Jiusi, she whispered, "You always say such unreliable things. But I won't overexert myself either—I've consulted the physician, and moderate activity is actually better than strict confinement."

"Mhm. But you must let me handle whatever tasks I can."

"Alright."

Resting against Gu Jiusi, Liu Yu Ru pondered for a moment before continuing, "Today, Uncle and Lord Qin..."

"I've already inquired," Gu Jiusi said directly. "Since it's a private matter he doesn't wish to discuss, let it be."

Hearing this, Liu Yu Ru understood that Gu Jiusi had already obtained an answer but didn't wish to elaborate. Not being one to pry into others' private affairs, she didn't press further.

Feeling drowsy as she leaned against Gu Jiusi, she murmured sleepily, "After concluding the case here in Xingyang, we'll need to return to the Eastern Capital to report on our duties, right?"

"Mhm, we must give His Majesty an account."

"How long will we be gone? Will we return?"

"The Yellow River repairs aren't completed yet," Gu Jiusi sighed. "We'll likely have to come back."

"As for how long?" Staring at the ceiling, he said with some distress, "I'm afraid the entire coming month will keep us busy."