Liu Yu Ru quietly watched Gu Jiusi, who seemed completely at a loss before her. Her expression was calm, her tear-stained eyes holding an indescribable composure. Yet it was precisely this composure that made Gu Jiusi somewhat afraid. The knife at his neck meant nothing—with his skills, he could have easily disarmed Liu Yu Ru before she even moved. What truly frightened him was her current state.
Gu Jiusi truly believed that at this moment, Liu Yu Ru was risking her life to discuss this matter with him.
He dared not joke with her. He clearly understood now how despairing it was for Liu Yu Ru to marry into his family and become his wife.
If what she said was true...
Then she must have originally liked Ye Shi'an, right?
This thought flashed through Gu Jiusi's mind, and a wave of guilt surged over him. He grew flustered and uncertain. He wanted to tell her that he was willing to step aside for her and Ye Shi'an, but he feared saying the wrong thing again. After a long pause, he stammered, "You... put the knife away, and we can talk slowly."
"Let's talk at home."
That was all Liu Yu Ru said. Gu Jiusi rubbed his temples in frustration and replied, "Fine, fine, we'll go home, right now."
Liu Yu Ru sheathed the knife and stood up, positioning herself respectfully to the side.
Gu Jiusi adjusted his clothes, and Liu Yu Ru watched him warily. When he moved, she behaved like the most gentle and virtuous wife imaginable. Gu Jiusi stretched lazily and headed toward the inner room. Liu Yu Ru quickly asked, "What are you going to do?"
"Change my clothes," Gu Jiusi sighed. Liu Yu Ru immediately grabbed his sleeve and said calmly, "No need. There are clothes prepared at home. Let's go back now."
She wasn't sure if Gu Jiusi, given his temperament, would try to escape while changing.
With that, Liu Yu Ru began dragging Gu Jiusi outside. He sighed repeatedly as she pulled him downstairs with both hands, complaining, "What's the point? Is it really necessary to rush like this, just for a change of clothes?"
Liu Yu Ru remained silent. Gu Jiusi felt everyone's eyes on them. Embarrassed, he shouted at the onlookers, "What are you staring at?! Aren't you afraid of going blind?!"
The crowd suppressed their laughter and quickly turned away, though they continued stealing glances from the corners of their eyes.
Gu Jiusi felt that all the dignity he had accumulated over the years had been lost in a single day. When they entered the carriage together, he couldn't help but grumble, "If you wanted to find me, you could have just done so. I'm not unreasonable. But making such a scene—where does that leave my dignity?"
"Do you need dignity?" Liu Yu Ru lifted her eyes to look at him.
Gu Jiusi was baffled. "Don't I deserve dignity?"
"You won't need it from now on."
As she spoke, Liu Yu Ru tossed a copy of The Analects at him and said flatly, "Read this. Starting today, you're not to go out casually. Study hard. When Ye Shi'an's exam results are announced, whatever rank he achieves, you must not perform worse than him in the imperial examinations."
"Liu Yu Ru," Gu Jiusi grew anxious upon hearing this, "are you really this vain and competitive? What does his rank have to do with me?"
Liu Yu Ru sneered, "If I hadn't married you, I would be Madame Ye by now."
Gu Jiusi was stung by her words. He knew she was speaking the truth, but it still bothered him. He threw the book aside and said unhappily, "I won't compete with him."
"Because you can't win, right?"Liu Yu Ru bent down to pick up the book, dusting it off. "It's fine. I never expected you to win anyway."
Gu Jiusi remained silent, sulking as he retorted, "I originally felt somewhat guilty, but after hearing that, I don't feel the slightest bit of remorse anymore!"
Liu Yu Ru plucked a grape from the side, lowering her gaze as she peeled it. "That's alright. I don't care for your guilt either. Whether you like it or not, you will study this book."
"I won't study!"
Gu Jiusi shouted, "Let's see what you can do about it! I'm getting off the carriage, I—"
Before he could finish, Liu Yu Ru's blade was already leveled in front of him.
"Go ahead."
Liu Yu Ru sneered, "If you step off this carriage today, one of us will die—either you or me."
Gu Jiusi fell silent, staring at Liu Yu Ru. Her expression showed no pretense; though she wore a smile, her eyes held no warmth. "My life is already ruined anyway."
Hearing this, Gu Jiusi swallowed hard. After a long pause, he irritably returned to his seat, muttering under his breath, "Always talking about death... you're so inauspicious."
Liu Yu Ru: "Heh."
The party arrived at the Gu residence. As soon as they entered, Gu Jiusi hastily jumped down.
He had already made up his mind: he couldn't win against Liu Yu Ru. His guilt made him feel inferior in her presence, so he needed to seek out his parents—they would surely find a way to persuade her.
He scurried all the way to Gu Lang Hua and Jiang Rou's room, while Liu Yu Ru followed leisurely behind. A maid trailed her, holding grapes, and Liu Yu Ru ate as she walked. From afar, she could already hear Gu Jiusi's exaggerated wails.
"Father!! Mother!! I'm being driven to death!!"
"Is he always this dramatic?"
Liu Yu Ru turned to ask the maid beside her.
The maid stifled a laugh and whispered, "The young master has always been rather unreliable."
Liu Yu Ru knew Gu Jiusi was unreliable. But she hadn't expected that such unreliability could be contagious.
She had always thought Jiang Rou was an outstanding woman and Gu Lang Hua a distinguished figure among the older generation. Yet, as soon as she stepped into the courtyard, she saw Gu Jiusi clinging to Gu Lang Hua's leg, howling and begging them to take his side. And these two parents, who had previously seemed perfectly normal, actually believed him—Jiang Rou looked heartbroken, while Gu Lang Hua appeared troubled.
Liu Yu Ru's heart sank. Suddenly, she understood where Gu Jiusi's temperament came from.
She cleared her throat softly and entered the main hall, speaking gently, "Father-in-law, Mother-in-law."
At the sound of Liu Yu Ru's voice, Gu Jiusi wailed even louder, "Mother! You must stand up for me! I don't want to study! Studying gives me headaches, stomachaches, body aches! I'm suffering!"
"Alright, alright, no more studying," Jiang Rou quickly relented. "Let's just... I'll think of another way..."
"Mother-in-law," Liu Yu Ru said softly, "The young master is nearly eighteen now but still acts like a child. As parents, you must consider his future, don't you agree?"
These words sobered Jiang Rou somewhat. She looked at Gu Jiusi with difficulty, her heart aching like a knife wound as she met his pleading eyes.
Liu Yu Ru stood behind Gu Jiusi and said gently, "Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, please go and rest. I'll take my husband back now. There's no need for you to worry.""Indeed." Gu Langhua was the first to speak. "Rou'er, since we've agreed, let Yuru take charge."
"Father!" Gu Jiusi stared at Gu Langhua in shock. Jiang Rou couldn't bear to look at Gu Jiusi, patting his hand as she held it and gritting her teeth. "Jiusi, Mother is doing this for your own good."
With that, Jiang Rou released Gu Jiusi and stood up. Gu Jiusi grew even more astonished, exclaiming loudly, "Mother!"
Jiang Rou turned away, supported by Gu Langhua, and quickly retreated into the inner chamber.
Liu Yuru stood behind Gu Jiusi, speaking gently, "Husband, get up and study now."
Get up and study now.
Get up and study now.
Get up and study now!
These words echoed in Gu Jiusi's ears like a haunting spell. It took him a long moment to react, his voice trembling as he said, "You... what have you done to my parents?"
"Husband," Liu Yuru sighed, "I'm doing all this for your own good."
"No, no, no," Gu Jiusi shook his head. "Miss Liu, Sister Yuru, Fairy Liu, I was wrong. I shouldn't have provoked you. Let's sit down and discuss this properly. I'm really not suited for studying—I'll do anything else you ask except study. I've been frail since childhood, unfit for studying. Reading gives me headaches..."
"Stomachaches, body aches all over."
Liu Yuru finished his sentence for him. Gu Jiusi nodded desperately. Liu Yuru smiled faintly. "What does that have to do with me?"
"I only care about whether I can become an Imperial Order Lady."
Liu Yuru spoke with complete frankness. Gu Jiusi's face turned deathly pale. Gnashing his teeth, he said, "Liu Yuru, don't push me too far!"
"Oh," Liu Yuru's expression remained calm. "Are you threatening me?"
"Yes," Gu Jiusi said angrily. "If you keep this up, I'll... I'll..."
"You'll what?" Liu Yuru's expression didn't change.
Gu Jiusi scurried around the hall as if searching for something. Liu Yuru sipped her tea, watching him calmly. Unable to find the paper and brush he was looking for, Gu Jiusi turned back and declared with full bravado, "I'll divorce you!"
Everyone gasped sharply.
In the inner chamber, Jiang Rou and Gu Langhua exchanged glances. Gu Langhua immediately moved to fetch a stick, but Jiang Rou stopped him, shaking her head.
Liu Yuru took a sip of tea and said calmly, "I'll ask you one last time: will you study or not?"
"I! WILL! NOT! STUDY!"
Gu Jiusi answered with full force.
Liu Yuru slammed her hand on the table and shouted, "Wang Shou! Lock him in the study!"
Hearing this, Gu Jiusi sneered, "This is my house..."
Before he could finish the word "house," he saw guards filing in.
"Young Master, forgive my offense."
Wang Shou raised his hand to attack him. Gu Jiusi was filled with grief and indignation. "Wang Shou, even you betray me!"
"This isn't betrayal," Wang Shou said calmly. "My master now is the Young Madam."
Gu Jiusi felt as if his entire world was collapsing.
What on earth had happened?!
He had only gone to the brothel once, and now Liu Yuru wasn't the tearful Liu Yuru anymore, his parents weren't his loving parents anymore, and even his martial arts teacher Wang Shou wasn't his teacher anymore!
While fending off the continuous attacks from the guards and trying to break out of the Gu residence, Gu Jiusi was utterly heartbroken.
Liu Yuru stood with Yin Hong, watching Gu Jiusi fight all the guards alone in the courtyard, leaping up and down with agile movements.
Yin Hong looked puzzled. "Didn't the Young Master say he was frail?""He's not in poor health," Liu Yuru remarked coolly, "he's just weak in the head."
Yin Hong: "The young mistress speaks wisely."
After being relentlessly worn down by the guards in a wheel battle all afternoon, Gu Jiusi was finally subdued and escorted to the study.
When Gu Jiusi was thrown into the study, he felt cold, hungry, and aching all over, yet the room contained nothing.
Only books! Books! Books!
His head felt ready to explode. After resting on the cold floor for a while, he struggled to his feet and began pounding on the door.
"Hey! Fine, lock me up, but at least give me something to eat!"
The response came from his former servant Munan's trembling voice.
"Young master... the young mistress said you must recite the first chapter of the Analects before you can eat."
"Screw that! I'd rather starve to death!" Gu Jiusi roared.
Munan shrank back nervously.
Liu Yuru stood at the doorway, turning to Yin Hong: "Let's roast a lamb tonight."
Yin Hong: "???"
Liu Yuru instructed: "Right here in the courtyard. And prepare some fine wine too."
Yin Hong laughed cheerfully: "Excellent!"
Gu Jiusi fell asleep in the study.
He was awakened by a tantalizing aroma - the scent of roasted lamb mingled with the delicate fragrance of fine wine drifting into his nostrils. He inhaled deeply.
This made him even hungrier.
He could hear merry singing and laughter outside.
His stomach growled loudly.
So hungry, truly starving.
He couldn't hold out any longer.
With great effort, he reached out in the darkness, lit a lamp, and took out the Analects.
Outside was everyone's jubilant celebration, inside was his solitary suffering. As he recited, he felt like crying.
Actually, he was quite clever - all his childhood tutors had praised him for it. Driven by hunger, he memorized even faster.
Soon, he began banging on the door again.
"Liu Yuru! Liu Yuru! Open this door for me!"
Liu Yuru and the others were drinking and feasting when they heard Gu Jiusi's urgent shouts: "Save me a lamb leg! I've memorized it!"
Author's note:
Liu Yuru: Having fun, my husband?
Gu Jiusi: The fun is all yours, I'm not happy at all
OpenNovel