Destined

The two of them returned to the Gu Family together. As soon as they entered, Jiang Rou anxiously came forward to meet them.

Seeing Liu Yuru, she felt slightly more at ease. After glancing at Gu Jiusi, she suppressed her anxiety and said to Liu Yuru, "I heard that the eldest son of the Wang family bullied you today?"

Liu Yuru acknowledged with a sound, then added, "I don't know what happened, but he suddenly came to the door, pretending not to recognize my identity and saying unpleasant things."

Jiang Rou sighed upon hearing this. "It's common for women to face such situations when going out. Don't take it to heart. I'll go to his house tomorrow to speak with his father. We must get justice for this."

"There's no need..." Liu Yuru felt somewhat awkward. She calculated that it should be the Wang family coming to the Gu Family to discuss the matter now.

Seeing Liu Yuru's expression, Jiang Rou's heart sank slightly. She carefully asked, "Did Jiusi take action?"

"He did," Gu Jiusi answered decisively without any attempt to conceal it. "I said I'd break his legs, and I broke his legs."

"You!"

Hearing this, even the usually mild-tempered Jiang Rou couldn't help raising her voice. But Gu Jiusi didn't care at all. "Mother, don't trouble yourself. Tomorrow I'll go with you to the Wang residence to apologize. You can break my legs right in front of his father. I'm not afraid! Even if my legs are broken, I want that bastard to know that people from the Gu Family aren't someone he can mess with casually!"

"Oh you, you," Jiang Rou slowly collected herself as she listened to Gu Jiusi speak. She felt somewhat helpless - she had always known her son's temperament. As soon as something happened to Liu Yuru, servants had rushed back to report. Given Wang Rong's words, she felt breaking his legs wasn't excessive. But times were different now. She could only say, "Jiusi, you should grow up a bit. Many things can't be solved through brute force. When Wang Rong troubled Yuru today, he still pretended not to recognize the Gu Family. By directly confronting him, you've humiliated the Wang family. Even if we were in the right originally, we've lost our standing now."

Gu Jiusi sneered. "What's right or wrong? It's just everyone's fig leaf. If our Gu Family has power and influence, he wouldn't dare say a word. If our family loses power, given the Wang family's petty character, wouldn't they skin us alive? Mother," Gu Jiusi stepped forward, "please speak with uncle and have him find a way to remove Wang Rong's father from his position as military governor. That's how we eliminate future troubles."

"Nonsense!" Jiang Rou scolded coldly. She looked at Gu Jiusi, feeling somewhat weary. After thinking for a moment, she sighed and said, "Forget it, I'll discuss this with your father. Tomorrow you'll go with him to apologize to the Wang family."

Then she ordered: "Lock the young master in the ancestral hall. Jiusi," Jiang Rou said slowly, "your temperament really needs some tempering."

Servants came forward to take Gu Jiusi away. He shook off his sleeves and said directly, "No need, I'll go myself."

With that, Gu Jiusi went to the ancestral hall on his own. Liu Yuru watched, unsure who to follow. Jiang Rou glanced at Liu Yuru and said, "Yuru, come with me."

Liu Yuru worriedly glanced at Gu Jiusi before following Jiang Rou into the room.

Jiang Rou entered the room and sat in a chair. She raised her hand to massage her forehead, seeming somewhat exhausted.Liu Yu Ru poured tea for Jiang Rou and softly consoled, "Mother-in-law, please don't fret too much. Although Jiusi acted impulsively this time, he wasn't entirely without reason. The Wang family has been excessively bullying, and if we remained silent, we'd appear easily intimidated."

"I understand that as well."

Jiang Rou accepted the tea from Liu Yu Ru's hand with some helplessness. "In the past, I wouldn't have found any issue with Jiusi acting this way. But today..."

Jiang Rou hesitated for a moment before finally saying, "I shouldn't really be discussing these matters with you younger generation, causing you unnecessary worry. However, since Jiusi has made such a big scene, I think it's important to let you know, so at least you understand the situation. Currently... His Majesty seems to have grown wary of Prince Liang."

Hearing this, Liu Yu Ru's heart gave a slight tremble. Jiang Rou carefully elaborated, "I don't have exact details about the specific information, as everyone is currently watching and waiting. Although my brother holds a high position at court, he has close ties with Prince Liang. If His Majesty truly intends to move against Prince Liang, then we must be extremely cautious, at least ensuring we don't provide any handles that could be used against us in the Eastern Capital, becoming a burden to my brother."

"Then... what about Jiusi's actions today..."

"I'm afraid he might have fallen into a trap."

Liu Yu Ru sighed.

"Jiusi is actually right about one thing - now that we've created this enmity, the proper course would be to have the Wang family transferred away from Yangzhou. But what Jiusi doesn't understand is that the position of military governor is different from other official posts. As a military appointment, it's closely tied to military forces. If you want the Wang family to leave their stronghold, where would you have them transferred? Moving to another location would essentially strip the military governor of all his power - who would willingly accept that? Currently, we shouldn't make any major moves either. Your uncle has his own troubles to deal with and can't spare the effort to take action against the Wang family."

After Jiang Rou's explanation, Liu Yu Ru pondered briefly and already understood the sequence of events from her dream.

The Emperor was now seriously ill and suspicious of Prince Liang, wanting to eliminate this major threat for his son before his death. Thus he was forcing Prince Liang to rebel. The Wang family must have already learned of this and was waiting for an opportunity to strike through Gu Jiusi, looking for reasons to demote his uncle. If Gu Jiusi's uncle fell from power and Prince Liang rebelled, and later Prince Liang was killed by Fan Xuan, the military governor of Youzhou, the empire would fall into chaos. The Gu Family, with their immense wealth, would naturally become a coveted target for the Wang family...

Liu Yu Ru secretly clenched her fist. Jiang Rou was still rubbing her forehead, saying slowly, "But we don't need to panic too much. The Wang family doesn't have many connections in the Eastern Capital, so they probably wouldn't get the information this quickly..."

"No, mother-in-law," Liu Yu Ru urgently responded, "we can't afford to think optimistically. You must assume that the Wang family has indeed set a trap for Jiusi."

Jiang Rou looked up at Liu Yu Ru, who continued urgently, "Uncle is the Gu Family's backing - he must not fall under any circumstances. We can't give the Wang family any handles to use against us in the Eastern Capital. If the Wang family truly plans to trap us, breaking a leg won't be their only move. They must have further actions planned to push the Gu Family into the spotlight. It's even possible that Lord Wang is already bringing Wang Rong to the Gu residence to apologize at this very moment. If he really comes to apologize, the Gu Family's reputation for bullying will be firmly established!"

Hearing this, Jiang Rou's face turned pale.

"We can't delay," Liu Yu Ru said immediately. "You must take Jiusi to apologize right now. Not only must you apologize, but you must apologize thoroughly, so publicly that everyone sees it and is convinced, leaving no room for accusations of bias."Upon hearing this, Jiang Rou felt her heart ache unbearably. Yet she still took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and after a long moment, opened them and said, "You're right. Call Jiusi over. I'll take him there now."

Liu Yuru acknowledged the order and hurried to the prayer hall, where Gu Jiusi was sitting cross-legged in front of the altar, eating a chicken leg. Seeing him like this, Liu Yuru couldn't help but laugh. "Who gave you that chicken leg?"

"Munan," Gu Jiusi replied without hesitation, taking a cloth from a nearby attendant and elegantly wiping his mouth. "They only said to confine me to the prayer hall, not to starve me. Only a vicious woman like you could be so cruel to me."

Liu Yuru pressed her lips together, watching his arrogant demeanor. For some reason, thinking about what she had to say next suddenly made her feel sad.

Gu Jiusi glanced her over and said bluntly, "If you have something to say, just say it. Don't hesitate."

Liu Yuru looked at the attendant beside them, who quickly withdrew, leaving only the two of them in the prayer hall. She walked up to Gu Jiusi, knelt down, and gazed at him quietly. "Your mother is taking you to apologize to the Wang family."

"So soon?" Gu Jiusi was surprised.

It was already nighttime; an apology should wait until tomorrow.

Liu Yuru gave a bitter smile and explained, "I'll tell you, though I'm not sure you'll understand. The Emperor is now suspicious of Prince Liang. Wang Rong's incident might be a trap."

After saying this, she felt she had been too brief and that Gu Jiusi probably wouldn't understand. Just as she was about to explain further, she heard him say, "I don't regret it."

Liu Yuru was taken aback. Gu Jiusi looked at her calmly, his eyes clear and penetrating. "Actually, on my way to beat him up, I considered this possibility, but I still decided to hit him. This matter isn't hard to resolve. I'll go apologize with my mother, break one of my legs in front of everyone, and even if it's reported to the Eastern Capital, they won't be able to pursue it further."

With that, Gu Jiusi sighed and smiled, though his eyes held bitterness. "It seems the Gu Family is about to face some storms."

Liu Yuru didn't speak. She felt a pang of sadness as she looked at him, sensing that he seemed to have suddenly matured. Or perhaps he had always been clear-minded but, having had the privilege, had allowed himself to be indulgent. Now, he was forced to confront things he had never wanted to think about.

For some reason, Liu Yuru had initially hoped this person would become more responsible and mature, to be a good man. But now that he was showing signs of maturity, she felt that it would be more joyful if people could remain forever youthful and untouched by hardship.

Seeing her expression, Gu Jiusi couldn't help but laugh. "What's with that look? I'm the one who might lose a leg, and I'm not sad. Why are you upset?"

"Gu Jiusi..." she sighed and said, "Don't worry, I'll go with you. If your leg really gets broken, I'll carry you back."

"Since when is it your turn to do that?" Gu Jiusi stood up and walked out with her, still wearing his usual carefree smile. "The Gu Family hasn't fallen so far that we need the young mistress to carry people, right?"

"Enough," he pinched his cheek. "Why the long face? I've already thought this through. Don't worry about it."Liu Yu Ru remained silent as she walked beside Gu Jiusi. Their sleeves brushed against each other, and she distinctly sensed a faint tremor in Gu Jiusi's sleeve.

He was afraid after all.

At that moment, Liu Yu Ru realized it clearly.

Gu Jiusi was intelligent, but within his limited life experience, when his parents first revealed their vulnerability and made him understand that he must grow up and face the storms ahead, he still harbored a trace of weakness.

He just never spoke of it or showed it.

Yet Liu Yu Ru keenly felt this unease. As they walked along the corridor, she instinctively reached out and held his hand.

Gu Jiusi turned to her in surprise, and Liu Yu Ru gazed at him calmly.

Her eyes were both resolute and gentle.

"Don't be afraid," she said, her voice carrying an invisible strength that soothed and embraced him in that moment. He listened as she continued, "I'm here with you. I'll help you stand tall. You won't lose face."

Gu Jiusi didn't respond, quietly studying her.

For some reason, in that brief moment, his hand stopped trembling.

He forced a smile.

"Alright then," he said. "Thank you, my young lady."