Destined

Gu Jiusi's words left Liu Yu Ru momentarily stunned, unsure of how to respond.

Having spent considerable time with the Gu family, she had come to understand their way of thinking and acting. In the past, if she had heard Gu Jiusi speak of divorcing her, she would have genuinely believed he intended to drive her to despair. But now, she could clearly perceive that Gu Jiusi was making plans for her, acting in her best interest.

Gu Jiusi possessed a pair of eyes that could see through the illusions veiling the truth in this world, piercing straight to the essence. Thus, most of what he said was grounded in reality. If he divorced her, as long as she had money and could withstand the gossip, her life would continue as usual. With sufficient wealth and power, she might even live better.

He was now contemplating how to secure a path for her if the Gu family were to truly fall one day. Based on the current information, his thoughts were premature, likely spurred by the day's events. Yet, because of that dream, Liu Yu Ru knew clearly that this day might indeed come true.

If it did, would she truly accept the letter of divorce, or would she stay and share the Gu family's fate, for better or worse?

She didn't know.

The cries from that initial dream, Jiang Rou's blood, and the terror of Gu Jiusi walking toward her covered in wounds still haunted her. She loved the Gu family dearly, but she knew she was only human. If that day truly arrived...

She lowered her gaze.

She feared she would indeed leave.

This thought filled her with self-disgust. Noticing her silence, Gu Jiusi quickly added, "I was just talking nonsense. That day will never come. My parents are incredibly capable, so don't worry."

"I was just frightened," Gu Jiusi said with an exaggerated expression of fear, though his eyes held a trace of seriousness. "I've never seen my mother yield like that before. I'm genuinely scared, so don't let my ramblings lead you astray."

"I know," Liu Yu Ru sighed. "Go to sleep."

With that, Liu Yu Ru took the handkerchief, stood up, made some preparations, extinguished the lamp, and came to lie beside Gu Jiusi.

She lay down next to him, pulled up the covers in the darkness, and stared into the void.

"Actually, what you're thinking might have some merit," she suddenly said. Gu Jiusi, puzzled, made a questioning sound. Liu Yu Ru continued, "Let's consider the worst-case scenario. If, as you said, Prince Liang rebels one day, and your cousin is the Concubine of Prince Liang, with your uncle having deep ties to him, what do you think would happen next?"

Gu Jiusi remained silent. Liu Yu Ru turned to her side, watching him in the dark as he rested his head on his hands, seemingly deep in thought.

"I don't know," Gu Jiusi finally said after a long pause. "I have too little information. I'm afraid anything I think now could be wrong."

"Based on what you do know, what do you think would happen?"

"Why do you keep asking me?" Gu Jiusi sighed. "You know I used to spend my time drinking, gambling, and fighting crickets. Why would I have cared about such things?"

"But," Liu Yu Ru said bluntly, "I just feel that whatever you think is right."

Gu Jiusi was slightly taken aback. Praised like this, he felt a bit embarrassed. Seeing the expectant look in Liu Yu Ru's eyes, he finally relented, "Alright, alright. I'll just say whatever comes to mind. Listen casually, and don't take it seriously."

"Go on, tell me.""Next, it all depends on whether my uncle has any familial ties with the imperial princes. Actually, if I were my uncle, what I'd do now is desperately try to send another child from the family into the palace to marry either a prince or one of the princes' sisters. Then, when Prince Liang rebels, I'd stay on the sidelines, watch how the fighting goes, and support whoever wins."

"So your uncle plans to have you marry a princess."

Liu Yuru suddenly understood.

Gu Jiusi was stunned for a moment. He instinctively said, "Then doesn't that mean my uncle knows Prince Liang is going to rebel?!"

At these words, the two looked at each other. Seeing Gu Jiusi's shocked expression, Liu Yuru quickly raised her hand to pat his back in comfort, but then remembered his back was injured. So she changed direction and went to his head instead, stroking his hair as she comforted him: "It's alright, it's alright, you're just imagining things, it doesn't count."

"What are you stroking my head for? Treating me like a dog?"

Gu Jiusi rolled his eyes.

Liu Yuru smiled and didn't withdraw her hand, saying cheerfully: "Your hair is so smooth, it feels really nice to touch."

Hearing this, Gu Jiusi choked up, finding himself speechless before Liu Yuru for the first time. His face reddened as he turned away, muttering quietly: "How can you be so forward? A man's head shouldn't be touched randomly."

"But you're my husband," Liu Yuru said seriously.

Gu Jiusi immediately responded: "That still doesn't mean you can touch it whenever you want!"

"Tsk," Liu Yuru retorted, "so stingy."

It took Gu Jiusi a while to process Liu Yuru's words before he finally turned back and said: "Since when did you become so sharp-tongued?"

"Oh," Liu Yuru said calmly, "it's not too late to start getting to know me now."

"It is too late," Gu Jiusi said with a sorrowful expression.

"Why do you say that?"

"If I were to divorce you, I'm afraid you wouldn't just be sharp-tongued - you'd have iron teeth that could tear me to pieces bite by bite."

Liu Yuru was amused by Gu Jiusi's words. She giggled under the covers as the two young people chatted idly, sometimes about serious matters, sometimes veering into strange topics.

Gu Jiusi had much more life experience than Liu Yuru. He told her about things she had never heard of or seen - about street cockfighting, gambling in betting houses, feasting with martial heroes in taverns. Sometimes when Liu Yuru heard particularly bizarre stories, her wide-eyed disbelief would make Gu Jiusi laugh for a long time.

They talked intermittently until they grew sleepy, then drifted off to sleep. In the middle of the night, Gu Jiusi drowsily opened his eyes and saw Liu Yuru lying on her side, her head resting on his shoulder, pressed close against him like a kitten.

Without quite knowing why, he reached up and stroked her hair a couple of times before falling back asleep contentedly.

The next morning when Liu Yuru woke up, Gu Jiusi heard her stirring and said while yawning: "Please invite Master Wang over. I'll attend lessons in the room these days."

Master Wang was the tutor Liu Yuru had specially hired to teach about the current state of the world. Hearing Gu Jiusi's words, Liu Yuru understood his intention.Now it's probably too late to take the imperial examinations. The next exam is in three years, and even if he passes then, it would only mark the beginning of his official career. Given how bold Prince Liang's actions have already become, the Gu family might not last until Gu Jiusi rises through the ranks. The priority now is to master the most essential and critical knowledge. Liu Yu Ru's heart grew heavy as she realized that despite the lighthearted diversion last night, Gu Jiusi had already reached a firm conclusion in his heart.

She acknowledged his words and sent someone to fetch Mr. Wang, then prepared to seek out Jiang Rou and Gu Lang Hua.

Gu Jiusi called her back. Liu Yu Ru turned to see the young master lying prone on the bed, summer blossoms visible through the round window behind him. Suddenly, he broke into a smile—a radiant bloom like spring flowers, as if painted with heaven's own brushstroke of exquisite beauty.

"Little lady, just do what needs to be done. No need to worry so much."

His words hovered ambiguously between frivolity and solemnity, like some young noble casually jesting by the roadside.

Reading the flirtatious undertone, Liu Yu Ru flushed slightly and muttered "Shameless!" under her breath before turning to lead her attendants out.

Having successfully teased her, Gu Jiusi lay on the bed slapping the wooden frame in laughter.

Only after walking down the corridor did Liu Yu Ru's heartbeat gradually calm. Most men she'd previously encountered were like Ye Shi'an—respectful and proper, standing dutifully outside curtains lest any word overstep boundaries. This was her first encounter with someone as unrestrained as Gu Jiusi, leaving her both intrigued and exasperated.

What mattered most was that despite his wild temperament, he possessed such striking looks.

Deep down, all people—regardless of gender—are drawn to beautiful things. Setting aside that Gu Jiusi was actually unpolished jade at his core, even if he were truly worthless, he'd still merit the description "gold and jade without, rotten fluff within.""

At least the external gold and jade was something no one in all of Yangzhou could deny.

After composing herself, Liu Yu Ru proceeded to the main hall.

Jiang Rou and Gu Lang Hua were already up, conversing with worried expressions.

Upon entering, Liu Yu Ru paid her respects. Gu Lang Hua responded absently and asked casually, "How is Jiusi?"

"The young master is still recuperating. The physician said he may leave bed in five days, though the internal energy damage will require longer convalescence."

"As long as there are no lasting effects," Jiang Rou murmured, her heart aching anew. Comforting both others and herself, she added, "We'll visit him shortly. Is he still asleep?"

"He woke earlier and sent for Mr. Wang."

Liu Yu Ru's straightforward reply gave Jiang Rou and Gu Lang Hua pause. Recovering first, Jiang Rou nodded slowly and said evasively, "Good... wanting to study more is... positive, I suppose."

Gu Lang Hua sighed as he nodded.

"Always used to force him to study," he said with a bitter smile. "Now that he actually wants to, I can't bring myself to feel happy about it."

"Indeed," Jiang Rou gazed vacantly at the green tea in her cup. "I'd rather he never grew up, but what child remains forever young?"

Smiling wryly, she continued, "Wanting to improve himself is good after all. We can't have Yu Ru bearing all responsibilities alone—he is a husband now.""How could I be the one worrying about everything?" Liu Yuru laughed. "We're both still young and rely entirely on Father and Mother's care. Jiusi has become very decisive lately, with clear and sharp thinking. As his wife, I simply follow his lead in matters."

"Yuru, you're being too modest," Jiang Rou finally showed a smile when discussing this. "Yesterday was entirely thanks to your quick-wittedness. If we had waited until today to visit the Wang family, Wang Shanquan would have likely come to our house yesterday instead. Any gestures we made afterward would have seemed insincere. Though young, Yuru considers matters thoroughly and carefully - she's much more astute than we are."

Hearing this, Liu Yuru quickly demurred, not daring to accept such praise.

After chatting for a while longer, the three had breakfast together before going to check on Gu Jiusi in his room.

Gu Jiusi was in the middle of a lesson. Standing at the door, Liu Yuru could hear him continuously questioning Tutor Wang.

He seemed to have memorized all the names and positions of court officials, repeatedly pressing Tutor Wang for more details. Sometimes even Tutor Wang couldn't answer, and Gu Jiusi would immediately move on to the next question.

The three stood listening at the doorway until the lesson ended. When Tutor Wang emerged and saw Gu Langhua's group waiting outside, he appeared embarrassed, as if his shortcomings had been exposed. He quickly bowed to them before hurrying away.

When the three entered the room, they found Gu Jiusi drinking tea while instructing Munan: "Tutor Wang doesn't know enough. Follow my instructions - investigate all the local officials across the thirteen provinces, their names, backgrounds, and personalities, then bring the information to me." It was then that he noticed people at the door. Looking up in surprise, he said, "Father?"

"Your parents came to see you," Liu Yuru quickly explained. But Gu Jiusi responded bewilderedly, "See me for what? It's fine if Mother comes, but why are you here, Father? Your visit won't heal the wounds on my back. Hurry up and do something useful - our family is nearly ruined, you old fool should go do something productive..."

"Husband!" Seeing Gu Langhua's livid expression, Liu Yuru rushed over and whispered urgently, "That's enough!"