Destined

Gu Jiusi glanced inexplicably at Liu Yuru. Jiang Rou tugged at Gu Langhua's sleeve, but Gu Langhua snorted coldly, shook off her hand, and sat down beside Gu Jiusi with Jiang Rou. His voice was stiff as he asked, "Are you feeling better?"

Without waiting for Gu Jiusi to respond, Gu Langhua added, "Seeing how energetically you can scold people, you must be much improved."

"Enough, enough," Gu Jiusi said impatiently. "If you have something to say, just say it. No need to beat around the bush."

"You unfilial son..."

"Husband, didn't we agree to speak calmly?" Jiang Rou chided gently. Gu Langhua froze mid-action, then sat down properly and fell completely silent, turning to look out the window and ignoring Gu Jiusi.

Since Gu Langhua was ignoring him, Gu Jiusi sneered and turned to look out the opposite window.

Fine, ignore me then. Whoever backs down first is a coward.

Liu Yuru watched the scene unfold, wanting to laugh but forcing herself to maintain a stern expression. Jiang Rou cleared her throat softly and said in her gentle voice, "We're relieved to see you're doing better, Jiusi. Your father and I discussed matters last night and decided we should handle the follow-up together with you and Yuru. After all, you're married now, not children anymore. We can't take care of everything for you - we need to start teaching you how to manage these things."

Hearing this, Gu Jiusi lowered his gaze and murmured a quiet "Mm" in acknowledgment.

Jiang Rou took a sip of tea before continuing, "Your father and I discussed this yesterday. Wang Shanquan's actions are clearly targeting your uncle. We can't be sure yet who's behind it - it could be His Majesty, or someone else. But regardless, it's becoming risky for the Gu family to remain in Yangzhou. Wang Shanquan is the military governor, and we merchants shouldn't confront officials."

"Mm," Gu Jiusi responded. "Mother is very thoughtful."

"That was my idea!" Gu Langhua suddenly interjected.

Liu Yuru couldn't help but let out a "pfft" of laughter. Hearing this, Gu Langhua looked somewhat embarrassed, and Liu Yuru felt awkward too, quickly lowering her head as if nothing had happened.

Jiang Rou cleared her throat again and continued, "Our assets in Yangzhou are too extensive to move entirely. Moving to a new place also requires adjustment. So your father and I thought we should scout locations first among the thirteen prefectures to see which would be suitable. We'll start by opening a few shops there, then gradually shift our focus. As for our properties in Yangzhou - the land and manors - we'll sell them off slowly, but we must do this discreetly. If Wang Shanquan finds out, we can't predict what he might do."

Listening to Jiang Rou's words, Liu Yuru thought for a moment before asking, "Then, when will we know where we're going?"

"Quickest would be one or two months, slowest half a year," Jiang Rou said with a frown. "I've already sent people to the capital to seek information from my brother. The fact that he hasn't sent us any preparatory messages suggests the situation isn't too critical yet. We shouldn't be overly anxious - let's continue living normally for now."

Liu Yuru remained silent, pondering. If the emperor was determined to eliminate Prince Liang to pave the way for the new emperor, and given his serious illness, then Prince Liang's rebellion should be imminent. If the dream was accurate, Lord Jiang wouldn't escape involvement - not only would he be implicated, but deeply so, which would explain why he didn't dare send warnings to the Gu family. This lengthy period of reconnaissance might precisely be why the Gu family ultimately failed to escape Yangzhou.Liu Yu Ru pondered how to broach the subject. After a long while, she finally said, "Mother-in-law, why don't we go to Youzhou?"

Jiang Rou was somewhat surprised. "Why this decision?"

"If we are to choose a new place to settle, we should focus on three key aspects," Liu Yu Ru explained. "First, it must be conducive to business, so our merchant family can establish itself. Second, it should be stable, allowing us to live peacefully. Third, it should have convenient transportation, so our relocation won't be too troublesome. Considering these three points, Youzhou is located on the border and frequently trades with Northern Liang. It has always valued commerce, and unlike Huainan, it isn't as affluent, so there are many business opportunities for us there."

Jiang Rou and Gu Lang Hua nodded in agreement. Gu Lang Hua responded, "That's true, but... since it's on the border, with frequent conflicts, wouldn't it be unstable?"

"Father-in-law, there's no need to worry about that," Liu Yu Ru said calmly. "We won't go to the front-line cities. I've specifically looked into it—although Youzhou sees many battles, the Great Rong is strong. In recent years, it's mostly been Northern Liang causing disturbances. Youzhou has the Great Wall to block Northern Liang, and since the founding of Great Rong, there hasn't been a single battle inside the Great Wall. So, while there are frequent conflicts outside the Great Wall in Youzhou, inside it is very stable."

"Moreover, what we're really concerned about now is the possibility of something happening to Uncle. I suspect that if Uncle encounters trouble, it's most likely because Prince Liang has run into problems."

"Be careful with your words!" Gu Lang Hua quickly interjected. But Jiang Rou raised her hand and said to Liu Yu Ru, "We're all family here. Whatever is said stays within these walls and should never be repeated outside."

"If Yu Ru dares to say it, what are you, an old man, afraid of?" Gu Jiusi, lying on the bed, chimed in. Gu Lang Hua angrily retorted, "You unfilial son, shut up!"

Gu Jiusi sneered, lifted his chin, and said to Liu Yu Ru, "Continue."

"If something happens to Prince Liang, the world will experience turmoil, big or small. Youzhou has strong soldiers and sturdy horses, along with the privilege of salt tax exemption, making it almost like an independent state. Even if the world truly falls into chaos, the first to be affected would be places like Yangzhou, which are weak in military strength but rich. Youzhou, on the other hand, would likely remain stable internally despite external chaos, making it the safest option."

"But," Jiang Rou thought aloud slowly, "if we're talking about places with strong military and salt tax exemption privileges, aside from Youzhou, there are other choices among the thirteen prefectures. Why Youzhou?"

"That brings us to the third point," Liu Yu Ru said calmly. "We need to leave Yangzhou discreetly; otherwise, Wang Shanquan will never let us go. We have to move a large amount of assets in a short time, and Youzhou has the most convenient transportation."

"This..." Jiang Rou was puzzled. "Youzhou is separated from us by two prefectures. How is it convenient?"

"Youzhou is coastal," Gu Jiusi suddenly pointed out. Jiang Rou and Gu Lang Hua suddenly understood.

They had forgotten!

The Huainan region is most adept at using ships; large quantities of goods are always transported by water. Water transport, compared to land transport, carries more load, costs less, and is faster.

Although Youzhou is separated from them by Qingzhou and Yongzhou, they can travel by water to the sea and then along the coast to Youzhou! Once they reach Youzhou, they won't have to worry about Wang Shanquan and others, and switching to land transport would be much safer.Moreover, if they were to travel by land, they would need to submit entry documents at every prefecture. However, by sea route, aside from a few mandatory docking ports, there were hardly any government offices along the way. The main administrators at the docks were actually from the Canal Guild, where official authority was extremely weak. This way, they could relocate the entire Gu Family to Youzhou without anyone noticing.

"Yu Ru is truly brilliant."

Jiang Rou couldn't help but exclaim, "Given time, Yu Ru is bound to achieve great things."

Hearing this, Liu Yu Ru was taken aback. She had never heard anyone describe a woman in such a way. She cleared her throat lightly and said, "It was just a random thought. Whether it's feasible or not ultimately depends on Mother-in-law and Father-in-law to decide."

"It's feasible," Gu Lang Hua immediately responded. "Your plan is workable. I have a few friends in the Canal Guild. In the coming days, we'll find a way to sell off all the land, convert the assets into gold and silver, and transport them along with antiques and paintings via the water route. I'll also send people to open a shop there and purchase a boat, making preparations early. If anything goes wrong, we can leave Yangzhou directly!"

"Then why... not leave Yangzhou right away?" Liu Yu Ru carefully suggested. "To be honest, I actually had a dream some time ago. It was rather ominous—Wang Rong caused trouble for the Gu Family, and the Gu Family..."

Liu Yu Ru didn't finish her sentence. She sighed and said, "So I thought, if we can leave early, it's better to do so as soon as possible. The servants can help sell off the family assets. It would be better for us to leave first."

"Yu Ru, leaving Yangzhou isn't as simple as you think."

Jiang Rou patiently explained upon hearing Liu Yu Ru's words, "Whether we take the land or water route, as long as we travel beyond a hundred li from Yangzhou, we must rely on a travel pass issued by the Yangzhou authorities to enter or leave any city. The travel pass must specify where we are departing from, where we are going, and the purpose of the journey."

"The Gu Family is a prominent household in Yangzhou, contributing more than half of the prefecture's annual taxes. The authorities keep a close watch on us. Usually, if I travel, my husband must remain in Yangzhou; if he travels, I and Jiu Si must stay behind. There has never been a situation where the entire family travels together. If we apply for a travel pass for the whole family to go to Youzhou, it's likely that before the pass is issued, troops will arrive first. They could easily find some excuse to delay us, and there would be nothing we could do. Without a travel pass, once we leave Yangzhou beyond a hundred li, we won't be able to enter any city."

Liu Yu Ru was stunned. Having never left Yangzhou before, this was the first time she had considered the matter of travel passes. She couldn't help but ask, "Then what should we do?"

"So we need to first obtain fake identity documents," Gu Lang Hua interjected, pondering. "I'll privately bribe someone to get four identity documents for us. Then, using these documents, we can apply for a travel pass from the authorities. After that, we'll buy a boat and sail to Youzhou, only stopping at supply docks along the way. The docks are mostly controlled by the Canal Guild, where regulations aren't strictly enforced. It should be safe."

"How long will that take?"

Liu Yu Ru asked anxiously. Gu Lang Hua thought for a moment and said, "At least a month, or two to three months at most."

"What if something happens in the meantime..."

"Yu Ru," Jiang Rou held her hand and said gently, "It was just a dream. Don't let it trouble you too much. It's good to be cautious, but if we live in constant fear because of it, it would do more harm than good."

"Madam is right," Gu Lang Hua said, standing up. "I'll go take care of it right away and try to expedite the process.""Master," Jiang Rou called out to Gu Lang Hua. He turned back, and she smiled, saying, "Don't rush on the road, take it slow."

"Understood," Gu Lang Hua replied with a laugh, somewhat helplessly adding, "I'm old enough—why worry about such things?"

After speaking, Gu Lang Hua waved his hand and walked out.

Once he had left, Jiang Rou looked up at Liu Yu Ru and asked, "How has the account checking been lately?"

"There are still three shops' accounts left to review," Liu Yu Ru replied respectfully. "I can give you the results in five days."

"You've worked hard," Jiang Rou nodded, comforting her. "Once you get through this initial period, it'll be easier."

"It's no trouble," Liu Yu Ru smiled at this. "I'm more than happy to learn these things from you."

Jiang Rou breathed a sigh of relief. "It's good that you understand clearly."

After chatting for a while, Jiang Rou reminded Gu Jiusi to rest well and then stood up to leave. Once she was gone, Liu Yu Ru turned and gently nudged Gu Jiusi, asking, "Why do you treat your father like that?"

"That old man is just awful," Gu Jiusi scoffed lightly. "Don't bother with the matters between him and me."

"Gu Jiusi," Liu Yu Ru was both amused and exasperated, "how old are you? Why are you still acting like a child?"

"Why don't you ask how old my father is and why he still acts like a child?" Gu Jiusi raised his hands to cover his ears. "I'm not listening, not listening—I want to sleep."

"Don't sleep," Liu Yu Ru tugged at him. "Listen to my advice—don't always quarrel with your father."

"Ah, just leave it be," Gu Jiusi simply pulled the blanket over his head. "Not listening, don't want to hear it."

Liu Yu Ru had no way to deal with him, sighed, and could only step out. She had someone bring over the account books and then sat down beside Gu Jiusi. While he slept, she began calculating the accounts.

She had an extraordinary sensitivity to numbers. After reviewing the account books of over a dozen shops, she could perform mental calculations without an abacus. So, without disturbing Gu Jiusi, she lowered her head and quietly checked the accounts.

Gu Jiusi fell asleep to the sound of her turning pages. The afternoon sun was sleep-inducing, leaves rustled in the wind, and the cicadas' chirping rose and fell rhythmically outside. When Liu Yu Ru looked up, she saw Gu Jiusi sleeping soundly.

She couldn't help but smile, thinking how carefree this person's life seemed. But noticing his sleeping posture, she realized he was sleeping with a back full of wounds.

She quietly watched his sleeping face for a long time, then shook her head, smiled, and lowered her gaze, feeling that Gu Jiusi truly was a child.

Gu Jiusi slept until the afternoon. When he opened his eyes, he instinctively wiped the corner of his mouth. Liu Yu Ru saw this and laughed. Only then did Gu Jiusi realize she was there too. Somewhat embarrassed, he said, "What's so funny? You'd do the same if you slept face down."

"Awake? Are you hungry?"

"Not really," Gu Jiusi yawned, stretching his limbs on the bed like a frog. Liu Yu Ru stood up, sat beside him, and began massaging his arms. "What would you like to eat? I'll have the kitchen prepare it."

Gu Jiusi immediately started listing dishes—when it came to daily life, he never deprived himself.

Liu Yu Ru listened, instructed someone to prepare the meal, massaged his hands and feet, and, as he requested, found a travelogue for him.

Gu Jiusi had never been fond of serious books, preferring stories of battles and adventures, along with maps and travel accounts. He idly flipped through the travelogue while secretly watching Liu Yu Ru.Liu Yu Ru had been poring over the accounts. Once Gu Jiusi woke up, she stopped doing mental calculations and began tapping away on the abacus. Gu Jiusi could hear the rhythmic clatter of the beads, and from time to time, he would steal a glance at her. Noticing this, Liu Yu Ru found it amusing and turned to look at him. "Why are you staring at me?"

"I mean," Gu Jiusi put down his book, a puzzled expression on his face, "isn't it tiring to keep looking at the account books all the time?"

Liu Yu Ru was taken aback for a moment before she chuckled. "Isn't it tiring to keep reading travelogues all the time?"

"I'm relaxing."

"I enjoy it."

Liu Yu Ru stretched her stiff shoulders and neck, trying to ease the discomfort. Then, holding the abacus, she shook it gently and said, "I love the feeling of counting money. Seeing whether the silver has increased or decreased, whether it's correct or not—that makes me happy."

"As for me, I just want to watch the numbers on the ledger grow and grow. Let me tell you, last time I went out, the shopkeeper called me 'Boss Liu,' and I was over the moon."

"What's so great about that?" Gu Jiusi found it strange. Liu Yu Ru thought seriously for a moment. "Perhaps it's because it's a title that belongs to me?"

"Miss Liu" was something she was born with, "Young Madam Gu" was given by the Gu Family, but only "Boss Liu" represented her own efforts. Even if there was some help from others along the way, in the end, it was still she who had done the work.

Liu Yu Ru had assumed Gu Jiusi wouldn't understand, but to her surprise, he nodded in agreement. "You're right. It's like how I hope one day people will call me 'Great Hero Gu.'"

"Alright then," Liu Yu Ru nodded. "How about this? In the future, you hand the Gu Family over to me. I'll make money and give you a fixed portion every month, and you can go out and make a name for yourself in the martial world. How does that sound?"

"Deal," Gu Jiusi nodded. "When the time comes, I'll perform chivalrous deeds and write 'Husband of Liu Yu Ru' after every good deed. That'll surely make you famous, and everyone will flock to your shop to buy things."

"Nonsense!" Liu Yu Ru said unhappily. "You should write the name of my shop instead!"

This made Gu Jiusi burst into laughter. "Fine, fine, I'll write your shop's name. When the time comes, let's become renowned together, alright, Boss Liu?"

Liu Yu Ru bantered with him, and after they finished their playful exchange, they had their meal and went about their own tasks.

Liu Yu Ru worked on the accounts, while Gu Jiusi read his book.

Candle after candle burned down, and Liu Yu Ru finally finished reviewing the last of the accounts. By then, Gu Jiusi had improved significantly and was able to get out of bed and move around freely.

Gu Lang Hua was busy every day outside, dealing with family affairs, while Jiang Rou hired many scholars to write a story about the conflict between the Gu Family and the Wang family, turning it into a tale of "turning hostility into friendship" and spreading it far and wide. In the story, the Gu Family was portrayed as magnanimous and reasonable, while the Wang family was depicted as arrogant and domineering. Gu Jiusi's act of self-flagellation moved many spectators to tears, earning him praise for his pure-heartedness. Although the play didn't mention any names explicitly, everyone in Yangzhou knew what it was referring to. Before long, Wang Shanquan sent people everywhere to arrest the performers.

When the news reached them, Gu Lang Hua was still drinking tea in his room. Jiang Rou set down her teacup and said calmly, "Stop performing the play within Huainan. Take it to the Eastern Capital instead."

Meanwhile, Gu Jiusi, supported by Liu Yu Ru, was taking a stroll in the courtyard. He whispered, "My mother is angry. Wang Shanquan is going to be in trouble."

Liu Yu Ru glanced up at him and shot him a stern look. "Focus on walking properly."As the two were walking, they saw the steward approaching from outside. He respectfully addressed Gu Langhua and Jiang Rou, saying, "Master, Madam, Young Master Zhou just sent a message. His servant has gotten into some trouble at San De Gambling Den. I wonder if you know anyone there who could help?"

"Young Master Zhou?" Gu Langhua looked puzzled. "Which Young Master Zhou?"

"He said it's Zhou Ye."

Hearing this name, Liu Yuru and Gu Jiusi exchanged glances and immediately knew they had to help.

Whether it was because of Zhou Ye's previous assistance or his status itself, this was a favor they couldn't refuse.

However, the Gu Family had never had any dealings with places like San De Gambling Den...

Just as Gu Langhua and Jiang Rou were feeling troubled, Gu Jiusi walked in from outside and exclaimed excitedly, "I'll go! I'm familiar with San De Gambling Den! I'll help Young Master Zhou!"

Everyone: "..."

For the first time, they discovered a use for Gu Jiusi's gambling habits.

"Go where? If you go, will you even come back?" Gu Langhua said unhappily. After some thought, he realized that aside from this son, there really wasn't anyone else who could go to San De Gambling Den. Finally, he waved his hand and said, "Fine, go ahead. Take less money with you, and don't gamble recklessly."

Hearing this, Gu Jiusi cheerfully asked Munan to prepare the horses. He was beaming and full of energy, completely unlike the sickly person who needed Liu Yuru's support to walk just moments before.

His demeanor made everyone somewhat uneasy. Gu Langhua couldn't help but say, "Yuru should go with him."

"Ah... ah?" Liu Yuru was stunned. She was being asked to go to a gambling den?

But she quickly came to her senses. If she had already been to a brothel, what was a gambling den?

So she smiled gently and said, "Then please wait a moment, husband. I'll go get my knife."

"No need!" Gu Jiusi quickly interjected upon hearing this. "I'm going on serious business. Everyone can rest assured, I absolutely won't gamble there."

Gu Langhua: "Give all your silver to Yuru!"

Gu Jiusi: "..."

Though unhappy with this arrangement, Gu Jiusi still took Liu Yuru with him.

As soon as they got off the carriage, Gu Jiusi lifted the curtain and walked in first. Liu Yuru followed behind but hadn't even entered when she heard someone inside shout loudly, "Young Master Gu, betting big or small?!"

Before he could even reach the gambling tables, people already knew his habits and were immediately placing bets!

Just as Gu Jiusi was about to respond, Liu Yuru abruptly lifted the curtain and stood behind him, declaring clearly, "Neither big nor small. Young Master Gu won't be gambling today."

The entire hall fell silent. Everyone stared at Liu Yuru. Brothels and gambling dens often went hand in hand, so many people present today had witnessed Liu Yuru bringing her knife to the brothel that day, including Gu Jiusi's friends Chen Xun and Yang Wenchang.

Chen Xun swallowed hard and instinctively asked, "Where's the knife?"

His question sounded particularly loud in the silence. Gu Jiusi walked up to him, pushed his head, and said directly, "What knife? I'm here to find someone." Then Gu Jiusi described Zhou Ye's appearance. "Have you seen a very handsome man, about twenty years old, with a northern accent?"

"Oh, yes, we've seen him," Yang Wenchang immediately chimed in. "About half an hour ago, he was at the table next to us. I heard his friend owed money and refused to pay. They've gone to the back courtyard now."The backyard of San De Gambling Den was specifically used to handle matters that couldn't see the light of day.

Gu Jiusi furrowed his brows and responded, using his body to conceal his movements as he reached into his sleeve and produced a silver ingot, placing it before Yang Wenchang. He whispered, "Bet on small."

After speaking, he straightened up and turned to walk toward the backyard. Liu Yu Ru followed closely behind without missing a step. Watching this, Yang Wenchang shook his head with a sigh, "Terrifying, absolutely terrifying."

Chen Xun nodded in agreement, "Good thing no girl has taken a liking to me."

Yang Wenchang glanced at him, "Is that something worth celebrating?"

After a moment's thought, Yang Wenchang said, "It does seem worth celebrating."

With that, Yang Wenchang slapped the silver Gu Jiusi had placed on the table and declared loudly, "Big!"

Gu Jiusi led Liu Yu Ru to the backyard, but as soon as they reached the entrance, two burly men blocked their way. Seeing Gu Jiusi, they looked troubled and said, "Ninth Master, you know San De's rules. This backyard..."

"I understand," Gu Jiusi said decisively. "Call Old Crow over. The person they took away today is my friend. I'll handle this matter according to the rules."

The two men hesitated briefly before an old man's ingratiating voice rang out, "Oh, Ninth Master! Long time no see!"

Gu Jiusi tilted his chin toward Liu Yu Ru. "Reward him."

Liu Yu Ru was momentarily stunned. Gu Jiusi frantically blinked his eyes. "What are you waiting for? Reward him!"

Realizing what was expected, Liu Yu Ru hurriedly gave the old man a tael of silver. The old man accepted it happily and said with a smile, "Is this your wife?"

"Mhm," Gu Jiusi responded lazily before adding, "It seems you've detained someone today?"

"Ninth Master is well-informed," the old man chuckled. "Have you come for that?"

"Indeed," Gu Jiusi raised his fan. "Lead the way. San De has his rules—I know them and won't cause trouble."

The old man hesitated for a moment before finally nodding. "Then please follow me, Ninth Master."

Gu Jiusi grunted in acknowledgment and followed Old Crow forward, with Liu Yu Ru trailing behind. It was her first time in such a place, and she felt both curious and afraid, her eyes darting around stealthily. Noticing this, Gu Jiusi said bluntly, "If you want to look, do it openly. What's with all the sneaking around?"

Then he turned to Old Crow and said, "She's inexperienced. Don't laugh at her."

Liu Yu Ru: "..."

Old Crow quickly replied, "It's always like this when young madam visits for the first time. That she's accompanying you shows she's quite remarkable and open-minded among women. When you didn't come recently, we were all worried that young madam was forbidding you."

"Would she dare stop me?" Gu Jiusi, pleased to see Liu Yu Ru's expression of suppressed anger and wanting to save face, continued boasting, "Could she control me if I wanted to gamble? In my household, my word is law. If I tell her to go east, she wouldn't dare go west. It's only because she's well-behaved that I brought her along."

As they reached the door, Gu Jiusi tilted his chin toward the guards and told Liu Yu Ru, "Reward them."

Liu Yu Ru maintained her smile.

She handed silver to the guards, and upon entering the room, they saw a crowd of people gathered inside. Zhou Ye sat at the gambling table, sweat beading on his forehead, while a young man knelt restrained beside him, a gag in his mouth, appearing furious.

Taking in the scene without a word, Gu Jiusi calmly sat down nearby and said to Liu Yu Ru, "Wring a towel for me to wipe my hands."

Liu Yu Ru smiled, went to the side to wring out a towel, then sat beside Gu Jiusi and began wiping his hands.

Gu Jiusi was inwardly delighted, thrilled at being able to order Liu Yu Ru around like this. Seeing his smile, Liu Yu Ru leaned close to him and whispered in a calm, gentle voice, "Just you wait."

Hearing this, Gu Jiusi jolted upright, quickly withdrew his hand, and coughed lightly. "That's enough, that's enough."With that, he turned his head and looked at Zhou Ye beside him, saying, "Brother Zhou, my apologies for arriving late."

Author's Note: Gu Lang Hua's Daily Life:

My wife is wonderful

Where's my stick?

Shut up, you unfilial son!!