Destined

After Gu Jiusi and Zhou Ye drank heavily, they got carried away and became sworn brothers. Liu Yuru watched, sobered somewhat by the wind, finding it rather amusing.

By late night, both men grew tired. Servants helped the three of them back to their respective rooms. Liu Yuru lay beside him on the bed, and Gu Jiusi, elated from drinking, kept gazing at her with a smile.

Liu Yuru reached out and pinched his nose, unable to resist saying, "We're on the brink of disaster, yet you're still so cheerful every day."

"Life is short," Gu Jiusi replied with his eyes closed, still beaming. "If we can be happy for a day, we should. Worrying won't help before trouble arrives—it's better to stay joyful."

Hearing this, Liu Yuru glanced at him, smiled faintly, and said nothing.

Gu Jiusi could afford not to worry about anything, but she couldn't. People grow up in different environments, and how they live by principles depends on their nature.

Liu Yuru lay back on the bed, closed her eyes, and said, "Let's sleep."

They slept until dawn. Liu Yuru woke at her usual time, her head aching from the alcohol, but she mustered her energy to visit Jiang Rou and Gu Langhua. By the time she returned, Gu Jiusi was also up, and Zhou Ye, who had woken earlier, came to bid him farewell.

The bond between men often solidified over a single drink. Zhou Ye said to Gu Jiusi, "Jiusi, I'm heading back to Youzhou. When you arrive there, if you need anything, come find me in Wangdu."

"Alright," Gu Jiusi replied with a smile. "Our family business is planning to expand to Youzhou. Don't mind if I trouble you then."

"Your family is opening shops in Youzhou?" Zhou Ye sounded puzzled. Gu Jiusi sighed. "Merchants shouldn't fight officials. Given our conflict with the Wang family, staying in Yangzhou is difficult. So, we're considering relocating to avoid trouble once we find a suitable place."

"Then Youzhou is the right choice," Zhou Ye said, laughing. "My father and Uncle Fan are fair and reasonable officials. You won't be bullied there."

With that, Zhou Ye had someone fetch paper and brush, handed Gu Jiusi a note with his residence address, and after a moment's hesitation, added seriously, "Jiusi, the current situation is unstable, and I can't say much. But take good care of your family. If anything happens, leave Yangzhou immediately and come to Wangdu. If you can't make it, send a servant. Though we haven't known each other long, in my heart, I regard you as a brother. I'll do all I can to help."

Gu Jiusi listened, recognizing Zhou Ye's sincerity and knowing he wasn't joking. He set aside his usual playful demeanor and responded earnestly, "Brother Zhou, rest assured, I'm not one to act recklessly. To be honest, I'm aware of what you've said. If things truly become desperate, I hope you can offer us a way out."

Zhou Ye sighed. "Helping each other is only natural."

After bidding farewell, Gu Jiusi personally saw Zhou Ye off.

Turning back, he saw Liu Yuru standing at the door, her expression tinged with worry.

Gu Jiusi smiled, walked over to her, and gently smoothed her furrowed brow. "Don't worry," he said cheerfully. "Everything will be fine."

Though Gu Jiusi said this, Liu Yuru couldn't set her mind at ease.

In the days that followed, she accompanied Gu Langhua and Jiang Rou to sell off their family assets in Yangzhou.They didn't dare to act too overtly, because the Gu family's assets were too vast. If sold off all at once, it would inevitably create a sense of upheaval in Yangzhou, likely causing panic.

Thus, they could only try to find buyers from other regions, keeping the sales discreet. After selling, Liu Yu Ru would secretly travel to other towns to exchange the banknotes separately and bring back gold.

Besides gold, grain provisions were also crucial. So Gu Lang Hua continued his rice business, using it as cover to load grain along with gold, antiques, and paintings onto the large ship he had purchased.

Most items were transported by sea, but as a precaution, they split into two routes. They also hired several escort agencies to transport batches by land. Thus, the first batch of assets was divided into five routes, led by the steward Gu Wen, accompanied by a group of experienced business hands, all heading to Youzhou.

The entire process of clearing and handling these assets took over a month. Liu Yu Ru was out busy every day, assisting Jiang Rou and Gu Lang Hua.

She had become fully familiar with the Gu family's enterprises, almost memorizing their accounts, managers, and business models.

Meanwhile, Gu Jiusi spent his days attending lectures. It was too late to study the Four Books and Five Classics now, so they hired great scholars to teach him directly. Jiang Rou thought that no matter what, if chaos descended, it would be excellent for Gu Jiusi to become an advisor in the future.

Thus, the two followed separate paths, only reuniting each evening when they lay in bed, separated by quilts, whispering to each other for a while.

Liu Yu Ru had grown accustomed to discussing everything with Gu Jiusi—he always had his own twisted logic that helped her see things clearly.

When the ship returned from Youzhou, the travel permits and official travel documents were finally ready. To be safe, they decided to carry them along with their identity papers at all times. The family began planning their departure date. First, they needed to choose a day to leave quietly without alerting others—the later Yangzhou discovered their absence, the higher their chances of successful escape. Otherwise, if the Wang family caught them halfway, all their efforts would be in vain. Secondly, for long-distance travel by water, the weather was crucial. Recently, Yangzhou had been rainy, making it unsuitable for departure.

As everyone was considering the timing, Liu Yu Ru fell ill. Perhaps the sudden relaxation caused her to collapse. While checking accounts at the shop in the morning, she fainted straight away.

Gu Jiusi was in the study listening to lectures when someone reported the news. He hurried back to their room and found Liu Yu Ru lying in bed.

"The lady has been too burdened with worries," the physician sighed, "and overly exhausted, leading to deficient qi and blood. I'll prescribe a remedy that should help her recover somewhat, but most importantly, she must learn to let go. If she remains troubled, it may stagnate in her chest and cause serious harm."

Gu Jiusi stood quietly outside the curtain, not entering. After a moment, he heard Liu Yu Ru say, "Thank you for your efforts, physician. Is there any medicine that can make one happier?"

The physician chuckled, "Young mistress, you jest. If such medicine existed, how could there still be sorrowful people?"

"How foolish of me," Liu Yu Ru sighed. "I'll try my best."

The physician wrote the prescription for Liu Yu Ru, and Yin Hong escorted him out. Seeing Gu Jiusi standing at the door, he raised a finger to his lips, signaling her to stay silent.Yin Hong said nothing more, bowing her head as she led the physician out. Only then did Gu Jiusi enter. He acted as if he had heard nothing, walking into the room and smiling as he said to Liu Yu Ru, "I heard you fainted. I was so frightened that I came especially to check on you. But seeing your rosy, glowing complexion, you don’t look like someone who fainted at all."

Liu Yu Ru laughed at his words. "Can’t you say something nicer?"

Gu Jiusi sat down on the edge of the bed, gazing at her. "Are you all right?"

"I’m fine," Liu Yu Ru shook her head. "You should go about your business. There’s no need to come especially to see me. Yin Hong is here with me."

"Ah, you’re such a formidable woman," Gu Jiusi sighed. "I finally found an excuse to skip class and get some fresh air, and now you’re trying to send me back."

As he spoke, he leaned closer.

"Are you tired?" he asked gently. Liu Yu Ru sighed. "A little, actually."

"Then let me fan you," Gu Jiusi said, taking the round fan from her hand and gently fanning her. "Go to sleep."

Liu Yu Ru didn’t know what it was about him, but as soon as he arrived, she felt a deep sense of peace. With him sitting beside her, softly fanning her, she soon drifted off to sleep.

By the time Liu Yu Ru woke again, it was already late at night. Seeing she was awake, he called for someone to bring her a meal and ate with her.

Liu Yu Ru was a bit surprised. "You haven’t eaten yet?"

"I was waiting for you," Gu Jiusi said with a smile. "It’s too lonely for you to eat alone."

Liu Yu Ru smiled but didn’t respond. His casual words stirred a hint of sadness in her.

Gu Jiusi noticed she seemed somewhat down and asked, "Did what I say upset you?"

"Not really," Liu Yu Ru explained, not wanting him to misunderstand. "It just reminded me of some things from my childhood."

"Oh?"

"When I was little and came home late from school, my family wouldn’t wait for me to eat," Liu Yu Ru said with a faint smile. "No one would save food for me. Only the housekeeper was kind enough to leave a few dishes aside. When I returned at night, I’d eat alone."

Gu Jiusi listened quietly. For some reason, an image of a little girl appeared in his mind—sitting alone at the table, eating by candlelight.

It wasn’t the act of eating alone that was sad, but the fact that in such a large household, no one was willing or able to wait for her.

"What about your mother?" Gu Jiusi couldn’t help but ask.

Liu Yu Ru smiled wryly. "I was afraid my stepmother would mind if I got too close to my mother, so I couldn’t visit her every day. Besides, this didn’t happen often—just occasionally. I didn’t want to worry her."

She sighed. "Her health has never been good. If she had to worry about me too, how could she bear it?"

"Liu Yu Ru," Gu Jiusi called her name softly, sighing. "Your past hasn’t been easy."

"It wasn’t so bad," Liu Yu Ru said with a bitter smile. "Better than some, worse than others. At least no one deprived me of food or clothing. To the outside world, I was still the legitimate daughter—better off than many, right?"

"Don’t worry," Gu Jiusi looked at her earnestly. "As long as we’re together, I’ll eat every meal with you."

Liu Yu Ru was taken aback. Gu Jiusi’s voice was solemn as he added, "I won’t let you suffer any more grievances."

"I don’t—"Before Liu Yu Ru could finish her words, she found herself unable to speak another syllable under the other's clear gaze.

She opened her mouth, wanting to continue speaking, but no words came out. She only heard Gu Jiusi say, "You don't want to worry your mother—that's your filial devotion as a daughter. But ensuring you don't suffer grievances is my responsibility as your husband. From now on, whatever you like or dislike, whatever troubles or saddens you, you must tell me."

"Don't keep it buried in your heart," he sighed softly. Yet as his words fell, somehow, Liu Yu Ru's tears began to fall.

Liu Yu Ru hadn't even noticed herself crying. Gu Jiusi panicked: "Why are you crying?"

"I..." Liu Yu Ru came to her senses, hurriedly raising her hand to wipe her tears, instinctively saying, "I'm fine..."

"Liu Yu Ru," Gu Jiusi sounded somewhat helpless, "I just told you, how could you forget so soon?"

As he spoke, he straightened up, reached across the table to grasp her hand that was wiping her tears, and looked at her quietly, saying seriously, "Tell me, you're wronged."

Liu Yu Ru stared at him blankly. Gu Jiusi spoke each word clearly and firmly: "You're wronged. You're sad. You want to cry."

"You're just feeling sad—what's wrong with that?"

Hearing Gu Jiusi's words, Liu Yu Ru's eyelashes trembled, and she lowered her gaze.

Tears streamed down her face. After a long while, she sniffled and finally said, "No one has ever said such things to me before. I'm embarrassed for you to see me like this."

As she spoke, she lifted her head and looked at Gu Jiusi: "But I'm used to it. I truly can't bring myself to say these things. But since you understand," Liu Yu Ru smiled gently, "I'm already very happy."

Gu Jiusi was taken aback.

For a moment, he felt a slight ache in his heart.

If this girl had burst into loud sobs at that moment, he might have felt better. But she was smiling like this, shedding tears with gentle restraint, and he thought, this person is too heartbreaking.

He sighed softly and walked to stand before her.

Without saying a word, he simply reached out and drew her into his embrace.

He remained silent, only feeling the girl's tears quietly dampening his clothes.

Only then did he realize that sometimes silence carries more weight than endless chatter.

Leaning against the young man's chest, Liu Yu Ru listened to his heartbeat and relied on his support. For the first time in her life, she felt that heartache and sorrow could be dissolved. She experienced an indescribable tenderness and stability that dispelled the long-accumulated gloom in her heart.

"When I was little, the nanny by my mother's side told me that many things from childhood affect one's entire life."

"She was talking nonsense. How can there be influences that last a lifetime and never change?"

"Yes," Liu Yu Ru said slowly, "Gu Jiusi, I think if you keep treating me this well, for a very, very long time, I might not always be anxious and insecure, always worrying about this and that."

Holding Liu Yu Ru, Gu Jiusi listened to her words and curved his lips into a smile.

In that moment, he didn't think about their so-called agreement, nor did he think about the future. He simply felt that if Liu Yu Ru could be a little happier, if she didn't have to hide tears behind smiles, if she could cry when she wanted and make a fuss when she felt like it, then continuing to treat her well wouldn't be any trouble at all.So he curled his lips and said, "Alright, leave this matter to me."

Liu Yuru chuckled softly.

Gu Jiusi sighed, stroking her hair with a hint of helplessness. "Tell me, how much hardship must one endure to develop a temperament like yours?"

"Not that much, really..."

"Then tell me, how did Zhang Yue'er enter your household?"

Gu Jiusi asked, and Liu Yuru didn't hold back. She recounted her family's story in detail—her past, the events of her childhood, one by one.

She held nothing back. She spoke of her schemes to enter the Ye Family, her calculations regarding the dowry—all these matters she revealed without concealment, because she knew Gu Jiusi wouldn't mind any of it.

Gu Jiusi listened, smiling as he did, occasionally praising her: "You're quite something."

They talked until late at night before finally going to sleep. She said she missed her mother, explaining that over the years, she had feared displeasing Zhang Yue'er and thus spent too little time with her mother.

He comforted her, saying it would be alright and that she would see her mother again in the future.

She murmured, her voice growing softer until she fell asleep. By then, her face was streaked with tears, and even in her sleep, she clung to his sleeve, nestling close to him like a kitten.

Gu Jiusi watched her quietly, gazing at her face in the moonlight through the darkness.

Suddenly, he thought she looked rather beautiful.

She seemed to have lost some weight, her features more defined. Her complexion had also improved greatly since staying with the Gu Family, glowing softly under the moonlight.

For some reason, Gu Jiusi felt a sudden urge to kiss her.

As this thought surfaced, he immediately cursed himself inwardly for being shameless—how could he entertain such ideas about his own comrade!

Between him and Liu Yuru, theirs was the purest camaraderie in the world. He absolutely must not taint this innocent friendship with such filthy, despicable thoughts.

So he quickly shrank toward the edge of the bed, clutching his blanket tightly.

After her crying spell, Liu Yuru woke up the next day feeling strangely lighthearted. Her spirits lifted considerably. Seeing that she was still physically weak, Jiang Rou and Gu Langhua said, "Rest a few more days. Water travel is arduous—recover fully before setting out, or the journey will be exhausting."

After two days of rest, Liu Yuru had mostly recovered, and the Gu Family decided to depart the night after next.

On the day the decision was made, Gu Jiusi returned to his room and suddenly said to her, "Come back early tomorrow."

"Hmm?" Liu Yuru was puzzled but replied, "Alright."

The next morning, Liu Yuru got up to find Gu Jiusi unusually early to rise. He sat by the door, watching as she picked out a plain set of clothes. He quickly interjected, "That one doesn't look good. Choose something prettier."

He selected a light pink gauze dress for her and discussed her makeup with her.

He even personally took up a brush and carefully filled in her eyebrows.

Liu Yuru found his behavior strange, but she figured if he wanted to tell her, he would. So she didn't ask, heading to the shop early, making a round of inspections, and then returning to the Gu Residence ahead of schedule for lunch.

She speculated about what Gu Jiusi might be up to, turning it over in her mind. Most likely, he wanted to take her somewhere, but she couldn't figure out what exactly he planned. When she arrived at the Gu Residence and stepped out of the carriage, she asked Yin Hong, "Did the young master apply himself to his studies today?"

Yin Hong pursed her lips, smiling without answering directly: "I heard he was diligent."Liu Yuru nodded and headed towards the main hall. Just as she stepped into the courtyard gate, she was startled by the sudden burst of firecrackers all around. Then she saw Gu Jiusi leap out, followed by Yang Wenchang and Chen Xun. Yang Wenchang raised his hand to unfurl the first scroll of the couplet, which read: "May your fortune be as boundless as the East Sea, granting a lifetime of peace," and then Chen Xun opened the second scroll: "May your longevity rival the South Mountain, with everything proceeding smoothly."

Next, Gu Jiusi pulled open a horizontal banner: "Celebrating the Auspicious Birthday"

Liu Yuru was momentarily stunned, then watched as Gu Jiusi walked toward her, habitually placing a hand on her shoulder as he cheerfully said, "Happy birthday, Liu Yuru."

Liu Yuru pressed her lips together, trying to conceal her smile but unable to hold back as the corners of her mouth curved upward. "You've gone to so much trouble, my husband."

"Stop being hypocritical," Gu Jiusi scoffed lightly. "You're overjoyed inside, aren't you?"

"My husband," Liu Yuru said seriously, "you should at least save me some face."

Only then did Gu Jiusi become pleased. He laughed heartily and led Liu Yuru inside. As soon as they entered, they saw Su Wan seated in the main hall, with Yun Yun standing behind her, gazing toward Liu Yuru.

Liu Yuru froze in place. Su Wan looked up, noticed the stunned Liu Yuru, and smiled.

"Jiusi specially asked Madam Gu to invite me from the residence," Su Wan said gently. "They've put in so much effort."

"Mother..."

Liu Yuru's voice trembled. Jiang Rou, standing nearby, chuckled. "What are you still standing there for?"

Jiang Rou said kindly, "Go and speak with your mother for a while."

Liu Yuru didn't say anything. She hurried forward until she stood before Su Wan. She remained there for a long time before her voice trembled again as she called out, "Mother..."

She had originally thought that after marrying, she might not see Su Wan often. Who would have thought that just for a birthday celebration, she would get to see her again.

Su Wan, affected by her emotions, also felt a pang of sadness. She sighed but said, "I came to celebrate your birthday, but I've ended up making you cry."

"Your daughter... your daughter is crying tears of joy," Liu Yuru quickly explained with a smile. She turned to look at Jiang Rou and Gu Langhua and said, "I've troubled you, Father and Mother."

"What trouble is this?" Jiang Rou said with a laugh. "Jiusi makes a fuss every year for his birthday. Now that you've joined the Gu family, you're still a child. This is your first birthday here, and I actually feel it's too simple."

"It's not simple," Liu Yuru said, overwhelmed with indescribable emotions. She shook her head vigorously. "It's perfect. You've all been... so good to me."

It was the first time anyone had celebrated her birthday.

The first time anyone had done so much for her.

"Alright," Gu Jiusi stepped forward, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Your mother is staying for seven days this time. You'll have plenty of time. Today, just follow my arrangements, and I promise you'll have a wonderful time, alright?"

"Okay," Liu Yuru agreed without hesitation. "I'll listen to my husband."

Everyone took their seats with smiles. With Yang Wenchang and Chen Xun, the two lively characters, around, the meal was filled with joy and laughter.

After the meal, Liu Yuru went with Su Wan into a room to chat. Su Wan spoke about the Liu residence, her tone calm, indicating that she had been doing well lately. Relieved, Liu Yuru began talking about Gu Jiusi.

Su Wan listened quietly, observing her daughter's animated expression. She clearly sensed that this time, Liu Yuru's emotions while speaking of Gu Jiusi were different from before.She watched with a smile, waiting until Liu Yu Ru regained her composure. Only then did Liu Yu Ru feel she had been somewhat too unrestrained. Lowering her head, she said softly, "I've spoken too much."

"It's all right," Su Wan smiled, patting Liu Yu Ru's hand gently. "Jiu Si is a good child. Initially, I had many reservations about you marrying him, but now I feel that your marriage to him is truly a good thing."

Liu Yu Ru responded softly. She didn’t dare tell Su Wan about Gu Jiusi’s past unconventional remarks, and besides, she no longer wished to dwell on them.

After a moment of thought, she shifted the conversation to more serious matters. “Mother, there’s something I need to inform you about.”

“Hmm?”

“If I were to leave Yangzhou, would you be willing to come with me?”

Su Wan froze, her voice trembling as she asked, “What… what did you say?”

“What I mean is,” Liu Yu Ru took a deep breath, “Mother, the world may soon fall into chaos. I need to find a way to survive. Staying in Yangzhou could be too dangerous. Once I leave, I don’t know if I’ll ever return in this lifetime. Would you like to come with me?”

Never to return…

Su Wan’s hands trembled slightly. She couldn’t bear the thought of never seeing her daughter again.

Seeing her hesitation, Liu Yu Ru pressed on, “Mother, when chaos breaks out, there will be war. No one will care about reputation or virtue anymore. Think about Father—do you still have any feelings for him? After all these years, do you still want to stay with him?”

Su Wan remained silent, her eyes lowered and her lips quivering faintly. Liu Yu Ru continued, “Between Father and me, you can only choose one now. If you’re willing to come with me, I’ll notify you when the time comes. Bring anyone you want to take along, find an excuse to come to the Gu residence, or slip away quietly. Then we’ll leave together. From then on, the world will be vast, and we’ll never look back.”

“But… but I am still Madam Liu…”

“Not when that time comes,” Liu Yu Ru said calmly. “When chaos descends, who will care about anyone else?”

“Mother,” Liu Yu Ru looked at her earnestly, “if you choose not to go, I won’t force you. It’s your decision. I’m just letting you know my intentions now.”

“I must leave Yangzhou,” she said with unwavering resolve. “If I stay, I will surely die.”

Su Wan said nothing.

After a long silence, as if she had come to a realization, she took a deep breath and said, “Let him think I’m dead then. You’re my only daughter. Wherever you go, I will naturally follow.”

As she spoke, Su Wan’s eyes reddened, her voice growing hoarse. “Yu Ru… during the time you were away, I’ve been filled with regret and sorrow.”

“I kept thinking, why didn’t I talk to you more back then, spend more time with you…”

Hearing this, Liu Yu Ru smiled. She took Su Wan’s hand, lowered her gaze, and said gently, “Mother, from now on, we’ll have a long time together. You can stay with me for the rest of our lives—just think of me as your son. I’ll earn plenty of money, and you’ll live a very comfortable life.”

“Alright…” Su Wan held her hand, her voice still raspy. “It doesn’t matter whether we have money or not. As long as I can see you more often, know that you’re living well, loved by your husband, safe and sound, that’s enough.”

“I can’t do much to help you,” Su Wan said, tears welling in her eyes. “If there’s anything you think I can do, just tell me. I’ll do anything.”

“I just want you to be well,” Liu Yu Ru sniffled. “Be happier. Don’t cling to that scoundrel anymore.”

As they spoke, a knock came from outside.

“Liu Yu Ru, let’s go.” Gu Jiusi’s cheerful voice sounded from beyond the door. “I’ll take you to see something wonderful.”

Su Wan looked up, her gaze shifting toward the door before returning to Liu Yu Ru, who seemed hesitant. She smiled softly and said, “Go on. I’ll always be here, waiting for you.”