Destined

Ye Shi'an was also quite tired. Seeing Liu Yu Ru so stubborn, he had no choice but to go to bed himself.

Liu Yu Ru sat beside Gu Jiusi, holding his hand. With her holding him like this, Gu Jiusi truly stopped his restless shouting and slept peacefully. Liu Yu Ru was also feeling drowsy, so she simply leaned over the bedside, taking a short rest while keeping him company.

Gu Jiusi's high fever didn't break until the afternoon of the following day. When he woke up groggily, he saw Liu Yu Ru sitting beside him, wiping his forehead. Gu Jiusi opened his eyes to look at her without saying anything. After a long while, he spoke in a hoarse voice, "How long have you been without sleep?"

"I did sleep," Liu Yu Ru looked up with a smile, her expression as gentle as ever. She told him, "Brother Ye and I took turns watching over you. I'm not that capable."

Gu Jiusi seemed somewhat relieved. He closed his eyes and made an acknowledging sound. Liu Yu Ru noticed his voice was dry and hurriedly brought water to feed him, asking, "Would you like something to eat?"

"Anything is fine."

"Then I'll go to the kitchen to get some porridge for you."

"Any news about my father?"

"Not yet," Liu Yu Ru set the cup aside. "Brother Ye went back to Yangzhou to inquire. He'll return tomorrow."

Gu Jiusi nodded, feeling exhausted.

Liu Yu Ru went to the kitchen to fetch porridge. She helped Gu Jiusi sit up. Having lost the initial strength that sustained him, his wounds now ached everywhere. Gu Jiusi moved cautiously while Liu Yu Ru watched with a calm expression before starting to feed him the porridge. He quietly observed the girl before him, carefully studying her features. Noticing his gaze, Liu Yu Ru looked up curiously and asked, "What are you looking at?"

"Just looking at you," Gu Jiusi chuckled. "I've never properly looked at you before."

"Have you found a flower blooming on my face now?"

Liu Yu Ru laughed aloud. Gu Jiusi couldn't respond - truthfully, he didn't know why he was looking at her either. He just suddenly felt he ought to look at her properly, to deeply imprint every detail of this person, her appearance, in his memory.

As he looked, he also discovered that this person was much more beautiful than he remembered. He recalled when he first saw her, thinking this girl was rather plain. After all, he had seen too many beauties - the Eastern Capital's palace gathered the most beautiful women in the world. He had once followed his uncle to witness such splendor in the palace. To him, this simple dish from Yangzhou could never catch his eye.

But now, looking at her, he realized his own poor judgment. This girl before him clearly had beautiful eyes, containing the clarity of autumn waters, as if soft sunset light sprinkled upon these waters, carrying an indescribable tenderness. Her features were exquisitely delicate, though still bearing some youthful innocence and charm. Given time, when her features matured, she would undoubtedly become quite beautiful.

"Pretty," he said without concealment, smiling. "Suddenly I think you're quite good-looking."

However, these words were hardly what would please a woman. Liu Yu Ru glared at him, stuffing the last spoonful of porridge into his mouth, discontentedly saying, "You don't know how to speak properly. Since childhood, everyone has said I'm good-looking, elegant, and beautiful."

"So you've been living in such lies all along?"Gu Jiusi spoke without hesitation, but Liu Yuru didn't want to engage with him anymore. She put the bowl back, went to prepare the medicine, returned to have him drink it, and then changed the dressing on his wounds.

Having eaten and rested for so long, Gu Jiusi was feeling much better. The process of changing the dressing left him drenched in sweat, but it also cleared his mind considerably.

After finishing these tasks, Liu Yuru brought over a small table, sat down beside Gu Jiusi, and began counting their travel funds. As she calculated the money, she asked him, "You've been silent for most of the day—what's on your mind?"

"I've been thinking," Gu Jiusi said with a hint of worry in his voice, "about how my father is doing."

Liu Yuru's hand paused briefly. After a moment, she finally replied, "No matter what, you've done all you could. Your father is clever—he'll be fine."

Gu Jiusi grunted in acknowledgment. Noticing his lack of usual spirit, Liu Yuru leaned over, propping herself by the bed, and looked up at him. "Don't worry too much. Let's think about the future instead."

"The future?"

"Yes," Liu Yuru said with a cheerful smile. "The future. Once we reach Youzhou, we'll need to start running a business. What do you think I should do?"

She pondered for a moment and continued, "Should I raise and sell horses? Do you think wealthy families will still be in the mood to spend money then? Once we're in Youzhou, whose money will be easiest to earn?"

"Money, money," Gu Jiusi couldn't help but laugh. "You're completely obsessed with it."

"How can you say that?" Liu Yuru feigned displeasure. "Money is the foundation of happiness. Besides, you spend so much—if I don't earn more, how will our household afford your expenses?"

"Then I won't spend anymore," Gu Jiusi sighed. "Just give me some food to eat. I'm easy to take care of."

"No more gambling?"

"No more gambling."

"I don't believe a word of it."

"Really, no more gambling," Gu Jiusi chuckled softly. "When there's money, one naturally spends lavishly; when there's none, one lives simply. I understand the principle of acting according to one's circumstances."

Seeing how serious Gu Jiusi was, Liu Yuru sighed. "I was just teasing you. Once we reach Wangdu, if you want to gamble or watch cockfights, as long as you don't go overboard, it's no big deal to have some fun. Jiusi," she looked at him earnestly, "I want you to be as carefree and happy as you used to be, for the rest of your life."

Gu Jiusi remained silent, his gaze fixed on her. He felt a lump in his throat. In truth, he had wanted to ask this question for a long time but felt it was pointless.

After all, she had already come back—what was the use of asking now?

Yet, hearing her words, he couldn't hold back. "Why?"

"Hmm?"

Liu Yuru didn't quite understand. Gu Jiusi forced a smile. "Why did you come back? I already gave you the divorce letter. You were on the boat—why did you return to Yangzhou? Did you not care about your mother? Or your own life? Liu Yuru," he paused before adding, "I remember you've always been a calculating woman."

Why would you do something so foolish?

Liu Yuru listened quietly. After a long while, she finally responded, "Then why did you send me onto the boat first when the trouble started?"Gu Jiusi was taken aback for a moment. Liu Yuru said calmly, "When trouble struck, given your temperament, how could you possibly abandon your parents? Yet instead of rushing back to Yangzhou to check on the situation and confirm your parents' safety, you prioritized sending me to the boat first to ensure my security. Why is that?"

"Going back then wouldn't have accomplished anything," Gu Jiusi explained earnestly. "It would've just been a reckless, foolish impulse. You're innocent in all this, and you're my wife. Ensuring your safety is my responsibility."

"Isn't that exactly the point?" Liu Yuru smiled. "Jiusi, I am your wife. Doing everything in my power to save you is my responsibility too."

"If you can learn to be rational for my sake, then what's wrong with me learning to be a little impulsive for yours?"

Gu Jiusi fell silent. Gazing into her sincere eyes, he couldn't explain why, but something welled up inside his heart.

"Liu Yuru..." he spoke hoarsely, "You're too foolish."

So many people in this world vow to stay together through life and death, only to scatter when disaster strikes.

Yet this foolish girl did the exact opposite. After agreeing to go their separate ways and live their own lives, she came charging back, determined to struggle through the mire with him no matter what.

Everyone thought she was the most calculating, but who would have guessed this girl was truly the biggest fool of all.

Gu Jiusi couldn't articulate what he was feeling. He only knew that the image of this woman, her blue robes fluttering in the wind, holding a torch during his moment of despair, would be imprinted in his mind forever.

He didn't yet understand what this emotion was, but he knew that under its influence, he was willing to give his entire life to her.

"Don't casually write me any letters of divorce in the future," Liu Yuru said with a light laugh. "A divorce letter can't stop me. If you truly care for me, then clearly tell me everything. I'm not foolish - whatever you need to do, I'll help you. If I can't help, then so be it."

"I understand..."

"Gu Jiusi," Liu Yuru looked at him with serious expression, "If you treat me well, I'll treat you well in return."

Gu Jiusi didn't respond. He simply watched her quietly for a long time before reaching out, drawing her into his arms, and holding her gently.

"I haven't treated you well enough yet."

He whispered softly: "In the future, I'll treat you even better."

"I won't gamble anymore, won't cause trouble. I'll listen to everything you say, give you everything you want. I'll make you an Imperial Order Lady, ensure you live a stable, smooth life until the end of your days."

"I won't be willful anymore. I'll be a good husband who never embarrasses you or lets you down."

Listening to this, Liu Yuru chuckled softly.

"Jiusi," she leaned against him gently and said warmly, "You're already very good. You haven't embarrassed me, nor have you let me down."

"You were good before, and you'll only be better in the future."

"Gu Jiusi," Liu Yuru listened to his heartbeat and said slowly, "As long as you remain true to being Gu Jiusi, that already makes me very happy."