Destined

Before Zhang Huaili gained fame, he had once lectured in Yangzhou. Gu Jiusi, Ye Shi'an, and others had been his students. Hearing the news of his death, especially under such circumstances, Gu Jiusi felt uneasy. Though there was no direct evidence, he couldn't help but ask, "Was it Luo Zishang?"

Ye Shi'an shook his head. "Hard to say."

Everyone fell silent, pondering the information. After a moment, Liu Yuru spoke up, "Let's all stop thinking about it for now. Brother Shi'an and Yun'er need to focus on recovering from their injuries. We can discuss everything in detail once we return to Wangdu."

"Yuru is right," Gu Jiusi quickly agreed upon hearing this. "I wasn't thinking clearly. Let me escort Brother Ye."

Ye Shi'an, having expressed his gratitude, didn't insist on standing firm and allowed Gu Jiusi to support him as they returned to their rooms together with Liu Yuru and Ye Yun.

Ye Yun was in a separate room, and Liu Yuru helped her inside. Ye Yun remained stiff throughout, and though Liu Yuru noticed, she said nothing. Once inside, Liu Yuru closed the door, prepared the bed for her, and, just like in their younger days, reminded her of things to pay attention to on their journey to Wangdu.

This was how they had always been—Ye Yun, with her pampered nature, often overlooked details, and Liu Yuru taking care of her.

In the past, Ye Yun would always agree with a smile, but now she stood beside Liu Yuru, responding calmly and with a respectful demeanor. Liu Yuru trailed off mid-sentence, and Ye Yun looked up at her, puzzled. "What's wrong?"

Liu Yuru, with her back turned, hesitated for a long while before finally swallowing her words and sighing. "It's nothing. I just feel you're speaking much less than before."

"After all, things aren't the same as they used to be," Ye Yun replied with a bitter smile. "Our statuses have changed, and so have we."

"But you and I remain the same," Liu Yuru responded, looking earnestly at Ye Yun. "You will always be my friend."

Ye Yun was taken aback. After a moment, she lowered her head with a wry smile. "Yuru, I truly never expected you to say something like that to me."

She sighed and continued, "You and Gu Jiusi being together is a good thing."

"Why do you say that?" Liu Yuru asked, confused.

Ye Yun sat down, poured herself some tea, and gazed out the window calmly. "We've been playmates since we were young. After that concubine entered your household, you became more guarded. I always knew you had ulterior motives—needing something from me, from the Ye family. You're deep and not very straightforward. As for me, with my difficult temper, I didn't have many friends. We stuck together out of mutual need. But over time, as we stayed friends, some genuine feelings grew between us. That you saved me was already a surprise. Now you're an official's wife, and I..." Ye Yun chuckled, looking up. "Well, my life is pretty much set. That you're still willing to talk to me like this—I'm truly grateful."

"Marrying him has brought back a bit of the child you used to be. I think living as your truest self means you're living well."

"I... am indeed living well."Liu Yu Ru responded with some difficulty. She lifted her gaze to Ye Yun, knowing full well the burden in her heart—the violation by Wang Shanquan was a lifelong scar she could never overcome. She wanted to offer comfort but found herself at a loss for words, until Gu Jiusi’s voice called from outside, "Yu Ru, are you coming back with me now, or shall we wait a little longer?"

Liu Yu Ru snapped out of her thoughts. Ye Yun, holding a teacup, said softly, "Go on. I’m fine here."

"Then..." Liu Yu Ru hesitated for a long moment before finally saying, "I’ll take my leave now."

After she spoke, Ye Yun accompanied her to the door, where Gu Jiusi was waiting. He nodded to Ye Yun, and after bidding farewell, Liu Yu Ru walked with Gu Jiusi along the corridor. Gu Jiusi reached out and took her hand, studying her expression intently. Sensing his gaze, Liu Yu Ru turned to him and asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Gu Jiusi smiled. "You seem a bit down, so I’m observing carefully to remember what you look like when you’re unhappy."

Liu Yu Ru couldn’t help but laugh. "You spend your days pondering such trivial matters."

"No, no," Gu Jiusi quickly replied, "This is my top priority."

As they spoke, they entered the room. The physician came by again to check on Liu Yu Ru, confirming that she was fine and prescribing some calming medicine. Gu Jiusi then discussed with her, "Let’s set off for Hope Capital City tomorrow. We can have Brother Ye follow later. I still have some matters to attend to in the city."

Liu Yu Ru agreed and, after a moment’s thought, recalled, "You want to see your father, don’t you?"

Gu Jiusi looked somewhat embarrassed. He lowered his head, picked up his clothes, and retreated behind the screen, muttering, "Why would I want to see him? As long as he’s safe and sound, that’s enough."

Liu Yu Ru smiled faintly outside but said nothing more.

After Gu Jiusi finished washing up, Liu Yu Ru also took a bath. When she emerged, she saw Gu Jiusi sitting on the bed, reading a book. She wore a thin robe, her hair still dripping with water.

The deep winter night carried a chill, but the charcoal fire burned quietly, keeping the room comfortably warm. Gu Jiusi patted the bedside, still reading his book, and said cheerfully, "I’ve warmed the bed for you. Come on in."

As he spoke, he lifted his head and, upon seeing the person before him, froze momentarily.

After a night of rushing about and the morning’s disagreements, it was only now that he truly had a chance to gaze at her properly. It had been over three months since they last met, and Liu Yu Ru had clearly lost weight. With her slimmer frame, her features stood out more prominently—her brows and eyes seemed to have opened up, making her appear even more delicate and beautiful.

He felt as though he had nurtured a tree, planted a flower—she had taken root, sprouted, and bloomed in his heart. He couldn’t tell if it was an illusion or reality, but to him, her brows resembled distant mountains, her eyes held the clarity of autumn waters—every part of her was exquisite, every part was perfect.

Though her figure had grown slender, the curve below her neck had filled out. Now, clad only in a thin robe, the contours of her form were visible, like rolling hills. Droplets of water, catching the candlelight, traced a path downward, disappearing into the valleys, hidden amidst jade-like skin.

Gu Jiusi suddenly felt a dryness in his throat. His gaze seemed to carry a heat that made Liu Yu Ru fluster. She dared not move or step forward, only lowering her head and eyes as she whispered, "What are you looking at, my lord?"Gu Jiusi was somewhat flustered by her question, but he forced himself to appear composed and said with a smile, "Why didn't you wear more clothes? Come up quickly."

Liu Yuru responded softly. Holding a handkerchief, she sat on the bed. Gu Jiusi wrapped her in the quilt, as if afraid she was cold—or perhaps afraid of something else.

Once she was bundled up, Gu Jiusi breathed a sigh of relief. He picked up the handkerchief and began drying her hair gently, saying softly, "Let me dry your hair for you. Sleeping with it wet will give you a headache later."

Liu Yuru lowered her eyes, feeling him bustling behind her. Suddenly, she recalled Ye Yun's words—

"Being with Gu Jiusi is a good thing for you."

Abruptly, she felt that in this world, she was already a girl living a very, very fortunate life.

There was always someone standing behind her. Even if he was now just a minor official with no earth-shattering abilities in these turbulent times, having him drying her hair like this made her feel that even if the sky fell, she would not be afraid.

With her eyes still downcast, she said slowly, "This time, by preparing these funds and military provisions, you’ve resolved Fan Xuan’s worries from behind. That counts as a great achievement, doesn’t it?"

"Yes," Gu Jiusi replied casually. "I’ve also had the refugees reclaim wasteland in Wangdu and established rules for governance. Now, if you go to Wangdu, it’s safe and clean. Though it still lacks the depth of Yangzhou, it’s quite good." As he spoke, a smile touched his eyes. "If things continue like this, within three years at most, we’ll see the results of all our efforts. By then, Wangdu will have wealth and people, and I won’t have to worry anymore."

Hearing this, Liu Yuru couldn’t help but remark, "Listening to you, I finally understand what it means to be a 'parent-official.' You’re treating Wangdu like your own child, worrying over it."

"You’re right," Gu Jiusi sighed. "But it’s also because you’re not here. When you’re away, I miss you and need to keep myself busy. Otherwise, I’d spend every day writing letters to you, and you’d get tired of it, and so would everyone else. Since you’re handling the national debt matters, I’ll focus on other tasks."

Gu Jiusi finished combing her half-dry hair and said gently, "Keeping busy feels quite novel. Oh, you’d never guess how many things I’ve learned."

"Hmm?" Liu Yuru opened her eyes to look at him. Gu Jiusi said cheerfully, "I can transplant rice, drill wells, and inspect dams. I think even if I weren’t an official and just farmed, I could still support you."

This made Liu Yuru burst out laughing. She couldn’t help but say, "How shameless of you! Who’s supporting whom here?"

Hearing this, Gu Jiusi quickly added, "You support me, but in my heart, I want to support you. Ah, forget it," he sighed. "You’re too capable. If I don’t become a high-ranking official, I really won’t be worthy of you."

"Don’t say such things," Liu Yuru raised her hand to hold his, lowering her eyes as if slightly embarrassed. "No matter what, you are my husband, and you will always be the best person to me."Gu Jiusi remained still, feeling the hand resting in his palm—her palm bore unhealed wounds and slight calluses, nothing like the soft hands of well-bred young ladies. He remembered she hadn’t been like this before. When she first married into the Gu Family, though unloved, she had still been a young lady who’d never wanted for food or clothing. Even if she couldn’t be called a daughter of nobility, she had possessed the delicate grace of a refined girl. Now her hands seemed like a journal of her life, clearly recording all she had endured. Yet he didn’t see it as a bad thing. Beyond his heartache, he felt that such a Liu Yuru was truly wonderful.

He turned his hand to grasp hers, embraced her from behind through the thick quilt, and whispered, "Yuru."

"Hmm?"

"When life stabilizes in a few years, let’s have a child."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yuru was momentarily stunned. Soon, her heart raced with panic and an indescribable joy. She responded softly, "Mm."

"I want a daughter," Gu Jiusi murmured, "preferably one like you—obedient and well-behaved. I’ll become a high official and protect both of you."

"Of course, a son would be good too," Gu Jiusi added, suddenly envisioning their future. "If it’s a son, I won’t scold him. I’ll play with him since he’s young."

"Turn out like you?" Liu Yuru couldn’t help smiling. "No good girl would want to marry him then."

"How could that be?" Gu Jiusi retorted immediately. "Good girls aren’t blind—they’ll see his qualities. Just like you," he leaned in cheerfully, "think I’m especially wonderful, right?"

Liu Yuru chuckled without answering. Her hair now dry, she took the towel from Gu Jiusi’s hand, rose to blow out the candle, then returned to bed and lay down with her back to him. "Time to sleep."

Gu Jiusi sat beside her for a while before suddenly laughing softly. He slipped under the covers and lay quietly. Somehow, neither closed their eyes.

Liu Yuru felt tense, while Gu Jiusi could clearly hear his own heartbeat.

This night sharing a bed felt entirely different from the past. Before, they had muddled through life in a daze, "making do"—first sharing a bed merely because they couldn’t bear sleeping on the floor, later with one tolerating in silence and the other acting on impulsive ignorance. Never had there been a night like this, where hearts were confirmed and futures clarified.

Gu Jiusi instinctively felt he should do something but was also somewhat flustered. Liu Yuru, aware of what he might do, tensed without speaking.

After a long while, Gu Jiusi finally moved. He turned over and embraced her from behind.

Liu Yuru stiffened, her face flushing as she whispered, "We have to travel tomorrow."

"I know," Gu Jiusi said gently. "I just want to hold you."

Liu Yuru relaxed, leaning into his familiar embrace. Much later, she heard him murmur, "We should hold another wedding."

Liu Yuru: "..."

Exhausted from days of tension, Liu Yuru had finally reconciled with Gu Jiusi. Now completely at ease, she fell into a deep sleep.When they awoke, Gu Jiusi had already prepared the horses and carriage outside. After washing up, Liu Yu Ru bid farewell to Ye Shi'an and Ye Yun. Due to his severe injuries, Ye Shi'an remained to recuperate while they set off first for Wangdu.

Traveling back from Guangyang, Liu Yu Ru and Gu Jiusi made frequent stops. Although the severe drought in Cangzhou had eased and the population had increased, the roads were still littered with corpses—those frozen to death, starved, or killed unjustly. Though their circumstances were entirely different from last time, witnessing this still weighed heavily on their hearts.

Refugees filled the roads long before they reached Wangdu, and along the way, they gathered news from the front lines. Fan Xuan was leading his forces in a full-scale assault, pressing straight toward the Eastern Capital. With Fan Xuan engaging Prince Liang head-on from the northeast and the military governor of Jiannan, Liu Xingzhi, harassing and closing in from the southwest, once the Eastern Capital fell, Prince Liang would no longer be a threat.

Upon hearing this, Gu Jiusi grew visibly troubled. Liu Yu Ru couldn’t help but ask, “Lord Fan is about to capture the Eastern Capital. What are you worrying about now?”

“Prince Liang is no longer a threat,” Gu Jiusi sighed, “but he has executed all the imperial heirs. Once Lord Fan enters the Eastern Capital, who can he put forward as emperor to gain public support?”

Liu Yu Ru remained silent. Sipping his tea, Gu Jiusi continued, “Most likely, Lord Fan will ascend the throne himself. If he does, others will surely follow suit. Take Liu Xingzhi, for example—he already controls Yi and Jing provinces and is watching eagerly. How could he accept that? Besides him, there are the lords of Yangzhou, Liangzhou, Jiaozhou, and various other regional rulers and military governors. Which of them is easy to deal with?”

Liu Yu Ru was quiet for a long time before she sighed, took Gu Jiusi’s hand, and said, “Don’t overthink it. Just focus on governing Wangdu. As for what comes later, wait until Fan Xuan pays you the appropriate salary before you trouble yourself with his concerns.”

Her words caught Gu Jiusi off guard. After a moment, he couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re right.”

It wasn’t about the salary, but such matters were beyond the concerns of a county magistrate. Still, he kept them in mind, constantly sending people to gather information.

After ten days of travel, they finally returned to Wangdu. Gu Jiusi had sent word ahead, and by the time they reached their doorstep, Jiang Rou was already waiting with others, holding mugwort and a brazier. As Gu Jiusi and Liu Yu Ru stepped down hand in hand, Gu Jiusi’s gaze fixed on an elderly man seated in a wheelchair by the entrance. His hair had grayed, and he looked stern. Gu Jiusi stared at him, but the man said nothing. After a pause, Gu Jiusi rushed forward in a few quick strides. Seeing him charge over, Gu Lang Hua raised a hand and snapped, “You unfilial son, what are you doing?!”

His outburst stunned everyone. Gu Jiusi blurted out, “You’re still scolding me at a time like this?!”

Gu Lang Hua seemed to realize his reaction was a bit excessive. Clearing his throat softly, he said, “I wasn’t scolding you.” Then, with a tone of reproach, he added, “Why did you rush at me so fast? I was afraid you’d crash into me.”Gu Jiusi was seething with anger. Just moments ago, when he had looked at Gu Langhua, he had instinctively wanted to rush over and stage a heartwarming scene of father-son affection with tears streaming down their faces. But this old man had such a knack for ruining the moment—with just one sentence, he had instantly drained all the warmth and emotion from the situation. Unable to hold back, Gu Jiusi retorted, "How dare you blame me? You’ve been away for so long without sending any word. Do you have any idea how worried I... how worried my mother was about you? And now you come back in such a state—do you even act like a father?"

"Jiusi," Liu Yuru interjected, seeing the father and son starting to argue. She quickly stepped forward and tugged at Gu Jiusi’s sleeve. "Father-in-law has just returned. Speak calmly."

Jiang Rou, noticing the tension, also hurried over and pulled Gu Langhua aside. "You should say less too."

With the two women mediating, the two men finally stopped arguing. But Gu Langhua tucked his hands into his sleeves, turned his head away, and let out a loud "Hmph!"—clearly expressing his displeasure.

Hearing that "Hmph," Gu Jiusi sneered coldly and refused to look at Gu Langhua again.

Liu Yuru and Jiang Rou exchanged a helpless glance. Jiang Rou sighed and said, "Let’s not argue for now. First, step over the fire basin and enter the house."

With a stern face, Gu Jiusi led Liu Yuru as they stepped over the fire basin, then used mugwort dipped in water to sprinkle over themselves before finally entering the main gate. Once inside, Liu Yuru noticed Jiang Rou pushing Gu Langhua’s wheelchair—neither of them speaking. Knowing that Gu Jiusi was concerned about his father, she quickly suggested, "Mother-in-law, let Jiusi push Father-in-law inside."

"I don’t want him to," Gu Langhua immediately refused. "He’s too reckless. I’m afraid he might hurt me."

"As if anyone would want to," Gu Jiusi retorted sarcastically. Liu Yuru felt helpless but could only say, "Then I’ll do it."

With that, she walked over to Jiang Rou’s side. Gu Langhua respected his daughter-in-law’s wishes, so when Liu Yuru took over pushing the wheelchair, he didn’t object. As she pushed the wheelchair, Liu Yuru said to Gu Jiusi, "Jiusi, come over here by my side and talk with me."

Gu Jiusi grunted in acknowledgment and actually moved to Liu Yuru’s side. Gu Langhua looked somewhat surprised but didn’t say anything more. With the two men remaining silent, Liu Yuru smiled and asked, "Father-in-law, did you suffer a lot alone in Yangzhou?"

Hearing Liu Yuru’s question, Gu Langhua replied stiffly, "Ah, it was alright."

"Perhaps you could tell us what happened in Yangzhou?" Liu Yuru glanced at Gu Jiusi and added with a smile, "Jiusi and I have been thinking of you all this time."

"Nothing much," Gu Langhua said dismissively. "I escaped through a secret passage, was rescued by someone, accidentally broke my leg, and later Young Master Ye found me and took me in."

"Who rescued you from danger? How did you break your leg? How did Ye Shi’an find you?" Gu Jiusi fired off a series of questions.

Gu Langhua instinctively wanted to snap back, but Jiang Rou gently coughed beside him and said, "Langhua, Jiusi has been through a lot these days. As a father, you should be more understanding. Don’t act like a child at your age."

Hearing this, Gu Langhua finally fell silent. After a moment, he answered each of Gu Jiusi’s questions one by one. With this start, the conversation flowed more smoothly afterward. Liu Yuru and the others went to the main hall, where they drank tea and listened to Gu Langhua recount his experiences. After he finished, Gu Jiusi in turn shared what they had been through.After speaking, the two men fell into a long silence. Gu Lang Hua said, "It's good that everyone has returned safely. You must be tired, so go back and rest now."

Gu Jiusi responded softly, and Liu Yu Ru helped him stand up. As they reached the doorway, Gu Lang Hua suddenly called out, "Jiusi."

Gu Jiusi stopped in his tracks and heard Gu Lang Hua say, "Come here. Let me see if you've grown stronger."

Gu Jiusi was momentarily taken aback. He turned around and saw Gu Lang Hua deliberately maintaining a stern expression, though his eyes betrayed unshed tears. A wave of tenderness washed over Gu Jiusi, mingled with sorrow and heartache. He walked over to stand before Gu Lang Hua.

He towered over the man in the wheelchair, so after a brief pause, he knelt on one knee and crouched down. Gu Lang Hua studied him quietly, then reached out and patted his shoulder. After a moment, Gu Lang Hua smiled and said, "You've grown up."

As if speaking to himself, whether with relief or emotion, he repeated, "You've grown up. You're a big kid now."

"I'm not a kid anymore," Gu Jiusi muttered under his breath. "I'm a county magistrate now."

"Nonsense," Gu Lang Hua glared. "Even if you become the prime minister, you'll always be my son in front of me!"

Hearing this, Gu Jiusi felt both amused and bitter. He looked up and said, "Yes, yes, I'm your son. You can hit me, scold me, or do whatever you want. Is that enough?"

"You never think of my good intentions," Gu Langhua raised his hand and smacked Gu Jiusi's head, fuming. "As your father, I'm supposed to shield you from the storm. When I hit or scold you, isn't it all for your own good? So next time, don't ever pull that 'sacrificing yourself for your old man' nonsense again." With that, Gu Langhua pressed Gu Jiusi's head down with a firm slap, gritting his teeth as he added, "If there's a next time, I'll beat you to death."