Destined

Wang Mei remained silent for a long while before sighing deeply. "If the mistress intended to punish me, she should have said so earlier. I'm not one to deny my faults, but all this beating around the bush is truly baffling."

"This matter was done jointly by Song Xiang and me," Wang Mei lifted her eyes to Liu Yu Ru, her gaze tinged with guilt. "We followed the Gu Family all the way to Youzhou, yet gained nothing from it. Sister Xiang's family is in difficulty, and my own household—old and young alike—depends on me. Mistress, there won't be a next time. Please, considering I've served the Gu Family for decades, show some leniency."

"I am fully aware of the entire sequence of events," Liu Yu Ru said calmly. "Initially, I thought you were merely selling counterfeit goods. Later, I discovered not only did you leak the shop's formulas, but you also stole property and used our shop's reputation to swindle people outside."

"Mistress!" Upon hearing this, Wang Mei quickly knelt. "These are all lies Sister Xiang made up to get back at me! Where is the evidence?" she urged anxiously. "How can unsubstantiated claims be taken seriously?"

"And how did you know it was Sister Xiang who reported you?" Liu Yu Ru retorted mockingly. She gestured, and Gu Jiusi promptly handed over the confession just obtained. Pleased with his quick understanding, Liu Yu Ru glanced at him, suppressing a smile that threatened to curl her lips. She tossed the confession over and said indifferently, "See for yourself."

Wang Mei didn't need to look.

The person caught was her lover, and she knew exactly how much he was aware of. As Wang Mei fell silent, Liu Yu Ru sighed. "Aunt Mei, you've been with the Gu Family for so many years. I just don't understand how you could do this."

"How could I do this?" Wang Mei laughed bitterly, her voice suddenly rising in anger. "How could I do this? Shouldn't you be asking yourself that?!"

Liu Yu Ru was taken aback, and everyone present froze. Wang Mei stared at Liu Yu Ru and rushed on, "You know I've been with the Gu Family for decades. I started serving the madam in my teens. When she asked me to come to Youzhou, I came without hesitation. When you told us to leave, saying all servants were to be dismissed, we left. When you begged us to return, Sister Xiang and I came back. And what happened?!"

She pointed a finger at Yun Yun and exclaimed, "You put this little thing in charge of us?!"

"What do you mean by that?" Yun Yun retorted, angered by the accusation.

Wang Mei turned to Yun Yun with a sneer. "Normally, no one dares to speak up, but today let's lay all the cards on the table. It's clear you're making an example of me, sending me to the authorities, right? Then go ahead! At worst, I'll chop off my hands and never work in this trade again. But Liu Yu Ru, let me tell you, even if you have me killed today, do you think Floral Visage will run smoothly? What is this girl's temperament? She bullies the weak and fears the strong, deceives superiors and subordinates, knows nothing but gives blind orders. Last time you accepted two sets of orders—we couldn't even finish the first set, yet she told you we could take the second. So you borrowed another three hundred boxes, and when the order was delayed, she blamed it all on us, picked someone to punish in front of you, claiming we were slacking off. In truth, we've been sleeping only two hours a day for almost a month!""You're talking nonsense!" Yun Yun slammed the table angrily, her face flushed and breathing heavily as she struggled to control her emotions. "Miss, that's not true at all! I would never do such a thing!"

Liu Yu Ru was completely bewildered by Wang Mei's interference. She remained silent, listening as Wang Mei lodged complaints against Yun Yun. Yun Yun stood beside her, tears falling like raindrops. After listening to Wang Mei's grievances for a long while, Liu Yu Ru finally lifted her gaze to Song Xiang and asked, "Sister Xiang, is what Aunt Mei said true?"

"Sister Xiang!" Upon hearing this, Yun Yun quickly half-knelt before Song Xiang, grasping her hands and pleading, "Please speak for me! Tell them the truth! I didn't do it—I've always had everyone's best interests at heart."

Song Xiang, held by Yun Yun, sighed after a long pause. "Everyone has their own difficulties," she said reluctantly. "Yun Yun doesn't understand the procedures; she does everything based on imagination and doesn't anticipate the challenges. Her heart is entirely devoted to you, and she barely sleeps day and night, constantly busy with the shop's affairs. So her methods may be wrong, but she makes up for it with time. However, she's young, and we're not. Working continuously without rest like this naturally leads to frustration."

Yun Yun was stunned by these words. Song Xiang glanced at Wang Mei, then lowered her head and added, "What Aunt Mei said isn't that exaggerated, but there is some truth to it. Still, Yun Yun doesn't have bad intentions..."

"I understand," Liu Yu Ru sighed, feeling weary.

She had thought that resolving the issues with Song Xiang and Wang Mei would solve the problems at Floral Visage. But now she realized it was like a tangled ball of yarn—tug at one thread, and countless others would unravel.

And what these issues revealed was her own incompetence and ignorance.

She suddenly felt a sense of relief that all this had happened early on.

Her journey had been too smooth. If these wounds hidden beneath the snow had been discovered only after she had progressed further, they would have been fatal.

Liu Yu Ru waved her hand and stood up. "Take Aunt Wang away first."

Hearing this, Wang Mei froze. The man who had been kneeling silently nearby suddenly broke free from his ropes, pushed Shen Ming aside, and dashed out, shouting, "Run!"

Wang Mei snapped to her senses—she couldn't be sent to the authorities. If she were, the charges of stealing her master's property and leaking secret formulas would be enough to have her hands chopped off.

Wang Mei rushed after the man. Yun Yun lunged forward and grabbed her, but Wang Mei struggled fiercely, kicking Yun Yun away. The scene instantly descended into chaos. The man pushed open the door and fled outside. Gu Jiusi quickly rose and gave chase. Meanwhile, Aunt Wang fought with the women in the room, her strength and shamelessness turning the place upside down.

Just then, the sound of galloping hooves echoed from outside. Gu Jiusi and Shen Ming subdued the man and brought him back. Inside, Yin Hong, Yun Yun, Song Xiang, and others pinned Aunt Wang down. Shen Ming walked in, clicked his tongue in disapproval, stepped forward, pushed aside those restraining Aunt Wang, and swiftly tied her hands with rope before she could resist. He then looked up at Yin Hong and said, "See? This is how you tie someone up properly."Yin Hong seemed rather indignant, puffing her cheeks without saying a word. Liu Yuru, feeling a headache coming on from the commotion, pressed her fingers to her forehead and said, "Alright, alright, send her back to Floral Visage."

With that, Liu Yuru stood up, gave Yin Hong a few instructions, and walked out.

Gu Jiusi quickly said something to Shen Ming and hurried after Liu Yuru.

The two walked along the corridor. The weather was pleasant that day, with a bright moon shining high, yet it was still somewhat chilly. Gu Jiusi watched her walking with her head down in silence, then reached out and hooked his pinky finger around hers. Liu Yuru looked up at him, her eyes filled with confusion. Gu Jiusi smiled and said, "If something's bothering you, tell me."

Liu Yuru gave a bitter smile and sighed softly. "It's not really sadness," she said slowly.

She turned her head to gaze down the corridor ahead. "I just feel like we've been making a fuss about catching the culprit, only to realize in the end that the culprit is myself."

Gu Jiusi was taken aback. Liu Yuru turned to look at him. "I didn't do well, did I?"

Gu Jiusi remained silent. Liu Yuru, holding a hand warmer, had a trace of bewilderment in her eyes. "Actually, I understand Aunt Mei. I thought about it earlier—if I were in her position, having worked for the Gu Family for over a decade, only to be overshadowed by a young girl who knows nothing, no one would feel satisfied. But why didn't I think of that at the time?"

Liu Yuru smiled bitterly. "I can figure it out now, so why couldn't I then? Why didn't I think to ask more about how they were doing? Why didn't I consider that everyone might feel resentful? From the moment I started treating them as 'employees' rather than people, this outcome was inevitable. But I..."

"So what?" Gu Jiusi raised his hand to wrap his arm around her shoulder, saying cheerfully, "Yuru, don't overthink it. One shouldn't be too arrogant in life."

"Arrogant?"

"Thinking you can handle everything perfectly—isn't that arrogance? Only saints achieve perfection in all things, but we're all ordinary people. Ordinary people make mistakes, so what? What's unforgivable? If you make a mistake, learn from it and move on."

As he spoke, Gu Jiusi stopped walking. He lifted his hand and squeezed Liu Yuru's face, squishing it until it looked plump and round. Liu Yuru stared at him, her eyes full of confusion. Gu Jiusi couldn't help but laugh at the sight. "We're all experiencing this world for the first time, with no prior experience. It's okay to stumble along the way—no one should laugh at anyone else. Besides, I'm here with you."

Hearing this, Liu Yuru slowly smiled. She raised her hand to push his away, pressing her lips together as she said, "If you have something to say, just say it. Why are you squishing my face?"

No sooner had she finished speaking than a hurried male voice came from outside: "Is Lord Gu here?!"

Both Liu Yuru and Gu Jiusi froze. They turned simultaneously to see Ye Shi'an following a servant, emerging from around the corner.

Ye Shi'an was stained with blood, his face pale. After a moment's pause, Gu Jiusi quickly said, "Brother Ye, why are you here? You should rest for a few more days..."

"There's no time," Ye Shi'an said urgently, one hand pressed against his wound. "I encountered Prince Liang's army on the way. I suspect they're heading for Wangdu, so I rushed through day and night to inform you."

"Why would Prince Liang's army leave the front lines and come to Wangdu?"

Liu Yuru spoke urgently, but as soon as she asked the question, everyone present understood.Hope Capital City was the provincial capital of Youzhou. Currently, Fan Xuan was leading his army in a stalemate with Prince Liang's forces at the front lines. He had previously questioned how Prince Liang's army could have been defeated so quickly at Lingjiang Pass. Suspecting a trap, he never imagined the deception lay here!

Prince Liang had maneuvered his main forces around to directly capture Youzhou. Even if Fan Xuan managed to enter the Eastern Capital, Prince Liang could then firmly hold Youzhou and continue the standoff with Fan Xuan.

"But even if Prince Liang takes Youzhou and confronts Lord Fan, what advantage does that bring? Why not simply defend the Eastern Capital and maintain the stalemate with Lord Fan?"

Liu Yu Ru pondered this but still couldn't grasp the reasoning. Gu Jiusi waved his hand impatiently and said, "I'll explain it to you later."

As he spoke, he headed outside, simultaneously ordering someone to fetch his horse and asking Ye Shi'an, "Where did you encounter them? How many are there?"

"When we entered Youzhou's borders, they had already led their troops across. I heard Prince Liang brought a hundred thousand troops. I avoided the main road and took a detour through smaller towns. I estimate they..."

Before he could finish, Gu Jiusi raised his hand to stop him. At that gesture, everyone felt the ground faintly tremble. Gu Jiusi lowered his voice, "I'm afraid they're already here."

"What should we do?" Ye Shi'an grew anxious.

Prince Liang had thrown his full force into this assault, sweeping through the cities ahead as if crossing flat ground. If Hope Capital City fell, Fan Xuan would have to turn back with reinforcements or abandon Youzhou entirely.

All eyes were on Ye Shi'an. Munan couldn't help but speak up, "Young master, should we abandon the city?"

"No."

The three present spoke in unison. Abandoning the city now would mean leaving all the citizens behind. Moreover, for Fan Xuan, this would be an intolerable crime—deserting a city during wartime was a capital offense.

After a moment of silence, Gu Jiusi made a decision. He quickly took the waist token from his belt and handed it to Ye Shi'an, saying, "I'll go stall them. You find Shen Ming immediately and start preparing the defenses. Yu Ru, find the messenger pigeons and release all of them. Send them from the West Gate, make sure no one sees you."

With that, Gu Jiusi led Munan and hurried out. Mounting his horse, he told Munan, "Gather a thousand soldiers and follow me!"

When Liu Yu Ru heard he was taking only a thousand soldiers, she wanted to ask how he planned to stall the enemy. But in such a critical moment, she didn't dare question further. After arranging for someone to guide Ye Shi'an to Shen Ming, she turned and went to the pigeon coop. Gathering all the women, she began writing pleas for help—notes stating that Hope Capital City was besieged—tying them one by one to the pigeons and releasing them outside.

Once she had handled the pigeons, Liu Yu Ru rushed toward the city wall. Gu Jiusi had said he would hold off Prince Liang with just a thousand soldiers. She didn't know how he intended to do it, but she felt extremely uneasy. She needed to see him with her own eyes, to confirm he was safe.

By now, most people in the city had heard the war news and were fleeing with their families. Only the West Gate remained open, and all the citizens were heading there. Gu Jiusi was engaging the enemy at the East Gate. Liu Yu Ru ran against the flow of the crowd until she reached the East Gate tower. There, she saw the main gate already closed, with everyone on the wall dragging various defensive weapons into position.

Arriving at the base of the city tower, Liu Yu Ru found Shen Ming and Huang Long counting the soldiers. Frantically, she grabbed Shen Ming and asked, "Where is Lord Gu?""Madam?" Huang Long looked over and quickly said, "Why are you here, Madam? It's dangerous here."

"Where is my husband now?" Liu Yuru gasped for breath, slowly calming her breathing as she spoke. "He just told me he was going to stall Prince Liang's men. I came to see how he's managing it."

As she spoke, Liu Yuru composed herself. She raised her hand to wipe away sweat and asked again: "Where is my husband?"

Shen Ming and Huang Long both looked uneasy. They exchanged glances but remained silent. Liu Yuru sensed something was wrong. At that moment, Ye Shi'an hurried down from the city wall. He grabbed Shen Ming and said, "Young Master Shen, come with me up there. They won't listen to me!"

After saying this, he noticed Liu Yuru and froze. Then he heard Shen Ming say: "You have Ninth Master's waist token. If they won't listen to you, why would they listen to me?"

Shen Ming pointed at Huang Long: "You'd be better off pulling this brother here. I'm just a guard."

Hearing Shen Ming's words, Huang Long quickly waved his hands: "I'm just the head of the constables. I can manage the constables, but I really can't control the other people in the city."

After Huang Long said this, the three men reached an impasse. Ye Shi'an frowned deeply, seemingly thinking of a solution. Liu Yuru glanced at the three of them and immediately asked: "Is my husband not in the city now?"

Ye Shi'an nodded decisively: "He's formed ranks outside, preparing to engage the enemy. He asked me to command the remaining forces here and prepare for battle."

Hearing this, Liu Yuru's breath caught. She urgently asked: "How many men does he have outside?!"

"O-one... one thousand..."

Even Shen Ming seemed embarrassed to say the number. Liu Yuru's face turned pale. Shen Ming quickly added: "We tried to persuade him. He said he knew what he was doing and would signal us to open the gates if the situation turned bad."

"Yuru, since he dared to lead troops out, he must have confidence in his plan," Ye Shi'an immediately interjected. "The urgent matter now is to make good use of the time he's buying for us and properly prepare for battle. We need to inventory the city's weapons and food supplies, reorganize personnel, reassure the citizens - every aspect needs arrangement. I'm new here and nobody respects my authority. Are there any respected elders in the city who could introduce me?"

"Those esteemed elders are all up on the city wall," Huang Long tilted his chin up, somewhat disdainfully adding, "The ones you were just speaking with are them."

Hearing this, Ye Shi'an's frown deepened, seeming somewhat helpless. Liu Yuru clenched her fists. Though worried about Gu Jiusi's safety, she knew Ye Shi'an was right. She took a deep breath and said: "Come, I'll go up to the city wall with you."

Ye Shi'an looked surprised: "You?"

"Take me up. Let me try."

Liu Yuru's expression was determined. Shen Ming immediately said: "Let her try. She's fierce enough - she might succeed."

Hearing this, Liu Yuru shot Shen Ming a sharp glare. Shen Ming quickly covered his mouth, indicating he wouldn't say more. Ye Shi'an thought for a moment and nodded: "Alright, come with me."

With that, Ye Shi'an turned and led the way, with Huang Long and Shen Ming following. The four of them ascended the city wall together.

All the important officials in Hope Capital City were now gathered in the meeting hall on the city wall. Protected by Huang Long and Shen Ming, and led by Ye Shi'an, Liu Yuru hurried toward the meeting hall.As she approached the city wall, she couldn't help but pause. In the distance, she saw clouds of dust rising, suggesting a rapidly advancing army. Standing still and calming her mind, she could feel the ground trembling more and more noticeably. Below the wall, over a thousand cavalrymen were arrayed, led by Gu Jiusi at the front. The soldiers, who had barely seen battle, seemed somewhat fearful, and the horses grew restless from the ground's vibrations. Gu Jiusi, clad in silver armor and holding a long spear, gave her only his back.

She pressed her lips tightly together and clenched her fists, feeling an urge to rush over and smack him on the head.

He was never reliable—how could he be this unreliable? How dare he lead just over a thousand men outside? Buying time? What kind of time was he buying? Time for the enemy to trample them under their horses' hooves for fun, so they'd be too distracted to enter the city?!

Absurd, utterly absurd!

Though she was deeply puzzled, she still found herself habitually willing to trust him. She couldn't help Gu Jiusi in other ways, but she would do whatever he asked. Since Gu Jiusi had put Ye Shi'an in charge, she would help ensure Ye Shi'an could manage affairs.

She reached the entrance of the meeting hall, took a deep breath, and whispered to Ye Shi'an, "Wait a moment, then go in. Act as if I'm not here, and say whatever you need to say."

Liu Yu Ru then turned to Huang Long and said, "Find a few trusted soldiers and surround the meeting hall."

After that, she lifted her chin slightly and told Ye Shi'an, "Go on in."

Ye Shi'an glanced at Liu Yu Ru. He hadn't expected that, in such circumstances, she could remain so composed, even carrying an air of dignified calmness, far more collected than he, a man, felt.

Ye Shi'an couldn't help but feel reassured, as if he had found a pillar of support. He led Liu Yu Ru inside. The people in the meeting hall were discussing matters, and when they saw Ye Shi'an enter, everyone frowned.

Ye Shi'an stepped forward and respectfully addressed a middle-aged man, "Registrar Yang, I'm not here to seize power or position. It's just that the situation is urgent, and we need someone to help coordinate everyone in one direction. Right now, I must know the number of weapons in the city to allocate how many each soldier needs and how many each city gate requires..."

"Young Master Ye," Registrar Yang smiled, "it's not that I'm disregarding Lord Gu's orders, but we've never worked with you before, and you know almost nothing about Wangdu. At this critical moment, suddenly having you step in might delay military affairs."

"And is your current disorganization not delaying military affairs?" Shen Ming interjected sarcastically from the side. Registrar Yang's expression cooled, and he looked at Shen Ming, saying calmly, "Young Master Shen, there's no need to mock me just to stand up for Young Master Ye. I'm only speaking the truth. Young Master Ye is still too young, and we're considering the overall situation, not intentionally making things difficult."

"This is because Registrar Yang doesn't know Young Master Ye's background."

Liu Yu Ru suddenly spoke up from the side. Everyone looked over, and Registrar Yang was taken aback before quickly rising to his feet and saying, "Madam."

Liu Yu Ru had dealt with this registrar many times due to national bond matters and was well acquainted with his character. She took a sip of tea with a smile and said, "Gentlemen, my husband has his reasons for entrusting this responsibility to Young Master Ye at this very moment. As you've been in Youzhou, you may not be aware of Young Master Ye's reputation in Yangzhou. He could recite texts at three, compose essays at five, and discuss state affairs and military strategies with his family at seven. His father is a sworn friend of Lord Fan, and his uncle once served as a general on the southwestern border. Do you know about the most famous battle in the southwest over the past decade—the one where three thousand troops defeated thirty thousand?"

"I have heard of it," Registrar Yang frowned. "What does that have to do with today?"

"That battle," Liu Yu Ru raised her hand, her face full of reverence, "was orchestrated by this very Young Master Ye." Ye Shi'an was taken aback. He opened his mouth to refute but didn't dare speak up at this moment.

Liu Yu Ru stood up and addressed the crowd, "Young Master Ye studied under renowned scholars from a young age, diligently learning military strategy. By thirteen, he had already accompanied his uncle to campaign in the southwest. In Yangzhou's aristocratic circles, everyone knows of this young general. However, his family has always valued civil over military achievements, hoping he would enter officialdom through the imperial examinations. Yet, he possesses extraordinary talent in warfare. Master Zhang Huai Li himself once said that he is the reincarnation of Bai Qi, a genius like the qilin."

"Master... Master Zhang Huai Li actually said that?" someone exclaimed in the crowd.

Liu Yu Ru nodded solemnly. Ye Shi'an remained silent, his heart as cold as ashes. He had never seen someone lie so brazenly and convincingly. If he had truly defeated thirty thousand with three thousand at thirteen, why would he be standing here in panic now?

But he couldn't say anything. He could only listen as Liu Yu Ru continued to boast about him, portraying him as a master of exceptional skills who had decided to step forward only for the sake of his sworn brother, Gu Jiusi.

Seeing that her praise had achieved its effect, Liu Yu Ru finally said, "To be frank, we are at a critical juncture of life and death. Whoever Lord Gu entrusts with this heavy responsibility, everyone should cooperate. If we fail to cooperate today and the city is successfully defended, it's only what's expected. But if anything goes wrong, who will bear the responsibility?"

Liu Yu Ru swept a cold gaze over the crowd and slowed her tone, "These are not ordinary times. Crimes committed during wartime are punishable by beheading."

These words finally silenced everyone. Liu Yu Ru picked up her teacup, took a sip, then stood up and drew a sword from Shen Ming's hand.

The sword was somewhat heavy for her. Holding the unsheathed blade, she walked to the table, sat down gracefully, and said softly, "If my words still aren't clear enough, don't blame me for speaking plainly."

Then, her voice turned sharp and cold, "This is wartime. Every moment you delay costs lives! Those who do not value others' lives should not blame others for taking theirs. I ask one last time," Liu Yu Ru slammed the sword onto the table and shouted angrily, "Lord Gu has issued an order appointing Young Master Ye to oversee everything in the city. Who exactly is defying military command?!"

This time, no one spoke.

Liu Yu Ru had addressed every concern in their hearts.

Their worries about Ye Shi'an lacking qualifications and ability—Liu Yu Ru's lavish praise had dazzled them. With the names of renowned scholars and battles she had listed, it was difficult for them to scrutinize further.Afraid that Ye Shi'an would steal the credit, yet credit and crisis go hand in hand—if they wanted to seize the credit, could they bear the consequences of defeat?

They could not.

In this matter, there were few benefits but immense risks.

Moreover, everyone had realized that if they dared utter a single word of refusal today, Liu Yu Ru would truly dare to kill someone right there.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Registrar Yang finally smiled and said, "Madam's reminder is well taken."

As he spoke, he waved to Ye Shi'an and said, "Young Master Ye, please take a seat over here."

Hearing this, Liu Yu Ru, Ye Shi'an, and the others breathed a sigh of relief.

Just then, urgent war drums sounded from outside. Liu Yu Ru hurriedly followed Ye Shi'an and the others up to the city tower, where they could finally see the figures of Prince Liang's army. Wielding swords and spears, they charged toward Gu Jiusi with loud shouts.

Liu Yu Ru tightly gripped her sleeves, silently praying in her heart.

Below the city tower, Munan sat on horseback, clad in armor and holding a spear. Gazing at the dense, dark mass of enemy troops ahead, he swallowed hard and said, "Young Master, do... do you have a plan?"

Gu Jiusi frowned as he looked ahead, calmly replying, "No."

Munan's heartbeat quickened.

This was his first time on the battlefield, and he was facing such a scene. Yet, he chose to trust Gu Jiusi and continued, "Then... then do you have some other strategy to repel the enemy?"

Gu Jiusi nodded. "I'm considering it."

"What... what are you considering?" Munan forced a smile. Gu Jiusi stared at the figures emerging from the dust and sand, pondering as he said, "I'm just thinking about whether I should take the initiative to curse at them."

Munan's smile froze on his face.

Curse at them?

The enemy was charging toward their pitiful, helpless force of a thousand men like a dark tide, and he still wanted to curse at them? Was he afraid they wouldn't die quickly, brutally, or dramatically enough?

"So... what is your decision?" Munan still clung to a sliver of hope. But the next moment, Gu Jiusi suddenly burst into loud laughter, then shouted at the top of his voice, "You old traitor Prince Liang, you've finally shown up!!"