Destined

Liu Yu Ru initially struggled a bit, but soon realized the vast difference in their strength. Fearing that excessive movement might alert those outside, she dared not resist further.

Her heart raced wildly, the only sound being the rhythmic clatter of the carriage wheels. What had begun as a teasing kiss, after her brief struggle and subsequent submission, made the atmosphere grow intensely heated.

Gu Jiusi was reluctant to let go, while Liu Yu Ru dared not make a sound. She remained rigid, waiting for him.

Gu Jiusi also felt he had gone too far and didn’t dare to do more, yet he couldn’t bring himself to release her. Instead, he pulled her over, settling her on his lap as he held and kissed her.

Liu Yu Ru’s heart was filled with fear, constantly worried that Yin Hong or Munan might lift the carriage curtain and enter. Her eyes remained fixed on the curtain, while Gu Jiusi paid no heed, closing his eyes and using his tongue to savor her warmth and sweetness.

In such moments, the differences between men and women became starkly apparent. At this instant, Liu Yu Ru was soft and delicate, trembling like a fragile flower blooming in the wind and rain, striving to endure everything from the other.

This demeanor made Gu Jiusi even more enamored, unable to tear himself away. He felt a slight pain in his lips and tongue and thought he should stop. But as he pulled back, Liu Yu Ru couldn’t help but let out a soft whimper. His mind clouded, and the action that should have ended turned into an instinctive reach to tug at her clothes. Liu Yu Ru, sensing his intent, snapped back to awareness and firmly grasped his hand, looking at him with anxious eyes.

The firm resistance brought Gu Jiusi somewhat back to his senses. He lifted his gaze to Liu Yu Ru, whose eyes still held a trace of moisture, her spring-like expression tinged with panic. Gu Jiusi knew he had frightened her. He stiffened, and after a long while, finally regained enough self-control to lower his hand. Holding her close, he buried his head in her shoulder and said nothing.

A long time later, he seemed to recover slightly, his voice hoarse as he said, “I shouldn’t have teased you like this.”

Liu Yu Ru lowered her head and softly replied, “Mm.”

She reached out to gently stroke his back. Seeing him keep his head down and remain still, she couldn’t help but feel a pang of concern. “Are you uncomfortable?”

Gu Jiusi gave a soft acknowledgment. After a moment, he lifted his head, took a deep breath, and smiled wryly. “With a beauty in my arms, even an immortal would struggle to resist. Playing the part of Liu Xiahui is far too difficult.”

Liu Yu Ru’s face flushed, and she murmured, “Stop talking nonsense.”

Gu Jiusi sighed softly and said no more. Seeing his despondency, Liu Yu Ru fell silent for a moment before leaning close to his ear and whispering a few words.

Gu Jiusi’s eyes instantly lit up. He tightened his arm around her waist and whispered, “Yu Ru, you’re truly wonderful.”

With that, Gu Jiusi leaned out and said to Munan, “Go ahead back to the house, heat some water. When we return, have the young mistress bathe and change clothes.”

Munan acknowledged the order without much thought, assuming Liu Yu Ru had been caught in the rain. He halted the carriage, gave instructions to Yin Hong, and hurried back alone.

After Munan left, Liu Yu Ru whispered, “What are you doing?”

Gu Jiusi smiled without answering, looking unusually excited.

The carriage moved steadily, naturally at a slower pace. When they arrived at the Gu residence entrance, Gu Jiusi immediately lifted the curtain and stepped out. The rain had long since stopped. He jumped down from the carriage, then reached out a hand to help Liu Yu Ru alight.His eyes sparkled, unable to conceal his joy. After Liu Yu Ru descended, Gu Jiusi immediately pulled her straight toward the bedroom. As they walked, he happily said to Yin Hong, "Go tell my parents not to wait for us for dinner. We have something to discuss and don’t want to be disturbed by anyone..."

Liu Yu Ru, hearing his disjointed words, kept her head lowered, not daring to make a sound. Yin Hong was a bit confused. Seeing Yin Hong frozen in place, Liu Yu Ru waved her sleeve and whispered to her, "Go."

Only then did Yin Hong snap out of it and quickly leave.

Gu Jiusi pulled Liu Yu Ru into the bedroom, pressed her against the wall as soon as they entered, kissing her while locking the door. Then he tugged her toward the bathroom.

Liu Yu Ru tried to dissuade him along the way, saying, "Don’t rush, take it slow, there’s no hurry..."

When Yin Hong returned to report, she stopped at the door. She froze for a moment, then suddenly understood and quickly retreated, blocking the courtyard entrance to prevent anyone else from entering.

Jiang Rou and Gu Lang Hua were eating in the dining hall. Gu Lang Hua frowned, somewhat puzzled, and asked, "What important matter can’t wait until after dinner to discuss?"

Jiang Rou also found it strange and inquired of the servant, "How did the young master seem when he returned home?"

The servant smiled and replied honestly, "Extremely happy."

Gu Jiusi had a childlike temperament, never hiding his emotions. Hearing this, Jiang Rou knew it wasn’t anything serious and said with a laugh, "Then there’s no need to worry. It’s probably something good."

"Perhaps Jiusi has been appointed to a high-ranking official position?" Su Wan suggested softly.

Gu Lang Hua snorted lightly, and Jiang Rou chuckled, "That must be it."

Gu Jiusi kept going until late at night. Liu Yu Ru was completely exhausted. She woke up from a nap, her stomach growling with hunger.

She thought about getting up but felt too tired. Gu Jiusi woke up groggily and, seeing Liu Yu Ru awake, mumbled, "Why aren’t you sleeping?"

Liu Yu Ru leaned against him, looked up, and said with a hint of grievance, "I’m hungry."

This was something she had never done before, yet it came naturally now. She was acting like a helpless young girl, telling someone she was hungry and then staring expectantly at Gu Jiusi.

Gu Jiusi was taken aback. Seeing the slight grievance in Liu Yu Ru’s eyes, he instinctively replied, "Me too."

Liu Yu Ru: "..."

His words snapped her back to reality. How could she act like a child, expecting Gu Jiusi to fetch her food in that moment?

Blushing slightly, she whispered, "I’ll go make a bowl of noodles."

As she made to get up, Gu Jiusi finally realized that her earlier words were actually hoping for a practical response from him. He quickly held her back and made amends, saying, "I understand. Rest for now. I’ll get you something to eat."

Liu Yu Ru was indeed tired. With him stopping her, she felt too weak to rise and lay back on the bed, asking softly, "What time is it now?"

Gu Jiusi glanced outside and thought for a moment. "It’s quiet out there. I think it must be late. Everyone’s probably asleep."

"If everyone’s asleep, is it appropriate to wake them up now?"

"Don’t worry," Gu Jiusi waved his hand. "I’ll go to the kitchen and see if there’s anything to eat. I’ll just bring it back."Liu Yu Ru nodded, leaning against the bed as she said, "Then I'll rest a little longer."

Gu Jiusi acknowledged her words, picked up his outer robe, draped it over his shoulders, and walked out.

It was already late at night, and the long corridor was empty. Gu Jiusi entered the kitchen, rummaged around, and found nothing. After a moment's thought, he decided he couldn't let Liu Yu Ru go hungry—he had to prepare something for her to eat. He had no idea when she would wake up, so after some consideration, he spotted noodles in the cupboard and decided to cook a bowl of noodles to bring back.

The first step in cooking noodles was to start a fire. Firewood was stacked beside the stove, dry grass was nearby, and the fire starter was kept in the cupboard. Gu Jiusi quickly planned his steps and got to work.

First, he gathered the ingredients: noodles, water, and eggs.

Next, he started the fire. He had learned this skill during their escape to Youzhou, so he was familiar with the process. He deftly arranged the firewood, lit the dry grass with the fire starter, and soon had a flame going. Crouching by the stove, he fanned the fire, but thick smoke billowed up, prompting him to quickly add water. Once the water was in, he tossed in the noodles. The noodles lay motionless in the cold water, and after watching for a moment, Gu Jiusi frowned, thinking it didn't look quite like what he remembered.

Assuming they just weren't cooked yet, he turned to fetch the eggs. But then he grew puzzled: when should he add the eggs, and how?

After a brief hesitation, he decided not to overthink it and simply crack them in.

He raised an egg and smashed it against the stove, but it shattered and stuck to the surface, coating his hand in a sticky mess.

Startled, Gu Jiusi realized he had used too much force. He took another egg and tapped it gently—it didn't break. He increased the force slightly—still intact. Applying a bit more strength, he gave it a firm tap.

It cracked.

Egg white oozed out, and in a panic, he dumped it into the pot. The egg white, mixed with bits of shell, solidified into white clumps, but the yolk remained trapped. Gu Jiusi hurriedly crushed the egg, scattering the contents into the pot. Seeing the noodles clumping together, he grabbed chopsticks and began stirring frantically.

After a chaotic struggle, the noodles started to resemble what he recalled eating in the past. Worried they might be undercooked, he waited, testing them repeatedly until they were finally done. He hesitated briefly, then added a pinch of salt and some broth before carrying the bowl back to the room.

Liu Yu Ru had fallen asleep while waiting hungrily. Hearing the door open, she opened her eyes to see Gu Jiusi enter, balancing a bowl of noodles, two pairs of chopsticks, and a small bowl. He nudged the door shut with his foot and glanced at her.

"Oh," he said, slightly surprised, "you're awake?"

Liu Yu Ru mumbled in response and sat up. Gu Jiusi stood by the table, dividing the noodles into the small bowl as he explained, "No one was in the kitchen, so I cooked some noodles."

"You know how to cook noodles?" Liu Yu Ru asked, astonished.

Gu Jiusi replied sheepishly, "I suppose so."

As Liu Yu Ru watched him portion out the noodles, she got out of bed and walked to the table.

The bowl of noodles looked utterly dreadful—egg white and shell fragments tangled with the noodles, making it the most unappetizing dish she had ever seen.But she didn't say anything. Gu Jiusi had never done household chores before, so it was already quite remarkable that he managed to whip up a bowl of noodles for her in the middle of the night.

After dividing the noodles, Gu Jiusi invited Liu Yuru to sit down and said somewhat nervously, "This is my first time cooking noodles. I'll do better next time."

Liu Yuru smiled. "It's fine. If it doesn't taste good, I'll cook for you in the future."

Hearing this, Gu Jiusi felt delighted but still insisted, "I can learn. I pick up things quickly."

As they talked, they picked up their chopsticks and sat together at the table, sharing the noodles Gu Jiusi had cooked.

The noodles weren't exactly terrible—just ordinary noodles boiled with a bit of saltiness. At the very least, they were cooked through, and Liu Yuru was quite satisfied with that.

"Is it good?" Gu Jiusi asked anxiously.

Liu Yuru took a bite, looked up at him, and said cheerfully, "It's delicious. I could eat this every day."

Greatly encouraged by her words, Gu Jiusi suddenly felt he might have a natural talent for cooking and declared, "This is nothing. I'll learn a few fancy dishes later to impress you."

Liu Yuru couldn't stop laughing. The two chatted as they ate, finding immense joy in just a simple bowl of noodles and the soft glow of a lamp.

Having rested earlier, they were both wide awake. Liu Yuru took the opportunity to share her plans: "I intend to buy this house, renovate it, and settle here. I've already started moving the Floral Visage shop over."

"Is there anything I can help with?"

"Not really," Liu Yuru shook her head, then pursed her lips and smiled. "Just try not to put eggshells in the noodles next time."

"Alright," Gu Jiusi blushed slightly and waved his hand. "No problem, I'll remember."

"Oh, and one more thing," Liu Yuru added after a moment's thought. "Luo Zishang must have come to the Eastern Capital to discuss something with the court. Don't act impulsively."

"Mm, okay," Gu Jiusi nodded in agreement. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

After chatting a while longer, they lay down to sleep again. An hour later, it was time for Gu Jiusi to get up and go to the palace.

Having just fallen into a deep sleep, he was reluctant to be woken. He mumbled discontentedly, turned over, and hugged Liu Yuru, trying to continue sleeping.

Munan didn't dare to call him too loudly and gently called out once from outside. Getting no response, he grew anxious. Soon after, the door was knocked on abruptly, and Ye Shi'an's gentle voice sounded, "Jiusi, time to get up for court."

The noise startled Liu Yuru awake.

Her eyes flew open, followed by Shen Ming's shouting, "Gu Jiusi, if you don't get up now, you'll lose your head!"

"Jiusi," Liu Yuru began shaking him. "Get up, quickly!"

Curling up, Gu Jiusi covered his ears and buried himself deeper under the blankets.

After a moment's thought, Liu Yuru got up, hurriedly changed her clothes, and opened the door.

Ye Shi'an and Shen Ming stood at the doorway, startled to see her. Liu Yuru said urgently, "Go in and drag him out. If we let him dawdle any longer, he'll be late."

Ye Shi'an hesitated briefly, but Shen Ming decisively entered, pulled off the blankets, and hauled Gu Jiusi up.Seeing this, Ye Shi'an also decisively entered. The two of them directly hoisted Gu Jiusi up. Munan washed Gu Jiusi's face and then draped the official robe over him. Gu Jiusi kept his eyes closed, seemingly still struggling. Ye Shi'an and Shen Ming supported him on either side and said to Liu Yu Ru, "Yu Ru, we're heading to court."

"Go ahead, don't let him delay your time."

Liu Yu Ru quickly responded. Gu Jiusi finally opened his eyes and said, "Yu Ru, I'll come back early..."

"Let's go!"

Shen Ming tugged at Gu Jiusi, and the three of them dragged and pulled their way out.

Gu Jiusi grumbled discontentedly, "Isn't there still a quarter of an hour left? Why are you in such a hurry?"

"Don't hold me! I can walk on my own!"

"I walk fast! Very fast!"

The three of them noisily made their way out of the house. Liu Yu Ru watched them, unable to suppress a laugh.

Yin Hong approached, carrying water, and asked, "Madam, would you like to wash up or sleep a little longer?"

Liu Yu Ru smiled and said, "I'll wash up. Today, I'll go look at houses to choose a location for Floral Visage. I'll also see if there are any other good business opportunities."

Yin Hong acknowledged and carried the water into the room. She then exclaimed in surprise, "Madam, did you cook noodles to eat last night?"

Hearing this, Liu Yu Ru recalled the scene of the two of them eating noodles together late at night. She unconsciously pursed her lips and smiled, "Mm."

"Oh," Liu Yu Ru remembered and instructed, "From now on, leave some ingredients in the kitchen before going to bed at night, so it's convenient for cooking noodles."

As Liu Yu Ru and Yin Hong chatted, Gu Jiusi and the others boarded the carriage.

The distance to the palace gate was very short, and they soon arrived at the imperial city. The three of them got out of the carriage and walked toward the main hall.

The cold wind sobered Gu Jiusi up considerably, but he still couldn't stop yawning. While yawning, he asked Ye Shi'an, "What did His Majesty say when he kept you back yesterday?"

"He took me to see my uncle."

Ye Shi'an smiled, but there was a trace of bitterness in his eyes. "The three of us had a meal together. Oh, Jiusi," Ye Shi'an seemed to suddenly remember something and said somewhat apologetically, "In a little while, I might be taking Yun'er and moving back to the Ye residence."

"Understood." Gu Jiusi nodded. "Since your uncle is doing well, it's only natural for you to return."

"I only just informed you..."

"It's nothing," Gu Jiusi waved his hand. "It doesn't inconvenience me at all. Oh, there's something I need to tell you," Gu Jiusi hesitated for a moment. Ye Shi'an looked at him curiously. After pondering, Gu Jiusi finally said, "Luo Zishang has arrived."

Ye Shi'an halted in his tracks and turned to look at Gu Jiusi, his eyes filled with shock.

Gu Jiusi pursed his lips, seemingly also somewhat worried, and said, "I ran into him yesterday."

"He dares to come?!"

Ye Shi'an said coldly. After speaking, he hurriedly rushed toward the main hall entrance and said sternly, "I'm going to see His Majesty right now. His Majesty has been worrying about what to do with Yangzhou. Perfect timing—since he's come to the Eastern Capital, we can settle this with him once and for all!"

"Don't be impulsive." Gu Jiusi grabbed Ye Shi'an's hand, looking somewhat pained. "I was worried you might lose your composure, which is why I told you in advance. Luo Zishang couldn't possibly have come here to die. He must have a reason that makes it impossible for His Majesty to kill him."Ye Shi'an was stunned. Gu Jiusi analyzed for him: "His Majesty currently has no way to deal with Yangzhou. Luo Zishang must be bringing the solution. We'll likely see him in today's court assembly. I'm just giving you a heads-up so you can be mentally prepared and not act impulsively."

Ye Shi'an remained silent. Gu Jiusi knew he was resentful - no one could remain calm when facing their father's killer. No matter how mature Ye Shi'an seemed for his age, he was still just an eighteen-year-old youth.

Gu Jiusi sighed and patted Luo Zishang's shoulder, saying: "If His Majesty intends to protect him, don't oppose the Emperor and put him in an awkward position. The road ahead is long - there will be plenty of opportunities for revenge later. First take care of yourself, don't anger His Majesty. Whatever you do, don't act impulsively - that would only lead to your defeat."

Ye Shi'an still didn't speak. Just as Gu Jiusi was about to say more, Wang Hong emerged, announcing that all officials should form their ranks before declaring the court session open.

Since Gu Jiusi and Ye Shi'an held different official positions, they stood in separate lines. Gu Jiusi couldn't say anything more, though he remained uneasy in his heart.

The court assembly followed the usual procedure: first, local officials from the Eastern Capital reported routine matters, then items requiring discussion were addressed one by one. That day's primary business began with Fan Xuan announcing: "Yesterday we discussed the Yangzhou situation with all my ministers, and today we have a resolution. Last night, Yangzhou regional commander Wang Sishui sent an envoy to negotiate with me, expressing willingness to submit to our dynasty on the condition that all Yangzhou officials retain their positions for three years to allow adaptation time. I find these terms quite acceptable. What do my ministers think?"

No one spoke. After a moment, Zhou Gaolang stepped forward and declared loudly: "Your Majesty, I concur. Yangzhou isn't territory we must conquer by force. As long as Yangzhou is willing to support Hua Kingdom, leaving them temporarily autonomous causes us no loss."

"I share this view," Fan Xuan nodded happily, then added: "The envoy Luo Zishang who spoke with me yesterday contributed greatly to this matter. I believe such talent shouldn't be wasted. I wish to keep Lord Luo in the Eastern Capital as Imperial Tutor to the Crown Prince. What does everyone think?"

Imperial Tutor to the Crown Prince.

This position seemed unimportant yet was absolutely significant.

This was the teacher to the nation's future ruler - the country's future largely depended on the Crown Prince's tutor.

Gu Jiusi frowned slightly. After brief consideration, he realized this appointment couldn't possibly be Fan Xuan's own initiative - it must be part of Luo Zishang's agreement with Fan Xuan, one of the conditions for Yangzhou's submission.

Recognizing this, further opposition would be meaningless. So Gu Jiusi simply remained silent, pretending not to hear anything.

"Very well," Fan Xuan nodded, looking at the silent assembly with satisfaction. "Since no one has objections, then-"

"Your Majesty, I find this inappropriate!"

Before Fan Xuan could finish, he was abruptly interrupted. All eyes turned toward the voice to see Ye Shi'an in deep blue official robes, holding his ceremonial tablet, standing solemnly in the main hall and stating earnestly: "Your Majesty, I believe Luo Zishang is absolutely unfit for this position!"

Author's note: [Mini Theater]

Gu Jiusi: From now on, I'll cook a bowl of noodles for my wife every night.

One month later.

Gu Jiusi: My wife has gained weight.