Destined

Gu Jiusi's reaction made Li Yunshang pause momentarily. She seemed somewhat embarrassed, clearing her throat lightly before turning to the jailer and saying, "You may leave for now."

The jailer pretended not to notice anything, stealing a glance at the situation in the cell before turning and departing.

After the jailer had left, Li Yunshang turned back to look at Gu Jiusi and said, "Earlier, when I explained to the jailer my reason for visiting Lord Gu, I claimed we were old acquaintances. I merely intended to put on a show for the jailer, but I didn't mean to disturb you. I hope you can forgive me."

Seeing that Li Yunshang had returned to normal, Gu Jiusi relaxed his guard slightly, but he didn't forget that Liu Yu Ru and the others were still present. He went straight to the point, asking, "What brings Your Highness here?"

"Upon hearing that Lord Gu had been imprisoned, I grew uneasy and came to see for myself," Li Yunshang replied, glancing around before smiling. "Now that I see you're unharmed, I feel relieved."

Gu Jiusi frowned, considering the situation for a moment. He felt it wasn't the right time to engage in lengthy conversation with Li Yunshang, so he said, "If Your Highness has something to say, please speak plainly."

Li Yunshang seemed taken aback by Gu Jiusi's directness. After a brief pause, she chuckled and waved for her maid to leave. Once the maid had departed, she turned to Gu Jiusi, hesitating for a moment before speaking slowly, "When I heard of your predicament, I immediately sought out my mother. She inquired with His Majesty, but the news doesn't seem promising. Fearing you might not escape this situation, I racked my brains and came up with a rather unconventional solution. However, I wasn't sure if you'd be willing, so I came specifically to discuss it with you."

"Please continue, Your Highness."

Gu Jiusi gestured for Li Yunshang to proceed, his expression thoughtful. Li Yunshang's cheeks flushed slightly. After another pause, she said slowly, "You should know that the current emperor ascended the throne with my mother's support. Although the dynasty has changed, His Majesty has retained our positions as a gesture of respect. After his enthronement, he granted my mother and me a pardon token. Our royal relatives and family members can be exempted from the death penalty and retain their noble status."

Hearing this, Gu Jiusi didn't immediately grasp her meaning. "What exactly are you trying to say, Your Highness?"

"What I mean is," Li Yunshang abandoned all subtlety, her face reddening, "if you were to become the imperial consort, even if Liu Chun's case were pinned on you, you wouldn't need to worry too much. After all, you would still be the imperial consort."

Her words shocked all four people in the cell.

Gu Jiusi stared blankly at Li Yunshang. After a moment, he suddenly came to his senses and hurriedly said, "Your Highness, please don't speak recklessly."

"I'm not teasing you," Li Yunshang insisted urgently, taking a step forward. Even through the wooden bars, Gu Jiusi could sense her intensity. The woman before him seemed like a giant beast, and the only thought in his mind was that Liu Yu Ru was hearing all this—disaster, disaster, disaster.

His mind raced as he searched for the right words to reject Li Yunshang, but she spoke first, continuing, "Lord Gu, to be honest, I knew of you even before you came to the Eastern Capital. Minister Jiang once mentioned you to my mother. Had it not been for the incident with Prince Liang back then, you and I might already be married.""No no no," Gu Jiusi quickly waved his hands, "It's impossible. Whether Prince Liang exists or not, it's impossible between us. I'm not worthy of you, Your Highness, please don't speak nonsense."

"Minister Jiang's intention—did you really know nothing about it in Yangzhou?"

"I knew," Gu Jiusi answered decisively, "but did anyone ask if I was willing?"

Li Yunshang was taken aback. Casting aside decorum, Gu Jiusi crossed his legs on the bed and began explaining to her: "Your Highness, I truly don't know how my uncle managed to deceive you, but you are of noble birth, and I am genuinely unworthy of you. I already have a wife now, there's no possibility between us, so please don't entertain wild thoughts. If you're willing to help me, I would be immensely grateful—purely as a political cooperation, and I will repay your kindness in the future. But if you have any other... unnecessary ideas in your heart, I advise you to stop," Gu Jiusi raised his hand earnestly, "I will never marry another woman in this lifetime."

"Even if it were a princess?" Li Yunshang frowned.

"Even if it were a princess." Gu Jiusi's expression remained resolute.

The two reached an impasse. After a moment, Li Yunshang chuckled softly: "So it seems I am the one with unrequited feelings. But I wonder if Lord Gu might regret this decision in the future?"

"Regret what?" Gu Jiusi lazily lay back on the bed, propping his head up with his hand, his eyes smiling as he looked at her.

Li Yunshang stared blankly at Gu Jiusi's face, momentarily mesmerized. Noticing her daze, Gu Jiusi frowned: "Your Highness?"

The address snapped Li Yunshang back to reality. She quickly collected herself, pretending nothing had happened, and continued: "Lord Gu, you must understand—you're different from someone like Minister Ye. When he came to the Eastern Capital, he had his uncle as backing, but you have to rely on yourself for everything. The Eastern Capital's waters run deep. Even His Majesty focuses on appeasement upon entering the Eastern Capital. Without family support, what will you rely on to continue here?"

As she spoke, Li Yunshang smiled: "Rely on that wife of yours who runs a rouge shop?"

Gu Jiusi didn't respond. He quietly watched Li Yunshang, who examined his expression before lowering her gaze to her flower-dyed nails, her voice calm: "The lower one's status, the more casual their marriage choices. Those who aspire to climb higher pay more attention to their wife's family background. Liu Yuru—that's her name, right?"

Li Yunshang thought for a moment before adding: "She's quite good, but after all, she comes from merchant stock—hardly presentable. Lord Gu, with your boundless future, won't you truly reconsider?"

"No reconsideration." Gu Jiusi answered firmly.

Li Yunshang was stunned, about to say more, when Gu Jiusi looked at her with pity and said: "A princess born of heavenly lineage, like a phoenix bearing pearls in its beak, has now been reduced to discussing the pros and cons of marriage with an official of merchant origins. How pitiful."

"You!"

Li Yunshang abruptly sat up, pointing at Gu Jiusi as she was about to shout in anger. Gu Jiusi raised his hand, stopping her words, and declared decisively: "Princesses are still women, and women care about their dignity. I won't say more—please leave. If you stay a moment longer, I fear my words might anger you."

"Gu Jiusi, how dare you!""If I weren't being presumptuous, would I be sitting here?" Gu Jiusi let out a mocking laugh. "Your Highness probably didn't even bother to understand what kind of person I am before coming to discuss this with me? To openly treat marriage as a transaction and negotiate it personally—even merchant families wouldn't go this far. Your Highness has truly broadened my horizons."

"A woman like you—how dare you even mention Yu Ru in front of me?"

"Have you ever earned a single coin?" Gu Jiusi sat up straight. "What have you done for those around you? Have you ever sacrificed for those who love you? You consume the grain paid as taxes by the common people, but have you ever worried about them for even a moment? Your Highness, being a princess isn't just a title. Like the Emperor, it comes with responsibilities. My Yu Ru has shouldered her own responsibilities—she has sacrificed for those around her, helped many people. So what if she isn't a princess?"

"If we can make it work in the Eastern Capital, we'll stay. If not, we'll leave. Even if I end up on the executioner's block, at least I, Gu Jiusi, have lived my life to the fullest. As for the position of your consort, let someone else who wants it take it. I understand your plan—you claim your mother and the Emperor are on good terms, but you're a princess of the former dynasty. Even if the old ministers are hesitant to break ties with you now, how long do you think the Emperor will tolerate you? Would you dare marry into a family deeply entrenched in the Eastern Capital?"

"You're now of marriageable age," Gu Jiusi chuckled. "You must marry soon. Otherwise, if war breaks out with Northern Liang, what if they send you off for a political marriage? But here in the Eastern Capital, you can't marry into the old aristocratic families, and you wouldn't want to marry someone with no family background or who's utterly incompetent. Looking around, I'm the only one left—no family backing, clever, perhaps decent-looking, a talented young man, right?"

"You're utterly shameless."

Li Yunshang laughed in exasperation.

Gu Jiusi shrugged. "Congratulations on getting to know me a little better."

"You're right about me—I am this shameless and helpless. So don't entertain any more illusions. Hurry up and wash up for bed."

"Gu Jiusi," Li Yunshang took a deep breath, gritting her teeth, "you'll regret this."

Gu Jiusi smiled. "Farewell, Your Highness."

Li Yunshang stood up and strode out quickly.

After she had gone, Shen Ming peeked in, hanging upside down, and asked Gu Jiusi, "Is it all clear now? Can we get back to business?"

"Yu Ru," Gu Jiusi completely ignored Shen Ming and said urgently, "Let me explain, I only just met her..."

Liu Yu Ru came out carrying a food box. Without a word, she placed it back in front of Gu Jiusi and said softly, "None of that matters now. Let's focus on business first."

Gu Jiusi felt a lump in his throat, an indescribable discomfort, but he knew she was right. He remained silent as Liu Yu Ru continued, "I sent two groups out earlier—one to Yangzhou and one to Taizhou. They should be back tomorrow. I originally thought this matter must be connected to Luo Zishang. He must know something else, so I wanted to find some leverage over him and talk to him."

"That's not a bad idea," Ye Shi'an nodded, frowning. "But I investigated for a long time before and only found that beggar. What if you don't find anything this time?"

"Then we'll bluff."Gu Jiusi decisively spoke: "When the time comes, you go and deceive him by saying you've found it. If the deception succeeds, that's best; if not, it doesn't matter."

"Easier said than done," Shen Ming scoffed. "If you have the ability, show me how it's done."

"If I could go out," Gu Jiusi cast a cool glance at Shen Ming, "I would really show you."

"Then when the person returns the day after tomorrow, I'll go find Luo Zishang. What then?"

Liu Yu Ru looked up at Gu Jiusi: "Do you have any other arrangements?"

Gu Jiusi didn't speak. He tapped his knee, thought for a moment, then slowly said: "His Majesty wants to protect Lu Yong because on one hand, Lu Yong has extensive connections. With the new dynasty just established, we can't move against him all at once. If we remove him, who could take his position? On the other hand, His Majesty also values their brotherly bond."

As he spoke, Gu Jiusi smiled bitterly: "After all, they've been through life and death together for so many years as old comrades, wouldn't you say?"

Everyone nodded. Ye Shi'an said: "So what should we do now? Do you have to take the blame?"

"I can't be the one," Gu Jiusi shook his head. "Naturally, someone else should."

"We can't just find someone to take the blame for you."

Ye Shi'an frowned.

Gu Jiusi nodded: "Naturally we can't do that. I'm just thinking that Liu Chun's case most likely involves the treasury silver. He's the Director of the Granary Bureau, and the key aspect is counting the treasury silver. With him being so wealthy, there must be some connection to this matter."

"Hmm." Liu Yu Ru thought for a moment. "Then I'll send someone now to check the situation with the treasury silver."

"Go investigate," Gu Jiusi contemplated. "We need to know what the case is about before we decide our next move. But remember, without complete certainty..." Gu Jiusi smiled, "don't panic. We'll plan carefully."

The three discussed for a while until the time came, and Liu Yu Ru led Ye Shi'an and Shen Ming to leave.

Gu Jiusi watched the three walk out. Looking at Liu Yu Ru's retreating back that didn't turn around, he felt somewhat bitter. He knew Liu Yu Ru had probably forgotten about the princess matter, which should be a good thing. Liu Yu Ru was someone who understood greater principles and never caused him trouble.

But this level of not causing trouble seemed almost like complete abandonment, which made Gu Jiusi feel somewhat sad.

Watching Liu Yu Ru walk away, he finally couldn't help saying: "Yu Ru."

Liu Yu Ru stopped. Gu Jiusi said quietly: "About today's matter, you didn't say much to me."

Liu Yu Ru didn't speak. With her back to Gu Jiusi, Ye Shi'an and Shen Ming glanced at them, feeling somewhat awkward, and went out first.

After everyone had left, Gu Jiusi finally spoke: "When you're like this, I feel like you don't have me in your heart."

Hearing this, Liu Yu Ru pressed her lips together. After hesitating for a moment, she slowly said: "It's not that I don't have you in my heart."

"Then when other women come to bother me, you don't even ask."

Liu Yu Ru chuckled softly. She turned her head, looked at the person in the prison cell, and said with a smile: "I just trust you."

Gu Jiusi was stunned. Liu Yu Ru said gently: "Since you scolded others for me, I'll just continue being a good girl. Why should I lower my own worth?""I've always thought," Liu Yuru tilted her head as if pondering seriously, her youthful and charming face showing a touch of adorable innocence. Gu Jiusi watched her nervously, then saw her turn her head and flash an elegant smile, "Those women who fight with other women over men are truly unbecoming. I intend to remain graceful my entire life, and don't you expect me to lose my composure for you."

Author's Note: Gu Jiusi: Those who provoke me have all been driven away by my scolding, no need for my lady to trouble herself.