Let Wei Yun lead the campaign against Wang He. If Wei Yun seeks an alliance with Wang He or uses Wang He to strike at Zhao Yue, he will inevitably avoid crippling Wang He’s forces. In that case, we can find grounds to act and seize the opportunity to punish Wei Yun.
If Wei Yun does cripple Wang He’s forces, then Wang He’s threat will no longer be a concern.
Zhao Yue pondered Gu Chusheng’s plan from start to finish, then looked up and said sincerely, “After all these years, you’re the only one who has remained truly loyal to me.”
Gu Chusheng’s expression remained unchanged, neither acknowledging nor refuting Zhao Yue’s gratitude. He focused intently on the chessboard and merely said, “Your Majesty, it’s your move.”
While Gu Chusheng and Zhao Yue played chess, Wei Yun sent out letters to Chu Linyang and Song Shilan. Both were currently on the frontlines resisting the enemy, likely watching the drama unfold in Hua Jing from afar. Wei Yun could roughly gauge Chu Linyang’s stance, but Song Shilan…
In recent years, this man had stabilized the Song Family and nearly brought it entirely under his control. Though still holding the title of heir, he was the undisputed master of the Song Family. He had always been a smiling tiger—friendly and amiable to everyone, yet his true intentions were inscrutable. Even Wei Yun couldn’t predict his thoughts and could only probe cautiously.
After finishing the letters to these two, Wei Yun paused as he prepared to write to Wang He.
Frowning, he thought for a moment, then set down his brush and sent out only the two letters.
Once these matters were settled, he returned to his quarters, where Chu Yu was writing a letter to Chu Linyang. Seeing him return, she asked curiously, “Finished already?”
“I didn’t write to Wang He.”
Wei Yun knelt and sat down, speaking calmly. Chu Yu furrowed her brows. “Why not?”
“Wang He has now declared himself king, and the news must have reached the palace. Sister-in-law, what do you think Zhao Yue would do, given his temperament?”
“Just say it plainly.”
“Zhao Yue would fear that I might ally with Wang He or secretly aid him.”
“Naturally.” Chu Yu couldn’t quite grasp Wei Yun’s meaning. He smiled and continued, “If I were Zhao Yue, I couldn’t ignore Wang He, nor could I ignore Wei Yun. So I’d simply send Wei Yun to attack Wang He. If he wins, the threat of Wang He is resolved. If he loses, I’d hold Wei Yun accountable—a move that would align with public sentiment. Sister-in-law, do you think Zhao Yue would do this?”
Hearing this, Chu Yu’s expression cleared as she immediately understood. “So if you write to Wang He now and later take command, Wang He could use the letter to blackmail you?”
“Exactly.” Wei Yun nodded seriously. “That’s why I shouldn’t write to Wang He at this moment. For now, I can only stall. If stalling fails, I’ll demand troops and horses from Zhao Yue. Once we’ve taken Lanzhou, we’ll hold the territory without declaring it—becoming an unspoken King of Anlan.”
Chu Yu was taken aback by Wei Yun’s decisive plan. After a moment, she asked uneasily, “If you rebel, what justification will you use?”
“During this trip, I found letters from Sucha to Zhao Yue, which can prove Zhao Yue’s collusion with the enemy. Add to that the heavy taxes Zhao Yue imposed under the guise of military funds to build palaces for the Eldest Princess over the years—each of these is a crime.”
“With these charges, I’ll have Shen Wushuang step forward to expose him.”
“Expose what?”
“That he isn’t the Qin Prince Heir.”Hearing this, Chu Yu froze in place. Wei Yun spoke calmly, "The reason he survived back then was because Shen Wushuang's brother prepared a body double for him. But whether he is the double or the real Qin Prince Heir—who can say for certain?"
Wei Yun took a sip of tea, a hint of mockery in his eyes. "With real crimes and false rumors, mixing truth and lies to tarnish someone's name is all too easy. When the time comes, we'll replace him under the pretext that the emperor is unvirtuous and his bloodline is questionable."
Chu Yu remained silent, quietly watching him.
The Wei Yun of the past would have wept in guilt for not going to the battlefield himself, but now he could speak of these dirty political tactics with such calm and familiarity.
Looking at him like this, Chu Yu felt her heart twist. She said nothing, but Wei Yun understood her thoughts from her gaze.
"You needn't be surprised, sister-in-law," he said, lowering his eyes. "People grow up."
"I know..." Chu Yu's voice was hoarse. She smiled bitterly. "I don't blame you. I know."
It was just... regrettable.
Chu Yu sighed. Hearing her sigh, Wei Yun clenched his fists involuntarily.
That night, as Chu Yu took down her hair ornaments, Wanyue remarked, "The young marquis has indeed grown up."
Chu Yu acknowledged with a hum, then said evenly, "Keep an eye out for any suitable young ladies of his age among the noble families."
Though she said this, Chu Yu knew that Wei Yun's original wife, Princess Qingping, had been a rare and extraordinary woman of their time.
Not only was she stunningly beautiful and accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but she also wrote exceptional essays. At just fifteen, she had astonished the entire Chu kingdom with a treatise on flood control. As the closed-door disciple of the divine physician Jiang Liu, she traveled extensively, aiding disaster victims. Wei Yun had always respected her deeply. Even after marriage, wherever there was war or plague, Princess Qingping would appear to offer solace. Because of this, Wei Yun had always enjoyed immense popularity among the people.
Princess Qingping was practically a living bodhisattva. Finding a woman who could surpass her would be no easy task.
But Chu Yu had no idea when, where, or how Princess Qingping and Wei Yun were supposed to meet. So she could only casually help look around. If someone truly better did appear, it would be a wonderful thing.
Hearing Chu Yu's instructions, Wanyue remained silent this time. Chu Yu looked up at her, puzzled. "Why aren't you saying anything?"
"My lady, I've always been curious," Wanyue sighed. "Do you truly have no feelings for the young marquis?"
After speaking, Wanyue studied Chu Yu closely, as if ready to apologize at any moment.
Chu Yu hadn't expected such directness. She paused, staring at the candlelight, lost in thought for a long while.
"He is someone very important to me."
That was all she said.
Hearing this, Wanyue understood. Wei Yun was important to her. But why he was important—no one knew the reason.
If it were love... her heart had long been like a dry well. She couldn't speak of love with someone so young.
If it weren't love...
She didn't know what it was either. Perhaps gratitude, perhaps familial affection. In life, after all, there is so much more beyond romance.
Yet after saying this, Chu Yu felt strangely adrift. As she washed up and lay down to sleep, she stared at the canopy above her bed for a long time, drifting in thought before finally closing her eyes.She didn’t know what was wrong with herself. Hazily, she dreamed of four years ago, during the Lantern Festival in Northern Di. That night, she and Wei Yun had sat on the rooftop watching thousands of lanterns rise into the sky. It had been a beautiful scene. In her dream, she watched with wide eyes, but somehow, the young Wei Yun leaned down and kissed her on the lips.
It was supposed to be a fleeting kiss, like a dragonfly skimming the water. He was too young, not even knowing what to do next.
So he kissed her again and again, over and over, on the lips.
Her breathing grew rapid in the dream, and then the scene abruptly shifted to her wedding night at fifteen.
That night, she and Gu Chusheng had been in a shabby little courtyard, pasting up the character for "double happiness" and lighting red candles. Gu Chusheng had insisted on spending what was then a fortune for them to buy mandarin duck bedding and a red silk canopy embroidered with the character for joy.
In the dream, just like in her youth, she lay stiffly with her back to him. At first, he didn’t move either. After a long while, he embraced her from behind.
His body was warm, his chest broad and sturdy. He reached out, wrapped an arm around her waist, then covered her softness with his calloused hand, gently kneading.
It wasn’t Gu Chusheng.
The moment he moved, Chu Yu suddenly realized this.
In the dream, she didn’t resist or move. It was as if she were under a spell, quietly feeling his every motion. Each step was slow, deliberate, devoid of the initial pain she remembered. With immense patience, he entered her, and at the height of pleasure, he lightly kissed the protruding bones of her thin spine from behind. His kisses were fleeting, yet they made her arch her back. Her vision blurred as she clutched the sheets and curled her toes.
She didn’t know who was behind her, nor did she want to know. She surrendered to the overwhelming waves of pleasure until, at the very last moment, she suddenly heard his voice.
“Sister-in-law…”
At that instant, it was as if a blinding white light exploded before her eyes. She jolted awake from the dream, gasping for breath as she stared into the darkness.
Dread drowned her completely. She felt the lingering traces of her body’s response and slowly wrapped her arms around herself in the dark.
She had gone mad.
She thought.
She must have gone mad.
How could she think of such things? How could she dream of such things? And at the end of the dream, how could he… how could he…
Trembling, Chu Yu rose from the bed and urgently called for Changyue, who was keeping watch. Changyue asked in confusion, “What is it, madam?”
“Prepare water…”
Steadying herself, she finally managed to speak. “I need to bathe.”
Changyue didn’t understand, but since Chu Yu had ordered it, she went to prepare the bath and help her cleanse herself.
Once the water was ready, Chu Yu dismissed everyone and sat in the tub, letting the water envelop her completely, washing away all traces left by the dream.
Gradually, she calmed down in the water, pondering the sequence of events.
After much thought, she concluded.
She probably really needed a man.
And Wei Yun, in her heart, had somehow already become a man to her at some point.
Perhaps she had dwelled too much on Wei Yun, to the point where strange thoughts had seeped into her dreams.
Chu Yu splashed water on her face to clear her mind. Taking a deep breath, she suppressed all those thoughts.After a quick wash, she stood up and was just dressing when she heard an announcement from outside: "Madam, Gu Chusheng requests an audience."
Hearing this, Chu Yu frowned.
"Did he mention the reason?"
"He said it concerns an important matter regarding the Wang Family."
The reply was formal. After a moment's thought, Chu Yu finally said, "Ask him to wait in the main hall."
With that, she rose, changed into her usual formal attire, and went out.
When she arrived in the hall, Gu Chusheng was already waiting. He sat drinking, his expression weary. As Chu Yu entered, he lifted his gaze to her.
His eyes were unreadable—neither happy nor sorrowful—just quietly watching her with a trace of despair and desolation.
Chu Yu greeted him with a bow, then knelt and sat down. "Lord Gu, what brings you here so late at night?"
Gu Chusheng didn’t answer immediately. He stared at her, downed his cup of wine in one gulp, as if steeling himself.
At that moment, Wei Yun quietly arrived outside the hall. He stood by the window, leaning against the wall, listening to their conversation.
Gu Chusheng raised his eyes to Chu Yu, fixing her with a gaze that seemed to weigh an immensely important decision.
Meeting his look with a composed smile, Chu Yu prompted, "Lord Gu?"
"I’ve thought long and hard," he rasped. "For so long... and in the end, I still came."
Chu Yu’s smile remained unchanged. Gu Chusheng stood, swaying slightly as he approached her, then knelt before her and took out a small box from his robes.
"A Yu," he said, lifting his eyes to hers. "I want to marry you."
Author's note: Wei Yun: Rejected.
OpenNovel