Wei Yun returned to his room and organized the discussions he had that day with Song Shilan, Chu Linyang, and others. Before long, the Covert Guards arrived with a stack of testimonies in hand. Wei Yun had planted informants in every branch of the Wei family, so when he needed to investigate something, he could simply gather intelligence from these sources. The Covert Guard presented the testimonies and said calmly, "Master, the conversations between the Old Madam and the First Madam are all recorded here."
Wei Yun flipped through the testimonies, and the Covert Guard added, "Aside from the Second Madam and the Sixth Madam, all the words spoken by those the Old Madam has recently interacted with are also included here."
Wei Yun acknowledged with a sound and quickly skimmed through them. After finishing, he circled a few names and said indifferently, "Investigate Yanhong, who serves by the Old Madam’s side. Arrest everyone who has had contact with her."
The Covert Guard complied, and soon, a group of people were rounded up and brought to Wei Yun’s courtyard. The entire Wei Manor was thrown into chaos. Hearing the commotion from her room, Chu Yu frowned and asked, "What’s happening?"
Changyue immediately stood up. "I’ll go see."
Before long, Changyue returned and reported, "The Marquis has arrested a large number of servants, from every household. Even Yanhong from the Old Madam’s quarters was taken."
Yanhong was an orphan raised by Liu Xueyang and was deeply favored. With Yanhong arrested, Liu Xueyang was bound to make a scene. After a moment’s thought, Chu Yu stood up and hurried to Wei Yun’s courtyard.
By then, the courtyard was already filled with kneeling people. Liu Xueyang stood beside Wei Yun, twisting her handkerchief, tears welling in her eyes as she looked at Yanhong, who was being restrained. Below Yanhong knelt a young girl, no more than seventeen or eighteen, crying incessantly, "Your Highness, this is a misunderstanding! No one instructed me—I truly thought of it myself. I just heard that the Princess of Qingping was kind-hearted and mentioned it casually to Sister Yanhong."
Wei Yun had now proclaimed himself a prince, and everyone had adjusted their titles accordingly.
Listening to the girl’s pleas, Wei Yun remained silent, sipping his tea with an indifferent expression. "And who told you the Princess was kind-hearted?"
"It was Aunt Gui—"
"You’re lying!"
A woman in the crowd rushed out anxiously, ready to fight the girl on the spot. The scene descended into chaos. Chu Yu frowned as she watched the two women scuffle. The moment the girl lowered her head, Chu Yu caught a glimpse of a fleeting mark. Her brows furrowed, and she suddenly called out, "Stop!"
At her command, the guards immediately stepped forward and restrained the two. Chu Yu approached and gently pulled aside the girl’s collar, revealing a butterfly poised as if ready to take flight. Chu Yu’s frown deepened.
This butterfly was the mark of Gu Chusheng’s informants.
They were tattooed in different locations for mutual recognition, and the color of the butterfly indicated the person’s rank within Gu Chusheng’s network. This girl’s butterfly was a vivid crimson, suggesting a very high rank.
After a moment’s hesitation, Chu Yu walked over to Wei Yun, bent down, and whispered a few words in his ear. Wei Yun frowned and summoned Wei Qiu, issuing orders.
"Separate everyone in the manor by gender and strip them for inspection. Anyone with a butterfly mark is to be detained."
Wei Qiu nodded and withdrew. The manor’s occupants were divided, and the girl, sensing the danger, suddenly cried out, "Madam!"
Chu Yu paused. The girl’s voice was shrill with desperation. "Madam, our loyalty to you is as clear as the heavens and earth!"Chu Yu remained silent. Liu Xueyang glanced over, and Chu Yu gave a faint smile, shaking her head as she said, "Let's leave it at that."
Then she turned to Wei Yun, who was looking at her with questioning eyes, and said calmly, "If it doesn't hinder our greater cause, just expel them from the residence and let it go."
"You know who it is?" Wei Yun stated with certainty. Chu Yu nodded and replied evenly, "I do."
With that, she bowed to Liu Xueyang and withdrew.
After Chu Yu left, Liu Xueyang anxiously asked, "Xiao Qi, what exactly is going on? Has a spy infiltrated us?"
"Mother," Wei Yun turned and supported Liu Xueyang, saying softly, "Let's discuss this inside."
Liu Xueyang was visibly uneasy. Wei Yun helped her sit down inside the room, dismissed the servants, and said calmly, "I heard you’ve been looking for a wife for me."
"You’re already of age," Liu Xueyang sighed. "It’s high time you married. Delaying further will only invite ridicule."
"Why Wei Qingping?"
"Initially, it was Yanhong who suggested it, but regardless, her reasoning was sound," Liu Xueyang twisted her handkerchief nervously. "I’ve met Lady Qingping—she’s truly a good match, and I like her very much..."
"I don’t."
Wei Yun’s blunt response startled Liu Xueyang. "But I heard she once saved your life..."
"She didn’t just save me. There were two of us—me and General Qin Shiyue."
Qin Shiyue’s father had been a close friend of the Wei family. Orphaned at a young age, he had been raised in the Wei household like a young master and now served as a retainer, Wei Yun’s most trusted subordinate. Liu Xueyang knew him well but was confused. "What does this have to do with Shi Yue...?"
"Back then, when the princess went to Tianshan, saving me was incidental. The one she intended to save was Shi Yue."
Liu Xueyang’s eyes widened. Wei Yun took a sip of tea and continued calmly, "Shi Yue’s status is humble, and Wei Wang would never permit it, so outwardly, it was always framed as her associating with me. But in truth, the princess’s affections lie with Shi Yue."
"But Shi Yue’s position..." Liu Xueyang frowned in concern. Wei Yun met her gaze and said evenly, "No matter their circumstances, Shi Yue is my closest brother, and I’ll find a way for him. As for the matter between me and Princess Qingping, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t interfere, lest it cause misunderstandings between Shi Yue and me. You understand the gravity of our current situation."
"But," Liu Xueyang pressed on, "even if it’s not Princess Qingping, you must have someone in mind. You’re already twenty—unmarried, without an heir. If anything were to happen to you..."
Her eyes reddened. "You and A Jun are my only children. A Jun left nothing behind. If you were to come to harm..."
Wei Yun said nothing. Watching his mother’s distress, he sighed softly. He stepped forward, knelt before her, and took her well-maintained hands in his, lowering his gaze. "Mother, there’s already someone I love."
Liu Xueyang froze, momentarily speechless. After a pause, she asked, "Who is she? I’ll arrange the proposal."
"I can’t marry her yet," Wei Yun smiled wryly. "She isn’t willing to marry me now. When she agrees, then you can propose for me."
"At least tell me who she is!" Liu Xueyang urged anxiously. "Let me observe her for you...""No need for introductions," Wei Yun chuckled softly, his eyes filled with tenderness. "She's an extraordinary girl. You'll surely like her."
Liu Xueyang observed Wei Yun's expression, warmth flickering in her gaze. "You must really like her, don't you?"
"Very much," Wei Yun looked up, earnest as a young boy. "In this lifetime, she's the only one I wish to marry."
"My Xiao Qi has truly grown up," Liu Xueyang smiled gently. "Already has a girl he likes. If you won't tell me who she is, at least describe her to me."
Wei Yun fell silent, pondering before shaking his head. "I don't know how to describe her."
"But," he lifted his head, speaking with conviction, "she's truly, exceptionally wonderful."
Liu Xueyang couldn't help but laugh, poking his forehead with a finger, sighing in amusement. "Oh, you..."
She pulled him closer, chatting a while longer about Chu Yu. Since Wei Yun refused to reveal the girl's identity, they discussed how Liu Xueyang would propose once she agreed, the scale of the betrothal gifts, and the ceremony details.
After a long conversation, Liu Xueyang sighed. "By then, I wonder if your sister-in-law will still be at Wei Manor. She's not young anymore. Have you found someone suitable for her?"
"Yes," Wei Yun lowered his eyes, tenderness lingering in his gaze. "That person adores her. Once our matters here are settled, he'll marry her."
"That's good," Liu Xueyang murmured. "Your sister-in-law has suffered too much in this life. I hope that person treats her well."
"Rest assured," Wei Yun said gently. "He will be good to her."
They chatted idly for a while longer before Liu Xueyang finally retired. After settling her in, Wei Yun stepped out of the room. A cold wind carrying rain greeted him. His expression turned indifferent as he asked Wei Xia behind him, "Where is the Madam?"
Wei Xia hesitated before answering, "She's with Gu Chusheng."
Wei Yun remained silent. Moments later, he closed his eyes and spoke slowly, "Fetch an umbrella. I'll go bring her back."
Chu Yu had arrived at Gu Chusheng's place early.
After leaving Wei Yun's courtyard, she headed straight to Gu Chusheng's residence. With the Bestowal of Kingship Ceremony concluded, many were packing to depart. When Chu Yu arrived, Gu Chusheng's servants were tidying up, while he sat at a small table, meticulously brewing tea, as if anticipating her visit.
Chu Yu raised her hand, dismissing everyone. She knelt opposite Gu Chusheng, who pushed a freshly poured cup of tea toward her, saying calmly, "It's cold. Warm yourself with some tea."
Chu Yu ignored the tea, demanding, "Why did you plant spies around the Old Madam?"
"As if Wei Manor hasn't done the same to the Gu household," Gu Chusheng chuckled. Chu Yu pressed her lips together, stating firmly, "You incited the Old Madam to have Wei Yun marry Wei Qingping."
"Isn't it for the best?" Gu Chusheng met her gaze. "Everything I said was true, all for Wei Yun's benefit. With Wei Wang's influence and Wei Qingping's beauty, isn't she the ideal choice for his principal wife?"
Chu Yu stayed silent, gripping the teacup, feeling its warmth. Gu Chusheng gazed at the autumn rain outside, murmuring, "Winter approaches. Bai Ridge grows bitterly cold. Why not return to Hua Jing with me to escape the chill?"No one responded, and Gu Chusheng wasn’t surprised. He spoke calmly, “Actually, I don’t mind. I don’t mind if you lost your purity to him, or even if you married him, if you carried his child. A Yu,” his eyes crinkled with a smile, “you won’t stay by his side for long.”
“And how would you know?”
“I did incite the old madam, but tell me—which of my words was a lie? A Yu, Wei Yun’s path ahead is long, and it will only grow harder. When the road becomes too difficult, when his love for you fades, how can you be sure he won’t resent you?”
“Won’t he think, ‘If only I had married Wei Qingping back then’?”
Chu Yu said nothing. Gu Chusheng sipped his warm tea, quietly waiting for her response. After a long silence, she finally spoke, “Then let it come to that. Let him say those words to me himself.”
With that, she set down her cup and rose to leave. “I’ve told Wei Yun not to touch your men. Take them and go. Don’t target the Wei family anymore. Go back and prepare—in five months, Wei Yun and I will crush Yao Yong and march our troops into the capital.”
Before she could step away, Gu Chusheng seized her wrist. His grip was painfully tight, and Chu Yu frowned slightly, lifting her gaze to meet his.
“Why can’t it be me?”
His voice trembled slightly, as though struggling to contain himself. His eyes, filled with a storm of emotions, locked onto hers. Chu Yu regarded him calmly and simply said, “Let go.”
“The life you want—he can’t give it to you. The future you desire—he can’t provide it.”
“And you can?”
“Gu Chusheng,” Chu Yu’s expression remained steady and indifferent, “it’s not as though I never gave you a chance. I did. I tried. But we weren’t right for each other.”
Gu Chusheng froze slightly. Chu Yu pried his fingers open one by one, but he stubbornly held on, tears welling in his eyes, refusing to release her.
“Do you believe people have past lives?”
“I do.”
“In that past life, I married you.” Chu Yu’s voice was low and hoarse. Gu Chusheng tightened his grip with his other hand, refusing to let go. “Then marry me in this life too.”
“But you didn’t love me back then.” Exhaustion finally crept into her voice as she slowed her movements, speaking with difficulty. “I did so much. I wrote you a letter to elope, but you refused it. So I went to find you myself. I found you and stayed with you in Kunyang County. You were so poor back then.” She lifted her eyes to his, tears glistening. Gu Chusheng stood frozen as she turned her gaze toward the window. “The place you lived in—when it rained, the roof leaked. You set out wooden basins to catch the water. I couldn’t sleep at night, so you held me and sang to me with the sound of the rain. You asked me, ‘Listen, doesn’t the rain sound beautiful too?’”
“I thought it was so beautiful.”
Chu Yu laughed through her tears, and Gu Chusheng couldn’t help but smile as well, his voice rough. “And then?”
“So at that time, I thought—you must love me. You just had a bad temper, but you still loved me.”
“So I did so much for you… so, so much…” Her smile remained, but the tears fell like rain.
As she spoke of those years, he listened quietly.
He had never heard her speak of that time before. In his memories, she had always been that vibrant, spirited girl, and later, just a frail shadow of herself. This was the first time he truly listened—from her perspective—to the joys and sorrows she had carried all those years.It turns out that the girl who fought fiercely on the battlefield could also feel uneasy in her heart; when she mocked him for his incompetence, it was merely a desperate counterattack in her moment of extreme sorrow.
Suddenly, he wondered—if he hadn’t been so young back then, if Chu Yu could have spoken to him calmly like this, laying everything bare, would the outcome have been different?
"I spent a lifetime," Chu Yu said hoarsely, "I used Changyue’s life, the downfall of my Chu family, to beg for this love—the very love you once had, Gu Chusheng." Her tone was flat. "But it was you who didn’t want it."
"You don’t love me," Chu Yu’s gaze fell on Gu Chusheng’s hand gripping hers. "You’re just obsessed. Once you had me, I no longer seemed so precious to you."
"Then," Gu Chusheng’s voice was rough, "if this ‘lifetime’ you speak of truly existed, why don’t you kill me now, seeing what I’ve become?"
Chu Yu remained silent. Gu Chusheng stared at her. "I’m this wicked—I caused Changyue’s death, I ruined your life. Why don’t you kill me?"
Outside, the cold rain fell mournfully. Chu Yu looked at the young man before her—he had already become the Gu Chusheng of her memories, his demeanor and bearing unchanged. He had even risen to the position of Grand Secretary, faster than in her past life.
She watched him quietly for a long time before finally speaking. "In that past life, most of the fault was mine. Changyue was beaten to death by Chu Jin—you didn’t know at the time. And the path I chose… you simply didn’t love me. Most importantly, I won’t let the past life affect this one. In this life, you’ve done nothing wrong."
Gu Chusheng clenched his fists. Chu Yu’s expression was calm. "Though you’ve repeatedly plotted against the Wei family, you always held back in the end. Though you’ve often intended evil, you always stopped. And over these years, while Zhao Yue committed atrocities and Wei Yun waged war, you managed the Ministry of Revenue, punished corrupt officials, and encouraged trade, barely maintaining the balance of Great Chu. Gu Chusheng, I’ve seen everything you’ve done. You’re not as bad as you think."
"I am." Gu Chusheng gritted his teeth. "I’m worse than you imagine. The only reason I don’t act on my malice is because I can’t bear to lose you."
She didn’t know how far he had gone in his past life after her death. He had always been a beast—she was his leash. While she lived, he feared her disdain; once she was gone, he walked a path of no return, doing as he pleased.
Yet hearing his words, Chu Yu couldn’t help but laugh. Seeing the man before her putting up a front, she said softly, "Gu Chusheng, even in that past life, you weren’t as bad as you think. My love for you wasn’t wasted."
Gu Chusheng stared at her blankly. Chu Yu sighed and stood, picking up an umbrella nearby. "Don’t do foolish things anymore, Gu Chusheng. A person’s forgiveness has its limits. If you keep this up," she tilted her head slightly, "I might really kill you one day."
Gu Chusheng said nothing. Watching the woman’s gentle smile, he suddenly realized—this was likely the last time. He had given his all. If he still couldn’t keep her, then perhaps it truly was impossible.
His body trembled, but from somewhere, courage surged forth.
Struggling to his feet, he suddenly called out her name: "Chu Yu!"Chu Yu halted in her steps upon hearing the hoarse voice behind her: "Even in my past life, I liked you."
She whirled around, staring dumbfounded at the man before her. Gu Chusheng managed a strained smile, his face deathly pale as he raised a trembling hand to press against his chest.
"In my past life, the first time I saw you," tears streamed down his face as he spoke raggedly, "I... I really, really liked you."
"But I didn't understand," he slowly stepped forward, "I despised that part of myself. I hated your aloof demeanor. I believed someone like you shouldn't have feelings for someone like me—you should have liked Wei Jun, or even Wei Yun. For you to like me... it must have been a mistake."
Chu Yu watched him in disbelief as he approached, his eyes locking onto hers. "So you were wrong," he struggled to speak, "Even after having you, I still liked you. My feelings for you weren't just for ten or twenty years—they've lasted from when I was twelve in my past life until now in this life. You told me to let go, and I wanted to, but I couldn't. You told me to remember my original intentions, but my original intention was you. I never forgot."
Gu Chusheng slowly sank to his knees, looking up at her.
"A Yu," his voice was raw with emotion, "I'm sorry."
Trembling, he reached out to grasp her hand. "I beg you... come back..."
"Whether in my past life or this one..." he suddenly broke into heart-wrenching sobs, "I can't afford to lose again. I truly... can't bear to lose anymore."
Chu Yu stood frozen, her thoughts in turmoil.
After a moment, a calm, composed voice came from the end of the corridor.
His voice carried the chill of the night rain—steady yet bone-piercingly cold.
"A Yu," both Chu Yu and Gu Chusheng turned toward the sound. At the corridor's end stood a man in white robes, holding a sixty-four-jointed bamboo umbrella, his expression serene and composed. His restrained gaze held flickering lamplight, those glass-like beautiful eyes churning with countless emotions—yet he showed none of them, indulged none of them. Suppressing all feeling, he raised his hand and spoke evenly: "Come to me."
Author's note: Wei Yun has grown faster than anyone could have imagined.
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