Fight For Love

Chu Yu spoke as she loosened the whip, letting Gu Chusheng drop to the ground. She leaped down from above and coiled the whip back at her waist. "What are you doing here?"

Gu Chusheng's face was pale. Chu Yu crouched beside him, noticing him clutching his knee, and asked worriedly, "Where are you hurt?"

"My calf."

Gu Chusheng took a sharp breath before continuing, "We need to leave quickly. It's dangerous here."

Chu Yu nodded, hoisting him onto her back without hesitation and heading toward open ground.

Her movements were swift and strong, easing Gu Chusheng's worries—she seemed unharmed. As she carried him toward a distant riverbank, she asked, "Weren’t you supposed to be in Yuancheng handling disaster relief? Why come here?"

"Wei Qingping came to find me. He said something had happened to you." Gu Chusheng's voice was calm, betraying no sign of pain from his injury. He only sounded puzzled. "How did you end up here?"

"I was standing at the mountaintop when the earthquake hit," Chu Yu chuckled. "The peak started collapsing, so I ran away from the falling debris and ended up at this cliff. I had no choice but to grab onto the vines and climb down, jumping and swinging my way to the bottom."

Gu Chusheng listened, exhaling tiredly. "As long as you're alright."

His words left Chu Yu momentarily speechless. After a long silence, she finally said, "You didn’t have to come looking for me yourself. If something happened to you, who would handle the relief efforts?"

"Even now, you’re still worrying about that," Gu Chusheng scoffed. "How dutifully noble of you, Madam Chu."

Chu Yu fell quiet. Gu Chusheng immediately regretted his words and wearily leaned against her back. After a long pause, he spoke again. "I heard you left Wei Manor."

"Yeah."

Chu Yu acknowledged as she reached the water’s edge and set him down. "I’ll find some branches to brace your leg. Are you hungry? I can catch a fish for you."

Gu Chusheng kept his head lowered without answering. Chu Yu glanced around and continued, "Then that’s the plan. After we eat, I’ll carry you downstream. We should reach a village after a while."

With that, she went to gather branches. When she returned, she used a dagger to slit open his pant leg, examined the injury, and carefully secured it with the branches.

Gu Chusheng watched silently. Throughout the entire process, Chu Yu’s expression remained straightforward—neither awkward nor affectionate. She treated him like any ordinary friend, helping him because he was injured, nothing more.

"Don’t you hate me?"

After their long separation, this was the first time he had asked her that question. Chu Yu froze briefly before lowering her gaze. "When I first came back to life, I kept thinking that if I ever saw you again, I’d kill you."

"Then why didn’t you?"

Gu Chusheng clenched his fists. Chu Yu tied the branches firmly with a strip of cloth, then finally answered, "Because I don’t want to anymore."

"I wanted to kill you because back then, I felt you had hurt me deeply. I was miserable, and killing you would have been revenge." She smiled faintly, as if joking. "But now, my heart is full. I don’t feel that pain anymore. Gu Chusheng, if I really think about it—if I hadn’t loved you back then, you wouldn’t have been such a bad person. You had your flaws, but you were still a good man."With that, Chu Yu stood up and walked toward the riverbank. "I'll go catch some fish."

Gu Chusheng didn't respond. His gaze followed her as she moved aside, using a dagger to sharpen a branch into a makeshift spear. He watched her quietly, suddenly realizing that she had truly moved on.

In this relationship, she had extricated herself completely, leaving not even resentment behind. Between them, it seemed there was no longer any connection—only he remained stuck in place, trapped by his own making.

Chu Yu caught some fish, started a fire, and grilled them for him. Gu Chusheng watched in silence, saying nothing.

When the fish were ready, she handed one to him and looked up. "After I died, did you live well?"

Gu Chusheng's hand holding the spear trembled slightly before he lowered his eyes and smiled mockingly. "If I had lived well, would I be here now?"

Chu Yu was momentarily taken aback, then chuckled. "How did you come back?"

"After Wei Yun killed me, I opened my eyes and was sixteen again."

His voice was calm, but Chu Yu was curious. "You were killed by Wei Yun?"

"Yes." Gu Chusheng didn't seem ashamed. "After you died, I lived another thirty years. In the end, I couldn't take it anymore—I didn't even know what the point of living was. The emperor was incompetent, Wei Yun plotted rebellion, and I stood firm to protect Your Majesty. That's why he killed me."

That Gu Chusheng had died defending the emperor didn't surprise Chu Yu. The Gu family had always been loyal to the royal house. Though Gu Chusheng was different from the rest of his family, at his core, he was still a staunch royalist.

Chu Yu frowned. "So now, you're going to rebel against Zhao Yue?"

Gu Chusheng didn't answer. He stared at the flickering flames, his expression cold.

"A Yu, my loyalty isn't without limits."

"Besides, for the court, for their royal family—I gave my whole life." He lifted his gaze to hers. "When I was reborn, I thought: this time, I'll live only for you."

Chu Yu was stunned. After a moment, she lowered her eyes, turning the fish still roasting in her hands. Finally, she spoke. "Chusheng, a person's life is never for someone else—it's for themselves."

"You're alive," she met his gaze, "you should learn to live for yourself."

"A person has desires, but also responsibilities. You fulfill your duties, you don't harm others. Once you've done those two things, then you can pursue what you want. Do what you love."

"I love you."

Gu Chusheng looked at her intently. "Then what should I do?"

Hearing this, Chu Yu raised her eyes to his. "Then love me. But you must understand—this love won't change anything. You're still Gu Chusheng. Your dreams, your responsibilities, what you should and shouldn't do—none of that will change because of me. Love is something pure. I don't mind you loving me, Gu Chusheng. But you must realize this love should stay within your limits. I won't return it, and you can't force it. And you shouldn't change your life for me. You're still you."

"Then what kind of love is that?"

"Do you know why I left Wei Manor?"

"Why?""Because Chu Yu's ambitions do not lie within the inner chambers, nor will she bow her head to anyone. My fondness for Wei Yun is not wrong, but I won’t change myself or compromise for him. Gu Chusheng, who you like or dislike has nothing to do with me," Chu Yu smiled faintly. "But having known each other for so many years, I hope you live well."

Gu Chusheng remained silent, gazing at Chu Yu. After a long while, he only said, "But apart from you, I desire nothing else."

Chu Yu chuckled lightly. "Tell me that again in the future."

With that, she stood up and lifted Gu Chusheng onto her back, saying calmly, "Let’s go. I’ll take you out."

Gu Chusheng leaned against her back, listening to her heartbeat, and recalled how many times in their youth she had carried him like this.

The Gu family had always been a scholarly lineage, and he had only learned horsemanship, archery, and swordplay as part of the Six Arts—mere showy skills that couldn’t compare to Chu Yu, who had been honed since childhood. Back when he served as the magistrate of Kunyang County, he had made too many enemies. Several times when he was pursued and injured, it was Chu Yu who carried him like this, scolding him all the way—berating him for stirring trouble, for bringing her more hardship.

No matter how much she scolded him back then, being carried by her always meant he was safe.

Chu Yu would never betray him or abandon him.

But now, though she carried him, she no longer scolded him. Gu Chusheng clenched his fists involuntarily and finally spoke, "A Yu, say something."

"What happened after I died in our past life?"

Chu Yu replied casually, "Was it much different from now?"

"Not really," Gu Chusheng closed his eyes. "The Northern Di were exterminated by Wei Yun, and they fled westward, establishing a new nation. Later, they allied with the Chen Kingdom and attacked again. Some rebelled, others rose in revolt—the country was constantly at war, never at peace."

"Truthfully, the Great Chu was already weak. If not for Wei Yun holding it together, it would have fallen long ago."

"Later, we supported the young emperor’s ascension, and he and I acted as regents. There were a few years of stability, but the young emperor grew up quickly and, incited by eunuchs, demanded to rule directly. After Wei Yun returned power to him, the foolish emperor began to court disaster. The hard-won stability crumbled into chaos, and Wei Yun rose in rebellion."

Gu Chusheng recounted the events of their past life slowly, while Chu Yu listened quietly.

As the two followed the river downstream, Wei Yun arrived at Qingshui Town.

Now, Qingshui Town was buried under mud, with no trace of survivors. Everyone standing atop the debris felt a chill.

The power of nature was more terrifying than any army. Seeing this force that left no bones behind, Wei Xia couldn’t help but say, "Your Highness... this..."

There’s no saving them, is there?

Wei Xia didn’t finish his sentence, but everyone understood his meaning.

Wei Yun silently surveyed the valley and said firmly, "She’s alive."

With that, he turned and immediately headed for higher ground. Wei Qiu called out anxiously, "Your Highness! Where are you going?"

Wei Yun didn’t answer. He rushed to the mountaintop, carefully examining the chaotic footprints, and eventually arrived at the cliff where Gu Chusheng had fallen.

After glancing at the broken branches below the cliff, he turned to Wei Xia and ordered, "Wei Qiu, take the hounds and search here. If there are aftershocks, retreat immediately. Wei Xia, lead a team to find where the exit from this cliff leads and wait for me there."

"Wait for you?"Wei Xia was stunned for a moment before hearing Wei Yun say, "Find a rope. I'm going down to take a look."

"Your Highness, let me go instead," Wei Qiu quickly interjected. Wei Yun glanced at him, and Wei Qiu immediately understood his meaning. Though he frowned, he dared not say another word.

Wei Yun waited until someone brought a rope, tied it around himself, and secured the other end to a nearby large tree before descending the cliff.

Vines clung to the cliffside, and he grasped them along with the rocks, using his qinggong to descend swiftly. In less than a quarter of an hour, he reached the bottom. The first thing he saw were the marks left by Chu Yu's sword on the cliff face. Suppressing his excitement, he followed the footprints at the base of the cliff. After traveling for about half a day, he finally spotted a figure in the distance—someone who seemed to be carrying another person and speaking. Wei Yun called out, "A Yu!"

Chu Yu halted and turned around to see Wei Yun standing before her.

His clothes were torn and ragged, his cloak littered with leaves, and his hair was disheveled, making him look utterly disheveled.

When his eyes met hers, they brimmed with joy. Chu Yu smiled gently and said softly, "Why are you here too?"

As she spoke, she set Gu Chusheng down and straightened up, looking at Wei Yun. "You—"

Before she could finish, the young man strode forward and pulled her into a tight embrace.

He said nothing, but his arms held her so firmly, so desperately, as though letting go would mean losing her forever. Chu Yu remained in his embrace for a long while before finally raising her hand to lightly pat his back, murmuring, "I'm alright."

Wei Yun stayed silent, and Chu Yu repeated, "I'm fine, really. Don't be afraid."

Only after her repeated reassurances did Wei Yun's trembling subside, and he slowly released her.

He scrutinized her from head to toe before finally letting out a relieved sigh. He seemed about to say something but instead turned to Gu Chusheng, surprised. "Minister Gu?"

Gu Chusheng sat on the ground, his eyes closed. Hearing Wei Yun address him, he slowly opened his eyes and replied calmly, "Prince Wei."

Wei Yun had initially wanted to ask why he was here, but the answer dawned on him before he could voice the question.

Gu Chusheng had personally come to Yuancheng for disaster relief. If Wei Yun himself had traveled from Huicheng, how much more so for Gu Chusheng, who was already in Yuancheng?

Wei Yun pressed his lips together before finally saying, "Let me carry Minister Gu back."

Gu Chusheng gave no response. Wei Yun stepped forward, hoisted him onto his back, and turned to Chu Yu. "Wei Xia is waiting for us outside. Let's go."

Chu Yu smiled, unable to suppress the joy at the corners of her lips as she walked beside Wei Yun. "You came from Huicheng?"

"Yes," Wei Yun replied with a bitter smile. "I came as soon as I heard something happened to you."

"How is Huicheng?"

"It's alright," Wei Yun answered truthfully. "We prepared in advance, so the casualties weren't too severe."

Though the conversation was simple, both of them inexplicably felt happy. Suddenly, Chu Yu remembered something. "Why did Minister Gu personally come for disaster relief?"

Hearing her question, Gu Chusheng opened his eyes and replied calmly, "I feared my subordinates wouldn’t obey if I didn’t come myself. Moreover, if Zhao Yue learned of the disaster, he might withhold aid to pressure you. So I brought provisions ahead of time."

"You brought provisions?" Chu Yu exclaimed in surprise.

Gu Chusheng nodded. "I diverted the military rations meant for Yao Yong.""Then what about you?" Wei Yun frowned. "If you do this, Zhao Yue won’t let you off."

"What can he do to me?" Gu Chusheng sneered. "Kill me? I was escorting military provisions and diverted them for disaster relief—did I do anything wrong?"

"Well, no..." Chu Yu said worriedly. "But Zhao Yue might start keeping an eye on you from now on."

"Isn’t he already wary of me now?"

Gu Chusheng’s voice was cold. "A man like him—who has he ever truly trusted in his life?"

Wei Yun and Chu Yu fell silent. Gu Chusheng closed his eyes and continued, "He only believes in profit."

"Alright, don’t overthink it."

Chu Yu sighed. "You should rest first."

Gu Chusheng pressed his lips together and said nothing. Wei Yun, carrying him on his back, refrained from speaking further with Chu Yu to avoid disturbing him and quietly walked out.

The road was longer than expected. By dusk, they still hadn’t seen Wei Xia, but they spotted a thatched hut in the distance. Wei Yun glanced at the sky and said to Chu Yu, "It looks like rain. Let’s rest here for now."

Chu Yu nodded and followed Wei Yun inside. The three knocked on the door, and an elderly man answered.

The old man’s hair was snow-white, and he appeared to be in his eighties or nineties. Wei Yun respectfully explained their situation and offered the old man silver. The old man glanced at the money and shook his head. "Come in. Just help me cook a meal, and that’ll be enough."

The three thanked him profusely and entered the hut.

The old man was hunched over. Wei Yun went to the kitchen to prepare food, while Chu Yu settled Gu Chusheng and sat down to chat with the old man.

The house was small, and the old man’s voice carried clearly into the kitchen.

"My surname is Li, and my name is Li Mou. I used to farm outside Yuancheng. I had three sons, eight grandsons, and great-grandchildren too, but I’m old now—I can’t remember clearly."

"Where are they now?" Chu Yu asked curiously. The old man sighed softly but didn’t answer. Gu Chusheng frowned. "Did they abandon you? I—I’ll find them and make sure they’re punished according to the law!"

"Abandon?" Li Mou was taken aback, then quickly waved his hands. "No, no, I wasn’t abandoned. I left on my own."

"I’ve lived too long," Li Mou sighed. "Five of my eight grandsons were conscripted—they said it was to preserve our family line. The great-grandchildren went too. Only the women and elderly are left at home. My sons are already in their sixties and don’t have much strength left. What was I doing there? Taxes are heavy, there’s constant fighting, and even the family can’t get enough to eat. Why waste food on an old man like me?"

"I didn’t want to burden them," Li Mou said with a bitter smile. "Anyway, I have no regrets left in life, so I came here on my own. I don’t even know who owns this hut—I just moved in. I can still work a little, so I planted some vegetables outside. Every day, I just wait to die, but I keep waiting and waiting, and death hasn’t come yet."

"Don’t they ever come to see you?" Gu Chusheng frowned. Li Mou paused, then smiled bitterly. "With all the chaos and war, what’s the point of visits? If they came often, and then one day stopped, I’d only feel worse. Better not to see them at all. That way, if the day comes when they truly can’t come anymore," the old man sighed, "I won’t feel sad."

Hearing this, Wei Yun’s hands, busy stir-frying in the kitchen, stilled. He stared at the darkening sky outside and didn’t move for a long time.Gu Chusheng and Chu Yu fell silent as well. The old man, however, chuckled. "You young people, always frowning over such trivial matters. This is nothing serious," Li Mou patted Gu Chusheng's shoulder and stood up. "Nothing is a big deal except life and death. Even life and death leave no trace in this world."

His words did little to comfort the three of them. During the meal, everyone remained quiet.

The meal included fish caught by Chu Yu, which delighted the old man. He repeatedly mentioned how long it had been since he last tasted meat.

When night fell, with only two rooms available, Gu Chusheng took one while the old man slept alone in the other. Wei Yun and Chu Yu went to the main hall, where they made a makeshift bed on the floor with their outer garments and settled in for the night.

The night was chilly. Wei Yun gave his heavy cloak to Chu Yu and held her close in his arms.

Just as they were about to drift off to sleep, Wei Yun suddenly spoke. "I hope this war ends quickly."

Chu Yu didn’t respond. Instead, she reached out and pulled him closer.

Wei Yun’s voice was low and hoarse as he spoke earnestly, "I want this war to be over soon. I want a stable court—I don’t care who becomes emperor, as long as he rules peacefully. I want the common people to have enough to eat. I want this old man’s children to be alive, for them to come and take him home, so he doesn’t have to choose to live in the wilderness because of food shortages. I want them to see each other whenever they wish, without fearing that one day they might never meet again."

"I want them to be well," Wei Yun tightened his embrace around Chu Yu. "And for us to be well too."

"Soon," Chu Yu closed her eyes, offering him warmth. "Xiao Qi, soon."

After resting for the night, the three of them set off again at dawn. The old man saw them off, even giving them some pickled vegetables as a parting gift. Gu Chusheng repeatedly declined, but the old man insisted, pressing them into his hands with a smile. "Young master, when you return to Changle Village near Yuancheng, look for the household under the name Li Le. Tell them I’m doing fine and not to worry, alright?"

Gu Chusheng hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Old sir, don’t worry. I’ll make sure your family has enough food. When the time comes, I’ll have them come fetch you."

"No need," Li Mou sighed. "This emperor is no good. Even if I go back, I’ll just have to leave again before long. Young master," he patted Gu Chusheng’s hand solemnly, "take care in these troubled times."

Gu Chusheng said nothing. Holding the pickled vegetables, he suddenly felt their weight as if they were a thousand pounds.

Wei Yun, carrying Gu Chusheng on his back and leading Chu Yu, walked for a long time before finally hearing voices. He looked up to see Wei Xia and the others riding toward them on horseback.

Wei Yun let out a relieved sigh. Wei Xia hurried over, asking anxiously, "Your Highness, are you all right?"

"We’re fine," Wei Yun shook his head and turned. "Do you have a carriage? Lord Gu is injured and likely can’t ride."

"We do," Wei Xia quickly motioned for Shen Wushuang to come forward. After examining Gu Chusheng, they helped him into the carriage.

Once Gu Chusheng was settled, Wei Yun and Wei Xia confirmed their situation. Yuancheng lay ahead. Wei Yun pursed his lips, then turned to Chu Yu. After a long pause, he suddenly smiled, reaching out to take her hand. Softly, he said, "I have to go back now."

"Mm."Chu Yu lowered her gaze to look at his hand holding hers. She had thought Wei Yun would ask her to leave with him, but instead, she heard him say, "What are your plans next?"

"I want to help Gu Chusheng with the disaster relief. He intercepted Yao Yong's provisions to aid the victims, but there might be danger ahead."

Wei Yun remained silent. He held her hand for a long while before finally lifting his eyes to meet hers, a trace of helplessness in his gaze. "Then take care of yourself. Don’t scare me like this again by taking such risks."

Chu Yu was taken aback. Slowly, she raised her head and met his eyes.

His gaze was filled with longing and unspoken pleas, yet he suppressed it all. He restrained his love, neither acting willfully nor demanding her compromise.

After a long while, Chu Yu cautiously asked, "You... aren't taking me back with you?"

"If you say you're willing, I'll take you back right now," Wei Yun pulled her into his embrace and closed his eyes. "How could I not want to bring you back? I even thought about snatching you away. But A Yu, I know you don't want to."

Chu Yu lowered her eyes in his arms as she heard him say, "If you're unwilling, how could I force you? You can go wherever you want, A Yu." He paused before finally adding, "Just remember to come back."

"Don't say it like that," Chu Yu laughed. "You make it sound like I'm out carousing while you're the neglected wife waiting at home."

Wei Yun chuckled too. He released her, reached out to adjust the hairpin on her forehead, then tucked his hands into his sleeves. Gazing at her tenderly, he said, "Go on. I'll see you off before I leave."

Chu Yu gave a soft acknowledgment and turned toward the carriage.

Wei Yun quietly watched her retreating figure. After a few steps, she suddenly stopped.

Then she abruptly turned back and rushed toward him, throwing her arms around his neck and forcing him to bend slightly. He felt her warm lips press firmly against his cheek before she looked up at him earnestly and declared, "Wei Yun, in this whole wide world, I like you the most—only you."

Having said this, she released him and decisively returned to the carriage. Wei Yun watched as the carriage began its swaying departure. Dazedly, he raised a hand to touch the kissed spot on his cheek. After a long moment, he lowered his head, pressing his lips together in a smile.

Meanwhile, inside the carriage, Chu Yu felt her heart racing wildly. Leaning against the carriage wall, she fanned her flushed face. Gu Chusheng, who had been looking down at the vegetables in his hands, finally lifted his gaze to her.

He observed this girl—blushing like a maiden, her eyes shining—and thought she had never looked more beautiful. If her previous life had been narrow and ignorant, and the beginning of this one repressed and gloomy, then now she had perfectly blended the carefree spirit of her past life with the tolerant wisdom gained through experience.

It was the kindness forged through countless trials, the light that emerged from darkness and despair.

Suddenly, he wondered: if he could walk, let go, and find completion like Chu Yu had, what kind of person would he become?

What would Gu Chusheng—still carrying his youthful passion yet tempered by time—look like then?

Holding his vegetables, he suddenly spoke up: "A Yu."

Chu Yu looked up at him as Gu Chusheng asked, "Could you... show me what the world looks like?"

With your eyes, your soul—take me to see what the world should be like when we step beyond the circles we've drawn for ourselves.

Chu Yu was momentarily stunned, then she smiled and answered sincerely, "Of course."