Chu Yu's sudden bout of coquettishness gave Chu Jianchang quite a shock. His first thought was whether his daughter had knelt for so long that something had gone wrong in her head.
After all, Chu Yu had grown up practicing martial arts under his guidance since childhood, making her quite different from ordinary young ladies. She had never been one to weep and whimper so pitifully before.
When she liked Gu Chusheng, she gave him everything good she had. When the Gu family was implicated for speaking in defense of the rebellious Prince of Qin, everyone else avoided them like the plague. Yet, just before her own wedding, she had sent money and letters to Gu Chusheng and even planned to elope with him to the border.
Her audacity truly knew no bounds.
Fortunately, her personal maid had reported the matter to Chu Jianchang, who intercepted her just as she was about to flee, preventing her from making a grave mistake.
Remembering this, Chu Jianchang hardened his expression and said coldly, "Have you thought it through? If not, go back and keep kneeling."
"I have!"
Chu Yu knew exactly what Chu Jianchang was referring to.
She sorted through her memories—this should be when she was fifteen.
In the ninth month of that year, she had been betrothed by imperial decree to Wei Jun, the heir of the Zhenguo Marquisate. The marriage had been settled, the Six Rites completed, and the wedding was imminent. But it was also around this time that the Prince of Qin, who had rebelled for half a year, was finally captured and imprisoned. Gu Chusheng's father, who had once received kindness from the Prince of Qin's consort, had spoken a few words in defense of the Qin family, provoking the emperor's wrath. Gu Chusheng's father was beheaded, and Gu Chusheng, who had just entered the court, was implicated and demoted to the border, reduced from a Hanlin scholar to a mere ninth-rank magistrate.
Distraught by the news, Chu Yu had been desperate to help. Coincidentally, Chu Jin had come to her in tears, unwilling to follow Gu Chusheng to the border and suffer hardship. So the two sisters had hatched a plan: Chu Yu would elope with Gu Chusheng first. Once she was gone, the Chu family would have no choice but to send Chu Jin in her stead to marry into the Wei family.
Chu Jin was also a legitimate daughter, though not the eldest. Unlike Chu Yu, who had always been more inclined toward martial arts, Chu Jin had studied poetry and literature under Xie Yun since childhood. With her striking beauty, she was the ideal wife that most young noblemen in Hua Jing dreamed of. Given the relationship between the Wei and Chu families, the Weis likely wouldn’t object to marrying Chu Jin instead.
The two had plotted well, sending a servant to secretly inform Gu Chusheng to wait outside the city gates on the day of his departure. Just as Chu Yu was about to climb over the wall to escape, Chu Jianchang had caught her red-handed.
Back then, after being caught, she had knelt all night. It was Chu Jin who persuaded Xie Yun to take her back to her room and then secretly helped her escape, allowing her to ride hard and catch up with Gu Chusheng, who had already left.
But this time, Chu Yu had no intention of running away. So she firmly declared to Chu Jianchang, "I won’t run. I’ll wait properly to marry the Wei heir!"
Chu Jianchang gave her a suspicious look, unable to fathom why she had suddenly changed her mind. He wondered if she was trying to deceive him.
But his daughter had always been straightforward—she might lie to others, but never to her own family. After some thought, seeing the brightness in Chu Yu’s eyes and the pallor of her face, Chu Jianchang felt a pang of pity. He waved his hand dismissively. "Fine, fine. Go rest. You’re getting married the day after tomorrow—no more foolish ideas. Gu Chusheng has already left, so you might as well put him out of your mind."
"Mm." Chu Yu nodded.
Chu Jin stepped forward to support her, and Chu Yu trembled slightly, instinctively wanting to pull her hand away. But she restrained herself and remained still.Chu Jianchang saw Chu Yu lower her head and assumed she was upset. He sighed, patted her shoulder, and said, "Wei Jun, the Wei family heir, is better than Gu Chusheng. You'll understand once you meet him. Feelings develop over time—don't resist this. Your father wouldn’t steer you wrong."
"I know."
Chu Yu nodded, this time sincerely.
Wei Jun, the Wei family heir, and the entire Wei family were honorable men who defended their country—how could a schemer like Gu Chusheng compare?
She did want to build a relationship with Wei Jun, but she doubted she’d get the chance.
Thinking of the Wei family’s fate, she felt a pang of regret.
Seeing Chu Yu listless, Chu Jianchang waved his hand, signaling Xie Yun and Chu Jin to help her back to her room.
Xie Yun spent the entire walk trying to dissuade her, urging her to let go of her feelings for Gu Chusheng. As parents, they only wanted the best for their daughter. Chu Yu stayed silent, quietly listening.
Though this mother would later do some foolish things and favor Chu Jin, she had once genuinely cared for her.
But even the flesh of one’s palm has its thick and thin parts.
She remained silent as Chu Jin helped her to her bedroom. After her maids attended to her, she lay down, ready to sleep.
Too much had happened today—she needed to conserve her energy and plan her next steps.
She had always thought her path was simply to follow Gu Chusheng. Now, faced with a new choice, she felt strangely lost.
She had barely closed her eyes when she heard Chu Jin’s voice.
Chu Jin entered with medicine, dismissed the servants, and approached the bed. Setting the bowl down, she sat beside Chu Yu and said gently, "Sister."
Chu Yu slowly opened her eyes to see Chu Jin’s worried expression. "Sister, are you alright?"
The concern seemed genuine, and for a moment, Chu Yu wavered—perhaps the fifteen-year-old Chu Jin still held some warmth for her elder sister.
When Chu Yu didn’t answer, Chu Jin leaned closer and whispered, "Sister, Brother Gu sent word. He said he’s waiting for you."
At this, Chu Yu jerked her head up, staring at Chu Jin in disbelief.
Gu Chusheng was waiting for her?
Impossible.
In her past life, Gu Chusheng hadn’t cared for her at all. After receiving her letter, he had left Hua Jing half a day early, riding off without a backward glance. Why would he wait now?
What had changed?
She studied Chu Jin and soon understood.
Gu Chusheng would never say such a thing. Chu Jin wanted her gone—to vacate the position of Princess Consort for herself. So she fabricated this message, offering false hope to spur Chu Yu into leaving.
In her past life, Chu Jin hadn’t needed to say this because Chu Yu had left without hesitation.
But this time, she had clearly told Chu Jianchang she intended to marry into the Wei family.
Chu Yu almost laughed. Her sister truly always put her own interests first.
Yet she suppressed the smile threatening to surface and instead frowned sternly. "Don’t say such things to me again.""Sister?" Chu Jin was somewhat taken aback, a flicker of panic flashing through her eyes. Chu Yu spoke calmly, "I've come to realize that my marriage to the Marquis of Zhenguo's household was decreed by His Majesty. If I were to flee from this marriage, even if the Wei family were to remain silent out of respect for the Chu family, and even if His Majesty said nothing, it would still constitute deceiving the Emperor and violating the law. Moreover, the Wei family would harbor resentment in their hearts."
The subsequent decline of the Chu family was not unrelated to this.
Although the Wei family would soon lose all their young men on the battlefield, they left behind a demon of war—Wei Yun.
That young man dominated the battlefield at fourteen and annihilated the Northern Di at sixteen to avenge his father and brothers.
In the later years of the court, it was practically an era where the civil officials were led by the Gu family and the military by the Wei family. Wei Yun was a man who repaid every slight and every kindness with exacting precision. Those who had treated him well received his gratitude tenfold, while those who had wronged him would not escape his retribution.
The Chu family's deception in substituting Chu Jin for Chu Yu to marry Wei Jun, Chu Jin's betrayal of the Wei family in their time of need, and the quarrel she provoked with the Wei matriarch upon leaving—which caused the elderly woman to fall gravely ill—all these deeds Wei Yun remembered clearly. After rising to power, he exacted his revenge upon Chu Jianchang.
Had it not been for Gu Chusheng's occasional support of the Chu family, how could Chu Jianchang have retired peacefully to his hometown?
Recalling Wei Yun's methods, Chu Jin couldn't help but shudder. She pressed her left hand over her right and looked up at Chu Jin with eyes full of concern. "Little sister, we cannot prioritize our own happiness at the expense of our family."
Chu Jin was momentarily speechless at Chu Yu's words. After a long pause, she forced a smile and said, "Sister is right. A-Jin was only thinking that this would cost you your entire life. To exchange your happiness for the family's sake—A-Jin finds it heartbreaking. If I could suffer in your stead, A-Jin would think nothing better."
Suffer in the Wei household?
Who didn't know that the Wei family was currently in the Emperor's favor, flourishing like the midday sun? Since the founding of the dynasty, the Wei family had been generations of loyal martyrs, a noble household of three dukes and four marquises, with upright family teachings. Their descendants were all outstanding, and even if the Wei heir wasn't the most exceptional among them, he certainly wouldn't let Chu Jin suffer.
By all accounts, this marriage was an advantageous match for the Chu family.
To persuade her, Chu Jin was truly willing to say anything.
Thinking of the Wei family's later sacrifices and hearing such words from Chu Jin, Chu Yu felt a pang of discomfort. Her expression turned stern as she said, "The Wei family is full of loyal martyrs who have shed blood for our country. To marry the Wei heir is my good fortune. I was simply blinded before, but now I've come to my senses. Don't speak such words again. If I hear them once more, don't blame me for turning hostile!"
Chu Jin was left speechless by Chu Yu's words. Staring at her sister's righteous expression, she nearly reminded her that just last night, they had been plotting how to elope together.
However, she knew full well that her sister was formidable in combat and straightforward in thought—once she set her mind to something, she wouldn't turn back. If they argued further and it came to blows, Chu Jin would likely be the one to suffer.
Thus, she managed a strained smile and said, "It's good that Sister has come to her senses. You seem tired now—I'll leave the medicine here. A-Jin will take her leave."
Chu Yu nodded, closed her eyes, and said no more.
Chu Jin retreated respectfully, but once she reached the courtyard, her expression turned cold.
She clenched her fists.
Now that Chu Yu refused to elope, was she really going to marry Gu Chusheng?!
No—she absolutely could not marry Gu Chusheng.If she couldn't become the Princess Consort, she absolutely must not follow Gu Chusheng to the border. Returning to Hua Jing from the Northern Border, climbing back from a ninth-rank county magistrate position—her most beautiful years would likely be buried in the icy winds of the frontier.
Chu Jin silently calculated in her heart.
Meanwhile, inside a carriage at the city gates, Gu Chusheng quietly read the latest court bulletin.
He had caught a cold, coughing softly as he read.
His father's death had implicated him, leading to his demotion. This once-favored son of heaven had abruptly fallen into the dust. Everyone expected him to be at a loss, yet this young man displayed an extraordinary composure instead.
He seemed to be waiting calmly for someone, unhurried.
A nearby soldier grew impatient and said, "Young Master Gu, it's time to go."
Gu Chusheng glanced up at the city gates and signaled to his servant.
The servant quickly stepped forward, handing the soldier another tael of silver with an apologetic smile. "Just a little longer, sir. It won't take much more time."
"At the latest, until sunset," the soldier frowned. "No further delays."
Hearing this, Gu Chusheng furrowed his brow.
Sunset...
He recalled the time in his past life when Chu Yu had caught up to him. He... should be able to wait.
At the thought of that name, he closed his eyes in pain.
Outsiders believed he faced his family's downfall without fear, but that wasn't true.
When he first confronted it in his youth, he had indeed been terrified and self-destructive. It was that girl who came galloping on horseback, lifting his carriage curtain with her sword in the night rain, declaring brightly, "Don't be afraid, I'm here to see you off," who gave him all his courage.
Back then, he hadn't understood his own hazy feelings. He thought he disliked her sweat-soaked clothes, disapproved of her unrestrained nature, and despised how she laughed and joked with the soldiers in the barracks.
She chased, he avoided. He always believed his heart belonged to someone pure and flawless like Chu Jin.
Until she died before his eyes.
Remembering that moment, Gu Chusheng felt as if his heart had been suddenly clenched. He closed his eyes, steadying his breathing to ease the pain.
Chu Yu's death marked the beginning of his love for her.
Only after she was gone did he realize how unbearable life became without someone to ride through the rain for him. Only then did he understand that what he had called disgust was actually jealousy, fear of unnamed emotions, a young man's defensive reaction to his own shyness.
The longer she was dead, the deeper and more obsessive his feelings for her grew.
Until the moment he died by Wei Yun's sword—only then did he feel release.
When he woke up, he had returned to his seventeen-year-old self, and he was overjoyed.
How wonderful.
He opened his eyes, a smile curving his lips.
He would see that living, breathing Chu Yu again.
This time...
He would stay by her side, properly.
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