Those little kittens were only a month and a half old, making them quite troublesome to feed. Wei Yun found a professional cat caretaker for Chu Yu to look after them, lest they end up dying under her care.
After Chu Yu and Wei Yun familiarized themselves with the five kittens and named them based on the characters for "wealth" and "fortune," Wei Yun had other matters to attend to and left first.
Once Wei Yun was gone, Wanyue watched as Chu Yu played with the kittens and stepped forward to hand her a bowl of white fungus soup, whispering, "There's something I'm not sure if I should mention."
"If you're asking that, doesn't it mean you've already decided to say it?"
Chu Yu took a warm towel from Changyue to wipe her hands, then accepted the white fungus soup from Wanyue, her gaze fixed on the little kittens without moving.
After hesitating for a moment, Wanyue finally said, "Yesterday, when I went to prepare the Hangover Cure Soup for you, Changyue told me that the young marquis spoke with you alone for a while?"
"Hmm," Chu Yu vaguely remembered the events of the previous night but not very clearly. She looked up and asked, "What about it?"
"It's just that... you're still in mourning, and given the differences between men and women, shouldn't you..."
Wanyue didn't finish her sentence, but Chu Yu understood.
Wanyue had always been meticulous. Back when Chu Yu stubbornly insisted on eloping with Gu Chusheng, it was Wanyue who stopped her. Now that Wanyue brought this up, she must have sensed something inappropriate.
Having grown up on the frontier, Chu Yu was mostly surrounded by men in her household. By her teens, she was already wrestling with others on the battlefield, so she had never placed much importance on gender boundaries. Moreover, Wei Yun was clearly still a child in her eyes, so she hadn't given it much thought.
Seeing Chu Yu lower her head in contemplation, Wanyue continued, "I know you think the marquis is young, but he's already fifteen this year—no longer a child. It's better to maintain some distance where necessary."
"Mm."
Chu Yu nodded, acknowledging Wanyue's concern. "I understand. But he's still childish at heart, so don't overthink it. It's fine."
Seeing that Chu Yu had made up her mind, Wanyue didn't press further. After waiting for Chu Yu to finish the white fungus soup, she watched as Chu Yu picked up one of the kittens and went inside.
Wei Yun had claimed illness to Emperor Chunde and thus rarely attended court, spending most of his time at home teaching the five young masters alongside Jiang Chun. Now that there were kittens in the house, the young masters were curious about them, so Wei Yun made it a routine to bring them over to play with the cats at fixed times. During these visits, Jiang Chun would also bring the account books to go over them with Chu Yu.
This peaceful routine lasted only two or three days before The Eldest Princess sent word that she would be taking the emperor out of the palace incognito in two days and instructed Gu Chusheng to hide at Fuxiang Gambling House by noon.
Upon receiving the news, Wei Yun immediately sent someone to inform Gu Chusheng. Hearing this, Chu Yu frowned and asked, "Have you arranged for the people who will pursue him?"
"Yes."
Wei Yun nodded. "I placed an order with Tianyin Hall under Yao Yong's name."
Tianyin Hall was a top-tier assassin organization in the martial world. Chu Yu was surprised by Wei Yun's words. "How did you impersonate Yao Yong?"
"He has a subordinate named Chen Zhu," Wei Yun explained, looking through the intelligence reports sent by the Wei family's informants. "Originally one of our people. I had him persuade his superior to place the order with Tianyin Hall."
With such a convoluted method, no matter how thoroughly the emperor investigated, he would never trace it back to Wei Yun.After all, Yao Yong’s intent to kill Gu Chusheng was real. Just by investigating how Gu Chusheng had made his way here—without even needing to question Tian Yin Hall—one could easily deduce the mastermind behind it.
“But,” Chu Yu hesitated, voicing her concern, “what if, in two days, Tian Yin Hall doesn’t find Gu Chusheng at the gambling den or coincidentally run into him before His Majesty?”
“Fuxiang Gambling Den is a Yao Family business.”
Since it was Wei Yun’s idea to send Gu Chusheng to Fuxiang Gambling Den, he naturally had his reasons: “If Yao Yong wants Gu Chusheng dead now, then all Yao Family businesses must have already been alerted. Tonight, we’ll secretly escort Gu Chusheng out of the manor and have him stay at an inn owned by the Yao Family. Once they spot him, they’ll surely chase him relentlessly. Then it’ll be up to Gu Chusheng’s own skills to escape all the way to Fuxiang Inn.”
“What if Gu Chusheng can’t manage it?” Chu Yu pressed.
Wei Yun replied calmly, “Then I’ll secretly assist him.”
When Wei Yun mentioned “secretly assisting,” Chu Yu understood. As long as Gu Chusheng could run, being chased along the way was fine. If he couldn’t, someone would be sent to help him escape. But the assistance couldn’t be too obvious—too many people would make it clear he had help.
As for who that helper should be, Wei Yun suggested himself, but Chu Yu knew she was actually the more suitable choice.
She held the Divorce Letter Wei Yun had written for her, and her past relationship with Gu Chusheng was well-known. If she helped him and was later discovered, she could explain it away. But if the Wei family was caught aiding him, Emperor Chunde would likely suspect the Wei family of deliberately framing Yao Yong.
Well…
Chu Yu thought it over. At worst, she could step in if things went wrong.
With that settled, she nodded and said no more.
That night, after the Wei family secretly escorted Gu Chusheng out of Wei Manor, Chu Yu went about her usual business without much worry.
She leisurely sipped tea until late at night when Wei Xia suddenly rushed into her room in a panic. “Madam, something terrible has happened!”
“Hmm?”
Chu Yu’s voice remained steady as she stood. “What is it?”
“The Yao Family has sent two groups of men after Gu Chusheng. If the Wei family doesn’t intervene, he won’t be able to escape. The young marquis is already preparing to help—he plans to hide Gu Chusheng alone.” Wei Xia spoke urgently, but Chu Yu had already prepared for this. She motioned for him to leave and said, “Stop him. I’ll go instead. Tell him I’ve already rushed out. Even if it’s discovered later, it’ll just be me helping an old flame—nothing to do with Wei Manor.”
With that, she turned to change into night clothes and headed straight for the stables.
As she was about to mount her horse, Wei Yun’s urgent voice called out, “Sister-in-law, wait!”
He rushed to her horse and grabbed the reins, pleading, “Let me handle this!”
“You?” Chu Yu’s voice turned cold.
“Sister-in-law…” Wei Yun faltered under her glare, his earlier determination shrinking. Chu Yu sharply raised her voice, “The Duke Who Pacifies the Nation, reduced to handling such a trivial matter? What difference does it make whether you or Wei Qiu goes? Step aside!”
Stunned by her words, Wei Yun froze. Chu Yu swung onto her horse and pointed her whip at his nose. “Stay in Wei Manor and pretend to be ill. I’ll call for you when you’re needed!”"Sister-in-law..."
"An elder brother is like a father, an elder sister-in-law is like a mother!" Chu Yu shouted sternly. "Don't waste time, go back!"
With that, she instructed Wei Xia, "Keep an eye on him."
Then she led her men and galloped away on horseback.
Wei Yun stood frozen, staring at Chu Yu's retreating figure. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found no words would come.
A deep sense of helplessness washed over him. It wasn't that he didn't want to stop her, nor that he couldn't. But seeing her so frantic, how could he not understand? Her insistence on going was all for that person.
Last time she went to Kunyang County, it was to save that man.
And now, it was no different.
Watching her ride off, an indescribable feeling churned in his chest. Wei Xia sighed and said, "Marquis, the First Madam is right. This matter shouldn't be your concern. Don't take it too hard."
At the words "don't take it hard," Wei Qiu gave Wei Xia a meaningful glance.
Wei Yun smiled strangely. "Why would I take it hard? I'm just worried, that's all."
Wei Xia blinked in surprise, then quickly nodded. "My mistake."
Yet strangely enough...
After saying this, Wei Yun felt there might be some truth to Wei Xia's words. There did seem to be a faint, barely perceptible ache in his heart.
He couldn't quite place this feeling. After some thought, it probably resembled the emotion he'd felt as a child seeing his mother favor his elder brother more.
Pressing his lips together, he turned and walked back toward the courtyard.
Chu Yu left Wei Manor and rode straight toward where Gu Chusheng was trapped.
Gu Chusheng was surrounded in a forest. He'd set traps and hidden among the trees, causing his pursuers to suffer several setbacks. Now they hesitated to advance, creating a stalemate.
Chu Yu hid in a tree, observing the situation. The assassins cautiously searched through the undergrowth, but Gu Chusheng was nowhere to be seen.
The killers didn't dare separate, staying back-to-back as they searched carefully. Another group formed an outer circle to prevent Gu Chusheng's escape.
Though this method was slow, they would eventually find him. Chu Yu didn't act rashly, waiting silently in the shadows.
Gu Chusheng was skilled in esoteric arts. That they hadn't found him after so long meant he must be using some technique. Growing impatient, one assassin suddenly declared, "Let's just burn this whole area! That coward won't stay hidden then! He's no fighter—he can't escape. We'll just wait outside like hunters after rabbits."
Hearing this, Chu Yu's heart clenched. The group acted immediately. Those surrounding the area quickly cleared a firebreak about ten feet wide. Then they positioned themselves along the perimeter, splashing liquor in all directions before piling up kindling and setting it ablaze.
Seeing them toss something into the flames, Chu Yu immediately held her breath. The fire grew rapidly, spreading inward from the edges. Perched at the treetop, she kept her eyes fixed on the trapped area.
After fifteen minutes, the dry winter brush had fully ignited the outer ring. Thick smoke swirled through the trapped zone, making Chu Yu's heart race.
In mountain fires, most victims don't burn—they suffocate from smoke inhalation. If Gu Chusheng didn't appear soon, even she would have to retreat before long.Chu Yu pondered for a moment. Seeing the raging fire outside the encirclement, one of the men watching the flames laughed and said, "I say we stop searching. Just keep surrounding them. If he doesn't come out, we'll be here to collect his corpse. The muscle-relaxing powder has already been spread—even rabbits wouldn't be able to move in there."
Hearing this, Chu Yu hesitated no longer. She slid down the tree trunk with ghostly agility.
Upon landing, she immediately held her breath, took out a handkerchief, dripped some antidote onto it, and pressed it to her nose to block the powder and the effects of the muscle relaxant. Only then did she proceed to search for the person.
Crouching low, she quickly scanned the ground under the firelight. Before long, she heard a faint call: "A Yu..."
Chu Yu spun around and hurried to a patch of grass, where she found Gu Chusheng lying on the ground, covered in wounds.
He was completely immobilized. Without a word, Chu Yu hoisted him onto her shoulder, leaped lightly, and ascended the tree to its crown.
Chu Yu's martial arts leaned toward the yin aspect, making her exceptionally light and agile. Not only did she reach the treetop, but she also ran swiftly along the branches, carrying him away.
Gu Chusheng, slung over her shoulder, turned his head to look at her.
Under the moonlight, the contours of Chu Yu's face were clearly visible—her eyes, her nose, her lips.
At sixteen, Chu Yu was still in the prime of her youth.
Gu Chusheng gazed at her, unable to tear his eyes away. He knew how precious this moment was. In the past, Chu Yu had saved him like this countless times, carrying him on her back when he was young.
Once they reached a safe area, Chu Yu found a dilapidated temple and unceremoniously tossed Gu Chusheng inside. She pinched his chin and forced a pill into his mouth, then quickly threw a bunch of medicine bottles at him. "Handle the rest yourself," she said. "I'll stay hidden and won't speak unless absolutely necessary. Hurry and treat your wounds. Once the fire dies down, they'll know you're alive and will come after you."
"Mm," Gu Chusheng responded quietly, lowering his head. After taking the pill, he finally regained some mobility and slowly picked up the bottles without another word. Chu Yu found it odd that he wasn't saying much today but then thought, What does it matter to me anyway?
Without another word, she flipped onto a beam, cradling her sword in her arms, and promptly fell asleep.
Gu Chusheng sat beneath the beam, looking up at the wooden rafter above him.
The person above was like his own piece of the sky.
Author's Note: Poor Xiao Qi, still just a child and not yet able to shine.
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