His smile was bright, as if he truly didn’t mind. Chu Yu frowned and finally said, “I need to enter the palace. Please inform the coachman.”
Gu Chusheng was momentarily taken aback, but after a brief pause, he seemed to understand and nodded. “Alright.”
With that, he called out to the coachman and then turned his horse to follow the carriage toward the palace. The sound of hooves mixed with the rain outside the carriage curtains brought Chu Yu a sense of calm.
Over the years, Gu Chusheng had restrained himself greatly. He no longer spoke those impudent words to her, and their interactions were always courteous. He spent nearly as much time with the Wei family as she did, yet everyone, intentionally or not, seemed to push Gu Chusheng toward her.
Gu Chusheng maintained a perfectly measured distance—one she couldn’t openly reject, yet it weighed heavily on her.
Now nineteen, Chu Yu found Liu Xueyang and Jiang Chun increasingly concerned about her marriage. Jiang Chun, with her child in Wei Manor and deep affection for Wei Shu, had made it clear she would stay there indefinitely. Thus, Liu Xueyang didn’t pressure her, focusing instead entirely on Chu Yu—after all, everyone knew Chu Yu had only met Wei Jun once and remained untouched. While young, she still had many options.
Liu Xueyang had set her sights on Gu Chusheng, the rising star of Hua Jing.
Chu Yu’s past attempt to elope with Gu Chusheng was common knowledge. Though their relationship later soured, everyone tacitly agreed on one thing: at the very least, Chu Yu had once loved Gu Chusheng. And Gu Chusheng, who had once ventured alone into Phoenix Tomb City, passing calmly through thousands of soldiers to stand beneath the city walls and declare, “If we can die together, that would be enough”—this tale had spread like legend from the survivors of Phoenix Mausoleum.
Though the two maintained propriety, speculation ran wild that their feelings ran deep, with Chu Yu merely bound by propriety.
Yet the customs of Great Chu were not rigid; widows often remarried. Wherever Chu Yu went, someone would urge her toward Gu Chusheng. Even when visiting The Eldest Princess, she might be teased: “Gu Chusheng is quite good—just marry him already.”
But…
Chu Yu lowered her gaze, fingers tracing the Cloud Pattern in her sleeve, her heart strangely calm.
She wasn’t someone who understood love well. In her past life, she had loved Gu Chusheng to death—and then there had been nothing else. Yet even with such meager experience, she knew this: love for someone could never feel like this.
Even if she no longer hated Gu Chusheng, she could never love him again. He was like a dish she had once gorged on until she retched—now, she could never stomach it again.
In this life, she might remarry—but it would never be Gu Chusheng.
Chu Yu sighed, resting her hand against the carriage window. Through the swaying curtains, she watched the autumn rain drip from the tiled eaves.
Another autumn had arrived. When would Wei Yun return?
Her thoughts drifted.
Lost in reverie, she arrived at the Palace Gates. Changyue held an umbrella by the carriage as Chu Yu stepped down, lifting the hem of her skirt. She nodded lightly to Gu Chusheng, still on horseback, and said indifferently, “Thank you, Lord Gu.” Without a second glance, she turned and walked away.
Gu Chusheng watched her retreating figure, chuckling softly to himself. Only when the gates closed completely did he finally leave.After Gu Chusheng entered, Changyue and Wanyue followed Chu Yu to the palace of The Eldest Princess. Since the princess was on good terms with her, Zhao Yue had specially granted her a token allowing free access to the palace without prior announcement.
She went directly to Phoenix Perch Palace, where The Eldest Princess resided. The princess was inside, amusing herself by teaching a parrot to speak. She repeated phrases one by one, but the parrot only echoed back, "Fool, fool."
Chu Yu was led in and waited silently behind the princess. After a while, The Eldest Princess glanced sideways at her and said slowly, "The weather isn’t great today, yet you’ve come to see me. You must have something on your mind, no?"
"Is His Majesty not here today?"
At this hour, Zhao Yue would usually return to speak with The Eldest Princess.
The princess handed the bamboo stick she had been using to tease the parrot to a nearby maid and straightened up. Chu Yu quickly stepped forward to support her as they walked toward the inner chamber. The princess remarked leisurely, "He’s just taken in a girl from the Song Family—she’s currently his favorite."
Hearing this, Chu Yu realized the new consort was likely Song Shilan’s younger sister, Song Yun.
Chu Yu chuckled softly. "One a year—he’s certainly consistent."
"Isn’t he?"
The Eldest Princess looked indifferent. "Three in three years—Yao Yong’s daughter, the Wang Family’s legitimate daughter, and now the Song Family’s legitimate daughter. Whichever family he wants to appease, he brings in their daughter, selling himself in the process. Look at how shameless he is." Her expression twisted with disgust. "Even the male concubines in my residence are cleaner than him."
Chu Yu couldn’t help but laugh quietly at this. The Eldest Princess reclined on the couch, weariness creeping into her expression. "If you have something to say, hurry up. I’ve been getting drowsy easily lately, and I’m exhausted right now."
"Have you summoned the imperial physician?"
"Should I call for a physician just because I’m tired? Am I that delicate?" The princess lifted her eyes and glared at her lightly, her phoenix-like gaze shimmering like a young girl’s. Ignoring her protest, Chu Yu called for the physician before sitting beside her and gently massaging her legs. "I’ve received news that Zhao Yue intends to recall my marquis."
The Eldest Princess paused slightly, frowning. "But the war isn’t over yet, is it?"
"His Majesty’s intention is to negotiate peace and cease fighting."
Chu Yu spoke calmly. The princess’s expression remained unchanged, as if she had already anticipated this. She gave a faint hum and looked up at her. "So, what do you plan to do?"
"His reason for recalling the marquis is simply that Hua Jing has stabilized. If the capital were still in chaos, he would never dare bring him back."
The Eldest Princess nodded. "You’ve spent these years gathering evidence of his dirty deeds. Now is the time to use it."
Chu Yu shook her head. "Those things won’t shake him much."
The princess frowned. "Then what do you mean?"
"I’ve heard that Wang Guifei in Sunset Glow Palace has adored His Majesty since childhood?"
The sudden shift to Wang Guifei puzzled The Eldest Princess. "Why bring her up?"
"Sometimes I think Zhao Yue is rather pitiable. In such a vast harem, your feelings for him aside, there aren’t many who are truly sincere. The only one who strikes me as genuine is the Wang Clan."The Eldest Princess gave a soft hum, signaling Chu Yu to continue. Chu Yu massaged her legs as she went on, "Because she truly cares, she's prone to jealousy and isn't thinking clearly. Now that the Song family has entered the picture, not only is Wang Guifei unhappy, but the Wang Family is also displeased. If Zhao Yue were to take action against Wang Guifei, and we add a little provocation, wouldn't the Wang Family start to harbor resentment toward Zhao Yue?"
The Eldest Princess pondered this, and Chu Yu continued, "Whether it's to stand up for their daughter or to protect the family's dignity, the Wang Family will have to step in and reprimand Zhao Yue. If the Wang Family becomes unstable, to prevent Young Master Wei from taking advantage of the chaos, the matter of returning to the capital will likely be delayed. What do you think?"
"So you're suggesting that I incite Wang Guifei to act against Consort Song?"
After a moment of contemplation, the Eldest Princess grasped Chu Yu's meaning. Chu Yu nodded and said, "It doesn't necessarily have to be about stirring conflict between Wang and Song. The key is how to make Zhao Yue punish Wang Guifei."
The Eldest Princess lowered her gaze, deep in thought. After a while, she looked up and said, "Leave this matter to me. Just wait for the news."
Chu Yu smiled. "If there's anything you need, feel free to command me."
Just as the Eldest Princess was about to speak, a maid approached to announce the arrival of the imperial physician. The Eldest Princess nodded and allowed the physician to enter. Chu Yu stood up and waited quietly to the side as the physician examined her.
The physician took the Eldest Princess's pulse, concentrating intently. After a while, he switched to her other wrist. The Eldest Princess yawned and asked, "Physician, how am I?"
After carefully diagnosing her pulse, the physician looked up with joy. "Congratulations, Your Highness! You are with child!"
Hearing this, both the Eldest Princess and Chu Yu were stunned. After a moment, the Eldest Princess was the first to react, her face darkening as she ordered, "Check again!"
The physician was taken aback, confused. In the imperial harem, which consort wouldn't be overjoyed to learn of a pregnancy?
But the physician thought perhaps the Eldest Princess was simply too nervous. He smiled and reassured her, "Your Highness, rest assured. I have never misdiagnosed a pregnancy. You are indeed expecting."
"Summon all the imperial physicians on duty!" the Eldest Princess roared, ignoring him and shouting toward the door.
Chu Yu watched silently, her mind in turmoil.
For three years, no one in the harem had conceived. Everyone assumed Zhao Yue was the problem, but Chu Yu's informants in the palace had told her that only the Eldest Princess's meals and incense were free of contraceptives. Zhao Yue wasn't infertile—he simply wanted only the Eldest Princess to bear his first child.
Unfortunately, the Eldest Princess was also the only one in the harem who had been consistently taking contraceptive herbs. Every month, Chu Yu smuggled the medicine into the palace for her. So... how had this pregnancy happened?
This question puzzled not only Chu Yu but also the Eldest Princess.
She absolutely could not bear Zhao Yue's child...
The Eldest Princess pressed her lips tightly together, her hands clenched into fists beneath her sleeves.
Chu Yu dismissed the servants and knelt beside the Eldest Princess, placing a comforting hand over hers.
The Eldest Princess's tense muscles trembled slightly. Chu Yu sighed softly and whispered, "Your Highness, don't be afraid."
While the Eldest Princess and Chu Yu felt they were facing a tremendous upheaval, Wei Yun sat in White City, studying a map in his hands."After this person fled along this path, there was no further news of him. Spies in the Northern Di reported that this man was personally sent by Sucha to Hua Jing to find a noble figure."
Shen Wushuang stood beside him, drawing a route on the map and stating firmly, "This person must be going to find Zhao Yue."
Wei Yun remained silent.
Among the Hua Jing nobility known to have connections with the Northern Di, the only one significant enough for Sucha to seek out was indeed Zhao Yue. And now, at this critical juncture of war, whether to negotiate peace or not would almost determine the fate of the Northern Di. Sucha would undoubtedly try every means to force Zhao Yue into peace talks.
But what leverage could he use against Zhao Yue?
Only the past events of White Emperor Valley.
"He must be carrying evidence with him."
Shen Wushuang's words were resolute. Wei Yun nodded, then stood up calmly. "I'll lead the search myself."
With that, he stepped behind a nearby screen to change his clothes. When he emerged, he added another stroke to the long wooden pillar in the room, already covered in tally marks.
Shen Wushuang glanced at it indifferently, a hint of curiosity in his voice. "How many days have you marked now?"
"One thousand, one hundred, and thirty-two days."
Shen Wushuang fell silent for a moment. "Does keeping count like this have any meaning?"
"It does."
Wei Yun tidied the items on the desk while instructing Wei Xia to prepare his belongings. Without looking up, he spoke quietly, "Each mark I make is a reminder to myself."
"Today, I still miss her dearly."
OpenNovel