Chapter 30: Gu Si. Getting so close to Gu Si?

Fourth Young Master Gu spent nearly an hour on a single Red Plum Blossom Painting.

Perhaps it was too mentally taxing, for as soon as he set down his brush, he began to cough. His pale cheeks instantly flushed red, and the blue veins on his neck became more pronounced.

Startled, Su Zhenyue hurried forward to gently pat his back and handed him a cup of hot tea.

“It’s nothing, it’s nothing.” Gu Yuanjing waved his hand with a smile. “It’s an old ailment. Did I frighten you? My constitution is a bit poor, I’m afraid I’ve made a fool of myself.”

“Not at all.” Su Zhenyue shook her head. “Fourth Brother, what are you saying? We all eat the five grains; how could anyone never fall ill? You just need to recuperate properly.”

Gu Yuanjing knew she was comforting him out of kindness. He smiled, and though he didn’t agree with her words, he didn’t refute them either.

After a cup of warm tea, the itch in his throat eased considerably. His spirits lifted, and he invited Su Zhenyue to view his paintings with him.

Gu Yuanjing had an extensive collection of paintings, and he could speak eloquently about every single one.

Su Zhenyue listened from the side, only occasionally chiming in with a word or two.

The two of them weren’t standing particularly close, but she could still smell the faint scent of medicine on him. She hesitated inwardly: Fourth Brother’s health is poor, and he only has three years left to live. Is it too much to involve him in my affairs?

She kept drifting off, and Gu Yuanjing gradually noticed something was amiss. He asked good-naturedly, “A Yue, is something on your mind today?”

“Fourth Brother…” Su Zhenyue’s lashes lowered as she said hesitantly, “I do have something very troubling on my mind, but I don’t know if I should tell you.”

Gu Yuanjing looked extremely interested. “Something troubling? Why don’t you tell me about it? Perhaps I can help. Even if I can’t, there’s still Old Madam and Eldest Uncle.”

Encouraged by him, Su Zhenyue hesitated for a moment. “Then if I tell you, you mustn’t tell anyone else.”

“That’s easy.” Gu Yuanjing was about to make an oath. “I, Gu Yuanjing, swear to the heavens. If I speak of today’s matter to another soul, then may I…”

Before he could finish his solemn vow, Su Zhenyue cut him off. She said repeatedly, “You don’t have to say it, Fourth Brother, I believe you. I believe you, I do.”

—Gu Yuanjing’s health was poor; how could she dare let him make such an oath? She knew his character well enough. Since he had promised, he would certainly not spread it around.

“After all this talk, what is it exactly?” Gu Yuanjing grew even more curious.

Seeing that no one else was around, Su Zhenyue braced herself and told him in a low voice, “I want to find someone to get engaged to me as soon as the national mourning period is over.”

“What?!” Gu Yuanjing’s face was filled with astonishment, and he became somewhat incoherent. “Get engaged? To whom? No, who is getting engaged to you?”

“That’s not important.”

“How is that not important? That’s the most important thing!” Gu Yuanjing retorted, then lowered his voice to ask, “Why the rush? Did something happen to you?”

Suddenly, he remembered something, and his gaze uncontrollably darted toward Su Zhenyue’s abdomen. He immediately felt it was too impolite and hastily looked away.

Su Zhenyue didn’t notice. She was busy choosing her words, pondering before she spoke. “It’s like this. Recently, my parents have often appeared in my dreams, telling me that as soon as the national mourning period ends, I will be betrothed by imperial decree to a very cruel and despicable man. They told me to prepare early.”

“A dream message?” Gu Yuanjing was taken aback, then breathed a sigh of relief.

Good, it’s not what I was thinking.

“Yes,” Su Zhenyue nodded.

Past lives, storybooks, and the like were too outlandish. She could only resort to a method more readily accepted by people of this era: a dream message from the deceased.

Gu Yuanjing frowned, his expression odd. “The idea of a dream message, isn’t that a bit too fanciful? A Yue, this is where you’re wrong. How can you be in such a hurry to get engaged to someone over a vague and illusory dream?”

“It’s not vague and illusory. Fourth Brother, at first, I also thought it was just an ordinary dream. But I had the same dream for several days in a row. My parents were crystal clear in the dream, even telling me the man’s name, his age this year, and what he looks like. I have no choice but to believe it…” Su Zhenyue’s thoughts raced as she spoke half-truths. “Besides, this morning, the Princess’s Sun Momo came to see me. She threatened me, and several times she mentioned, ‘once the national mourning period is over’… So, I really am…”

“This…” Gu Yuanjing was unwilling to believe it.

It was simply too absurd.

If supernatural events were real, then with his poor health, why hadn’t all the years his mother and grandmother spent praying to gods and buddhas shown any effect at all?

After thinking for a good while, he said, “This… isn’t very likely, is it? You mentioned an imperial betrothal. Why would the palace arrange a marriage for you?”

The palace probably didn’t even know people like them existed, did they?

“Then why would the palace arrange a marriage for the Heir Apparent?” Su Zhenyue sighed, stating a fact. “It’s difficult for us to have an audience with the Emperor. But for certain nobles, requesting His Majesty to bestow a marriage upon someone is a matter of a single sentence.”

Gu Yuanjing was startled, recalling the earlier rumors. “Are you saying the Eldest Prin—”

“Shh.” Su Zhenyue lowered her voice. “In October, I survived an assassination attempt at the estate. I was lucky and managed to escape. Do you think the person behind it will really just let me go like that?”

“This…” Gu Yuanjing’s face paled slightly.

He had heard about the assassination attempt on her.

“In my dream, my parents told me that after the assassination failed, the noble person had a change of heart and no longer wanted blood on her hands. She only plans to marry me off to a faraway place. But if my husband is a man of poor character and beats me to death, then the noble person won’t be the one bearing the sin of taking a life.”

Hearing this, Gu Yuanjing’s face grew even paler. Confucius did not speak of strange phenomena, force, disorder, or spirits, and he had never believed in such things.

But what if?

It was better to be safe than sorry.

What if the dream was real? If the imperial edict for the marriage really came down after the national mourning period, A Yue’s life would be ruined.

Su Zhenyue watched his expression and continued, “I’m not deliberately troubling you with this, Fourth Brother. It’s just that I’m truly worried right now and don’t know who to turn to for help.”

“So when you said you want to get engaged as soon as the national mourning period is over, you’re trying to preempt the imperial betrothal?” Gu Yuanjing was still frowning.

“Yes. My parents said in the dream that the noble person has already chosen the candidate for the marriage. It’s only been delayed because of the national mourning period, but this is a rare opportunity for me, and they told me I must seize it.”

Gu Yuanjing couldn’t help but cough once, not forgetting to comfort her. “Don’t be anxious just yet. I’ll help you think of a solution.”

“Mm.”

“Have you told Grandmother and Eldest Uncle about this?”

Su Zhenyue answered in a low voice, “The idea of a dream message is ultimately fanciful. I didn’t tell them everything, only that I wanted to settle my engagement early. But Old Madam said that we are in a national mourning period and cannot discuss marriage. She said we’ll talk about it after it’s over.”

Gu Yuanjing could understand why his grandmother would say that. But A Yue’s worries were not entirely without reason.

From what he knew of the elders in the estate, if she were to use the excuse of a dream message from her parents to ask for an engagement, and during the national mourning period at that, a scolding would be the least of it.

Moreover, he had a faint feeling that his grandmother and eldest uncle didn’t value A Yue as much as they let on. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have sent her to the estate in the city outskirts before. Naturally, they wouldn’t be willing to take a risk for her.

To put it more bluntly, perhaps they would even prefer for A Yue to be married far away.

Gu Yuanjing’s health was poor, but he was simple, benevolent, and possessed a rather chivalrous heart.

Growing up, others had always taken care of him. This was the first time someone had poured out their heart to him with such a worried expression.

He could not betray her trust.

Thus, he composed himself and asked directly, “A Yue, what can I do to help you?”

Before Su Zhenyue could answer, he added seriously, “As long as you can name it, and as long as I can do it.”

Meeting his gaze, Su Zhenyue finally spoke the words she had been holding in her heart all day: “I want to ask you, Fourth Brother, to help me by getting engaged to me after the national mourning period.”

Her voice was very soft, but Gu Yuanjing’s reaction was immense. He was first stunned, then his cheeks flushed crimson, and he began to cough uncontrollably again.

Only after another sip of water did he manage to suppress his cough, still looking utterly incredulous. “Me? You mean me?”

“Mm.” Su Zhenyue nodded lightly, then added hesitantly, “Of course, this is just an idea of mine. If you think it’s inappropriate, Fourth Brother, then just pretend I never said it…”

“No, I just don’t understand why me. You know my health. I’ve been weak since birth. A doctor once predicted I wouldn’t live past twenty, and some even said I wouldn’t make it to eighteen. If I get engaged to you, I’ll just be a burden to you.”

“That’s not true at all. It’s clearly me who has gotten into trouble and is burdening others. Fourth Brother is benevolent, never beats or scolds the servants, and is generous to his siblings. If I were with you, Fourth Brother, you would never bully or humiliate me. Besides, a doctor’s words aren’t necessarily accurate. With proper recuperation and careful attention, you will live a long and healthy life,” Su Zhenyue replied.

—She wasn’t just trying to trick him. In that long dream, he had indeed lived past his twentieth birthday. If he hadn’t caught a cold that autumn and failed to recover, he might have lived even longer.

Gu Yuanjing hesitated. If the dream message was true, he was certainly a much better choice than the “cruel and despicable” man she spoke of. But if it was false, wouldn’t getting engaged to a sickly person like him ruin her life?

“Let me think about it. Let me think it over slowly.” Gu Yuanjing didn’t dare to decide immediately.

“Okay. And Fourth Brother, please don’t tell anyone else about this.”

“I know. Don’t worry, I’ve sworn an oath. I won’t spread it around,” Gu Yuanjing said with a forced smile.

The sand in the hourglass trickled down bit by bit. Gu Yuanjing’s gaze shifted, unconsciously landing on Su Zhenyue.

The young lady’s face was snow-white, a hint of unease faintly visible in her features. He suddenly remembered the scene when she had first arrived at the estate.

A six-year-old girl dressed in plain white, timidly and clumsily trying to curry favor with the young masters and misses of the estate.

Back then, she herself was just a child who had suffered a great tragedy.

It had been eleven years. This was the first time she had ever asked him for anything, and it might also be the last.

A surge of heroic spirit suddenly rose in Gu Yuanjing’s heart, and he said with great solemnity, “A Yue, if this can truly help you, then I agree.”

“Fourth Brother!” Although Su Zhenyue had been mentally prepared, she couldn’t help but feel a lump in her throat at this moment.

Indeed, she knew it. Fourth Young Master Gu was simple and benevolent. If she pleaded with him so earnestly, he would most likely agree.

Gu Yuanjing spoke slowly, “I have been frail since childhood. I don’t know how much money has been spent on my medicine over the years. I am probably the most useless person in this world…”

“Fourth Brother, please don’t say that. You’re not…”

“A Yue, let me finish. I don’t want to be a burden to others, so I’ve never considered taking a wife. If I can truly shelter you this once, and do something beneficial for someone else like a normal person, then that would be a blessing from the heavens for me.”

Su Zhenyue’s eyes grew hot as she listened, feeling both fortunate and grateful. A thousand words welled up in her chest, but all she could manage was a soft cry, “Fourth Brother…”

Gu Yuanjing thought for a moment and continued, “You don’t have to worry about the elders. My health is poor. As long as I ask them, there’s nothing they won’t grant me.”

His parents had always urged him to marry and hinted that he should produce an heir early, but he had politely refused them all. If he were to proactively propose marriage, they would not refuse, even if the person’s status was awkward.

He was confident of this.

“However, getting engaged to me is, after all, a last resort. Aren’t you afraid you’ll regret it in the future?”

Su Zhenyue quickly shook her head. “I’m so grateful that you’re willing to help me, Fourth Brother. How could I possibly regret it?”

“Even so, I don’t want to help you once only to ruin your entire life.” Fourth Young Master Gu thought for a moment. “How about this? There’s still about a month until the national mourning period ends. Let’s plan this out properly. If there’s another way, that would be for the best. If there really isn’t, then we’ll do as we just discussed.”

“Thank you, Fourth Brother.” Su Zhenyue curtsied, once again expressing her solemn gratitude.

“Don’t thank me. I should be the one thanking you for giving me a chance to help someone, for making me feel like I’m a normal person too.”

A pang of sorrow struck Su Zhenyue’s heart as she listened.

Knowing that he could truly help her, Fourth Young Master Gu was in high spirits and began to discuss the specific plan with her in detail. When he heard that it would be best to stay far away from the Jing An Marquis Estate, he enthusiastically suggested they could use his need to recuperate as an excuse to live elsewhere.

Unconsciously, time slipped by.

In the blink of an eye, it was time for Gu Yuanjing’s lunch.

His meals were all specially prepared by an expert, consisting mainly of medicinal cuisine, so the taste was naturally not very good. Thus, he did not ask Su Zhenyue to stay for the meal.

Su Zhenyue took her leave first, and the two agreed to continue their discussion in the afternoon.

With Fourth Young Master Gu’s promise, Su Zhenyue felt much more at ease. Although getting engaged to him could only fend off the immediate trouble, not the subsequent ones.

But for her, the primary task at hand was to avoid the marriage with Yuan Ye. Everything else could be dealt with slowly.

In the afternoon, after a short rest, Su Zhenyue went into the courtyard and carefully cut two branches of wintersweet.

—She remembered that yesterday, Gu Yuanjing had praised the subtle fragrance of wintersweet, saying he liked its scent. In his study that morning, she hadn’t seen any trace of wintersweet.

Since he liked it, and she had wintersweet in her courtyard, she might as well cut two branches to take over.

It wasn’t a big deal anyway.

After cutting the wintersweet, Su Zhenyue informed Doukou and Nanxing before heading out again towards Zhongmo Study.

The closest point between the West Wing Courtyard and Qingfeng Courtyard was just a single wall.

Standing at the rear window of his study, Shen Ji could see the tall parasol tree in the West Wing Courtyard.

Beyond the bare branches of the parasol tree, he could faintly make out the shadow of a Wintersweet Tree.

So, it was no surprise that Shen Ji saw the figure of Su Zhenyue cutting wintersweet blossoms.

He let out a soft, derisive laugh, and the inexplicable irritation in his heart dissipated slightly.

Lazily closing the window, Shen Ji sat at his desk, picked up a book at random, and waited quietly.

—She went to see Gu Si this morning, probably for some proper business. Before long, she would likely be leaving something at his door again to beg for his forgiveness.

However, about half an hour passed, and there was still no sign of Ping An coming in to report anything.

Shen Ji found it strange. On the pretext of drinking tea, he asked with feigned nonchalance, “Has no one left anything at the gate yet?”

It was less than a quarter of an hour’s walk from the West Wing Courtyard to Qingfeng Courtyard. If she were coming, she should have arrived long ago.

Ping An stared blankly for a moment, then shook his head. “No.”

After a thought, he asked hesitantly, “Young Master, are you waiting for Miss Su?”

Ping An felt he was beginning to not understand his Young Master. To say he was still angry with Miss Su, yet he seemed to be waiting for her apology. To say he wasn’t angry, yet he refused to see her.

He had been by the Young Master’s side for many years, and this was the first time he had seen him act so strangely.

“Who did you hear that from?” Shen Ji’s brow twitched as he denied it without hesitation. “I’m not waiting for her.”

I’m just curious, he thought, what she’ll write in her apology letter this time.

“It’s good that you’re not waiting.” Ping An breathed a sigh of relief. “I went to the front courtyard just now and seemed to see Miss Su carrying a vase and heading south. She probably won’t be back for a while.”

Shen Ji’s expression changed abruptly. “South?”

“Yes.”

The first thought that flashed through Shen Ji’s mind was: Fourth Young Master Gu’s Zhongmo Study is to the south.

The ominous premonition from before grew stronger. If her visit to Gu Si this morning was for proper business, what about now?

Were she and Gu Si that close?

Shen Ji closed his eyes for a moment.

In truth, she and Gu Yuanjing had grown up together, so it wasn’t surprising for them to be close. But he just felt uneasy, as if something bad was happening.

A short while later, Shen Ji put down his book. “I’m going for a walk.”

He then rose and left the room.

He said he was just going for a walk, but before he knew it, he had arrived outside Zhongmo Study.

A young servant saw him and asked with a smile, “Young Master Biao, are you here to see my Young Master?”

—The Young Master’s health was poor, but he was always happy whenever someone came to visit.

Shen Ji didn’t answer, only asking, “Does your Young Master have a guest?”

“How did you know, Young Master Biao? You’re amazing. Yes, Miss Su from the West Wing Courtyard is here. She said she came to ask my Young Master for advice on painting. She even brought a few branches of wintersweet, they smell so fragrant. My Young Master likes them very much.”

Shen Ji froze, then let out a scornful laugh.

What did he just hear? Asking for advice on painting? And she brought wintersweet?

Since when was he aware that she had such a great interest in painting and calligraphy?

First, she sought him out for advice on crossbow bolts, and now she was seeking out Gu Si for advice on painting. Even the act of gifting wintersweet was the same.

What was this? Old wine in a new bottle? The same old trick?

She really had her ways.