The Imperial Guard is directly under the Emperor's command, and their main function is to protect the Emperor. Therefore, during every festival, the Imperial Guard is at their busiest. New Year's Eve and the Lantern Festival are needless to say, and February can be sowhat leisurely, but only compared to March. March begins with the Shangsi Festival, followed by the spring hunt. After returning from the hunting grounds, there's the palace examination, and after that, His Majesty hosts the Imperial Banquet... There's truly not even a mont to catch one's breath.
However, as the Shangsi Festival approached, Li Yu, the commander of the Imperial Guard, fell ill.
No one was surprised by this because, starting from a certain day in February, Li Yu had beco sowhat strange. He stopped taking his regular days off and worried about palace security every day.
Even the Emperor noticed that whenever he looked for Li Yu, he was always available imdiately. When the Emperor inquired, he learned that Li Yu was on duty in the palace for nearly twelve hours a day, as if he was ready to sacrifice his life to protect the palace.
So it was only natural that Li Yu fell ill due to overwork.
After Li Yu fell ill, several imperial physicians were sent from the palace. Additionally, Li Yu's colleagues ca to visit him, including Wu Huaijin.
Li Yu was younger than Wu Huaijin, but Wu Huaijin never felt dissatisfied about being outranked by Li Yu, nor did he beco cynical, thinking that Li Yu was above him just because of his better background. On the contrary, because Li Yu was younger, Wu Huaijin admired him greatly and often asked him about matters in the Northern Border. Wu Huaijin was full of admiration for the Northern Border army. He often said that he was an only child and his parents were strict. Otherwise, he would have wanted to join the army at the Northern Border, too.
As Gu Qizheng said, the two had a good relationship.
So Li Yu didn't need much effort to see that Wu Huaijin had sothing on his mind.
The illness made Li Yu more irritable than usual, and he spoke quite rudely, much like the prickly eldest grandson of the Li family before he went to the Northern Border: "You're not still agonizing over whether to marry that woman, are you?"
Li Yu knew about Wu Huaijin's little problem, but he hadn't comnted on it before. He felt that other people's opinions were useless in such matters and that one's own thoughts were the most important. Besides, he was annoyed by Wu Huaijin's habit of asking everyone for advice.
Wu Huaijin shook his head: "No, I've already decided. I must marry her. If she wasn't at her wit's end, she wouldn't have swallowed her pride to co to . I can't let her down."
That's good that he's decided, Li Yu thought.
But Li Yu still couldn't help feeling that Wu Huaijin was too nice, taking in all sorts of people. Just because soone said they still had feelings for him, he eagerly rushed to marry them.
His heart was too soft, and he was indecisive. This personality indeed helped him make many friends, and his current position was the result of good deeds leading to good outcos.
But there are not only good people in this world, there are also bad people. With his personality, it was only a matter of ti before he got taken advantage of.
Li Yu thought the matter was settled, but after deciding to marry his forr fiancée, Wu Huaijin had a new problem—
"A few days ago, my mother took the initiative and brought
to the Gu family in Quyu Lane, saying she wanted to propose a marriage with the Gu family's second daughter for ..."
Li Yu now got a headache just hearing the word "Gu". He waved his hand and quickly said, "Speak plainly, don't ntion the word 'Gu'."
Wu Huaijin didn't understand why, but he still followed Li Yu's request and omitted the word "Gu": "That family's second daughter is very strange. First, she actively said she was unwilling to be engaged to . Later, when she heard that I wanted to marry a widow, she didn't think I was wrong. Instead, she seed relieved and smiled... very beautifully."
After saying the last three words, Wu Huaijin couldn't help but blush.
Li Yu's face twitched: "You've taken a liking to that second daughter?"
Wu Huaijin nodded solemnly.
Li Yu felt his head aching again: "But didn't the young lady say she didn't want to be engaged to you?"
"I know, but I really can't forget her. I've never seen a woman as unique as her," Wu Huaijin sighed deeply.
Li Yu couldn't stand his indecisiveness. He rolled his eyes and said, "Either marry them both. Since ancient tis, marriages have been decided by parents' orders and matchmakers' words. If that second daughter doesn't ask her parents to refuse the marriage and only dares to privately talk to you, it must be because her parents are very satisfied with this arrangent. As long as you agree and the two families settle it, what can she do?"
Wu Huaijin's eyes lit up, and he leaned forward slightly: "Then what about Lian Niang?"
Lian Niang was Wu Huaijin's forr fiancée.
Li Yu: "Ask her! Why are you asking ? Tell her you're going to marry that family's second daughter as your wife, so you can only bring her ho as a concubine or as an equal wife. Ask her if she's willing."
Wu Huaijin clapped his hands and muttered, "Yes, yes, yes, I should go ask Lian Niang. She's understanding and hasn't forgotten
all these years. She'll surely empathize with . As for the second young lady, although we've only t once, I'm certain she's pure-hearted. She might be upset with
because of this, but I'll let her know that I truly like her."
The more Li Yu heard the more his head hurt, so he started to send Wu Huaijin away: "Alright, alright, you'd better go now. If you don't leave, my illness is bound to get worse."
Wu Huaijin got up to say goodbye and went ho to discuss this matter with his parents.
Madam Wu and Mr. Wu had been arguing for several days about whether to settle the engagent with the Gu family. After hearing their son's thoughts, Madam Wu repeatedly objected, not wanting Gu Fu, with her bad fate, to be her daughter-in-law or Lian Niang, with her husband-killing fate, to enter their family.
Mr. Wu, however, thought it was fine. After all, his son couldn't marry a widow as his wife, but if she were to be a concubine, he felt it didn't matter. It could also fulfill their past affection, so why not?
However, Mr. Wu was worried that the Gu family might have objections, so he said to his son, "We can't rush this. We should first settle the matter with the Gu family and bring the second Miss Gu into our ho before discussing anything else."
Wu Huaijin didn't want to deceive Gu Fu, but in order to marry her, he agreed to his father's suggestion.
Madam Wu's opinion was completely ignored. The next day, Mr. Wu went to the Gu family to set a date with Gu Qizheng.
Gu Qizheng knew that the previous two attempts had failed because Gu Fu must have been secretly interfering. To ensure this ti went smoothly, he kept the news secret, not even telling the old madam. He only inford his brother, sister-in-law, and close friends and invited these friends to co and witness the joyous occasion of the two families' engagent.
So, on the day of the engagent, both the old madam and Gu Fu were completely bewildered.
Gu Chen, Mu Qingyao, Gu Zhu, and Gu Shishi were each more confused than the other.
Gu Chen couldn't understand how he hadn't heard even a whisper about his sister's marriage.
Mu Qingyao rembered Gu Fu telling her that Wu Huaijin had agreed to refuse the engagent. Gu Zhu had even witnessed Wu Huaijin and Gu Fu reaching an agreent. They never expected Wu Huaijin would go back on his word.
At the engagent banquet, Gu Shishi saw her close friends who had co to attend the ceremony. She rembered how she had confidently declared that Gu Fu's engagent wouldn't happen. Now, eting again at Gu Fu's engagent banquet, she felt her face burning with embarrassnt.
Gu Fu didn't need to appear at the engagent banquet. Fearing that Gu Fu might cause a scene, Gu Qizheng had several guards stationed outside her room.
However, Gu Fu showed no intention of rushing out. She sat by the window, listening to the faint sounds of rrint from the front hall, her face expressionless.
Until the banquet was over, Gu Fu remained seated by the window, not moving at all.
As night fell, Gu Fu got up and opened the wardrobe, only to find that the n's clothes Mu Qingyao had made for her were gone.
Nanny Lin walked up behind Gu Fu. She had originally co to persuade Gu Fu to eat sothing, but after glancing at the wardrobe and noticing that so of Gu Fu's clothes were missing, she lowered her head and said softly, "This morning, while you were practicing swordplay in the courtyard, soone ca in to clean the room. They must have taken it then."
After saying this, Nanny Lin's face lost its usual playfulness and casualness. She fell to her knees with a thud and said gravely, "It's my fault for not guarding the General's quarters well."
"It's not your fault," Gu Fu replied. Who could have expected to be "robbed" in their own ho?
Gu Fu closed the wardrobe without changing clothes. Just as she was, wearing a woman's dress, she climbed out the window, jumped over the wall, and left the Gu residence.
In the vast darkness of night, Gu Fu didn't go to Qitian Tower as usual. Instead, she moved swiftly across rooftops and eaves, heading towards the Wu family residence in East Bridge.
Halfway there, as Gu Fu jumped down from a rooftop, soone stopped her.
"Marquis Gu!"
Several people wearing dark robes and masks blocked Gu Fu's path. They knelt on one knee, one hand across their knee, the other touching the ground, and said to Gu Fu: "The Imperial Preceptor requests your presence."
Gu Fu replied in a very casual tone: "Next ti. I have business tonight. I'm sure the Imperial Preceptor, who never sleeps, won't be too inconvenienced."
The group didn't move aside, but continued: "The Imperial Preceptor said he would help you cancel this engagent."
Gu Fu's voice turned cold: "My affairs don't require his assistance."
The Secret Cabinet must have received the news early on, but Fu Yan hadn't told her anything until last night. Now he says he wants to help her? Who does he think he's fooling?
Just as Gu Fu finished speaking, soone suddenly grabbed her hand from behind.
At the sa ti, a cool voice ca from behind: "I thought I could resolve it. I was arrogant. I'm sorry."
Gu Fu was startled and turned around to see soone standing behind her.
The person seed to have arrived on the night breeze, silent and unnoticed. Gu Fu hadn't even realized when they had approached.
But the familiar silver-white color sowhat soothed Gu Fu's agitated mood. Though the moon hung high in the sky, Gu Fu felt that the person before her was the real moon, embodying a cold silver radiance, enough to illuminate this dark night.
Gu Fu's tone softened slightly: "Is there anything the Imperial Preceptor can't accomplish?"
Fu Yan didn't let go of Gu Fu's hand, his tone as calm as ever: "Yes. Your father set the engagent date too soon, and the cabinet is watching closely. I couldn't quietly resolve the matter with the Wu family in such a short ti."
Gu Fu didn't speak because she understood clearly that Gu Qizheng had set the date so soon to prevent her from finding out, intending to keep it from her.
Seeing Gu Fu not responding, Fu Yan added: "It's the first ti I've seen you in a dress."
Gu Fu asked him without much expression: "Does it look good?"
Fu Yan's gaze moved downward, carefully examining Gu Fu's attire.
The light skirt and wide sleeves fluttered slightly in the wind. Fu Yan replied: "It looks good."
Gu Fu: "But it's not convenient."
"Mm." Fu Yan held Gu Fu's hand and started walking back.
After a few steps, Gu Fu saw a carriage approaching them, with ard guards leading the way.
During curfew hours, the streets were silent, with only the sound of this carriage seeming to disturb the entire capital.
Fu Yan helped Gu Fu into the carriage, which then turned around and headed towards Qitian Tower.
In the slightly swaying carriage, Gu Fu asked: "Do you know martial arts?"
Fu Yan: "I've only learned qinggong. His Majesty said that if I encounter danger, knowing qinggong could save my life."
Gu Fu believed Fu Yan's words. If Fu Yan knew other martial arts, he wouldn't have been cornered by her when they first t at Qitian Tower.
However, Fu Yan's qinggong skills were extraordinary, coming and going without a sound, clearly not ordinary techniques.
The two returned to Qitian Tower, climbing the stairs one after another. During this ti, Fu Yan explained the Wu family's plans to Gu Fu and told her: "Five days from now is the Shangsi Festival. His Majesty will go to Linshui Garden and summon all officials and their families to a banquet. Wu Huaijin, as the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard, will naturally be there."
As they reached the seventh floor, Gu Fu sat down at the table: "The Shangsi Festival, right."
Fu Yan picked up the freshly brewed tea on the table and said calmly: "Rember to bring that maid called Lu Zhu from your courtyard. She's from the Secret Cabinet. If there's a fatality, let her handle the cleanup."
The Secret Cabinet was not only skilled at gathering intelligence but also proficient in murder, arson, and disposing of bodies.
Gu Fu's lips curled into a smile, inadvertently revealing a mix of roguishness and ruthlessness that even made the young tea-serving acolyte pause for a mont—
"Don't worry, I'll definitely have a good, good talk with him!"
Translator's notes:
Shangsi Festival - The Double Third Festival, or Shangsi Festival, sotis translated as the Washing Festival, is a Chinese holiday celebrated on the third day of the third month of the Chinese calendar.
It is said that the origin of this festival cos from the Dinner Party at the Qushui River during the Zhou Dynasty (about 1100–221 BC). Others say its origins co from the ceremonial custom of getting rid of evils by bathing in the river. On this day, people would hold a sacrifice ceremony on a riverside to honor their ancestors and then take a bath in the river with herbs to cleanse their bodies of filth. Following that, young n and won would then go for a spring outing
Qinggong - a martial arts technique for making the body extrely light in weight by altering the distribution and flow of qi, thus making one able to quietly jump off vertical surfaces and leap high distances soundlessly.
If you enjoy my translations, you can consider supporting
on ko-fi! Thank you!
Buy
A Coffee
Release schedule: Every Monday.
Unlock chapters to read ahead!
Reviews
All reviews (0)