Chaptеr 7: Нe harbоred such unsреаkаblе thоughts towаrd his friеnd’s bеtrothеd.
But whаt Shen Qingyоu nеver еxресted wаs thаt in the fоllоwing mоnth, Gu Сhаngсе seеmed tо trаnsform into a cоmplеtelу diffеrеnt рerson.
It wоuld be no ехаggеratiоn to sаy he studiеd dау аnd night, рushing himself tо the limits.
His aсаdеmiс рerformanсе imрrovеd by lеaps аnd bоunds.
А mоnth later, hе suсcessfullу enterеd thе frоnt сourtуаrd, studying alongside his sister and Brоther Wеi.
Аftеr thаt, hе was thе only onе left in thе reаr cоurtyard. When his father saw his disappointing state,
he nearly beat him to death!
Since Shen Jianzhang was not an academy teacher after all, the number of students studying under him at the Shen residence was quite small.
In the front courtyard, there were only Shen Zuihuan, Gu Changce, and Wei Xianyù.
When Gu Changce learned that Wei Xianyù was Shen Zuihuan’s childhood betrothed, arranged through a infant betrothal,
he inexplicably felt a sour, swelling ache in his heart, unable to articulate exactly what he was feeling.
Shen Zuihuan had an introverted temperament and rarely spoke.
No matter how hard he tried to engage her in conversation, she always responded with indifference.
In contrast, she always greeted Wei Xianyù with a warm smile.
—How unfair.
Gu Changce thought to himself.
—We’re both classmates, so why the preferential treatment!
At the time, he only felt indignant.
Looking back now, he realized that it was probably from that moment onward that he began to harbor ulterior thoughts toward Shen Zuihuan.
Only, he was young then and hadn’t yet realized it.
He simply focused on provoking her anger, hoping to draw more of her attention to himself.
Later, in the middle of the third year of Yuanshou, Wei Wenguang offended the emperor by speaking too frankly and daring to remonstrate.
He was demoted to Jiangdu, where he served as the Chancellor of Jiangdu.
Wei Xianyù accompanied him there.
Before departing, Wei Xianyù arranged to meet Gu Changce at the Diecui Pavilion on the outskirts of the capital.
Patting the shoulder of one of his few close friends, he said, “Jing’an, if I’m no longer in the capital in the future, you must help me take good care of Huanhuan.”
With a teasing smile, Wei Xianyù added, “A girl as bright and pure as the moon like Huanhuan—I can’t rest easy leaving her behind.”
“Keep an eye on her for me, and don’t let any other man take advantage.”
Gu Changce was taken aback, his moist lips pressed tightly together.
In the end, he nodded silently.
Wei Xianyù let out a hearty laugh, filled a white jade cup with clear wine,
and said to him, “Then, as your elder brother, I offer you this toast. I thank you in advance.”
Hearing this, Gu Changce’s dark eyes flickered imperceptibly.
He subtly turned his head away.
Suddenly, he let out a weak, feigned cough.
“Brother Xianzhi, I caught a slight chill yesterday. I took medicine this morning, and the physician advised against drinking.”
Wei Xianyù was not one to force others. Upon hearing this,
he smiled faintly and drained his cup in one go.
“No matter. Jing’an’s health is what’s important.”
Gu Changce remained silent.
In the end, he stood before the Diecui Pavilion, watching helplessly as Wei Xianyù’s figure gradually disappeared into the vast twilight.
His heart felt heavy, yet at the same time, as if a weight had been lifted.
The Gu family had been loyal and upright for generations.
As the only son of the current Chariot and Cavalry General, Gu Xingyan,
his father had placed great hopes on him from a young age.
Thus, he sent him to study under Shen Jianzhang,
hoping he would learn the principles of being a proper person.
To act with integrity and conduct himself honorably.
But in the end, he failed to live up to his father’s expectations.
He harbored such unspeakable thoughts toward his friend’s betrothed.
After Wei Xianyù left, he stuck even closer to Shen Zuihuan, never leaving her side.
In August, Shen Jianzhang was promoted to Left Interior Historian, tasked with managing the capital region.
His government duties grew increasingly demanding.
Naturally, he no longer had the time or energy to personally teach the children.
Thus, Gu Changce and Shen Zuihuan entered the Imperial Academy to continue their studies.He often pretended not to understand the classics and historical texts, finding excuses to ask her for guidance.
Since the two were inseparable day after day,
it was inevitable that some classmates would make teasing remarks.
He had no desire to explain himself, but seeing Shen Zuihuan’s flushed, flustered expression inexplicably lifted his spirits.
In December, turmoil erupted along the border.
The Xiongnu, disregarding the might of Great Liang, provoked incidents at the frontier.
That year, the Grand Empress Dowager passed away, and the Liang Emperor consolidated his power.
The young sovereign was unwilling to secure temporary peace through marriage alliances.
He harbored ambitions to stabilize the border and eradicate the Xiongnu.
Thus, by the end of December, Chariot and Cavalry General Gu Xingyan was dispatched to defend Yanmen Pass.
Naturally, Gu Changce was to leave with his father.
On the eve of his departure, he called Shen Zuihuan to the back of the artificial hill in the Imperial Academy at dusk.
His dark eyes burned like fire in the night.
He gazed at her with earnest intensity.
For the first time, he called her Huanhuan. He had often heard Wei Xianyù and Shen Qingyou address her this way.
The urge had long stirred within him, yet Shen Zuihuan had always remained aloof toward him.
Thus, those two words would linger on the tip of his tongue, only to be replaced by the cold, distant utterance of “Shen Zuihuan.”
But on that day, he called her Huanhuan.
Nervously, he asked her, “My journey will take at least two years. Huanhuan, will… will you wait for me?”
At these words, Shen Zuihuan’s eyes widened in shock.
She stumbled backward two steps in panic.
The question was truly audacious.
Even her betrothed, Wei Xianyù, had never asked such a thing when he departed.
What did he mean by “will you wait for me”?
It sounded as though there were something between them.
Shen Zuihuan’s face flushed with embarrassment and anger. “Gu Changce! What are you saying!”
He took two steps forward, his emotions spiraling out of control.
His expression darkened. “What if I told you I harbor the same feelings for you as Wei Xianyù does? What would you say?”
These words laid bare his intentions almost explicitly.
Yet the woman before him showed no sign of delight.
Instead, she grew even more panicked.
Step by step, she retreated.
Her delicate back nearly pressed against the rough, unyielding surface of the artificial hill behind her.
Stammering, she lashed out at him, “Gu Changce! Have you lost your mind? Xian Yu and I are betrothed! You… this is…”
Before she could finish, the man before her cut her off.
He declared resolutely, “I know such behavior is contemptible.”
But he still wanted to try.
What if? What if Shen Zuihuan also cared for him?
Almost recklessly, he voiced the thoughts in his heart.
“Huanhuan, have you sensed my feelings for you these past six months?”
She lowered her gaze, her slender, jade-like fingers nervously twisting the hem of her skirt.
Her lips trembled, but no words came out.
She remained silent.
Her head bowed, her face pale, her thoughts unknown.
And in her prolonged silence, Gu Changce’s once-anxious, restless heart gradually sank.
Though she had not spoken,
Gu Changce seemed to have already discerned her choice.
Beneath his sleeves, his hands clenched tightly.
After a moment of contemplation, he still could not resist asking with bitter reluctance, “…Do you care for Wei Xianyù?”
Hearing this, Shen Zuihuan lifted her pale face, her eyes vacant and dazed.
Her lips moved slightly. “…We… were betrothed since childhood.”
Her voice was as soft and delicate as ever. “…By our parents’ arrangement, through matchmakers…”
“I understand!”Before she could finish speaking, the man’s restrained voice cut her off.
Shen Zuihuan’s thoughts seemed to be laid bare.
Gu Changce turned around, his eyes red.
He gritted his teeth and said, “… Shen Zuihuan, I wish you happiness.”