==Chapter Six==
Feng Wenyu had received Jiang Zhilan’s advice, but before she could make a decision, an invitation arrived at the Feng residence.
It was for a banquet hosted by Old Madam Qiao.
Since her engagement was settled, Feng Wenyu had often been following Zhou Yueyu to learn how to manage household affairs and host events. She was present when the invitation was delivered.
Feng Wenyu carefully examined the invitation. After confirming the theme of the banquet, she asked curiously, “Why would Old Madam Qiao host a banquet, and under the pretext of a flower viewing at that?”
To learn household management, especially since Gu Yushi had already entered the court, she had naturally familiarized herself with the social connections in Jingcheng.
The Qiao family was a prominent clan in Jingcheng. Lord Qiao served as the Minister of Justice, and his sister was the current empress, who was also Old Madam Qiao’s biological daughter. This demonstrated Old Madam Qiao’s esteemed status. However, Old Madam Qiao was not one who enjoyed socializing.
Feng Wenyu recalled that Old Madam Qiao only hosted banquets for her milestone birthdays.
Zhou Yueyu was having a tailor take her measurements and shook her head upon hearing this. “Have you forgotten about Miss Qiao?”
When her mother mentioned Qiao Anyu, Feng Wenyu subtly pursed her lips. Due to some past grievances, she and Qiao Anyu were at odds with each other, neither able to stand the other.
But now she guessed the purpose behind Old Madam Qiao hosting this banquet.
Though nominally it was a flower-viewing banquet, it was actually a matchmaking event.
Feng Wenyu pinched the corner of the invitation, recalling her conversation with Sister Jiang yesterday, and murmured quietly, “It seems Sister Jiang will be attending too.”
Feng Wenyu hadn’t considered declining. This banquet was personally organized by Old Madam Qiao—no one would turn it down.
She glanced at the date on the invitation—three days from now.
Feng Wenyu thought of something and tightened her grip on the invitation slightly.
Zhou Yueyu glanced at her, noticing her distracted state, and sighed softly. She hadn’t intended to interfere in the younger generation’s romantic affairs, but it seemed unavoidable now:
“What exactly happened this time? It’s been going on for so long.”
She had witnessed Gu Yushi’s attentiveness toward her daughter and rarely saw him stay away for this long.
Feng Wenyu’s face scrunched up at the question, a wave of grievance washing over her.
Everyone kept asking her for the reason, but she was just as clueless.
Feng Wenyu fiddled with her handkerchief, her tone slightly grumbling. “He’s the one who stopped coming to see me. How would I know the reason?”
She was the same as always—it was Gu Yushi who had changed. The problem obviously lay with him.
Zhou Yueyu raised an eyebrow and retorted, “Just because he doesn’t come to see you, you won’t go to him either?”
In any relationship, how could one person always be the one to take the initiative?
Feng Wenyu turned her head away and fell silent.
Zhou Yueyu knew she was being stubborn. After all, when someone who had always been accommodating suddenly turned cold without any explanation, it was hard not to feel wronged. Understanding her daughter, Zhou Yueyu knew that in this state, Feng Wenyu couldn’t bring herself to seek out Gu Yushi first.
Zhou Yueyu paused her work:
“Old Madam Qiao’s banquet has specifically invited the talented young men of Jingcheng. He will receive an invitation too. When you meet at the Qiao residence, it won’t count as you lowering your head.”
Resolving the issue early would save her from being distracted all day.
Feng Wenyu pouted slightly but didn’t refute Zhou Yueyu’s words—a silent agreement.
After all, Feng Wenyu truly wanted to know the reason behind Gu Yushi’s change in attitude.
Pingkang Ward, Gu Residence.
This residence was personally bestowed by the current Emperor when Gu Yushi achieved top honors in the palace examination. Though not as opulent as the Feng residence, this three-courtyard compound represented a rare honor.
Late into the night, candlelight still flickered faintly in the study of Gu Residence.
Mu Fan glanced toward the study, scratching his head in puzzlement. He wanted to urge his master to rest, but didn’t dare.
Since his master began attending court audiences a month ago, he seemed like a completely different person. His authoritative presence grew daily. Whereas Mu Fan used to dare banter with him, now even meeting his master’s gaze felt overwhelmingly pressured.
Mu Fan wondered to himself – did court service truly temper people so profoundly?
In just one month, it could completely transform a person’s aura.
Inside the study, Gu Yushi had been bent over official documents for hours. Given his position, he shouldn’t have had so much paperwork. As a Lecturer of the Imperial Academy holding the fifth-rank position at the Hanlin Academy, his duties beyond compiling classical texts included reading memorials to the Emperor. The entire Hanlin Academy served directly before the throne, and as a Lecturer, he appeared regularly before the Emperor, making him one of the sovereign’s close attendants.
He ought to rest early to maintain a proper appearance before the Emperor.
But Gu Yushi couldn’t sleep peacefully.
He never imagined that right after promising Feng Wenyu the divorce papers, before he could even draft them, he would blink and find himself returned fourteen years in the past.
At this moment, he and Feng Wenyu had only recently become engaged, with over a year remaining before their wedding.
He didn’t understand why he had returned.
For him, he had no desire to retread the path he’d already walked.
From outside came Mu Fan’s hushed reminder: “Master, it’s getting late. If you don’t rest now, you might miss your duty hour tomorrow.”
After prolonged silence from the study, just as Mu Fan thought his master was ignoring him again, the study door suddenly opened from within.
Mu Fan quickly straightened up, not daring to look directly at his master as he followed him, reporting the day’s household matters:
“The Qiao residence sent an invitation today. Old Madam Qiao is hosting a banquet and requests your presence three days from now.”
Memories from fourteen years ago had long grown hazy – at least, Gu Yushi no longer recalled this particular banquet.
Gu Yushi’s steps didn’t falter.
Mu Fan continued: “I heard Old Madam Qiao has invited many talented young men from Jingcheng. Feng Guniang must certainly be among the invited guests.”
Gu Yushi abruptly stopped.
Mu Fan nearly collided with his master’s back. Looking up in confusion, he asked: “What’s wrong, Master?”
Without turning around, Gu Yushi resumed walking after a moment, tossing back only:
“Nothing.”
His cold, deep tone made Mu Fan rub his nose in frustration.
Gu Yushi’s face remained expressionless, but turmoil churned in his eyes. Lately, this wasn’t the first time he’d heard Feng Wenyu’s name mentioned.
He naturally remembered what their relationship had been like at this stage.
Far from the silent estrangement that characterized their marriage after ten years.
Everyone knew they were deeply devoted to each other, so it was perfectly normal for people around him to mention Feng Wenyu.
Having not visited Feng Wenyu for over a month, even his mother couldn’t conceal her concern lately, having asked him repeatedly in subtle ways whether he’d quarreled with Feng Wenyu.
Quarreled.
Scenes from his previous life flashed through his mind, the emotions in Gu Yushi’s eyes growing increasingly detached.
Mu Fan was frustrated. Why did mentioning Feng Guniang not cheer up the lord at all?
Three days later.
The flower-viewing banquet was scheduled for the afternoon. Feng Wenyu rose around chenshi (7–9 a.m.), with both her main attire and spare clothes already prepared. Troubled by thoughts weighing on her mind, she had tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. Without needing Jinshu’s urging, she woke up early.
Sitting before the bronze mirror, Feng Wenyu kept rummaging through her vanity case.
Jinshu asked curiously, “What is the young lady looking for?”
Finally finding what she sought, Feng Wenyu coughed lightly and handed a jade hairpin to Jinshu:
“Wear this today.”
Jinshu recognized the hairpin—it was the coming-of-age gift Lord Gu had given the young lady last year on her fifteenth birthday. Adorned with red plum blossoms and pearls, it was strikingly beautiful.
As for Feng Wenyu’s hidden feelings, Jinshu chuckled softly but didn’t expose her: “The young lady has excellent taste. This jade hairpin truly complements your makeup today.”
A faint blush spread across Feng Wenyu’s cheeks. Avoiding Jinshu’s gaze, she turned her head slightly:
“Hurry up, don’t delay the timing.”
At the Qiao residence, guests streamed endlessly through the gates for the day’s banquet. As soon as Feng Wenyu stepped down from the carriage, a maid came to escort her inside.
Though the flower-viewing banquet was informal, as a guest, Feng Wenyu still needed to pay respects to the host. The moment she entered the Qiao estate, she glanced around but didn’t see the person she was looking for. Disappointed, she lowered her eyes slightly.
After greeting Old Madam Qiao, Feng Wenyu was led to the area for female guests, where she indeed spotted Jiang Zhilan.
Jiang Zhilan waved her over. Once they sat together, Jiang Zhilan suddenly leaned close. Just as Feng Wenyu grew puzzled, Jiang Zhilan covered her mouth with a folding fan and whispered:
“I just saw Lord Gu.”
Feng Wenyu’s eyes lit up briefly, though she restrained herself. Pretending nonchalance, she asked, “Where is he?”
Jiang Zhilan rolled her eyes and muttered, “Still putting on an act in front of me?”
Blushing with embarrassment, Feng Wenyu lightly hit her. Jiang Zhilan laughed and pointed the way:
“Hurry along. If your heart isn’t here, what’s the point of staying?”
Feng Wenyu’s face flushed crimson, but she stood and walked out. Just after leaving the pavilion, before rounding the path, she glimpsed the hem of a robe fluttering at the corner. Instinctively, she glanced over, and an inexplicable intuition made her look up—she froze instantly.
Gu Yushi had somehow appeared right in front of her.
His gaze was deep, as if too many emotions flickered within, leaving Feng Wenyu unable to decipher them. Yet, for some reason, it made her nose sting with unshed tears.
That fleeting emotion vanished quickly. Collecting herself, Feng Wenyu wrinkled her nose and complained softly, as usual:
“When did you get here? Why didn’t you make a sound? You nearly scared me.”
It was a complaint, but also a subtle expression of her dissatisfaction with his recent attitude. However, being thin-skinned, she refused to say it outright.
Gu Yushi stared at the person before him—her instinctive grumbling carried a hint of coquettishness. His heart tightened abruptly, a sour and heavy emotion spreading through his veins like poison.
Since his return, he had deliberately avoided encountering Feng Wenyu, evading a certain question.
But at this moment, Gu Yushi could no longer deceive himself.
The person before him was Feng Wenyu, yet not Feng Wenyu.
At the very least, she was not his Feng Wenyu.
The Feng Wenyu from fourteen years later would never show such an expression in front of him.
Gu Yushi detested the idea of a third person intruding between them and loathed emotional transference.
Even if that person was her from fourteen years ago.
Therefore, when the woman stepped forward, he instinctively retreated a step. She noticed something and looked up in astonishment.
Gu Yushi’s heart sank involuntarily.
Feng Wenyu was no fool—she could naturally detect that subtle resistance. Her eyes reddened with anger, yet she lifted her chin even higher:
“Gu Yushi, what exactly do you mean by this?”