The Reception Hall.
Today was Feng Rongyu’s official holiday. Upon learning that Gu Yushi had come to visit, he silently shook his head, knowing full well that the other party had likely chosen this day deliberately.
Realizing Gu Yushi’s determination to break off the engagement, Feng Rongyu couldn’t help but feel a surge of anger in his heart.
Where did his daughter fall short of being a match for him?
Back then, it was Gu Yushi who had sincerely sought her hand in marriage, which was why their family had agreed. Now, less than a year after the engagement was settled, he actually had regrets.
How ungrateful!
When Gu Yushi was led in, he had only brought Mu Fan as his attendant.
Zhou Yueyu, seeing the brocade box in Mu Fan’s hands, was so furious she could barely contain herself. Her face cold, she didn’t utter a word.
Gu Yushi took in the scene, his lips pressed into a tight line. Searching his conscience, the Feng family had always treated him well, especially Madam Feng, who, after his engagement to Feng Wenyu, had consistently regarded him as one of her own.
Truth be told, this was the first time he had ever been treated coldly in the Feng residence.
But it was what he deserved.
He had come to break off the engagement—did he really expect the Feng family to welcome him warmly?
The atmosphere in the reception hall was icy and solemn. No one offered conversation, no one served tea. Gu Yushi knew he was unwelcome at this moment. He stepped forward and went straight to the point:
“Uncle, Aunt, I have come today regarding the matter of my engagement to your daughter.”
Zhou Yueyu turned her head away and sneered coldly, “I dare not accept your address of ‘Aunt.'”
Feng Wenxu was also in the residence but didn’t dare make a sound. During this period, because of the matter with Gu Yushi, he had been blamed and his mother hadn’t given him a single kind look.
Gu Yushi fell silent for a moment.
It was Feng Rongyu who broke the silence: “Since this concerns my daughter, someone, go and fetch the young lady.”
Before the servant could withdraw, footsteps were heard from outside. Everyone paused and looked toward the entrance. Zhou Yueyu couldn’t help but furrow her brows in concern. When she saw Feng Wenyu lift the curtain and enter, she had no choice but to shoot Gu Yushi a sharp glare.
Feng Wenyu had tried her best to mentally prepare herself along the way, wanting to appear composed.
But as she hurried over, her cheeks were still slightly flushed, and she was slightly out of breath. Suppressing her rapid breathing, she glanced at Gu Yushi only once. He was looking at her too.
She was in the bloom of her youth, vibrant whether laughing lightly or showing slight anger—a stark contrast to the quiet and lifeless woman she would become fourteen years later. The breeze brushed through her dark hair, and the warm sunlight caressed her face, making her burst into the room alongside the radiant spring scenery, illuminating the entire space.
A trace of gloom flickered in Gu Yushi’s eyes, yet his gaze remained fixed unwaveringly on her.
The moment their eyes met, Feng Wenyu almost couldn’t stop herself from demanding an explanation.
He was always like this—always able to pinpoint his gaze on her accurately in a crowd, as if he saw no one else. No one could remain unmoved by such focused attention.
It had also led her to mistakenly believe that he was deeply in love with her.
But if that were truly the case, how could he come to break off the engagement?
Feng Wenyu held back her questions.
She didn’t want to appear pathetic.
She walked directly to Zhou Yueyu, who took her hand. Feeling the dampness in her palm, Zhou Yueyu’s heart ached.
Feng Rongyu also looked coldly at Gu Yushi:
“Everyone is here now. If you have something to say, you might as well speak plainly.”
Everyone’s attention was focused on him, including Feng Wenyu’s, making it easy to detect the resentment overflowing from her eyes.
Gu Yushi lowered his head, inwardly mocking himself.
In their previous life, it was Feng Wenyu who insisted on separating, but now he was the one taking the initiative to call off their engagement.
How fate toys with people.
Gu Yushi did not hesitate; there was no need to second-guess a decision already made:
“His Majesty has issued an edict, ordering me to go to Jiangnan to investigate the salt officials. This journey is perilous, and my return date is uncertain. I do not wish to delay Feng Guniang, nor have her worry and suffer, wasting her youth. I have come today to dissolve the engagement between Feng Guniang and myself. I hope Uncle and Aunt will grant me this.”
As these words fell, the atmosphere in the room grew heavy. Feng Rongyu and Feng Wenxu furrowed their brows.
An imperial edict and salt officials—just placing these two terms side by side was enough to make one’s heart race.
Zhou Yueyu was no ignorant woman; she too sensed the danger. For a moment, she even suspected that Gu Yushi was deliberately calling off the engagement. She was no fool—she could see clearly that Gu Yushi still held lingering feelings for her daughter.
The only one not deceived was Feng Wenyu.
As the person most involved, she was the one who could best perceive the changes in Gu Yushi.
The peril of the Jiangnan mission was real, but his determination to end the engagement was also genuine.
He was no good man, but he would not retreat at the slightest hardship. If it were merely the Jiangnan mission, he would have explained the truth and softly pleaded with her—to wait for him.
People are selfish, especially in matters of the heart.
There was only one reason that could drive Gu Yushi to call off the engagement—he genuinely believed the two of them were not suited.
Feng Rongyu looked grave and asked cautiously, “When did His Majesty issue the edict?”
Gu Yushi lifted his head and glanced at Feng Wenyu:
“You will know at tomorrow’s morning court, Uncle.”
Feng Rongyu and Feng Wenxu exchanged a look, their eyes filled with shock and disbelief. How long had Gu Yushi been in the Emperor’s favor?
Though missions as an Imperial Envoy were always perilous, when it came to salt officials, the task was usually entrusted only to the Emperor’s most trusted confidants.
Regardless, Gu Yushi had found a good excuse to call off the engagement.
Feng Wenyu lowered her head, lost in thought.
Suppressing the gravity and unease in his heart, Feng Rongyu frowned and said, “In that case, the engagement between our two families is hereby dissolved!”
The marital bond that had tied the two of them together no longer existed. Both Feng Wenyu and Gu Yushi paused for a moment.
After a long while, Gu Yushi finally lowered his gaze and said:
“…Thank you, Uncle, for granting my wish.”
He lifted his eyes to look at Feng Wenyu. Her face was flushed with anger as she took out the jade pendant she had always treasured and returned it to Gu Yushi, delivering a harsh ultimatum: “From now on, we owe each other nothing.”
Ignoring the turbulent, oppressive emotions surging within him, Gu Yushi gazed intently at Feng Wenyu for a long time before accepting the jade pendant. He then returned the other half to her and said:
“I have wronged you. I hope Feng Guniang will find smooth sailing in all her future endeavors.”
The past was now entirely gone.
The present Feng Wenyu knew nothing of what had transpired, yet she had suffered this undeserved misfortune. He had indeed wronged her.
Feng Wenyu’s nose tingled with unshed tears, and her fingers gripping the jade pendant were so tense they turned pale. She thought Gu Yushi was utterly unreasonable.
If he was going to call off the engagement, he should be resolute to the end. Why put on such an act?
The more she sensed the sincerity in his words, the more confused and resentful she became.
After her confusion, a sense of resignation set in.
So be it.
If the engagement is called off, then let it be.
At least before the marriage, he hadn’t concealed anything or remained silent. Calling off the engagement now was far better than letting the two of them drift further apart after marriage.
But Feng Wenyu was narrow-minded—she lacked Gu Yushi’s magnanimity. Lifting her chin, she declared:
“You’re the one who wronged me. Don’t expect my blessings.”
Gnashing her teeth in resentment, she cursed him fiercely: “I hope you end up alone for the rest of your life!”
Zhou Yueyu had originally been inwardly angry with Gu Yushi, but upon hearing her daughter’s words, she couldn’t help but raise a hand to her forehead in exasperation.
Feng Rongyu also coughed lightly, trying to restrain her: “A-Yu, don’t talk nonsense.”
Feng Wenyu turned her head away.
The Feng family all felt their daughter was too straightforward—even if she thought it, she didn’t need to say it outright.
Yet Gu Yushi wasn’t angry or annoyed. He even smiled faintly. Her emotions were laid bare—whether anger or resentment—all strikingly vivid, like fireworks reserved for the New Year: dazzling, brilliant, and fervent, eviting joy at first sight. But while fireworks bloomed only in the sky, she was different.
She was right before him, burning in his heart. It had been this way in the past, and even now, he couldn’t deny it.
Under Feng Wenyu’s bewildered gaze, he lowered his eyes, as if making a promise, and said:
“Alright.”
Feng Wenyu was dumbfounded.
She eyed Gu Yushi suspiciously, wondering if he had lost his mind.
Feng Wenxu’s expression turned peculiar.
Feng Rongyu and Zhou Yueyu exchanged uneasy glances.
It wasn’t until Gu Yushi took his leave that everyone snapped back to reality.
As he stepped outside, Feng Wenyu suddenly remembered something. She slapped her forehead, hastily gathered her skirts, and hurried after him.
Zhou Yueyu called out anxiously: “A-Yu, where are you going?”
Without looking back, Feng Wenyu’s urgent voice trailed behind:
“I need to talk to him!”
After both had disappeared from the reception hall, Feng Wenxu couldn’t help but rub his nose: “So the engagement is off?”
He seemed somewhat doubtful.
Zhou Yueyu shot him a glare: “The betrothal tokens have been returned, of course it’s completely over!”
She still had to arrange another marriage prospect for her younger daughter—there could be no ambiguity in this matter.
Feng Wenyu caught up with Gu Yushi outside the reception hall and raised her voice:
“Gu Yushi, stop right there!”
Gu Yushi halted on the covered corridor and turned around. Watching the young girl run toward him, he froze, his heart tightening for a moment. It was as if he were waiting for something, anticipating something, his breath softening slightly.
Only when Feng Wenyu stopped before him did she signal Jinshu to bring the items forward. Slightly breathless, with a sheen of sweat on her forehead and a faint blush on her fair cheeks, she said:
“These are all the things you gave me. I’m returning them to their rightful owner.”
Gu Yushi’s lips pressed into a thin line, a trace of self-mockery rising in his heart. What had he been hoping for?
Feng Wenyu took out another item and handed it back to Gu Yushi: “And this—Lord Gu should take it back as well.”
She called him “Lord Gu” again.
The distant address was meant to draw a clear boundary between them.
Gu Yushi knew this was only right—he was the one who had requested the broken engagement, so he couldn’t blame Feng Wenyu for acting this way.
Yet the title still grated harshly on his ears.
Gu Yushi looked down at the object in her hand—it was the red plum hairpin adorned with pearls, the gift he had given her for her coming-of-age ceremony.
It took a long moment before Gu Yushi found his voice, his tone unusually stiff:
“What was given to you is yours to keep.”
Feng Wenyu shot him a glare, seeming about to say something but holding back due to their current status. She pursed her lips: “Hairpins have always been tokens of affection. Since we no longer have any ties, I cannot accept such gifts from you. Please take it back, Lord Gu.”
Her words were blunt and unadorned, without the slightest concealment.
Gu Yushi’s eyes darkened instantly. She showed no reluctance or mercy, decisive as if she had never invested in their relationship.
He emphasized, “This is for your coming-of-age ceremony.”
Feng Wenyu also fell silent for a moment. She still remembered the joy she felt when receiving this jade hairpin. After a pause, she took a deep breath and curled her lips:
“So what if it was.”
“What happened today was your choice, wasn’t it?”