“It’s alright. There will be many more times in the future.” She set aside those unpleasant memories and spoke with eager anticipation.
“Mhm.” Though it was just a single word, Gu Nanyin could still sense Yuan Jue’s joy from it.
She looked at the empty bowl in front of Yuan Jue and picked up her chopsticks, wanting to serve him some food. But the moment she lifted them, she suddenly realized she had no idea what Yuan Jue liked to eat.
Gu Nanyin felt somewhat dejected. Yuan Jue, however, saw right through her thoughts and spoke lightly, “I like whatever A Yin likes.” Of course, what he liked most was still A Yin herself, but he didn’t say that part out loud.
“Prince, I have a lifetime to slowly get to know you.” Thinking of this, Gu Nanyin instantly perked up again. In the future, after they were married, they would share meals together every day, and she would come to understand all of the Prince’s preferences clearly.
After the two finished their meal together, Yuan Jue took her on a stroll around the Prince’s residence. This was the first time Gu Nanyin had examined the Prince’s residence so attentively. Unlike many other powerful and wealthy households, the layout and furnishings of the Prince’s residence were not overly extravagant. Instead, it had a sense of grand, imposing majesty, perhaps related to the Regent’s long experience on the battlefield.
When they reached one particular courtyard, Gu Nanyin couldn’t help but be drawn to it. Qin Xue, seeing her own silent Prince, had no choice but to step forward and explain herself: “Miss, this is the finest courtyard in the entire Prince’s residence. The Prince prepared it for you long ago. The courtyard is planted with the sweet osmanthus you love most, all the best varieties the Prince had people search for from various places. Inside the rooms, there are also many things the Prince has added for you, all carefully chosen over a long time. Would you like to go in and see?”
Qin Xue was truly exasperated. The Prince had done so much for the young lady; if no one said anything, how could she possibly understand? No wonder the Prince had never managed to touch her heart.
“No, I’ll save it for when I move in to see it then. This way, the Prince still has time to add more things in the meantime.”
“Alright. Everything you like will be here.” Yuan Jue spoke very seriously, as if he hadn’t caught that Gu Nanyin was joking at all.
Gu Nanyin looked around. In the courtyard, there was a swing, gently swaying in the breeze at that moment. Fish of various colors played in the pond, wisteria vines twined around the flower trellises adding lush greenery, and everywhere was brimming with vibrant life.
Although Yuan Jue had never said a word about it, every part of the courtyard spoke to Gu Nanyin of his thoughtfulness. As she gazed at the courtyard, lost in thought, Yuan Jue gently draped a cloak over her shoulders from behind.
Gu Nanyin took Yuan Jue’s hand, feeling the warmth transmitted from his palm, and felt utterly at peace.
Gu Nanyin felt that time seemed to pass very, very quickly when she was with Yuan Jue. Before she knew it, evening had arrived, and Yuan Jue offered to escort her back to her residence. Liu Feng had no choice but to reluctantly serve as the coachman for Gu Nanyin and his own Prince, while the maidservants boarded the carriage they had arrived in.
“Yuan Jue.” The streets were quiet at this moment. Looking at Yuan Jue’s profile in the carriage, Gu Nanyin, as if bewitched, spoke.
Before Yuan Jue could respond, he felt a sudden, soft touch upon his lips. He hadn’t expected Gu Nanyin to make such a move. For a moment, his pupils dilated, and he was completely stunned.In both her lifetimes combined, this was Gu Nanyin’s first time kissing someone, and she was also quite shy. After just a light touch, she quickly pulled away. By the time Yuan Jue regained his senses, the Minister’s residence was already right before them. This was the first time he felt the distance between the Regent’s residence and the Minister’s residence was so short.
Gu Nanyin took Yuan Jue’s hand and stepped down from the carriage. Standing in front of her own residence, the lanterns illuminated the entrance brightly, yet they also made the spot where Yuan Jue stood seem particularly dark and lonely. Yuan Jue stood by the carriage, watching her as if waiting for her to enter.
“Yuan Jue, I was very happy today.” When she was with him, Gu Nanyin could let go of all her tension and unease, forever remaining a child who never grew up, because she knew that no matter what, the person before her would never let her fall into danger.
Yuan Jue quietly watched her. In the vastness of the world, it seemed his eyes could only hold her. He had always been a man of few words, and after living so many years, this was his first time being with the woman he loved. In truth, he harbored much unease in his heart. Before Gu Nanyin, he was no longer the arrogant, awe-inspiring Regent, but merely her admirer.
Yuan Jue walked up the steps and gently embraced Gu Nanyin. His careful manner was as if he had obtained a priceless treasure.
Shortly after parting from Yuan Jue and entering the residence, Gu Nanyin saw the steward standing in the courtyard, seemingly having waited for her for a long time. “Miss, the master is waiting for you.”
Ever since she had openly clashed with her father last time, Gu Yuanyao had never appeared before her again. Perhaps he harbored the intention of making her apologize and yield, but unfortunately, her filial affection for her father had long vanished with her death in her previous life. No matter how many moves he made, Gu Nanyin no longer cared.
Nevertheless, Gu Nanyin followed the steward. She simply wanted to see what mischief her father was up to now.
She entered the study, where Gu Yuanyao kept his head down, seemingly engrossed in something, without sparing her a glance. Gu Nanyin did not speak either and simply sat down on her own.
After a moment of silence, Gu Yuanyao had no choice but to speak first. “I heard you went to the Regent’s residence today?”
Gu Nanyin did not conceal it. She had gone to the residence openly and naturally admitted it readily. “That’s right.”
“Nanyin, do you remember what Father said?” Gu Yuanyao softened his tone.
“Of course I remember. Father said his daughter was cold-blooded and disrespectful to elders.”
Gu Yuanyao almost failed to maintain the tenderness on his face. Those words were indeed his, but that was not what he was asking about now. “Father told you before that the Regent is a cold-blooded and ruthless man. Countless people have died by his hand. You are Father’s most beloved daughter. How can you get so close to him?”
What he truly cared about was not Gu Nanyin’s safety, but his fear that she might genuinely develop feelings for the Regent. The current emperor was old, and no one knew how much longer he could live. He always had to think about a backup plan. The Crown Prince was in his prime, ambitious and broad-minded, so he had long aligned himself with the Crown Prince’s side. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to get close to the Regent, but the Regent was unfathomable and had never accepted flattery from officials like them. Moreover, with the Regent’s immense power and influence, how could he possibly care about a mere Minister of Personnel like him?Thus, he had no choice but to seek refuge with the Crown Prince. However, for the Crown Prince to seize control of the imperial court, he would inevitably have to overthrow the Regent. The Regent’s foundation was deep-rooted; even the current emperor held little sway, let alone the still-immature Crown Prince.
Yet, the Regent’s affection for Gu Nanyin gave him an idea. As long as he used his daughter to obtain intelligence from the Regent’s estate, what difficulty would there be in bringing down the Regent? By then, he would have rendered an immense service to the Crown Prince. Once the Crown Prince ascended the throne, he would become a favored figure in the new emperor’s court. At that time, with a new ruler came new ministers—he might even trample his father-in-law, Prime Minister Su, underfoot. Who would dare say then that he had risen to his position solely through the support of his wife’s family?