The visitors were Madam Fang and her daughter from the second branch of the Gu family.
Gu Yunrong knew exactly what Madam Fang was after. She went straight to the entrance, intending to turn them away by saying that her mother was not home.
However, Madam Fang suddenly changed her expression.
“Although the Gu family isn’t some prestigious household, we should still observe proper etiquette! I am your aunt by marriage. How dare you, a younger member of the family, keep me outside the door?”
Instead of getting angry, Gu Yunrong smiled sweetly.
“Aunt, you’re absolutely right. However, you and my mother had an unpleasant argument the last time you visited. It hasn’t been long, and you’re already here again. If I let you in now, what if you upset Mother once more when she returns? I wouldn’t want that to happen.”
Madam Fang had never expected Gu Yunrong to say something like that. Her face turned red with anger. She glared at the girl and raised a finger toward her, but for a moment, she could not find the words to respond.
Gu Yanyu, who was standing beside her, smiled and said, “Doudou, you’ve misunderstood. Father heard that the prince would be questioning Uncle today, so he sent Mother and me to find out how things were going. Father has always been concerned about Uncle. It’s just that he has been busy with work and hasn’t had a convenient opportunity to visit until now.”
They had also heard that Gu Tongfu would be brought before the prince that day. What they really wanted was definite news about whether he would be sentenced to death.
The case would not affect the second branch of the Gu family. Once Gu Tongfu was executed, however, Gu Jiayan would still be too young to stand on his own. If he had to observe the mourning period for his father, his studies and chances of entering officialdom might be ruined. The first branch of the family would then be even easier to control.
Just as Gu Yunrong was about to go back inside, Gu Yanyu suddenly pulled her sleeve up slightly and stepped forward to take her hand, continuing to speak in a friendly tone.
As expected, Gu Yunrong’s gaze fell on the jade bracelet around her wrist.
Gu Yanyu deliberately raised her hand a little higher and casually explained that it was a meeting gift from her future mother-in-law. It was made from the finest Hetian jade seed material.
Although she had said only a few words, her meaning was twofold. She was showing off her engagement while also boasting about how well she was doing.
Gu Yanyu had discovered that although her fiancé was rather ordinary-looking, his family was quite generous with money. Otherwise, she would never have agreed to marry him.
The first branch of the Gu family was now in such a miserable situation, and Gu Yunrong was blessed with such a beautiful face. Who knew whether she would eventually end up as a wealthy man’s concubine? Her own future was clearly much brighter.
Gu Yanyu was enjoying these thoughts when she suddenly saw Gu Yunrong take her hand and examine the jade bracelet for quite some time.
A strange smile appeared at the corner of Gu Yunrong’s lips.
For some reason, that smile made Gu Yanyu feel uneasy. She suppressed her irritation and asked, “What are you smiling at?”
“Nothing. I just remember this design. I think it was fashionable several years ago. It actually makes you look a little old-fashioned.”
Gu Yanyu immediately became annoyed.
“You clearly don’t know anything about jade! This is the most fashionable design right now. I’ve heard that even the noble ladies in the imperial palace wear bracelets like this!”
Gu Yunrong nearly burst out laughing.
The noble ladies in the palace certainly did not wear fake jewelry.
In her previous life, after marrying into the imperial family, she had spent nearly half a year living as a pampered noblewoman. During that time, she had come into contact with all kinds of jewelry and developed a keen eye for such things.
She was certain that the bracelet on Gu Yanyu’s wrist was not made from Hetian jade seed material. However, she could not identify exactly what kind of stone it was. The imperial family had no shortage of precious treasures. Whether in the palace or in the prince’s residence, the jewelry presented to distinguished noblewomen was always of the highest quality. She had never needed to learn how to identify inferior materials, so she could not tell what Gu Yanyu’s bracelet was actually made of.
There were two possibilities. Either Gu Yanyu’s future husband’s family did not know the difference and had been cheated, or they had deliberately bought an inferior bracelet to pass off as something valuable.
Either way, it was enough to show that the second branch had made a poor choice. The family they had selected for Gu Yanyu was probably nothing more than a declining household trying to appear wealthier than it really was.
Gu Yunrong had no intention of exposing the bracelet as a fake. If she did, Gu Yanyu’s engagement might fall apart. That would be a shame. It would be much better to let her marry into that family and discover the truth for herself.
Seeing that Gu Yunrong had fallen silent, Gu Yanyu assumed her words had impressed her. She gave a smug laugh.
“Remember this in the future. If you don’t understand something, don’t make careless comments. You’ll only embarrass yourself. I can tell you like this bracelet. If it were an ordinary piece, I wouldn’t mind giving it to you. But this was a gift from Madam Guo, so I really can’t part with it.”
Madam Guo was Ma Shi, the mother of her fiancé, Guo Rui.
Gu Yanyu was convinced that Gu Yunrong had admired her bracelet and had only made those comments out of jealousy.
Putting on an air of generosity, she continued, “I can ask around and find out what’s fashionable in the capital these days. You can buy a few pieces in similar styles. The materials and craftsmanship might not compare with those worn by the noble ladies, but at least you can show them off among the young women and married ladies in the surrounding villages.”
Gu Yunrong nodded seriously.
“You’re absolutely right, Sister.”
Then she asked earnestly, “In that case, what rank would a bracelet like yours have in the imperial palace?”
Gu Yanyu stroked her bracelet, becoming rather carried away with herself.
“Mine would certainly be good enough to be presented to a Noble Consort. Even the Empress could wear something like this.”
Gu Yunrong immediately thought of Empress Feng.
If Empress Feng ever heard Gu Yanyu make such a claim, she would probably have the girl’s mouth torn apart. Otherwise, she would no longer be worthy of the Feng family name.
Seeing that they had been standing outside for so long without being allowed in, Madam Fang finally lost patience. She pulled her daughter toward her and declared that they would wait outside until her elder sister-in-law returned.
However, the moment she finished speaking and turned around, she saw Madam Xu and Gu Jiayan arriving in a mule cart.
The Gu family owned both horses and mules. For ordinary outings, they usually used mules. They only brought out the horses when visiting important people or attending banquets.
The previous times Gu Jiayan and Gu Yunrong had gone out with Huan Che, they had deliberately used horses so as not to make the prince look bad.
Madam Fang immediately stepped forward to ask how things had gone. She seemed even more anxious than the Gu family themselves.
Madam Xu was feeling much more at ease now. She simply turned and walked through the gate without acknowledging her.
Gu Jiayan glanced back at his aunt.
“I don’t think you need to worry so much, Aunt. Father will be home very soon.”
Before Madam Fang could understand what he meant, the entire first branch of the Gu family had already entered the residence and shut the gate, leaving the mother and daughter outside.
Gu Yanyu gave a contemptuous snort.
“They’re just putting on a brave face. If Uncle were really going to be released, they would have let him out already.”
Madam Fang thought the same. She patted her daughter’s hand.
“Come on. Let’s go home and discuss this with your father.”
Then she noticed the jade bracelet on her daughter’s wrist and could not help smiling again.
“Tomorrow, I’ll have a new outfit made for you. You can wear it to the Guo family’s old madam’s birthday celebration.”
Thinking about her fiancé, whose family was comfortably well-off, Gu Yanyu decided that his ordinary appearance might not be such a serious problem after all.
Suddenly, she found herself hoping that her uncle would not be executed too soon. It would be better if he remained in prison for another year or two.
Otherwise, if the first branch had to observe the mourning period, how could she send them invitations to her wedding?
The next day, as soon as Gu Yunrong saw Huan Che, she wanted to ask when he intended to release her father.
However, no matter how familiar she was with Huan Che, their relationship in this life was completely different. They had no personal connection at all. She did not know whether speaking too freely in front of him might backfire.
She kept holding back throughout the journey.
By the afternoon, she realized that they would soon be parting ways. After that day, she might never get another chance to see Huan Che.
The thought made her increasingly anxious.
Fortunately, when they reached Peach Blossom Bridge, Huan Che ordered the carriage to stop.
It was a beautiful time of day. The sunset painted the sky in brilliant colors, and the surrounding area was quiet and sparsely populated. The mountains were peaceful, the streams flowed gently, and the scenery stretched out before them in breathtaking beauty.
Huan Che stood on the bridge and called Gu Jiayan over to ask about the state of the prefectural schools and the prestigious academies.
While they were talking, his peripheral vision caught a glimpse of Gu Yunrong sitting inside the carriage. She was secretly lifting the corner of the curtain to peek in his direction.
He took note of it.
Every now and then, he glanced over again and caught her sneaking another look several times.
After finishing his questions, he waved for Gu Jiayan to leave. Then, without warning, he ordered Gu Yunrong to get out of the carriage and come to him.
Gu Jiayan, who had been about to turn away, immediately stopped.
Has this man finally shown his true colors? Is he planning to make a move on my sister?
Gu Yunrong stepped down from the carriage. As she passed her brother, she noticed him repeatedly signaling with his eyes, clearly telling her to leave as quickly as possible.
But she could not leave yet. She still had something important to settle.
Ignoring her brother’s warning glare, she walked up to Huan Che and respectfully bowed.
Huan Che gazed at the golden-red sunset.
“What were you afraid of that day?”
Gu Yunrong looked up in surprise.
“I mean the day before yesterday, at the dock. When you saw a man who looked like a boatman, you seemed terrified.”
Gu Yunrong was quite surprised that Huan Che had noticed her reaction that day.
But this gave her the perfect opportunity to bring up Kou Hu.
She certainly could not tell him the truth, so she simply replied that Kou Hu had once harassed her with improper intentions. He had made suggestive remarks toward her before, which was why seeing him had frightened her.
Huan Che paused slightly and turned to look at her.
“He harassed you? When did this happen?”
Gu Yunrong thought for a moment.
“About two or three months ago.”
“Other than that day at the dock, have you seen him since?”
Gu Yunrong shook her head.
“No.”
“Do you know whether he was still very poor and down on his luck two or three months ago?”
A sudden realization flashed through Gu Yunrong’s mind.
The last time she had seen Kou Hu, his clothes had been rough and shabby. But when she saw him at the dock the other day, although he was still dressed like a boatman, his clothes were brand-new. He no longer looked like the miserable man she remembered.
After she explained this to Huan Che, he said, “Do not tell anyone about the questions I asked you today. I will deal with Kou Hu myself.”
Gu Yunrong thought he had finished questioning her. She was already considering how to bring up her father when Huan Che suddenly lowered his voice.
“Why were you sneaking glances at me just now?”
Gu Yunrong had not expected him to ask such a direct question. She was momentarily stunned.
She was not particularly worried about Huan Che noticing her little actions. Since he would never fall in love with her anyway, there was no reason to think that her behavior would make him interested in her.
Still, now that he had confronted her directly, she did not know what to say.
For a moment, she was completely speechless. Her face gradually turned bright red.
Huan Che watched as she lowered her head until her chin was almost touching her chest. The blush spread across her cheeks and all the way to her ears. The golden-red sunset fell over her, making her look as though she were flushed with wine.
He did not rush her. Instead, he waited patiently for her answer.
After a moment of awkward silence, Gu Yunrong finally forced herself to give a vague answer, skillfully avoiding the question.
At last, she managed to turn the conversation toward her father.
Huan Che had not announced a verdict the previous day. Gu Jiayan had also tried asking him indirectly why he had not made a decision, but the prince had never given him a clear answer.
Gu Yunrong still refused to give up hope. She wanted to try asking one more time.
Huan Che lowered his eyes.
“Your father’s case is not particularly complicated. There are just a few formal procedures that still need to be completed.”
Gu Yunrong was delighted. She was just about to thank him when she saw him looking directly at her.
“Starting tomorrow, you and your brother no longer need to accompany me on my outings.”
The smile on her face immediately froze.
So she really would have no more chances to see Huan Che.
Her father’s case had not yet been completely settled. What if something unexpected happened? Without a way to approach the prince, how could they do anything to help?
Huan Che noticed every change in her expression.
He could tell that the girl had been trying to please him from the beginning. But if she were doing it entirely out of concern for her father’s case, something about her behavior did not quite add up.
There was genuine affection in her eyes. It was the kind of affection that seemed to be directed specifically toward him.
For example, when he had conducted military exercises in the Xie family’s rice fields, Gu Yunrong had looked at the tenant farmers who tried to extort money from him with obvious disdain. Although he was a prince, his actions would have looked like nothing more than the destruction of farmland to an ordinary observer.
Yet Gu Yunrong had shown no disagreement. The understanding and support in her eyes had been unmistakable.
Another example was his decision to have her accompany him in the first place. It had been rather unusual. Gu Jiayan was clearly wary of him and had probably warned his sister about him more than once in private.
But Gu Yunrong had never seemed to suspect that he had any improper intentions. She might not always say exactly what she was thinking, but she had never shown any real defensiveness toward him.
And now, the moment she heard that she would no longer be accompanying him, her expression had fallen.
Could it be that this girl liked him?
The thought suddenly occurred to Huan Che.
Strangely enough, he did not find the idea unpleasant. Instead, it stirred a feeling within him that he could not quite describe.
His gaze lingered for a moment on Gu Yunrong’s slender, pale neck. He suppressed the sudden urge to reach out and tickle her there, then turned and walked down from the bridge.
“Gu Tongfu will be released in a few days. Kou Hu will not bother you again, either. We shall part here. You may return home with your brother.”
Gu Yunrong stood where she was, feeling the evening breeze against her skin.
They really were parting here. From now on, their paths would go in different directions.
She watched the young man’s figure gradually disappear into the distance. Scenes from both her previous life and this one began to surface in her mind.
Perhaps this man had never belonged to her in the first place.
He was like the sun and moon high above the heavens, towering beyond the clouds and forever out of reach.
Sometimes she wondered whether, after returning to the capital in her previous life, Huan Che had remained as calm and indifferent as ever when he learned of her death.
After she was buried, would everything have returned to normal? Would his life have continued as though she had never existed?
Then what had her arrival in his life meant?
Suddenly, all the emotions she had been suppressing burst forth. Tears streamed down her face, and she angrily kicked the railing of the bridge.
If one day Huan Che came back to me, confessed his love, and asked me to marry him, I would make him experience all the loneliness and disappointment he once made me suffer!
But that was probably nothing more than wishful thinking.
She had already given up on him anyway.
After her anger subsided a little, Gu Yunrong finally noticed that her toes hurt terribly from kicking the railing.
She bent down and rubbed them. When she looked up again, she found Gu Jiayan staring at her as though he had just seen a ghost.
Meanwhile, Huan Che was about to board his carriage when, for some inexplicable reason, he turned around and glanced back at the bridge.
He saw Gu Yunrong crouching in front of Gu Jiayan, apparently wiping away tears.
His gaze remained fixed on her for quite some time.
In truth, he did not know why he had asked Gu Yunrong about sneaking glances at him. It was not something he would normally do.
He had known that her answer was evasive, but he had not interrupted her.
For the past two days, he had been wondering why he kept dreaming about being intimate with a young woman he had barely met.
Nayun noticed his master’s expression and gave him a look as though he had seen a ghost.
They were already leaving, yet His Highness had turned around to look at that girl.
And he was not merely looking. He was staring at her without looking away.
This was practically unprecedented.
Could it be that His Highness had finally developed feelings for someone?
However, given his master’s personality, even if he had fallen for a girl, he would probably be too proud to turn around and pursue her openly.
He would most likely find another way.
Five days later, Song Wenxuan managed to obtain some news.
The cases involving Gu Tongfu and Yu Sixian had already been concluded. Prince Heng had ruled that both men were victims of wrongful accusations and had personally overturned the verdicts, clearing their names.
However, because the two cases involved serious matters and numerous officials, it had taken another two days to complete most of the necessary procedures.
At this point, all that remained was for the prince to approve and sign the relevant documents. Once that was done, the prisoners could be released.
But just as everything was about to be settled, unexpected news spread.
Prince Heng had fallen ill.