“Oh.” Lian Yue nodded obediently. “Alright.”
Gu Quan was somewhat annoyed, but looking down at the young woman’s bewildered expression, his irritation faded completely.
Though she was Lu Xun’s favored concubine, one could guess she wasn’t very old—probably around sixteen or seventeen—delicate and beautiful.
In these turbulent times, without some cunning, she likely wouldn’t have survived until now.
Gu Quan said, “Speaking of reputation, I heard a fortune-teller read your face and said your fate is very harsh, that Lu Xun was cursed to death by you.”
Lian Yue’s eyelashes fluttered slightly: “If you want to condemn someone, you’ll never be short of charges.”
“Of course, I know that’s nonsense,” he continued. “Since others use a fortune-teller’s words to slander you, you can also use a fortune-teller’s words to clear your name.”
Lian Yue: “Hmm?”
Gu Quan said, “National Preceptor Shao wrote me a letter yesterday. He’ll pass through Wan City tomorrow to meet with me briefly. You can tell him your birth date and ask him to calculate your fortune. With his reputation across the land, if he can say some favorable words about you, the rumors will be dispelled naturally.”
Hearing this, Lian Yue’s eyes lit up, then dimmed again: “But I’m not acquainted with the National Preceptor. Why would he help me? Let’s forget about this matter.”
Gu Quan: “I’ll handle it.”
Lian Yue bit her lip: “Troubling Marquis Gu with this again, I truly feel uneasy. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay all the favors I owe you.”
Still pretending.
Gu Quan stared at her, his tone suddenly turning cold: “It’s just a small matter. Madam needn’t concern yourself.”
Lian Yue seemed unaware why the young man’s mood had shifted so quickly. She hunched her shoulders and lowered her head, not daring to oppose his suggestion further, and replied: “I was born on the third day of the tenth month, in the third year of Jianping.”
Come to think of it, she had just turned twenty-two, and now it was the second year of Jian’an. Counting backward, the previous era name Jianping had been used for twenty-four years. According to the timeline here, she was indeed born in the third year of Jianping.
“By the way, I heard Marquis Gu was born in the sixth year of Jianping,” Lian Yue deliberately mentioned, feigning surprise. “Speaking of which, I’m a few years older than you, yet you’re so much more capable than me. Comparing people really is frustrating.”
Gu Quan took a deep breath and remained silent for a moment.
National Preceptor Shao was famous throughout the land for his Plum Blossom Numerology. He completely didn’t need to ask this extra question—he could still solve her problem.
This question was unnecessary.
He said irritably: “I couldn’t tell.”
After speaking, the young man clenched his fist and brought it to his lips, snorting: “I thought you were fifteen or sixteen.”
Lian Yue glanced at Gu Quan and saw annoyance on his handsome face, like an exasperated wolfdog. She couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly.
So what if she was three years older than him? Why so petty?
Never mind.
She’d humor him.
Lian Yue blinked: “Alright, I didn’t expect to fool you. Actually, I was born in the eighth year of Jianping. I’m seventeen this year.”
Gu Quan lifted his eyelids but didn’t speak, nor did he indicate whether he believed her. His captivating peach-blossom eyes revealed no emotion.
After a moment of silence.
He snorted lightly: “Then I’ll temporarily consider you to be seventeen years young.”
Lian Yue nodded, a smile on her face.
She had started school two years early, entering university at seventeen. Not long after graduating, she had been working in public relations at a company when she crossed over to this unfamiliar dynasty, only to be kidnapped and made a concubine. Anyone would say: what misery.
The conversation ended.
Lian Yue had originally been startled awake from a nightmare. After speaking with Gu Quan for a while, drowsiness washed over her. She couldn’t resist laying her head on the desk, gradually falling into a hazy sleep.
The wind outside howled like ghosts and wolves, yet it no longer disturbed her in the slightest.
Seeing this, Gu Quan stood up, draped a blanket over her, and then walked out.
Xuan Yao was on duty outside, originally yawning from exhaustion, but upon seeing Gu Quan emerge, he immediately straightened up and stepped forward to ask, “My lord, is there anything you require?”
Gu Quan glanced back at Lian Yue’s figure, closed the door securely, and said, “Investigate her background again.”
Xuan Yao looked puzzled. “But didn’t we investigate last time? Before becoming Duke Lu’s serving concubine, she was just a refugee.”
Gu Quan replied, “Half a year ago, Lu Xun and I were both in Peng City discussing plans to suppress the rebellion. While we were at it, we cleared out the bandits outside the city. Not long after, Lu Xun brought her back.”
He continued, “During those few days, Peng City, which had been suffering from a long drought, suddenly experienced continuous heavy rain. Go and check if any villages outside the city were buried by mudslides at that time.”
Xuan Yao responded, “Understood.”
Inside the room, Lian Yue rubbed her ears, her eyes still closed. The blanket on her was heavy, but her hands and feet remained cold.
Go ahead and investigate.
Dawn broke.
By the time Lian Yue woke up, it was already noon the next day. Thick clouds covered the sky, completely blocking out the sunlight, creating a somewhat oppressive atmosphere.
After washing up, Madam Cheng brought in some food. Once Lian Yue had eaten, she thought about going to sit in the pavilion in the courtyard to aid her digestion.
But as soon as she stepped out of her room, she saw three people seated in the pavilion.
Two of them were familiar: Gu Quan and Yuan Jing. The third was a stranger, dressed in a blue robe with his hair tied up in a topknot, a jade hairpin inserted into it. He appeared to be in his twenties or thirties, with an ethereal demeanor. He was likely National Preceptor Shao Qing, whom Gu Quan had mentioned the day before.
Gu Quan and Shao Qing were playing a game of Go, while Yuan Jing sat nearby calmly drinking tea. The scene looked quite harmonious.
Madam Cheng, standing beside Lian Yue, asked, “Madam, would you like to join them?”
Lian Yue shook her head. “I originally wanted to step out for some fresh air, but on second thought, I’m still injured. The physician said I shouldn’t catch a chill. It’s best to follow the doctor’s orders.”
Having said that, she returned to her room without actively approaching them.
Both Yuan Jing and Shao Qing had noticed Lian Yue.
Seeing her return to her room, Shao Qing, who had yet to place his white Go piece, asked curiously, “Is she Lu Xun’s favored concubine? Why is she in your room?”
Gu Quan looked puzzled. “Why can’t she be in my room?”
“You and her… surely not…” Shao Qing sighed. “I never thought you were that kind of person.”
Gu Quan raised an eyebrow. “What are you imagining? Madam Wu holds a grudge against her and has been sending assassins after her. For her safety, I’ve kept her by my side. That’s all.”
Shao Qing looked unconvinced and turned to Yuan Jing. “A Jing, is that really the case?”
Yuan Jing smiled faintly. “Don’t ask me. I don’t know anything about it.”
Gu Quan said, “By the way, the reason I invited you both here today is to ask for a favor.”
Shao Qing replied, “Let’s hear it. I’ll help if I can.”
Yuan Jing was concise. “Speak.”
Gu Quan addressed Shao Qing, “I’ll soon be departing to lay siege to a city. It’s inconvenient to bring her along with the army, and I’m worried about the assassins. Since both the National Preceptor and A Jing are planning to return to Ruyang, I was hoping you could look after her for a while. Let her travel with you.”
He continued, “Ruyang has always been at odds with Xiang City, and Madam Wu’s influence cannot reach there. Thus, it would be safer for Lady Yue to go to Ruyang than to remain in Wan City.”
Shao Qing said, “I travel extensively and won’t stay long in Ruyang. Whether I can help depends on whether A Jing agrees.”
Gu Quan turned to Yuan Jing and teased with a smile, “A Jing and I are closest friends. Surely you won’t refuse me?”
Yuan Jing shook his head helplessly, “Then why even ask?”
Gu Quan raised an eyebrow, “Then it’s settled.”
He then said to Shao Qing, “Speaking of which, rumors are spreading everywhere. Some even slander that she was the one who brought misfortune to Lu Xun. She is innocent. I beg you, State Preceptor, to do a divination for her and clear her of the rumor of being an ill omen to her husband, so she may be spared from public criticism.”
Shao Qing was puzzled, “If you truly don’t want Lady Yue to suffer public criticism, why not clarify that there is no improper relationship between you two? Instead, you remain so intimate with her.”
Gu Quan cleared his throat, his ears turning red, but he did not answer. Instead, he asked, “Will you help or not?”
Shao Qing replied, “I will, I will.”
He was skilled in Plum Blossom Numerology and adept at performing divinations using random objects.
At that moment, Shao Qing’s gaze fell upon the chessboard, and he immediately performed a divination: “The chess pieces on the board can be seen as the world. Her position is in the northwest. Northwest corresponds to Qian, representing heaven. In the Eight Trigrams, the Qian hexagram is the most noble, indicating that this woman is of extreme nobility—perhaps even destined to rule the world.”
Gu Quan said, “I asked you to praise her a little, not to exaggerate so extravagantly.”
Shao Qing snorted coldly, “You don’t trust me.”
Gu Quan frowned, “If your words spread, she would be in even greater danger. This isn’t helping—it’s causing trouble.”
Shao Qing waved his hand, “I’m only speaking the truth.”
…
Three days later.
Lian Yue’s injuries were all superficial wounds that had scabbed over and were almost healed.
Gu Quan came to tell her, “There will be warfare in Wan City soon. This place is not safe. I fear something might happen to you, and I may not be able to arrive in time. So, I’ve asked A Jing to take care of you for some time. He is departing for Ruyang today. Please accompany him, my lady.”
Lian Yue had just received the news and was momentarily stunned. She asked in confusion, “We depart today? So soon?”
Gu Quan said, “The war is urgent and cannot be delayed.”
Since he had said so, Lian Yue had no excuse to stay. She lowered her eyes and said, “I understand.”
Seeing the lady’s somewhat sullen expression but hearing no objections, he explained, “A Jing is my closest friend. Entrusting you to his care is the only way I can be at ease. Once the war is over, I will come to Ruyang to bring you back.”
Lian Yue pressed her lips together and forced a smile, “I will follow Marquis Gu’s arrangements.”
After all, it wasn’t the first time she had been abandoned.
She bowed her head and said, “I will go pack my belongings now.”
Gu Quan stopped her and couldn’t help but ask, “Don’t you have anything to say to me?”
Lian Yue turned back, said “Oh,” and then continued, “Yes, I wish Marquis Gu a swift victory and success in capturing the city.”
Gu Quan fell silent.
Never mind.
She understood nothing.
After a moment’s thought, Gu Quan still said, “Wait for my good news.”
Lian Yue replied, “Mm!”
Having drifted from place to place, she did not have many belongings. Even with some scattered items, they filled only half a trunk.
When she left, Gu Quan came to see her off and handed her a small chest of gold, silver, and jewels, saying, “You are under my protection. This is your first time in Ruyang, and you are unfamiliar with the place. Use these for necessary expenses. You must accept them.”
Lian Yue did not decline: “Thank you, Marquis Gu.”
She simply regarded the box of gold, silver, and jewels as repayment for Lu Xun’s earlier gesture of gifting her a city and looking after her.
Moreover, it wasn’t hard to guess whom Gu Quan intended to attack.
If she herself had learned of Madam Wu’s plans, she would either disrupt the marriage alliance between Hong Nong and Xiang City or strike first by besieging Xiang City before their alliance was solidified.
It seemed Gu Quan had chosen the latter—he was indeed going to besiege Xiang City.
Once Madam Wu lost her support and was struggling to protect herself, she would have no energy to spare for assassinating Lian Yue. Thus, Gu Quan had already done his utmost for her.
Just as well.
Lian Yue remained calm. With this money, she could indeed handle matters more easily.
Unaware of the young woman’s thoughts, Gu Quan was pleased to see her accept the gift without hesitation. He nodded and said, “Go on.”
Lian Yue bowed again: “Marquis Gu, until we meet again.”
After bidding farewell to Yuan Jing and Shao Qing, she boarded the carriage, drew the curtain, and sat inside with her eyes closed, resting her mind.
Meanwhile.
Xuan Yao had arrived at Peng City, the place where Lian Yue had first appeared.
He sat in a tea house, taking a break and drinking water. When paying, he called over the old man: “Elder, might I ask you about something?”
The old man looked puzzled: “What is it?”
Xuan Yao said: “Half a year ago, during the great drought, Peng City was hit by a heavy rain. I heard there was a landslide. Do you know where outside the city it occurred?”
The old man frowned in thought, his eyes suddenly gleaming, but he hesitated to speak.
Xuan Yao took a string of coins from his purse and handed it to him: “If you know, please tell me.”
The old man accepted the money, quickly tucking it into his robe, and said: “Young master, you’ve asked the right person. I do know about this matter.”
Xuan Yao: “Oh?”
“Indeed, there was a village outside the city buried by a mudslide. But it was a bandit lair—the people there specialized in swindling and deceiving others. During the drought last year, with no grain, they even resorted to cannibalism. Truly terrifying.” The old man shuddered as he spoke. “Perhaps Heaven had eyes and couldn’t tolerate their evil deeds, so it wiped out the entire village. It’s said only one abducted girl survived, escaped, and was seen by a passing noble who took her in. She rose to prominence in one step.”
Xuan Yao: “She was quite lucky then, to be the only one alive when everyone else died.”
The old man shook his head: “Women who emerge from a bandit lair are fierce characters—it’s not just about luck. If you ever meet one, young master, you must be careful.”
Author’s Note:
Old man: Women who come out of bandit lairs are all fierce characters [transformed]
Lian Yue: Exactly, exactly, keep spreading that image of me [perked-up rabbit emoji]
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