TN: So I haven’t updated for 2 months (シ_ _)シ. The good news is that this book is now available in my Ko-Fi for purchase (https://ko-fi.com/s/e9588b8e80), and I’ll also do mass updates today. The bad news is….I’m going to disappear for a month again LMAO.
Her father’s back never wavered, always steady, like a dependable mountain that would never collapse. Gu Jianli lifted her head slightly, gazing at the distant overlapping mountains and the warm sun in the sky. She slowly began to smile. Everything was moving in a better direction. Even though their current situation was still not good, her father had woken up, and their family could be together again. As long as the family was together, there was no obstacle they couldn’t overcome.
Crossing the muddy, snow-laden path, Gu Jingyuan didn’t put his youngest daughter down, continuing to carry her steadily forward. When he was in a coma, he occasionally heard people talking to him. He heard his beloved daughter whispering in his ear that she was getting married and that someone had taken her wedding dress. The thought of waking up to support his daughter fueled his determination, and he finally opened his eyes amidst the deafening fireworks of New Year’s Eve. He remembered how his two daughters were afraid of the fireworks as children and would only smile if he was with them.
When he woke up, he was not surprised to see friends and relatives avoiding him, nor was he surprised by the ugly faces taking advantage of his misfortune. But when he learned of his daughters’ experiences, he was furious and wished he could kill those people immediately!
At the small courtyard gate, Madam Tao and Gu Zaili watched eagerly. As soon as they saw Gu Jianli and the others emerging from the alley, they rushed up.
Gu Jianli quickly said, “Father, I can walk on my own.”
Gu Jingyuan didn’t respond, continuing to carry Gu Jianli until they were inside the house before setting her down.
Gu Zaili hurriedly pulled Gu Jianli into her embrace, gently patting her back and soothingly saying, “It’s all over now, we’re home. It’s good to be home, everything will be fine now.”
“Yes,” Gu Jianli responded softly, nuzzling her sister’s shoulder with her face.
Madam Tao hurried to support Gu Jingyuan, helping him, limping, to sit in a grand chair. Gu Jianli was surprised to see her father’s limping walk. Outside, he had walked so steadily, just slower than before…
Madam Tao squatted in front of Gu Jingyuan, lifting the front of his robe and rolling up his pant leg. Only then did Gu Jianli see the scars on her father’s leg. He must have endured the pain to avoid showing his limping state to outsiders…
Gu Jianli’s heart sank, and she felt a sudden rush of guilt. Her father had endured such torture in prison, and his wounds had not healed. Yet she had made him carry her all the way home, how thoughtless she had been.
She felt heartbroken but knew she couldn’t cry; she had to smile. Her father liked seeing her smile.
Gu Jingyuan let Madam Tao change his dressing, looking up at Gu Jianli and asking in a deep voice, “That dog Ji Zhao…”
He stopped mid-sentence, his face darkening. He placed the long knife in his hand heavily on the table, causing the tea set on the table to clatter and some tea to spill.
He didn’t want to ask further because he was sure that dog Ji Zhao must have bullied his daughter! That madman had been hanging out with a bunch of eunuchs from the Western Depot since childhood, catching their madness! No, there was no need for bullying. Just being in the same room with someone like Ji Zhao would have terrified his daughter!
Gu Jianli quietly pulled up her cloak’s collar to cover the wounds on her neck, then took a handkerchief to wipe the spilled tea on the table. As she wiped, she said softly, “Father, don’t worry too much about me. You can see, I’m fine now.”
Gu Jingyuan scrutinized Gu Jianli from head to toe, saying nothing.
Gu Jianli understood her father, knowing he wouldn’t believe her just because of a few words. She knelt down, took the medicine from Madam Tao’s hands, and said, “Mother, let me do it.”
Gu Jingyuan was surprised to hear Gu Jianli call Madam Tao ‘mother,’ a reaction he hadn’t expected. Despite the surprise, he felt no joy, only a reminder of Gu Jianli and Gu Zaili’s birth mother.
Zaili, Gu Zaili, wherever she is, he is there.
Jianli, in this life, we may never see each other again.
That night, Gu Jianli, like when she was a child, crawled into her sister’s bed. The two sisters held hands, staring blankly at the canopy above them, neither of them sleeping.
“Father…”
“Father…”
The sisters spoke at the same time, then fell silent simultaneously, exchanging a smile.
“Sister, have you asked Father?” Gu Jianli asked.
Gu Zaili shook her head. “No. Not only did I not ask, but neither did Madam Tao. You know Father’s temper. Even if we asked, he wouldn’t say anything.”
Although Gu Jingyuan doted on his two daughters, he was indeed a strict father. He was very taciturn in front of them. Moreover, this time, the crime he was accused of was adultery. Such a charge was not something his daughters could easily inquire about.
Gu Jianli turned over, holding her sister’s arm, a trace of worry between her brows. She whispered, “Father doesn’t want us to meddle in his affairs, but I feel aggrieved for him. I want to clear his name and find out who framed him.”
“Growing up, we always thought Father was invincible. It’s only now that I realize…” Gu Zaili sighed. “Jianli, have you ever thought that the person who framed Father might be someone we cannot touch?”
Gu Jianli did not argue. She silently listened to her sister. Before the family trouble, she had been secluded in her boudoir, knowing little about court affairs. But Gu Zaili had been married for three years, encountering many people and things.
Gu Zaili also turned over, gently tucking the soft hair behind her sister’s ear. She continued, “The emperor’s heart is unpredictable, and Father’s military power is too great. The former crown prince usurped the throne, and the struggle for power among the princes has been ongoing for four or five years. You were still young then and didn’t know.”
Gu Jianli said, “I know. The former crown prince usurped the throne, plotted to murder His Majesty, and was personally slain by the second prince. Later, the second and third princes fought for power, and now their power has been stripped by His Majesty… But what does this have to do with Father? Ah, Sister, do you mean that Father’s situation is related to the princes’ power struggle?”
“It’s just my guess.”
The two sisters fell silent.
After a long while, Gu Zaili said, “Stop thinking about it and get some sleep.”
Gu Jianli suddenly said, “I want to see Aunt. She must know what’s really going on. Father would never harm Aunt.”
Gu Zaili knew her sister had made up her mind and did not try to dissuade her. She only said, “Times have changed, and we can no longer enter the palace.”
Gu Jianli fell silent but did not fall asleep, her mind racing with thoughts. Eventually, when she did fall asleep, she had a series of chaotic dreams.
Dreaming of the comfortable days of the past, dreaming of the cold stares encountered in recent times, dreaming of the future vindication, and dreaming of the eerie Ji Wujing.
In her sleep, Gu Jianli hazily pressed a pillow over her head, squeezing her eyes shut, not wanting to see Ji Wujing. She was home now and wanted nothing to do with him anymore.
The following days were joyful for Gu Jianli, being able to stay with her family. However, she occasionally felt troubled when thinking about her father’s unjust situation.
Gu Zaili bought a restaurant, and on the eighth day of the first month, it officially opened.
Gu Jingyuan did not stop his daughters from being in the public eye, and indeed, Gu Jianli, her sister, and Madam Tao put a lot of effort into it. However, when it was time for the grand opening, they had hired enough staff and did not have to work too hard.
Gu Jianli sat by the window on the second floor, looking down at the bustling hall below, and couldn’t help but smile. Though it wasn’t the luxurious life of the prince’s mansion, these busy days with her family were very happy.
“Have you heard? Ji Zhao isn’t dead yet.”
Gu Jianli heard someone next door mention Ji Wujing. She froze and couldn’t help but move her chair closer to listen to the conversation.
“Ha, that guy’s life is tough. The palace doctors diagnosed him several times, saying he wouldn’t live past certain days, but he still didn’t die. But it’s not surprising. He was poisoned with an incurable toxin, it’s just a matter of time. Why did you bring him up?”
“I just mentioned it casually. I have a relative working at the Marquis of Guangping’s mansion and heard that a notice came from the palace the day before yesterday, inviting Ji Zhao to the Lantern Festival banquet on the fifteenth. That’s how I knew he’s still alive.”
Another person laughed casually, “Didn’t they invite him last year too? Did he go?”
“I don’t remember. His health probably wouldn’t allow it. It’s a pity, being poisoned so severely. He was so favored by His Majesty back then…”
The two continued chatting but changed the subject.
Gu Jianli blinked slowly, her confused gaze gradually lighting up.
The annual Lantern Festival banquet that invited all the officials… Ji Wujing could attend?
Then…
If she went into the palace under the pretense of taking care of Ji Wujing, wouldn’t she be able to see her aunt?
Gu Jianli’s heart pounded.
She remembered that the Lantern Festival banquet, which invited all the officials, allowed family members to attend. Her father had once taken her sister! But her sister found it boring and only went once. Hearing it was boring, she never went…
Gu Jianli stood up abruptly.
At the Marquis of Guangping’s mansion, Ji Wujing was lazily sitting in the middle of the courtyard, basking in the sun. He squinted slightly, looking up at the sky. Today was truly a beautiful day.
In the courtyard, Ji Xinglou and Ji Xinglan were chasing each other around, playing.
When Ji Xinglou and Ji Xinglan got tired from running, they stopped to rest. Ji Xinglan turned to look at Ji Wujing, who was basking in the sun, and after a moment, she gathered her courage and walked up to him. In a sweet, childish voice, she asked, “Why hasn’t she come back yet? I can recite all the poems she taught me…”
Ji Wujing glanced at the little girl in front of him, speaking casually, “She probably ran off and doesn’t want to come back.”
Ji Xinglou ran over and asked, “But didn’t you say that if she dared to run away, you’d break her legs?”
Ji Wujing made a sound of surprise and asked, “Did I say that?”
Ji Xinglou was about to say “yes,” but seeing the dangerous look on Ji Wujing’s face, he felt a sudden pang of guilt and took a step back. He tugged on Ji Xinglan and asked, “Did Father say that?”
Ji Xinglan, not realizing her brother was passing the trouble to her, nodded vigorously. Her voice was sweet and soft, yet she looked very serious as she said, “He did! That day when Brother heard she was going to run away, Father said, ‘If she dares to run, I’ll break her legs!’ He really said that! Brother isn’t lying.”
Ji Wujing leaned back lazily in his chair, listening patiently to Ji Xinglan. The little girl’s sweet and childlike manner was very endearing. He felt an urge to pinch her cheeks, or even take a bite out of her soft, white face.
Unfortunately, she wasn’t his daughter.
If only he had a daughter of his own.
