Gu Jianli and her sister supported Gu Jingyuan from either side as they walked out. When Gu Jianli stepped over the threshold, she paused and glanced back.
On the bed, Ji Xinglan stretched out her small arm, placing her tiny hand on Ji Wujing’s forehead. Ji Wujing lay with his eyes closed, his face expressionless.
Gu Jianli turned her head back and left, lowering her head.
Changsheng stood at the doorway, peering inside. Just as Gu Jianli was about to instruct him to take good care of Ji Wujing, Changsheng had already rushed into the room.
Of course, Changsheng cared more about Ji Wujing than she did—Gu Jianli thought to herself.
The commotion woke Madam Tao, who hurried over, her face pale with fright. Gu Jianli stepped aside, allowing Madam Tao to support Gu Jingyuan. Madam Tao’s hands trembled as she held onto him. She was truly terrified, scared that something might happen to Gu Jingyuan again. With him there, they had a backbone. When he was unconscious and on the brink of death, it felt like the sky was falling.
Coming from a humble background, being able to marry the revered Prince Wuxian made her both happy and self-conscious.
Gu Jingyuan sensed it. He glanced at Madam Tao, then looked ahead, but he patted her hand and said in a cold tone, “It’s fine.”
Just those two words made Madam Tao sigh in relief. When he said it was fine, it really meant it was fine.
Back in the room, Gu Jingyuan waved his hand, signaling for Madam Tao and Gu Jianli to leave, wanting to speak to Gu Jianli alone.
Sitting in the armchair, Gu Jingyuan put away the demeanor he had shown when arguing with Ji Wujing and became serious.
“Tell me honestly, what are you thinking?”
Gu Jianli had made up her mind. She walked in front of Gu Jingyuan and knelt down.
Gu Jingyuan’s heart ached for his daughter. He wanted to help her up but forced himself to stay strong and didn’t move.
“Father, I know you’re angry, angry at the disgraceful behavior of the Guangping Marquis family. I also know you have thoughts of revenge. You won’t let go of anyone in the Guangping Marquis family, including Ji Zhao. I’ve heard you mention him several times before, always with disdain. So you wouldn’t approve of my improper marriage to him.”
Gu Jianli understood that now that her father had awakened, that farcical marriage was a slap in his face.
Once she spoke, the nervousness in her heart inexplicably dissipated, like a stone falling to the ground.
And because the person in front of her was her father, the one who loved her most in the world, Gu Jianli’s tears fell.
“You all ask me if I’m doing well, and I always say I’m fine. But it’s not fine at all…” Gu Jianli smiled wryly, her tears welling up.
Gu Jingyuan’s heart ached as if being cut open.
From the first tear, all her grievances poured out. Gu Jianli crawled to Gu Jingyuan, crying and confessing her sorrows on his knees.
“I personally made the rouge, saved up these years’ worth of flower ornaments, and all the clothes and jewelry have been stolen. My mother’s belongings were taken one by one, even the wedding dress she left me was taken away. And the person I liked is gone… Everything I loved is gone.”
“I’ve always been so scared. So many bad people… I wanted to hide but couldn’t. The things those hooligans said were so nasty… But I had to go out alone, always being cautious and on guard… I, I… I even killed someone…”
Gu Jianli raised her hands, her slender fingers trembling slightly. The blood that Ji Wujing had coughed up had already been washed off her palms. But looking at these clean hands, it seemed as if she was back to that night, with her hands covered in blood.
“Jianli, the things you’ve lost, your father will help you get them back one by one!” Gu Jingyuan suddenly grasped his daughter’s hands, his large palms tightly holding her cold hands. His eyes deepened.
“People insulted me, humiliated me, and even tried to kill me.” Gu Jianli looked at Gu Jingyuan with tearful eyes. “Father, you said that one should live a life without regrets. I am lucky to be alive today to see you, thanks to my efforts and also the protection of Fifth Master Ji. Yes, I have feared and disliked him, thinking of escaping every day and night. But kindness cannot be forgotten.”
“Fifth Master Ji is not in good health and is not destined to live long. In his remaining days, I want to take care of him.”
She kowtowed to the ground.
Gu Jingyuan’s heart ached as if being cut by a knife. He struggled to keep his voice steady and said, “There are many ways to repay kindness. Your father can also compensate him for you. Guangping Marquis’s residence is not a safe place. Ji Zhao may not always be able to protect you. When that time comes, your father might be far away and unable to save you.”
“Father, rest assured, I can protect myself. I am no longer afraid of killing. I can really protect myself,” Gu Jianli cried uncontrollably. “Some debts must be repaid personally. After Fifth Master Ji passes away, I will return to you and fulfill my filial duties.”
She wiped her tears and smiled, taking Gu Jingyuan’s large hand and shaking it coquettishly, “Father, actually, Fifth Master Ji is quite good to me. Really, don’t worry.”
Gu Jingyuan turned his head, not wanting his daughter to see his tears. He ordered in a deep voice, “Wash your face and go rest.”
Gu Jianli knew her father had compromised. She wiped her tears and replied, “Okay. I will go rest now. Please don’t worry about me anymore.”
Madam Tao had been inside the whole time. As soon as Gu Jianli left, she came out, hesitated for a long time, and softly advised, “Master, don’t worry too much. Jianli is not foolish; she knows what she’s doing.”
Gu Jingyuan remained silent.
Madam Tao gently added, “Maybe it’s not as bad as you think. Our Jianli is a good girl; anyone who marries her will cherish her. I see that although Fifth Master Ji doesn’t have a good reputation, he seems to care about our Jianli.”
“He cares about Jianli?” Gu Jingyuan sneered, “You don’t understand Ji Zhao. He’s a heartless rogue! He almost became a eunuch as a child due to a bet, and later mingled with the eunuchs of the Western Depot, becoming corrupt to the core! Do you think he pursued Jianli because he likes her? No! Do you know how beasts claim their territory? Even if a leaf falls into his domain, he won’t let anyone else take it. If anyone dares to take it, he’ll fight to the death, not caring about the consequences! Honor, righteousness, life and death… as long as he’s happy, he’ll charge forward recklessly!”
Gu Jingyuan angrily ranted while Madam Tao listened quietly. After a moment of contemplation, she asked, “Master, do you mean that Fifth Master Ji doesn’t like our Jianli?”
“Of course!” Gu Jingyuan paused, then added, “That blind fool!”
Madam Tao furrowed her brows, pondering for a long time before she couldn’t help but say, “If he can protect Jianli this much without liking her, what would it be like if he did like her…”
“What?” Gu Jingyuan was taken aback, utterly astonished. He thought Madam Tao was talking nonsense and said, “Stop talking nonsense. He will never fall for Jianli.”
Madam Tao retorted earnestly, “How could anyone not like our Jianli? Even if he doesn’t like her now, it’s only temporary!”
Gu Jingyuan wanted to argue back but thought… Madam Tao was right. In this world, were there any girls better than his two daughters?
Impossible.
Ji Wujing looked unwell. He had been cold and exhausted outside during the day, and this evening’s commotion had taken its toll on him. He felt as if thousands of tiny insects were crawling in his blood, gnawing at his internal organs.
He clicked his tongue, realizing he had overdone it. His tongue licked his teeth, and even though he had just drunk the medicinal soup Changsheng had prepared, his mouth still tasted faintly of blood.
But it didn’t matter.
If he played himself to death, so be it.
If he were afraid of dying, he wouldn’t have consumed poison without an antidote.
“Papa…” Ji Xinglan tugged at his sleeve. The little girl’s eyes were red, full of worry and fear.
Ji Wujing looked at her for a moment, then shifted his gaze to Ji Xinglou. Unlike Ji Xinglan, Ji Xinglou didn’t show his concern on his face; the little rascal even pretended to be indifferent. However, being so young, his acting was clumsy.
If it weren’t for protecting this child, Ji Wujing wouldn’t have needed to poison himself.
The wooden door creaked open. Ji Wujing turned his face and saw Gu Jianli standing at the door. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying.
Gu Jianli was still wearing her light pink sleepwear, but she had draped Gu Jingyuan’s large black cloak over it. She took off the cloak and hung it on the clothes rack, then walked towards the bed with a seemingly casual demeanor. Although she had been able to speak to Ji Wujing normally before, now that she had decided to go back with him, she couldn’t bring herself to look him in the eye, feeling a subtle sense of awkwardness.
Ji Xinglan tilted her head and asked, “Are you going to sleep with us?”
“Yes.” Gu Jianli touched Ji Xinglan’s cheek, “My sister kicked me out of her room and wouldn’t let me sleep there, so I had to come here. Lanlan, do you mind if I squeeze in with you?”
She asked Ji Xinglan cheerfully, smiling, while her eyes glanced at Ji Wujing.
“Welcome!” Ji Xinglan scooted her little bottom backward. “My brother and I only take up a little bit of space!”
“Lanlan is so sweet.” Gu Jianli bent down and kissed Ji Xinglan’s forehead. She used this small interaction to bide time, expecting Ji Wujing to refuse her.
But he didn’t.
Gu Jianli didn’t ask Ji Wujing, she took the initiative and went to one side to extinguish the lamp in the room. The room immediately went dark. Relying on her memory, she groped her way towards the bed. She climbed from the foot of the bed to the innermost side, right next to Ji Xinglan, with Ji Wujing on the outermost side.
Although it was already late at night, none of the four people had fallen asleep.
Gu Jianli squeezed Ji Xinglan’s soft little hand and said, “Can you recite the poem I taught you before the New Year?”
Ji Xinglan was about to say she could, but then realized she had forgotten it because she hadn’t reviewed it in a long time. Her face turned red.
“It’s okay, I’ll teach you again when we get home.”
“Okay!”
Later, the two children fell asleep, their breathing even.
Suddenly, Ji Wujing spoke, “I want to squeeze too.”
Gu Jianli looked at him blankly, not understanding what he meant.
Ji Wujing placed his arm over the two children, grasped Gu Jianli’s hand, and started to squeeze it like a toy, similar to how Gu Jianli had squeezed Ji Xinglan’s hand, but more than that. He squeezed, rubbed, and his cool fingertips traced along her delicate fingers, not missing any corner.
Tsk, he had wanted to play with her hand before the New Year, and he finally got the chance now. Ji Wujing bit Gu Jianli’s fingertip.
It didn’t hurt, but it tickled. Gu Jianli took advantage of Ji Wujing’s inattention and withdrew her hand. She gently turned her back to Ji Wujing, gradually smiled, and fell into a deep sleep.
In the darkest hour before dawn, two figures jumped over the courtyard wall, stealthily sneaking into Gu Zaili’s room.
