“What did you just say?”
Gu Yu stood beside Gu Wuyou, gazing at Li Qingyuan’s departing figure.
The young man in white walked lightly, his high ponytail swaying in the air. Without needing to see his face, just his silhouette alone made it clear that he was in a great mood—better than when he arrived.
Thinking of how the two had been alone in the room just moments ago, Gu Yu glanced at Li Qingyuan, then at Gu Wuyou beside her. Her willow-leaf brows were almost twisted into knots. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the two of them had done something mischievous inside.
But she had no proof.
“Nothing much.” Gu Wuyou smiled. She stood in the cold wind, draped in a cloak, hands tucked into a rabbit-fur muff, her gaze also fixed on Li Qingyuan’s departing figure.
Perhaps sensing her gaze, Li Qingyuan, who had yet to leave the courtyard, suddenly turned his head. They were some distance apart, so Gu Wuyou couldn’t hear his voice. She could only tell from the movement of his lips what he was saying:
—”It’s cold outside, go in quickly.”
The smile on her face grew even brighter. Gu Wuyou didn’t reply, only nodding with a grin. Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to take even a single step forward.
They had just bared their hearts to each other, and after lingering in each other’s embrace for a while, neither of them truly wanted to part.
Li Qingyuan even had the impulse to rush back, scoop the little girl into his arms, and kiss her fiercely. But the timing wasn’t right, nor was the place… No matter how reluctant he was, he could only grit his teeth and look away.
He feared that if he took one more glance, his heart would soften even more, and his steps would become even harder to take.
Gritting his teeth.
In the end, he still left the courtyard.
It wasn’t until the weight of her gaze behind him faded that Li Qingyuan’s tense back finally relaxed a little, and his stride returned to normal.
Ahead, Fu Xian and Qi Xu were walking together, discussing where to eat later.
Jing Yubai walked beside Li Qingyuan and, seeing the reluctance written all over his face, couldn’t help but tease, “You really can’t bear to part with her?”
Originally, he thought Qilang would blush or deny it outright. But unexpectedly, this time, Li Qingyuan simply nodded. He didn’t blush, didn’t deny it—he simply answered very seriously, “Mm, I can’t.”
“Really can’t.” As he spoke, he even turned back to look at the courtyard.
It was a place surrounded by countless flowers and trees. Looking up, one could still see the towering house, a two-story building adorned with golden lacquer. Even from a distance, its brilliance could be felt.
That was where the most beautiful girl in the world lived.
That was his girl.
His girl, raised with a thousand kinds of love, yet without a trace of arrogance. She always knew exactly how to make him happy, how to stir his heart.
Li Qingyuan was never someone who laughed often. But every time he got close to Gu Wuyou, every time he thought of her, he couldn’t help but feel happy. His tone carried an unmistakable lightness, the joy evident in his voice. “Dabai.”
Retracting his gaze, he turned to Jing Yubai, smiling as he patted his shoulder. “When you meet the one destined for you, you’ll be just like me.”
Just as he finished speaking—
Fu Xian’s voice rang out from the front, “Hurry up, I’m starving!”
Li Qingyuan laughed and called back, “Coming!”
Jing Yubai, however, seemed lost in thought. He stood still, repeating Qilang’s words under his breath, “The one destined… for me?”
“By the way—”
After taking a few steps, Li Qingyuan suddenly turned back. “After we finish eating, come to my place and tutor me for a bit.”
Jing Yubai looked at him in surprise, and Li Qingyuan seemed a little embarrassed. He turned his face away and coughed lightly before explaining, “Isn’t the exam coming up soon?”
“This time, I want to give it a try.”
As he spoke, he glanced again at that courtyard. He felt an unprecedented sense of fulfillment from her trust and began to crave more and more moments like this. So, he wanted to try—for her, and for himself.
—
Under the covered walkway.
Gu Yu watched as Gu Wuyou kept staring outside the courtyard, pouting in displeasure. “Alright, he’s already gone. Why are you still looking?” After saying that, she couldn’t help but mutter in a low voice, “I don’t even know what you see in him.”
“If you liked Jing Yubai, I wouldn’t find it so unbelievable.” She spoke especially softly.
But Gu Wuyou still heard her. She turned her head, smiling gently, her voice exceptionally soft. “Ah Yu, liking someone isn’t defined like that. Jing Yubai is very good, but I don’t like him.”
“So no matter how good he is, I still can’t like him.”
“Then what about Li Qingyuan?” Gu Yu was still puzzled. “Why do you like him so much?”
“Hmm.”
Gu Wuyou tilted her head in thought. She was wrapped in a cloak lined with fox fur, and her flawless white face rested against the soft fur. As the wind stirred the fox fur, she instinctively brushed it away, feeling a little ticklish. Then, she chuckled lightly. “Probably because he is Li Qingyuan.”
“The one and only Li Qingyuan.”
“What kind of nonsense answer is that?” Gu Yu frowned, feeling that this response was too vague.
She wanted to say more, but her arm was suddenly linked by another. The girl in red hooked her arm, leading her back inside while smiling sweetly. “When you meet the one you like, you’ll understand.”
“There will always be that one person in this world—perhaps he isn’t as outstanding as others, and maybe he has all sorts of flaws—but you’ll still find him perfect in every way.”
“I won’t.”
Seventh Miss Gu, who was still clueless about love, rejected the idea outright.
—
A few days later.
The academy’s holiday break arrived.
Since they were going to Dongshan, Gu Wuyou and Gu Yu got up very early. Recently, they had been going to the main courtyard to accompany Grandmother Gu for breakfast.
When they arrived, Grandmother Gu had just finished her morning scriptures with Gu Tiao’s company. She was now seated, dabbing her hands with a handkerchief. Upon seeing them enter, she showed no particular expression but simply instructed the nanny beside her, “They’ll be riding horses and climbing mountains today. Bring out more staple food so they don’t get hungry midway.”
“Yes, Madam.”
The nanny responded with a smile and went to give orders.
Gu Tiao also smiled as she set out bowls and chopsticks for them, saying, “Come and sit down. I even had some pastries prepared for you to take along.”
“Thank you, Second Sister.” Gu Wuyou’s eyes curved into a smile.
Lately, she especially enjoyed talking with her second sister. After greeting her grandmother, she immediately clung to her, holding her hand as she asked, “Second Sister, will you come with us? You have the day off today, don’t you?”
Beside her, Gu Yu had just picked up a soup dumpling. Upon hearing this, she chimed in, “Yes! Second Sister, come with us. If you don’t like horseback riding, you can just enjoy the scenery from the carriage.”
Gu Tiao smiled and shook her head. “I won’t go. You two go ahead.”
She had a gentle temperament, but once she made a decision, she never changed her mind. Gu Wuyou understood this and did not insist. Instead, she said, “Then when I come back, I’ll pick some plum blossoms for you, Second Sister.”
Catching sight of the solemn expression of the elderly woman seated at the main seat, she hesitated for a moment before adding, “Grandmother too.”
Old Madam Gu’s composed face showed no extra expression. It was only when the rest of the breakfast was served that she gave a slight nod. “Eat.”
In noble households like this, strict etiquette dictated that one should not speak during meals or while resting. When Gu Wuyou ate alone or with her father, these rules were often overlooked. But every time she dined with her grandmother, she still felt a bit nervous, so she kept her head lowered and obediently ate her meal.
Once the meal was nearly finished, Old Madam Gu had already set down her chopsticks. At that moment, her trusted servant, Nanny Xie, entered and whispered something to her. “The congratulatory gift you requested for Madam Li has been prepared—a set of celadon longevity-character tea cups, along with a vine-and-peony jade incense burner, and some ginseng pills sent from the palace.”
Madam Li?
There were many people with the surname Li in the capital, but the only family connected to theirs was the Duke Wei’s Manor. Gu Wuyou couldn’t help but look up and ask, “What is the gift for?”
Madam Gu cast her a calm glance but did not respond.
Nanny Xie, understanding the situation, timely explained, “In a few days, it will be the birthday of the Old Madam of the Duke Wei’s Manor. In the past, our two families had little interaction, but this time, their Seventh Young Master saved both the Ninth Young Master and yourself. So, the Old Madam decided to visit personally to express her gratitude.”
“Ah?”
Gu Wuyou was momentarily stunned.
Even though she wasn’t deeply involved in household affairs, she knew that her grandmother rarely went out in recent years. So… she turned her gaze toward Madam Gu. The always-serious old lady still showed no expression. It was only when she noticed Gu Wuyou’s gaze that she coldly reminded her, “Do not speak while eating.”
Her voice was indifferent.
Yet, Gu Wuyou felt a warm sensation spreading in her heart.
She didn’t say anything else, only nodded with a smile. After finishing her meal, she softly said, “Grandmother, thank you.”
Old Madam Gu glanced at her but did not respond to her gratitude. She merely instructed the two of them, “Now that you’ve finished eating, go play. Be careful when riding, don’t get hurt.”
The two young girls naturally answered obediently.
Just before leaving, Gu Wuyou hesitated for a moment before speaking again. “Grandmother, may I accompany you to pay respects to Madam Li?”
Noticing her grandmother’s gaze fall on her, she did not shrink back. Instead, she continued, “After all, Li Qingyuan saved me. It’s only proper for me to go and thank him.”
“If you want to go, then go.”
Gu Wuyou’s face immediately lit up with a bright smile, and she cheerfully said, “Thank you, Grandmother!”
Afraid that she would continue talking and risk their grandmother realizing something, Gu Yu quickly grabbed her arm and said to the old lady, “Grandmother, we’ll take our leave now.”
“Grandmother, Second Sister, I’ll bring you plum blossoms when I return!” With that, Gu Wuyou was dragged away by Gu Yu.
Watching the two young girls leave, Nanny Xie couldn’t help but chuckle. “The County Princess and Miss Qi used to be the most at odds with each other. Who would have thought they’d become so close now? Speaking of which, the County Princess’s personality has truly changed quite a bit.”
“Even Miss Qi has become much livelier.”
“She has changed indeed.”
Before the curtain even fully fell, Old Madam Gu watched the two girls, chirping like little yellow orioles, bouncing away with excitement. A rare glint of amusement flashed through her eyes.
However, when her gaze shifted to Gu Tiao beside her, that smile faded into something softer, almost sorrowful.
Holding Gu Tiao’s hand, she gently said, “If you want to go, then go. You don’t always have to keep me company.”
Gu Tiao smiled and said, “It’s so cold outside, Granddaughter is feeling lazy and doesn’t want to brave the chilly wind. I’d rather stay home and chat with you.”
After speaking, she stood up. “Granddaughter will accompany you to the inner hall to offer prayers.”
Old Madam Gu looked at the smile on her face and sighed softly but said nothing more.
She placed her hand in Gu Tiao’s, allowing herself to be supported as she rose. When they reached the inner hall, her steps halted as her gaze fell upon a bow hanging on the wall. Her voice was light as she murmured, “You used to love horseback riding the most.”
“Back then, you often went hunting, and whenever you caught something, you always brought it to me first.”
Recalling the bright and spirited girl from her memories, Old Madam Gu felt an overwhelming sorrow, as though her heart was being torn apart. She turned to look at Gu Tiao, only to find that she was also staring at the bow. The usually gentle and composed girl now had a veil of deep sadness in her eyes.
“Tiao Tiao,” Old Madam Gu called her childhood name softly. “Why don’t you—”
Before she could finish, the girl, who had just moments ago been enveloped in sorrow, suddenly seemed as if the rain had cleared. She curved her crescent-moon-shaped eyes and spoke gently, “Grandmother, it’s all in the past… I no longer like horseback riding.”
Now—
There was nothing she liked anymore.
All her joy, sorrow, anger, and happiness had been buried in the winter of her sixteenth year. That had been the coldest winter she had ever experienced in her life.
The boy she loved most stood before her, no longer the high-spirited youth of the past. With reddened eyes, he told her, “Ah Tiao, Father is dead, the Shen family has fallen, I… I have no home anymore.”
And what did she say in return?
She said—
Gu Tiao closed her eyes, and the scene from that winter surfaced in her mind. A girl in a cyan dress stood before a boy in white, her face cold and distant as she told him, “Shen Shao, let’s part ways.”
Word by word, her voice was as frigid as frost.
A draft slipped in from an unseen window, making the bamboo wind chime in the room sway slightly, producing a crisp sound. The tiny bell inside struck against the bamboo, resembling the gentle patter of raindrops falling on a roof during winter.
Drip.
Drip.
Gu Tiao blinked slowly, forcing away the heat in her eyes.
When she lifted her gaze again, she seemed to have returned to her usual self.
Ignoring the pity and sorrow in her grandmother’s eyes, she steadily supported the elderly woman as they walked deeper into the room—each step sealing her heart further, allowing the barrenness within her to spread unchecked.
—
Dongshan.
Li Qingyuan sat atop his horse, dressed in white riding attire. Beside him, Fu Xian and the others were similarly dressed for the excursion.
They had already been waiting for some time. Seeing that the path ahead was still empty, Fu Xian, who never liked waiting, muttered impatiently, “They’re really taking their time. In the time we’ve been waiting, I could have ridden around Dongshan and back.”
Qi Xu, holding a small pouch of candied fruit, laughed at him. “Ah Xian, with that attitude, you’ll never find a wife in the future.”
Fu Xian, unconcerned, flicked his horsewhip and scoffed, “I don’t want to get married anyway.” As he spoke, he sidled up to Qi Xu. “What good snacks do you have? Give me some, I’m starving from all this waiting.”
“There’s not much, just enough for me,” Qi Xu said, blinking innocently. He quickly hid the pouch behind his back, afraid that Fu Xian would snatch it. Then, shifting the target, he pointed toward Li Qingyuan. “Go ask Qilang for some. I saw him bring a whole bunch.”
“Hmm?”
Fu Xian was stunned for a moment and turned to look at Li Qingyuan. Sure enough, he saw that he was holding a large bag of snacks. With an expression of utter disbelief, he exclaimed, “Qilang, are you here to ride horses or go on a picnic?” After saying that, he tugged at his reins and moved closer. “Give me some, I’m starving!”
Li Qingyuan was staring down the path ahead. Hearing this, he didn’t even turn his head as he flatly refused, “No.”
All of these were prepared for his little girl. Why would he give them to anyone else?
Fu Xian fumed. “I’m not taking all of it, just a little!” If it weren’t for that little pepper, he wouldn’t have realized just how much Qilang could prioritize beauty over brotherhood!
“Move aside.”
The utterly shameless, beauty-over-brotherhood Li Qingyuan found Fu Xian’s complaints too noisy. “You’re blocking my view.”
Fu Xian, both annoyed and exasperated, could only huff indignantly and sulkily tug his reins to move next to Jing Yubai, grumbling, “Dabai, let’s never end up like Qilang.”
To him, no woman, no wife, could ever be more important than his brothers!
Jing Yubai glanced at him with amusement but didn’t respond. The wind tousled his hair as he sat atop his horse, holding the reins. In truth, he had never been particularly interested in matters of love and romance. Though his parents and elder brothers were all deeply devoted to their spouses, and though he had been admired by many girls since childhood, none of them had ever truly stirred his heart.
Each of those girls had their own charms.
But did he actually like any of them? Not even one.
To him, spending time on such things was meaningless. It was far more interesting to read more books, study historical cases, and overturn wrongful convictions.
“Dabai, when you meet the one destined for you, you’ll be just like me.”
He suddenly recalled what Li Qingyuan had said to him a few days ago. Would that happen? Jing Yubai didn’t know. But most likely… it wouldn’t.
He glanced in Li Qingyuan’s direction with a slight smile. Not everyone in this world was as lucky as Qilang—to meet someone like that.
“Hey—”
Qi Xu’s voice came from behind. “They’re here.”
Everyone looked up.
Li Qingyuan, more than anyone else, immediately straightened his back. He even took a quick glance at his outfit to make sure everything was in place before finally lifting his gaze.
The wind lifted the curtain of the carriage, and he saw his beloved.
Gu Wuyou and Gu Yu had arrived in a carriage.
The moment it stopped, they didn’t even wait for assistance before leaping down themselves.
Fu Xian, still grumpy from having nothing to eat, pouted and said, “You two took way too long.”
Gu Yu shot him a glare, unwilling to waste words on him.
She directly asked the coachman for a horse, took hold of the reins, and was about to pass one to Gu Wuyou when she suddenly heard Li Qingyuan say—
“She doesn’t need one.”
“Hm?”
Gu Wuyou lifted her eyes in confusion, blinking as she looked at him. Before she could say anything, she saw her young man slowly guiding his horse toward her.
Bathed in the warm winter sunlight, his lips curved into a gentle smile. As he leaned down, he stretched out his hand to her and said—
“Ride with me.”