Gu Jianli’s eyes snapped open, all traces of drowsiness vanishing in an instant. She exclaimed in surprise, threw off the covers, and got out of bed. In her haste, she fell to the floor. She scrambled to her feet and rushed toward Ji Wujing, snatching the candlestick from his hand.
Ji Wujing lowered his gaze, his eyes falling on Gu Jianli’s calf. When she fell, she had hit her leg, leaving a visible bruise on her fair skin.
“What nonsense are you up to now?” Gu Jianli demanded loudly, her voice trembling with panic.
Despite the scorching summer, a cold sweat broke out on her back.
Ji Wujing’s gaze slowly moved upward, landing on Gu Jianli’s heaving chest.
Her nipples stood erect against the thin, smooth fabric. Wanting to pinch them, Ji Wujing did just that.
As he casually pinched her, he said indifferently, “Aren’t you afraid you won’t be able to follow me after death?”
Gu Jianli slapped his hand away angrily and said, “That was just a dream!”
Ji Wujing lazily looked at her tear-filled eyes and asked, “If you knew it was a dream, why were you crying?”
He extended his hand towards her and said, “Give it back to Uncle.”
Gu Jianli shook her head.
Suddenly, Ji Wujing laughed. His laugh made Gu Jianli’s heartstrings tighten. She could see the seriousness in his eyes. If Ji Wujing really wanted to do something, she knew she couldn’t stop him.
Softening her tone, Gu Jianli pleaded with a hint of flattery, “It hurts a lot, it’s not fun at all.”
The excessive tension and shock made her voice still quiver slightly.
“My little Lili cried because she couldn’t be with Uncle. That means she shed golden tears for Uncle,” Ji Wujing said casually with a smile. “For the sake of those golden tears, Uncle must grant your wish.”
However, he looked again at the bruise on her calf and decided not to disfigure his face just yet. He pulled her wrist, stepped back, sat down in the chair, and then pulled Gu Jianli onto his lap. Before being pulled over, Gu Jianli hurriedly placed the candlestick on a nearby high table.
Ji Wujing lifted Gu Jianli’s leg and massaged the bruise on her calf.
Now closer, Gu Jianli noticed a red burn mark on the side of Ji Wujing’s face. She stared at it in a daze, then carefully reached out and touched it with her fingertip. After a quick touch, she pulled her hand back as if scared and asked softly, “Does it hurt?”
“It doesn’t feel like anything,” Ji Wujing said casually.
How could it not hurt when it was red from a burn? Gu Jianli frowned. She looked at Ji Wujing’s profile for a long time and asked softly, “Am I important to you, Fifth Master?”
“Not really,” Ji Wujing said casually as he massaged her calf. After thinking seriously for a moment, he added, “But it seems there’s no one more important.”
Gu Jianli’s heart trembled slightly. She slowly lowered her eyes, resting her head on Ji Wujing’s chest, and said softly in a dejected tone, “It’s not worth it… This is wrong… No one should harm themselves for others so easily.”
She felt no joy, only a crushing weight that made her feel unable to bear it, even scared, and wanting to escape.
Ji Wujing wasn’t really listening.
Gu Jianli could tell that Ji Wujing hadn’t really listened to her. Quietly gazing at him, she softly spoke, “Don’t be like this. Uncle… if you really burn your face, how will you use it to charm others in the future?” She intentionally made her tone light and playful.
Ji Wujing glanced at her impatiently and said, “Don’t you think I’m unattractive?”
Gu Jianli was taken aback, not understanding why Ji Wujing would say such a thing. It seemed… this wasn’t the first time Ji Wujing cared about whether she found him attractive.
Pausing for a moment, Gu Jianli vaguely remembered… Could it be that Ji Wujing overheard her conversation with her father last time?
“You’re attractive. Uncle is very attractive.” Gu Jianli moved closer and gently kissed the spot on Ji Wujing’s cheek that had been burned.
“Really very attractive.” she repeated earnestly.
Ji Wujing turned his head in surprise to look at her, even placing his palm on Gu Jianli’s forehead.
“You’re making no sense.” Ji Wujing said as he picked her up and carried her to the bed. “If we’re not burning, then let’s sleep.”
The lights were extinguished again, and the room fell back into darkness.
Gu Jianli stared blankly at the already asleep Ji Wujing beside her. The heavy feeling in her heart grew even more burdensome. Her clear eyes, however, never held a trace of a smile.
Gu Jianli didn’t know when she fell asleep. The next morning, she woke up with a frown, groggily opening her eyes. As her vision focused, she sat up abruptly and called out, “Fifth Master?”
“What’s wrong?” Ji Wujing’s voice was hoarse and weary.
Gu Jianli turned her head and found Ji Wujing lying beside her, sleeping soundly, his face unmarred. The spot where the candlestick had burned him the night before still had a faint, shallow red mark.
Bending down, Gu Jianli leaned closer to examine his face.
Suddenly, Ji Wujing raised his hand, pressing the back of her head down, placing a kiss on her forehead, and then quickly letting go, never opening his eyes.
Startled by his sudden action, Gu Jianli straightened up, glared at him, quietly got out of bed, adjusted the covers for him, and then went to the side room to wash up.
During breakfast, Ji Wujing didn’t get up. Gu Jianli ate with Ji Xinglou and Ji Xinglan.
Not long after, a maid named Yanzhi entered the room to report that Ji Yueming requested to see her.
“Ji Yueming?” Gu Jianli was momentarily stunned.
Since the last incident where she had slapped Ji Yueming, Gu Jianli hadn’t seen much of her. Ji Yueming had mostly stayed confined in her room, waiting for her wedding, and hadn’t caused any trouble. By now, Ji Yueming should have already been married, but an outbreak of smallpox had put her into mourning, delaying the wedding.
Why would she come here now?
Gu Jianli couldn’t fathom her intentions.
At that moment, Gu Jianli was personally teaching Ji Xinglan how to write. She said, “Invite her to the side hall. I’ll be there shortly.” The maid acknowledged and hurried off to make arrangements.
“Mother, aren’t you going to help Lanlan write?” Ji Xinglan turned her head, asking in a childish voice. Frowning slightly, she added, “If Mother has something to do, go ahead. Lanlan can write on her own!”
“Focus,” Gu Jianli said.
“Okay…” Ji Xinglan stuck out her little tongue, then obediently finished writing the last line of the poem she was copying.
Only then did Gu Jianli let go of Ji Xinglan’s hand, ruffled her hair, and said, “Lanlan, write this poem three more times. When you’re done, you can go play with your brother. I’ll check it when I get back.”
“Uh-huh!” Ji Xinglan nodded vigorously, “Lanlan won’t slack off, I’ll write it well!”
Gu Jianli smiled at her warmly.
Gu Jianli went to the side hall. As soon as she pushed open the door, Ji Yueming turned and saw her, then knelt down with a thud, choking up as she begged, “Fifth Aunt, I’ve done so many foolish things before. You can scold me, punish me, or even take my life, but I beg you for one small favor, just one small favor! I’ll kowtow to you!”
Saying that, she started kowtowing with loud thuds.
“Pull her away,” Gu Jianli instructed the two maids following her, Yanzhi and Hongzan.
She walked slowly to a chair and sat down, asking, “What kind of small favor is worth all this kneeling and kowtowing?”
Ji Yueming crawled to Gu Jianli’s side and cried, “Fifth Aunt, do you remember Jiang Lang? The one who used to write you letters? I even helped him deliver letters to you!”
Gu Jianli vaguely remembered. Before she was married, that scholar Jiang had often asked various people to deliver his handwritten poems to her for over half a year. However, Gu Jianli had never accepted them. Later, after she married into the Guangping Marquis’s mansion, Ji Yueming had targeted her several times because she was fond of Jiang Lang. Whether Jiang Lang was aware of Ji Yueming’s feelings or not, he had even asked Ji Yueming to deliver letters to Gu Jianli.
Gu Jianli looked at Ji Yueming with caution.
Ji Yueming smiled self-deprecatingly and said, “Fifth Aunt, I have no intention of harming you. It’s just that Jiang Lang is gravely ill, and in his delirium, he’s been thinking of you. His biggest wish now is to see you one last time. Please, please grant the dying wish of a man whose heart is full of you!”
With that, Ji Yueming started kowtowing again.
Gu Jianli shook her head.
“Fifth Aunt, you must think I’m trying to harm you! I swear I’m not! You can ask around and you’ll know about Jiang Lang’s illness. You don’t have to meet him alone; you can bring Fifth Uncle or many servants. Please, please have mercy and fulfill the last wish of a dying man who holds you in his heart…”
“If I knew medicine, I’d be happy to help the sick, but I don’t. Going there won’t do any good. If he needs any medicine that I have, I’d be willing to help with that.” Gu Jianli stood up, “I won’t go. Stop doing such foolish things, it’s not good for your future marriage.”
Gu Jianli turned to leave.
Ji Yueming collapsed on the ground, tears streaming down her face. Watching Gu Jianli’s retreating back, she cried out in despair, “Gu Jianli, you’re so heartless. No, you have no heart!”
Gu Jianli paused for a moment, then continued walking out.
Walking under the scorching summer sun along the path, Gu Jianli felt it was unnecessary to go. No matter how much Ji Yueming cried, she wouldn’t change her mind. However, Ji Yueming’s last words kept echoing in her ears.
Thinking about it, Gu Jianli’s steps slowed down, and she stopped on the path heated by the burning sun.
Yanzhi took two steps forward and respectfully whispered, “Madam, the sun is very strong. Don’t stand here and get sunburned.”
Gu Jianli came back to her senses. She slightly raised her chin, squinting at the glaring sunlight. The sunlight was hot and pure, easily revealing things hidden beneath its cover.
Gu Jianli continued walking back. She returned to her bedroom alone. Her hand paused on the door before she carefully pushed it open without a sound.
Ji Wujing was already up, sitting lazily at Gu Jianli’s dressing table, listlessly rummaging through a box of various scar-removing ointments.
The summer light streamed through the open window, illuminating Ji Wujing’s profile, making his already pale face look even more bloodless.
Suddenly, Gu Jianli felt that Ji Yueming was right.
Ji Wujing turned his head to look at her, frowning in displeasure, “Why are you standing there spying on me?”
“Uncle looks handsome!” Gu Jianli smiled.
Ji Wujing scoffed, “Angry at Ji Zhao but calling me Uncle when there’s trouble?”
Gu Jianli was taken aback and retorted, “No, I’m not!”
I just want to treat you better, she silently added in her heart.
