A procession of carriages and horses was marching grandly along the official road. Originally, the King of Guangxian and the Duke of Xiangxi were traveling with their families to celebrate the birthday of Prince Wuxian. They met on the way and decided to travel together. The ancestor of King Guangxian, Ji Shouxian, shared the same mother as the late emperor, while the mother of Duke Xiangxi, Rong Heyang, was the sister of the founder of the dynasty. Their fiefs were vast and far from the capital, and they only came to court during the New Year.
The young men rode on horseback, and Ji Jie, the son of King Guangxian, smiled and said, “Brother Yuanyou, it’s been many years since we last met.”
His younger brother Ji Xu followed, “Indeed, it has been many years. We used to see each other often in our childhood, but in the past two or three years… it must have been three years since we last saw the young lord.”
The young lord they mentioned was Rong Yuanyou, the legitimate grandson of Duke Xiangxi.
Rong Yuanyou was extremely handsome, with sword-like eyebrows, starry eyes, and lips as if painted with vermilion. He had a refined and elegant demeanor, yet exuded a youthful vigor, like a treasured sword half-sheathed. His voice was also pleasant, like the tinkling of a clear stream breaking the ice in early spring. He smiled and said, “In recent years, my mother was seriously ill, and I was tending to her, so I didn’t dare leave. This year, with my mother in good health, I could finally accompany my father to the capital.”
“So that’s the reason. It’s good to hear that Auntie is well.”
The conversation shifted to Gu Jingyuan’s ups and downs, but after just a few sentences, they changed the subject to lighter topics and planned to play polo together.
While the sons were talking and laughing on horseback, the daughters of the two families crowded into one carriage, chatting and laughing.
Rong Guanyin, the twin sister of Rong Yuanyou, said, “In the past few years, I didn’t come to the capital with my brother, so I’m not aware of the important matters here. Are there any interesting things?”
Princess Bao Shuo, Ji Pinglian, sister of Ji Jie, said, “There are many things, and I need to tell you carefully. But the most important is the matter of the Prince Wuxian’s family. Although you live far away, you must have heard something about the Prince Wuxian.”
“I know about it. I’ve heard my father mention it!”
“Then do you know about the two beauties of Anjing?” Ji Pingjuan, Ji Pinglian’s younger sister, hurriedly interrupted, “The elder beauty’s husband tried to divorce her publicly when the Gu family was down, while secretly keeping her as a concubine. The elder beauty is fierce; she took a bowl of abortion medicine and aborted the child. People say her former husband was executed by the Xuanjing Sect for committing a crime, but it’s rumored she killed him. Later, when the Prince Wuxian regained power, many people oppressed her former husband’s family to please the Prince Wuxian, pushing them into the mud.”
Rong Guanyin was stunned by what she heard.
“As for the younger beauty… it gets even more interesting. Not only was her marriage to Ji Shao annulled, but she was also forced to marry Ji Shao’s fifth uncle, Ji Zhao, the master of the Xuanjing Sect, known for his ruthless nature and making lanterns from human skin!”
Rong Guanyin gasped and exclaimed, “Is she still alive?”
“She is, for now. Rumor has it Ji Zhao treats her well. But that’s not what I wanted to tell you,” Ji Pingjuan lowered her voice, “She’s disfigured. Ji Zhao’s nephew infected her with smallpox, and her face is covered in pockmarks!”
“Pingjuan,” Ji Pinglian looked at her sister disapprovingly.
Ji Pingjuan restrained herself a little and smiled, “I’m just telling Guanyin about things in the capital. When we get to the Prince Wuxian’s mansion, we’ll meet the Gu family sisters. Knowing more about them helps prevent Guanyin from saying the wrong thing.”
Rong Guanyin nodded slowly, “Sister Pingjuan is right, it’s all for my good. But… is the beauty really disfigured? Her face full of pockmarks?”
She looked incredulously at the Ji sisters. Only after Ji Pinglian nodded did she slowly accept the news. She asked, “Did you see it with your own eyes? Is it serious?”
“My sister and I usually stay in our fief and not in the capital, so we haven’t seen her with our own eyes. But many people in the capital have. Just over three months ago, at Long Yujun’s wedding banquet, the Tang family’s girl made several sarcastic remarks, trying to humiliate Gu Jianli. But Gu Jianli is fearless; she personally took off her veil and openly let everyone see her face,” Ji Pingjuan said.
Ji Pinglian sighed, “It’s really a pity.”
Although she said this, there wasn’t much regret in her expression. She maintained the dignified and graceful demeanor of a princess, but she was also curious about Gu Jianli’s current appearance.
“What kind of person is this Tang girl? Why would she mock Gu Jianli?” Rong Guanyin asked curiously.
Ji Pingjuan quickly recounted the past grievances between Tang Honghui, Gu Jianli, and Ji Xuanke.
Rong Guanyin took a sweet fruit from a small table and smiled at Ji Pingjuan with her eyes curved, “Sister Pingjuan is amazing, knowing so much about the latest news in the capital even while living in the remote south!”
Ji Pingjuan, realizing she had said too much, smiled and changed the subject.
The heater inside the carriage was a bit hot, so Rong Guanyin opened a small window. While chatting with the Ji sisters about the major events in the capital over the past three years, she looked out at the scenery and recalled her childhood visits to the capital.
“Hey, whose carriage is that? Is it also heading to the Wuxian King’s mansion?”
Ji Pingjuan peered out and saw Ji Wujing helping Gu Jianli into a carriage and then following her in. Changsheng and Jixia also sat at the front of the carriage, driving it forward. It was a bit far, so she didn’t see clearly. She leaned out and called her second brother, summoning Ji Xu to her side for inquiries.
Ji Xu frowned and shook his head uncertainly, “I heard from our elder brother that it might be Ji Zhao’s carriage.”
Ji Pingjuan was startled and quickly retreated. Just the mention of the name made the three girls in the carriage somewhat fearful. After a while, Rong Guanyin asked, “So… was the person just helped into the carriage Gu Jianli?”
After a moment, Ji Pinglian responded, “It should be…”
Gu Jianli sat back in the carriage, took off her cloak, and carefully checked it to ensure it was fine, without any snow or wrinkles. Satisfied, she set it aside and pulled out a spare dress from a chest under the bench.
She lowered her head to untie the ribbon at her chest. The long, goose-yellow ribbon was tied in a bow at her chest. As she started to pull the ribbon, she paused and looked warily at Ji Zhao.
Ji Wujing rested his chin on his hand, watching her change clothes with great interest.
Gu Jianli immediately became vigilant. Ji Zhao was too improper, and she feared he might act indecently in the carriage. She bent down and rummaged through the chest, pulling out a soft scarf.
“Give me your hands,” Gu Jianli said.
Ji Wujing glanced at her, guessed her intention, and sneered but eventually handed his hands to her, letting her tie them up with the soft scarf.
Gu Jianli wrapped the scarf around five or six times, then gritted her teeth and tightened it with all her strength, tying a dead knot. Not satisfied with just binding his hands, she also used the remaining scarf to wrap around Ji Wujing’s neck, partially covering his eyes.
Only then did she smile contentedly and change her clothes.
Gu Jianli put on a mauve high-waisted dress, secured at the chest with a wide, dark blue ribbon, and matched with a similarly colored scarf. She lifted her skirt to check her shoes, realizing they didn’t match the outfit. Fortunately, the carriage would stop at the side door, allowing her to return to her former boudoir to change her shoes. After all, she was returning to her own home, not visiting someone else.
After finishing, Gu Jianli looked at Ji Wujing. Ji Wujing was quietly leaning against the carriage wall, his bound hands awkwardly resting on his chest.
Gu Jianli looked at Ji Wujing’s pitifully bound state, feeling a strange sense of pleasure.
“Gu Jianli, when are you going to untie me?” Ji Wujing asked impatiently.
Gu Jianli propped her chin on her hand, smiling but speaking seriously, “I haven’t finished changing yet.”
Ji Wujing fell silent and closed his eyes.
It wasn’t until the carriage was almost at the prince manor that Gu Jianli began to untie the ribbon at the back of Ji Wujing’s head. She had tied it tightly, so it was quite difficult to undo. When the carriage stopped at the side gate of the prince manor, she was still struggling to untie the scarf around Ji Wujing’s wrists.
Jixia called out for the second time from outside, “Madam, we have arrived.”
“I know.” Gu Jianli responded, becoming more anxious. The more she hurried, the harder it was to untie. She faintly heard the noise of a crowd and thought that staying there too long would draw too much attention.
Frustrated, Gu Jianli said angrily, “Fifth Master, you untie it!”
Ji Wujing sneered, gloating, “No.”
“Uncle…” Gu Jianli frowned and began to act coquettishly.
Ji Wujing turned his gaze away, looking as if he couldn’t be bothered with her.
“Uncle is so kind, please untie it. I promise I won’t tie you up again…” Gu Jianli continued to act coquettishly.
Ji Wujing remained unmoved.
Gu Jianli’s eyes flickered as she quickly thought of a strategy. Should she coax, trick, or force him?
Lowering her eyes in thought for a moment, she steeled herself and decided to use the technique Ji Wujing had taught her early on—pinching his groin.
“Hiss—Gu Jianli!” Ji Wujing’s expression changed instantly. He exerted force, and the scarf binding his hands tore apart.
Gu Jianli quickly retracted her hand, pushed open the carriage door, and before Ji Wujing could grab her, she extended her hand to Jixia and climbed out of the carriage.
Although she had been flustered a moment ago, once off the carriage, Gu Jianli composed herself and looked back at the carriage as if nothing had happened, waiting for Ji Wujing to disembark.
Ji Wujing emerged with Gu Jianli’s cloak draped over his arm. He glanced at her with a faint, mocking smile and helped her put on the cloak, even pulling up the hood.
His tone was leisurely, “The weather is cold, Madam, be careful.”
To the servants and maids at the side gate of the prince manor, Ji Wujing seemed like a considerate husband! But to Gu Jianli, his words held the ominous promise of retribution.
Determined to maintain her composure, Gu Jianli linked arms with Ji Wujing and entered the prince manor through the side gate with measured steps, all the while her mind raced with thoughts of how to placate him.
Delayed on the way, by the time Gu Jianli arrived at the prince manor, the place was already bustling with guests.
During Long Yujun’s wedding banquet, Gu Jianli had boldly removed her veil, revealing her face to those present. However, that was only seen by a limited number of attendees, far fewer than those at today’s birthday banquet. The news of that incident had spread throughout Anjing, with rumors of Gu Jianli’s disfigurement and her poised demeanor.
Those who hadn’t seen Gu Jianli’s disfigured face were even more curious today. They were not only curious but also skeptical of her supposed nonchalance. Everyone was eager to see for themselves what had become of the former beauty’s marred face.
Where was Gu Jianli? The guests waited and waited…