Chapter 27: My face is flushed red, I really want to try it.

Moonlight streamed into the room through the half-open window, casting a soft, silvery glow on Gu Yun Shen's profile, a beauty that was breathtaking.

Yu Wenxue was stunned for a moment, then her gaze fell on his lips.

It's so red, so vibrant, like a chilled red cherry; I really want to take a bite...

No, no, that won't do.

Big eyes, stop looking!

Yu Wenxue reached out and scratched at her eyes twice, trying to drive away those strange thoughts.

She had to admit, his looks really matched her aesthetic; if his personality were a little better, he would be practically perfect...

Stop thinking about it.

We've gone off-topic again.

It must be that the lingering effects of Haitangchun's poison haven't been cleared up, which is why she's been staring blankly at his face lately.

The kitten's meow pulled Yu Wenxue back from her wandering thoughts, and it affectionately rubbed against her feet.

Its pink paw pads opened and closed, and it had grown rounder and bigger than when I first saw it. Its adorable appearance made anyone want to touch it.

She shook her head, trying not to look like a lecherous fiend, and asked, "Second Young Master, did you go back to look for it?"

“It came here on its own.” Gu Yun Shen got up from the chair, looked around, and finally fixed his gaze on the jade pillow on the bed.

The aroma is different.

This is likely the source of the poisoning.

Yu Wenxue followed his gaze and saw that he was staring intently at the pillow. Suddenly, a thought struck her.

He was sleepy and wanted to go to sleep.

But the Marquis's residence is not the same as the imperial palace; it would be inappropriate for him to sleep here.

Although his words were not gentle, and could even be described as impatient, she knew that this was the first step he was taking to "turn over a new leaf".

Thinking of this, she resisted the urge to pick up the kitten and gently embraced him, always remembering her duty as a "fragrant sachet".

It's so obvious now, it would be unreasonable not to make a move.

Gu Yun Shen stiffened, seemingly not expecting her to hug him directly.

Seeing that he didn't move for a long time, Yu Wenxue mistakenly thought that his old illness had worsened again, so she tightened her grip and hugged him even tighter.

It's unclear whether his old ailment has improved.

Her poison might not be working properly.

The restlessness that used to be calmed down by a hug has not been relieved.

What's going on?

Gu Yun Shen lowered his eyes, concealing the emotions in them, and subconsciously tightened his grip on her waist.

The clean, refreshing scent of a young girl after a bath allows one to briefly forget all their troubles.

He didn't know how, but somehow he caught the cat.

He didn't understand why this had to be done; it was a field he had never explored before.

I just felt that she would definitely smile when she saw this cat.

She smiled, and a strange sense of comfort washed over her.

It's strange, but not unpleasant.

"Don't you like it?"

He asked.

"I like it." Yu Wenxue snapped out of her daze and patted his back again. "I don't mind the noise, thank you."

Upon hearing this, Gu Yun Shen's brows relaxed. Then, Yu Wen Xue stammered, "The Marquis's residence is not like a palace. If you sleep here, you're bound to be seen..."

"Um?"

“What I mean is, it won’t be good for your reputation if word gets out.” Yu Wenxue let go of his hand, turned her back to him, and picked up the cat: “It’s too late today, so I won’t keep you for tea. You, you should go home now.”

Gu Yun Shen didn't move. Seeing that she almost tripped over her right foot with her left, he asked, "Why are your ears red?"

"It's April, and the weather is hot."

"Didn't you say it's cool to sleep while holding me?"

"That was said before. I've already eaten my food and don't remember it."

With her face as red as a tomato, Yu Wenxue burrowed into the blankets and covered herself up, saying, "I'm asleep, you can go back now."

Gu Yun Shen ignored her words, remained silent for a moment, and then stepped forward.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a long, slender, fair hand reach in. Yu Wenxue said in a flustered tone, "Although we've slept together many times, I'm still a clean girl. You should at least change your clothes before getting into bed..."

Before he could finish speaking, the quilt was pulled back, and the jade pillow was taken out.

"I just came to get a pillow." Gu Yun Shen weighed the pillow in his hand, then slowly curled the corners of his mouth into a smile: "What are you expecting?"

"...Looking forward to it my foot!"

Yu Wenxue rolled over, curled up like a quail, touched her flushed face, and decided not to talk to him for the time being.

That's outrageous!

*

The next morning, the Lin family's carriage was waiting at the entrance of the Marquis's residence. Lin Qingwan had come specifically to accompany Yu Wenxue to the palace.

Yu Wenxue kept lifting the curtain to look out the window, her anxious mood hard to calm down.

It's inevitable to feel nervous when entering the palace for the first time, since TV dramas often depict scenes where saying the wrong thing will result in being dragged out and beaten to death.

She's already struggling to survive; she absolutely cannot afford any more mishaps.

Lin Qingwan took her hand and smiled gently: "Don't be afraid, the Empress Dowager is kind and won't make things difficult for you."

"I'm not afraid."

Yeah, right.

Yu Wenxue forced a fake smile.

Lin Qingwan burst out laughing: "You said you weren't afraid, but look at you, your hands are shaking."

"It might be Parkinson's... sigh!"

The carriage stopped abruptly, and the two lost their balance and lurched forward, nearly falling over.

"Golden tiles high, jade towers deep, even the emperor can take what he desires without paying..."

"The grass sways, the flowers fall, and the dragon prince wanders among the common people..."

The driver shouted at the top of his lungs, "Where did this kid come from? Hurry up and go play somewhere else!"

"What happened?" Lin Qingwan asked, rubbing her sore arm.

"A few children were running around in the street, which frightened the two young ladies."

Lin Qingwan shook her head and sighed, "Never mind, just don't hurt the children."

Yu Wenxue sensed something was wrong.

This nursery rhyme sounds quite familiar.

Thinking back to when I traveled into Gu Yun Shen's memories...

It's likely that someone is deliberately spreading rumors about his background in the voice of a child.

It's unclear whether Gu Yun Shen himself knows about his background, and even her mood is starting to fluctuate.

This unease persisted until the Empress Dowager summoned him, after which it gradually subsided.

Inside the hall, white smoke curled up. The Empress Dowager held a Buddhist rosary in her hand. After exchanging a few words, she asked her maid to bring up a golden plate.

"I've heard that you're quite familiar with the second young master of the Gu family?"

"Your Majesty, we're not exactly close, just a little more familiar than others," Yu Wenxue said respectfully. "The Second Young Master is a righteous man and has helped me a lot."

"I see." The Empress Dowager smiled faintly, about to say something more, when she heard an announcement from outside the door: "His Majesty has arrived."

The Empress Dowager paused, swallowed her words, and glanced to the side unintentionally.

Seeing this, Aunt Yun immediately helped Yu Wenxue to her feet: "Miss, the Empress Dowager likes you very much."

"It's getting late, I'll take you home first."

Following the etiquette taught to her by Lin Qingwan, Yu Wenxue respectfully took her leave. As she reached the door, she brushed past the Emperor who had come to pay his respects.

Suddenly, some inappropriate and lewd words popped into her mind. She dared not look up, afraid of recalling that erotic scene.

That's so embarrassing.

Emperor Qingming's steps were unsteady, and his slightly cloudy eyes lifted slightly as he glanced back: "That girl is...?"

"Gu's cousin is also the girl who played music at the sacrificial ceremony."

Emperor Qingming withdrew his gaze, recalling the recent rumors, and murmured, "It's her."

Back at the Marquis's residence, Yu Wenxue had barely settled in when she was invited to Hanbai Courtyard by a servant from the old lady's side.

As soon as I entered the courtyard gate, I heard people arguing in the main hall.

Gu Rongting spoke righteously: "Grandmother, I will absolutely not agree to this. You should give up on this idea."

The old lady put down her teacup, her shrewd eyes filled with calculation, and slowly said, "Since ancient times, marriages have been arranged by parents and matchmakers. Today, Wenxue's parents are both here, how dare you interfere?"

"We can't marry my cousin off to such a harsh and desolate place as Shuozhou!" Gu Rongting roared. "As the saying goes, it's better to tear down a temple than to break up a marriage. My cousin..."

He paused for a moment, ultimately considering Yu Wenxue's reputation, and did not go into too much detail, saying, "My cousin does not know that young master Zhou. How can an arranged marriage be acceptable?"

The old lady closed her eyes and did not speak again.

Gu Rongting is usually gentle, but once he gets angry and becomes stubborn, not even ten oxen could pull him back.

These two brothers are the most successful members of the Gu family now. Why are all the children of the eldest son's wife so accomplished, while her own children from the second son's wife died young, and her grandson is a good-for-nothing...

Yu Wenxue stood at the door and listened for a while. Although she didn't hear everything, she could make out about 70-80% of it.

She steadied herself and said softly, "Madam, cousin."

All eyes turned to her, and the plump woman in the bright red dress at the head of the group called out, "Wen Xue, my dear daughter!"

The skinny man behind her also called out, "Good girl!"

Her gambling father and greedy mother stood on either side of her, calling her "good girl" repeatedly, which gave Yu Wenxue a headache.

But she couldn't show it, so she could only cooperate and put on a show of a loving family.

"Wenxue, your parents have traveled a long way to the Marquis's residence to discuss your marriage with you," the old lady said with a smile.

"Getting married? Who's getting married? Do I have to give a wedding gift?" Yu Wenxue asked.

The plump woman chuckled dryly twice and explained, "The old lady has found you a good marriage. Although it's a bit far from Shuozhou, Young Master Zhou is handsome and comes from a wealthy family. He's the ideal husband that many young ladies dream of marrying."

Yu Wenxue said knowingly, "Oh, since they've been dreaming of it, I won't compete with them for it."

"You silly child, how could you be so stupid!" The thin man straightened his belt and said sarcastically, "If it weren't for the fact that Young Master Zhou's birth date and time were compatible with yours, how could such a good thing have come to us? You should be content."

"Yes, you're not young anymore. When I was your age, your brother was already old enough to run errands. You'd better seize this wonderful marriage and the immense wealth it will bring."

The plump woman tried to touch her hand, but Yu Wenxue calmly pulled it away: "Mother, I don't want to get married yet."

"Nonsense! What young woman doesn't get married?"

"I won't marry."

The old lady remained silent, observing coldly.

The thin man scoffed, "The betrothal gifts have been accepted, the birth certificates have been exchanged, and the wedding is set for the beginning of next month. You have to marry him whether you like it or not..."

"We raised you with so much care and hardship, and you've only been on a high branch for a few days, and you've already grown up so proudly?"

"Enough!" Gu Rongting stood in front of Yu Wenxue and said to her parents, word by word, "Wenxue doesn't want to marry, so how can you force her?"

"If I had known you were such an ingrate, I shouldn't have taken you in in the first place..." The thin man's voice was very low. He looked up at Gu Rongting's expression and then shut his mouth.

Under the big tree, Guan Nan looked at his cold-blooded parents with disdain, spat, and disappeared into the endless night.

After listening to Guan Nan's slightly embellished words, Gu Yun Shen reacted calmly, giving a blank "hmm" with no expression.

Guan Nan hesitated and said, "Young Master, don't you plan to do anything?"

"What should I do?" Gu Yunshen stroked the swallow-shaped sachet in his hand, inside which was a portrait of Yu Wenxue.

Suddenly, the tassel on the sachet broke.

He carefully put the tassel back and touched his chest.

It's that feeling again.

Feeling stuffy and uncomfortable.

"The wedding is at the beginning of next month, which means there's less than a month left," Guan Nan repeated.

"There's a flood in eastern Yidong, so I'll have to go out in a few days." Gu Yun Shen lifted his leg to leave.

Guan Nan sighed.

I thought that after all we'd been through, my master would treat Miss Yu differently, but I never expected him to revert to his old, unapproachable self.

"Alas, poor Miss Yu, she is about to marry someone she doesn't love. I wonder when we will have the chance to meet again."

Gu Yun Shen stopped, his knuckles turning slightly white as he gripped the sachet. He turned back and asked, "What's that person's name?"