Chapter 55 A Slow and Steady Approach [Typo Correction]
At the pier of Xiaohai in Guangzhou, before Gu Yuchen's departure, Meng Qingci went to see him off, and the two stood facing the wind on the pier.
Gu Yuchen wore a dark green round-necked long gown with an octagonal halo pattern. As the sea breeze swept by, the hem of his gown fluttered in the wind, and the intricate octagonal halo pattern on the gown and the shimmering brocade exuded an air of understated nobility.
His hair was bound with a gold and jade crown, the gold and jade colors intertwining and shining against his black hair, making Gu Yuchen's face look handsome and refined, gentle and jade-like, just like a gentleman on the road.
The drizzle was fine and continuous. He held a dark oil-paper umbrella in his hand, his slender fingers firmly gripping the bamboo ribs. His elegant wrists made him appear even more refined and handsome.
Gu Yuchen subtly tilted the umbrella slightly, shielding Meng Qingci under it, letting the rain soak his clothes along the edge of the umbrella.
His gaze was fixed intently on Meng Qingci's delicate face, her eyes clear as an autumn pool, brimming with gentle ripples. His gaze held all the tenderness and affection he had for this world, a tenderness that seemed capable of melting away the endless gloom of the horizon.
He calmly concealed his deep infatuation, his voice as clear and gentle as a spring breeze caressing the strings of a zither: "Thank you. I didn't expect you would still be willing to come and see me off."
Meng Qingci looked up and met the smile spreading across Gu Yuchen's eyes. His smile was gentle and warm, slowly spreading to his eyebrows, like still water touched by a spring breeze.
More than a month later, he seemed to have lost even more weight, and there was an unconcealable weariness in his eyes. Meng Qingci finally couldn't resist her soft heart and sighed softly, her voice blending into the continuous drizzle: "All the past events are like smoke and clouds. Between you and me, there are still twenty years of friendship. Today you are leaving on a long journey, how could I not come to see you off? Now that I see you can let go of the past, it is naturally good."
As Gu Yuchen listened to her seemingly casual yet severing words, his heart ached as if it were being pierced by countless needles. He could only carefully conceal this pain, not daring to let her see even a trace of it.
He had watched her grow up, and he knew her too well. She seemed to have a good temper, but deep down she was incredibly stubborn. Once she made a decision, she would stick to it no matter what. If she knew that he was plotting something slowly, it would only make her avoid him more and push her further away.
Gu Yuchen smiled and handed over a stack of newly made picture books, naturally changing the subject: "Although Miss Cen's child is not your biological son, I know you love him as your own. You should be familiar with these." He spoke gently, as if discussing an ordinary old story: "I was thinking that he is two years old now, which is the perfect age for him to use these."
Meng Qingci took it, opened it, and saw that it contained easy-to-understand introductory knowledge, including mathematics, chemistry, and physics, all of which were suitable for children to learn and were very comprehensive.
When Meng Qingci touched the paper, the familiar handwriting and content brought back memories of carefree and joyful old times. Back then, she wasn't good at these things, and he would patiently explain them to her again and again without getting tired of it.
She looked up and sincerely thanked him, "Thank you, Brother Yuchen. This must have taken you a lot of effort, no wonder you look so thin." Her words carried a hint of genuine self-reproach: "If I had known this, I should have brought more tonics. I should have made sure you recovered."
Without any hesitation, Meng Qingci carefully tucked the picture book into her bosom as she spoke, protecting it meticulously so that not a single drop of rain would touch it.
When Gu Yuchen saw that she indeed looked delighted and cherished the moment, he knew that he had made the right move.
He wanted to rekindle her feelings of affection and attachment to him from their younger days. Since he couldn't be by her side, he had to find a way to make her remember him at all times.
This picture book is meant for her to teach her child herself. He wanted her to use it to relive every moment they spent together while teaching the child. She also said that they had been together for over twenty years, and their bond was extraordinary.
He only made a mistake, and he can always correct it and erase it.
"There are several recipes you want inside. I've figured out a way, found alternative methods, and extraction methods so you can make the product." But Gu Yuchen knew that her thanks were now very shallow, yet he indulged and spoiled her by not pointing it out.
In the past, Qingci would never use her intelligence to scheme, but now she wants to use her wits to openly and blatantly cut his heart.
In Gu Huaixu's memories, she did not have a good life in the Marquis of Anyi's mansion. His once proud and bright little girl had to use her proud dance to substitute for the eldest daughter of the Fu family in order to survive.
Although none of those sons of powerful and wealthy men were good enough for her, her status as a maid made her unsuitable for any outstanding man. Yet, these were things she had once easily obtained and disdained.
Even though Qingzheng was just like Gu Huaixu, and had never looked down on her in the slightest, he was still afraid of harming her and dared not cross the line.
Since his transmigration, he has come to deeply understand the harshness of this world. He knows that the lives of slaves and servants are as insignificant as dust, and that the slightest mistake in offending their masters can lead to punishment or even death. The situation of women is even more difficult. He has also heard that in the Marquis of Anyi's mansion, the former Marquis and his son have been having an affair, which is even more outrageous and unbearable.
He had inquired about how she left the Marquis of Anyi's mansion and where she went, but all he heard was that she had redeemed herself from the mansion, and no one knew where she went.
If it weren't for the familiarity of her dance in Gu Huaixu's memory, and the few pieces of information he had gathered to corroborate it, he would have almost thought that he was hallucinating because he missed her so much. If it weren't for his obsession with finding her, he probably wouldn't have been able to survive in this strange world.
Gu Yuchen knew that a maid could not simply redeem herself and leave the mansion, especially since she was coveted by Fu Yan'an.
She used to be so proud, the apple of the Meng family's eye, showered with flowers and applause, a darling of heaven wherever she went. He didn't know how she endured such a lowly life in the Anyi Marquis's mansion, and after their reunion, he never dared to ask her a single question.
Meng Qingci lowered her eyes, the booklet pressed against her chest seemed to be burning her heart.
She knew very well that the technology was rudimentary at that time, and it was not easy to extract raw materials to make anything. Gu Yuchen must have put in a lot of effort to get the formulas she wanted.
Even though she is now cold-hearted and hardened by iron, she couldn't help but be moved by his sincerity, which made her cold heart tremble involuntarily.
Meng Qingci remained silent for a long time, ultimately unable to meet his deeply affectionate eyes. She simply turned her head slightly, looking at the dusty, misty sea, her voice so soft it almost dissipated in the sea breeze: "Be careful on your journey, and take good care of yourself."
Seeing that she still couldn't hide her concern in her words, Gu Yuchen felt a warmth in his heart. He knew that she was always soft-hearted and wouldn't really abandon him just because she said she didn't want him, or harden her heart to discard him.
He smiled genuinely and heartily, like the moon breaking through the clouds, and said in a gentle voice, "Don't worry, Fu Heng and Grand Tutor Gu have a half-teacher relationship, so he can be considered half a senior brother of Gu Huaixu. The two are old acquaintances, and he will only give me an important position."
Speaking of Fu Heng, Gu Yuchen couldn't help but ask, "Why do you want me to go and seek refuge with him? How can you be so sure he has a better chance of winning?"
Meng Qingci forced himself not to think about Fu Heng's wickedness and tried his best to remain neutral, saying objectively: "During my time in Guangzhou, I personally witnessed his many achievements in improving the lives of people in Fujian and Guangdong. His policies were effective and trusted by both the people and the local elites. Whether they were commoners or local gentry, everyone was willing to follow his lead. This man is not only insightful and decisive, but also capable of governing the country and helping the people."
She paused slightly, but spoke clearly: "The situation is changing rapidly. Now that Fu Heng has seized the initiative in gunpowder research, choosing another place would not only lead to an uncertain future, but also risk missing a golden opportunity. Moreover, the powerful clans in various regions are deeply entrenched and may not provide you with room to maneuver. Weighing the two options, it is better to choose him."
On a deeper level, she realized that she was now inextricably linked to the Cen family. If Fu Heng failed to emerge victorious in the struggle for power, the Cen family, which depended on him, would inevitably face the danger of collapse.
When that time comes, the Cen family, who follow Fu Heng, will not fare well either; they will be slaughtered and devoured by the victors, and she will not be able to escape unscathed. Unless absolutely necessary, she will not abandon her current business and sail away.
Gu Yuchen's expression softened slightly, a hint of heartache flashing in his eyes, but he teased, "You've really grown up now. You sound just like your older brother. If he knew you could talk so fluently about the current economy, his expression would be quite interesting."
Meng Qingci pursed her lips, a hint of embarrassment flashing across her face as she recalled the past, and stubbornly said, "You're the one who asked."
Gu Yuchen's eyes flickered slightly as he casually glanced at her lowered profile. He spoke in a gentle tone, as if asking unintentionally, "What did you mean when you mentioned being 'infiltrated' last time? Are you feeling unwell?"
Mentioning this matter, Meng Qingci regretted her careless words that day, mentioning it to Gu Yuchen. She could only try her best to salvage the situation, saying, "This matter is difficult to explain in a short time. It is a secret recipe of the Cen family. Fortunately, I met Miss Cen, who has already helped me solve it. You don't need to take it to heart." Afraid that he wouldn't believe her, she pretended to be nonchalant and emphasized with a light laugh, "I'm fine now."
Gu Yuchen's fingers tightened slightly, a forced restraint preventing Meng Qingci from noticing the pain in his eyes. Every bit of suffering she endured felt like a slow, agonizing torture to his heart, making him wish he could suffer in her place.
Meanwhile, Meng Qingci and Gu Yuchen parted ways under an umbrella at the dock. A light drizzle fell, and as they gazed into the distance, the horizon merged into a chaotic, dark gray, like a giant maw capable of swallowing everything.
In a restaurant in the distance, the window was half open. Chen Junyan stood with his hands behind his back by the window, looking out at the two people under the oil-paper umbrella, their postures intimate and scrutinizing.
In the past, Jin Yunnian was dashing and charming with courtesans and actors, handling them with ease. But now, in comparison, he appears slightly shorter, slender and frail, like a willow swaying in the breeze.
Chen Junyan was filled with doubts, his eyes showing confusion, and he became increasingly perplexed. If he hadn't witnessed Jin Yunnian and his wife's harmonious and affectionate relationship, and seen the two of them inseparable on the dock, with their tacit understanding in every gesture, he would have thought that Jin Yunnian and this Lord Gu had a homosexual relationship.
Meng Qingci stood on the dock until Gu Yuchen's treasure ship turned into a lone sail in the distance and finally disappeared completely from sight, before she let out a barely audible sigh.
She knew perfectly well that her current ambitions were hard to hide, too blatant and open. She treated Gu Yuchen no differently than she treated the Song brothers, Song Bojian and Song Wenjing, prioritizing self-interest over friendship.
Gu Yuchen was an intelligent and sensitive person. Her drastic changes must have made him feel bad. But this is a dog-eat-dog world, and they both have to try to survive. Although she has lost her warmth, she believes she has made the right choice.
Just as Meng Qingci was about to leave in a carriage, Nalong Thirasa, a merchant from Siam, called her back.
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Author's Note: Fu Heng: There are so many wild men out there, I'm eager to get involved.
Meng Qingci: Just stay put.
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