Gu Liyue thought he didn't know much and that he was going to take her back to the Jiang family. How could she agree to that? She just shook her head. "I... I'm going back."
Lu Jinchen asked, "Back to that small mountain village where you used to live?"
With the Liu family around, Gu Liyue wouldn't have a peaceful life even if she went back there. But she didn't know how to tell him these things.
Lu Jinchen added, "There's my manor ahead. It's already late at night. It's not safe for you two women to be on the road. Let's go to the manor and make do for the night. We can talk about anything else tomorrow."
Gu Liyue also felt that wandering around with Yunniang, she had no idea what to do in the long run. Although she had been making plans, now that she was penniless, all her plans were in vain. It would be better to go with him. At least she would have a place to stay, and it would also allow her to calm down and think things over.
All the way to the Lu family's manor, even in the cold winter, there were the sounds of insects outside the houses. Gu Liyue felt as if she had returned to her old life in the small town, feeling extremely safe and at ease.
Lu Jinchen stood beside her, looking up at the star - filled sky. He explained, "I've been on a mission outside recently. I just got the news today and rushed back immediately. I'm sorry I'm late."
There was no need for him to explain so much to her.
Gu Liyue lowered her head and didn't say a word.
Lu Jinchen asked, "What are your plans for the future?"
Gu Liyue thought for a while and then said, "I've already seen the disputes in the high - ranking families. It's not possible to stay safe just by avoiding them. I don't want to get involved in such things for the rest of my life."
This was what Lu Jinchen had said before about taking her home.
Lu Jinchen looked at her seriously and reached out to tuck the hair behind her ear. Just this brief touch of their skin made both of them feel their hearts skip a beat. Lu Jinchen let go of his hand. Such an intimate gesture made him a bit flustered.
Gu Liyue blushed and took a step back. She said, "I know how to embroider. Although my skills are not the best, they're not bad either. And having Yunniang by my side makes me very content. In the future, I can go anywhere with my own hands."
"What about me?"
Gu Liyue looked up in surprise, looking at him in confusion. "What?"
Lu Jinchen asked, "What about me? What should I do after you leave? Am I supposed to stay alone in the capital?"
"You..." Gu Liyue was stunned. What did he have to do with her? But somehow, his words made her extremely happy. She was in a daze, as if he couldn't live without her. How could that be possible?
"Liyue, I'm different from others. I'm willing to protect you and keep you safe for the rest of your life."
Gu Liyue's face turned completely red. This passionate confession made her feel as if she was floating in the clouds. She didn't even know how to react.
She was supposed to be rational. To her, he was like the bright moon in the sky, out of reach. It was true in the past, and it would be true for the rest of her life. But from the first time she saw him, from the moment she began to sense his subtle feelings for her, she had been deeply in love. As long as he waved to her, she would surrender and walk towards him.
Gu Liyue took a deep breath. The cold winter wind rushed into her nostrils, bringing her back to a bit of clarity.
He was the young master of a high - ranking family, the emperor's nephew, and would be a prince in the future. And she was just an orphan girl from the countryside. What right did she have to stand by his side?
An unrealistic dream would only make both of them suffer.
"You and I... We're not a good match. It's destined to be impossible..."
Before she could finish her words, Lu Jinchen pulled Gu Liyue into his arms, held her neck, and planted a deep kiss on her lips.
The kiss was passionate. He didn't want to let go, and she let him take the lead.
Even a moment of pleasure was something she liked. But the tears slid down from the corners of her eyes. The cold touch made both of them calm down a bit.
Lu Jinchen left her lips, but his hand still held her neck. His breath fluttered on her face and ears.
"Wait for me for two days. I'll go with you."
...
Madam Jiang was sitting in Xiaoyuan Courtyard, holding Xiuqiu in her arms. Leaning back on the chair, her heart was in turmoil. In her hand was the farewell letter written by Gu Liyue. Every word in it expressed gratitude to her.
Nanny Chao slapped Tangyuan hard. "You've been clumsy since you were a child. If it weren't for your mother's plea to me, I would never have let you come to Fanghua Courtyard. And look what you've done! You've caused such a big problem for Madam!"
Tangyuan covered her swollen face and didn't dare to say a word.
Nanny Chao pulled her hand down forcefully. "What are you covering for? Who gave you the guts to let the girl go? Kneel down properly. I'll beat your face to pieces today. Then let's see how Madam will deal with you! Don't cry!"
Madam Jiang looked up. Seeing Tangyuan's cheek was broken and she was kneeling on the ground trembling, looking extremely pitiful. She thought of Gu Liyue, that little girl who was always timid and helpless.
Although she was timid, she had done such a bold thing as running away.
Madam Jiang looked up. There were all kinds of embroidered items in the basket. No wonder she had seen so little of her recently. She had thought that Gu Liyue was angry about Jiang Yingyue's frame - up last time. It turned out that she had planned to leave a long time ago.
Was she going to repay her with these things?
Madam Jiang frowned and picked up an embroidered item, a headband. Gu Liyue knew that she suffered from severe migraines, so the headband was made thick and fine.
"Such self - willedness. Today I'll..."
"Stop." Madam Jiang looked up at Nanny Chao who was about to beat Tangyuan again. She sighed. "Beating her won't solve anything. That child may seem timid, but she has her own ideas. Look, she's been wanting to leave for a long time."
Nanny Chao let out a slight sigh of relief, but her face still looked fierce. She pointed at Tangyuan and scolded, "Get out of here. You're getting on Madam's nerves!"
Tangyuan didn't care about the burning pain on her face. She got up and ran out.
Nanny Chao then turned to look at Madam Jiang and sighed, "We originally thought the girl was grateful, but we didn't expect her to be so ungrateful. For such a small thing, she didn't care about Madam's kindness at all."
Madam Jiang shook her head. "She was already heart - broken a long time ago. I couldn't protect her, and I didn't really want to protect her much. In fact, she had already guessed that I kept her by my side not because I really loved her. I should have known earlier that she wasn't a servant. How could she be willing to stay by my side?"
Nanny Chao said, "She's just too ambitious."
Madam Jiang pointed at the wardrobe and dressing table. "Look, she didn't take anything with her, not even the clothes made for her. She's not ambitious. She really has her own integrity. Wealth and honor mean nothing to her. It's a pity I didn't know this before..."
Nanny Chao was stunned. She looked up and asked, "Madam, do you want us to send someone to find her back?"
Madam Jiang's eyes were blurry and her eyes were red. She took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears and then found that this handkerchief was also embroidered by Gu Liyue. Tears streamed down her face. She stroked Xiuqiu sadly.
"No need. Let her go. She's not Yue'er, but like Yue'er, she's destined not to stay. It's my fault that I didn't cherish them. Yue'er's death was my fault. Now that she's gone, it's probably for the best."
Nanny Chao didn't know how to comfort her. She could only stay by her side quietly and wait for her to stop crying.
Just then, an old woman came in from the front and reported, "Madam, someone from the Gu family is here."