Gu Liyue had been waiting in the Prince Liang's Mansion for a long time, but the servant who had gone to announce her arrival hadn't returned with any news. She was so anxious that she was itching to push open the door and barge in.
Just then, a carriage pulled up outside the door. Lu Jinxuan stepped out of it and called out curiously, "Miss Gu?"
Gu Liyue turned around and saw it was her. Although they weren't very familiar, it was better than seeing no one at all. She quickly walked over and said, "Princess, I'm here to look for the heir. I've been waiting for half an hour, but I don't know why the servant who went to announce my arrival hasn't come back with a reply."
Lu Jinxuan looked at the closed main gate and knew that Shu Mingzhu must have stopped the servant who was going to announce Gu Liyue's arrival. She pursed her lips and said, "Elder brother isn't at home. He went out early this morning."
Gu Liyue asked, "Went out? Where did he go?"
Lu Jinxuan shook her head. "Elder brother is used to coming and going alone. He never tells anyone where he's going. Miss Gu, don't be in a hurry. I'll go look for him tonight and tell him in person that you came to look for him."
Gu Liyue had no other choice but to thank her and then left.
She returned home before evening and heard the news. Early this morning, Lu Jinchen led the Lu family's private soldiers and set off for the northwest. By the time the emperor found out, it was already afternoon.
The emperor flew into a rage and ordered people to go after him, but how could they catch up with Lu Jinchen who was determined to go?
It was said that the emperor, who usually didn't show his emotions, smashed two inkstones and a penholder in front of several court officials and scolded the royal family for raising useless people. He said that it was actually the prince and the heir who had to go in person.
Gu Liyue stood there in a daze and fainted all of a sudden.
When she woke up again, the old lady was sitting by her bedside. She reached out to tuck the corner of the quilt for her and asked, "Awake?"
"Grandmother..."
The old lady asked, "Do you want to drink some water?"
Gu Liyue's eyes were filled with tears. She shook her head and said, "I don't want to drink."
"You've lost your appetite and can't sleep at night." The old lady said calmly.
Gu Liyue was a little stunned and stared blankly at her.
The old lady stroked Gu Liyue's head and sighed. "When I first married into the Gu family, your grandfather was still a general. At that time, the Great Zhou wasn't as peaceful as it is now. It was in a precarious situation with internal and external troubles. The Gu family were military generals. If they took a moment's rest, the common people would be in more danger. First, it was his younger uncle, then his father, and then his cousins... Every time the battle report came, I would cry my eyes out. I refused to eat or drink. I even hated myself for falling in love with a man from the Gu family and for marrying into the Gu family..."
Gu Liyue was deeply touched. Her grandmother's eyes were cloudy, but there wasn't much sadness or worry on her face. There was only fortitude.
"Later... I found out that I was pregnant with your eldest uncle. My mother was old and worried about my health. She suddenly fell ill. That's when I realized that men have their own responsibilities. All we women can do is take good care of the whole family for them so that they can serve the country and the people whole - heartedly without any worries."
Gu Liyue was silent for a while, then got up and said, "I want to drink some water."
The old lady smiled, went to pour some water, and helped Gu Liyue drink it. She asked, "Do you feel better?"
Gu Liyue nodded. "Yes, grandmother, I understand. He's already gone. It's useless for me to worry. It's better for me to live a good life. Anyway... I can't let him worry about home all the time when he's busy."
The old lady hugged her and said, "I used to think you were very smart and knew that love wasn't everything in life. But now it seems that my granddaughter is still too young. Have a good sleep. You'll be fine tomorrow."
With her grandmother's comfort, Gu Liyue slept very well. When she woke up, it was already noon the next day.
Tangyuan was sitting by her side. When she saw Gu Liyue wake up, she immediately smiled and said, "Miss, the clothes for the palace banquet have been sent. You'll have to choose one later to see which one you want to wear."
Gu Liyue nodded. After thinking for a while, she asked, "Is there any new news?"
Tangyuan knew she was asking about the disaster in the northwest. She just shook her head. "No... Oh, right. The marquis went to court today. The emperor named him and the third young master to lead troops to chase after the heir."
Gu Liyue's eyelids twitched. "Uncle and Third Brother?"
Tangyuan said, "Yes. The emperor was extremely angry yesterday. Two princes were in danger, and now the heir has also gone... The marquis and the third young master have already set off."
Gu Liyue wasn't as anxious as she was yesterday. She sat on the bed in a daze for a long time. "Help me get up."
Days passed in an orderly manner. Gu Liyue pricked up her ears and asked Tangyuan to inquire about the disaster situation in the northwest every day. After the Marquis Gu left, he sent back three letters in total, all saying that they still hadn't found the Heir Lu.
It probably took seven or eight days to get to the northwest even if they traveled day and night. It couldn't be that fast.
On New Year's Eve, Gu Liyue suppressed the uneasiness in her heart and entered the palace with her family. She had her own friends in the capital and had gotten to know more people. She was no longer the little girl who only dared to follow behind Lady Qin at last year's palace banquet.
Lu Yunxi pulled Gu Liyue into the garden halfway. The two of them sat under the corridor of the long pavilion. They didn't say a word and just stared blankly at each other.
Gu Liyue stared for a long time and then said, "There's still no news. Princess, don't worry."
Lu Yunxi propped her face up and said, "I don't like my father. He only has elder brother in his heart and ignores me."
Gu Liyue licked her lips and didn't know how to reply.
Lu Yunxi laughed. "Probably all men are like this. Look, the emperor values the princes more, and Prince Liang only cares about his son. My parents are not as good to me as my step - mother."
Gu Liyue saw the loneliness on her face and just reached out to hold her hand. "Everything will get better."
Lu Yunxi laughed with tears in her eyes. "You don't know. I didn't even dare to enter the palace these days. I'm afraid that when the emperor sees me, he'll think of my father and the things in my family, and he'll be sad. And the Empress Dowager is ill. I didn't even dare to serve her."
She lowered her head. "But when I'm at home, my step - mother comforts me every day and says that nothing will happen. In fact, she's more scared than I am... Liyue, don't you think those elders are ridiculous? They're not as strong as I am."
Gu Liyue felt extremely heart - ache. She put her arm around Lu Yunxi's shoulder. "They're useless anyway. We younger generations have to support them. So you have to be stronger, whether it's for the Empress Dowager and the emperor or for your prince's mansion."
More and more people were gathering around. The ladies and young girls liked to gather here. Lu Yunxi felt a little better. She didn't want others to see her losing control of her emotions, so she secretly wiped away her tears and pulled Gu Liyue to chat and laugh.
Several young girls happened to walk over. It was cold in winter. There was a palace building behind the long pavilion, which blocked the wind. It was a favorite place for the young girls to come and rest. And one of them was Shu Mingzhu.
Gu Liyue pretended not to see her and whispered and laughed with Lu Yunxi.
Then she heard a young girl say, "Sister Mingzhu, you dropped something. What is this?"
Gu Liyue looked up subconsciously. It was a black hairband with dark golden embroidery patterns on it. She could tell at a glance, without even looking closely, that it was her own craftsmanship - it was the token of love she had given to Lu Jinchen.