Reborn Into A New Life, Everyone Loves Me Now (GL) - Chapter 30
If the Stalemate Breaks, Only One Must Yield
At dawn the next day, the sky was still shrouded in a faint gray mist.
Su Qishi stood before the carriage that Gao Qianqian had prepared, the two of them sharing a final farewell.
There was a newfound maturity in Gao Qianqian’s expression. She placed a letter into Su Qishi’s hand and spoke softly, “Elder Sister, within this envelope are records of the Gao family’s properties across the realm. My father has already instructed me to notify them… The token of authority is also enclosed. If you ever require funds, present the token to them—they will understand.”
Su Qishi tucked the letter into her sleeve and replied solemnly, “Thank your esteemed father on my behalf.”
Gao Qianqian smiled. “There’s no need for thanks. We are now united in cause…”
Su Qishi’s lips curved faintly, revealing a rare trace of warmth. Then she handed Gao Qianqian a token engraved with the character ‘Yue’.
“This is the insignia of Prince Yue’s manor. Keep it with you.”
Gao Qianqian lowered her gaze to the token in her palm, and her heart gradually settled.
“Take care.”
“Mm.”
Su Qishi lifted the curtain and stepped into the carriage. Inside, Liu Jiangli had long been waiting. Upon seeing Su Qishi enter, a flicker of anticipation flashed through her beautiful eyes—an expression Su Qishi caught at once.
Su Qishi cast her a cold glance, uncertain what she was hoping for.
She seated herself opposite Liu Jiangli, smoothing her skirts with careful hands, unwilling to have any contact with her.
Silence fell within the carriage, a heavy, stifling atmosphere pervading the space.
Liu Jiangli lowered her eyes, masking the sorrow within them. Then, lifting her gaze once more, she looked at Su Qishi with a hint of pleading in her cool voice. “A’Shi, does your head still ache?”
Su Qishi’s expression chilled, her tone laced with disdain. “When did I ever say I had a headache? Must you always make baseless assumptions, acting as if you understand me?”
Liu Jiangli’s heart tightened—she had angered A’Shi again. But she had clearly seen A’Shi pressing her forehead last night.
Regret clouded Liu Jiangli’s face as she murmured, “I’m sorry, A’Shi… Please don’t be angry…”
A surge of disgust rose abruptly in Su Qishi’s chest. Her brows furrowed as she replied coldly, “Can you stop acting so pitiful, as if I’ve bullied you? This only makes me loathe you more.”
Her tone sharpened. “Once we return to the capital, we shall have nothing more to do with each other. Whether you return to Su Qi’s arms or seek another matters not to me. Just don’t trouble me again. Merely seeing you spoils my mood for the entire day.”
As the words fell, Liu Jiangli’s eyes turned red. Tears brimmed at the corners, though her face remained expressionless—yet in her eyes, pain was evident.
She ignored Su Qishi’s harsh words, repeating silently in her heart: One day, A’Shi will accept me again. These are only words spoken in anger… They cannot be true.
“A’Shi, can we not annul the engagement? I know what you seek—I can help you. Don’t you need the Prime Minister’s support? In our past life, I made many mistakes. In this life, I wish to repay them… Please, A’Shi, grant me a chance.”
“No.” Su Qishi refused her decisively.
Liu Jiangli was right—she did need the backing of influential ministers. Yet to her, the Prime Minister’s manor felt like a hidden danger. She disliked this feeling. It reminded her too much of the betrayals of her previous life—a memory etched so deeply into her mind that she never wished to relive it.
Liu Jiangli had not expected such a firm rejection. Her heart clenched as she hurriedly asked, “Do you not even consider your own future?”
A flash of menace crossed Su Qishi’s eyes. “Are you threatening me?”
“No, A’Shi… I only fear that because of me, you’ll forgo the Prime Minister’s support. We could enter a false marriage. That way, his manor would still stand behind you. I know you disdain me, but rest assured, I would not often appear before you.”
Liu Jiangli strove to remain calm, her fingers tensing within her sleeves, though outwardly she forced a serene facade.
Su Qishi let out a cold laugh. “Liu Jiangli, why are you so insistent? I do not believe a person’s heart changes so suddenly. Your actions only lead me to suspect you have ulterior motives.”
Liu Jiangli lowered her head, her long lashes trembling as she fought to suppress the pain surging within her. “A’Shi, I only wish to atone for the wrongs of our past life… If I could, I would stay by your side forever.”
Su Qishi leaned back, her arms crossed over the sword resting against her chest. She slowly closed her eyes, her voice devoid of any emotion. “Atone? Can you truly atone for all I endured in that past life?”
Liu Jiangli opened her mouth but fell silent. She knew nothing she said could make A’Shi believe her. If words were useless, then she would prove it through action—that in this life, her heart belonged to A’Shi alone.
As she thought of this, a shadow of darkness flickered through her beautiful eyes.
The carriage rolled steadily along a narrow path through the forest, the atmosphere inside growing oppressively heavy.
It remained that way until noon the next day, when Su Qishi finally lifted the curtain and scanned her surroundings.
Too quiet… and that in itself is dangerous.
Suddenly, the rustling of leaves and underbrush stirred, followed by an arrow shooting straight into the carriage.
A soft gasp escaped Liu Jiangli’s lips.
Su Qishi immediately drew her sword, deflecting a second arrow that whistled toward them. She was momentarily stunned—whoever was behind this clearly targeted Liu Jiangli.
Fending off the arrows, Su Qishi called out to the coachman, “Faster!” The attackers remained hidden in the shadows, firing from a distance. She couldn’t determine their numbers and didn’t dare act rashly.
Liu Jiangli stared at the arrow embedded in the carriage wall, her gaze dark and unreadable.
Moments later, the sound of galloping hooves echoed nearby. Liu Jiangli cautiously lifted the curtain, careful not to expose her position. Through the gap, she glimpsed Gu Congran speaking with Su Qishi, and only then did her tense heart ease slightly.
The assailants had already melted back into the shadows upon hearing the approaching riders.
Su Qishi remained where she stood, calmly watching Gu Congran on horseback. She made no move to speak first, her expression composed as she waited for him to speak.
Gu Congran was clad in fitted riding attire, his black hair tied high in a ponytail, his bearing notably changed. His eyes were faintly bloodshot, and his face had grown gaunt. He dismounted swiftly and, in a surge of emotion, pulled Su Qishi into a tight embrace.
“Thank the heavens you’re alive! That’s all that matters!”
Then, in a low voice meant for only the two of them, he added, “I’ve gathered a great deal of information. From now on, we will never part again.”
Su Qishi replied in a hushed tone, “I’m not so easily killed… Let’s talk more once we return to the manor.”
Gu Congran released her and remounted, addressing the guards behind him. “Today, while leaving the city for prayers, we encountered His Highness Prince Yue returning to the capital. We will escort His Highness to the city at once!”
The guards responded in unison, “Yes, sir!”
Gu Congran and Su Qishi exchanged a meaningful glance—no words were needed.
Su Qishi then re-entered the carriage. Liu Jiangli, pale-faced, rushed toward her and called softly, “A’Shi…”
Su Qishi ignored her, seated herself without a word, and said in a cold, steady voice, “Those attackers were aiming for you. Think carefully—have you made any enemies in the capital?”
Liu Jiangli furrowed her brows, deeply contemplating, but could not think of anyone. In the end, she could only shake her head slightly.
Seeing this, Su Qishi asked no further. Her mind was already turning, strategizing her next move.
Does the Emperor show favor to Su Qi simply because he lacks it for me?
In her eyes, the Emperor was devoid of affection for anyone. His heart belonged only to himself. In her past life, Su Qi had become Crown Prince not because the Emperor desired it, but because he had no other choice—he had compromised under pressure, not out of true intent to pass the throne to Su Qi.
In the imperial family, one must never hope for that insignificant thing called true affection…
At midnight, under a sky of sparse stars and a bright moon, the carriage slowly entered the capital, heading straight for the Prime Minister’s residence.
Before reaching the city, Gu Congran had already sent a rider ahead at full speed to deliver news.
At that moment, the Prime Minister’s residence was ablaze with light. At the front gates, Liu Shichen paced anxiously. Upon seeing the carriage approach, he hurried down the stone steps to greet it.
Gu Congran also dismounted, stepping forward with a respectful salute. “Prime Minister Liu.”
Liu Shichen returned the gesture. “General Gu, you’ve worked hard.”
Inside the carriage, Su Qishi lifted the curtain and glanced at the two men exchanging pleasantries. Then she turned toward Liu Jiangli, her tone cold as she reminded, “We’ve arrived at the Prime Minister’s residence.”
A flicker of hesitation crossed Liu Jiangli’s eyes. Inner turmoil welled up, but in the end, all she could say was, “Thank you, A’Shi… A’Shi, you—”
Before she could finish, Su Qishi cut her off with an icy tone. Her head lowered slightly, dark hair veiling her expression. “There’s no need for more words. You and I have no future.”
Liu Jiangli’s face dimmed instantly. She bit her lower lip, suppressing her emotions, and murmured, “I understand, A’Shi.” With that, she lifted the curtain and stepped out of the carriage.
The moment she saw her father, she quickly composed herself, regaining her usual calm. Under Liu Shichen’s hopeful gaze, she approached and softly called, “Father.” She said no more.
Liu Shichen, seemingly accustomed to the dynamic between the two, merely repeated, “It’s good you’re back… it’s good.” He sighed heavily. “I sent men to search for you, but they found nothing. Now that you’ve returned safely, I can at least face your mother in the afterlife with peace.”
Liu Jiangli remained silent, her eyes fixed on the carriage slowly pulling away.
Her father’s gentle voice called her back to the moment. “Lier?”
Only then did she retract her gaze.
Looking at Liu Shichen with resolve, she said solemnly, “Father, there’s something I must discuss with you.”
Prince Yue’s Manor
The moment Nianqi saw Su Qishi, she rushed over, choking back sobs. “Your Highness! I knew you’d be safe. Do you know how worried I’ve been?”
As she spoke, she lunged forward to embrace Su Qishi, only to be intercepted by Gu Congran, who stepped between them.
“Nianqi, shouldn’t you be preparing clean clothes for your prince?” Gu Congran reminded sternly.
Only then did Nianqi notice the disheveled state of Su Qishi’s attire. Flustered, she nodded rapidly. “Right away, I’ll go now!” She turned and darted into the manor.
In the study, Gu Congran sat in a chair, watching Su Qishi’s back as she gazed out the window. A trace of sorrow clouded his brow. He sighed and spoke in a low, grave tone.
“Your father has ordered Su An to secretly investigate your attempted assassination. He barred all others from entering the hunting grounds to search for you, claiming it was to prevent assassins from slipping in. But according to the spies I sent, your father never dispatched anyone to search for you at all!”
His voice grew increasingly agitated, burning with indignation. “This means your father never cared whether you lived or died!”
Su Qishi, however, remained unnervingly calm. “Congran, I’ve always known. Not a single one of them ever truly wanted me to live…”
Gu Congran stood and approached her, frowning with concern. He spoke softly, reassuringly, “A’Shi, you must live well—only then can you make them pay.”
Su Qishi turned to meet his gaze. The two exchanged a knowing look and nodded in silent agreement.
Then Su Qishi said coldly, “The Emperor wants us to fight, yet he refuses to let any one faction rise above the others. He balances the three powers from the shadows so no one can threaten his throne. That way, he can remain at ease, untouched.”
A mocking smile curved her lips as she added, “If we want to break this balance… one of us must withdraw.”