Rebirth of the Excellent Daughter of the Marquis Household (REDMH) - Chapter 147

Du Xia left and with nowhere else to go, Gu Yu Qi returned to her own Danxia Courtyard.

At this time of year, Danxia courtyard should be at its most beautiful of the four seasons, with crimson leaves and the air filled with the scent of osmanthus blossoms. Fallen leaves were floating on the surface of the small pond in the courtyard and moss clung gently to the azure stones at its edge. Yet, despite its beauty, the Danxia Courtyard carried a faint air of desolation.

No one was there and like the rest of the Ding Yuan Marquis’ residence that had been ransacked, Danxia Courtyard was no exception. The room had been thoroughly turned upside down. Fortunately, Gu Yu Qi had long since moved anything valuable elsewhere. What remained in the room were ordinary items, yet even these had been taken. Even the jewellery on the dressing table that she had not taken away in time was not left for her.

After surveying the disordered room, Gu Yu Qi stepped out into the courtyard. In the past, the courtyard would have been filled with the chatter and laughter of the maids, making it a rare sight for her to stroll there alone. Now, with no one else around, the courtyard exuded a quiet solitude that was oddly calming.

The autumn breeze stirred, shaking loose a cascade of golden osmanthus blossoms. The tiny golden flowers drifted into the pond, spinning gently on the water’s surface. Beneath, small fish darted upwards to nibble at the blossoms, their movements sending ripples across the tranquil pool.

Gu Yu Qi found a stone bench by the water’s edge and sat down, her long spear cradled in her arms as she watched the fish. Time slipped past and before she knew it, it was noon. Perhaps she was too tired, or perhaps it was too quiet, or perhaps even it was the warmth of the autumn sunlight falling on her, but Gu Yu Qi was lulled into drowsiness. Her eyelids grew heavier and before she knew it, she had drifted off, her body leaning to one side, her head resting lightly against the trunk of a crimson maple tree beside the stone bench.

This was the beautiful scene Yun Ke saw when he came in.

Beneath the fiery canopy of the maple tree, a girl in crimson robes leaned gracefully with her inky black hair cascading down in soft waves. She appeared to be in a deep, peaceful sleep. Far from being overshadowed by the vibrant red around her, her strikingly vivid features seemed even more prominent and gorgeous. Before her lay the serene pond where small fish occasionally darted, adding a touch of movement to the tranquil scene.

The golden osmanthus blossoms had blanketed the ground at her feet and some had fallen in her hair and clothes, lending her the appearance of a celestial being, otherworldly and timeless.

In her arms, she held the long spear tightly and for a moment, Yun Ke found himself envying the inanimate weapon.

“Your Highne-…” Wang Yan stepped out from the shadows, beginning to salute, but Yun Ke silenced him with a single glance.

Standing on the opposite side of the pond, Yun Ke gazed quietly at Gu Yu Qi, unwilling to make a sound for fear of disturbing her. It was as if the moment she woke, the entire enchanting scene would vanish like a fleeting dream.

Du Xia had gone to him to request an imperial physician and without even asking for the reason, Yun Ke had simply grabbed the nearest imperial physician and shoved him into a carriage. It was only on the way that he learned it was not Gu Yu Qi who was injured but Gu Si Yang.

He had not even had the time to change out of his armour.

Before the palace gates, he had immediately spotted Gu Yu Qi standing behind Princess Ping Hu. Quickening his pace as he approached, he wanted to ensure that she was all right. Yet, as he drew near, she was nowhere to be seen.

Princess Ping Hu held him in conversation for some time, and more than half of her words were praises for Gu Yu Qi. This filled Yun Ke with pride and joy, but he also felt a lingering unease. Where had she gone? In their previous life, whenever she accomplished something, she would always come to him at the first opportunity to show off. But now, she had disappeared entirely amidst the bustling crowd.

Even though he knew Wang Yan would follow her closely, Yun Ke could not help but feel a little worried. After all, the capital had not yet fully stabilised.

Now, seeing Gu Yu Qi peacefully asleep on the stone bench by the water’s edge, his heart finally settled.

He stood transfixed, watching the girl’s sleeping figure. In this small courtyard on this autumn afternoon, after a night of fierce battles, his restless heart seemed to find its own peace. Yun Ke wanted to walk to her side, sit beside her, and gently pull her into his arms to enjoy this autumnal afternoon together.

Yet, he did not dare to. He feared that if he touched her, she would wake up and look at him with that distant and indifferent gaze. There would be no warmth and affection that had once filled her eyes in their previous life and instead it would be a robotic expression. She would no longer smile and skip around him like in the previous life, nor would she lean close and whisper quietly in his ear in an extremely charming tone how much she loved him. Back then, when these things had been part of his daily life, Yun Ke had hated them. But now that they have become something of the distant past, he longed for them.

Humans were indeed contradictory. When you possessed something, you failed to recognise its value. Only once lost would you realise how foolish you had been, pushing away the very best you already had by your side.

A gust of wind blew, lifting the hem of her sleeves slightly. Her brow furrowed faintly, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around herself for warmth. Only then did Yun Ke walk over slowly.

It was already late autumn after all and sleeping outdoors like this would leave her cold. He removed his cloak, intending to drape it over her, but then he noticed that it was stained with traces of blood.

His Highness Prince An found himself in a difficult position. If he did not cover her with the cloak, she would be cold, but if he did, the blood would stain her clothing. As Yun Ke hesitated, Gu Yu Qi sensed a shadow falling over her, blocking the sunlight and stealing away the warmth she had been basking in. A chill crept over her, prompting her to open her eyes with slight displeasure.

Her long, thick lashes fluttered slightly as she awoke. Her gaze was tinged with confusion and sleepiness, and this sleepy confusion struck Yun Ke straight through his heart.

It turned out that even without her dazzling beauty, she could be this endearing and pure, stirring something deep within him.

In their previous life, when she had fallen asleep beside him utterly exhausted after being tossed around by him, he had never truly taken a good look at her.

He had known her unparalleled charm and captivating allure but had never realised she could have such a pure and innocent side.

A magnified face appeared hazily before her, startling Gu Yu Qi awake instantly. She jerked back in alarm, instinctively raising the long spear in her hands to guard her chest. When she recognised who stood before her, she quickly stopped her hands and shot to her feet.

“This civilian girl Gu Yu Qi greets Your Highness Prince An. May Your Highness live a thousand years,” she said as she knelt and saluted. Her gaze darted around. She was still half asleep. Where was this? When the familiar surroundings registered, she remembered she was in the Danxia Courtyard of the Ding Yuan Marquis’ residence.

When had he arrived? Damn it, she had not noticed at all.

Then again, with Yun Ke’s skill level, even several Gu Yu Qis would not be a match for him. Add to that his deliberate concealment and it would be impossible for her to detect him.

Prince An stood before Gu Yu Qi in disappointment, awkwardly holding the cloak in his hands. He had known that the moment she awoke, the serenity and beauty of the scene would vanish. A faint pang of regret and ache stirred within him. When would she stop being so distant from him? Was it truly so difficult for her to let him get close?

If that was the case, what would their wedding night be like? In their previous life, he had only sent a small sedan chair to have her brought into the Prince’s palace. Despite all the years she had spent by his side, he had not even given her a proper ceremony. In this life, he had clearly planned to welcome her with a grand procession, a ten-mile-long bridal entourage, but his father the emperor’s decree had disrupted everything.

Was it their fate to never have a truly perfect wedding? A wedding that belonged solely to the two of them?

Seeing Yun Ke remain silent for an extended time, Gu Yu Qi found it odd. She raised her head slightly to look at Yun Ke. He still held the same posture as before but had straightened his back.

He was still holding the cloak. Could it be that he had intended to drape it over her?

Would he really be so kind? Gu Yu Qi took a deep breath. “Does Your Highness have any instructions on coming here?” she asked aloud.

“Oh, rise,” Yun Ke finally realised he had not yet told her to stand up.

Gu Yu Qi complied without hesitation, standing up upon hearing his words.

“You…” Yun Ke started, but his mind suddenly went blank. He should say something to Gu Yu Qi, but seeing her like this, he had no idea where to begin.

Having lived two lives, Yun Ke was only now realising how utterly clumsy he became when standing before someone he truly liked.

Who could tell him how to win Gu Yu Qi’s favour?

What did she like? He had no idea. What was her favourite food? He did not know that either. What books did she enjoy reading? Well, apart from “The Local Records of Rouran”, he had no clue.

Panic crept into His Highness Prince An’s heart. He had ignored her to such an extent…

Noticing the faint pallor on Yun Ke’s face, Gu Yu Qi assumed he might be injured. “If Your Highness is feeling unwell, please have a seat,” she suggested politely, gesturing toward the stone bench beside her.

Yun Ke sat down as instructed, only to suddenly realise, wait, there was nothing wrong with his body… Oh well, since he was already seated, he might as well stay seated.

What was wrong with Yun Ke now? Normally, he was a man of few words, addressing matters directly and leaving once done. But now, he seemed as though he was suffering from constipation.

Even Gu Yu Qi could not help but find Yun Ke’s behaviour a bit peculiar.

“Has Your Highness encountered something troubling?” Gu Yu Qi decided to break the silence, lest the man suffocate himself.

Indeed, he had. He had no idea what she liked.

Yet, he could not bring himself to ask.

He suddenly became worried, not knowing whether everything he had already prepared would suit her tastes. This was terrible, why had he not thought of this earlier? Would it be too late to have someone change things to match her preferences now?

This would not do, he had to find out what she liked. Oh right, he could find Wang Yan. He had followed Gu Yu Qi for so long, so he must know something.