Rebirth of the Excellent Daughter of the Marquis Household (REDMH) - Chapter 176

Huh? If Yun Ke was not here, Gu Yu Qi would really have liked to pick at her ears to make sure she had heard correctly.

She could not have misheard, could she…? That perpetually cool and aloof Yun Ke had just made a joke?

Except it was not funny at all. In fact, it was a bit unnerving.

Gu Yu Qi looked at Yun Ke suspiciously. The man reclining lazily on the divan before her, was that really Yun Ke? The cold-faced and cold-hearted emperor from her previous life who had never smiled?

Yun Ke had always moved with the grace and authority of a dragon or tiger, with impeccable posture whether sitting or standing. Yet now, the man before her appeared so relaxed and languid. It truly left Gu Yu Qi deeply surprised.

A ridiculous thought suddenly surfaced in her mind, could this man be an imposter?

Thinking of this, Gu Yu Qi gave an involuntary shiver and hurriedly clutched at her slightly dishevelled collar.

Yun Ke found her reaction utterly adorable. After all this time, he had already seen anything and everything, yet she only now thought to tidy her clothes? Was it not a bit too late? But then he thought of the breathtaking intimacy of last night, the sensation of her hand touching him and Yun Ke felt his bl00d begin to stir again.

Little Yun Ke, too, seemed to be showing signs of restlessness. Yun Ke gave a light cough, quietly turned his body to the side, and forcibly reined in his wandering thoughts.

There would be plenty of time in the days to come. That was the only way he could comfort himself now.

Gu Yu Qi got out of bed. Her waist-length hair cascaded over her shoulders in naturally soft waves, graceful and charming. She looked like a fairy walking in sunlight, so beautiful that Yun Ke felt breathless.

So this was how stunning she looked, barefoot with loose hair in a red robe.

No wonder she had loved dressing like this in her past life.

“Your Highness.” Gu Yu Qi curtsied to Yun Ke.

“The floor is cold. Put your shoes on first,” Yun Ke said, casting a glance at her bare feet. Someday, he would build her a palace of her own, lay thick carpets throughout, and have fire dragons warming the floor so that even in the depths of winter she could walk barefoot without discomfort.

“Oh,” Gu Yu Qi blinked in surprise. She had done it on purpose, just to test Yun Ke.

In her past life if he had seen her barefoot, he would have scolded her without hesitation. Yet now, he merely expressed concern and returned to his book.

Gu Yu Qi bent to slip on her embroidered shoes, sneaking a glance at Yun Ke from the corner of her eye as she did so.

And Yun Ke, how could he not be watching her too?

The book in his hands had not had its pages turned for a long time. It lay open at the same page since morning, still exactly where it had been.

He had been sitting there watching Gu Yu Qi for half the morning, and still he felt it was not enough.

Realising that Yun Ke was also watching her, Gu Yu Qi became even more flustered.

This Yun Ke was acting far too strange!

He, he, he, could he really have been replaced by someone else?

Once that idea took root in Gu Yu Qi’s mind, it began to grow wildly.

There were too many strange things that happened in this world. Even someone like Gu Yu Qi, who had never believed in supernatural things like ghosts or gods, now felt a mysterious reverence for the divine. Her own experiences, and Yun Ke’s, had forced her to believe in such things. So now, when the thought crossed her mind that Yun Ke might be an imposter, it did not seem entirely impossible.

Because he truly was acting far too out of character.

The Yun Ke she knew would never secretly sneak glances at her.

Gu Yu Qi was absolutely certain of this.

“By the way, Your Highness,” Gu Yu Qi finished putting on her shoes slowly, then stood and gave a proper curtsey. “It is rare to come home, and who knows how long it will be until the next time. Si Yang said he wished for a piece of Your Highness’ calligraphy. I wonder if Your Highness would be willing to grant it to him.”

A person could be impersonated, but handwriting could not be faked.

“Of course,” Yun Ke finally closed the book and rose to his feet. “But you should freshen up first. After we have had lunch, I shall write a few characters for him.”

Yun Ke did not suspect anything from Gu Yu Qi’s request. He was completely unaware that she was testing him.

“Yes,” Gu Yu Qi lowered her gaze and answered softly.

After lunch, Gu Yu Qi led Yun Ke into the study located in her Dan Xia Courtyard.

The moment Yun Ke stepped inside, he was immediately drawn in.

This study looked very different from any other place.

Two neat rows of tall bookshelves were arranged against one wall, and on them was mounted a contraption resembling a ladder. It appeared to be movable, making it easier for someone to climb up and retrieve books. He had never seen this sort of bookshelf anywhere else. It was quite novel, really. Needless to say, it must have been an idea born from Gu Yu Qi’s clever little mind.

On the opposite side was a large and simple antique-style desk. Beside it stood a floor-standing vase, rather like a ceramic urn. Yet there were no flowers arranged inside, nor any scrolls placed within. Instead, a few dried branches had been placed in it. Strangely enough, the withered twigs harmonised perfectly with the atmosphere of the study, adding an unusual but elegant charm.

Gu Yu Qi laid out a piece of paper for Yun Ke, then ground the ink herself before saying, “Your Highness, please.”

“Very well,” Yun Ke did not refuse. He walked over and began writing directly, the brush gliding confidently over the paper as he composed a poem.

It was Gu Yu Qi’s own “Memories of Jiangnan”.

The brush danced like a dragon in flight. Yun Ke’s calligraphy was both graceful and commanding.

There was, however, one detail in his writing subtle enough that perhaps not even Yun Ke himself noticed it. At the very end of each stroke, there would be the faintest flick of his hand. It was barely noticeable unless one looked very closely, and that flick was so uniquely executed that no one, without over ten years of studying his style, could ever hope to imitate it.

No one in this world knew Yun Ke better than Gu Yu Qi. So the moment he wrote the first character, she already knew that this man was not an imposter.

And yet… his behaviour was far too out of character. Gu Yu Qi could not help but look again at Yun Ke’s face.

Sensing Gu Yu Qi looking at him, Yun Ke drew in his stomach, lifted his chest, and struck what he believed to be his most handsome posture. His wife had finally looked directly at him, he had to make a good impression.

Yun Ke had always believed that using one’s looks to please others was a disgraceful thing.

In his previous life, that was precisely the kind of woman Gu Yu Qi had seemed to him. It was one of the reasons he had never cared for her.

Being too beautiful was almost a kind of sin in itself. If Gu Yu Qi in her past life had known what Yun Ke thought of her, she might not have resisted taking a knife to ruin her own face.

And yet now, Yun Ke wished Gu Yu Qi were still just like before. Even if she were drawn to him first by his looks, that would be enough.

But in his heart, he knew this was mere wishful thinking.

The way she looked at him was clear and calm, tinged with a hint of doubt but without a trace of affection.

Yun Ke sighed silently in his heart.

“Done,” he said, completing the final stroke. Yun Ke turned to Gu Yu Qi with a radiant smile.

He smiled so dazzlingly that it could take one’s breath away, but the doubt in Gu Yu Qi’s eyes only deepened.

“What is it? Is something wrong?” Yun Ke noticed Gu Yu Qi’s unease and could not help but ask gently.

“No.” Gu Yu Qi quickly lowered her head and shook it. “It’s nothing.” She shifted her gaze back to the paper. “Your Highness’ writing is truly excellent.”

The handwriting was Yun Ke’s, and the person should be Yun Ke himself. But… he actually smiled at her. That smile was clear and pure, filled with warmth, yet it sent a chill down Gu Yu Qi’s spine.

Since it was Yun Ke, then why was he treating her like this now?

What else did she have that he could want?

Even if he asked for all her property now, she would offer it up without hesitation.

Other than the ability to earn money, Gu Yu Qi truly could not think of anything in this life that Yun Ke might desire from her.

Noticing Gu Yu Qi’s hands trembling slightly, Yun Ke immediately asked, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” He even set down the brush and directly held Gu Yu Qi’s slightly cold fingertips.

“Why are your hands so cold?” Yun Ke asked with concern. “Are you not wearing enough?”

Gu Yu Qi stepped back in alarm and quickly pulled her hands free. “No.”

She was resisting him? Yun Ke stared blankly at his now empty palm in astonishment. There was no trace left of Gu Yu Qi’s cold touch, only an even deeper chill now remained.

Suppressing his frustration, Yun Ke slowly said to Gu Yu Qi, “Look, we’re already married.”

In the past life, they had also been married.

“Yes.” Gu Yu Qi responded with her head lowered.

“So from now on, don’t avoid this prince anymore, okay?” Yun Ke said gently.

“Yes,” Gu Yu Qi answered again, but her heart was filled with numbness.

Could she really avoid him? Her mother was still lying in the prince’s palace. Even if she recovered, this man in front of her would not easily let her go, using her as leverage.

“I understand.” With that thought, Gu Yu Qi bent her knees and gave a curtsey. “I will do my utmost to play the role of secondary consort well. I will also do my best to assist Your Highness wholeheartedly. I only ask that Your Highness not forget the words you once said.”

Yun Ke’s heart was miserable. He looked at the woman before him, who had already left him at a complete loss.

No matter what he did, would she always interpret it as him harbouring ulterior motives?

Indeed, he did have an ulterior motive. His goal was to make her fall in love with him again!

Only now did he realise how difficult it was to mend what had once been broken.

Yun Ke suddenly felt that making Gu Yu Qi accept him again was a hundred times harder than seizing the throne.

“What will it take for you to believe that my feelings for you are sincere?” Yun Ke finally could not hold back and asked.

Gu Yu Qi looked up in surprise, gazing at Yun Ke whose expression was filled with melancholy.

“Sincere feelings?” She suddenly found it laughable. “Is this another trick Your Highness is playing?” She let out a laugh.

“What tricks would this prince need to play on you?” Yun Ke said in frustration.

“That, this concubine does not know,” Gu Yu Qi replied calmly.

Even if he truly had sincere feelings for her, so what? Just because he loved her, did that mean she must fall in love with him again? Where did this gangster logic come from?!

It was truly absurd. If he had said such things in their previous life, she would have been overjoyed.

However, now all she felt was a deep chill all over her body.