Chapter 161: Sibling Reunion

Su Wan froze completely, her heart pounding like thunder, as if it were about to leap out of her throat.

When she hadn’t yet realized her own feelings, Su Wan did not feel her heart race or experience any shyness even when Gu Huaizhi engaged in close behavior with her.

Now that she knew her thoughts toward him were impure, even if Gu Huaizhi did nothing, just sitting beside her would make her blush uncontrollably.

The two had been married for half a year, and aside from the first time they shared a bed, and when she bit his lip, this embrace now was the closest they had ever been.

Su Wan realized that she didn’t resist at all; in fact, she was quite attached and reluctant to push him away.

“Gu Huaizhi?”

Su Wan softly called out, her fingers tugging at his collar.

Gu Huaizhi remained completely still, and his breathing was steady.

Su Wan nudged his arm, “Gu Huaizhi? Huaizhi?”

Gu Huaizhi seemed utterly exhausted; he only moved slightly and did not loosen his hold on her.

Su Wan couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows—was he really sleeping so deeply? It seemed that the journey over this period had truly exhausted him.

A mischievous thought began to grow in her mind.

Su Wan wasn’t someone who would treat herself poorly; after all, it was Gu Huaizhi who had taken the initiative to hug her, so it wasn’t like she was taking advantage by leaning into him.

With a clear conscience, she nestled against Gu Huaizhi’s chest, finding a comfortable position, and closed her eyes to sleep peacefully.

As the person in his arms slept soundly, Gu Huaizhi slowly opened his eyes. He looked down at her serene sleeping face, and whatever crossed his mind made the corners of his mouth curl into a faint smile. He gently brushed the hair away from her cheek and pressed his face against her forehead as he settled in to sleep.

Su Wan did not reject his embrace; it seemed her heart had accepted him.

——

She had a dreamless night.

When Su Wan woke up, the sky was just beginning to lighten, and the man beside her had already gotten up.

She sat up and stretched lazily, feeling refreshed and full of energy.

After dressing neatly, Su Wan stepped out of the room and headed straight to the main hall.

In the hall, Mother Gu, Gu Baozhu, Gu Jingyun, Gu Huaizhi, and Jiu Ge were sitting around the Eight Immortals table. The table was set with bowls and chopsticks, but the food had not yet been served.

“Big Sister-in-law, you’re up!” Gu Baozhu beamed brightly and pointed to the empty seat between her and Gu Huaizhi, saying excitedly, “Today’s breakfast is made by Big Brother. I haven’t had his breakfast in a long time!”

Mother Gu said to Mrs. Hu, “Serve the food now.”

Mrs. Hu went to the kitchen to bring out breakfast.

“You don’t have to wait for me; you can start eating first. I got up late. You could have woken me up—there’s no need to just wait for me.”

Su Wan felt a bit embarrassed that everyone had waited with empty stomachs just for her. She sat down gracefully next to Gu Huaizhi. Thinking of the embrace from the previous night, her voice softened, and a hint of tenderness filled her eyes. “Let’s find a matchmaker to buy two cooks to prepare our meals.”

Gu Baozhu and Gu Jingyun chuckled secretly. Big Brother made breakfast for Big Sister-in-law, and Big Sister-in-law cared for Big Brother, wanting to buy cooks to prepare meals. This was really wonderful!

The eyes of the two little ones involuntarily fell on Su Wan’s belly.

Their mother had forbidden them from waking Big Sister-in-law, telling them that she needed to take good care of her health so she could give them a little nephew.

With eager eyes, Gu Baozhu and Gu Jingyun said, “Big Sister-in-law, eat more so you can give us a little nephew.”

“Cough, cough—”

Su Wan was drinking water, and she was so startled by their surprising words that she choked.

Her face turned bright red as she tried to muddle through with the two little ones, “Eating more won’t bring a little nephew. You have to go to the temple and pray to Guanyin Bodhisattva. Only when the Bodhisattva thinks the time is right will she bless us with a little nephew.”

Gu Jingyun and Gu Baozhu, half-understanding, remained enthusiastic, with their eyes crinkling with smiles. “Big Sister-in-law, Sister Jiu Ge said you and she are going to the Taoist Temple today. On our way back, let’s stop by the temple to pray to Guanyin Bodhisattva.”

Su Wan: “…”

She nudged Gu Huaizhi with her elbow: Can’t you say something?

Gu Huaizhi, with a smile on his lips, calmly said, “Praying during the Bodhisattva’s birthday is the most effective.”

“When is the Bodhisattva’s birthday?”

“February 19th.”

Gu Baozhu started counting on her fingers, calculating how long it was until February 19th.

Gu Jingyun looked disappointed. “We still have to wait several months.” Then, he brightened up again, “By then, Big Brother will be taking the spring exams. After he’s done, if the Bodhisattva blesses Big Sister-in-law with a little nephew, it would be a double celebration.”

“Ah??” Su Wan looked bewildered, her expression showing she had no idea what kind of strange talk they were engaging in.

But in her heart, she couldn’t help but ponder—what exactly did Gu Huaizhi mean by his words?

When the Bodhisattva’s birthday came, the two little ones really planned to go pray to the Bodhisattva.

Could it be that he would give her a child just to fulfill their wishes?

As soon as this thought arose, Su Wan’s mind began to drift. She couldn’t help but recall Gu Huaizhi’s embrace from the previous night. Could it be that he, too, had some impure thoughts about her?

The smile on Mother Gu’s face never faded; this was exactly how the house should be—lively and bustling.

She couldn’t help but dream a little in her heart; adding another child would certainly make things even more joyous!

At this moment, Mrs. Hu brought over breakfast, and everyone quietly began eating.

Su Wan ate an extra half bowl of noodles and, rubbing her slightly overstuffed belly, instructed Gu Huaizhi, “You don’t need to take us to the Taoist Temple. Qi Sixth will protect me. You should settle Second Brother and Third Sister first.”

Gu Huaizhi nodded slightly, “Alright, let Mo Yuan go with you.”

Su Wan did not refuse Gu Huaizhi’s arrangement and took Jiu Ge, Qi Sixth, and Mo Yuan to the Taoist Temple.

Jiu Ge had long been eager to meet Jiu Yu, so she had little appetite for breakfast, eating only two dumplings. While sitting in the carriage, she stared blankly at the green cloth curtain.

Her voice was somewhat ethereal, tinged with a hint of unease, “Sister Su Wan, my biggest wish in this lifetime has been to see my brother. Now that it’s really about to come true, I’m suddenly afraid.”

Jiu Ge lowered her eyes, staring at her hands resting on her knees.

Even though Su Wan had given her skincare cream, which had improved her skin somewhat, it was still quite rough, with knobby knuckles. Her hands were covered with scars of varying depths.

She tucked her fingers into her sleeves, “If my brother sees them, will he feel sad and blame himself? Will he regret not protecting me well enough?”

Su Wan held her hand and gently said, “Seeing you is more important than anything else. Otherwise, he would spend his entire life in guilt and regret.”

“Is that really so?” Jiu Ge’s clear eyes filled with a misty sheen as she leaned weakly against Su Wan’s shoulder, her soft voice brimming with gratitude, “Sister Su Wan, if it weren’t for you, I would have starved to death long ago and would never have met my brother in this lifetime.”

Su Wan didn’t speak; what Jiu Ge needed wasn’t comfort but someone to listen.

Suddenly, Su Wan recalled the identities of Jiu Ge and Jiu Yu. If her mother truly was the Empress of Xiliang, did their mother die in the struggle for the throne?

There was a blood feud between the families.

Yet when Jiu Ge spoke of her aunt, her eyes showed only affection, with no trace of hatred.

The carriage stopped at the foot of the mountain.

Su Wan gathered her thoughts and climbed up to the Taoist Temple with Jiu Ge.

The temple gate opened, and Jiu Yu came out from inside.

The moment Jiu Ge saw Jiu Yu, tears instantly streamed down her face, and all her worries were thrown to the wind.

She dashed forward, throwing herself into Jiu Yu’s arms and hugging him tightly, choking back sobs as she said, “Brother, I finally found you!”