Chapter 49
Gu Chi x Li Zhi
Extra 5

Gu Chi didn’t dare to be unreasonable, like when they first met. Moreover, Li Zhi had said that if he didn’t take the herbs away, he shouldn’t come back. In other words, if he took them away, he could come back next time.

Gu Chi took the herbs home, his mind filled with the image of Li Zhi being angry. Feeling anxious, he decided to seek help from his sister-in-law at the neighboring King’s residence and ask what to do when Li Zhi was truly angry. His sister-in-law agreed to deliver the items for him and told him she had never seen Li Zhi angry. As he was leaving, she also advised him to talk more about his feelings with Li Zhi.

Talking more about feelings? Gu Chi wasn’t sure if his sister-in-law’s suggestion was right.

Although his mother had also complained about his lack of words, saying he was like his father, both not talkative, he just didn’t like to talk. He didn’t understand why he needed to say things that could be done directly, so he didn’t immediately take his sister-in-law’s advice, and he regretted it for a long time.

The result of Gu Chi not talking properly was that Li Zhi became even angrier after receiving the items brought by Li Mu and ignored him for over a month.

In fact, Li Zhi wasn’t usually so hot-tempered. She just realized after seeing Li Mu that she couldn’t neglect her family for a moment of pleasure. She intended to use this anger to sever ties with Gu Chi, but Gu Chi was persistent. Despite being ignored for over a month, he didn’t give up and continued to visit her whenever he had time.

On this snowy day, Li Zhi couldn’t bear to let Gu Chi come in the snow only to drop off something and leave. Reluctantly, she invited him inside for a cup of hot tea, intending to have a proper conversation with him.

“If our relationship is discovered, it will harm her,” Li Zhi said seriously. “Gu Chi, let’s end this.”

Gu Chi took a sip of the tea Li Zhi had poured for him. The tea was warm, but it couldn’t calm the turmoil in his heart. As expected, he would usually leave silently, planning to come back next time to show Li Zhi that he wouldn’t give up so easily.

But seeing Li Zhi’s expression, he couldn’t bear it. He lowered his gaze to the teacup, searching his mind for a solution. After a long time, he finally remembered his sister-in-law’s advice.

“…It can’t end.” Outside, the wind and snow raged. Gu Chi put down the teacup, walked over to Li Zhi, knelt down, took her hand, and placed it on his chest. “Qiongshi, it can’t end between us.”

Li Zhi stared at him, tears streaming down her face. “But… but we…”

“No one will find out,” Gu Chi said. “You saved us before, and my brother arranged for someone to protect you, fearing you might be retaliated against.”

Li Zhi was stunned. “What?”

Gu Chi continued, “He has people watching out for you. No one will discover our relationship.”

Li Zhi’s face turned red, and her tears stopped. She pushed Gu Chi, trying to make him leave. “You… you get out! Get out!”

The more she thought about it, the more embarrassed she became. As she pushed Gu Chi, he not only fell to the ground but also pulled Li Zhi down with him from the chair.

Li Zhi fell into Gu Chi’s arms, trying to get up, but he held her tightly.

Gu Chi thought, since he had already said so much, he might as well say more. He also realized that while he easily got annoyed talking to others, talking more to Li Zhi didn’t seem difficult.

“I don’t want to leave, and I don’t want to go,” he expressed his feelings about being driven away by Li Zhi each time and the reason he rushed back to see her earlier than planned. “During those days in Anzhou, I missed you so much. I thought about you every day, to the point of almost going crazy.”

Li Zhi couldn’t listen anymore and covered his mouth. “You’ve said enough.”

Who taught Gu Chi to say such things!

Seeing that Li Zhi no longer drove him away, Gu Chi began to appreciate the value of speaking his mind, though he wasn’t yet skilled at it. So when Li Zhi covered his mouth, he stopped talking.

They both got up from the ground. Li Zhi wanted to ask something but hesitated. For the first time, she moved closer to Gu Chi and whispered, “Those people… are they still around?”

Li Zhi was referring to the people secretly protecting her.

Gu Chi replied, “They’re not around anymore. Every time I come, they stay far away.”

Of course, it wasn’t always like this. It seemed that after he kissed Li Zhi, the hidden guards would tactfully retreat whenever he visited.

Li Zhi thought that this wasn’t unacceptable.

With Gu Chi’s words, Li Zhi began to waver and reconsider their relationship.

If they wouldn’t be discovered, continuing seemed possible.

After all, it wasn’t just Gu Chi who missed the other. She missed him, too.

Li Zhi knew it wasn’t right, but she couldn’t help but crave everything Gu Chi gave her.

Later, they met a few more times. After several months, they ended up in bed again. Hearing the bed frame creak without any cover, Li Zhi was scared and called for a stop.

That time, when her sister came to visit, her sister’s maid accidentally bumped into the bedpost. The old bed creaked, startling her. Trying to comfort her, she blurted out that the bed frame sounded scary but was actually very sturdy, reassuring her not to be afraid.

Who knew that this would happen? Li Zhi was very concerned and insisted on getting up from the bed.

Gu Chi reluctantly stopped, but seeing Li Zhi’s determination, he carried her to the table. During such moments, Li Zhi was so embarrassed that tears streamed down her face, and she asked him to slow down.

Gu Chi, who had been talking more and more lately, said to her, “You’re crying.”

In the past, if someone told Li Zhi she was crying, she would have been upset. Now, hearing such words, she just wanted to push Gu Chi away.

Fortunately, Gu Chi whispered in her ear before she could move, “The more you cry, the slower I’ll go.”

Li Zhi’s legs were curled around Gu Chi’s sweaty waist, and she couldn’t help but miss the time when he didn’t talk much.

At least back then, Gu Chi wouldn’t be so straightforward, leaving her helpless.

Gu Chi still asked Li Zhi if she would marry him, but unlike before, his questions were now accompanied by many expressions of love that he had never shared with her before.

At first, Li Zhi wasn’t used to it. It took her some time to learn to share her thoughts with Gu Chi. It also took her a long time to overcome her psychological barriers and tell Gu Chi that she couldn’t have children. Marrying her would not only mean facing rumors but also the possibility of not having children. However, Gu Chi’s family environment and upbringing meant that he wouldn’t mind this. After all, adopting another child was always an option. Lin Qiwu and Lin Yan’an weren’t his biological siblings either, yet one was his sister and the other his nephew.

Even though they had talked it out, Li Zhi couldn’t immediately overcome the hurdle in her heart. It took another six months before she mustered the courage to agree to marry Gu Chi.

Gu Chi didn’t delay. He went back and told his mother and brother about it. Li Zhi anxiously waited for news for several days. When Gu Chi returned, he confessed that he had been beaten and had just managed to get out of bed to come to her, fearing she would be uneasy if she waited too long.

Seeing Gu Chi’s injuries, Li Zhi asked, “Does it still hurt?”

Gu Chi shook his head, not wanting Li Zhi to worry, and said, “Actually, my mother was right. I shouldn’t have been intimate with you before marrying you. It wasn’t good for you. It was my fault.”

Li Zhi softly replied, “It wasn’t entirely your fault.”

Both felt guilty, thinking that if they were to do it again, they might still break some rules. But regardless, they could be together now. Both Gu Chi and Li Zhi were very happy. They talked about their future plans to ease their impatience.

Li Zhi taught Gu Chi to express his feelings, and Gu Chi’s love made Li Zhi different from before. Although she still liked to cry—something she couldn’t control—she became less timid and wouldn’t sacrifice herself for others.

So, when the Li family sent someone to fetch Li Zhi, bringing a message from her father asking her to fulfill her duty to the family, she refused. Her heart ached, but she firmly chose her own path. She didn’t expect her father to be so ruthless, instructing the maid to kill her.

Before Li Mu rushed to save her, she still thought time would prove to her father that she was right. It wasn’t until she saw the rope in the maid’s hand, meant to strangle her, that she realized how naive she had been.

She cried bitterly, and after crying, she felt desolate and leaned on Li Mu, lost in thought. Later, she learned that Li Mu had long known about her and Gu Chi but had kept quiet out of consideration for her.

Sometimes, Li Zhi wondered why her fifth sister, who also didn’t talk much, was so endearing, while Gu Chi’s silence made her so annoying.

The annoying Gu Chi waited for Li Mu to leave, then quickly walked over to Li Zhi, checking if she was hurt, his brows furrowed tightly, making his already cold face even more unapproachable.

“I’m fine,” Li Zhi said.

Gu Chi carefully confirmed that Li Zhi was indeed fine. He cupped her face and pressed his forehead against hers, saying, “I’m sorry.”

Li Zhi asked, “Why are you apologizing?”

It was her father who wanted to kill her, not Gu Chi.

Gu Chi couldn’t explain it clearly. Even though he knew the maid sent by the Li family couldn’t succeed, he was still scared and worried. He feared something might really happen to Li Zhi, and even if nothing did, he worried she would be hurt emotionally. He also feared that after this incident, Li Zhi might not want him anymore.

“I won’t leave you,” Li Zhi said. “It’s just that my heart feels heavy, but that’s because of my father, not you.”

They spoke with their heads close together for a long time.

Gu Chi, not good with words, still tried his best to ease Li Zhi’s sorrow. He spoke softly, expressing his feelings.

The atmosphere was just right, and Gu Chi wanted to kiss Li Zhi. She closed her eyes, but the sound of Li Mu jumping around outside ruined the moment.

Gu Chi: “…”

Li Zhi: “…”

With her sister (sister-in-law) still outside, it was indeed improper for them to be affectionate inside.

Gu Chi rested his head on Li Zhi’s shoulder, making her laugh.

Although this incident hurt Li Zhi’s heart, it also gave them an opportunity.

Publicly, Gu Chi now had a suitable reason to propose, claiming it was love at first sight and asking the Grand Princess to propose on his behalf. No one would know that they had met much earlier than people thought. The engagement process went smoothly, and they set the wedding date for the following spring.

During this time, many things happened in the court, keeping Gu Chi extremely busy. He couldn’t even stay in the capital for the Mid-Autumn Festival. He finally returned before the New Year but was so busy with wedding preparations that he had no time to see Li Zhi.

On the wedding day, Gu Chi rode to fetch his bride and brought her home in a grand procession. The double happiness candles burned quietly, and when the red veil was lifted, Gu Chi saw Li Zhi dressed as a bride.

Li Zhi also saw Gu Chi in his red wedding attire. At that moment, their hearts settled. They had long forgotten the strange dream of the past, in which Li Zhi drowned and Gu Chi was killed by Li Zhi. Those dreams no longer had any relevance to their lives.

End of Gu Chi x Li Zhi’s story