Chapter 34

The shadow play was very captivating, and bursts of applause erupted from the audience from time to time. However, Gu Ci simply couldn’t focus. Faced with the one he loved, what man could remain calm and undisturbed?

He would occasionally take Nianxi’s hand in his, toying with it, or peel pine nuts and personally feed them to her lips. He constantly kept an eye on her teacup to see if it needed refilling and fanned her gently for fear she’d feel stifled.

Nianxi turned her head helplessly, “You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”

Gu Ci refused to admit it. “What are you talking about? I don’t understand.”

Nianxi glanced around. Their private box was relatively secluded on the second floor’s westernmost side. The guests’ attention was entirely drawn to the performance below, and the dim surroundings ensured no one would see them. So, without hesitation, she reached out and pinched Gu Ci’s lips, “You’re doing this on purpose, disturbing my thoughts.”

Gu Ci had a strikingly handsome and elegant appearance. Now, with Nianxi tugging at his lips, he looked both amusing and charming. He wasn’t the least bit annoyed. His eyes were filled with gentle affection, and he gazed at Nianxi with a soft smile, unblinking.

In the past, it was often him blushing from Nianxi’s teasing. But now, the roles had reversed, and Nianxi frequently found herself caught off guard, feeling shy.

Like now—Nianxi, flustered by his gaze, was about to let go of his lips, but he swiftly caught her hand and leaned down to kiss her.

“You’re the one who’s restless, sitting there making it impossible for me to focus.”

Xing Yue and Xie Qiu had already left the private box with knowing smiles when Nianxi pinched Gu Ci’s lips.

Gu Ci loved being close to Nianxi. He adored the sweet scent she carried, the enchanting sparkle in her lively eyes, and the intimacy of being near her. Even the most ordinary tasks became wonderful and joyful experiences as long as they were done together. He had never liked a girl so earnestly before—so much so that just thinking of her filled his heart with overflowing joy.

Gu Ci wished for Nianxi’s company every moment, but he dared not make it too obvious.

He wasn’t afraid of burdening her, but when you like someone deeply, you often become inexplicably irrational, caught between hope and fear.

Nianxi’s heart fluttered under Gu Ci’s gaze. She couldn’t quite describe the look in his eyes—only that they shone like fragments of gold, enveloping all his love and tenderness.

On an impulse, she lightly kissed those eyes. Then she pulled away. But the next moment, she was drawn into his arms, sitting on Gu Ci’s lap, receiving his passionate and fervent kiss.

In a secluded corner where no one paid attention, they embraced and kissed deeply. When it ended, Nianxi felt her tongue go numb, and as she sipped tea, the tip of her tongue stung slightly.

This is madness. They were so brazen!

One must know that the private boxes in the entertainment quarter are unlike those in restaurants—the side facing the stage is completely open. If someone leaned over, they could easily see the mischief they were up to.

Nianxi’s heart raced. In her past life, as the dutiful and rule-abiding Madam Pei, she realized she actually enjoyed this feeling of indulgence.

To be loved wholeheartedly was thrilling and liberating.

As thunderous applause erupted around them and the shadow play came to an end, the lights brightened. Gu Ci leaned close to her ear and whispered tenderly, “Nian’er, I like you very much.”

The bustling market of Zhong’an Bridge is the liveliest and most prosperous area in the entire capital, filled with theaters, taverns, and inns—both charming and dignified.

After leaving the theater, Nianxi leaned against the carriage window, gazing outside. A dazzling sea of lights stretched into the heart of the bustling city.

Xie Qiu drove the carriage forward at a leisurely pace.

As they passed by a theater district, Nianxi noticed brightly dressed courtesans flaunting themselves at the entrance, some walking arm-in-arm with familiar male patrons into the hall. If one looked closely, the men’s hands were even placed on the women’s hips.

Gu Ci, who had been accompanying Nianxi in looking outside, silently lowered the bamboo curtain upon seeing this. “Such filth—don’t let it taint your eyes.”

Though slightly embarrassed, Nianxi remained intrigued. She had even caught sight of two men embracing, but Gu Ci interrupted her before she could get a clearer look.

Nianxi asked, “Do the officers of the Five City Patrol often frequent such places?”

The Five City Patrol was responsible for maintaining order in the capital. As the deputy commander of the Northern City, Gu Ci must have visited such places quite often. However, Gu Ci replied with a serious and unyielding demeanor, “I never set foot in such establishments.”

This is a rare example of integrity.

The interconnected theaters stretched one after another, as the carriage rumbled past. From time to time, ambiguous and unrestrained sounds could be heard from beyond the curtain.

Not wanting Nianxi to hear such things, Gu Ci began talking about himself. “You know my family—my father and two elder brothers are far away in the northern frontier. It’s rare to see them, let alone receive their guidance. My mother, fearing I might be led astray, has always been strict with me since childhood, forbidding me from entering such places.”

Seeing that Nianxi was indeed curious and no longer looking out the window, he continued: “Even Shizhang was taught by my mother to uphold his principles and avoid associating with women of ill repute. My mother often said that women work hard to honor their in-laws at home and raise children. If a man cannot empathize and instead indulges in infidelity, then he is heartless.”

Nianxi’s thoughts stirred. In her previous life, she had never borne children. She recalled how many people, in their attempts to curry favor with Pei Jian, openly or secretly sent women to him. Yet, he remained like a saint, unmoved by temptation.

Nianxi had always thought that it was because of Xu Wanxin that Pei Jian remained loyal to her. Little did she know Gu Ci’s mother, Madam Wang, also played a role in shaping this behavior.

Madam Wang was truly a woman of great wisdom and integrity. She understood women’s hardships, teaching her sons to treat their wives kindly—unlike Cousin Mu’s mother-in-law, who only sought to oppress her daughter-in-law, a fellow woman.

Such a virtuous Madam Wang, however, did not meet a good end.

“I heard from my brother that the court is currently recruiting soldiers and stockpiling grain to launch an offensive against Northern Liang in the winter. Is it the Duke who will lead the army?”

“The commander-in-chief is my father.”

Nianxi carefully chose her words. “I’ve heard that Northern Liang has suffered from years of natural disasters, leaving the people in extreme famine. Will this battle be an assured victory for us?”

Gu Ci asked, “Why the sudden interest in this?”

Nianxi smiled, gesturing to the flourishing fireworks beyond the curtain. “I feel that Great Jing’s peace and prosperity are all thanks to the Duke, the two generals, and the tens of thousands of soldiers.”

Gu Ci patted her head gently. “Don’t worry, nothing will go wrong. My family has defended the northern frontier for generations; no one knows the enemy better than my father. This campaign will be meticulously planned to deliver a decisive blow to the enemy.”

Upon hearing this, Nianxi felt a chill rise in her chest. She finally understood what Pei Jian meant that day about hardship. It felt like an unchangeable destiny, watching it reach a turning point with her own eyes. No matter how much she struggled, she was powerless to escape it.

“Are you feeling sleepy?” Gu Ci noticed her silence and spoke softly, “The carriage will take a while to get there. If you’re tired, lean on me and take a nap. I’ll wake you when we arrive.”

As he spoke, he pulled Nianxi into his embrace to make her more comfortable.

Nianxi’s mind was in turmoil as she leaned against Gu Ci’s chest. For the first time since her rebirth, she felt a sense of utter confusion and helplessness.