Chapter 38

Nianxi was startled during the competition. At the time, her legs indeed weakened, and her heart trembled. However, afterward, before Gu Ci could escort her home, she had already calmed down from the fright.

Instead, it was Gu Ci who, for several days, regardless of how tiring his duties were, made detours to check on Nianxi.

Nianxi teased him with a smile, “I think the one who was truly frightened is you, isn’t it?”

Gu Ci didn’t deny it and held Nianxi’s hand in his palm. “I went to Sanqing Temple to request a charm for peace. Once the master has blessed it, we’ll retrieve it in a few days.”

Nianxi felt touched. “After the incident at the racetrack, you went straight to Sanqing Temple?”

Gu Ci nodded with a gentle smile. “My heart was uneasy.”

He didn’t mention that besides Sanqing Temple, he also went to Xiangguo Temple that day, where he dedicated an everlasting lamp before the Buddha for Nianxi, praying for her safety and well-being. He used to dismiss such things as mere illusions. Now, he only wished he could be even more devout so that Buddha might grant more protection to his beloved.

For the past two days, Nianxi had been preoccupied with the matter of Princess Wen Shu. If not for her warning the princess to avoid the lake outing, Xiao Nanxi would have passed away on Dragon Boat Festival, and the horse on the racetrack would not have lost control. Could this be what is called fate, an unchangeable course?

Even if she saved the princess once, would fate compensate for it elsewhere? Was Princess Wen Shu destined to die no matter what?

She felt disheartened and, thinking about Gu Ci’s future as well, couldn’t help but voice her doubts.

“Why are you thinking about fate?” Gu Ci turned to look at her. Nianxi’s almond-shaped eyes were clear and dark, resembling a startled deer carrying a hint of unease.

Feeling tender affection for her, he reassured her, “I see this as more of a man-made scheme—if one plot fails, another is attempted. With Princess Wen Shu’s temperament, especially on the racetrack, it’s not hard to set a trap for her.”

Nianxi was stunned. She had spent the past few days stuck in the “destined fate” mindset, feeling sorrowful, and had never considered that the death of Princess Wen Shu in her past life might not have been an accident. “Then who could it be?” she asked urgently.

“I’m not sure,” Gu Ci replied.

No matter how meticulous and insightful Gu Ci might be, he was still just a youth who was not yet of age. He could discern that the two near-incidents involving Princess Wen Shu were far from simple. However, he could not grasp the person’s true motive behind it all. Moreover, as the matter involved the royal family, it was not something he could judge rashly.

Nianxi, on the other hand, was not disappointed. If this matter were so simple, the culprit would be laughably amateur. After all, the uproar caused by Princess Wen Shu’s death in her previous life had ultimately been attributed to an accident.

In fact, there was a simpler way to uncover the truth—directly asking Pei Jian. He would surely know something about the situation. But she did not want to do that. Is there any need for it?

That day at Qing Shui Pavilion, she had subtly tested Pei Jian regarding her death. Judging from his reaction, he appeared unaware. If it wasn’t him, then it must have been his political rivals.

When Pei Jian was promoted to Prime Minister, his daily outings were accompanied by an impressive procession of guards. She had once thought it was merely the ostentation of a Chancellor. It wasn’t until he was publicly assassinated, an arrow piercing his forearm, that she realized just how perilous that position truly was. Honestly, upon learning that it wasn’t Pei Jian who had harmed her, she felt a sense of relief. Not for any particular reason—at least the person she once loved wasn’t a monster.

Besides, harboring hatred is too exhausting. Such intense emotions were better reserved for loving the people around her who truly deserved it.

As for who her real culprit might be, of course, she wanted to know. But tracking down a murderer from over a decade ago was far too difficult for her.

By comparison, living in the present mattered most.

Seeing her lost in thought, Gu Ci waved his hand before her eyes. “What are you thinking about?”

Letting go of her worries, Nianxi propped her chin on her hands and replied gloomily, “I was thinking—it’s been days since I’ve had Sugar Snow.”

Amused by her adorable demeanor, Gu Ci picked up a slice of watermelon with a fork and brought it to her lips. Glancing briefly at the maids nearby, he softly asked, “Haven’t you been avoiding cold things these days?”

Sugar Snow was a treat made of finely shaved ice topped with cheese and syrup, shaped into a mountain and garnished with fresh fruit. Scooped up with a small spoon, the sweet toppings mixed with the icy shards melted on the tongue—a blissful indulgence during the summer heat.

Nianxi couldn’t stand the heat, and summer was always difficult for her. No matter what it was—drinks, cooling teas, cold desserts, or iced cream—she indulged in a bit of it every day.

Madam Li often scolded her, saying consuming too much ice water in summer wasn’t good. When Nianxi wouldn’t listen despite repeated warnings, Madam Li imposed restrictions at home.

Gu Ci, naturally, sided with Madam Li. But how could he resist Nianxi’s pitiful, pleading gaze? So, he would secretly bring her some cold treats from outside. Even then, he wouldn’t let her eat much—just a few bites to satisfy her craving before finishing the rest himself.

In the past few days, Nianxi’s monthly cycle had arrived. With three elder sisters, Gu Ci understood enough that women should avoid consuming cold things during this time. Therefore, he firmly refrained from giving her anything icy—even her tea had to be warm.

Nianxi teased him with a laugh, “Why do you act like you’re sneaking around?”

Gu Ci looked at her indulgently. “This is a private matter for women, yet I remember it so well. If your brother finds out, he’ll surely glare at me again.”

Between lovers, intimacy is inevitable, and Gu Ci is incredibly clingy. At first, he restrained himself, careful not to overstep boundaries, always watching Nianxi’s expressions. But when he realized she didn’t mind, his courage grew.

That day, at the ball game in the southern market, Gu Ci scored the winning goal, earning a prized jade flute from the opposing team leader. Amid thunderous applause and cheers, he presented the trophy to Nianxi in front of everyone. The setting sun bathed her blushing face and her captivating, expressive eyes. Pushing through the teasing crowd, he led her to a secluded alley and gently kissed her crimson lips, suppressing the overwhelming love he dared not voice. His touch was light yet deeply affectionate. Until Nianxi let out an “Ouch!” and pushed him away forcefully. Before Gu Ci could react, she bit her lower lip, her face flushed as she awkwardly said, “I’m… not feeling convenient.”

At first, he didn’t understand what she meant by “not convenient.” When he finally realized, his face turned even redder than hers. He quickly fetched the carriage and sent her home.

That night, Gu Ci took his usual cold bath. But no matter how many buckets of cold water he used, he couldn’t extinguish the fire in his heart.

Nianxi scolded him, tossing a handkerchief at him. “You’re the one with such a good memory.”

Even remembering the days of her monthly cycle so diligently.

The handkerchief floated down onto Gu Ci’s cheek. He caught it with a smile and gently coaxed her, “Don’t be upset. When the Qixi Lantern Festival comes, I’ll buy you two extra bowls to try. It’s not far off.”

Unable to resist the temptation of cold treats, Nianxi immediately replied, “Then make sure they’re topped with lots of cheese syrup.”