Chapter 48

On the next day, Nianxi did not see Gu Ci.

Gu Ci’s bodyguard, Xie Qiu, came to her residence to deliver a message: “My lord has been busy with official matters these past two days and likely won’t have any free time. If you’re concerned about the shop, I can escort you there.”

Gu Ci had never failed to keep his promises before, so Nianxi asked, “Why is he suddenly so busy? He didn’t mention it yesterday.”

Xie Qiu vaguely responded, “An urgent matter came up this morning.”

Nianxi had a rough guess in her mind. She dismissed Xie Qiu and turned to look for her older brother. To her surprise, Wen Qingheng hadn’t returned home. He had only sent a servant back with a message saying he was resting at a friend’s house.

Was there any doubt left? Something must have happened last night, so Gu Ci didn’t dare to see her today.

At the root of it all, it was still Pei Jian, causing unrest for everyone.

Feeling annoyed, Nianxi grabbed a handkerchief to wipe her neck again. Last night, Pei Jian had cornered her in a dark alley, leaving her thoroughly irritated.

Is this the so-called inherent flaw of men? Do they only treasure what they can’t obtain?

Nianxi used to love him. Back then, his jealous madness seemed like an expression of love in her eyes. But now, having fallen out of love, everything Pei Jian did only repelled her.

She didn’t know that Pei Jian had come looking for her that morning. Previously, she had given instructions to Aunt Wang not to inform her of any news regarding Pei Jian. If she had seen him, she would have known how fierce last night’s fight must have been. However, three days later, when Gu Ci finally appeared, his handsome face bore a large bruise, and she could guess no less.

“How did you get hurt?” Nianxi leaned closer and saw that, besides his cheekbone, Gu Ci’s lips also had recently healed wounds.

“I accidentally fell,” Gu Ci sat obediently, letting Nianxi examine him. She was afraid of hurting him, so her touch was very gentle. Her breath was soft and fragrant, as tender as waves brushing over the shore, gradually enveloping him.

Gu Ci felt that getting injured wasn’t so bad—if it meant having her care for him.

Nianxi clicked her tongue at him, “Such a handsome face, and now look at it. How is this in any way good?”

Gu Ci suddenly recalled what Wen Qingheng had once said about Nianxi, “My younger sister loves good looks the most.”

Pei Jian also had top-tier looks, which stirred a sense of crisis within Gu Ci. He touched his cheek with one hand and sighed, “I’ll need to take good care of myself. Your pearl powders and poria creams—apply some on me in the future.”

“Fool, poria cream is for eating.” Noticing his evasiveness, trying to avoid her scrutiny, Nianxi stopped staring at his injuries and sat back in her original spot. “Would you like to borrow one of my dresses too?”

Gu Ci firmly refused, “Then wouldn’t that make me your sister?”

Nianxi immediately followed up, “Sister Ci~”

Gu Ci couldn’t help but laugh at her antics, and the gloom in his eyes dissipated for the most part.

Nianxi could actually understand his feelings. Childhood brothers suddenly turned against each other because they both liked the same person—it was absurd. Anyone would find it difficult to accept calmly for a time.

Nianxi was willing to console him. However, her annoyance with Pei Jian had reached its peak. She had long told him to stop disturbing her life, yet now he caused such an unpleasant scene.

It was truly disgusting!

Gu Ci, taking his day off today, remembered his promise to her earlier and asked, “Shall we go look at the shop?”

Nianxi gave him a sidelong glance. “Lord Gu is not busy now?”

Both of them knew that his excuse of being occupied with official duties for the past two days was merely a pretext to cover up his injured face.

Still, neither Nianxi nor Gu Ci brought up Pei Jian because there was really nothing to say.

Gu Ci looked at her for a moment and then said, “I’m also one of the shop’s staff. When is Shopkeeper Wen planning to open the shop? I’d like to have some money to spend.”

Nianxi shot him a playful glare. She had been busy with this matter for the past two days. Her Mu cousin was skilled at management, and both the shopkeeper and staff had been arranged. Nianxi herself was in charge of the menu and researching seasonal offerings. Over the last two days, they finalized plans for summer tea beverages and snacks. All that was left was to choose an auspicious date for the grand opening.

“Everything is ready. Over the past couple of days, I carefully wrote invitations to familiar young ladies and included handmade fragrance pouches with each invite. The small, exquisite pouches were gifted with care. Whether they decide to come or not is entirely up to them; I’ve done my part.”

Outside, the bright sunlight bathed the world, birds chirped near the window, and light beams filtered through the fine gaps, creating bands of shadow on the floor. Nianxi, with her hands clasped, shared updates from the past few days with ease and delight. “The shop is tailored for female guests, so it’ll surely create a uniquely charming space for women.”

Gu Ci listened quietly as she spoke. Her voice was gentle and soft, and the faint dimples on her cheeks would occasionally appear. Her arched brows and bright eyes were filled with hope for the future and the beverage shop. Just watching and listening to her made the gloom in his heart seem to dissipate.

Gu Ci felt that Nianxi seemed to be glowing.

Who wouldn’t love her? Suddenly, joy bubbled up in him. It felt like a piece of his heart had grown, filling his whole being with contentment. He didn’t even care that they were at the Wen residence; he grabbed Nianxi’s hand and softly said, “Nian’er, I’m truly happy.”

Nianxi turned to look at him, her face still flushed with excitement. “Happy about what? Do you think my ideas are childish?”

His gaze slowly moved over her until her face blushed even more under his intense look. He finally smiled lightly and said, “Happy… because I feel so lucky to have met you.”

Nianxi’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. She thought about how, in their previous lives, they hadn’t even met. She thought about his loneliness, never being able to return to the capital, about the unpredictable nature of fate. She held his hand tightly and said, “No matter who you met, you would have been happy. You’re such a good person. Even if it’s not me, anyone else would feel the same.”

He nodded slightly. “Perhaps. But I can’t imagine anyone else besides you. Without you, I could never feel complete.”

He lowered his gaze, his long lashes casting shadows over his deep eyes, and nodded slowly. “I am the type of person who’d rather wait alone than settle for less. If it’s not the person destined in my heart, I’d prefer to wait for her in solitude.”

So, Nianxi, please love me. Please let me stay by your side and love you forever.

Tears welled up in Nianxi’s eyes, and as she looked up, they streamed down her cheeks. His words, like a prophecy, seemed to confirm the fate of the proud general in the desert sands from their previous lives.

A sudden wave of sorrow surged in her heart. It was the first time Gu Ci had seen her cry. Panicking, he clumsily wiped her tears and stammered, “Did I say something wrong? Don’t be angry with me. I’ve been acting foolish lately…”

Nianxi shook her head with a smile, her tear-filled eyes shining like the stars in the sky. “Women like being cherished. I’m just overwhelmed with happiness.”

She didn’t want to sink into such sorrowful thoughts any longer. The future was uncertain, but what she could do now—what she wanted to do—was to give Gu Ci the present.

Live for the moment.

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Pei Jian stepped out of the Censorate. He was now the Left Vice Minister of the Censorate and had been extremely busy for days. From morning until night, he followed the same routine between his residence and the government office, using official duties to alleviate his restless emotions.

Over the past few days, he had sorted through the political enemies of his past life, eliminating those he had already removed, leaving three individuals. Pei Jian pondered deeply but couldn’t determine who among them was responsible for Nianxi’s death.

He thought carefully—Nianxi had no enmity with others. Her death could only be attributed to the deliberate revenge of his enemies.

At that time, in his campaign to eliminate dissenters, he had employed aggressive methods, creating many who wished for his demise. Everyone in the Chancellor’s residence, from the guards and servants to the cleaners, had undergone thorough screening before entry to ensure their backgrounds were clean.

So, how had Nianxi been poisoned inside the residence? He had no leads whatsoever.

In a low mood, Pei Jian absentmindedly walked down a narrow alley and encountered a carriage coming his way. He, being on horseback alone and disinclined to compete for the path, prepared to move aside. At that moment, the carriage curtain was lifted, revealing a delicate face. The beauty’s eyes were brimming with emotion like flowing water, her hair adorned with an intricate hairpin. As she leaned forward, the clinking of gold and jade echoed crisply.

“Cousin!” She exclaimed in surprise, her cheeks still streaked with un-wiped tears. Her soft voice called out to him instinctively.

Pei Jian’s gaze fell on the woman across from him and paused.

It was Xu Wanxin.

In that fleeting moment, a thought struck Pei Jian—though the Chancellor’s residence in his past life had been guarded like a fortress, it hadn’t been entirely free of outsiders.

At that time, Xu Wanxin had been taken into the residence for certain reasons.