The carriage continued on its way, and Zanying stole a few glances at the person beside her.

Her gaze was not particularly discreet, but Wei Yu suppressed his usual cold demeanor and relaxed, saying, “Do you believe him?”

“No.” Zanying replied immediately.

She had witnessed the Crown Prince’s ruthlessness and felt nothing but disdain for him now.

Looking back on everything, she was puzzled as to why she had once liked such a person so unreservedly.

Let alone believing anything he said.

“It’s just that I remember things late, and many events from my childhood are blurred.” She explained softly.

She had no recollection of the incident last night when Chun Jin mentioned Wei Yu had taken her climbing trees, nor of the frightening white wolf this morning.

As for the “almost sold her” that Li Jinghuan mentioned, she didn’t believe it, but there must have been some incident that led to such a claim.

Putting these pieces together, Wei Yu seemed like someone who enjoyed scaring children.

But how could that be?

“Remembering things late is a blessing.” Wei Yu turned his head slightly, the strong contours of his jaw visible. “Don’t worry, I didn’t intend to sell you.”

Zanying responded slowly.

She wasn’t worried; it was just a pity that she didn’t remember that part of her past.

Since he wasn’t keen on elaborating, she didn’t press further, lowering her head to pick up a piece of rice cake and silently put it in her mouth.

Wei Yu, however, seemed to notice her downcast demeanor and, seeing her genuine curiosity, slowly put down the bamboo slip. “It’s not a big deal. Ten years ago, when I left the capital, I actually intended to take you with me.”

Zanying looked up in disbelief.

Wei Yu’s eyes, bright with a certain light, paused momentarily before his voice returned to its usual calm tone. “But you didn’t come with me.”

Zanying stared at his lips, losing her breath for a long time.

In her previous life, she had heard of Wei Yu causing a scene in the Empress’s palace with a gun, leading to his angry departure from the capital, but she never knew that she had been part of that story.

She never imagined it would be like this.

What Wei Yu just said wasn’t about the palace not allowing it, but rather, that she hadn’t gone with him.

Ten years ago, when she was five, she could imagine that at that time she was being sweet-talked by Empress Yu, constantly clinging to her mother and following Li Jinghuan around.

It wasn’t easy for outsiders to take away a child lost in a sweet illusion.

A chill ran down Zanying’s back, and her chest felt as though it was filled with crushed mint, with cold air seeping out.

She had thought that in her previous life, she was hopeless and surrounded by predators, with no one truly caring for her.

Was it not the case?

Had she herself given up the chance to escape the fire pit?

A gentle pat on her back snapped her out of her thoughts.

Zanying, startled, took a deep breath as if awakening from a dream.

Wei Yu watched her pale face gradually regain color and frowned. “Don’t think about it anymore. It’ll give you a headache.”

“The past is not very important. Don’t think about it. But now, have you truly decided not to return to the palace?”

Seeing this, Fu Zanying felt a deep sense of sorrow, realizing how deeply rooted the image of her longing to marry had become over the years.

Her heart was burdened with secrets from two lifetimes, unable to cry or laugh.

Her teeth left a red mark on her lower lip as she stared at the Grand Marshal, showing a hint of stubbornness.

“I would rather die than go back.”

Upon hearing this word, Wei Yi glanced at her with slight heaviness and tapped the wooden table beside him three times. “Nonsense.”

The rest of the journey was silent between the two of them.

Zanying felt that the Grand Marshal seemed unwilling to delve into past matters and ate cake quietly by herself.

Jiangcheng County was located in the southwest of the capital, under the jurisdiction of Langya County, with Linyi to the south.

Langya and Linyi were originally names from northern Qingzhou.

9After the chaos of the Five Barbarians and the disturbance in Luoyang, the Jin Dynasty moved south and established a regime in Jiangnan, naming many of the southern counties after northern places out of nostalgia for their homeland.

Their journey from the palace to Jiangcheng was shorter than starting from the inner city of Jiankang, but it still took nearly an hour on the road.

Arriving at the villa, Wei Yi got out of the carriage first, steadied the footstool with his toes, and extended an arm toward the carriage.

Zanying reached out to hold his arm as she got out, softly thanking him.

In the following carriage, Chun Jin and Ren Niang(Mrs.Ren) also disembarked.

Chun Jin, having served as a maid all her life, was amazed to be riding in a separate carriage and commented quietly, “The Grand Marshal’s entourage is indeed extraordinary.”

Ren Niang, observing the tall and short figures ahead, saw the delicate figure of the young lady walking slowly in embroidered shoes, while the proud and exceptional Wei Yi patiently waited for her to walk beside him.

She understood better than Chun Jin and smiled, saying, “It’s not that the arrangement is unusual; it’s just that the young lady is special.”

The design of the Gu family villa was modeled after northern fortress-style structures.

Through the bamboo fence, two levels of wooden towers could be vaguely seen, topped with tiled roofs decorated with rope patterns.

With bamboo trees, medicinal herbs, flowing streams, and small bridges, the place exuded a refined and elegant ambiance.

Having lived in the grand and orderly palace before, Zanying had never experienced such natural beauty of pavilions and corridors.

Her bright eyes were full of curiosity.

She thought to herself, living in such a place, indulging in the mountains and waters, resting on stones and washing with the flow, playing the zither and raising cranes, must be very pleasant.

Wei Yi led her through a pond filled with medicinal herbs and soon encountered an elderly man in a cloth robe with silver hair, accompanied by two servants, coming down the gravel path with a serious expression.

As they approached, the elder examined Wei Yu with a critical eye and said, “Even the Wang family’s young master is not as keen as you are in visiting. Now that you hold a high office, you still dare to come empty-handed.”

Zanying, with her thin skin, felt embarrassed by the elder’s words, though they were not directed at her.

She blushed before Wei Yu.

Wei Yu, unfazed, stood tall in front, and with a respectful nod said, “I didn’t prepare any gifts in my haste. I came today to have a meal with Uncle, so please bear with me.”

His attitude towards the elder was a mix of respect and familiarity.

Zanying could guess who the elder was.

When the elder’s gaze turned towards her, she bowed respectfully and greeted, “Miss Fu Zanying greets Lord Gu. I apologize for coming unannounced without prior introduction. I hope Lord Gu will be lenient.”

The head of the Gu family, seeing this young lady’s refined demeanor and ethereal grace, internally praised her.

However, not recognizing her, he pondered, “Who is this?”

Wei Yu lowered his lashes slightly and said, “She is Ah Su’s child.”

Lord Gu knew who “Ah Su” was and was thus surprised.

His eyes, with a tint of blue mist, observed the lady before him, and a trace of anguish flickered in his eyes, which Zanying could not understand.

Wei Yu continued, “The marriage engagement has been called off, and she is no longer in the palace.”

Lord Gu’s expression changed, and Wei Yu added, “This morning, Gu Yuanli impeached the Crown Prince, accusing him of misconduct.”

Upon hearing this, Zanying turned to look at him.

It seemed that the Grand Marshal was aware of the events in court.

However, judging by Lord Gu’s expression, he seemed unaware of the recent turmoil in the capital.

Was it really appropriate to alarm an elderly man like this?

Gu Yuanli was a distant relative of the Gu family, and Lord Gu had little contact with him.

After a moment of silence, Lord Gu slowly said, “Court affairs are irrelevant to an old man like me. No need to discuss them.”

He then turned away, “Aren’t you here for a meal? Delin, set the table.”

Though it was called breakfast, it was nearly noon, so it would be more accurate to call it a brunch.

Wei Yu, not being polite, led Zanying directly to the small bamboo pavilion for the meal.

Lord Gu’s only remaining younger son, Gu Huai, had left the night before to fish at East Lake, so his family was not available to entertain guests.

He called out his granddaughter to host.

This young lady, named Gu Xichan, was lively and spirited, with a long face, willow-like eyebrows, and beautiful eyes.

Her hairstyle, a green feathered little cicada bun, made her seem about the same age as Zanying.

Upon meeting, she first paid her respects to Wei Yu, addressing him as “Sixteen Uncle,” indicating their familiarity.

Then, upon seeing Zanying, she exclaimed, “Sister Anong, you are so beautiful,” nearly making Zanying blush.

After the introductions, Gu Xichan learned of Zanying’s identity and tactfully avoided mentioning it further.

She inquired about recent new gardens and news in the capital, as she had not been back to Jiankang for several years.

Zanying, not as well-versed in current affairs, answered as best as she could.