Chapter 10

Gu Ci achieved the top rank in the martial arts examination.

At the same time, good news came from the border—

Duke Gu Chengye led his army across the Yan Mountains, achieving a major victory over Northern Liang, killing thousands of enemy soldiers, seizing hundreds of thousands of livestock, and capturing Gaoque.

The Emperor bestowed rewards and titles, elevating the status of the Duke’s household and making them highly influential and celebrated. It was a time of unparalleled splendor and prestige.

The Gu family hosted a grand banquet, and the Wen family also received an invitation.

Nianxi’s invitation, however, came earlier and was unique in the capital—it was personally sent by Gu Ci himself.

“Could you leave a little later the day after tomorrow?” Gu Ci, who had recently been appointed as a sixth-rank commander at the Northern City Garrison, was set to take office soon.

Standing under the corridor, Nianxi shook her head and said, “That day, my father is attending a scholarly gathering, and I will accompany my mother to your family’s banquet. As for when we’ll return, that will depend on my mother’s decision.”

Gu Ci felt a bit disappointed upon hearing this. But Nianxi’s words were reasonable. Just as he was about to brush it off with something to say, Nianxi winked at him: “Could it be that there’s a surprise?”

Caught off guard, Gu Ci didn’t deny it and smiled with a hint of bashfulness. “I don’t know if you’ll like it.”

Nianxi didn’t ask what the surprise was; instead, she smiled brightly and said softly, “I’m sure I’ll like it.”

“I’ll try to spend more time with my mother that day and leave a bit later.”

Gu Ci’s face grew even hotter. “The day after tomorrow, there’s a break at the Imperial Academy. My close classmates will all be there.”

Under the gaze of her bright, moist, almond-shaped eyes, his heartbeat quickened. Feeling shy, he said more than usual, “One of them is a brother I grew up with. Oh, and that horse, Ta Xue, is his. When the time comes, we can thank him together.”

Nianxi wasn’t particularly interested in Gu Ci’s classmates or brothers, but she followed along with his words, asking, “I thought Ta Xue was your horse.”

“I do have a few fine horses, but they are all spirited and unsuitable for beginners,” Gu Ci quickly explained, fearing Nianxi might think him stingy. “Ta Xue is exceptionally gentle and is my brother’s favorite.”

“Isn’t that taking away something precious from someone?”

“We’re like brothers; he wouldn’t mind,” Gu Ci reassured her. “My brother values relationships deeply and is highly talented… Forget it. Let’s not talk about him.”

Suddenly, Gu Ci felt an inexplicable sense of unease. In his usual conversations with Nianxi, her speech was elegant and refined, undoubtedly influenced by Wen Siyue and Wen Qingheng. Her father and brother were scholars, whereas he was a military man.

What if Nianxi had met Pei Jian first?

Nianxi liked handsome young men, and Pei Jian’s looks and demeanor were equally outstanding!

Gu Ci was not one to underestimate himself. Still, he had to admit that his current achievements and recognition were heavily influenced by his family, his father, and elder brother, as well as the prestige of the Duke’s household.

Pei Jian, on the other hand, had built everything from the ground up through his own efforts. Even under the harshest scrutiny, Pei Jian seemed to surpass him in many ways.

Suddenly, Gu Ci wished that Nianxi and Pei Jian would never meet.

Gu Ci didn’t realize that when you truly like someone, there often comes a desire for possession, jealousy, and an anxious fear of loss. He couldn’t understand why he’d come up with such an irrational thought, terrified that Nianxi might take an interest in his close friend.

But Nianxi knew it all. The bitterness in love and the unspoken selfishness—she had experienced it before.

Nianxi simply found this side of Gu Ci endearing. “When I’ve improved my riding skills, I’ll ride your spirited horses,” she said gently.

Her words did wonders to soothe Gu Ci’s emotions. To him, Nianxi felt like a treasure bestowed by heaven—someone who understood, comforted, and captivated him completely.

Gu Ci nodded firmly, his smile bright and pure. “You can pick any of my horses.”

---

In recent days, Gu Ci’s mood was visibly frenetic and restless.

Pei Jian found it irritating. While he was busy running around dealing with the calamities of Duke Zhen’s household, Gu Ci seemed utterly carefree. “Before you come to my residence tomorrow, help me pick up a set of jewelry from the Treasure Pavilion.”

“I don’t have time.” Pei Jian refused without hesitation.

Gu Ci acted as if he didn’t notice his cold expression and continued, “When you’re picking it up, pay extra attention to the hairpins and temple ornaments. I had them redone.”

Gu Ci had ordered the jewelry set early on from the Treasure Pavilion.

A few days before the banquet, the manager of the Treasure Pavilion personally delivered the jewelry box to Duke Zhen’s residence, a testament to its value.

Nianxi loved these delicate trinkets. That day, he personally placed the gemstone bracelet on her wrist and felt as though his heart was about to leap out of his throat. Such a slender, fair wrist—like smooth jade—was naturally meant to be adorned with gold and jewels. However, the cloud-shaped temple ornaments and windbird-and-floral hairpins had flaws. Gu Ci immediately instructed the manager to take them back for repairs.

“I can’t trust anyone else with this—it’s my top priority right now,” Gu Ci said, patting Pei Jian’s shoulder and leaning into his ear. “I’m planning to confess my feelings to her tomorrow.”

“You better examine everything carefully.”

Pei Jian: “…”

Gu Ci’s eyes, bright as starlight, were right in front of him. They had not yet been tainted by the suffering and ruthlessness that came with the misfortunes of the Gu family.

Radiant and dazzling. Oh well, let him enjoy himself.

By the next day, when the manager of the Treasure Pavilion cautiously retrieved a jewelry box adorned with golden phoenix embroidery, inlaid with pearls and jade, from a hidden cabinet, Pei Jian’s temple twitched violently. He deeply reflected on himself: knowing well that Gu Ci wasn’t in his right mind, why hadn’t he just turned around and left at the time?

Instead, he stood there, listening to the manager enthusiastically expound on the color coordination of the hair ornaments and their one hundred and eight uses. What kind of insatiable woman had Gu Ci encountered?

This half-body-tall jewelry box practically emptied out the Treasure Pavilion.

Pei Jian grew increasingly silent as he recalled how Gu Ci had already asked him for Ta Xue after just one meeting with that little cousin.

The manager of the Treasure Pavilion, surnamed Yi, had been passionately introducing the treasures. But he gradually fell silent under Pei Jian’s increasingly cold and stern aura. Carefully, he asked: “Would you prefer to pick it up yourself or have it delivered to your residence?”

Pei Jian looked at the jewelry box, which was almost half his height, pondered for a moment, and said, “Hand it over to me.”

Previously, he had been fully focused on his grand ambitions, burdened with a hectic schedule. When it came to matters of romance, he considered them troublesome and a waste of time. Looking back now, he realized he knew nothing about the person Gu Ci held dear. Today, however, he would finally meet her.

Pei Jian arrived on horseback, but the jewelry box was too large to be carried while riding. He had to summon a carriage from the estate, which caused some delay.

Nianxi, on the other hand, had risen early. She dressed carefully, wearing a light aqua blue cinched-waist silk gown with flowing silver sash ribbons accentuating her slender figure. On her wrist, she wore the gemstone bracelet gifted by Gu Ci as she attended the banquet with her mother.

Lord Wen had a literary gathering that day, and Wen Qingheng had also left early, reportedly meeting classmates and planning to head to the Gu residence later in the day.

Nianxi paid no mind to this. Since her rebirth, she rarely discussed anything about the Imperial Academy with her brother. She avoided his classmates and friends altogether.

The Duke Zhen residence was located in the western part of the city. The west was a nobility district, while the east housed the wealthy. Even among the imperial relatives and high-ranking officials gathered in the area, the Gu family residence still occupied an entire street. Despite its grandeur, the entrance of the Gu residence was filled with carriages and horses, creating a traffic jam.

The Wen family’s carriage was personally escorted inside by Gu Ci. He certainly knew how to win the favor of elders. He was attentive toward Madam Li without being overbearing, introducing the views of the estate along the way. He held the curtains aside and made introductions. His demeanor was so proper that he didn’t even glance toward Nianxi, who was standing behind Madam Li.

By the time they reached the main courtyard, Gu Ci had already charmed Madam Li into sheer delight.

The wife of Duke Zhen, Madam Wang, personally came out to greet them, holding Madam Li’s hand as they walked inside.

Who among the guests wasn’t a shrewd observer?

Just by observing Madam Wang and Gu Ci’s demeanor as they treated Madam Li as an honored guest, one could easily guess their intentions. Everyone eagerly catered to her preferences and turned to flatter Madam Li.

And who doesn’t enjoy being praised?

Seeing the room filled with women surrounding her mother with compliments, Nianxi turned her gaze toward Gu Ci.

Gu Ci, mimicking Nianxi’s usual mannerisms, winked at her and gestured before leaving the main room.

Nianxi glanced around and saw that the noblewomen were all thoughtfully pretending to be deeply engrossed in conversation, with no one glancing in their direction. She chuckled softly, lifted her skirt, and quietly followed him out.