Chapter 16

“Your Highness, you can’t!”

Han Yu hurriedly blocked him and, meeting his phoenix eyes, said with a trembling heart, “You’ve been confined by Princess Han. I checked this morning, there are guards posted all around outside. You won’t be able to leave. Why don’t you read this letter first?”

“What nonsense, I’m not reading it,” Gu Qi said angrily.

At a time like this, with the Yun family having chased them all the way to Princess Han’s residence, how could he have the mind to read any letter?

However, the Yun family’s visit today happened to prove that this marriage wasn’t as straightforward as people thought.

Otherwise, given Princess Han’s current reputation, everyone would be avoiding her, fearing that they might accidentally attract the attention of the cruel Princess Han.

The fact that the Yun family was willing to come proved that there must still be some obstacle to this marriage.

Han Yu lowered his voice: “It’s from the Gu family’s stepfather. You should take a look.”

——

When Yu Yunji stepped into the Half Moon Hall, she saw him reading the letter at a glance.

“Whose letter is it?” she asked.

Gu Qi’s expression was somewhat unpleasant. He sneered coldly: “Naturally, it’s from my obedient and virtuous stepfather. After not hearing news of me being beaten to death by you for so many days, he was worried and specially sent a letter.”

Mentioning this, Yu Yunji understood.

Gu Qi’s temperament was irritable, and the influence of his original family likely played a major role. Now that he had been married into Princess Han’s residence for several days, according to custom, the day after the palace banquet should be the day for him to return to his maiden home.

She didn’t know exactly what offensive words were written in the letter, but as Gu Qi read it at a glance, he had actually pressed such a deep fingerprint into the paper.

Yu Yunji gently advised: “Anger greatly harms the body. You are now the Male Empress of Princess Han. How could you still be bullied by others? If you get upset over these things, I’m afraid you’ll be playing into their hands.”

He crumpled that letter into a ball and flicked it into the incense burner, where it instantly turned to ashes.

Gu Shanlai leaned against him, his reputation now also rising.

Not for any other reason, but when he married Yu Yunji, who didn’t sigh and say that evil people have their own evil to grind against, which instead made him seem even more appealing.

It was truly a petty person’s behavior.

“On the day of the palace banquet, I’ll explain it to him properly.”

Hundred Herbs Pavilion.

Although called a pavilion, it was actually a huge palace.

At this moment, the sound of silk and bamboo instruments was unceasing, cups were exchanged at the banquet, conversation was lively, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

Today, Yu Yunji wore a dark blue double-breasted jacket and skirt, embroidered with continuous pearl and floral brocade patterns, and covered with a layer of flowing cloud gauze, which shimmered with blue and yellow colors under the light, looking like a fairy descended from heaven.

Nowadays, both men and women liked to hang pendants at their waists to show their status and taste.

However, Yu Yunji didn’t hang anything at her waist.

A woman with such beauty, standing here, had already attracted everyone’s attention. What need was there for any accessories? If she were to add some fashionable pendants, it would only be gilding the lily.

Gu Qi also wore clothes of the same color, with a gold-studded white jade belt tied at his waist, truly a jade-like gentleman.

The white jade at his side was also low-key, making his whole person appear refined and elegant.

Everyone knew of Gu Qi’s reputation, but upon seeing him in person, many were stunned.

This included Yun Zhuye.

Gu Qi turned his eyes to meet his, and in that split second, it was as if something sparked between their gazes.

He didn’t need to know Yun Zhuye’s appearance; he could tell at a glance who was fond of Prince Gong.

Glances of scrutiny were cast towards the two of them. To keep up appearances, Yu Yunji unceremoniously grasped his fingers.

The palm of Gu Qi’s hand was slightly cool. She didn’t know why, but every time she held hands with Gu Qi, there was always a hint of coolness, as if his body was extremely weak.

But even though his joints were long and slender, looking as if he had been severely abused, his strength was not small. Now, even if he was displeased in his heart, he vindictively squeezed her joints tightly in retaliation.

But a man is still a man, and this fell on her without causing any pain or itch.

Seeing no reaction from her, Gu Qi said through gritted teeth: “I won’t cause trouble for you, but if my stepfather, stepbrother, or the Yun family’s young master intend to make things difficult, I won’t swallow my anger either…”

“If such a thing happens, come to me first. With me backing you up, even Mother Emperor can’t say much,” Yu Yunji said to him in a low voice.

The wife and husband were whispering to each other, but their interlocked hands were too eye-catching, causing others to frequently glance sideways.

Yu Yunji didn’t know that at this moment, a vengeful gaze was fiercely fixed on their joined hands.

“Sister-in-law, elder brother,” a voice suddenly called from the side.

Yu Yunji instinctively turned to look and saw a young man in moon-white robes standing beside them.

The young man had a gentle appearance, only two or three parts similar to Gu Qi, but looked too weak. He was dressed extremely plainly, without the overly eye-catching quality that Gu Qi had, making him seem like an ordinary and fragile little white flower for a moment.

Is this… the male lead?

In the original book, the male lead’s identity was much speculated about, but he was also quite capable, managing to secure his marriage with the female lead.

Although his methods weren’t honorable, at least the two of them overcame hardships to be together.

She thought that this second son of the Gu family should have been a steady character full of schemes, but she didn’t expect to see this delicate flower.

Yu Yunji imperceptibly suppressed the doubt in her heart, nodding slightly to him, but not warmly.

People Gu Qi didn’t like must have their reasons, and she should stay away from the original plot.

Gu Qi didn’t even look at him. Gu Shanlai clenched his fists, but his face showed hurt: “I just saw that sister-in-law has such an extraordinary bearing, and I haven’t seen elder brother for a long time, so I came to pay my respects. Did I disturb sister-in-law and elder brother’s conversation…”

“You rarely show self-awareness,” Gu Qi said coldly. “Since you know this, yet still don’t intend to make way, is this the etiquette your father taught you?”

The You Dynasty had set many rules for men, including avoiding suspicion.

When an elder brother married, the younger brother in the family needed to lower his head and avoid suspicion when seeing his sister-in-law. But Gu Shanlai not only didn’t lower his head to avoid suspicion, he even raised his face, looking as if he wanted to chat with the two of them.

It would indeed be looked down upon by others.

Gu Shanlai lightly bit his lower lip, hatred spreading in his heart.

Wasn’t Princess Han said to love torturing beautiful men to death? He had finally managed to arrange this marriage, and in the end, cried to his mother to marry him off. Now Gu Qi was standing before him unharmed.

Gu Qi was nothing more than slightly more handsome than him, why didn’t Princess Han torment him after he married her?

“Elder brother, don’t be angry. I actually came to deliver medicine.” Gu Shanlai said with tears in his eyes.

He seemed not to dare to dwell on his elder brother’s difficulty, looking quite pitiful, truly a sight to evoke sympathy.

However, Yu Yunji looked at Gu Qi: “What medicine?”

She didn’t remember Gu Qi having any hidden illness, so what was this medicine Gu Shanlai spoke of?

Gu Shanlai carefully glanced at Gu Qi and tentatively asked: “Doesn’t Your Highness find elder brother’s makeup unusual?”

Yu Yunji felt his hand tighten a bit, and looked at Gu Qi in confusion: “It is indeed a bit different.”

Many young men from noble families had put on makeup for the palace banquet. These men all wore the most fashionable makeup in the You Dynasty, either dotting cinnabar on their foreheads or at the corners of their lips, or drawing exquisite patterns.

In contrast, Gu Qi, besides the makeup on his forehead, also had a dot of cinnabar red under each eye.

It was unusual, but it looked extremely good on his face.

“So elder brother hasn’t told Your Highness? These are birthmarks,” Gu Shanlai said in surprise, holding out a small medicine jar with both hands. “Elder brother, please take this. This medicine fades birthmarks. I begged for a long time to find it…”

Yu Yunji frowned slightly. These two birthmarks were placed just right. Did he not like them?

Gu Qi didn’t reach out, just stood with a dark face, not saying a word.

Gu Shanlai continued: “Elder brother didn’t say, perhaps fearing that sister-in-law would worry. The position of these birthmarks is not good, they might bring bad luck to oneself and others…”

“Enough!” Gu Qi suddenly gasped for air twice, like a dying person suddenly breathing air.

As soon as this angry shout came out, everyone in the Hundred Herbs Pavilion fell silent, all shocked and looking at him.

Even the old Emperor was startled by this shout. She said with displeasure: “Zimi, is your Male Empress dissatisfied with today’s banquet?”

Gu Shanlai’s eyes reddened on cue, and he gripped his sleeve: “Shanlai was impolite and shouldn’t have said these things. Please forgive me, elder brother…”

Hearing him say this, the old Emperor pinched her brow: “How did you offend the Male Empress?”

Cold sweat seeped from Gu Qi’s palm.

It couldn’t be said. If Gu Shanlai were to speak of the birthmarks bringing bad luck to one’s wife and children, given how much the old Emperor valued Yu Yunji, he would definitely be divorced and made a forsaken husband. If that happened, he would have no chance of marrying Prince Gong.

His heart was in his throat. Beside him, Gu Shanlai stepped forward, about to reply, when he was interrupted by a voice.

Usually he wouldn’t think much of it, but at this moment, this voice was like heavenly music: “Mother Emperor, there’s no need to mind. It’s just a joke between brothers.”

Gu Shanlai lowered his head aggrievedly, still holding the small medicine jar with one hand, looking as if he wouldn’t leave unless they accepted it.

Yu Yunji took the medicine jar and pulled Gu Qi back two steps. This ordinary gesture looked particularly intimate in others’ eyes, as if she had drawn him into her embrace.

She sat down with Gu Qi, and seeing his face as dark as water, she said softly: “Imperial sister will be here soon.”

Yu Yunji didn’t mention the birthmark issue at all, placing the medicine jar beside his hand.

Nearby, Zhou Zijing couldn’t sit still anymore.

She approached with a bitter face: “Yu Zimi, why are you making things difficult for me?”

It should be known that if it weren’t for the sake of chicken marrow bamboo shoots, no, for the sake of sisterhood, she wouldn’t have come here to help Yun Mengze. This place where one could lose their head at any moment, she would avoid it if she could.

“How is this making things difficult? The great hall is full of beautiful attendants, handsome men everywhere, with good food and drink laid out before you. Zhiyue seems a bit ungrateful,” Yu Yunji shook her head slightly.

Zhou Zijing bit her lip and finally compromised: “For the sake of our years of friendship!”

Although today was said to be a family banquet, the Gu and Yun families didn’t dare to slack off at all. Now all the legitimate daughters and sons were sitting properly.

Yu Yunji saw that Yu Zhiyuan had just taken her seat and met her gaze, saying: “The Male Empress is waiting here. Please trouble Zhiyue to look after him for a bit. I’m going to say a few words to Imperial sister.”

Today was more of an engagement banquet than a family banquet. If she didn’t successfully prevent it today, everything would become set in stone, and who knows how Gu Qi would make trouble for her when they got back.

The book didn’t mention any relationship between Yu Zhiyuan and Young Master Yun. Now Yu Yunji came over to probe her thoughts.

Regarding the earlier commotion, everyone had their own thoughts, and no one noticed when a jade pendant appeared in Gu Shanlai’s hand.

That jade pendant was smooth and pure, a rare good material, carved with a budding lotus.

Gu Shanlai gripped that jade pendant tightly. He was extremely hateful, exerting so much force that his hand was shaking slightly, as if he wanted to crush the jade pendant to dust.

That lowborn Gu Qi had made him lose face in public again. This was already countless times.

“Gu Qi, I want you to be utterly disgraced…”