Jiangshan Fengwuzhi

Chapter 310 Refusal of Marriage (Part Two)

"Marquis Wuding, someone from Yongjing has arrived."

"Is it news of an envoy's departure?"

"No, it was the princess of Yue who sent someone."

Upon hearing this, Gu Jingnian knew that Wei Li had sent someone again to urge him to send Wei Yushi back.

After Wei Yushi was kidnapped by Shen Jichi, Wei Li was extremely anxious. Upon learning that Shen Jichi was heading to Jusai City, she immediately sent people to pick him up, but she was unable to persuade Wei Yushi to return for the time being.

Since someone was sent again this time, Gu Jingnian decided to go and see them in person, so that Wei Li would know that it wasn't him who was holding Wei Yushi hostage.

In the main hall, Miao Chunniang was receiving guests as the eldest sister-in-law.

The woman who arrived was someone Gu Jingnian had seen before at Wei Li's residence. She was called "Aunt Ru." She looked unremarkable, but in fact, she held a high position and could make decisions on many matters.

As soon as Gu Jingnian entered the lobby, he put on a stern face, showing his displeasure.

"You did send someone to pick her up again, but when I left her at the Yue Kingdom Princess's residence, you didn't protect her properly."

In the past, when Ru Gu was in charge of teaching Wei Yushi her lessons, she always had a serious expression. But today, she had a rare smile on her face and said, "Lord Chengye, please calm down. It's all for the good of the princess. We're family."

“Since we are family, why is the Princess of Yue worried about my sister staying in Jusai City for a few more days? She has sent people to urge her time and time again.”

Gu Jingnian said this because Wei Yushi really didn't want to leave Jusai City too soon. She pouted and acted coquettishly, and Gu Jingnian felt sorry for her, so he went along with it.

Ru Gu said, "Lord Chengye has misunderstood. I did not come to take the princess back to the capital."

"Oh?" Gu Jingnian was somewhat surprised.

Instead of immediately revealing her true intentions, Gu Gu changed the subject.

"I heard that Marquis Chengye got married not long ago, and there were some unexpected events at the wedding?"

She didn't say directly that Gu Jingnian's bride had run away, but of course, that's the meaning, and everyone understood.

Gu Jingnian didn't answer, but only glanced at Gu Gu, asking with his eyes how she dared to be so rude.

Gu Gu quickly put on a kind smile and said, "I had no other intentions. It's just that this matter has reached Yongjing, and the princess, as an elder, is bound to be concerned. I also ask Marquis Chengye not to take it to heart. If I may say something I shouldn't, it's that Miss Pei is unlucky. Marquis Chengye's destiny is probably with someone else."

Her words were roundabout, but Gu Jingnian understood what she meant. She seemed to be there to arrange a marriage. This was a common occurrence in ordinary families, but it seemed rather strange in Jusai City, which had just experienced the baptism of blood and fire.

"so?"

"In my humble opinion, the Marquis of Chengye and my princess have a deeper connection. I heard that when you were seriously injured and in danger, it was the princess who saved you. After that, you traveled together to Yong Kingdom to help the princess find out her true identity..."

Before Gu Gu could finish speaking, Gu Jingnian interrupted her, saying, "This is indeed the fate between us siblings."

"Brother and sister?"

Gu Gu smiled and said, "When did the princess ever say that you were siblings?"

Now Gu Jingnian knew that Wei Yushi's biological father was Shen Jichi, not Gu Beiming. After thinking about it carefully, he remembered that Wei Li had only said that Gu Beiming had taken her away, but she had never said that the child was Gu Beiming's.

There's no point in bringing up the old-fashioned and shady things the older generation did. Gu Jingnian shook his head and said, "Your master is not telling the whole truth, but my brother-sister relationship with Xiaofang will not waver because of a few lies."

At this point, the intention to politely decline was quite clear.

Gu Gu had no choice but to speak frankly, saying, "Has Marquis Chengye never considered a marriage alliance with the princess?"

"I've never considered it."

“I heard that Shen Jichi once mentioned this matter to Marquis Chengye,” Gu Gu said. “Didn’t he consider it at the time?”

She's very well-informed.

Gu Jingnian countered, "What? Has your master fallen in love with Shen Jichi again?"

"Of course not." Gu Gu's expression became more serious. She said, "This marriage is not an alliance with the Shen family, but an alliance between you and the remnants of the Yue Kingdom. Marquis Chengye, your birth mother was a Yue person, and the people who are working for you now are also Yue people. You should give an attitude in terms of both sentiment and reason."

Are you forcing me?

"I dare not, please consider it, Marquis Chengye."

Gu Jingnian didn't take the suggestion seriously, gave it a perfunctory reply, and ordered someone to take Gu Gu to settle in.

But he underestimated how much importance Wei Li attached to this marriage.

The very next day, when Zhao Boheng was discussing business with him, he suddenly changed the subject and brought up the matter as well.

“Prince Yi, forgive my bluntness, but I think you and the princess are indeed a perfect match.”

Gu Jingnian turned his head and saw a few strands of sincerity in Zhao Boheng's eyes.

They were even more enthusiastic about matchmaking than about alchemy.

“Although the princess is not the most beautiful woman the Prince of Yi knows, she is the best to you,” Zhao Boheng added. “Those women from Yong, Rui, and Yihai are ultimately not of the same mind as the Prince of Yi.”

Gu Jingnian asked, "If I don't want to marry her, will you Yue people become disloyal?" "Of course not."

Zhao Boheng quickly answered, then asked with a puzzled look, "Why doesn't the Prince of Yi want to marry the princess?"

Gu Jingnian was stunned for a moment, but couldn't answer.

When he had some free time that day, he thought about this question carefully. It wasn't because he saw her as a younger sister; perhaps it was because he disliked being forced into an arranged marriage, or perhaps he hadn't forgotten Pei Nian yet?

The following afternoon, Gu Jingnian encountered Wei Yushi in the backyard. They looked at each other, and the atmosphere was different from before.

"Brother, do you have time to chat?"

"it is good."

Wei Yushi lowered her head, hesitated for a while, and then suddenly asked, "Have I caused you any trouble lately, brother?"

"No." Gu Jingnian did not shy away from the topic and said, "If you mean the marriage proposed by your mother, I am not bothered, but I do not like being manipulated by them."

When he said "I don't like it," Wei Yushi's heart jumped, but she breathed a sigh of relief when she heard that there was another half sentence to say.

"That's good. I don't want Mother to pressure my brother either."

"It's alright. I'm powerful now, and everyone wants to form a marriage alliance with me," Gu Jingnian joked casually.

He left out the second half of his sentence: "Except for the Pei family."

Wei Yushi hesitated for a moment, then said, "I want to go back with Gu Gu."

She had told Gu Jingnian not long ago that she wanted to stay in Jusai City a little longer, but now she changed her mind and wanted to go back because she didn't want to cause Gu Jingnian any more trouble.

“When I get back, I will persuade my mother to stop making demands on my brother.”

After saying this, Wei Yushi didn't wait for Gu Jingnian's reply, gave a fairly standard curtsy, and ran away.

"See you soon, brother."

Gu Jingnian looked over and saw that her back was very dignified and quiet.

He still thought of the way she had seen him leave the small village a long time ago, stuffing his luggage into his arms.

The two figures overlapped; she had changed a lot, yet she seemed unchanged.

Gu Jingnian then realized that Zhao Boheng was right; Wei Yushi was indeed very good to him…

--------

Several days later, the flying chariot slowly landed in Yongjing.

A troop of soldiers escorted Wei Yushi back to the Yue Kingdom Princess's residence.

Now, the day when Wei Li enters the palace to become empress is drawing ever closer, and Wei Li's entourage has become much grander, with carriages and horses filling the gates and visitors coming in an endless stream.

When Wei Yushi returned, Wei Li was dealing with important matters. She waited for a long time before returning to the backyard to see her daughter. Upon seeing her, she had a dissatisfaction on her face.

"Are you deliberately trying to go against me? You used to be so obsessed with Gu Jingnian, but now that you're actually marrying him, you're not only indifferent, but you're also forcing Gu Gu to bring you back."

"My daughter doesn't want to get married."

Before Wei Yushi could speak, Wei Li stepped forward, lifted her chin with her hand, and looked directly into her eyes.

After a while, Wei Li shook her head and said, "How can you be such a stupid girl? Just because you don't want to make things difficult for him, you'll regret it when someone else takes it from you."

"Since Mother knows, then don't force my brother."

"Ah."

Wei Li scoffed angrily, saying, "I'm working for the great cause of the restoration of Yue Kingdom, why should I care about your personal feelings? Look at how cunning Yin Wanqing is. And you? When will you put your mind on national and family grievances instead of just feeling sorry for Gu Jingnian?"

Wei Yushi also felt wronged. At the time, she did not want to acknowledge her mother, but Wei Li coaxed her back with kind words. Now, however, her discipline has become increasingly strict.

But since she had already become a daughter, she couldn't back out, so she had no choice but to swallow her grievances.

"Yes, as long as Mother doesn't make things difficult for my brother, I will definitely do my best for the cause of restoring the country."

Upon hearing this, Wei Li finally felt a little relieved. She patted her daughter's shoulder and whispered, "Cheer up, the opportunity for the restoration of Yue Kingdom is coming soon."

"Yes."

……

Meanwhile, Gu Jingnian, far away in Jusai City, was unaware of how rapidly the two women whose marriage alliance he had rejected would grow up.

Gu Jingnian had already put the matter of Yongguo out of his mind and was busy returning to Ruiguo.

Yin Wanqing has fulfilled her promise to him. Yongting will send an envoy to Zhuojing. The delegation will pass through Jusai City on its way east, and Gu Jing will also accompany the delegation into Ruiguo.

(End of this chapter)