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墨書 Inktalez
Ye Xiaohan found it amusing to recall the past, vividly recounting stories as if she were reenacting them for Gu Bei.
Gu Bei listened quietly, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. This kind of life felt like returning to the days spent at home, just the two of them.
In truth, Ye Xiaohan didn’t need to try so hard; no matter what she did, Gu Bei would be happy as long as the person in front of him was her.
After chatting for a while, Gu Bei calculated the time. He couldn’t stay much longer. Reluctantly, he stood up.
“I have to go now. I’ll come to see you next time,” Gu Bei said, looking deeply into her eyes. After this visit, it might be a while before they could meet again, and even before he left, he felt a pang of longing.
Ye Xiaohan nodded and quietly approached the window. She opened a small gap and squinted one eye to peek outside. In a serious tone, she whispered, “It’s too dark; I can’t see anything.”
Straightening up, she surveyed the room and frowned. “The lights are still on inside. If you go out like this, it’s easy for someone to spot you.”
Like a firefly in the night, a living target easily seen by anyone.
Gu Bei wanted to reassure her that he would be careful and that she didn’t need to be so anxious. But seeing her so serious, he held back his words.
So, Gu Bei watched as Ye Xiaohan walked over to the table and blew out the oil lamp. Then she slowly made her way in the dark to the bedside and finally spoke with a relieved tone, “This will do; it’s just as dark inside as outside. There are many targets.”
When transitioning from a bright environment to darkness, there is an adjustment period that varies from person to person. Some take longer than others.
For someone like Gu Bei, who had trained in martial arts since childhood, his physique was better than average, allowing him to adapt more quickly. While Ye Xiaohan was still struggling to see in the darkness, he could already make out the outlines around him.
Watching Ye Xiaohan squinting and peering into the dark without being able to see clearly, Gu Bei could almost imagine the expression on her face and those eyes that always sparkled with life.
Before he realized it, his body moved closer to her instinctively. It wasn’t until he took a step forward that he became aware of his actions and paused in confusion.
Meanwhile, Ye Xiaohan had opened the window and was quietly waving at him from the darkness. “The window is over here; can you see it? Don’t let your heart race too much; don’t let anyone hear you.”
Gu Bei had fully adapted to the darkness, moving effortlessly to her side and propping himself against the window. "I'm leaving now. It's getting late; you should rest early. And if anything comes up that you can't handle, don't force yourself."
As he was about to leave, a sudden rush of thoughts flooded his mind. Gu Bei felt a pang of regret; why hadn't he taken the chance to say more when they were talking earlier?
Suppressing the urge to linger a little longer, Gu Bei shifted his gaze and quietly climbed out of the window. In just a few leaps, he vanished from Ye Xiaohan's sight.
That wasn't entirely accurate; after Gu Bei jumped out of the window, Ye Xiaohan could no longer find him. Only the faint trace of his presence—the subtle warmth and breath—lingered in the air from their brief encounter.
The window remained open, and the cool night breeze swept away the last remnants of that moment. Ye Xiaohan touched the smooth wooden frame, feeling inexplicably lost.
"Knock, knock, knock." In the distance, she heard the night watchman making his rounds; before she knew it, it was already past midnight.
Ye Xiaohan closed the window and turned back, washing her hands in the dark before pulling up the blanket and settling down to sleep.
When Gu Bei awoke, he heard voices outside his door. Listening closely, he realized it was the butler.
He had tossed and turned all night until nearly dawn before managing to doze off for a short while. He wasn't sure what time it was now; he only knew that his drowsiness hadn't completely faded, so it couldn't be too late.
Gu Bei got up to answer the door. He had previously instructed that no servants were needed and that they shouldn't enter his courtyard unless necessary. The butler's presence now indicated there was something important to report.
"Young Master," the butler said quickly upon seeing him open the door, "a guest has arrived and is waiting in the front hall."
Gu Bei paused for a moment before asking, "A guest? Is it Aunt?"
Since returning to this inaccurately named General's residence, aside from Aunt visiting him every few days to check on him and manage his daily needs, no one else had come by.
But Aunt had just visited recently; could something have happened for her to come back so soon?
The butler replied, "No, it's not that," glancing at Gu Bei, hesitating as he said, "Young Master, it's the Second Young Mistress who has arrived."
"Who?" Gu Bei momentarily failed to grasp the situation. "Which Second Young Mistress?"
The butler spoke with a hint of disdain, "Who else could it be? It's the good daughter raised by the Liu Chancellor! When your grandfather was alive, they were betrothed. She was born to be your fiancée!"
Having served the Gu Family for many years, the butler had been the chief steward under Gu Bei's grandfather and continued in that role to this day. Even when the Gu Family fell and Gu Bei's fate was uncertain, he remained loyal.
To Gu Bei, he felt more than just a servant's duty; he had watched him grow up and felt a familial bond.
Thus, he harbored resentment towards the woman who immediately broke off her engagement upon hearing of the Young Master's troubles. Especially since she chose to marry someone else—specifically, the Second Young Master, Gu Rong—after ruining Gu Bei's engagement.
"The Liu Chancellor prides himself on being courteous and knowledgeable, a model for scholars. But in my old man's view, it's nothing but talk; he can't even raise his own daughter properly. What kind of example is that?"
The butler asked, "Young Master, should we drive her away? You don't need to get involved; let me handle this!"
Poor Young Master, encountering such a fickle woman was truly unfortunate. It would be better if he didn't have to face her, lest it stir up painful memories.
With the butler's reminder, Gu Bei finally recalled that there indeed was such a person.
Liu Susu, daughter of Prime Minister Liu Chengye. Back when Gu Bei's father wasn't yet the General of Northern Defense and Liu Chengye wasn't yet a chancellor, they had agreed that if Lady Liu bore a daughter, she would marry Gu Bei.
As fate would have it, she did give birth to a girl, and thus the two families became in-laws.
Gu Bei and Liu Susu had known each other since childhood and had played together as young ones—truly childhood sweethearts.
Originally set to marry Liu Susu when Gu Bei turned twenty, things took an unexpected turn. Gu Bei displayed exceptional talent and took to leading troops before reaching adulthood. Years passed with him away from home on campaigns, causing their marriage plans to be postponed indefinitely.
Until Gu Bei suffered defeat in battle and vanished from the battlefield.
Though Gu Bei was gone, their engagement remained valid. The entire capital secretly lamented that Liu Susu, a beauty as delicate as a flower, was so young yet faced the prospect of widowhood before even entering her husband's home.
Moreover, Gu Bei had committed a grave sin, transforming her from the daughter of a prime minister into the wife of a traitor.
To everyone's astonishment, shortly after Gu Bei's incident, Liu Susu unexpectedly announced her marriage. She was not marrying just anyone; she was marrying into the Gu Family. However, her husband was none other than Gu Bei's younger brother, Gu Rong.
This event sparked much gossip throughout the capital. Yet as time passed and with Liu Chancellor's status, no one dared to speak out too much about it, and eventually, it faded from discussions.
When Gu Bei faced his calamity, he felt disheartened, indifferent to whether he lived or died, and he had not even thought of his fiancée.
After returning to the capital, he remained in the General's residence, rarely going out or interacting with outsiders. He was largely unaware of events that transpired afterward,
not even knowing that Liu Susu had married Gu Rong.
It wasn't until he heard the butler mention it that he learned of this development. However, compared to Liu Susu's marriage, it was Gu Rong's wedding that stirred him more deeply.
Although Gu Rong had even plotted against him, Gu Bei realized they could never return to their former relationship. Yet seeing brothers who once cared for each other now at odds left him feeling somewhat melancholic.
As for Liu Susu, Gu Bei neither disliked her nor particularly liked her; she was no different from anyone else in his eyes.
Had it not been for that disaster, Gu Bei's life might have gone smoothly, and perhaps he would have followed his elders' wishes to marry Liu Susu. But now the situation had changed entirely; he could never marry another woman again.
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