Transmigrated Female Official

Outside the palace gates, seeing Chu Qingluo running towards them from afar, Jiuwei immediately waved and said, "Miss, you've finally come out!" When he and Tongmu came to pick up Chu Qingluo yesterday, the servants from the Clothing Pavilion told them that Chu Qingluo had something to do and needed to stay overnight in the palace, so they had to return empty-handed. They had waited for a long time just now but hadn't seen Chu Qingluo come out, fearing that she wouldn't return to the Chu residence today.

Chu Qingluo took the hand that Nine-Tailed Fox extended, intending to get into the car, but noticed that Nine-Tailed Fox and Tongmu were smiling ambiguously, making her hair stand on end. "What are you two grinning about?"

"Tongmu, there's something dirty on your clothes!"

Why do you have wrinkles?

The two of them chatted away, tacitly changing the subject. Chu Qinglu rolled her eyes at them, puzzled, and asked, "What's going on... so mysterious?"

She lifted the curtain and found that, unlike usual, there was already someone sitting inside the carriage, smiling at her, dressed in spotless white.

"Gongsun Yu? What brings you here?" It turned out that he was the reason for the two men's smirks.

After Chu Qingluo was seated, he replied, "I've come to take you back to the manor." His voice was sweet.

"Giddy up!" Nine-Tails and Kirito sat outside the carriage and raised their whips.

"You...you're from the Chu family?" Wasn't he supposed to go back to prepare for the initiation ceremony? He's already done it so quickly?

“Yes. I entered the sect yesterday, but you didn’t come back.” He explained slowly, without a trace of blame or complaint.

Chu Qingluo's eyes widened in disbelief: "You've entered the sect? It's that simple?" Although their relationship was already a done deal, she wasn't even at the Chu family's house. Wasn't this so-called 'entry' a bit too hasty?

He smiled and said, "Preparing all twelve gifts won't take long."

I once heard Jiuwei mention that this betrothal gift needs to include twelve items: a censer, hairpin, pendant, ornament, bracelet, hair ornament, porcelain, cup, ring, silk, and necklace. The materials aren't limited, and whether they're expensive or not depends on personal taste or family wealth. Well, it's time to show off your mother's qualities again.

For someone like Gongsun Yu, a son of an official, with such a wealthy family background, it shouldn't be too difficult; it would be as easy as turning one's hand.

"Oh..." Even so, she had thought it would be like a wedding, requiring various complicated rituals such as the bride's arrival and the wedding ceremony, but she hadn't expected it to be so simple. But then again, it makes sense; surely ten male attendants couldn't perform the ceremony ten times? That would be exhausting.

Seeing that she was lost in thought, with a few beads of sweat still clinging to her forehead from running, Gongsun Yu naturally reached out his sleeve to wipe them away for her. "My mother will come to visit on her day off," he said, his voice as gentle as a spring breeze, his movements light and gentle.

"Okay." His affectionate gestures were like those of an old lover who had been with her for many years, without a trace of affectation. She smiled.

Some people, even when you try to get close, feel like there's a vast distance between you. Others, however, can be enjoyed with ease, even when you're just a few feet apart. To Chu Qingluo, the incredibly approachable Gongsun Yu clearly belonged to the second type.

In the Ji Kingdom, one day every five days is a day off, equivalent to a weekend. And the next day off is tomorrow, which means she'll soon be meeting the God of Wealth, Gongsun Ruyi…

Upon returning to the Chu residence, Chu's mother immediately led the two of them to the ancestral tablets. "You should have come here yesterday to kowtow and offer incense to the ancestors, but you didn't return," she said, her tone slightly reproachful.

"I'm busy, you know." While Chu Qingluo was speaking, Tongmu had already handed the lit incense sticks to her and Gongsun Yu respectively. She glanced at Gongsun Yu and saw that he was kneeling sincerely on the cushion with the incense sticks in his hand, so she knelt down next to him as well.

"My name is Gongsun Yu. I am fortunate to have entered the Chu family. I ask the ancestors of the Chu family to protect me."

After saying this, she kowtowed three times, and she followed suit, finally placing the incense sticks into the incense burner. Watching the two finish offering incense, Mother Chu said, "Gongsun, you have now entered Qingluo's household. From now on, you should prioritize her in everything you do. Do you understand?"

Gongsun Yu replied, "I understand, that's certainly how it should be."

"Yes." Mother Chu nodded: "Although you are very polite, there are some things I still need to mention first. As long as you are in the Chu family, you are not allowed to have any more contact with those women who came before you entered the family, unless... Qingluo asks you to leave the family."

"Please rest assured, Madam, in my eyes, Qingluo is the only one." His eyes were sincere, and his tone was firm. Even the most cheesy words came out of his mouth with this understated style, as if everything was natural.

Chu Qinglu felt that her mother didn't need to give any special instructions, because here, there was no such thing as separation or divorce, only "leaving the door," which meant that the male servant was kicked out. Moreover, there was no need for any "seven grounds for leaving and three grounds for not leaving" for leaving the door. If the master was unhappy, he could kick you out at any time. That's how domineering it was. Why bother explaining anything?

Women have such incredible advantages! Even if she does something utterly pretentious, you wouldn't dare call her pretentious!

Chu's mother was already satisfied with Gongsun Yu, and after hearing what he had just said, she approved even more: "Hurry up and have dinner."

"Thank you ma'am."

Gongsun's initiation ceremony was now complete. Seeing him waiting for her to eat, Chu Qingluo couldn't help but sigh, "With this kind of ceremony, even a hundred male servants wouldn't be tired!" Of course, this didn't include other aspects…

……

Night fell in Ningxiang Courtyard, in Chu Qingluo's room.

After bathing, she sat silently at the table, with Gongsun Yu sitting directly opposite her. According to custom, he was to stay in her room that night.

Gongsun Yu had just come from bathing. She was too embarrassed to look him in the eye, staring blankly at the flickering red candle on the table, her fingers twirling a strand of hair as she pondered how to get rid of him. "Um... I'm not sleepy yet, you should go to sleep first." She was ashamed of such a lame excuse.

"Alright." Gongsun Yu chuckled, not exposing her, but wisely getting into bed first. He was stunned to see two flat headrests on Chu Qingluo's bed, but managed to suppress his curiosity and didn't ask.

Although she felt close to Gongsun Yu, they weren't really that familiar with each other, so an awkwardness was inevitable. Logically speaking, Chu Qingluo was the host, and Gongsun Yu couldn't refuse to sleep on the floor... But he seemed like a nice person, and there was no need to ruin their relationship... She would wait until he fell asleep before going to lie down for a while, and that would get through the night.

Chu Qingluo made up her mind, rested her chin on her hand, and gradually relaxed...

Gongsun Yu knew what she was thinking, and he had expected it to turn out this way, since he had stolen her treasured item, not of her own volition. She had been busy all day but insisted she wasn't tired, preferring to endure the pain herself rather than embarrass him… she was truly kind-hearted.

He couldn't disappoint her kindness, so he quickly closed his eyes and pretended to fall asleep.