Rebirth and Rewriting Fate

Days passed by, and before they knew it, the day arrived when the late emperor was to be laid to rest in the imperial mausoleum and the new emperor was to ascend the throne.

Yun Chu woke up early in the morning. She sat in the room for a while before getting up and calling for someone, "Let's go to the Prince's mansion."

So, Mo Han drove the carriage, with Nan Rao and Zhu Ling following behind, towards the Prince's Mansion.

When they arrived at the Prince's mansion, the gatekeeper saw Yun Chu and hurriedly ran inside to inform him. Soon, Uncle Cheng came out.

"Miss Yun Chu, please come inside."

"I want to wait for Your Highness here," Yun Chu refused.

"It's windy at the entrance," Uncle Cheng couldn't help but advise.

Yun Chu shook her head. "It's alright."

After thinking for a moment, Chengbo hurried towards the inner courtyard.

Soon, he and his men hurriedly gathered a large number of items from various places, such as screens, ovens, and charcoal. They skillfully built a simple shelter for Yun Chu at the gate.

Yun Chu initially sat on a chair warming herself by the fire. As time passed, she estimated that the ceremony at the imperial mausoleum should be over. She stepped out the door and paced anxiously outside.

Soon, a commotion arose from all over the streets and alleys.

The servant that Chengbo had sent out to inquire returned.

"The new emperor has ascended the throne! The eighth prince has become the new emperor! The Prince of Jin has been appointed regent!"

"Where is the prince?" Yun Chu asked hurriedly.

"I heard the main force is on its way back."

Gu Ruoxiao is coming back. As expected, he made the same choice. Yun Chu smiled; she hadn't misjudged him.

When Gu Ruoxiao escorted the new emperor to the palace gate, he arranged for Chiwu to escort Gu Chenglin into the palace. After completing this important arrangement, he turned around without hesitation, summoned Taxue, and nimbly climbed up and ran out of the palace, his figure gradually disappearing.

When Gu Ruoxiao dismounted and stepped into Qingfeng Courtyard, Xu Li, who was left behind, was stunned by the sight.

Ping An reacted quickly, "Miss has gone to the Prince's mansion to wait for you!"

Upon hearing this, Gu Ruoxiao mounted her horse again and headed towards the Prince's Mansion.

Before Chengfeng, who was following behind, could dismount, he saw his master gallop past him.

Meanwhile, on this side of the Prince's Mansion...

Hearing a noise not far away, Yun Chu quickly stood up and looked ahead.

It's the Black Riders, the secret guards of the Prince's mansion, who have returned.

Yun Chu searched for Gu Ruoxiao but couldn't find her.

Sui Bo, who was leading the group, was talking to someone when he turned his head and saw Yun Chu standing at the entrance of the Prince's mansion. He was startled and quickly called out, "The Prince has gone to Qingfeng Courtyard!"

Upon hearing this, Yun Chu lifted her skirt and ran off. Mo Han was so fast that she couldn't even react. She reached out and grabbed nothing, so she could only shout, "Nan Rao, you guys follow her. I'll go get the carriage."

Yun Chu ran through the streets, eager to see Gu Ruoxiao. How was he? Was he alright? Her mind was filled with thoughts of him.

The sound of horses' hooves came from around the corner of the alley. Yun Chu stopped, and a person rode up at full speed.

The man was startled when he saw her, then immediately dismounted, ran towards her, and pulled her into his arms.

"I'm back." His hoarse voice came from beside me.

"Yes, you're back." Yun Chu repeated, closing her eyes. Before her eyes, her beloved had returned.

The arriving party stopped a short distance away, watching the two embracing, their eyes filled with relief, emotion, and blessings.

Yun Chu brought Gu Ruoxiao back to Qingfeng Courtyard.

She pushed him into the shower room, tested the water temperature, and said, "The water temperature is just right, you can take a shower now."

Yun Chu turned her head, took out a change of clothes from the basket, handed them to him, and said, "These are the clothes you'll be changing into later; they're clean."

Gu Ruoxiao stood in front of her, raised his hand to rummage through her clothes, and asked, "How did you get my clothes?"

Yun Chu lowered her head and said somewhat awkwardly, "Feng Xing thought you would stay here, so he stuffed two sets of your clothes into my room."

She dared not look Gu Ruoxiao in the eye. Unexpectedly, the person in front of her bent down slightly, put his arms on the bathtub, and wrapped Yun Chu up in his arms. He lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "How about I stay here tonight?"

Upon hearing this, Yun Chu's face instantly flushed crimson, filled with embarrassment and shame. She pushed the person in front of her away and growled, "Gu Ruoxiao!" Then she shoved the clothes into his hands, turned around, and closed the door.

She stood outside the door, trying to calm herself down.

Inside the door, Gu Ruoxiao had already dropped his joking expression. He looked around, then took off his clothes and immersed himself in the water. He thought, "Here, I can finally relax a bit. I'm so tired."

When Gu Ruoxiao came out of the bathroom after taking a shower, she saw Yun Chu busy in the kitchen, where smoke filled the air and the aroma of food wafted out.

"Nanrao, did you add salt to this?"

"Zhu Ling, this needs to be cut into pieces."

"Xu Li, the fire is too big, turn it down."

In the courtyard, Ping An and Feng Xing were writing words on the ground with wooden sticks, while Cheng Feng, Chi Wu, and Mo Han under the banyan tree were idly playing chess.

Gu Ruoxiao suddenly felt as if he had traveled through the mists of time and vaguely saw the scene of him living with Yun Chu many years later.

Yun Chu looked up and saw him, then quickly called out, "Wait for me, it'll be ready soon."

Soon, the dining table in the study was filled with four dishes and a soup. Yun Chu warmly invited, "Have a bowl of porridge to warm your stomach first. I made all of this. Try it and see if it's good."

She ladled a bowl of porridge and placed it beside him, which Gu Ruoxiao picked up. He felt incredibly happy at that moment, enveloped in warmth.

After finishing her meal, Gu Ruoxiao wiped her mouth and looked at Yun Chu.

Yun Chu couldn't help but ask, "Should we add anything else?"

Gu Ruoxiao shook her head and reached out to hold Yun Chu's hand. "I have something to tell you."

"Well, you said."

"Now that my brother has passed away, I'm afraid our wedding will have to be postponed." Gu Ruoxiao's voice was tinged with melancholy as he lowered his head.

Yun Chu shook her head. "You said there's plenty of time in the future."

Gu Ruoxiao looked up. "Aren't you angry?"

"Why should I be angry? I've waited so long, what's a few more months?" Yun Chu smiled.

"Thank you," Gu Ruoxiao said sincerely.

In the days that followed, with the new emperor's ascension to the throne, a multitude of events arose, and Gu Ruoxiao, as regent, was naturally much busier. However, he insisted on visiting Qingfeng Courtyard at least every other day, and Yun Chu had become accustomed to his sudden appearances beside her.

When Gu Ruoxiao entered the study that day, she saw Yun Chu studying a map of the road leading to the Northern Region.

Gu Ruoxiao said, "You are not allowed to go this time." His tone was firm and unquestionable.

Looking at his expression, Yun Chu joked, "What, are you afraid I'll abandon you and run off to find Tuge?" Her voice was playful, and her bright eyes sparkled with mischief.

"Yes. So you're not allowed to go."

Yun Chu looked up at him, and his expression was unusually serious.