Rebirth and Rewriting Fate

"But what can fly that high?" Gu Ruoxiao asked in confusion.

“Yes, I’ve seen people make those super big Kongming lanterns before. You can stand on them, adjust the flame size, and even change the direction they fly! I think it would be so romantic to fly up there,” Yun Chu said with anticipation.

She turned to look at Gu Ruoxiao, who was in a daze.

So she pulled him to the desk and said, "I'll draw it for you. Next time I'll take you to see the other courtyard."

After saying that, Yun Chu began to draw carefully on the blueprint.

Gu Ruoxiao looked intently at what she was drawing on the paper, a slight smile playing on his lips. He wanted to give her a gift.

Gu Ruoxiao arrived a little late that day. As soon as he arrived, he sat down and drank tea without saying a word.

"What's wrong?" Yun Chu, who was sitting at her desk, looked up and asked.

The other person remained silent, and seemed to be in a bad mood.

Yun Chu thought for a moment and called out, "Come here for a second."

Gu Ruoxiao remained unmoved.

"Come here for a second!"

Gu Ruoxiao stood up and walked to Yun Chu's side. Yun Chu sat down in the chair and wrapped her arms around his waist, asking, "What's wrong?"

Gu Ruoxiao glanced at her and said, "These days, there are endless memorials demanding the establishment of an empress, and the court is in an uproar. It's driving us crazy. The new emperor has only been on the throne for a few months, and the political situation is not yet stable. They are already doing this, just trying to put their own people in the emperor's court."

Yun Chu couldn't help but laugh, "Have you asked His Majesty if he has someone he likes?"

Gu Ruoxiao remained silent, remembering the question he had just asked Gu Chenglin.

"Little Eight, tell me, who do you like? Which girl do you fancy? Your royal uncle will help you decide and find someone to propose marriage for you." Although they were ruler and subject in court, in private, the two still got along like uncle and nephew.

Perhaps driven to desperation by the pressure to get married, Gu Cheng blurted out without thinking, "The person I like is going to marry you, how am I supposed to get married?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Ruoxiao smashed her cup and stormed out the door, heading straight for Yun Chu.

Inside the palace, Gu Chenglin was extremely annoyed, wondering what he had just said.

"Ruo Xiao?" Yun Chu called out when she saw him lost in thought.

“He said he didn’t have anyone he liked,” he said, glancing at her.

"I see." Yun Chu let go of her hand, rested her chin on her hand, and thought, "How about we ask the Empress Dowager to host a banquet?"

"A banquet?" Gu Ruoxiao asked, puzzled.

“Yes, I see that many families do it this way. You wouldn’t understand how easy it is for you royal families to get married. It’s just about holding a banquet and inviting eligible men and women to go out and meet. If they like each other, they will naturally get married,” Yun Chu explained.

She suddenly felt a chill beside her, and Gu Ruoxiao spoke coldly, "Was it the kind of banquet where you and Luo Yan shared a room last time?"

Yun Chu looked up at Gu Ruoxiao. His eyes were deep, his voice was cold, and he had a faint questioning tone.

She felt wronged; the banquet was clearly a celebration hosted by the Emperor, so why did he say that?

She suddenly wondered why he was always jealous of her and picking fights with her. She didn't even dare to be jealous of Shangguan Wan'er, for fear that Gu Ruoxiao would get angry.

Suddenly, Yun Chu seemed to rebel, her body bristling with thorns. She stood up and looked directly at him, "Yes, it was the kind of banquet that Luo Yan and I were set up at."

"And then?" the person beside him said coldly.

"Then I went to find you." Yun Chu looked away. The cold air around her dissipated instantly.

"Ok?"

"No, I was looking for water when I happened to run into you, and I even forcibly kissed you," Yun Chu retorted stubbornly.

Gu Ruoxiao chuckled slightly and said, "So, you've always remembered that kiss?"

Yun Chu didn't answer; she looked away.

Gu Ruoxiao slowly approached her and said, "Then why didn't you mention it at all later, and why did you become friends with Luo Yan and want to sever ties with me?"

As Gu Ruoxiao approached, Yun Chu slumped into a chair, while Gu Ruoxiao slowly straightened up and leaned against the desk, a playful expression on his face.

Yun Chu suddenly felt sad for no reason; it was as if all the grievances in her heart had suddenly surged up.

She spoke, her voice already choked with sobs, "What do you want me to say? That kiss under the influence of drugs, what do you want me to say?"

What if I tell you and you pretend it never happened?

When I woke up that day, I wanted to go find you, but I heard that you were on a date with Shangguan Wan'er.

Later, when Shangguan Wan'er spoke up for me, it was at your behest, wasn't it?

You two are clearly in love, what can I say?

At this moment, Yun Chu's tears had already fallen. Gu Ruoxiao suddenly panicked, squatted down, and said urgently, "That's not what I meant."

Yun Chu turned away from him, so Gu Ruoxiao turned to the other side. Yun Chu turned to the other side again, and Gu Ruoxiao followed her. When he couldn't take it anymore, he turned her body so that she was facing him. "Don't cry."

But Yun Chu didn't know why she couldn't stop crying. She continued, "What do you want me to say? You sent people to protect Miss Shangguan, and that's why I got arrested."

You still want to kill me.

You even set off fireworks with Miss Shangguan.

You came to see me, and you even brought Miss Shangguan with you."

Gu Ruoxiao stopped comforting her. "So, even though you injured your foot that day, you still wanted to avoid me helping you?"

Yun Chu continued sobbing, "You even went to Luoshui with her, and ate the candied fruit she bought that wasn't sweet. She even told the matchmaker that she liked you, and the matchmaker was planning to go to the Prince's mansion to propose marriage."

"Furthermore, you threatened me not to associate with the Eighth Prince, but I didn't want to at all. You also tested me and sent people to monitor me. You even told me that we weren't a good match."

You didn't even come to see me while I was in jail, and I had to beg Luo Yan to find you.

You even shot me with an arrow.

I've already distanced myself from you because you want to be with Miss Shangguan, but you still send your bodyguards. You don't want me, yet you're still getting involved with me.

Even in the Northern Region, you still stopped me. You know perfectly well that I like you, and I've been avoiding you, yet you still want to be friends with me.

Back at Murong Manor, you were still putting on an act with me.

The store had a sign written by you hanging up when it opened, but you didn't come.

Luo Yan confessed his feelings to me, and you still blamed me and scolded me.

I've always been the one telling you I like you, that I really like you, but you've never said it to me. I'm not important to you at all.

Yun Chu cried uncontrollably, but she couldn't stop. She knew she was going too far with her words, and that many things weren't actually Gu Ruoxiao's fault. But she just felt wronged, as if all the pent-up resentment had suddenly found an outlet. She trembled all over and wailed like a child.

Gu Ruoxiao held her in his arms, her head resting on his shoulder. He comforted her, "It's okay, don't cry, don't cry, it's all my fault."

Yun Chu cried, tears streaming down her face. She rested her chin on Gu Ruoxiao's shoulder and bit down without thinking. Summer clothes were very thin, and the pain from her shoulder stung Gu Ruoxiao, but he closed his eyes and endured it.

Yun Chu bit down and then let go. She knew she was being unreasonable, but she couldn't stop.