Rebirth and Rewriting Fate

The next afternoon, an ordinary-looking carriage stopped at the entrance of Shili Pu, driven by Chi Wu.

Gu Ruoxiao did not come. Yun Chu thought that since the emperor was not in the palace, he might need to stay in the palace to oversee things.

Yun Chu led Gu Chenglin and Eunuch Cao into a side room in Shili Pu and handed him a servant's clothes. "Change into these first."

Gu Chenglin quickly changed his clothes and came out.

“Okay, let’s go.” Yun Chu said.

“This old servant thinks I should go with them,” Eunuch Cao interjected worriedly.

"Don't worry, Father-in-law, even if you don't trust me, you should trust the Prince. The secret guards have all been arranged," Yun Chu reassured him.

"Father-in-law, don't worry, I'll come to pick you up later," Gu Chenglin said with a smile.

"Nanrao, take good care of your father-in-law," Yun Chu instructed.

So, a horse-drawn carriage drove away from Shili Pu.

Eunuch Cao anxiously peered out the door for a long time.

"Master Cao, come in and rest." Nan Rao led him into the side room behind the tent, and soon brought tea and snacks. "Eat first. If you're bored, you can go over there and have a look. There are quite a few fun things. His Majesty will be fine." Nan Rao said kindly.

Perhaps because he was too worried about the Emperor today, Eunuch Cao hadn't eaten lunch and quickly finished the pastries. He glanced at the pastry shop, where many people were carrying plates of pastries, and, feeling curious, asked, "What are they doing over there?"

Nan Rao smiled and said, "Choose your favorite food."

Seeing this, she brought over a plate. "Master Cao, if you like, you can try it. Just use the tongs over there to pick up your favorite pastries, put them on the plate, and then bring them over here to use."

"Is that where they pay?" Eunuch Cao pointed to a group of people queuing not far away.

“You don’t need to pay, you’re one of us,” Nan Rao said with a smile.

Only then did Eunuch Cao realize that the plate Nan Rao gave him was different from the ones given to others.

Seeing that Eunuch Cao was just sitting and watching without moving, Nan Rao understood that he was embarrassed. So she called Xiao Jiu over, "Xiao Jiu, take Grandpa Cao to choose some food."

The lively Xiao Jiu quickly pulled people into the crowd.

When Eunuch Cao returned, the plate was piled high with food. Eunuch Cao said somewhat embarrassedly, "Xiao Jiu said I should try them all, so I filled this plate."

"It's alright. Miss originally wanted to prepare one for each of you, but she was worried that you might get indigestion, which would be bad for your health. Please eat first, I'll go and get busy. Just call me if you need anything," Nan Rao instructed.

So, Eunuch Cao sat in the side room and watched the endless stream of people outside eating delicious pastries.

Soon, he finished his tea and was about to ask Nanrao to refill it when Nanrao arrived.

She placed a bowl in front of Eunuch Cao. "Master Cao, Miss said you coughed yesterday, so she specially asked me to make rock sugar pear soup. It's just finished cooking, so please be careful as it's hot."

Eunuch Cao was suddenly moved. He had only coughed twice, yet someone remembered and cared about him. He thought, "The prince's wife is truly wonderful."

The carriage stopped at the back gate of the Lin residence. Yun Chu, carrying a food box, entered the Lin residence under the guidance of the Lin family servants.

Mo Han and the other guards remained hidden in the shadows.

As Yun Chu walked through the covered walkway, passed through the backyard, and entered the garden, she saw Lin Mulan tinkering with something in a pavilion in a corner of the garden, with a maidservant waiting beside her.

The pavilion was filled with all sorts of wood materials, from thick logs to finely polished small blocks. In one corner of the pavilion, a slightly worn workbench occupied an important position, on which various handicrafts were arranged in a haphazard manner—some were half-finished wooden animal carvings; some were exquisite wooden ornaments; and there was also a bridge model that she was carefully carving.

Upon seeing a stranger enter the mansion, the maid beside him hurriedly asked the servant leading the way, "Who is this?"

Yun Chu replied, "We are from Shilipu. Your family previously ordered birthday cakes from our shop, and we are delivering them to your residence today."

Hearing a somewhat familiar voice, Lin Mulan turned her head and looked over. "It's you?" she exclaimed in surprise.

"Greetings, Miss Lin." Yun Chu greeted her, taking the food box from Gu Chenglin, who was disguised as a servant behind her and handing it over. "This is the birthday cake ordered by your family."

The servant boy quickly took it.

"Take this to the kitchen. I need to speak with this young lady," Lin Mulan instructed the servant.

"Yes." The servant carried the food box away.

"I forgot to ask which family you belong to that day. I didn't expect you to be from Shili Pu," Lin Mulan said with a smile.

Yun Chu slightly turned her head to look behind her, "Miss Lin, are you tinkering with building a bridge?"

"Yes, I saw two very unique bridges in the palace the other day, but I don't understand some of their structure. I'm studying them now."

Yun Chu smiled, indeed a woman of exceptional character. "There is another matter I have come to your residence today."

"Hmm?" Lin Mulan looked over in confusion.

Yun Chu stepped aside to the right, and Gu Chenglin, dressed as a servant, looked up and said with a smile, "Miss Lin."

"Ah, it's you?" Lin Mulan's voice was full of surprise, her eyes sparkling. "Why are you here?"

Yun Chu smiled silently. It seemed that Gu Chenglin's feelings were not just wishful thinking. That was good.

"I've come today to discuss something with you," Gu Chenglin said softly.

Lin Mulan's face flushed slightly. She turned around and instructed the maid behind her, "Cuiyan, go and keep watch. Don't let anyone get close."

"Mmm." The girl nodded vigorously and ran out in a hurry.

Yun Chu couldn't help but smile; indeed, the servant followed the master's lead.

Gu Chenglin looked at Yun Chu.

“Miss Lin, it is indeed improper for me to bring him to see you privately today. I apologize in advance. Please rest assured that today’s matter will remain within this courtyard and will not be spread outside,” Yun Chu said.

Then she looked at Gu Chenglin and said, “Miss Lin is from a well-to-do family with strict family values. I cannot allow her reputation to be tarnished, so I cannot let the two of you speak alone.”

"Yes, I know. I don't need to hide anything from you when I want to say it," Gu Chenglin quickly replied.

Yun Chu nodded. "Miss Lin, may I take a look at these things?" She pointed to the various handcrafted items in the pavilion.

“Of course,” Lin Mulan said with a smile.

"Then you two can talk outside this pavilion, is that alright?" Yun Chu asked.

Gu Chenglin nodded heavily, while Lin Mulan stared wide-eyed at Gu Chenglin and Yun Chu.

Yun Chu turned her back to the pile of handmade objects.

Gu Chenglin, standing outside the pavilion, looked at Lin Mulan, smiled, and took out a booklet from his pocket, handing it to her.

"What is this?" Lin Mulan asked curiously.

"It's the construction plan of those two bridges you saw last time," Gu Chenglin quickly explained.

Lin Mulan opened it and her eyes were full of surprise. "Thank you," she said, her voice filled with gratitude.

Seeing how happy she was, Gu Chenglin smiled and looked at her with even more tenderness.

Lin Mulan looked up and met his gaze. She was unconsciously drawn to him, and then she realized that her face was getting hot. She immediately lowered her head and pretended to look at the booklet.

She looked down at the booklet and said, "You said you had something to tell me, is this it?"

"No," Gu Chenglin replied.