Rebirth and Rewriting Fate

It was past midnight, past 1 AM. After playing for half the night, Yun Chu decided to send them to rest, otherwise no one would be up to help in the morning. After explaining the arrangements for their lodgings, the guards were assigning tasks when Feng Xing suddenly asked, "Where will Master sleep?"

Before he could finish speaking, Chengfeng kicked him and dragged him out of the dining room, reminding him, "Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask."

The dining room quickly emptied, and the atmosphere became slightly awkward. "Um, I'll take you to the bedroom," Yun Chuqing said after clearing her throat.

The room is small and inviting. A traditional Chinese ink painting hangs on the wall, depicting distant mountains and flowing water, as if one could hear the wind whispering through the hills and the stream murmuring. A pot of daffodils sits in the corner, blooming elegantly and emitting a delicate fragrance. A rustic wooden bed stands against the wall, covered with a soft brocade quilt, and a light-colored gauze curtain hangs gently above it. A dressing table sits by the window, its contents neatly arranged. The entire room is decorated with both elegance and warmth.

Gu Ruoxiao couldn't help but think of Yun Chu's house on Xiyan Mountain, and was momentarily lost in thought.

The person in front of her didn't notice. She was introducing the bed, saying, "Nanrao just changed this quilt and sheets today and aired them in the sun. Nanrao said she'd change them for the New Year. Just make do with these. Call us if you need anything; we're right next door." With that, she stepped out the door.

As she raised her hand to close the door, Yun Chu stopped. "Gu Ruoxiao," she called out.

Gu Ruoxiao looked in the direction of the sound.

"Happy New Year!"

The next day, Yun Chu got out of bed, rubbing her sleepy eyes. After tidying up a bit, she left her room.

The sun is warm today, lazily shining down on the earth.

The courtyard was already quite lively at this time.

Chengfeng was sternly instructing Fengxing and Ping'an on their martial arts training with a bamboo pole. Fengxing kept complaining, "Are you taking revenge on me? Don't you want people to live during the New Year?" He would occasionally glance at Gu Ruoxiao, who was sitting in front of the tea table drinking tea, for help, but the latter just smiled and remained silent.

Riding the wind inevitably stirs up trouble, "Look at how safe and sound they are, how diligent they are."

At this moment, Ping An was studying diligently, secretly vowing to practice his skills well to protect the young lady.

Meanwhile, Chiwu and the other guards were helping Nanrao and Zhuling, and wisps of smoke were rising from the kitchen.

"Good morning," Yun Chu greeted Gu Ruoxiao.

Gu Ruoxiao smiled and poured a cup of tea, placing it in front of Yun Chu. Yun Chu casually took it and drank it. This tea was probably brought by Gu Ruoxiao again, and it was much better than the tea her family had before.

"Don't we have to go to the palace today, the first day of the lunar month?" Yun Chu asked, sipping her tea.

"The master has already returned from the palace." Feng Xing, who was practicing his martial arts, occasionally overheard the conversation and quickly chimed in.

"Huh? How early did you get up? Or how late did I go to bed?" Yun Chu muttered.

Haha, Gu Ruoxiao actually laughed. Yun Chu was stunned. Gu Ruoxiao's smile was really beautiful, as warm as the first rays of the sun.

He picked up a stack of red envelopes from the side and handed the top one to Yun Chu.

"For me?" Yun Chu asked.

He nodded and shouted, "Windwalker!"

Hearing his name called, Feng Xing rushed over and said, "Distribute these to everyone."

"Thank you, sir!" Feng Xingyue beamed with joy.

Gu Ruoxiao was really kind; he even prepared red envelopes for the other people in Qingfeng Courtyard. Seeing the four of them wave their red envelopes at Yun Chu, Yun Chu smiled.

"What's inside?" Yun Chu couldn't help but ask, touching it and finding it quite thick.

Gu Ruoxiao smiled, took a sip of tea, and gestured for Yun Chu to open it.

Yun Chu opened the red envelope and pulled out a piece of paper. She unfolded it; it was the land deed for this secluded courtyard. "This?"

"Don't you like this courtyard?" Gu Ruoxiao said.

"You bought it?" Yun Chu asked.

“This courtyard originally belonged to the master.” This time, it was Chengfeng who interjected.

"So you arranged for Nanrao to rent a place before that too?"

Gu Ruoxiao remained noncommittal.

A warm feeling welled up in Yun Chu's heart, like a ray of sunshine in winter, piercing through the cold wind and reaching the softest part of her heart. She carefully folded the land deed and put it away.

Then, Gu Ruoxiao pushed another box in front of Yun Chu.

"What's this?" Yun Chu opened it and found a stack of silver notes inside, and couldn't help but ask in confusion.

“Those kids are eating and drinking for free here, they have to pay for it,” Gu Ruoxiao explained casually.

“They can’t eat much,” Yun Chu said.

"You'll find out later." Gu Ruoxiao shook her head.

Yun Chu thought for a moment, then said, "Wait for me." She then ran into the bedroom.

Although Gu Ruoxiao was puzzled, she still sat under the tree and calmly drank her tea.

Soon, Yun Chu came out, holding a bunch of red envelopes. She called Nan Rao over, gave him some instructions, and soon Nan Rao distributed red envelopes to everyone.

"Here you go." Yun Chu handed over a red envelope.

Gu Ruoxiao accepted the red envelope with amusement. Apart from her uncle and imperial brother, she was the first person to give him a red envelope.

He weighed the red envelope in his hand; it was thin and almost weightless. "A silver note?" he asked. "Can it be opened?"

"Mm." Yun Chu nodded with a smile.

Gu Ruoxiao opened it, and inside was not a silver note, but a small object. He poured it out, and it turned out to be a folded amulet.

He looked at her.

“I’m not talking about the Thousand Words Temple I visited last time, where I got a peace charm. This is for you,” she said.

"For me?" Gu Ruoxiao asked to confirm.

"Yes, everyone has one." Yun Chu hurriedly drank her tea, trying to hide her nervousness.

Gu Ruoxiao looked at the amulet in her hand, a smile curving her lips, and solemnly put it into her bosom.

"Have you ever eaten spinach longevity noodles?" Yun Chu seemed to remember something and asked Gu Ruoxiao.

"Spinach longevity noodles?" Gu Ruoxiao asked in confusion.

"Wait for me." Yun Chu got up and ran to the kitchen.

After a short while, Yun Chu brought over a bowl of food and placed it in front of Gu Ruoxiao. The noodles were thin and chewy, like silver ribbons gently intertwined; the spinach was emerald green, with plump and tender leaves spread out on top.

“This is spinach longevity noodles. It symbolizes longevity and good health. When I used to celebrate the New Year in Xiyan Mountain, we would eat this on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year. Would you like to try some?” Yun Chu asked uncertainly. “If you don’t want to eat it, Nan Rao also made peanut soup, steamed buns, glutinous rice balls, and red bean paste.”

"You did it?" he asked.

"Maybe we should just forget about it." Yun Chu thought it was impossible for a prince of noble birth to eat such bland food. She had acted on impulse and decided to go forward and pack up the food.

"How can you take back what you've given away?" Gu Ruoxiao stopped him with a smile, picking up his chopsticks and taking a bite of noodles.

Yun Chu watched Gu Ruoxiao eating noodles with a mixture of anticipation and nervousness.

“Not bad,” the other person said.

"really?"

"Why are you so unconfident in your cooking skills?" Gu Ruoxiao said with a smile.

Yun Chu's tension and unease vanished instantly. She thought, "This year's Spring Festival is really great."

During the first month of the lunar calendar, the Spring Festival seems to be draped in a festive and warm red dress, with a strong festive atmosphere everywhere. The big red lanterns hanging in front of every household are like the brightest stars in the night sky.

After that, the guards would often visit the courtyard after the New Year's Eve vigil, taking the opportunity to freeload. The kitchen or dining room was often filled with a group of people, and Yun Chu finally realized the importance of that stack of silver notes.

Ping An and Xu Li also became familiar with the guards, so Gu Ruoxiao tacitly allowed the guards to teach them some simple moves from time to time. Overall, everyone got along very well.