Rebirth and Rewriting Fate

At the entrance of the garden, the Northern King and Gu Ruoxiao walked towards them.

Gu Ruoxiao remained calm and composed; even after so long, he was still the same as before.

The Northern King, however, appeared majestic and noble. He wore a long robe meticulously crafted from the finest animal hides, the hides gleaming softly. Embroidered on the robe were intricate and exquisite patterns: soaring eagles, winding rivers, lush trees, and blooming flowers. These patterns, outlined with gold and silver threads, shimmered with dazzling light, highlighting the king's nobility and extraordinary status. He wore a magnificent crown woven from feathers, each feather carefully selected and vibrant in color. At the center of the crown was a dazzling gemstone, a sacred object passed down through generations of the tribe, said to possess the mystical power to guide and protect. A wide and exquisite belt cinched his waist, adorned with various ornaments: animal teeth, shells, and jade pendants engraved with ancient totems—each a trophy of the tribe's warriors. His feet wore boots made of deerskin, both lightweight and warm.

Yun Chu was shocked to see Gu Ruoxiao there, and quickly concealed her expression, lowering her head.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!" came a chorus of greetings.

"Are you the woman who came to the Northern Region to trade?" the King of the Northern Region asked, his tone carrying the solemnity and majesty of royalty.

Yun Chu looked at Tuge and nodded, "That is indeed me."

“Very good, very good. It would be wonderful if our Northern Region could produce such a talent. Did you come here with the Prince of Jin?” the King of the Northern Region asked.

How should I answer this? Yun Chu pondered to herself.

"Father, was a banquet held today?" Perhaps noticing Yun Chu's embarrassment, Tuge changed the subject.

"Today we're having a welcome feast for Prince Jin, so you may stay as well," the Northern King ordered.

Yun Chu closed her eyes helplessly and replied, "Yes."

Inside the banquet hall, the lights shone brightly, and exquisite fabrics hung from the high ceiling, swaying gently in the breeze. In the spacious and mysterious center of the hall, a group of dancers in colorful costumes and adorned with jewels slowly entered. Their steps were light and rhythmic, as if they were walking on clouds. The dancers moved to the music, their figures graceful, twirling, leaping, flicking their sleeves, twisting their waists—every movement perfectly executed. They showcased both the boldness and exuberance of exotic dances, yet also their delicacy and grace. Their colorful costumes billowed with their movements, creating a unique and captivating scene. The guests chatted and drank merrily.

The delicacies of the Northern Regions were indeed different from those of the Great Jin Dynasty; let's just consider it a good meal. Yun Chu thought to herself, focusing intently on using her knife to remove a bone and picking out the meat to eat.

The princess from the Northern Region opposite her was looking at her gratefully, perhaps knowing about the matter of taking revenge with arrows.

Qi Luo, sitting diagonally across from her, was glaring at her with resentment, while Yun Chu pretended not to see it. What could you do to me?

Sitting on the right is Gu Ruoxiao, who is toasting with the Northern Region King, the Second Prince, the Third Prince, and others.

Suddenly a shadow fell beside her, and someone sat down. Yun Chu turned her head and saw that it was the Second Prince. Why was he here?

"Is this barley wine good?" the other person asked.

"not bad."

"That cheese with a little honey and some raisins is quite nice, why don't you try it?" she said, pushing the dessert towards Yun Chu. Yun Chu tasted it and nodded.

The second prince then placed another piece of grilled steak on her plate.

Yun Chu thought to herself, "Why is this second prince so talkative?"

"You see, this place is quite nice. Why don't you consider staying?" Tug asked softly.

Yun Chu froze, her eyes widening as she stopped what she was doing. What did Tu Ge mean by this?

Gu Ruoxiao, sitting next to him, gripped his wine glass tightly, his gaze deep and dark.

“Father, my second brother and Prince Jin are both men of great talent and skill in both literature and martial arts, and their swordsmanship is also quite remarkable. Why don’t we have them spar a bit to liven things up for everyone?” The third prince of the Northern Region offered his suggestion, and everyone looked at him, then at Gu Ruoxiao and Tuge.

This is a battle between two sides. Winning or losing, neither side will save face. Besides, it's still unknown whether Gu Ruoxiao came with an imperial decree. Yun Chu looked at Gu Ruoxiao worriedly, thinking he would surely find a way to refuse.

However, Gu Ruoxiao stood up and said, "This is my honor, Second Prince, please!" He stepped out of his seat and stood in the middle of the banquet.

Yun Chu looked at Gu Ruoxiao with a puzzled expression. Was he trying to test the Second Prince's background? Oh well, he knew the situation and was confident he could handle it well. She should just focus on eating. The steak was really good, and so were the lamb chops. When they got back, she would ask Xu Li to get two to grill for Nan Rao and the others to try.

Tuge glanced at Yun Chu, stood up, and gladly accepted the invitation.

The two began to fight in the center of the banquet.

Gu Ruoxiao stood tall and straight, his eyes flashing with unwavering determination. He gripped his longsword tightly, the tip lightly touching the ground, as if ready to cleave through the oppressive air at any moment. Tu Ge, on the other hand, had a nonchalant air about him, holding a seemingly ordinary yet subtly sharp short blade, a faint yet provocative smile playing on his lips.

Their eyes met in mid-air, sparks flying as if the air itself had frozen.

Tug asked provocatively: Are you angry?

Gu Ruoxiao scoffed: What's it to you!

Tug confidently declared: I will keep her here.

Gu Ruoxiao narrowed her eyes slightly: You're dreaming! You're just curious about her, yet you still dare to dream of keeping her in the Northern Region.

Tuge chuckled: Yes, I was curious at first, so I investigated her. I originally thought that since the Great Jin and the Northern Region were thousands of miles apart, we would never meet again. But she came, she appeared, so this must be fate. Therefore, I will not let this opportunity slip by.

Gu Ruoxiao said firmly: With me here, I will never let you leave her here.

Tuge understood: I see, Prince Jin.

The two fighters were engaged in a fierce duel, exchanging blows and flashing blades. Their figures moved swiftly, sometimes intersecting, sometimes separating, each clash accompanied by the crisp sound of weapons clashing and sparks flying. The atmosphere in the courtyard was incredibly tense; even breathing seemed heavy.

Standing behind Yun Chu, Mo Han glanced at the two people on the field, then at her young mistress who was engrossed in her struggle with the food, and shook her head slightly.

The banquet ended and everyone dispersed.

"I'll take you back."

"I'll send someone to take you back."

Tuge and Gu Ruoxiao said in unison.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Second Prince," Yun Chu said, declining Gu Ruoxiao's offer.

On the carriage ride back, Yun Chu pondered the day's events. Gu Ruoxiao had come to the Northern Region and was currently staying at the Northern Region Palace, but why was he here? Did he have some kind of deal with the Northern Region royal family? She also wondered how his discussions with General Shen regarding the border matter had gone. Oh well, these things were none of her concern anyway, so why bother worrying unnecessarily? She should just focus on her own small business.