Rebirth and Rewriting Fate

Yun Chu didn't sleep well that night. When she woke up the next day, Nan Rao found that she had a fever and hurriedly prepared medicine.

"I'm fine, I just didn't sleep well," Yun Chu said weakly, leaning against the headboard.

"She must have caught a chill last night," Zhu Ling concluded indignantly.

"Zhuling, could you go and check on those children for me today? I was originally going to go today, but I'm sick now and I'm afraid my illness will affect the children, so I'm not going now," Yun Chu instructed. She didn't go to see the children, worried that the sensitive children would overthink things.

"Miss, don't worry, I'll be there in a bit." Zhu Ling nodded.

Yun Chu spent a few days in this sickly state. Zi Su brought Bai Zhi to visit her, and Liu Da also came. However, everything proceeded smoothly under Nan Rao's arrangements.

Regarding the order from the Northern Region, Yun Chu received a letter from Tuge of the Northern Region, saying that a sudden heavy snowfall had blocked the roads, making travel difficult, so he had postponed the delivery dates for all the trade orders. At the end of the letter, Tuge cheekily asked her if she regretted it and if she wanted to go back to him. Yun Chu shook her head helplessly, laughing in exasperation. She wrote back, agreeing to deliver the goods to the other party at the beginning of next spring, and promising to bring some local specialties as a token of her gratitude. With one task settled, her current task was to purchase and prepare the goods.

These days, Nan Rao told me that Gu Ruoxiao had hired a private tutor to teach the children in Shili Pu. The children helped out at the shop in the mornings and learned to read in the backyard in the afternoons. Ping An even ran off to sit in on the lessons. When Yun Chu learned of this, she didn't know how to react. She couldn't stop it; it was a good thing, but doing so would implicate Gu Ruoxiao. She was at a loss. After much deliberation, she decided to change the tutor's name and have one she hired herself.

Autumn has arrived as promised, and today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. Yesterday, Yun Chu asked Nan Rao and the others to buy more lanterns and mooncake ingredients, as there are many people coming this year, including children and Zi Su. Shili Pu closed early today, so Liu Da and the others went home to celebrate the festival as well.

Luo Yan arrived early in the morning with gifts. He said he was going to have dinner at his teacher, Physician Shangguan's, house that evening and invited Yun Chu to come along. Yun Chu declined, saying that with such a large family there, she wasn't going.

As evening approached, the courtyard came alive. Children were writing their names in the sand with sticks, Zisu and Zhuling were helping in the kitchen preparing ingredients and utensils for making mooncakes, and Xu Li was busy chopping firewood, as they would be needing a lot of firewood today.

Looking at the busy crowd in front of her, Yun Chu couldn't help but think of the scene when she celebrated the festival on Xiyan Mountain.

She smiled and suddenly noticed that Ping An was squatting in front of the door, looking sullen and wondering what was wrong. She went over and asked, "What's wrong, Ping An?"

"Miss, I'm fine." Ping An stood up, still holding a wooden sword in her hand.

"What is this?" Yun Chu asked curiously.

"This was a gift from Fengxing." Ping An quickly hid the sword behind his back.

"May I take a look?" Yun Chu asked gently.

Ping An handed over the wooden sword. Yun Chu felt the sword; it was small, just right for Ping An's height. It must have been specially carved. The surface was finely polished, smooth and rounded, with a warm, aged luster. The sword's lines were fluid, and although the blade wasn't made of sharp iron, it possessed a unique rhythmic beauty. The hilt featured a comfortable grip, wrapped with fine hemp rope, both non-slip and rustic.

"When I'm not around, does Fengxing always play with you?" Yun Chu asked, for the emotions of young people are always particularly pure.

"Yes, these past few months, he taught me to read and write, and also taught me swordsmanship. Other bodyguard brothers also taught me some self-defense techniques," Ping An said, blinking her big eyes.

"So, you want to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival with them?" Yun Chu asked.

“Hmm.” Ping An nodded, then suddenly shook her head. “I want to spend time with Miss. Even Feng Xing doesn’t have a family reunion, and that makes me a little sad.” Ping An explained.

Yun Chu patted Ping An's head; she understood. Young people's feelings are always sincere and passionate. But young people don't understand the entanglements between adults. He didn't understand why his young lady and the prince, who were initially on good terms, had suddenly broken up, and then reconciled yet remained cold. But he knew his young lady was good to him, so even though he didn't know what had happened, or who was right or wrong, he still stood firmly on his young lady's side without hesitation.

"Go ask Feng Xing. If he's willing, let's celebrate the festival together," Yun Chu said with a smile. What's wrong with making some concessions for the sake of the young man's feelings?

"Really? Fengxing can come for the festival?" Ping An exclaimed, a smile already appearing in his eyes.

"Yes, really." Yun Chu nodded with a smile.

"Can the other guards come too?" Ping An asked hesitantly.

"Sure, feel free to come."

"Great!" Ping An exclaimed. "I'm going right now!"

Watching his happy departing figure, Yun Chu also felt quite happy.

Not long after, Ping An arrived in a large entourage with a group of secret guards. Some followed the crowd, while others went with the flow. However, Cheng Feng and Chi Wu were nowhere to be seen; they were probably with Gu Ruoxiao. Once the secret guards arrived, they were very informal and helped out in a lively and cheerful manner, just like during the New Year.

"Children, wash your hands and make mooncakes!" Nan Rao called out as she carried things into the yard.

The children swarmed around, reaching out their hands to grab the ingredients. Zhu Ling and Zi Su quickly called out, "Take this first! Look at me!"

Everyone was talking at once, making it quite lively.

"Miss." Nan Rao brought over a small plate of ingredients. "This is for you." She prepared a separate portion for Yun Chu so she wouldn't have to squeeze in with the others.

"Okay," Yun Chu said with a smile.

With many hands making light work, all sorts of oddly shaped mooncakes soon appeared crookedly in the bamboo basket.

Zisu said disdainfully, "Look at what you've made. Whoever made it will eat it later."

"No, I want to eat Miss's bun," Xiao Jiu shouted mischievously.

Everyone laughed, and Yun Chu shook her head helplessly at the group of children.

"Alright, alright, that's enough. Get ready to put it on the stove and roast it. Go wash your hands." Zhu Ling hurriedly directed.

After washing their hands, the children gathered together again, listening to the guards tell stories, occasionally hissing and bursting into laughter. It seems people of all ages love stories.

A knock came from the courtyard gate.

"Perhaps the other guards have arrived," Yun Chu thought. Xu Li hurriedly stepped forward to check. He opened the door, but found himself unable to go in or out, so he could only call out, "Miss."

Yun Chu looked at him in confusion, but from this angle she couldn't see anything. She got up and walked to the door, where the person standing outside surprised her.

Gu Ruoxiao was standing there at that moment, followed by Chiwu and Chengfeng. Gu Ruoxiao was carrying a lantern in her hand.

Yun Chuwei gripped her clothes slightly. She hadn't expected him to come, but should she let him in? Hadn't they just had a fight?