Rebirth and Rewriting Fate

The next day, when Yun Chu got up and opened the door, she found it still locked, as were the windows. She didn't struggle and sat back down at the table. A short while later, she heard the sound of a lock being opened outside, and then Dongfang entered with a servant. Soon, the table was covered with breakfast.

"Are you hungry, young lady? Have some breakfast," Dongfang said.

Yun Chu remained unmoved, her face filled with disdain.

Dongfang Liaoran called out, "Someone come here!"

Then a servant entered, took out a needle case, and tested each silver needle for poison. He then stood behind Dongfang.

"Girl please."

"Aren't you going to eat?" Yun Chu asked back.

Dongfang smiled, picked up a steamed bun, took a bite, and said, "Isn't the young lady being a little too cautious?"

Yun Chu picked up the steamed bun. "Trying to get something from a tiger is either death or serious injury. I value my life."

"Interesting," Dongfang laughed. "Now that I've shown my sincerity, what about the young lady's?"

"We're going to Wuling City today," Yun Chu said.

"Where are you going? What are you going to do? Did you send people to ambush you there?" Gu Chengjie appeared from outside the door.

"Believe it or not!" Yun Chu said dismissively.

Gu Chengjie and Dongfang were talking in the courtyard.

"Are we really going to Wuling City?" Gu Chengjie asked.

"You have other places?" Dongfang asked with a sidelong glance.

Gu Chengjie shook his head. "But what if it's a trap?"

"Then who would have dug it up?" Dongfang countered. "What else could an orphaned girl, powerless and destitute, do, reduced to a merchant?"

“That makes sense. Given the Emperor’s character, he would never push an innocent person out to exchange for a hostage, but he did. It seems that Ye Xingchen’s life is not worth mentioning in his eyes at all,” Gu Chengjie analyzed.

"Now that the eldest prince is at the border of the Ice Marsh, keeping Gu Ruoxiao in check, he has no energy left to deal with us. We just need to quietly reap the benefits."

“Yes, the Imperial Uncle will definitely not mobilize troops because of someone who has been thrown out.” Gu Chengjie said with increasing certainty.

“However, just to be on the safe side, we should still send someone to Wuling City to investigate first.” Dongfang’s eyes gleamed like a wolf’s.

Soon, the people from the East arranged to set off.

It seemed the other party believed her for the time being. Yun Chu breathed a slight sigh of relief.

The carriage traveled for a day and finally arrived at the outskirts of Wuling City, but then stopped.

"Rest here," someone called from outside.

Yun Chu leaned against the carriage, while Dongfang opposite her closed his eyes to rest.

They arrived at Wuling City but didn't go in. Had they discovered something? Yun Chu wondered to herself.

About an hour later, someone came to report.

Dongfang got up and got off the carriage.

"Reporting to Master, everything is normal in Wuling City."

"Have you investigated thoroughly?" Gu Chengjie couldn't help but interject.

"Yes."

Dongfang and Gu Chengjie exchanged a glance, and Dongfang gave the order, "Enter the city."

As they entered the city gate, Yun Chu lifted the carriage curtain and looked out. She saw a tea stall at the city gate and the sign hanging on it. She couldn't help but smile. Gu Ruoxiao had arrived. It was their promise.

That day, Gu Ruoxiao was still very worried, and Yun Chu suggested, "Why don't you leave me a secret signal if you're here?"

"signal?"

"Okay, just draw a flute. As long as I see it, I'll know you're here," Yun Chu said, blinking her big eyes.

“Okay, I’ll paint the flute. Wherever there’s a flute, my people will be there. If you’re in danger, just shout when you see a flute, and my people and I will definitely rescue you,” Gu Ruoxiao said, holding her hand.

Yun Chu lowered the carriage curtain. As long as he was there, she felt at ease, regardless of what she might face next. She had actually considered the consequences of directly declaring war on Dongfang and his forces. However, yesterday she had seen many of them carrying muskets. She couldn't allow any more Black Riders or secret guards to be injured or killed. Besides, a fight would inevitably harm innocent civilians. She still needed to keep them contained. But now she was going to light the fuse right under Dongfang's nose; this would require careful planning.

"Master, we've arrived." A voice came from outside.

Dongfang glanced at Yun Chu and gestured for them to get off the carriage together.

Before them stood an ordinary-looking house, its interior already filled with sentry posts. It seemed the scouts who had come earlier were all here.

Dongfang gave a signal, and someone came to lead Yun Chu into the house.

"Master, Master, Miss Yun Chu has entered the city." Cheng Feng rushed over in a hurry.

"How is she? Did she see the code I left for her?" Gu Ruoxiao stood up from behind the desk.

"The guards seem to be doing alright. They must have seen that our teahouses are all over the streets and alleys."

Gu Ruoxiao nodded, "It's good that you saw it."

"Master, the guards have discovered that Dongchi has brought a musket," Chengfeng said.

Gu Ruoxiao frowned as she pondered.

"Master, Master!" Chiwu rushed in, it was the first time I had ever seen Chiwu so anxious.

Gu Ruoxiao looked up, his voice trembling slightly. "What's wrong with Yun Chu?"

"Miss Yun Chu is alright. It's just..."

"Just what?"

"The secret guards spotted the Fourth Prince among the crowd at Dongchi."

"What did you say?" Gu Ruoxiao's eyes were filled with shock, and even Chengfeng looked at Chiwu in disbelief.

“The guards just came to report. They weren’t sure at first, but they saw Xi Yue in the house and confirmed that he is the Fourth Prince,” Chi Wu explained.

Gu Ruoxiao swayed and Chengfeng exclaimed, "Your Highness!" He quickly helped him sit down.

Gu Ruoxiao's first thought was of Yun Chu. When Gu Chengjie died, she was so disbelieving and terrified. How could she bear to see her again now?

"Sir, there's something else terrible."

Gu Ruoxiao looked up at Chiwu.

"The person who kidnapped Miss Yun Chu is Dongfang Yun Che of Dongchi."

"That seemingly submissive but actually sinister and despicable royal illegitimate son?" Chengfeng exclaimed in surprise.

Gu Ruoxiao couldn't sit still any longer. "Immediately gather manpower and come with me to rescue Yun Chu."

"Master, Miss Yun Chu is wearing a white silk handkerchief," Chi Wu hurriedly stopped him.

Gu Ruoxiao looked at Chiwu, and then his eyes lowered, as if his gaze had lost focus.

After they exchanged the code that day, Yun Chu felt she had to do something.

“You left me a secret code, so I’ll leave you one too,” Yun Chu said.

Gu Ruoxiao looked at her with affection, "Then what do you want to tell me?"

Yun Chu's eyes darted around. "Let's use this. It's a white silk handkerchief. White represents calmness. When I enter the city, you'll definitely send someone to monitor Dong Chi. If I wear this white silk handkerchief, it means I want to tell you not to act impulsively. Promise me, no matter what happens, unless I call for help, you won't act impulsively, okay?" Yun Chu cupped his face in her hands and said earnestly.

Gu Ruoxiao placed a kiss on her forehead. "Okay."

After a moment of silence, he issued the order: "Send people to keep a close watch and report back every half hour."

Sitting in his chair, Gu Ruoxiao had calmed down, but he couldn't hide his frustration. He regretted it; he shouldn't have let her take this risk. Things had now spiraled out of control. Could this situation still be brought under control?