Chapter 67: The Reason to Marry Him

Chapter 67: The Reason to Marry Him

Gongye Chu knew he was dreaming again. The "he" in his dream was sitting at a table, frowning as he stared at a small plate before him. It was black and stinky, seemingly seasoned with exotic spices from distant lands.

"What is this?" "He" asked.

Beside him sat a woman with a blossoming smile, her lotus-like face unparalleled in beauty. Her soft jade-like brows and tender petals of her lips were like a flower just beginning to bloom. Her long, black hair was styled into a simple bun, without any gemstone ornaments. She wore an ordinary blue homely robe that revealed a hint of creamy white on her delicate neck.

Her gaze upon "him" was like water, shimmering with affectionate longing. "Guess?"

He knew what it was – stinky tofu. The emperor enjoyed experimenting with unusual foods and had urged him more than once to try it, even claiming it was her favorite.

"He" clearly didn't know or couldn't guess. He had never seen such a pungent dish before, his eyebrows furrowed as he looked at the plate of stinky tofu with disdain.

"A Chu, give it a taste," she pleaded, a hint of cunning flickering in her watery eyes.

"How could 'he' not see the cunning in her eyes? Still, maintaining his composure under her smile, he picked up the chopsticks. That face was familiar, as cold and detached as if he were looking into a mirror, though his brows were notably softer.

The taste wasn't as bizarre as he had imagined. There was an indescribable spicy fragrance amidst the stench. It was as if he knew what "he" was thinking, experiencing it himself.

With her cheek resting on her hand, she smiled playfully. "Is it delicious?"

"He" shook his head.

She laughed even more joyfully. "Then guess again, what is this?"

"He" still shook his head.

The woman's slender hand grasped his, and he distinctly felt the smoothness of her skin, as delicate as tofu. Tofu should be like her skin, not the black lumps on the plate.

"It's tofu," she said, feeding him another piece. Her eyes sparkled with mischief and triumph at having successfully teased him.

"Tofu?" He chewed slowly, seemingly tasting the flavor of tofu.

"Do you like tofu?" She asked mischievously, her long eyelashes fluttering with each blink.

He knew full well that this person before him was not the one he knew. In front of him, she was either pretending to be foolish or overly composed. When had she ever appeared so coquettishly charming and smiling?

He had just had her tofu for lunch that afternoon, and it had been incredibly tender.

"Doufu is delicious," he replied in unison with "him."

Little did he know that outside the dream, she would nearly bore a hole into him with her gaze because of this simple sentence about tofu. His grip on her hand was vice-like, living up to his name, Hu Dali.

Unable to break free, she ceased struggling altogether.

Nights in the mountains were naturally cold, and sleepiness only made the chill more pronounced. She pulled the blanket over herself without a second thought, leaving the man beside her exposed to the cold without an ounce of guilt.

As sleep deepened, her body leaned involuntarily towards one side, eventually resting entirely against him. He remained in the same position, the hand holding hers never relaxing.

When he awoke, it was still dark outside. The woman beside him slept soundly and peacefully. A faint floral scent lingered in the air, enveloping them both.

In the silence of the room, every tiny sound was amplified. He could hear his own heartbeat, realizing for the first time that this cold place was, in fact, alive.

Would the loving couple from his dreams truly exist in reality?

His aloof eyes remained as deep as ever, yet now held a subtle hint of doubt and complexity. As the blanket fell onto the woman beside him, those doubts and complexities vanished instantly.

Could this version of her really be the same woman from his dreams?

Even the dead would be startled back to life by such a gaze, and Pei Yuanxi's eyelashes fluttered nervously; she was reluctant to open her eyes, already imagining his expression.

His hand that held hers loosened, and just as her heart settled, it was lifted once more when she sensed herself being lifted from the blanket and placed onto the bed.

The door creaked open, letting in a chill draft.

She heard the door close and slowly opened her eyes.

He wasn't angry—what an odd man.

Seeing him again in the morning, he had returned to being Hu Dali. The tranquil estate gave Pei Yuanxi an illusion of peaceful days. Who knew what had transpired beneath this calm, or where those people had gone.

She wouldn't inquire; some matters didn't require relentless pursuit.

From a distance, she saw several women running towards the estate, only to be stopped by Liu Ze not far from the courtyard. Liu Ze explained that Young Master Cheng had urgent family matters back home and had left, never to return.

The women were both surprised and disappointed; after all, he was a source of income. With this path severed, where else could they earn money?

Liu Ze distributed two taels of silver to each of them as severance pay, which lifted their spirits. Two taels was equivalent to their annual monthly stipends, a substantial windfall.

Pei Yuanxi called out to Aunt Li and Aunt Zhang, but both hesitated to approach her. Their eyes clearly held respect and distance, as if this moment of parting made them realize anew that she was a lady from a good family, no longer the girl they'd worked alongside in sorting beans and drying vegetables.

"Aunt Li, are you also leaving?" Aunt Li asked.

She nodded. "Yes, I must leave too."

"Why didn't you leave with Young Master?" As Aunt Li asked, her gaze kept flickering toward Gongye Chu. "Wasn't he...with you? Did Young Master give you to him?"

Pei Yuanxi was taken aback but did not refute the suggestion.

Aunt Li's expression turned subtle, and she felt a deep sense of regret. They had once believed that Young Master would marry the young lady, but he had never explicitly stated his intentions. Everyone on the estate guessed that this young lady might not become his official wife, at best a concubine.

To their surprise, Young Master left without a second thought, abandoning the young lady. These noblemen truly had no conscience; they could casually give away a beautiful maiden like a flower.

"Amy, don't lose heart. Life goes on, and from what I see, Brother Hu is a decent man. Forget about anything else, with his strength, your days won't be difficult."

Pei Yuanxi suddenly recalled their talk about a man's strength, and her face inexplicably flushed.

Aunt Li wore an understanding expression and whispered, "Perhaps you'll enjoy prosperity by his side in the future."

"Thank you for your kind wishes, Aunt," replied Pei Yuanxi, not knowing what else to say and feeling that no explanation was necessary.

Aunt Zhang suddenly started weeping. "I... I can't bear to part with you, Miss."

Their brief time together seemed like an eternity. Looking back at the courtyard she had lived in, Pei Yuanxi felt as if those days were nothing more than a surreal dream.

"We won't be coming back to this estate, but I'm truly grateful to have met both of you. I've been very happy working alongside you these past days."

"As long as Miss is happy, that's all that matters..." Aunt Li stammered, clearly moved.

Aunt Zhang was too busy wiping her tears to find words.

Pei Yuanxi took out a hairpin and a hair ornament. The pin was made of pure gold and adorned with pearls, while the ornament was golden with an embedded jade. These were the accessories she had worn in her hair; she placed them in their hands, causing them to jump in surprise, as if they had been burnt, and they repeatedly tried to push them away.

"Miss, you... You mustn't do this..."

"I fear that today's farewell might be our last meeting in this lifetime. I want to leave something for you both to remember me by." She pressed the items into their palms once more. "Please accept them. They are not valuable to me, but the memories of our time together are truly precious."

Both women received the gifts with great care, their hearts pounding wildly. They had never seen such treasures before, yet Miss Pei Yuanxi gave them without a second thought.

"Aunt Li, are you really not coming back?" she asked.

"I doubt it," Pei Yuanxi replied, casting another glance at the yard behind her. Despite being forcibly taken here, she had enjoyed a leisurely and pleasant time these past days.

It was unlikely that she would ever return, so this might be their final farewell.

Their encounter, brief as it was, could be considered a fated meeting.

Aunt Li's eyes reddened after witnessing Aunt Zhang's tears. If she had been only somewhat sincere before, receiving Pei Yuanxi's generous gift increased her sincerity tenfold.

Turning to Gongye Chu, she said, "Brother Hu, since the young master has entrusted Miss to you, you must treat her well."

Gongye Chu had overheard their conversation and softly acknowledged her words. With his cold demeanor, his dark skin now seemed even more expressionless.

Not known for his smiles, his casual 'mm' could easily be mistaken for reluctance.

Both Aunt Li and Aunt Zhang interpreted his response that way, their faces reflecting some displeasure. Aunt Li, in particular, was a straightforward woman who spoke her mind.

"Brother Hu, not to criticize you, but you're in the wrong here. The young master entrusting this lady to you is a sign of his high regard. Look at yourself, as black as charcoal; strangers might mistake you for a lightning-struck tree trunk. From head to toe, there's not a single trait of yours that matches up to this lady, save for your strength."

Aunt Zhang chimed in with teary eyes, "Brother Hu, your Aunt Li speaks the truth. You mustn't belittle the lady just because she was given to you by the young master. In my opinion, the lady is truly sacrificing herself by being with you. You must treat her well in the future."

Gongye Chu remained silent, enduring their scolding. His coal-black face revealed no emotion, only his cold, distant gaze fixed on Pei Yuanxi.

Pei Yuanxi suppressed her laughter, putting on a pitiful and aggrieved expression on purpose.

Aunt Li pulled Gongye Chu aside. It seemed he had never been handled in such a way by a woman before. As Pei Yuanxi worried for Aunt Li, surprisingly, Gongye Chu didn't seem angered.

Whatever Aunt Li said, it left a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Aunt Li then drew Pei Yuanxi to the other side, discussing the dynamics of married life. She emphasized that women should be gentle in bed, so that men would cherish them. She also mentioned that with a man like Brother Hu, if a woman could satisfy him in bed, he would surely be a loving partner.

She could guess what Aunt Li was talking about – the same old marital advice.

The path out of the village seemed short, and before long, Pei Yuanxi could no longer see Aunt Li and Aunt Zhang. She slowly lowered the carriage curtains, striving to maintain distance from the man who was resting with his eyes closed.

Gongye Chu had not only exposed Cheng Yu's hiding place but also eliminated Cheng Yu's influence in Shi Fo Town, including the retired Lord Feng who had been in service for many years.

The journey from Shi Fo Town to the outskirts of the Eastern Capital City took roughly seven to eight days.

Throughout this trip, she had repeatedly lamented how blind she must have been in the future to fall for a man like him. He was aloof and barely spoke, with no redeeming qualities besides his appearance.

She could not fathom what particular trait of his could have captivated her future self enough to become his wife and bear a son with him.

Madam Kang did not return to the capital but waited at an estate outside. The incident of her abduction was kept under wraps. The servants were strictly instructed not to divulge any details, and none dared to breach this order.

When the grandmother and granddaughter reunited, their tears stained their clothing in an emotional embrace.

Gongye Chu was the one who brought her back, which eased Madam Kang's worries. She dared not relive that terrifying day; each reminiscence felt like a brush with death.

They were rescued almost immediately after being abandoned in the woods. She then met her son and the Grand Commander. Eventually, she settled into the estate, staying there for nearly a month. Although her granddaughter claimed not to have suffered, Madam Kang couldn't help but ache upon seeing her granddaughter's now gaunt face.

Everyone in the Marquis's household, excluding Marquis Xuanping, believed that the grandmother and granddaughter had spent close to a month at the estate. Not even Shen had harbored any suspicions.

Marquis Xuanping, upon seeing his second daughter, uttered only one phrase: "It's good that you're back."

From the moment his second daughter was taken in as an honorary mother by the emperor, he knew he was powerless to protect her anymore. When she gained the emperor's favor, his heart was in constant turmoil. When she became entangled with the Grand Marshal, his fear intensified.

Feeling trapped and deeply remorseful, he could not control the situation. All his concerns and anxieties were evident in his eyes, and Pei Yuanxi perceived them clearly.

Worry often stems from uncertainty about past or future events. Thus, she took the initiative to recount the happenings of recent days, omitting unnecessary details while giving a general account.

Upon hearing her story, the worry on Marquis Xuanping's face visibly eased. The two of them continued their quiet conversation, while nearby, Madam Shen looked on with envy.

"Her bond with Lord Hou has always been closer," Madam Shen commented wistfully.

This was a delicate question for Xiang Mang to answer. It was true that the second miss preferred to be closer to Lord Hou, and it was only natural for Lady to feel saddened by this. At times, Xiang Mang felt pity for Lady, and at other times, she found the second miss to be even more pitiable.

The once prosperous marquis's residence has now become increasingly desolate. Apart from Aunt Zhao's courtyard, where everything remains as it was, there is not a single corner that meets with satisfaction.

"Second Miss still has a place for Lady in her heart."

Madam Shen forced a smile. "She's a good child. Even if she doesn't get close to me, I should still be content."

Marquis Xuanping's gaze casually fell upon her, discerning her disappointment. He was aware that his wife and second daughter had never been particularly close, and he knew all too well the reasons behind it.

"During your absence from the Marquis's residence, your mother has been quite concerned about you."

Pei Yuanxi turned her gaze, her eyes meeting with Shen's tearful ones.

Thoughts of her son crossed her mind, a son whom she had never nurtured for a single day, whose growth she had never been part of. Yet, he loved her deeply as his mother.

To meet her, he had traversed not a street, nor a city, but an entirely different epoch. Since the day they were reunited, she hadn't quite embraced the role of a mother, let alone fostered a deep maternal affection for him.

What kind of existence is a mother, after all?

Upon hearing that she would dine in the Xuanting Courtyard, Madam Shen promptly wiped away her tears and bustled about with a mix of laughter and sobs. Marquis Xuanping naturally stayed to join them for this rare family reunion meal.

Madam Shen's eyes were slightly reddened, but her face radiated immense joy. She kept remarking on how much thinner she had become and urged her to eat more. She noticed that the dishes on the table were all those she had enjoyed when she resided in the Xuanting Courtyard.

As they ate, she thought of Chong'er.

She knew her son must miss her even more; he would surely come to see her tonight.

When the handsome youth with dimples appeared, she realized that she missed him more than she had imagined. Upon seeing her waiting for him, he was both surprised and overjoyed.

"Mother, Mother, I've missed you so much." He leaned against her like an affectionate child, his voice trembling slightly, almost imperceptible without close attention.

He was scared, afraid that any change in him might harm his mother. Every day, he had been eagerly anticipating his father's rescue of his mother.

He trusted his father, yet also felt anger towards him.

"I...I missed you too," Pei Yuanxi said, gently stroking his short hair. Looking at him like a lion with tousled fur, she hadn't expected his hair to be so soft.

"Really? Mother, you're not blaming me for not going with Father to save you? I wanted to, but Father forbade it. Please don't be angry with me, Mother. It was Father who insisted on keeping me back. I'm an obedient child; I couldn't defy him." The words were a mix of explanation and complaint, delivered in a pitiful tone.

Pei Yuanxi wondered, who does he resemble?

How could a man like Gongye Chu raise a child with such a disposition? It's not that Chong'er is bad, but his emotions are open and abundant, quite unlike what one would expect from the offspring of the cold, fearsome figure.

Suddenly, she recalled the cryptic remark the man had made about their father-son bond being stronger. What did he mean by that? Was there something Chong'er had kept hidden from her?

"So you listen more to your father, do you?" she asked.

Shangxing leaned closer to his mother's body, suddenly sensing an ominous feeling. "No, I prefer Mother more."

"If you had to choose between being with him and me, who would you choose?"

It was a question many parents found themselves asking, even though they knew it held no real significance. Without thinking, she asked it anyway.

How would he respond?

Of course, he would strive for fairness.

"I love Father, and I love Mother. I just want our family to stay together forever." He gently shook Pei Yuanxi's hand. "Mother, please don't be angry with me or Father."

She wasn't angry with her son.

"I'm not angry with you." She stroked his short hair again. "Is there something secret going on between you and your father? It seems like he enjoys sleeping in other people's beds."

His eyes lit up at her words.

Had things between Father and Mother progressed that far?

Before her own mother, there was nothing she couldn't say, and her father's secrets were of little significance. With suppressed excitement, he revealed every last detail about Gongye Chu.

Pei Yuanxi chuckled inwardly upon hearing this.

So that's how it was.

The reason she had ended up marrying him was simply because she was his cure. She could now easily guess the motive behind her marriage without delving too deeply into it.

It must have been his forceful abduction!

What a despicable man.