Chapter 40 Since We Are Familiar, Why Not Acknowledge Each Other Openly?

Chapter 40 Since We Are Familiar, Why Not Acknowledge Each Other Openly?

That night, Gao Wenyan was wandering around the city when she suddenly remembered that Chu Xu's supply of pills might be running low.

So she took the prescription given by Zhixing and went to a pharmacy to get new pills for Chu Xu.

She waited so long that she almost fell asleep before the doctor finally finished preparing the medicine.

It was getting late, and she feared Chu Xu might already be asleep. Gao Wenyan hurried back, heading straight for Chu Xu's residence.

Unexpectedly, Wen Zishu was also in Chu Xu's courtyard. She was about to speak and ask when Zishu had returned.

But he said, "After all these years, you still carry that sachet?"

Her heart suddenly skipped a beat, and Gao Wenyan involuntarily stopped in her tracks.

However, before she could hide, Chu Xu had already spotted her.

He glanced at Wen Zishu with displeasure, who turned around in confusion. Upon recognizing her, he immediately closed his mouth.

Feeling guilty, Wen Zishu made up an excuse and went back to his room, leaving the two of them staring at each other.

Gao Wenyan tossed the pill bottle absentmindedly, her face plastered with a fake smile.

"It must be exhausting to act like this in front of me. Since we are familiar, why not acknowledge each other openly?"

"We're not really close."

"Then isn't it even more reason to acknowledge each other? What is there to hide?"

Seeing her gaze fall on the sachet, Chu Xu felt a twinge of annoyance.

"It's not what you think."

She casually threw the bottle at him and said indifferently, "Young Master Yan, there's no need to explain to me."

"Lady!"

Chu Xu instinctively reached out to grab her sleeve, but Gao Wenyan subtly avoided him.

"It's late, Young Master Yan, you should rest early."

With that, Gao Wenyan left without looking back, not giving him a chance to say another word.

In her mind, she reminded herself that he had always been a liar; there was nothing surprising about it.

She then took out the blueprint and knocked on Wen Zishu's door.

This was her original plan for the night, more important than anything else.

"Come in."

She pushed the door open and saw a woman sitting inside.

This was the first time Gao Wenyan had seen her like this, and she curiously took a few extra glances.

"Are you about to retire for the night?"

"Not yet."

Everyone usually thought Wen Zishu looked delicate, almost feminine. Now, with the hair tie removed, her long hair cascaded down, enhancing her feminine aura in the soft light.

The reason Gao Wenyan knew she was a woman was because Wen Zishu had whispered it to her ear when she was leaving Great Ning.

She had offered to share a secret as a token of gratitude, symbolizing their friendship.

"This visit is about this."

As she spoke, she unfolded the blueprint, revealing a ring.

Gao Wenyan wasn't good at drawing, but this was the best version after several attempts.

The ring itself wasn't particularly special, but the intricate pattern caught one's attention.

Wen Zishu held the blueprint and studied it for a while.

"The pattern looks like something from the Jin people."

"You're right."

Gao Wenyan confirmed, "And it's made of ivory, a treasure of the Jin royal family."

It wasn't that Gao Wenyan was knowledgeable; in her previous life, the princess responsible for identifying the ring had said exactly that. Gao Wenyan was merely repeating what she had heard.

The princess was Jin herself. If she said it belonged to the Jin royal family, it certainly did. As a result, General Gao was accused of treason.

Poor princess, innocent and unaware, was tricked into revealing the ring's origin and was subsequently confined to the cold palace.

Gao Wenyan asked, "Do you know whose ring this is?"

Wen Zishu shook her head uncertainly and said, "The Jin people revere witchcraft, and this pattern seems to belong to a prince or a grandson."

There were five living princes and three grandsons among the Jin royal family.

Although Wen Zishu had helped narrow down the possibilities significantly by excluding many princes, the range was still considerable.

However, this still did not meet Gao Wenyan's expectations. She wanted to know who the owner of the ring was.

Gao Wenyan had initially come to Qi Country with the idea of taking a shortcut.

Thinking that maybe Wen Zishu would recognize this ring?

Now it seemed that she indeed had to put in more effort and go back to start from the princess who was sent in marriage.

"Thank you, Zishu."

"By the way, I'll be leaving for Great Ning tomorrow, and I came tonight specifically to bid you farewell."

Today was already late July, and there were less than five days until the fire broke out in the military camp in her previous life.

Although she had instructed Lin Yishan to increase manpower and tighten security in the military camp, Gao Wenyan still wanted to return to Great Ning as soon as possible. If anything happened, she could respond quickly.

"Tomorrow is the Lantern Festival, the most bustling time in Zhihe City. Why not stay one more day?"

Wen Zishu, having not seen her for many years, couldn't help but try to persuade her to stay.

"Truly regrettable, but we'll have to wait for next time."

The Lantern Festival originated in Qi Country, a day to pray for the deceased.

Every year on this day, people would release lanterns into the river.

One, to express their longing; two, to hope that the souls of their loved ones could rest in peace and move on to the afterlife.

In the early days of Great Ning, there was once a concubine from Qi Country, who was extremely beautiful and greatly favored by the emperor.

The emperor, pitying her homesickness, brought the Lantern Festival to Great Ning as well.

Over time, every 25th of July became the Lantern Festival shared by both Great Ning and Qi Country.

Hearing Gao Wenyan's repeated polite refusals, Wen Zishu had no choice but to give up.

He asked, "Wenyan, don't you have anything to ask me?"

"Didn't I just ask?"

Wen Zishu shook his head, pointed outside, and smiled, "I'm talking about him."

"Oh."

Gao Wenyan said indifferently, "You mean Young Master Yan."

"No, it's Chu Xu."

She smiled and added, "But now, shouldn't he be addressed as Minister?"

Wen Zishu smiled slightly, leaving Gao Wenyan unsure how to respond.

She lowered her eyes and said softly, "They are old acquaintances."

"Yes."

Wen Zishu's face was full of apology.

"I'm truly sorry for keeping it from you earlier."

"It's just a small matter."

Wen Zishu explained, "It was my intention to keep it hidden. Wenyan, don't blame Chu Xu."

Gao Wenyan's eyelids twitched, but her expression remained unchanged. "You know he's a minister. What right do I have to blame him?"

Wen Zishu's eyes sparkled with amusement.

"I haven't seen him for many years either, yet I recognized him at first sight."

"Wenyan, do you know that I was originally a princess from Yue Country?"

Gao Wenyan's eyes widened slightly.

Of course, she didn't know.

They had only spent a month together, and she only found out that Wen Zishu was a woman right before they parted.