Chapter 68 Everything She Did Was in Vain

Chapter 68 Everything She Did Was in Vain

At the age of twelve or thirteen, it was when Gao Wenyan was most obsessed with swordsmanship.

Back then, she believed herself to be exceptionally talented and often enjoyed creating some flamboyant moves.

These moves were complex and difficult to learn, but they dazzled anyone who watched them, earning her continuous praise.

Only Gao Wenxi disapproved, saying that these moves would eventually limit her. But Gao Wenyan paid no heed to his words.

Later, as her swordsmanship improved, Gao Wenyan also gained some insight and stopped using those flashy moves.

Now, she finally remembered; this was indeed her style back then.

However, Gao Wenyan couldn't understand why.

Why would this have anything to do with Chu Xu?

Her heart raced, and she had a bold guess.

"Big Brother! Have I ever been to Yangzhou?"

Gao Wenxi gave her a strange look.

If she didn't even remember, how could he?

So Gao Wenyan ran to ask Madam Gao.

Madam Gao was just about to rest when Gao Wenyan pulled her up, looking displeased.

"What is so urgent that it must be discussed now?"

"Mother, have I ever been to Yangzhou?"

"Just for this?"

Madam Gao glanced at her irritably.

"Of course you've been there."

What was this child doing, causing a commotion late at night?

"Do you remember which year it was?"

Madam Gao waved her hand impatiently. "How would I remember all that?"

"Don't delay my sleep."

With that, she unceremoniously sent her away.

It was Gao Wenting who returned from Blossom House and saw Gao Wenyan looking dejected, asking her a question.

Unexpectedly, after listening, he nodded and said calmly, "I remember."

"That year, we were supposed to pass through Yangzhou, but I broke out in a rash and had to stay there."

Her heart pounded fiercely, and Gao Wenyan asked urgently, "So which year was it?"

Gao Wenting calculated and said, "Eleven years ago, probably."

He added, "It was around springtime."

"I remember the apricot blossoms bloomed beautifully that year, but I had a rash, and the doctor wouldn't let me near the flowers."

Gao Wenyan's eyes widened. If she still didn't understand, she would indeed be too dull.

Eleven years ago, Yangzhou, apricot blossoms.

Thus, Gao Wenyan suffered insomnia.

After realizing someone's feelings, she found it hard to fall asleep.

She kept recalling Chu Xu's words, even the expression on his face when he said them, vividly imprinted in her mind.

"Actually, I found her long ago."

"Yes, I have been searching for someone for a long time."

His clear voice echoed in her mind again.

In the quiet of the night, her cheeks suddenly turned red.

The person Chu Xu had hidden in his heart was herself.

That year in Yangzhou, how did she meet him?

Gao Wenyan couldn't even remember if she had been to Yangzhou, let alone the details.

But what did it matter?

As Chu Xu said, they were people who should not have crossed paths.

So in the previous life, that was the distance they should have maintained.

As dawn approached, Gao Wenyan sighed softly.

Since she couldn't sleep, she might as well get up to practice her spear skills.

The early autumn morning was always filled with a chill.

She stood in a horse stance, and although she was only wearing a thin shirt, she was a trained martial artist and soon warmed up.

When Gao Wenting got up, she had already been practicing for over an hour.

He couldn't understand why Gao Wenyan looked so haggard yet so energetic.

"Are you up?"

Ignoring Gao Wenyan's greeting, he hurried past her as if he had seen a ghost, quickly slipping away.

Gao Wenyan didn't mind and continued to focus on her movements.

General Gao hadn't returned from the morning court session, surely still dealing with the aftermath of yesterday's Mid-Autumn Festival banquet.

She had intended to wait for General Gao, but instead, she encountered the hurried Gao Wenxi.

"Older Brother, why are you back so early?"

"The Emperor only kept a few officials who were present yesterday for questioning."

Since he had left early, he wasn't on that list.

General Gao personally repelled the assassin, and Chu Xu, being the Prime Minister, would inevitably be involved in the interrogation.

If this matter didn't concern him, why did Gao Wenxi look so grim?

"Is something wrong?"

"Wang Yong came to see me."

"What?"

Gao Wenyan was shocked, then gritted her teeth and asked, "Why did he come to you?"

Speaking of this, Gao Wenxi felt quite troubled.

"He said the Gao family is about to face trouble."

Upon hearing this, Gao Wenyan's face immediately turned cold.

"Why is everyone so well-informed?"

It was fine for Chu Xu to use this excuse to save himself—he hadn't harmed the Gao family after all.

But what right did Wang Yong have to play this game?

She went to close the door and whispered, "What does he mean by this?"

Gao Wenxi pondered for a moment.

"He probably wants to make a deal with us."

This time they saved Wang Yong, and in return, he would help the Gao family when they faced trouble.

"Words alone don't count; he should at least provide some evidence."

Turns out he did.

Gao Wenxi handed her a slip of paper, saying it was given to him by Wang Yong.

As she unfolded it, Gao Wenyan's face turned pale.

"Huang Qiusha, playing the pipa, twin dragons playing with twin flowers."

Her hand trembled uncontrollably, and a wave of immense sorrow washed over her.

Nothing had changed!

All her efforts were in vain.

Father would die, and so would her brother.

Everyone in the Gao family would die!

She forced back her tears and spoke, realizing her voice was hoarse.

"Did he spread this?"

The nursery rhyme was still around, perhaps already circulating, and she had been foolishly unaware.

"No."

This was the first time Gao Wenxi had seen her so panicked, so he couldn't help but offer some comfort.

"Since he approached me at this point, it means it hasn't happened yet."

In other words, it might happen soon.

And how it would unfold depended entirely on the Gao family's choice.

Taking a deep breath, she forced herself not to think about the outcome of her previous life, and Gao Wenyan finally calmed down a bit.

Thus, she understood Wang Yong's intention.

If what Gao Wenxi said was true, then Wang Yong wasn't just seeking cooperation with the Gao family; he was also threatening them.

If the Gao family saved him, this nursery rhyme wouldn't be spread.

After analyzing it, this explanation seemed more reasonable; otherwise, Wang Yong wouldn't have any leverage.

Gao Wenyan slammed the desk in anger.

"The mastermind behind it all was indeed him!"

Gao Wenxi lit a candle and burned the note to ashes.

He said indifferently, "He's like a clay Bodhisattva crossing the river, struggling to save himself. So he's planning to go down fighting."

It's equivalent to laying the cards on the table.

Even if all the previous actions were done by Wang Yong, he could still use this nursery rhyme to threaten the Gao family.

While others might dismiss it as a nonsensical nursery rhyme, Gao Wenyan understood the gravity of it.

The matter of the Twin Lotus was oversimplified by Gao Wenyan.

That day, Gao Wenyan saved nothing more than the floating image of the twin dragons.

Despite this, Aunt Song bore witness to the Twin Lotus, and as long as someone other than the Gao family saw it, it could still be used to make an issue of it.

From the moment Gao Wenyan opened her eyes in this life, she was already behind.