Chapter 296: Gu Huai Dreams of His Past Life

Chapter 296: Gu Huai Dreams of His Past Life

Empress Dowager Xie strode away with her phoenix robes sweeping the ground.

As long as she lived, the glory of the Xie family would not completely fade away.

For over a thousand days and nights, she had vanished from sight, and everyone assumed she must cower in survival, barely clinging to life.

But why should she cower in survival?

She and Emperor Wencheng had raised the reigning emperor.

Killing her would be tantamount to matricide!

Killing a nephew versus killing a mother—these were vastly different in nature.

With the Xie family destroyed, whether for matters of state or personal sentiment, the emperor would keep watch over her but wouldn't dare kill her.

Thus, amidst a grand retinue, the empress dowager left the palace with majestic dignity.

Attendants and guards flanked her front and back.

Carriages lined up in succession, banners fluttering in the wind.

The nine-phoenix yellow satin parasol with a curved handle was blazingly conspicuous. [Historical note: The nine-phoenix parasol symbolized imperial privilege.]

...

At the residence of Grand Tutor Qin.

The Winding Stream Banquet at the Qin estate had no segregation between male and female guests. [Historical note: A Winding Stream Banquet refers to an ancient literati drinking game where cups floated along a winding stream.]

The babbling stream murmured, bamboo branches swayed gently in the breeze.

Myriad red blossoms glistened with dew, and spring water brimmed along the banks.

Ethereal music from pipes and zithers lingered in the air.

Beautiful. Elegant.

But Lu Mingchao was in no state to appreciate it.

She saw Gu Huai, who should have been serving confinement.

Had Gu Huai’s confinement been lifted?

Did the emperor in the palace have no principles at all?

Issuing orders only to revoke them.

Gu Huai wore a snow-white cross-collared robe, its drape flowing like snow-clad mountain ridges. Gold-embroidered cloud motifs adorned the cuffs and collar, while a pale jade belt embroidered with auspicious clouds cinched his waist. From it hung a worn, ordinary-looking pouch.

Rarefied and regal.

Lu Mingchao averted her gaze in revulsion.

Flashing that pouch sewn by his former lover to spite her.

While Lu Mingchao was watching Gu Huai, Gu Huai was also observing her.

Her features resembled the mist-clad mountains and spring-fed streams of an ink-wash painting—even the slight narrowing of her eyes and the faint furrow of her brows in disdain seemed to shimmer in subtle gradations of light.

Apart from the gentle rounding of her belly, her figure appeared largely unchanged.

The soft pink of her dress softened her striking beauty, lending her a more gentle and demure air.

Seeing Lu Mingchao turn her head away, Gu Huai still couldn’t bring himself to look away.

Ever since the Yongning Marquis’s family had withdrawn from the betrothal, he had been plagued by recurring dreams.

In the dream, A Chao had married him at seventeen.

A dowry procession stretching ten li, a wedding dress blazing like fire, in that fleeting, dreamlike moment.

He and A Chao exchanged bows as husband and wife.

In the dream, he kept his usual cool demeanor, but A Chao did not avoid him as she did now.

His A Chao was tender and passionate.

Each time he wished to continue the dream, he would jerk awake unexpectedly.

At first, he thought it was merely a reflection of his waking thoughts.

But the scenes in the dream felt too real.

Over and over, he received the bridal party, over and over, they went through the wedding ceremony.

And over and over, it would all be cut short the moment the bridal veil was lifted.

He refused to believe it was just a simple dream.

He preferred to think it was the life he and A Chao were meant to have.

He sought out a revered monk at a Buddhist temple, but the monk called it "flowers in a mirror, moon on water."

How could it be flowers in a mirror, moon on water?

If Lu Minghui had never been acknowledged as family, he would have married A Chao—only A Chao.

There had never been anyone else by his side.

Would seventeen-year-old A Chao still marry him now?

An inexhaustible yearning took root in Gu Huai’s heart.

He wanted to make the dream real.

"Still clinging to the past?" Princess Qingyu folded her arms, taunting with a smirk.

"Gu Huai, you're still this princess's former fiancé, after all. Show some restraint—don’t embarrass me."

Gu Huai averted his gaze and shot a frosty look at Princess Qingyu. "Your Highness should focus on covering those love bites on your neck first."

Princess Qingyu instinctively touched her neck, then waved it off carelessly. "The young stud I found last night got carried away."

"Lacks finesse, but proper discipline will remedy that."

"Gu Huai, don't say this princess is hogging all the fun without thinking of you. That little pup has a twin sister—shall I give her to you?"

Gu Huai couldn't help but feel a wave of disgust, like he'd swallowed a fly.

"No need."

"I don't share Your Highness's... preferences."

Princess Qingyu clicked her tongue lightly. "Oh? Is that so?"

"This princess thinks we’re birds of a feather—perfectly matched. A truly virtuous gentleman wouldn’t stare so intently at a married woman."

"Gu Huai, Father Emperor's marriage decree has been issued. The wedding cannot be changed. Marrying a princess is no disgrace to you. If need be, we can each have our own fun after marriage."

"But in public, tone down that look of yours, ogling Lu Mingchao."

"To be honest, this princess also has a taste for Lu Mingchao..."

Gu Huai turned his head, his eyes icy and venomous.

Princess Qingyu let out a laugh. "This princess has my eye on Lu Mingchao’s second brother—Lu Yao."

Gu Huai froze.

Lu Yao.

The man Gu Zhen adored.

And the one who had rejected Gu Zhen without hesitation.

He had to admit, Lu Yao was indeed cold and distant, like some celestial being from a scroll.

Quiet and unmoving, yet effortlessly drawing endless gazes.

But as far as he knew, Lu Yao had become a disciple of Headmaster Yu.

In this world, no one except Emperor Jingxiang would dare lay a hand on Headmaster Yu’s students.

If the brash and stupid Princess Qingyu reached out...

The wedding could be called off.

Gu Huai swallowed the warning that nearly escaped his lips.

"Did Lu Minghui tell you?" Gu Huai asked, though he already knew the answer.

Princess Qingyu prodded Gu Huai’s chest, her tone laced with sarcasm. "She was your former fiancée, after all. Why so cold, my lord?"

"Yes, she told me."

"She played to my tastes, hoping I’d help you two hook up."

"If you plan to act, do it soon," Gu Huai said coldly. "A Duke’s daughter-in-law must never go around kidnapping men. Otherwise, even at the risk of losing my title, I will have you divorced."

Princess Qingyu’s expression cycled through several emotions, her pretty face reddening with rage as she pointed at Gu Huai. "Unreasonable!"

Gu Huai’s eyes stayed cool as still water, sliding dismissively over Princess Qingyu’s finger.

Looking at her crimson nails, he couldn’t help but think—A Chao would rock that color too.

Princess Qingyu took a deep breath, suppressing her anger. "Gu Huai, you're not seriously thinking we could be a proper married couple?"

To be honest, had she not indulged in debauchery for years and gotten a taste for it, having a consort like Gu Huai would have been quite satisfying.

But who made her learn the pleasures between men and women too early? How could being a dutiful wife and mother compare to wild indulgence?

Gu Huai took two steps back. "Nothing would please me more than to have no connection with Your Highness whatsoever."

Princess Qingyu's eyes burned with intensity. "Don’t worry, we still have our wedding night ahead of us."

"It’s unavoidable."

"I’d love to see how you compare to those other playthings of mine."

Gu Huai’s face darkened as he threw her words back at her verbatim: "You're impossible!"

"I don't care about reason—I want you." Princess Qingyu laughed wildly.

"Look, who's that going to greet Lu Mingchao?"

"Young Master of Chengyang Marquisate's household, huh?"

"Tsk, not as stunning and seductive as Pei Jian, but decent enough."

"Still, isn’t he far too young?"

Gu Huai scowled and glanced over. "Pei Che."

"The youngest son of the Pei family in this generation."

"He’s only thirteen this year."

"Keep your filthy thoughts to yourself."

A Chao had once saved Pei Che.

That foolish boy Pei Che went so far as to say he’d marry A Chao when he grew up.

"Not going to catch up with your ex-fiancée?"