Chapter 57 We, Mother and Child, Must Stick Together More in the Future…

Chapter 57

"The two of us, mother and son, will have to rely on you greatly in the future..."

Gu Yan frowned slightly, scooped her into his arms, and strode into the bedchamber.

"What, did the emperor mistreat you?"

Gu Yan's expression turned serious. He laid her on the soft couch and made as if to lift her skirt.

Yan Xuerui had no intention of escalating the conflict between Gu Yan and the emperor at this moment. She turned slightly away and said softly, "What the Marquis did last night, have you forgotten?"

Gu Yan paused. Of course, he hadn’t forgotten the passion of the previous night. But aside from the very beginning—when she was his first woman and he knew nothing, charging ahead recklessly—she had been so delicate back then, often weeping during their encounters, which had greatly dampened his enthusiasm.

It was only after giving birth to Ming Lan that she blossomed, and he grew more composed. Over time, they grew accustomed to each other’s bodies. She learned how to please him, and he understood how to bring her comfort. Last night had only been half the night; it shouldn’t have been enough to cause this.

Besides, she was always quick to exaggerate, crying out at the slightest discomfort. Last night, she hadn’t made a sound—just stared at him with those dark, glistening eyes, biting her lip and whimpering softly. Though filled with anger, he couldn’t bring himself to be rough with her.

Gu Yan frowned, his tone skeptical. "Did I do this?"

Yan Xuerui nodded and gently pulled her skirt from his grasp. "A little ointment will do. There’s no need to trouble yourself."

"I came today to discuss something with the Marquis—ah—"

Yan Xuerui gasped in surprise as Gu Yan bent down, firmly grasping her ankle and pushing up her silk trousers without another word. Sunlight streamed through the carved window lattice, illuminating her snow-white, delicate skin. Aside from the faint red marks he had left the previous night, the skin around her knees was an abnormal shade of red, with faint blue veins spiderwebbing beneath the surface, starkly visible against her pale skin.

"How long did you kneel?"

His expression darkened abruptly. Unlike his earlier sarcastic tone, his voice now was icy, as if chilled by frost.

Yan Xuerui fell silent. She studied his face, unsure whether to explain for the emperor’s sake or her own.

She didn’t want him to see her in such a wretched state.

She said, "Such are the rules of the palace."

Gu Yan’s warm palm pressed against her knee. It already hurt, and under his pressure, the pain intensified. Yan Xuerui nearly cried out, tears welling in her eyes. She pushed against his shoulders, but he remained immovable.

Gu Yan sneered, gritting his teeth. "So this is the good life you schemed so desperately to obtain."

In all their years together, he had never once made her kneel. Even when paying respects at the ancestral hall, he had taken pity on her frail health, laying several soft cushions beneath her knees and letting her leave after a mere formality.

And yet, after just one day in the palace, she had reduced herself to this state! Although Gu Yan had left no instructions when he was imprisoned, partly intending for Yan Xuerui to endure some hardship, he had long since made preparations beforehand. The household still had the steady elder madam, and everything remained under his control.

In his heart, he had long regarded Yan Xuerui as his exclusive treasure. Staring at the marks on her knees, Gu Yan resembled a fierce beast whose scales had been touched, suppressing towering rage.

He pressed his fingertips around her knee, ensuring no bones were injured, then retrieved a bottle of ointment for promoting blood circulation and reducing swelling from a hidden compartment by the bed. He applied it to the affected area.

Yan Xuerui only felt pain.

She didn’t know whether he was using too much force or punishing her intentionally. Gritting her teeth, she said, "When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a person, it first tests their resolve, exhausts their muscles and bones. These are the words you taught Ming Lan when he was young. Have you forgotten, Marquis?"

Gu Yan scoffed disdainfully. "With such a delicate constitution, crying out at the slightest touch, what great responsibility could you possibly bear?"

Enduring the needle-like pain in her knees, Yan Xuerui finally steered the conversation to the main issue.

"I came today precisely to discuss this matter with the Marquis."

Yan Xuerui spoke slowly, "You and I should separate—ah—Marquis, don’t be angry yet. Hear me out first."

"Given the circumstances, you must understand that the Emperor fears you and fears the Gu family. Since you and the Crown Prince are already at odds, the situation is stronger than any individual. Our separation is the best course of action at present."

"We have been husband and wife for many years, and you have always treasured me like a pearl. I am well aware of this and dare not lay claim to any wealth or property. Truth be told, I owe you a great deal."

Yan Xuerui’s voice was gentle and melodious as she extended her slender fingers to rest on Gu Yan’s shoulders.

She said, "But as for our children... carrying a child for ten months is no easy task for a woman. Ming Lan is the eldest son of the Marquis household, destined to uphold its honor. Ming Wei is lively and bright—the palace is no place for her. Our two grown children shall remain as they are, bearing the Gu name."

"Our Little Zhi'nu has not yet been entered into the family registry. He is still so young and cannot be without his mother. I wish to take him with me. Though he cannot yet speak, he is still a boy. In the future... he may achieve great things."

After a moment of silence, Gu Yan held her ankle and said leisurely, "Rui Er, above us is an aging emperor unwilling to relinquish power, and below is a young and vigorous Crown Prince who has committed no major errors. Why do you think the emperor would pass the throne to a nursing grandson still in swaddling clothes?"

"Everyone starts as a nursing infant. People always grow up."

Yan Xuerui argued, "When the Virtuous Prince was already attending court, the Crown Prince had just been born. Now, times have changed. Look again."

"Instead, it was the older Virtuous Prince who fell first, while the once nursing child now sits firmly on the Crown Prince’s throne. Times change—who can predict what the future holds?"

Gu Yan slowly caught her drift. He looked up, a faint smile playing on his lips. "How the Crown Prince secured his position—you should know well."

"It was by relying on you, Marquis."

Her eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings as Yan Xuerui gazed at Gu Yan. "Earlier, you asked me what I rely on. Now I answer you: of course, it is you, Marquis."

"Your own flesh and blood—surely they are closer to you than someone else’s? The two of us, mother and son, will have to rely on you greatly in the future."

Gu Yan was not fooled. He said coldly, "You’re divorcing me. That constantly wailing brat has nothing to do with me or the Gu family. Why should I, hmm?"

"Blood ties cannot be severed by a mere surname. No matter how the court changes, he is our shared flesh and blood. That will never change."

Seeing Gu Yan unmoved, Yan Xuerui gritted her teeth and said, "Just like our marriage—I told Ming Lan and Ming Wei earlier that this is only a temporary measure."

"It’s just a flimsy piece of paper. Why should you care, Marquis? Our hearts are united as husband and wife. Look at last night—no matter how you... I didn’t make a sound."

"Oh."

Gu Yan said indifferently, "I thought you were afraid of implicating Ming Lan."

Yan Xuerui looked embarrassed and slightly lowered her neck. "That too. But the main reason is my lingering affection for you, Marquis."

"We have been husband and wife for nearly twenty years. The bond between us cannot be put into words for outsiders."

Yan Xuerui’s voice was as soft as water, tempting one to lose themselves in its tenderness. Gu Yan narrowed his phoenix eyes and stated bluntly, "So, you came to me today with this long speech because you want to take our youngest son away."

"You still intend to leave me."

"Not only that, but you also want me to protect and support you both, to become the blade in your hand."

Gu Yan chuckled softly and couldn’t help but retort, "Rui Er, oh Rui Er, how can you expect to have all the good things in the world?"

Yan Xuerui met his deep gaze and replied, "You once said that I am one of a kind, worthy of any treasure in the world."

"Besides, you are mistaken about one thing, Marquis. It is not for us, mother and son, but for our son."

Their eyes locked, neither willing to yield. Yan Xuerui’s eyes were beautiful—dark, clear, and bright, as if holding a galaxy of shattered stars. It reminded Gu Yan suddenly of the night they first met. Under the dim candlelight, his palm cupped her chin. Before he noticed her stunning beauty, he had first seen these dark, luminous eyes.

One glance, and they reached his heart.

Gu Yan closed his eyes, his Adam’s apple bobbing. He said, "Rui Er, if you want to persuade me, to make me risk my life for you, a few words are far from enough." "My stance remains unchanged: no separation."

Young Slave is still just a child. It would take at least ten or twenty years for him to reach the Crown Prince's age. Though Yan Xuerui made it sound so noble, she couldn't fool Gu Yan.

She wanted to kick him to the curb and spend the next decade or so alone with Young Slave in the princess's residence—he wasn't having it.

He would never let go.

Yan Xuerui was furious. She had tried both kind and harsh words, but Gu Yan wasn't budging.

She said, "Do you know that if you don't pull back, the emperor will take you out and destroy the Gu residence?"

In her panic, she didn't even refer to him as "Imperial Father," but directly as "the emperor."

Gu Yan wound the gauze tight around her knee and released her slender wrist.

His expression was calm. "Then let him try."

The two left things tense. Yan Xuerui had thought Gu Yan would stop her or even imprison her in the marquis's residence. She had come prepared with a full contingent of imperial guards, but to her surprise, Gu Yan said nothing—he just refused to let her see Young Slave.

"He's asleep. If I carry him over now, he'll just work himself into a crying fit again."

Gu Yan added, "You should know he usually wakes around Xu hour (7-9 PM)."

By Xu hour, the palace gates would have long been locked.

Yan Xuerui shot him a dirty look and stood up to leave. The medicine stung when applied, but it was remarkably effective—within moments, the pain in her knee was gone. Ironically, her earlier words had come true: her foot had gone numb from Gu Yan holding it for a while.

She walked slowly. Just after passing through the moon gate of the main courtyard, she happened to pass right by Gu Yuan.

Gu Yuan was slightly taken aback. He had, of course, noticed Yan Xuerui's luxurious attire. After a moment's hesitation, he stepped forward and nodded. "Eldest Sister-in-Law."

No matter what identity Yan Xuerui held, in his heart, she would always be his eldest sister-in-law.

Only this way could he maintain some connection to her—even as siblings-in-law, he had a reason to stay close to her.

People have their own comfort zones with people. Yan Xuerui, facing her quiet brother-in-law, wasn't as casual as she was with Gu Yan. She nodded politely and said, "General, please go in. The Marquis is in the inner courtyard."

There was only one path into the main courtyard. Gu Yuan's arrival surely wasn't to see her.

Gu Yuan was as silent as ever. Yan Xuerui carried a subtle fragrance, one she blended herself. Back in the northwest, Gu Yuan had searched every perfume shop but never found anything similar.

In the capital, out of respect for his elder brother and her reputation, he couldn't seek her out.

As they passed by each other, before the scent faded, Gu Yuan wanted to say a few more words to her.

He said in a low voice, "There's trouble brewing in the northwest. I came to deliver a secret message to Eldest Brother."

Yan Xuerui didn't understand why Gu Yuan was telling her this, but out of courtesy, she patiently listened. It seemed two princes of Western Rong were fighting over the throne.

Struggles for the throne were common in every dynasty, Yan Xuerui mused. As it was already late, she didn't have time to visit the elder madam and asked Gu Yuan to pass along a message to her. About fifteen minutes later, Yan Xuerui was seated in her royal palanquin back to the palace, frowning, lost in thought.

Gu Yan hadn't outright refused. His exact words today were: "If you want me to throw in with you, this is far from enough."

What else could she give Gu Yan?

As Yan Xuerui wracked her brain, the palanquin suddenly halted. A guard outside announced, "Your Highness, someone has stopped the palanquin... demanding to see the princess."