Chapter 63

Chapter 63

Days passed, and Jiang Heng heard no rumors. She herself felt none of the imagined despair or anguish, nor the fear of being branded unfilial that had long plagued her.

Even on her birthday, the Jiang family, for the first time in memory, sent someone with gifts.

Everything seemed so normal, as if nothing had happened, as if no rift had ever formed between father and daughter.

Was it because her elder sister was also in the capital, also celebrating her birthday, that they remembered hers and sent a gift?

"Miss, it's a jade bracelet. The quality looks excellent."

Rui Zhu had served Jiang Wan years ago and had seen many fine things. If she praised it, it was undoubtedly good.

Jiang Heng murmured an indifferent "Mm," merely glancing at it without taking a closer look. "Put it away," she instructed.

Her heart remained unruffled—no joy, no flattery, nor much doubt or contemplation.

She had long outgrown the age of anticipating birthday gifts. Whether she received one or not, or what it was, no longer mattered.

"Miss, Seventh Miss wishes to see you and invites you to the teahouse for a chat."

Jiang Heng paused, then suddenly understood.

Perhaps this birthday gift wasn't from the Jiang family, but solely from her elder sister?

Jiang Heng went to the teahouse, where indeed only Jiang Wan awaited her.

She had expected her elder sister to persuade her to reconcile with their parents. Instead, from the moment she entered, her sister merely exchanged pleasantries, asking about her time in Lingnan, never once mentioning the argument with their father, as if completely unaware.

Since her sister didn't bring it up, Jiang Heng didn't either, engaging in amiable sisterly chatter, asking about her recent circumstances.

"I'm doing well too. Ciyun Nunnery is very peaceful; there's far less trouble there," Jiang Wan said casually, her expression devoid of sorrow.

Only then did Jiang Heng realize her sister had been at Ciyun Nunnery all this time, unable to return home even for New Year's Eve.

Reflecting, how could the affair between her sister and Prince Qin, once discovered by Princess Huyang, remain hidden from Noble Consort Wei? Her sister's retreat to Ciyun Nunnery was likely forced by Noble Consort Wei.

"Prince Qin... what does he plan to do?"

Jiang Heng recalled how her sister had once seen through these obstacles. Now, they had materialized, and she wondered if Prince Qin had a solution.

Jiang Wan lowered her gaze, smiling faintly. "I'm there to fast and pray for the late abbess. It has nothing to do with Prince Qin."

Jiang Heng was surprised, but knowing her sister's inherent pride and reluctance to admit being controlled by Noble Consort Wei, she decided not to press the matter.

"And you, what are your plans for returning to the capital this time?" Jiang Wan was subtly probing for Prince Qin, wanting to know why Gu Yu had resigned.

Jiang Heng was oblivious to her sister's hidden agenda, finding the question baffling. What plans could she possibly have? Just living day by day, year after year?

If there was a plan, it was but one: from now on, she would diligently manage her incense shop.

"No real plans," Jiang Heng said lightly.

Hearing her tone, Jiang Wan couldn't discern if Jiang Heng was deliberately concealing something or truly had no intentions. After a moment's thought, she said directly, "I heard Duke Wei is resigning. I thought you might have other plans."

"Resigning?" Jiang Heng hadn't heard a single word about this from Gu Yu.

Moreover, Gu Yu went to the yamen daily, appearing busier than ever. How could he be resigning?

Jiang Heng now understood the purpose of her sister's invitation.

She and Prince Qin were still entangled; her sister had come on Prince Qin's behalf. Gu Yu's resignation would likely be met with the most opposition from Prince Qin.

"I haven't heard Duke Wei mention it, nor do I know why he would resign."

Jiang Heng was forthright with her sister, telling her the plain truth.

"You don't know either? That's truly perplexing." Jiang Wan looked at Jiang Heng, then, after a moment's thought, took her hand and said softly, "Why don't you ask Duke Wei? Perhaps he has some unspoken difficulties."

Jiang Heng naturally intended to do so and nodded in agreement, then advised Jiang Wan, "Elder Sister, it's not too late to turn back now. Besides Prince Qin, there are still other good men you can choose from."

Jiang Wan nodded as if taking the advice seriously but said little more to Jiang Heng.

***

No sooner had Jiang Heng returned to Ninghe Courtyard than Gu Qingyue followed her in.

"Sister-in-law, why is my brother resigning?"

It seemed everyone knew about Gu Yu's impending resignation, except for Jiang Heng, his wife, and they all seemed more concerned than she was.

"Are you here to ask for Prince Qin too?"

Gu Qingyue was startled, her expression freezing for a moment before returning to normal. She shook her head. "No, Prince Qin hasn't come to me. I heard from Princess Huyang that my brother is resigning, and I wanted to ask why."

Jiang Heng sighed. "I don't know either. I only learned today that he has such intentions."

"Sister-in-law, everyone says my brother is unparalleled in bravery and military achievements. No one in court surpasses him now, and no one will in the future. Do you think he's really resigning because he fears his achievements might overshadow the emperor and incur His Majesty's suspicion, as they say?"

Before coming to Jiang Heng, Gu Qingyue had asked Gu Cen, who, citing classics, gave her a thorough and logical analysis, concluding with this very point.

Jiang Heng shook her head. "I don't know. I'll ask him later. Let's not speculate."

Jiang Heng gestured for Gu Qingyue to sit beside her, personally poured her a cup of tea, and observed her expression.

Though Gu Qingyue hadn't yet turned seventeen, her birthday was approaching. Because Gu Yu was close to Prince Qin, many people, including Gu Qingyue herself, had once thought she would marry Prince Qin. Thus, though she had long reached marriageable age, no one had yet come to propose.

What Jiang Heng had said to Noble Consort Wei that day was simply because, if Gu Qingyue didn't want to marry Prince Qin, it would provide a natural and less abrupt excuse, also giving Noble Consort Wei some prior mental preparation.

"A Yue, have you decided? Do you still want to marry Prince Qin?"

Jiang Heng relayed Noble Consort Wei's words to Gu Qingyue.

"I should have told Mother and let her decide, but I thought if Mother knew, she would likely persuade you to marry Prince Qin, which would influence your decision. So I haven't told her, hoping you could have more freedom and make a decision for yourself."

Gu Qingyue lowered her eyes and remained silent for a long time before confiding her thoughts to Jiang Heng.

"Sister-in-law, I truly don't know. In the months you were away from the capital, I've been thinking about this, but I can't find an answer. To give up, I'm unwilling. But to marry Prince Qin, I'm afraid I might not be able to bear it in the future and might regret it..."

Jiang Heng understood Gu Qingyue. After all, it was the position of a princess consort, and potentially even empress, mother to the nation. Which young woman could attain it so easily? But Gu Qingyue could. As long as she agreed, the position would be hers. How could she willingly relinquish it?

After some thought, Jiang Heng suggested, "How about meeting a few other men first? If none of them appeal to you and you still think of Prince Qin, then make your decision. No matter what happens in the future, at least you'll have fulfilled your wish for now."

Another reason Gu Qingyue couldn't let go of Prince Qin was likely that she had met too few men, confining her affections to one man too early, leading to her current hesitation and indecision. Perhaps meeting more men and experiencing more of the world would make Prince Qin less appealing.

Gu Qingyue agreed to this approach.

The sisters-in-law were still chatting when Gu Yu returned, carrying a silk-wrapped bundle.

He usually didn't return so early, often arriving home only when dusk had fallen. Today, it was still early afternoon, yet he was already back.

"Third Brother, what are you holding?"

Gu Qingyue curiously ran over, reaching for the bundle in Gu Yu's hands to examine it.

Gu Yu pulled his arm back, tugging the corner of the bundle that Gu Qingyue had already grabbed. "Not for young eyes," he said. "This isn't something you should see."

Since Gu Yu was always serious and rarely joked, Gu Qingyue assumed the contents were indeed something only couples should see. Blushing, she immediately ran off.

Gu Yu placed the bundle on the table in front of Jiang Heng.

Jiang Heng also took it seriously and refused to open it. It was still mid-afternoon; what if, after seeing what was inside, Gu Yu got ideas…

The bundle was quite large, though it didn't seem very heavy. On the table, it occupied almost half the space.

Jiang Heng couldn't help but wonder: What could be so exclusive to couples, yet so conspicuously large? Weren't such things usually small, portable, and easy to conceal?

She didn't move, so Gu Yu began untying the bundle in front of her. Jiang Heng immediately turned her head away, feigning complete disinterest.

Only after Gu Yu opened the bundle did Jiang Heng realize it was a fox fur cloak.

It was nothing inappropriate at all.

"What, disappointed?" Gu Yu asked teasingly, noticing her dazed expression.

Jiang Heng pursed her lips and glared at him.

"Try it on," Gu Yu said.

Most fox fur cloaks had natural fox fur on one side and a lining on the other, but this cloak was made of natural fox fur on both sides—one white, the other red, both pure-colored without a single impurity.

Red foxes were rarer than white foxes, and pure red fox fur was exceptionally rare, often a once-in-a-century find. Thus, red fox fur garments were worth a fortune, with the saying, "A thousand pieces of gold is easier to obtain than a red fox fur."

The cloak was truly beautiful. No wonder Gu Yu hadn't let A Yue see it earlier. If A Yue had seen it and asked for it, Gu Yu naturally couldn't give it to her, which would have surely upset her.

Was it for her? A birthday gift?

"You remembered today is my birthday?"

What woman doesn't love beautiful clothing, especially something so exquisite and valuable? Jiang Heng was naturally delighted, trying it on and admiring it, switching from one side to the other.

Gu Yu knew then that he had chosen the right gift.

In the past, they had never celebrated each other's birthdays and often forgot them. For instance, in Yongzhou, he had forgotten his own birthday, and she likely hadn't remembered either. It was only a few days ago, when Prince Qin mentioned preparing a birthday gift for Jiang Wan, that he remembered Jiang Heng's birthday was on the same day.

He had already forgotten his own birthday; he couldn't forget hers too.

The room was heated with underfloor heating, making it very warm. The fox fur cloak, with its double layer of genuine fur, soon made Jiang Heng start sweating.

She really wasn't as sensitive to the cold as she used to be.

Jiang Heng took off the cloak, told Chun Jin to carefully put it away, then personally poured a cup of tea for her husband, served it to him, and sat beside him. "I heard you're resigning from your post?" she asked.

Gu Yu took a sip of tea and nodded lightly.

"Why?"

Gu Yu was at the height of his influence, with a promising future. As long as he committed no major offense like treason, and as long as the dynasty remained unchanged, his military achievements could ensure him a powerful and influential life.

Resigning at such a time was truly baffling and inevitably led to various suspicions.

"Is it really because you're afraid of making the emperor suspicious?"

Though she asked this, Jiang Heng also knew this speculation didn't align with Gu Yu's temperament. He wasn't the type to worry unnecessarily or abandon a bright future over something that hadn't happened and might never happen.

"No," Gu Yu said in a matter-of-fact tone. "Didn't you say you didn't want to stay in the capital anymore? I promised you that after returning to the capital to report my duties, I would take you to find somewhere comfortable to live."

Jiang Heng was stunned, her eyelashes fluttering slightly as she stared intently at the man.

If it weren't for the fact that this was something they had argued about not long ago in Yongzhou, Jiang Heng would have likely forgotten it entirely. At the time, she had said she wouldn't return to the capital with him out of anger, frustrated by his overbearing manner and disregard for her wishes.

She hadn't paid attention to his words at all, nor had she believed them.

But it turned out he wasn't just saying it—he was actually serious about it?

His resignation had nothing to do with the political situation, nor was it due to fears of overshadowing the emperor or making a wise withdrawal. It was simply because he had promised her they wouldn't stay in the capital.

Jiang Heng looked away and lowered her eyes, remaining silent.

"I have accumulated a lot of official duties that need to be handed over to suitable and capable people. It will take some time to complete the transfer—probably another month. By then, it will be spring, ideal for travel."

Perhaps worried that she might think his recent time at the yamen was just an excuse and that his resignation was merely talk, he calmly added this explanation.

Jiang Heng remained silent, thinking to herself: If people found out Gu Yu was resigning for such a reason, would they blame her?

How could she have expected that an argument between them, with her angry words and his words to placate her, would be taken so seriously by him? And that he would even consider resigning because of it?

It was absurd.

If he really resigned and took her traveling, wouldn't they be together day and night? Would he become even more unrestrained, acting on his impulses regardless of day or night?

Jiang Heng didn't like the idea of a life where the man had nothing to do. The current arrangement was fine—he busy with court affairs, she managing the household.

"Don't resign. I think the capital is quite nice," Jiang Heng advised him.

Gu Yu was taken aback, studying her eyes to see if she was serious.

Hadn't she once wanted Yan Hui to abandon everything and elope with her? Why was it that when it came to him, she was less enthusiastic?

Gu Yu's lips tightened slightly.

But today was her birthday. Asking too much might lead to another argument. So he said nothing, frowning and lowering his head to drink his tea.

Jiang Heng noticed his shift in mood. Though she couldn't understand the reason, she appreciated his good intentions and didn't ignore him. Instead, she brought up the topic of Gu's younger sister's marriage, mentioning her plans to arrange introductions for A Yue with potential suitors.

Gu Yu had little interest in such matters and didn't plan to inquire further. Casually, he said, "You handle it."

Jiang Heng hadn't intended to burden him with it, but since Gu Yu served in the court and knew more young men than they did, he might be able to recommend suitable candidates.

"Do you have any suitable candidates in mind?"

Without much thought, Gu Yu was about to say "no," but then he looked at Jiang Heng and suddenly thought of someone.

The more he thought about it, the more suitable this person seemed.

"Du Zhong, I think he's a good match."

Gu Yu kept his eyes on Jiang Heng's expression, waiting to see her reaction.