Chapter 1: Rebirth Encounters a Nemesis

Chapter 1: Reborn and Meeting the Archenemy

"Traitor Gu Chaoning! You deceive the sovereign, form factions for private gain, harm the loyal and good, and plunge the court into chaos. Above, you fail your ruler and father; below, you fail the common people. Your crimes are too numerous to record..."

"Guh... guh?"

"Great Traitor Gu Chaoning, beheaded at the execution ground at high noon today!"

"Really!?"

"No lie!"

Gu Chaoning felt a sudden pang. He gently lifted his eyes, and through the rotten vegetables and stinking eggs being hurled at him, met a pair of clear, glassy eyes.

"Gu Chaoning..."

"Guh... guh... get up..."

"Ha!" Gu Chaoning sat up abruptly, sweat trickling down from his temples, itchy and uncomfortable.

Gu Muan stood on his tiptoes, gripping the edge of the bed with both hands, staring at his big brother curiously.

Seeing he was finally awake, Gu Muan grinned, showing a few tiny baby teeth. "Gege, eat."

He'd dreamed of his past life again.

In the three days since his rebirth, he'd dreamed fragments almost every night, and by now he'd even gotten used to it.

Even now, he could catch his breath while casually pinching his little brother's chubby cheek, correcting him: "It's 'gege,' not 'dede.'"

Gu Muan didn't mind the pinch and kept grinning with his baby teeth: "Gege, eat!"

He said the word "eat" twice and still couldn't get it right. Gu Chaoning was amused by his brother's cuteness, stood up, scooped the boy into his arms, and walked out.

"Dad, what's for breakfast?"

Gu's father's surname was Chen, given name Youyan. Everyone liked to call him Chen Fulang.

Chen Youyan poked his head out of the kitchen and scolded with a smile: "Up and already asking for food! Go call your dad and grandpa!"

Gu Wen, Gu's father, and Gu Daniu, Gu's grandfather, had gone out to weed the fields early that morning.

Gu Chaoning smiled and answered, and Gu Muan, delighted, echoed: "Okay!"

Grandma Wang Xiuxiu walked out of the house and happened to hear the crisp reply, smiling as she said: "Our An Geer is getting more articulate every day."

The Gu family had had only one son for three generations, and it wasn't until the fourth generation, with Gu Chaoning, that a second boy arrived. Everyone doted on him like crazy.

Gu Chaoning was happy too, but his little brother was a heavy little lump. He called out to his grandma and handed the boy to her before heading out to the fields to call his dad and grandpa.

But unexpectedly, after only two or three steps, Gu Muan reached out both arms for his brother. When Gu Chaoning didn't respond, the boy looked like he was about to cry.

Even Grandma Wang's white rice cakes couldn't soothe him.

Unable to bear his brother's tears, Gu Chaoning turned back, scooped up the little chubby bundle, and headed out again.

"What a little sticky bun!"

Gu Muan was only two and couldn't understand what "sticky bun" meant. Seeing himself held by his brother and carried out again, he immediately went from tears to laughter.

Gu Chaoning was amazed—no one could change expressions faster than his little brother.

The Gu family had some means: eight mu of top-grade paddy fields, five mu of top-grade dry fields, ten mu each of mid-grade paddy and dry fields, and two mu of low-grade dry fields.

What Gu Wen and Gu Daniu were busy with today were those two mu of low-grade dry fields.

Once the sun came out, it was no longer as cool and pleasant as it had been in the early morning. Gu Daniu straightened up to catch his breath and saw his eldest grandson trudging over on the small path, carrying his youngest grandson.

Gu Chaoning was eight this year. Though better fed and slightly sturdier than other kids his age, carrying the little chubby bundle, Gu Muan, all the way under the sun was still a strain.

Seeing his grandpa had spotted him, Gu Chaoning stopped and called out loudly: "Grandpa, Dad, breakfast's ready!"

Gu Muan echoed: "Ready!"

"Okay! Coming!"

Having worked all morning, the two were hungry. Without delay, they grabbed their tools and hurried out.

As the four generations of the family walked back together, Wang Xiuxiu helped Chen Youyan set the bowls and plates on the table.

"When are you heading back to Chen Family Village?"

Chen Family Village was where Chen Youyan's father lived, east of Xiaohe Village, a little over half an hour's walk away.

Last night, Chen Youyan had mentioned going back to his parents' home today but hadn't been specific, so Wang Xiuxiu asked.

"Right after breakfast," Chen Youyan said, a smile spreading across his face as he thought of his father and mother. "We'll be back after dinner."

Chen Youyan's father had been missing the two kids and had sent word a couple of days earlier, but since mother-in-law Wang Xiuxiu had caught a slight chill, the trip had been delayed.

Yesterday, seeing Wang Xiuxiu had recovered, they brought it up again.

"That's fine. Have Wen take the mule cart to take you."

"Where to?" Gu Chaoning walked in from outside, hoe in hand, while little brother Gu Muan had already been taken by their dad.

"To your maternal grandparents' house. When Wang Da came to deliver the message a few days ago, you were there too," Chen Youyan said, stepping forward to take Gu Muan into his arms. "Your grandfathers miss you and An Geer."

This must have happened before his rebirth, so Gu Chaoning had no memory of it at all.

But he didn't show it, just nodded.

After breakfast, Chen Youyan carried a basket, led the two kids, and with Gu Wen driving the mule cart, headed back to Chen Family Village.

In the basket were three jin of fresh pork Gu Wen had bought last night, a bundle of brown sugar, some snacks for Gu Muan to eat on the way, and twenty eggs.

There was also a jar of sorghum wine, which Gu Chaoning held steady.

Gu Chaoning didn't remember much from age seven, but he did know his maternal grandparents' family had been very fond of him and An Geer.

In his past life, both his own family and his maternal grandparents' family had contributed greatly to his success in the imperial exams.

Later, when he first entered the court, he wanted both families to move to the capital, but his maternal grandparents' family declined, afraid of becoming a burden.

It wasn't until he was twenty-nine, having helped the eldest prince seize the throne and established himself in court through his contributions, that they finally came.

But unexpectedly, the next year, the glorious Gu Chaoning was cast aside by the very emperor he had loyally served, branded a traitor.

Thinking back to how his family had suffered because of him in his past life, Gu Chaoning felt his hands trembling uncontrollably again.

In his past life, he'd been too eager, making his name at court before he was even thirty—but he'd done plenty of ruthless, merciless things.

However, none of it had ever been aimed at hurting the Grand Prince, Qi Yuanzhou. Calling him utterly loyal to the Grand Prince wouldn't be an overstatement; indeed, most of his scheming had been in service of the Grand Prince's grand cause.

But he never expected...

"Mmm, eat!" Bored on the donkey cart, An Geer got a rice cake from Chen Youyan to keep him quiet.

An Geer took a bite himself, then stretched out his hand and shoved it at Gu Chaoning's mouth.

Gu Chaoning turned, and An Geer gave him a soft, chubby grin, shoving his hand closer.

In his past life, An Geer had married one of his allies to help him, only to find out that the ally had a childhood sweetheart on the side.

When An Geer found out and tried to tell him, the ally threatened him.

Then, when he was thrown in prison, An Geer got divorced on the spot. For his brother's sake, An Geer went from one former ally to the next, desperately trying to plead his case.

But An Geer didn't know his former allies had conspired with the Grand Prince and knew full well he was doomed. They only gave him a sliver of hope to toy with him.

Gu Muan, seeing that Gu Chaoning wouldn't open his mouth and just stared at him, thought about it, then instinctively stuck his chubby fingers in his mouth.

Why won't big brother eat?

Gu Chaoning forced himself to swallow the hatred and resentment surging inside him.

"Quit eating your fingers." Gu Chaoning took An Geer from Chen Youyan, first pulled his hand out of his mouth, then took a bite of the rice cake.

"Okay, you finish the rest."

His hand taken away, Gu Muan was a little miffed, but since he couldn't do anything to his brother, he picked up the rice cake in his other hand and took a fierce, angry bite.

The warm, plump little body in his arms finally made his rebirth feel real.

Gu Chaoning didn't notice his little brother's fierce look. Seeing him take such a big bite that barely made a dent in the rice cake, he even helped push the cake toward his mouth.

Come to think of it, he never expected that at the last moment of his life, the face he'd see would be his archenemy, Yin Hongxue.

That Yin Hongxue, who worked with the Grand Prince yet saw things all too clearly.

He wondered if his past self had gotten a good ending.

Thinking about Yin Hongxue...

"Xue Geer! Why are you out here cutting grass again all by yourself?"

Chen Youyan's voice rang out next to Gu Chaoning. At the name that hit too close to home, he instinctively looked over.

There, in the grass by the roadside, a tiny kid with a head as big as three bodies was carrying a basket almost as big as he was, swinging a sickle at the grass.

The sickle was too big for him, making him look clumsy and dangerously awkward.

The little boy, hearing the call, obediently stopped what he was doing and looked up. Seeing it was Chen Youyan, he called out softly but clearly, "Chen Fulang."

Gu Wen, seeing this, quickly pulled the donkey cart to a stop.

"Hey!" Chen Youyan called back, hopping off the cart and handing him a rice cake. "What a good boy."

Gu Muan, who was the best at imitating, also let out a "hey."

When the little boy looked up and his face came into view, Gu Chaoning felt like he'd been struck by lightning, frozen stiff, staring blankly.

Who? Who is that!?

"Xue Geer..."

"Dad!" Gu Chaoning nearly screamed in shock, as if a basket of stones had been dumped on his head.

Chen Youyan jumped, quickly turning around. Seeing him sitting there on the ox cart, holding a bewildered An Geer, with nothing wrong at all, he couldn't help but snap, "Your dad isn't going anywhere, why are you yelling like that!?"

Gu Chaoning just stared at the little boy's face and asked, "Who is this?"

"The Yin family's little boy who moved to Chen Family Village a few years back, Yin Hongxue."

Yin. Hong. Xue.

The little boy, intimidated by his stare, took a timid step back, feet together.

Gu Chaoning rarely felt the world spin like this. He rubbed his eyes helplessly, but the little boy was still standing there, a red mole between his brows like a plum blossom fallen on snow.

Yin Hongxue. Yin Hongxue.

"His name is Yin Hongxue!?"

"Would I lie to you?"

Seeing that Xue Geer was so scared of his son he looked ready to bolt, even though the kid was only six, Chen Youyan still felt a little embarrassed.

He bent down, ruffled Yin Hongxue's hair, and said softly, "That's your Chaoning Ge. He means no harm. Don't be scared, Xue Geer. Later, have your Chaoning Ge cut the grass for you."

Yin Hongxue pursed his lips, about to say no.

But before he could get a word out, Gu Chaoning set Gu Muan down, braced his hands on the edge of the donkey cart, and jumped down in one motion.

Yin Hongxue's eyes went wide in fright as he stumbled back a few steps, but he couldn't stop the hand—bigger than his own—from landing on his brow.

Gu Chaoning held his breath and pressed a little, only to see... the red mark was still there, even redder than before.

"Waaah! Boohoo..."

At the same time, Yin Hongxue burst into tears, scared out of his wits.

"Hey! Xue Geer!"

"Gu Chaoning, you little brat, you're asking for a beating!"

Soothing words mixed with scolding, and slaps landing on him, filled the air.

An Geer, sitting on the donkey cart, got startled and burst into tears too.

Chen Youyan and Gu Wen were at their wit's end. Seeing Gu Chaoning still standing there like an idiot, staring at the wailing Yin Hongxue, only made them angrier.

"Slap, slap!" Two more smacks landed on Gu Chaoning's back.

But Gu Chaoning couldn't have cared less about any of it.

His mind was a blank white void, except for a few huge words floating at its center, line after line, flashing into and out of his thoughts, over and over.

The young lad before him was Yin Hongxue!

It was his sworn enemy, Yin Hongxue!

His sworn enemy, Yin Hongxue, was just a boy!

That meticulous schemer, who opposed him at every turn, tricked him imperceptibly, yet came to see him one last time before he died—Yin. Hong. Xue.