Chapter 245: An Unrepentant Love Rival
Although Gu Xun was away, he had heard the news of Mei Wanying and Ling’s return to the Capital City.
It takes a man to know a man, and he suddenly understood why he had been "driven" out of the Capital City.
He had other official duties at hand, yet he was forced to delegate them and sent away to handle trivial matters.
Gu Xun had thought he would be stuck in this remote place for a long time. After all, Mei Wanying and Pei Yan had rekindled their romance. Opportunities to see her were rare, and Pei Yan wouldn’t easily let her return to Jiangnan.
But unexpectedly, he received a verbal decree from the Emperor, ordering him to wrap up his duties as soon as possible and return to the Capital City.
This was completely out of character for His Majesty.
Gu Xun couldn’t make heads or tails of it.
’He had a vague intuition that Pei Yan might be setting him up...’
But he was too desperate to see Mei Wanying and Ling. Whether it was a trap or not, he had to get back as quickly as possible.
The last time he saw her, Ling was still a baby in swaddling clothes.
In the blink of an eye, she was already two years old.
’What does she look like now?’
’Does she still look like her mother?’
’And Ah Yin... is she well?’
Without a moment’s hesitation, Gu Xun finished his work at top speed and spurred his horse onward, rushing back to the Capital City.
He just wanted to see her.
Even a glimpse from afar would be enough to satisfy him.
Just like many years ago, when he had watched her from the shadows, never daring to approach.
Everything had returned to square one. His time in Jiangnan felt like a dream.
Now that he was awake, it was all gone.
Gu Xun hated his own indecisiveness. If only he had confessed his feelings long, long ago, perhaps things would be different now.
He knew how persistent Pei Yan was. That man would never let go.
If reincarnation was real, he hoped that in the next life, he could appear in Mei Wanying’s life before Pei Yan ever did.
He rushed back with all speed, but by the time he reached home, it was the middle of the night. Gu Xun had missed the New Year’s Eve palace banquet.
His desire to see Mei Wanying openly had become an extravagant hope.
Her son’s return delighted Mrs. Gu. She personally went to the small kitchen to make him a bowl of shredded chicken noodles.
She asked him how his assignment went.
She also asked if he had encountered any difficulties.
Finally, she remarked that he had gotten thinner and tanner...
Seeing his low spirits, she knew he was thinking about Mei Wanying again.
She remarked, as if casually, "At the palace banquet, the woman from the Mei Family sat beside the Emperor, and the Empress Dowager didn’t object. Everyone is saying the Mei family might soon produce a Phoenix Master!"
Mrs. Gu lowered her voice. "And her daughter... so tiny, not even as tall as our table! The Emperor dotes on her like a priceless treasure. He held her throughout the entire banquet, personally feeding her food and drink. He even allowed her to bring a Raccoon into the hall. He spoils her rotten!"
"The woman from the Mei family is stealing the show. I’ve never seen anyone so favored by an emperor. And with her maternal family’s power being so weak, if he helps her ascend to that position, the Emperor won’t have to worry about his in-laws causing trouble in court."
"The next time you see her, you might have to call her your cousin-in-law."
Gu Xun’s expression didn’t change, but his hand faltered as he ate his noodles. "Are she and Ling alright?"
Mrs. Gu had said all this just to make her son give up.
And yet, this was all he cared about!
Mrs. Gu clutched her chest and muttered a curse, "What sins did I commit in my past life to have a fool like you for a son!"
His own mother was unwilling to answer, so Gu Xun didn’t press the issue.
He continued to eat the noodles. They were fragrant, but to him, they tasted like wax.
’That was a stupid question.’
’A man as domineering as Pei Yan would never let Mei Wanying and Ling suffer any grievance.’
Seeing her son remain silent, Mrs. Gu felt both angry and heartbroken.
"You need to get your head straight. Miss Lin will be arriving in a few days. If she takes a liking to you, your father and I will make the decision and arrange the marriage between you two."
’If we wait for Xun to actively pursue a girl, will he ever get married?’
’He’ll just have to listen to the family’s arrangements!’
Gu Xun remained impassive and said nothing.
Mrs. Gu was puzzled. "What’s that supposed to mean? You agree with our arrangements?"
Gu Xun replied, "Would my objection even matter?"
Mrs. Gu said, "No."
’They say a kind mother spoils her son. She couldn’t indulge Xun anymore.’
"If you still want a future for yourself, you’ll marry soon. Otherwise, that man will hold a grudge, and who knows when he might send you away to the provinces again."
Gu Xun asked, "Is he that insecure? Does he really think I could steal Ah Yin from him?"
His tone was calm, but Mrs. Gu could hear the defiant petulance in it.
"For heaven’s sake, stop talking!" Mrs. Gu smacked her son’s arm. "Her personal name is not for you to use!"
’Ah Yin, Ah Yin... Has Mei Wanying cast some sort of spell? Why must every good man be so utterly taken with her?’
Gu Xun knew his words and actions were improper. Pei Yan was an emperor at the pinnacle of power. If he took this seriously, the Gu Family would not fare well.
’And Mei Wanying... she is a young lady. What right did he, an unrelated man, have to call her by her personal name?’
’If word got out, it would damage her reputation.’
Gu Xun’s thoughts drifted away again.
He finished his meal with a blank expression and was about to return to his own courtyard.
Mrs. Gu called out to him, "Miss Lin is already on her way. She’ll arrive in the Capital City soon and will be staying in our residence. It’s no use trying to hide."
"Xun, there’s more to life than romantic love. You were born into the Gu Family, you’ve benefited from its nurturing, and it is your responsibility to continue the family line."
"Compared to your older brother, you have been fortunate enough. Xun, you can’t keep acting so foolishly."
Gu Xun’s older brother was the eldest son of the main wife, shouldering the heavy responsibilities of the family.
His marriage had been entirely arranged by the family.
Whether he had ever loved another woman, no one knew.
But Gu Xun loved Mei Wanying. He had truly experienced what it felt like to love someone.
The family had indulged him for many years; he was indeed much luckier than his brother.
A corner of Gu Xun’s mouth twitched. "Then consider me a disappointment to the Gu Family. I will work like a horse to repay you. If you find my presence an eyesore, you can banish me from the family. With my brother to support the household, I have nothing to worry about."
With that, he strode away.
Mrs. Gu was so angry her head throbbed. "You scoundrel! This is not up to you!"
But Gu Xun was already gone.
’If his heart were empty, then getting married and living a life of mutual respect wouldn’t be such a bad thing.’
But he had fallen in love with Mei Wanying.
The first time they met, he had only caught a glimpse of her from afar, but Mei Wanying had captured his heart.
Call him shallow, call him a lecher—he could never forget such a peerless beauty.
’His heart was already full; there was no room left for a future wife.’
’Rather than hurt himself and someone else, it was better to hold on to this longing and walk through this life alone.’
Gu Xun’s refusal to agree was within Pei Yan’s expectations.
He recalled how, years ago, once he realized his heart belonged to Ah Yin, he could no longer accept the idea of any other woman being his wife.
He couldn’t do it, not even to consolidate his power.
’Gu Xun’s heart is still full of Ah Yin, so how could he willingly marry someone else?’
Pei Yan tapped his long fingers on the desk, lost in thought. ’Ah Yin doesn’t have feelings for Gu Xun, so there’s probably no need for me to target him.’
’He is my cousin, after all...’
"Your Majesty, Miss Mei has taken the Little Prince to the Gu Family residence..." the imperial eunuch reported.
Pei Yan shot to his feet, a cold smile touching his lips.
’Cousin? To hell with that.’
’That’s a love rival.’
’A love rival who hasn’t given up yet!’