Chapter 19. It was too late to avoid now so Gu Yu Qi could only lower her head and put on a shy appearance. Who could not pretend? It was just that it was a little difficult for her to pretend.
Bits and pieces of that person from her previous life came to mind. None of them were specific, but there was a dull pain in her heart and her hands tucked into her sleeves had lost their warmth.
Just as Gu Yu Qi was looking down at the hem of her skirt, Zhang Wan Yi had already left Gu Yu Qi and took two steps forward, curtseying delicately, “Greetings, Fifth Prince, Seventh Prince.”
Her voice was clear and alluring, her posture calm and graceful, which made Gu Yu Qi with her lowered head look mannerless.
“Cousin Wan Yi, there aren’t any outsiders here. No need to stand on ceremony, just call us cousins,” Yun Yi said with a smile. His gaze shifted to Gu Yu Qi who was standing behind and his smile seemed to grow a little.
“This is…,” he asked knowingly. Ever since he met Gu Yu Qi at the servant market that day, he had sent someone to inquire about her. He had not expected to meet her today.
It was just that this girl’s dazed look was quite different compared to her liveliness and fierceness at the servant market that day. There was also the poem she had just spoken. Although it was simple, it had a profound meaning and it was not something an ordinary person could come up with. It really lived up to her reputation as a prodigy. He really had not expected this girl to be the female student that even the distinguished scholar Chen Han Lin had praised.
Zhang Wan Yi had a extremely nimble mind and as soon as she saw Yun Yi’s gaze, she hurriedly grabbed Gu Yu Qi who had been standing to the side blankly. “This is the young miss of the Ding Yuan Marquis’ residence. This is her first time coming to Royal Aunt’s place.” After speaking, she whispered to Gu Yu Qi, “Hurry up and greet the two princes. They’re my fifth and seventh cousins.”
Her mother and the current queen were blood-related sisters, so Zhang Wan Yi naturally regarded herself as the cousin of the princes and the princesses.
After speaking, she looked at Gu Yu Qi proudly.
Gu Yu Qi reluctantly bent her knees and curtseyed hastily, “Greetings, Fifth Prince, Seventh Prince.” Then she retreated behind Zhang Wan Yi without a trace.
Gu Yu Qi’s timid performance made Zhang Wan Yi very happy. Even if she was a prodigy who was knowledgeable and reasonable, she still shied away when seeing members of the imperial family. Maybe she really was a bit of a scholar, but with her nervousness in public and hiding when she saw people, she would not be regarded well by the imperial family. It was just that Gu Yu Qi had been born with a naturally charming face. She was already so eye-catching this young and with time, she was afraid that among the noble ladies of the capital, no one would be able to beat her so she had to be on guard.
Zhang Wan Yi had been raised up as a future princess consort or wife of the crown prince since she was a child. She had a calm demeanour and knew the preferences of the noble women in the capital like the back of her hand. Seeing Gu Yu Qi today, who had just come from Jiangnan to the capital, she had a lot of misgivings.
Gu Yu Qi’s performance so far was satisfactory. She was not like the daughters of the other families who acted very shy when meeting her fifth and seventh cousins, or tried to find a way to highlight themselves. Instead, she just hid behind her.
Yun Ke’s slightly lowered eyes concealed the dark tide surging in his eyes.
Sunrise basks the flowers in a fiery red and the spring waters are green and blue. He was all too familiar with this verse.
In his previous life, this poem had been handwritten on a gold fan that Zhang Wan Yi had given him. When she gave him the fan, she said shyly that this poem was written by her. Yet later, Gu Yu Qi had said that Zhang Wan Yi had copied her poem. At that time, he naturally had not believed Gu Yu Qi’s words.
Yet now… He raised his eyes slightly and set them on Gu Yu Qi, who was hiding behind Zhang Wan Yi, and took a careful look. He really had accused her wrongly in the last life.
To be able to make such a poem, it was no wonder that her reputation as a talented woman had spread throughout the capital quietly.
Whether it was the previous life or this current life, she had a reputation for being a talented woman. It was just that in the previous life, he had felt that Gu Yu Qi’s behaviour had been too frivolous and reckless, and most of it had been to make a name for herself.
Seeing that Yun Ke, who had always been cold, kept his gaze on Gu Yu Qi, Zhang Wan Yi felt uncomfortable in her heart, but she still enthusiastically pulled Gu Yu Qi to her side.
“This young miss from the Marquis’ residence has only just come to the capital from Jiangnan. It is said that Jiangnan has outstanding people and seeing the appearance of my younger sister from the Gu family, it really is true.” Zhang Wan Yi said with a smile. Ever since she was young, she had known what to say and when to say it. The two cousins in front of them were the leaders in this generation of princes. Although the emperor had long designated the crown prince, the news from the palace was that the emperor did not like the crown prince, which meant that the two people in front of them still had a chance. Moreover, the present crown prince was not born from the empress. Her empress aunt had no sons, only two daughters.
The crown prince already had a crown princess. Even if she wanted to marry the crown prince, she could only be a concubine which was a lot worse than being the main wife. Her father was a minister in the imperial court. If she stood by Yun Yi’s side, she would help quite a bit and Yun Yi could consider having her as his main wife. As for Yun Ke, he was born from a palace maid and had no background in the palace. He relied on his relationship with Yun Yi growing up. He was not a good match which was a pity.
The present emperor did not like the crown prince. If the day came when the crown prince fell, it was not guaranteed that she would be the future empress.
Gu Yu Qi’s beauty had just begun to emerge. She must have a good relationship with Gu Yu Qi first. It was obviously unwise to suppress Gu Yu Qi now and hide her since Gu Yu Qi’s status meant that her beauty was destined to be unhidden. Besides, she had notable talent and in time, she would definitely be famous throughout the great Qi dynasty. It would be better to hold her firmly in her hands when she first arrived in the capital and before she became a prominent figure so that in the future, she would not have gained another enemy and lost a powerful helper.
So she did not mind introducing Gu Yu Qi to Yun Yi and Yun Ke. Maybe Gu Yu Qi would return her kindness in the future.
Zhang Wan Yi had her own calculations, so she openly pushed Gu Yu Qi out.
Gu Yu Qi wanted to vent her endless grievances to the heavens. The person that she could not hide from was now standing alive in front of her with those icy eyes staring at her intently.
When had he ever looked at her with such a focused gaze in the previous life?
Gu Yu Qi’s heart froze. Perhaps she had only gotten his attention at the moment of her death. She had really lived such a sad life in the previous life.
In her previous life, the relationship between Yun Yi and Yun Ke had also been good. Yun Ke’s mother was just a palace maid and she had died after giving birth to him. He had been adopted by Yun Yi’s biological mother, the Virtuous Consort, so he grew up with Yun Yi. Wherever they went, the two of them were always together. Even the emperor always praised the brothers for having a harmonious relationship, showing love and respect as good brothers should.
Yet, was this really the case? Gu Yu Qi could only say “hehe”.
If it was true as the emperor had said, then why did Yun Yi die at Yun Ke’s hands in the end? It was a joke for brothers to show love and respect as good brothers should in the imperial family.
Gu Yuqi felt like she was being watched by Yun Ke as if she was being stared at by a poisonous snake. She felt uncomfortable all over and it just so happened that a gust of cold wind blew, making her tremble involuntarily.