The Powerful Minister I Forcefully Married Won't Warm Up; After Rebirth, I Give Up the Chase - Chapter 11

Pei Jian’s Initial Judgment

Pei Jian felt completely foolish.

The wooden box containing the jewelry that Gu Ci had him fetch was inlaid with pearls and jade, adorned with gold paint and embroidered phoenixes. It was incredibly gaudy and drew attention everywhere.

From the carriage to the Gu Manor, over that short distance, he attracted the attention of everyone present.

He constantly felt the urge to tell his attendant to throw the makeup box away.

If this were the old Pei Jian, he would never have agreed to help Gu Ci go to the Treasure Pavilion just to amuse a young woman. Such a boring task, in his opinion, was utterly meaningless and a waste of time.

Now, he was willing to afford his friend more patience.

A servant said Gu Ci was in the small flower hall, with a young lady by his side.

Pei Jian immediately understood.

He planned to personally hand the makeup box to Gu Ci’s “little cousin” and observe the girl’s expression. How long had this woman known Gu Ci?

To have Gu Ci so utterly smitten showed she was frivolous and lacked taste.

He was very familiar with the Gu Manor’s layout. To reach the small flower hall, he had to pass through the large east garden. Pei Jian chose a side path to avoid attracting attention.

Passing beneath a flower wall, he heard women gossiping inside.

He initially chose to ignore them, until—

“What is the background of that woman who has Little General Gu so captivated?”

“Captivated isn’t even the half of it! Didn’t you see the State Duke Zhen’s wife and the married daughters all revolving around her?”

“Just look at her foxy, seductive appearance; you know she can’t be good. I heard her family was only recently transferred back to the capital. Her father’s official rank isn’t very high. I think the surname is Wen, and the given name is something like Nianxi or Niandong?”

Wen… Nianxi?

Pei Jian froze in place, his breathing suddenly becoming unusually distinct.

He suspected he was hallucinating.

He thought he was having an illusion because he had been brainstorming solutions for the Gu family’s disaster lately.

Otherwise, how could Nianxi possibly be connected to Gu Ci?

The attendant behind him, clutching the makeup box, looked bewilderedly at Pei Jian, who seemed rooted to the spot.

The gossip behind the flower wall continued.

“I saw Gu Liulang (Gu Ci) go to the small flower hall with her. This fox spirit is so restless! Daring to seduce a gentleman even after arriving at the manor! If the State Duke’s wife finds out, she certainly won’t let her off easy.”

“Shouldn’t we go catch them in the act?”

The cluster of young women chattered away, but to Pei Jian’s ears, it was nothing but absurdity.

Catch them in the act?

Catch whom?

Wen Nianxi and… Gu Ci?

“Shizhang, what are you doing here?” Qin Lang appeared from nowhere, excitement coloring his face. “Auntie said Qingye is in the garden. Hurry up. I’m dying of curiosity about his little cousin.”

The young ladies inside the flower wall heard voices outside and quickly scattered, no longer daring to speak ill.

Outside the wall, Wen Qingheng also approached. “Shizhang, let’s go.”

Qin Lang grinned, showing off his white teeth, and turned to Wen Qingheng. “After meeting the little cousin, we’ll go pay our respects to our little sister.”

Qin Lang wasn’t an overtly frivolous person; he just enjoyed a good joke. Wen Qingheng, however, didn’t want his cherished sister to be easily shown off. Being good-natured, he simply smiled and offered no reply.

Pei Jian closed his eyes for a moment.

Qin Lang was already rushing ahead.

As Wen Qingheng started to follow, Pei Jian suddenly asked, “Jinghe, is your sister here at the State Duke Zhen Manor today?”

“Yes, she is. She was with my mother earlier, but my younger sister is no longer with her.”

Pei Jian was known for his composure and upright character, so Wen Qingheng didn’t suspect anything. He continued, “She probably went to the garden to chase butterflies with her girlfriends. My sister has always attracted people; she’s always surrounded by others.”

Pei Jian’s question was intended as a test. Hearing that Wen Qingheng was unaware of the situation, he said no more.

The Shocking Realization

In the flower hall, the serving table was laden with food, fruits, pastries, and, most prominently, various drinks and purees, including even fermented milk curd.

Nianxi looked at Gu Ci.

Gu Ci cleared his throat, his ears slightly red. “I bought every drink I could find on the market to try, but none of them are as good as the ones you make.”

“These are barely passable. I figured since you make them, you must like to drink them. There are hot and cold ones here, but the fermented milk curd is quite cold, so only taste a little.”

Gu Ci was very attentive, thinking of every detail.

Nianxi’s eyes curved as she thanked him softly, “You are so kind.”

Gu Ci’s ears flushed further. He poured her water and offered fruit. “This drink has a sweet-and-sour flavor. It’s hot today, so I cooled it in the well beforehand.”

Nianxi smiled and accepted the kumquat snow foam he offered.

“It’s really delicious.”

Qin Lang, annoyed by the slow pace of the two behind him, sped up and approached.

Still some distance from the flower hall, he saw Gu Ci and a young woman standing close. He didn’t know what Gu Ci had just said, but she smiled radiantly, her eyes bright and her teeth white.

No wonder—

This was Qin Lang’s first reaction upon seeing Nianxi.

No wonder she could so utterly bewitch Gu Ci.

Her beautiful eyes sparkled, a layer of light dancing in her dark gaze. With a faint smile, a shallow dimple appeared on her cheek. The innocent charm and alluring beauty blended naturally, like a rose with morning dew.

Gu Ci cleared his throat loudly, a warning in the sound.

He then turned to Nianxi. “This is Qin Lang, my classmate from the Imperial College. We share a courtyard.”

Qin Lang quickly regained his composure.

As a man, he understood that terrifying possessiveness, especially towards such a radiant woman.

Therefore, he composed his expression, merely nodding to Nianxi in greeting, and didn’t look at her again.

He then called out to Gu Ci, “I’ve placed the things for you. Why did you ask me to move them again?”

“Naturally, there was a need.”

The two men talking to the side gave Nianxi time to recover.

In fact, Nianxi was more startled than Qin Lang was upon seeing him for the first time.

She certainly knew Qin Lang!

In the future, when Pei Jian was promoted to Left Prime Minister (Zuo Xiang), Qin Lang would be the Vice Minister of Revenue (Hubu Shilàng), essentially Pei Jian’s right-hand man.

Qin Lang’s wife was an extremely talkative woman, and it was from her that Nianxi learned Pei Jian and Qin Lang had shared a courtyard at the Imperial College.

If Gu Ci and Qin Lang also lived in the same courtyard, then Pei Jian…

“Where is Pei Jian? Why isn’t he here yet?”

In the next moment, Gu Ci asked the question aloud.

“He and Jinghe are behind us, taking their time, God knows what they’re talking about.”

Gu Ci felt a sudden unease upon hearing Wen Qingheng’s name.

He quickly introduced Pei Jian to Nianxi. “He is the brother I grew up with; I mentioned him to you before. Also, Jinghe—I mean your brother—actually lives in the same courtyard as me. But he doesn’t know that we… know each other.”

“Is that so?”

Nianxi felt her voice waver slightly.

Her mind felt like it was going through a storm.

When she learned that Pei Jian and Gu Ci lived in the same courtyard and were childhood friends, the issue of her brother seemed utterly trivial.

She had known Pei Jian for thirteen years, yet she never knew he had a friend as close as a brother—Gu Ci!

Even if Pei Jian quickly entered officialdom and she didn’t know much about the Imperial College, the capital’s circle of power was only so big. She had never heard Gu Ci’s name mentioned at court banquets or private parties.

She didn’t even have a slight impression of the State Duke Zhen Manor.

Could her memory deviation be a consequence of her rebirth?

Had the State Duke Zhen Manor and Gu Ci always existed, and she had simply forgotten them?