The Powerful Minister I Forcefully Married Won't Warm Up; After Rebirth, I Give Up the Chase - Chapter 16

Gu Ci would visit the Wen residence from time to time to bring Nian Xi small gifts.

Madam Wen was extremely kind to him.

As time went on, the older maids and serving girls at the Wen residence treated him with two extra points of warmth added to their respect.

With the Imperial Palace Examination imminent, Wen Qingheng had no time to interfere, and Master Wen often hosted gatherings of literary figures. Gu Ci began to visit even more frequently.

He longed to be close to Nian Xi every day, even if they didn’t speak—just to watch her play the zither or paint.

Due to these frequent visits, he encountered many young men loitering near the Wen residence gate. While deterring these audacious suitors, his visits further fueled his possessiveness and sense of crisis regarding Nian Xi.

The day before the official civil service examination, Gu Ci took a day off. Early that morning, he drove his carriage to the Wen residence gate to take Nian Xi to offer incense.

Nian Xi wore a light water-green ruqun dress, with a ‘grass-head insect’ gemstone hairpin in her hair. With her fair skin and rosy cheeks, she was in the prime of youth, requiring no extra adornment to be exquisite and stunning.

Madam Li led Nian Xi out.

A carriage was already parked outside the main gate, and a tall, slender figure stood beside it—it was Gu Ci.

Seeing them emerge, he quickly bowed to Madam Li.

Madam Li had absolutely no fault to find with Gu Ci. His family background, talent, and looks were all top-notch. Furthermore, Madam Wang was also a reasonable person; her daughter would certainly not suffer if she married into that family.

The two families had already communicated their intentions.

Only the Duke of Zhenguo was currently in the northern frontier. Madam Wang had already sent a letter and was only waiting for the Duke’s approval to finalize the engagement for the two young people.

She hadn’t told Nian Xi about these developments, but she turned a blind eye to Gu Ci’s daily, eager visits.

Madam Li exchanged pleasantries with Gu Ci. Gu Ci stood straight and said respectfully, “Madam, please rest assured. I will safely escort Ni’er back home after we finish offering the incense.”

Madam Li nodded in satisfaction. Watching Nian Xi step onto the carriage using a stool, the carriage wheels clattering softly as they headed toward the east side of the city, she finally turned and re-entered the residence.

The carriage left the city. As traffic gradually thinned out, Nian Xi lifted the curtain and began to see dense, lush forests. Further ahead, wild mountain flowers bloomed riotously, filling the view.

The air was rich with a fresh, fragrant scent.

Gu Ci lightly tapped the window frame with his horsewhip. “Would you like to ride a horse? I brought Ta Xue.”

Given the beautiful scenery, Nian Xi had initially wanted to ride, but remembering that Gu Ci had mentioned Ta Xue was Pei Jian’s horse, she dismissed the idea.

It wasn’t that she couldn’t let go of Pei Jian, but rather that she didn’t want any further connection with him.

So, she shook her head. “I’m not very skilled at riding; I’m a bit afraid. Let’s not.”

“Then why don’t we…”

Gu Ci blurted out the words, but stopped himself in time.

Nian Xi glanced at him and asked, smiling, “Why don’t we what?”

Both of them knew exactly what Gu Ci had been about to say.

In the two months since they met, Gu Ci had always strictly observed propriety, both in public and in private, except for the time Nian Xi nearly fell off her horse.

Riding the same mount together would have been too intimate.

Gu Ci respected and cherished Nian Xi. Although their relationship was progressing smoothly, he was afraid that any sudden move might displease her.

Yet, when one truly likes a person, it’s impossible to control the urge to be close to them.

The carriage stopped halfway up the mountain; the rest of the journey required walking up the steps.

Gu Ci looked at the ancient temple on the mountain and told Nian Xi, “If you get tired walking later, I will hold your hand.”

Nian Xi looked at the tall, slender figure whose ears were flushed red and whose eyes were nervously avoiding hers, and she found him very endearing. Feeling playful, she stood on tiptoes, reached up to touch his earlobe, and asked teasingly, “Are you very warm?”

In an instant, Gu Ci felt a rush of blood surge upward. The spot Nian Xi had touched felt numb and burning, and his heart nearly leaped out of his chest.

“Stop messing around!”

His entire ears turned crimson. Yet, he gathered his courage and tentatively reached out to hold Nian Xi’s hand.

Nian Xi, of course, did not pull away.

Gu Ci didn’t dare to look Nian Xi in the eyes.

It felt as though he was holding a soft ball of silk floss or touching beautiful jade in his hand, but her hand was smoother than silk and softer than jade.

He couldn’t help but tighten his grip, holding the delicate, boneless hand securely in his palm.

Nian Xi winced from the pressure and struggled, laughing. “Are you trying to crush my hand?”

Gu Ci was startled and quickly released his large hand.

He was a little flustered, wanting to explain or console her, but at that moment, he felt tongue-tied and couldn’t utter a single word. He had never held a girl’s hand before, and he seemed to have messed it up.

When one cares too much about someone, one’s mind becomes overrun with worries. Gu Ci even felt a little dejected.

He looked at Nian Xi.

Her almond eyes were as clear as a mountain stream, charming yet innocent, filled with a gentle, curved smile. She said, “Will this be better?”

Her voice was soft and sweet. When she lowered her head, a section of her delicate, pale neck was exposed.

While Gu Ci was still at a loss, she lifted his hand. Her slender, nimble fingers intertwined through his, locking their fingers together, and she smiled gently.

“Look.”

Gu Ci lost all strength in his body, and all his other senses vanished, leaving only the sensation of their joined hands.

Like a kettle boiling on a stove, his blood was constantly bubbling and burning; his reason was also dissolving.

Only his heart was pounding wildly for Nian Xi.

…

Pei Jian felt like he was going mad.

Tomorrow was the Imperial Palace Examination, yet he had been led astray by a demonic influence and followed them all the way here.

He stared fixedly at their intertwined hands, torturing himself by repeatedly confirming the fact that Nian Xi regarded him as a stranger.

What did he do wrong?

What part of him was lacking?

He had done his utmost; he had provided his wife with the best life possible.

The smile on Gu Ci’s face pierced him.

Never before had he so intensely hated being reborn, yearning to return to the past. Instead, he was trapped alone in the secret between the past and the future, unable to move forward or retreat.

He despised everything before his eyes.

The sun was blazing outside, but he felt like a chilling winter storm, following the pair and standing out dramatically among the pilgrims coming to offer incense.

Pei Jian was inherently handsome, and his current gloomy, tense demeanor attracted even more attention and speculation from onlookers.

Except for Nian Xi and Gu Ci, who never once looked behind them.

Standing at a distance that was neither far nor near, Pei Jian looked coldly at the solemn statues of the Three Heavenly Venerables in the main hall, his heart filled with sarcasm.

He watched Nian Xi kneel and worship devoutly, offer incense, and replenish the offerings. Gu Ci followed suit, mimicking her actions, but his eyes constantly darted toward her side.

A young Taoist priest in the hall gave Nian Xi two paper talismans.

Once, one of those talismans was meant for him.

Pei Jian remembered that before the Palace Examination, Nian Xi had specially gone to Taiqing Palace to pray and seek a talisman for him. But at that time, he was arrogant and self-important, completely disbelieving in ghosts and gods, and utterly contemptuous of such things.

Nian Xi’s eyes had turned red with anger because of this, yet she still placed the talisman in his palm and said, pouting miserably, “I knelt before the Three Heavenly Venerables for half an hour. It’s very effective; you must wear it.”

Pei Jian had given a perfunctory nod, casually tossing it onto his desk and forgetting about it. By the time he remembered to look for it, the Palace Examination was long over, and the small talisman was nowhere to be found…

Nian Xi handed one of the talismans to Gu Ci.

He watched Gu Ci receive it with utmost care, placing it in his pouch and carrying it close to his body.

The two exchanged a smile.

Pei Jian suddenly clenched his fists with intense force.