The Powerful Minister I Forcefully Married Won't Warm Up; After Rebirth, I Give Up the Chase - Chapter 21

Just as she was lost in thought, Wen Qingheng entered, carrying a food box. Seeing Nian Xi’s pale face, he hurriedly asked, “What’s wrong?”

Considering a certain possibility, his face darkened. “Did Gu Ci bully you?”

“No, nothing of the sort.” Nian Xi banished the scattered thoughts from her mind. “Brother, will Gu Ci go to the Northern Frontier in the future?”

Wen Qingheng thought Nian Xi was worrying about this.

“He won’t. The Duke of Zhenguo has guarded the Northern Frontier for generations. The Heir, Gu Jun, and the second son, Gu Bai, are both brave and skilled in battle. This time, after the great victory at Gaoche, His Majesty personally conferred the title of Second-Rank General of the Agile Cavalry upon the second son, Gu Bai. Unless the Duke of Zhenguo’s Residence has no male heirs left, it would never fall to Gu Ci.”

Nian Xi asked, “Is it possible for Northern Liang to invade the South?”

Wen Qingheng laughed. “It is currently the season of abundant water and lush grass, yet they are suffering from a drought, in addition to the previous locusts and hail. Northern Liang can barely survive themselves. I heard that the court is mobilizing grain and fodder, preparing to launch a massive offensive when all things wither in winter. This campaign should ensure twenty years of peace for the Northern Frontier, at the very least.”

In other words, no one expected Northern Liang to invade the South, nor for the Duke of Zhenguo and his two generals to die as martyrs.

The Duke of Zhenguo’s title was likely stripped around that time as well.

Nian Xi pressed a hand to her forehead. This event must have shocked the entire court at the time, yet she had almost no recollection of it. What exactly was she doing then?

However, until her death, Great Jing had always enjoyed peace and stability, with its four neighbors submitting to its authority. This showed that Gu Ci had succeeded in defending the country!

Nian Xi suddenly recalled the words Cousin Mu had used to persuade her once:

“How many women in the capital envy you? The Twin Stars of the Great Jing Empire, the two most outstanding gentlemen—the Champion Marquis is far away in the Northern Frontier, out of reach for the young ladies, and the other one is your husband, Pei Jian…”

The Twin Stars of the Empire!

Nian Xi remembered a widely circulated saying in her previous life: “Chancellor Pei brings peace internally, and the Champion Marquis defends against outsiders.” They were the twin pillars of the Jing Dynasty, the mainstays of the nation.

Her heart suddenly beat three times faster.

This meant that even though the Gu clan was stripped of its noble title, Gu Ci still achieved merit, was conferred the title of Marquis and became a Chancellor, with his achievements ranking first in the entire military!

It turned out she had heard his name long ago.

Nian Xi finally linked her past and present lives together.

She couldn’t help but marvel at how wondrous fate truly was.

All the deviations she had assumed were perfectly aligned.

Her rebirth was like a stroke of genius.

In a certain moment, Nian Xi’s mood suddenly calmed down.

If both she and Pei Jian could be reborn, who could guarantee there would be no turning point in the future?

“Brother, I really like Gu Ci. Don’t always hold a prejudice against him.”

Wen Qingheng: …

Gu Ci was currently racking his brains, trying to save his brother from “distorted love.”

As he spoke, he became increasingly outrageous. Pei Jian realized something was wrong and frowned. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Gu Ci was startled and blurted out, “Aren’t you in love with a married woman?”

Visibly, Pei Jian’s expression darkened by several shades. The pressure was intense when he stared at someone without speaking, and even Gu Ci found it a bit difficult to handle.

“Why are you here?”

“I almost forgot the main business.” Gu Ci handed over a string of prayer beads. “I specially sought them for you at the Three Pure Ones Temple. They were blessed before the Celestial Venerable to protect you so you may pass the top three levels of the examinations.”

Pei Jian lowered his eyes to look at the prayer beads, but did not take them. Instead, he said coolly, “I heard the talismans from the Three Pure Ones Temple are very efficacious?”

“You believe in this?”

Gu Ci was surprised. “But it’s too late now. An efficacious talisman needs to be requested more than a month in advance.”

With that, he placed the prayer beads on the desk.

Gu Ci himself did not believe in gods or ghosts, but at the Three Pure Ones Temple, he saw Nian Xi buying a tourmaline bracelet for Madam Li. Thinking of his good brother Pei Jian’s upcoming palace examination, he bought a set of beads as well.

Pei Jian glanced carelessly at the prayer beads on the desk and said casually, “You seem well-informed.”

“I only found out today.”

Gu Ci took a dark yellow talisman out of a pouch in his chest, brandished it before Pei Jian like a treasure, and rattled it. “This is the auspicious talisman she specially requested for me.”

“Although I don’t entirely believe in it, this is a rare sentiment from a young lady, and I must preserve it for a long, long time.”

After speaking, he carefully put it away again.

Pei Jian did not understand how any trivial matter could involve such sickeningly sentimental words when it came to Gu Ci.

For the first time in his life, he felt a slight sense of defeat. When it came to matters of the heart, he had to admit that Gu Ci was more devoted and managed things better than he did.

“If you go to the Northern Frontier in the future,” Pei Jian suddenly spoke, “What will become of her…?”

Gu Ci was taken aback by the question, his face conveying a look of are you kidding me? “How could I possibly go to the Northern Frontier?”

“What if?”

Pei Jian’s expression was serious, without any hint of a joke. “Will you take Wen Nianxi to the Northern Frontier with you? Will she follow you?”

Gu Ci opened his mouth. He wanted to say of course, but those two words burned his tongue and wouldn’t come out.

Nian Xi had feelings for him; Gu Ci was absolutely certain of this. But asking her to abandon everything to follow him to the Northern Frontier? Gu Ci couldn’t bear to, and he wasn’t confident that she would.

Gu Ci furrowed his brow, a layer of gloom settling over his heart, causing unease. “Why talk about such things? I’m not going.”

“Then instruct your father and elder brother to pay closer attention to the situation in Northern Liang. Everyone wants to live, especially when pushed to desperation.”