The Powerful Minister I Forcefully Married Won't Warm Up; After Rebirth, I Give Up the Chase - Chapter 48

Nianxi did not see Gu Ci the next day.

His guard came to Xie Qiu’s residence to deliver a message: “The master is very busy with yamen affairs these two days, and may not have any free time. If you are worried about the shop’s matters, this subordinate will escort you there.”

Gu Ci had never broken an appointment before.

Nianxi asked, “Why is he suddenly so busy? I didn’t hear him mention it yesterday.”

Xie Qiu was vague: “Urgent matter that came up this morning.”

Nianxi vaguely guessed the reason. She dismissed Xie Qiu and turned to look for her elder brother.

To her surprise, Wen Qingheng had not returned home, only sending a servant back with a message saying he was staying at a friend’s house.

Was there any doubt left now?

Something must have happened last night, which is why Gu Ci dared not see her today.

In the end, it was all Pei Jian, disturbing everyone’s peace.

Nianxi angrily wiped the side of her neck with a handkerchief. Being cornered by Pei Jian in the dark alley last night had utterly frustrated her.

Is this the so-called vile nature of men?

The unattainable is the best?

In the past, when Nianxi loved him, his jealousy and crazed behavior were, in her eyes, expressions of love. Now that she no longer loved him, everything Pei Jian did only called forth her annoyance.

She was still unaware that Pei Jian had come to look for her this morning.

Because of her previous instructions, old Madam Wang dared not report Pei Jian’s affairs to her. If she had seen Pei Jian, she would have known how fierce the battle last night had been.

However, three days later, when Gu Ci finally showed up, sporting a large bruise on his handsome face, she had nothing left to guess.

“How did you get injured?” Nianxi leaned closer, only then noticing that not just his cheekbone, but Gu Ci’s lip also had a newly healed cut.

“I accidentally fell,” Gu Ci sat obediently, letting Nianxi examine him.

Afraid of hurting him, her touch was very light, her breath soft as a whisper, gentle like the sea washing over the sand, enveloping him bit by bit.

Gu Ci felt that getting a little injured, just to have her worry, was actually quite good.

Nianxi scolded him, “A perfectly fine face, turned into this state. What’s good about it?”

Gu Ci suddenly recalled Wen Qingheng once mentioning Nianxi: “My sister loves a handsome face the most.”

Pei Jian was also exceptionally handsome. A sense of crisis welled up in Gu Ci’s heart. He stroked his cheek with one hand and sighed faintly, “I will have to take good care of it. Your pearl powder and Fu Ling Gao (Poria cocos cream) must be applied to me from now on.”

“Silly, the Fu Ling Gao is for eating.”

Seeing him slightly evasive, trying to avoid her scrutiny, Nianxi stopped staring at his injury and sat back down. “Should I lend you one of the dresses from my closet to wear, too?”

Gu Ci refused, “Wouldn’t I become your sister then?”

Nianxi immediately quipped, “Sister Ci (Cí Jiějie)!”

Gu Ci was amused and exasperated, and the gloom in his eyes largely dissipated.

Nianxi could actually understand his mood.

Brothers who grew up together suddenly turning against each other, over the ridiculous matter of loving the same person.

No matter who it was, they would not be able to accept it calmly right away.

Nianxi was also willing to comfort him.

However, her exasperation toward Pei Jian had reached its peak.

She had already told him not to disturb her life, yet he had now caused such an ugly scene.

Truly hateful!

Gu Ci was off duty today. Thinking of what he had promised her earlier, he asked, “Do you want to go see the shop?”

Nianxi glanced at him. “Is Chief Censor Gu not busy now?”

He had used the excuse of official business for those two days because of the injury on his face—a pretense they both understood.

Yet, neither Nianxi nor Gu Ci mentioned Pei Jian.

There was truly nothing to say.

Gu Ci looked at her, thought for a moment, and said, “I am, after all, a shop assistant. When will Manager Wen open for business? I need money to spend.”

Nianxi smiled and rolled her eyes at him.

She had been busy with this matter for the past two days.

Cousin Mu was skilled in management and had already arranged the manager, staff, and other personnel. Nianxi was in charge of the menu, researching seasonal offerings. In the last couple of days, they had agreed upon the summer tea and pastry supplies, and were just waiting to find an auspicious day to open for business.

“Everything is ready. Over the past two days, I carefully wrote invitation cards to my close girlfriends and included a self-made incense pellet with the card, packaged in a beautiful small pouch. Whether they come or not is entirely up to them; I’m simply conveying my intention.”

The sun was bright outside the window, and birds chirped. Sunlight filtered through the fine gaps, casting stripes of light and shadow on the ground. Nianxi folded her hands, enthusiastically detailing the progress of the past few days. “…It is exclusively opened for female guests. At that time, it will certainly be a unique and delightful time for ladies.”

Gu Ci listened to her quietly.

Her tone was soft and gentle, her small dimples appearing and disappearing, and her curved eyebrows were full of anticipation for the future and the tea and drink shop.

Just by looking at her and listening to her, the gloom in one’s heart seemed to dissipate.

Gu Ci felt that Nianxi was glowing like this.

Who wouldn’t love her?

He suddenly became joyful.

It was as if an extra piece of flesh had grown in his heart, making his whole body feel refreshed and comfortable. He even disregarded the fact that they were in the Wen residence. He took Nianxi’s hand and whispered, “Nian’er, I am truly happy.”

Nianxi turned to look at him, her face still flushed with excitement. “Happy about what? Do you think my idea is childish?”

His gaze slowly swept over hers until the blush on her face deepened because of him. Only then did he lightly smile and open his lips: “Happy… I stumbled upon great fortune to meet you.”

Nianxi’s heart suddenly fluttered.

Thinking of her past life, where they had not even met, thinking of his eternal isolation away from the capital, thinking of the unpredictable fate… She squeezed his hand back. “Actually, you would be happy no matter whom you met. You are so good; even if it weren’t me, it would be the same with anyone else.”

He hummed in response. “Perhaps. But I cannot imagine anyone besides you. If it weren’t you, I would never achieve fulfillment.”

He lowered his eyes to gaze at her. His long, slender eyelashes lowered, his eyes deep. He nodded very slowly. “I am the type to prefer ‘nothing over not the best.’ If it’s not the person in my heart, I would rather wait for her alone.”

Therefore, Nianxi, please love me.

Please allow me to stay by your side and love you forever.

Tears welled up in Nianxi’s eyes and streamed down her cheeks as she looked up. This phrase, like a prophecy, seemed to be a validation of the gallant General in the desert of the previous life.

A surge of sadness suddenly overtook her.

Gu Ci saw her cry for the first time and immediately panicked, raising his hand to wipe her tears, hastily explaining, “Did I say something wrong? Please don’t hold it against me, I’ve been acting foolishly these days…”

Nianxi smiled and shook her head, her tear-filled eyes bright like the stars in the sky. “Women all love to be cherished. I am simply too happy.”

She did not want to sink into such sad thoughts again. The future was unpredictable; what she could do, and what she wanted to do, was to give Gu Ci the present.

Seize the day.

Pei Jian emerged from the Censorate.

He was currently the Left Deputy Censor-in-Chief and had been busy for days. He spent every day commuting between his residence and the yamen along a two-point line, using official duties to relieve his anxiety.

In the past few days, he had systematically reviewed the political rivals from his past life. After eliminating those he had already completely eradicated, three remained. Pei Jian racked his brain but could not determine who was involved in Nianxi’s death.

He thought carefully: Nianxi did not have grudges with anyone. Her death could only have been a deliberate act of revenge by his enemies.

At that time, his methods to eliminate opponents were aggressive, and many people wanted him dead. The guards and servants of the Prime Minister’s residence, even the cleaning staff, were screened one by one before entering the estate, their backgrounds clear.

How was Nianxi poisoned in the residence?

He had absolutely no clue.

Pei Jian was in a low mood, walking absentmindedly through an alleyway, when he encountered a carriage.

He, alone on horseback, had no intention of competing and was about to move aside, when the curtain of the carriage was lifted, revealing a face as beautiful as a hibiscus flower.

The beauty’s eyes were as soft as water, full of affection. A delicate tassel hairpin was slanted in her hair. As she leaned out, the collision of gold and jade made a crisp sound.

“Cousin!”

A look of surprise appeared on her face. Before she could wipe away the few teardrops on her cheeks, she blurted out, calling him softly.

Pei Jian’s gaze fell upon the woman opposite him, pausing for a moment.

It was Xu Wanxin.

In a flash of insight, Pei Jian suddenly realized that even though he had protected the Prime Minister’s residence like an iron barrel in his past life, there were still outsiders.

During that time, Xu Wanxin was taken into the residence by him for a certain reason.