The Powerful Minister I Forcefully Married Won't Warm Up; After Rebirth, I Give Up the Chase - Chapter 6

Nianxi’s Return Home

When Nianxi (Wen Qingheng) returned to the manor, her elder brother, Wen Qingheng, was enthusiastically talking about the debate at the Chongming Building that day. He exclaimed, “Pei Shizhang was truly magnificent, facing three opponents alone and remaining completely composed…”

Since the topic involved Pei Jian (courtesy name Pei Shizhang), Nianxi didn’t want to listen and was about to go back to her room to wash up, but her mother, Madam Li, spotted her first.

“Nian’er is back.”

Nianxi had no choice but to enter the main room and greet her parents and brother.

Wen Qingheng was deep in conversation, and her father, Lord Wen, who always admired talent, clapped his hands and said, “This young man is bound to achieve great things.”

He then asked, “Why didn’t you invite him here for a visit?”

In the previous life, it was Nianxi who had strongly urged them to invite Pei Jian to the house.

Before Wen Qingheng could show any regret, Madam Li quickly interjected, “Nian’er is an unmarried young lady. Why would we invite an outside man home?”

The father and son immediately fell silent.

“Did anything interesting happen during your spring outing today?” Madam Li’s demeanor was gentle and kind when speaking to her daughter.

Nianxi casually replied, “Nothing much, though I did meet an interesting young gentleman.”

Madam Li smiled and asked, “How so?”

“He’s good-looking, and his personality is quite nice too.”

“What’s his height and build like? Which family does he belong to?”

Nianxi had reached the marriageable age. Madam Li didn’t seek to marry into a powerful family; she only hoped her daughter could marry a man she liked and live a smooth, happy life.

At this point, the Wen father and son stopped caring about Pei Shizhang and stared intently at Nianxi, worried she would utter some heartbreaking words about having found her true love.

Fortunately, Nianxi didn’t want to continue the topic, saying, “It’s too early to say anything yet.” (A literal translation of the idiom: “The character for eight hasn’t even been drawn yet.”)

Madam Li wanted to ask more, but Nianxi could only resort to acting cute and spoiled: “Mother, I’m starving after being out all day. When will dinner be served?”

Madam Li reluctantly dropped the matter.

Gu Ci’s Intentions

That night, the maid Xingyue asked Nianxi, “Didn’t Miss agree to Mr. Gu’s invitation today? Why didn’t you tell Madam?”

Though the social atmosphere was relatively open at the time, the Gu and Wen families were not long-time acquaintances, and their interactions were few. It wasn’t easy for Gu Ci to arrange a date with Nianxi.

Nianxi looked at the young girl with bright hair and rosy cheeks in the mirror and said dismissively, “If he wants to invite me, he needs to figure out a way himself. If he isn’t even willing to put that little effort in, what’s the point?”

In her previous life, she was so devoted to Pei Jian that even for trivial matters like going out, she always found excuses herself, unwilling to let Pei Jian worry.

This time, she was determined not to spoil anyone.

As it turned out, Gu Ci was a thoughtful man—

On the third day after the spring outing by the Winding Stream, the Marquis of Xingwu Manor sent an invitation, requesting Nianxi to visit the manor for flower viewing. The date was set for the day the Imperial College was closed.

The wife of the Marquis of Xingwu’s heir was Gu Ci’s elder sister.

Madam Li naturally gave her permission.

So, on the day off, Nianxi, dressed in an elegant cloud-patterned jade-green silk skirt, stood gracefully before the gate of the Marquis of Xingwu Manor. She saw Gu Ci waiting at the door, unsurprised, and asked with a smile:

“Have you been waiting long?”

Gu Ci had expected Nianxi to ask why he was at the Marquis of Xingwu’s gate.

He had prepared his excuse, but she didn’t ask at all.

It was as if there was a natural understanding, and nothing needed to be said.

“No,” Gu Ci’s face felt slightly flushed. He stepped forward and said, “My elder sister is in the flower hall. I’ll lead you over.”

The Marquis of Xingwu’s Heir’s wife was an extremely amiable woman. After they paid their respects, she simply offered an excuse of being busy with household affairs:

“The peonies in the garden are blooming beautifully. Little Six brought a horse today, which is tied up in the stables. It’s a rare, fine horse. Nianxi, why don’t you go take a look?”

It was thoughtful and considerate.

Nianxi understood that this was all Gu Ci’s arrangement.

On the way to the equestrian field, Nianxi’s eyes curved in a smile. “You had to arrange so many things just to teach me how to ride a horse. Won’t that be tiring?”

Gu Ci naturally didn’t find it tiring. But the fact that the girl noticed his efforts made him even happier.

He deliberately lowered his voice, “I’m strict when I teach archery and riding, so you must be careful.”

Hearing this, Nianxi solemnly stopped. Her eyes were clear, dark, and bright, like stars sparkling with water. She extended her delicate, pale hands to Gu Ci and said facetiously, “This student is clumsy. Please, teacher, be gentle when meting out punishment.”

Gu Ci looked down at her hands and couldn’t help but laugh first.

The sunlight was bright, and a gust of wind swept through, causing apricot and white petals to rustle down and land on the two of them.

Nianxi then noticed Gu Ci’s attire for the day: a fitted, short jacket with narrow sleeves and a leather belt that accentuated his lean waist and long legs, exuding powerful vitality as he moved.

A brand new spring day, a brand new man.

A long-lost feeling of happiness surged deep within Nianxi.

People truly should eat something good.

Gu Ci had prepared a beautiful, gentle pony for Nianxi. It had four white hooves and a shiny black coat, making it very unique. It was young and would gently rub its muzzle against one’s palm when fed sugar.

“Its name is Stepping on Snow.”

Nianxi spent some time bonding with the horse before Gu Ci helped her mount.

The reins were rough, so Gu Ci, being meticulous, had specially prepared gloves for Nianxi.

“My father and brothers are often away. The only people at home are my mother and three elder sisters. Though they are elders, they are still women. Even though I am the youngest, I often pay attention to these details.”

This was an indirect explanation for his detailed consideration of a woman’s needs.

It also subtly suggested that his family was simple and harmonious, with none of the messy struggles between wives and concubines.

Pei Jian would never notice such small things. Whether Nianxi changed into new clothes or altered her hair accessory, if she didn’t tell him, he would never discover it.

He was too busy.

Busy revitalizing his family’s prestige, busy consolidating power and gaining profit, he couldn’t spare an ounce of attention for the major or minor affairs of the people around him.

Nianxi, wearing the brand-new deerskin gloves, smiled sweetly, “Understood, Teacher Gu.”

Hearing this new title, Gu Ci felt as if summer had arrived early, a flush of heat running through him, and he couldn’t stop smiling.

The teaching session went very smoothly.

One was infinitely patient, and the other was clever and agile. Within half an hour, Nianxi was able to walk the horse a few steps around the field without Gu Ci needing to hold the lead rope.

She was delighted and turned back to wave at Gu Ci. Unexpectedly, the horse suddenly gave a high leap. Nianxi’s slender body swayed, her waist bending like a soft willow into a graceful curve, on the verge of falling—

Seeing this, Gu Ci quickly stepped forward, grabbed the reins, used his arms to vault onto the horse, and clamped his legs around the horse’s belly, forcing it to stop.

The sudden event scared him, and fearing Nianxi would be thrown off, he used all his strength in an emergency. His arms, like iron, were clasped tightly around Nianxi’s waist.

Nianxi winced in pain, and a thin layer of tears welled up in her eyes as she looked back at Gu Ci.

The spring light illuminated the girl’s soft face, and the floating light in her eyes shimmered like broken gold. Their distance was closer, and Gu Ci clearly saw that what danced in the girl’s eyes was not tears, but intoxicating wine.

He abruptly dismounted, but realized in a daze that something was breaking through the soil in his heart.

“I’m sorry, it’s all my mistake,” Gu Ci apologized profusely. “Were you badly scared?”

Nianxi, whom he had helped off the horse, smiled and shook her head, “I didn’t hold the reins tightly enough. Teacher Gu should punish me.”

With that, she genuinely held out her hand, palm up.

But it was clearly not done in earnest, as she was still wearing the deerskin gloves.

Relieved that she was unharmed, Gu Ci looked down at the hand she offered for the second time and couldn’t help but lightly tap it.

Even through the glove, Gu Ci felt a jolt of numbness in the area of contact, which flowed back along his fingertips to his heart, causing it to swell and tremble with emotion.

“It’s your first day riding. Let’s stop here for today. Otherwise, your legs might hurt after too long.”

Nianxi readily agreed.

The two walked towards the pavilion to rest.

Gu Ci had never had such a pleasant and enjoyable experience.

So much so that when the maidservant invited them back to the flower hall for tea, subtly reminding them of the time, he was startled to realize how quickly time had passed.

He and Nianxi seemed to have endless things to talk about.

He had expected that noble young ladies would only like flowers and perfumes, or topics like music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—things he wasn’t particularly interested in.

But Nianxi wasn’t like that.

No matter what he talked about, she could keep up with witty and clever remarks, and she never simply agreed with everything he said, leaving Gu Ci feeling incredibly delighted and relaxed.

She was so endearing and lovely.

Every smile, every movement, every subtle expression landed squarely in his heart!

“She is my true love!”

Upon returning to the Imperial College, Gu Ci couldn’t wait to share this great news with his good brother, Pei Jian.