The Whole Family is Reborn, But I Transmigrated into a Book - Chapter 14

“The ground is cold. Why did you come down without putting on your shoes?”

Gu Qingjia frowned deeply. Sheathing his sword, he bent down and scooped Liu Qingyue up in his arms, carrying her back to the bed.

Caught off guard by his sudden action, Liu Qingyue’s panicked little face turned a rosy hue. She looked at him with a hint of embarrassment. Although she knew he was concerned for her health, the gesture was undeniably intimate.

As she sat on the bed, she saw Gu Qingjia pick up a cloth, intending to wipe her feet for her. She instinctively pulled her feet back, her face flushing crimson as she said, “I can do it myself.”

She had never been served like this by a member of the opposite sex, let alone by the man who was her husband in name. Gu Qingjia didn’t force the issue and handed the cloth to her. When she took it, the tips of her ears remained a bright red.

Once she finished, he took the cloth back and put it away. Seeing him take such care of her, the redness that had just begun to fade from her beautiful face flared up again.

“I asked you a question just now. Why didn’t you answer?” she said with a soft pout, sounding very much like a wife grumbling at her husband.

Yet, their marriage was clearly one in name only.

Only then did Gu Qingjia answer her earlier question. “Their level of skill isn’t enough to hurt me. I studied martial arts under the Great General of the State when I was young. While I may lack the sharp edge Second Brother honed on the battlefield, I have more than enough to handle people like them.”

Hearing this, Liu Qingyue finally felt at ease. “Watching you fight with them just now while I couldn’t do a thing to help… it truly didn’t feel good,” she said after a moment of silence. “My Lord, teach me martial arts. Even if it’s just basic moves, I’m not afraid of hard work.”

She knew she could never become a master like him, but she wanted at least some ability to protect herself when danger struck.

Gu Qingjia looked at her serious expression and didn’t immediately refuse. “Do you truly want to learn?”

Seeing an opening, she quickly knelt up on the bed and nodded sincerely. “I want to learn. Even if it’s just a move or two, it’s better than how I am now.”

Looking at her earnest gaze, he agreed. “Starting tomorrow, I will teach you while we are on the road.”

He knew their tracks had been exposed, making their disguises largely irrelevant, and he already had a plan in mind. “Rest for tonight. They won’t come back.”

Seeing the faint trace of exhaustion on her fair face, he couldn’t bear to let her stay up any longer. She was a noble lady raised in the inner chambers; she had never experienced such toil and travel.

Liu Qingyue had no idea that she appeared so fragile in his eyes. Having regained her health, she was like a resilient little flower in a storm—she could find joy even in the harshest environments.

“Husband, you come up and sleep too.” She rolled to the other side of the bed and patted the empty space beside her.

The bed at this inn wasn’t as large or soft as the one in the Prince’s estate, but she hadn’t complained once. Gu Qingjia lay down beside her, thinking about this. He turned his head and looked at her by the moonlight filtering through the window lattice.

By day, she was lively, with a hint of innocent playfulness; by night, in her deep sleep, she was so serene. Regardless of which version of her it was, Gu Qingjia felt a rising desire to protect her. This was his Princess Consort, his wife. Even if there was no romantic foundation yet, they would walk through life hand-in-hand.

When she woke up in the morning, Gu Qingjia was no longer in bed.

“My lady is awake? Come, wash up and eat. I’ve already had the waiter prepare horses. We’ll set off as soon as we finish breakfast.”

Gu Qingjia knew they couldn’t stay in Yingzhou any longer, or there would be a second assassination attempt.

“Thank you for taking care of everything so early, husband.” Liu Qingyue thanked him with a smile. She felt more and more that he was an excellent “business partner.”

She got out of bed, washed, and changed her clothes. These were likely bought by the waiter at a clothing shop on Gu Qingjia’s orders. The style was common, but the fabric was good; the light blue dress made her look even more radiant. Along with the dress, he had prepared hair accessories—not as extravagant as those in the palace, but similar to what any local girl would wear.

“Husband, you prepared such clothes for me… aren’t you afraid they’ll make it hard for me to move or help out?” She blinked at him, unable to hide the joy on her face. She loved dressing up beautifully; it was a wish she never got to fulfill in her past life before she died.

“It’s fine. These clothes aren’t cumbersome; they are light. Even if you have to get into a fight, you’ll be able to move freely.”

His consideration was thorough, and it wasn’t just perfunctory. This made Liu Qingyue’s eyes sting with warmth; even her own parents hadn’t been this attentive. She felt even more certain that Gu Qingjia was a good person.

Gu Qingjia silently averted his gaze. Her bright smile was beginning to force its way into his heart. “Once you’re ready, come eat. The food will get cold.”

She nodded; she was indeed hungry. He had ordered all of her favorite dishes, making the meal exceptionally pleasant. Waking up to beautiful clothes and her favorite food was a double dose of happiness. Seeing her so happy, he felt happy as well.

“I bought a horse for us to share. We’ll move faster this way. If you find it uncomfortable, I can have someone prepare a carriage instead.”

He wanted to get her to Jiangzhou as quickly as possible; his people were already waiting for him there. Although she hadn’t supported him bringing shadow guards along initially, it would be much safer to have them if they were to stay in Jiangzhou for a long time.

“It’s fine, I can ride with you.” She wasn’t delicate. After the assassination attempt, she knew which choice was the most practical.

Gu Qingjia had never shared a horse with anyone before. As he sat on the horse and pulled her into his arms, his heartbeat skipped a beat the moment her soft body pressed against him.

Liu Qingyue didn’t notice his abnormality. It was her first time on a horse, and everything felt fresh. “Husband, I’m settled. Let’s go!” Her voice was full of uncontainable excitement.

His thoughts snapped back, and hearing her words, he spurred the horse away from the small inn. There was a constant flow of people in Yingzhou, so their departure was smooth.

This time, they no longer felt the “newness” they had when first leaving the capital, nor did they stop to look at the scenery. Jiangzhou was still far away; they had to gallop to reach it sooner.

Feeling the wind by her ears and leaning back into Gu Qingjia’s embrace, Liu Qingyue looked at the endless road ahead. In this moment, she felt the vastness of the world and how small they were. She almost wished she could forget his identity and just wander the world with him—but she knew it was impossible. They were destined to return to the Imperial City eventually.