The Whole Family is Reborn, But I Transmigrated into a Book - Chapter 23

The preparations for Li Qingge’s wedding began in earnest, just as Gu Qingjia and Liu Qingyue were about to arrive in Jiangzhou.

“Master, Madam, the Jiangzhou boundary is just ahead,” Jiang Fu called out. He was always meticulous in his work, leaving no room for criticism.

“Understood,” Gu Qingjia replied simply.

Some of the secret guards who had followed them from the capital were already stationed in Jiangzhou. Now that they had finally arrived, Gu Qingjia could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Looking back, he still felt that agreeing to travel alone with Liu Qingyue was absurd; he hadn’t dared to leave her side for a single step, terrified that something might go wrong.

They were, after all, two people who had rarely traveled far from home. Their initial planning had been somewhat lacking. Gu Qingjia smiled helplessly at the thought.

“Once we reach Jiangzhou, we’ll head to our residence to rest. We can go out and explore tomorrow,” Liu Qingyue said. Because of Jiang Fu’s presence outside, she left much unsaid.

“Alright,” Gu Qingjia agreed, squeezing her hand.

He also needed to figure out how to handle Jiang Fu. Jiang Fu was a man sent by Young Master Jiang, and naturally, Gu Qingjia did not trust him. He had only kept him around to see what his ultimate goal was. Throughout the journey to Jiangzhou, Jiang Fu had remained perfectly obedient.

Gu Qingjia pondered silently: Must I keep Jiang Fu by my side indefinitely? He could never truly be at ease with someone who wasn’t his own man constantly lingering nearby.

“Don’t overthink it. If you keep frowning, you won’t look as handsome,” Liu Qingyue remarked.

She knew exactly what was bothering him. Since they had already come this far, they just had to face it; every problem had a solution. Jiang Fu wasn’t some ferocious beast; he was just a coachman. No matter how deep his secrets ran, what could he really do?

Liu Qingyue wasn’t afraid. They had come to Jiangzhou to enjoy themselves and, secondarily, to get some things done. If they spent the whole trip living in fear, what was the point of coming out at all?

However, Liu Qingyue and Gu Qingjia were different. She was not a “person of the book”; having gained a new life, she wanted to experience the world. Gu Qingjia, however, had grown up in the treacherous Imperial Palace, living every day in trepidation. He had far more to worry about.

“I understand,” Gu Qingjia nodded, though he was still mentally cycling through solutions.

Regardless of his thoughts, the carriage eventually rattled into the city. Jiang Fu didn’t know the location of Gu Qingjia’s arranged residence, so he asked, “Master, Madam, we’ve entered the city. Are we staying at an inn or do you have other arrangements?”

Knowing Gu Qingjia was in a difficult spot, Liu Qingyue answered directly. “Go to our residence. we have a house in Jiangzhou.” She nudged Gu Qingjia with her elbow, signaling him to speak.

Gu Qingjia provided the address. He didn’t even stop to wonder how Liu Qingyue knew he had a house there. Liu Qingyue might be impulsive, but she wasn’t stupid. They had discovered assassins one night, but the attack never came; it was obvious Gu Qingjia’s men had handled it.

The fact that Gu Qingjia brought secret guards was a conclusion she had reached long ago. It made sense; given Gu Qingjia’s status, there were far too many people who wanted him dead. If he hadn’t brought a few people along, the rest of their journey wouldn’t have been this peaceful.

As for whether she should report this to the Emperor, Liu Qingyue lowered her gaze—it didn’t matter even if she did. Although she intended to befriend Zhao Wenzhang, she had really only given the man a silver ingot. Now, she and Gu Qingjia were “grasshoppers on the same string.” Whatever she did was tied to him, after all, she was the Princess of Jing.

Jiang Fu had no idea that this couple had “eight hundred ulterior motives” between them. He had been sent by Young Master Jiang to protect Gu Qingjia; as long as he could stay, that was enough.

“Master, Madam, we’ve arrived.”

Jiang Fu looked at the small courtyard. He suspected this noble pair might not be used to such a humble place, but then he recalled that the Madam hadn’t complained once during the rough journey, so perhaps she could accept it.

The two stepped down from the carriage. Their expressions remained neutral as they looked at the modest house. Sensing their arrival, the gate slowly opened from the inside.

“Welcome, Master and Madam.” The person at the door was respectful—clearly one of Gu Qingjia’s men.

“Take Jiang Fu and unhitch the carriage. Feed the horse,” Gu Qingjia ordered. He led Liu Qingyue inside. After days of travel, they could finally rest.

The courtyard appeared small from the outside, but the interior was a different story. As soon as Liu Qingyue entered, her eyes met a large vat of lotus flowers in the center of the yard. Even the rosewood pillars were carved with exquisite patterns, and the rooms were filled with precious curios.

This was only natural. Gu Qingjia was a Prince of the realm. Even if he was staying in a small courtyard to be discreet, it was only right that the items he used were of high quality.

“Do you like it here?” Gu Qingjia asked, noticing her observing the yard since they walked in.

Liu Qingyue nodded instinctively. How could she not like it? This exquisite little courtyard must have taken a lot of effort to prepare.

“I’m glad you like it. If you like it, we’ll stay here for a while.” Gu Qingjia felt a secret sense of relief at her positive answer. “Let’s eat first. After dinner, I’ll walk around with you.”

The servants in the yard were his confidants. They had begun preparing the meal the moment the couple entered Jiangzhou. Liu Qingyue nodded, laughing as she felt her stomach start to rumble. “I didn’t notice before you said it, but I really am hungry.”

“Then let’s eat.”

Liu Qingyue knew that Gu Qingjia hadn’t eaten well on the road either. Perhaps out of a sense of duty as a husband, he had always prioritized her needs. There was no need to keep thanking him, though; they were a couple in name only, and she had already expressed her gratitude. Mentioning it too much would make it seem like she was overthinking their relationship.

They sat down together. Looking at the beautiful spread on the table, they skipped the pleasantries and began to eat. Gu Qingjia’s men were very efficient—not only was the house discreet yet comfortable, but the chef they had hired was top-tier. After days of “wind and dust” on the road, Liu Qingyue found this first settled meal incredibly satisfying.

Seeing her eat with such gusto, Gu Qingjia found his own appetite improving and ate more than usual. Normally, when eating alone, he had little interest in food and merely ate to fill his stomach.

Liu Qingyue didn’t talk much while eating. Only after she finished and set down her chopsticks did she speak. The servants moved quickly to clear the table and serve tea. Liu Qingyue took a sip and could tell it was excellent tea, though she didn’t really care for tea tasting; giving it to her felt like a bit of a waste.

“Husband, walk through the yard with me,” Liu Qingyue said. She was in a good mood and had eaten a bit too much, so she wanted to walk it off.

Gu Qingjia agreed. He didn’t plan on going out today, so letting her burn off some energy at home was a good idea. Liu Qingyue had been strictly constrained by her family before marriage; since marrying him, her personality had become exceptionally lively—a complete transformation from before. Gu Qingjia didn’t mind; he actually found this vibrant version of her quite charming.

The courtyard wasn’t large, and they finished their tour quickly. Since they were traveling incognito, a massive mansion wouldn’t have been appropriate. After walking every corner, Liu Qingyue followed Gu Qingjia back to their room.

“Thank you for accompanying me, Husband. You’ve worked hard on this trip; you should rest. Shall I serve you?” Liu Qingyue said with a mischievous glint in her eyes. In private, when she felt playful, she would call him “Husband” just to tease him, while remaining emotionally unswayed herself.

Even though Gu Qingjia knew she was teasing, he decided to play along. “It wasn’t hard. But since my wife is so thoughtful, I cannot refuse. I’ll trouble you to help me undress then.”

Gu Qingjia’s skin had somehow grown thicker recently. Although they had shared a bed and a table since their wedding, and occasionally had “intimate contact” while asleep, such a situation had never occurred while they were both fully awake. Asking her to help him undress was bordering on rogue behavior.

But Liu Qingyue was the one who started it. She couldn’t take her words back now. She walked up to him, her lips pressed tight, and reached out her slender hands to pull at his sash, loosening his outer robe.

She was a head shorter than him. Standing before him to untie his sash, she looked as if she were nestled in his arms. She was focused, but she was also nervous. She began to regret her teasing words. She was a bit annoyed—why did Gu Qingjia have to agree?

In that short moment, her mind was racing with a thousand thoughts. Gu Qingjia looked down at her—her small face set in a serious, tense expression—and his lips curled into a slight smile.

“Dear Wife, do you perhaps not know how to remove your husband’s clothes?”

The man clearly knew she was shy, yet he deliberately said such “deadly” words. Liu Qingyue’s fingertips trembled. In a fit of mock anger, she gave a little tug. Gu Qingjia’s clothes remained on him, though they were now quite disheveled.

“Be quiet! The sun hasn’t even set, yet you’re being so shameless!” Liu Qingyue glared at him, her ears turning bright red.

Gu Qingjia’s mood improved even further. Seeing her embarrassment, he fell silent and simply watched her. Liu Qingyue knew she couldn’t stay in this standoff forever.