The Whole Family is Reborn, But I Transmigrated into a Book - Chapter 25

Liu Qingyue had no desire to see the Liu family. To them, she was nothing more than a pawn on a chessboard. However, she couldn’t breathe a word of this to Gu Qingjia. Having not yet unraveled the Liu family’s true motives or their current standing, she feared that speaking out prematurely would only make her seem untrustworthy in his eyes.

Little did she know, while she harbored her own secrets, Gu Qingjia was hiding just as much from her.

Gu Qingjia studied her fair, delicate face for a long moment before sighing. “Forget it. I’ll take the loss this time.”

Relieved that he was no longer pressing the issue, Liu Qingyue turned her full attention back to her snacks.

“I ought to find someone to wait on you,” Gu Qingjia said suddenly, leaning his chin on his hand as he watched her. “It’s likely too late for today, but I’ll send word for someone to come tomorrow.”

He truly felt that Liu Qingyue didn’t seem like a daughter raised by the Liu family. How could a place so stifling and lifeless produce someone so vibrant? Yet, he knew perfectly well that the woman before him was indeed a daughter of the House of Liu—and his new Princess Consort.

On the third day after their wedding, when they had returned to her parental home, Liu Qingyue had been the picture of docility. She showed none of the liveliness she displayed when they were alone.

“My lady, you’ve been away with me for so long. Do you miss home?”

Liu Qingyue didn’t know what whim had prompted this question, but she shook her head instinctively.

“Even when I lived at the Liu estate, I didn’t see my parents often. Despite being the daughter of the first wife, I was never their favorite.”

She wasn’t lying. Perhaps from the moment she was betrothed to Gu Qingjia, she had already been cast out of the family’s inner circle.

“Actually, I think leaving the Liu family is for the best. At least my life is much more relaxed now.”

Liu Qingyue suspected that if she had transmigrated into this body before the wedding, the Liu family’s rigid rules would have been the death of her. In a great clan like theirs, the discipline for daughters was severe—especially for one being “gifted” to a Prince. As a daughter of the Liu clan, she was forbidden from doing anything that might tarnish the family name after marriage.

The women of the Liu family were almost all pawns, living their entire lives for the sake of the clan. Even after marrying, they were expected to prioritize the family’s interests at every turn. This was precisely why the Liu clan had managed to grow so powerful.

“So, you don’t actually like your maiden home? If I forced you to choose between the Liu family and your husband, who would you pick?”

Gu Qingjia asked the question as if possessed. He knew he shouldn’t ask; they were merely a couple on the surface, and he had no right to demand such loyalty.

Liu Qingyue, however, didn’t overthink it. Her answer was casual, almost effortless.

“A wife follows her husband.”

In the context of feudal society, this was a restrictive mantra for women, but at this moment, it was the perfect answer.

Hearing this, Gu Qingjia couldn’t help but smile. He realized he had married a clever woman; she had given him his answer, but she had framed it through the lens of societal duty rather than her own personal feelings. Still, it was enough for him.

He watched her eat her snacks as if he were admiring a beautiful landscape. Liu Qingyue grew uncomfortable under his gaze, feeling that he was acting strange today, and decided to ignore him. She shifted her weight, moving out of his line of sight.

Gu Qingjia saw her move and knew exactly what she was doing, but he wasn’t angry. He was in an excellent mood because of her answer—a sense of pleasure that lingered all the way until they went to bed.

He didn’t notice the strangeness of his own mood—or perhaps he knew and simply didn’t care, letting the feeling grow.

Liu Qingyue couldn’t sleep either. Though she was usually carefree, she was meticulous when it came to matters of life and death. Gu Qingjia’s question today hadn’t been idle talk. Did he know something?

The thought kept her awake. She turned over cautiously, trying not to disturb him. But the bed was only so large; no matter how light her movements, it was impossible for him not to notice.

“Can’t sleep?”

Gu Qingjia turned his head and met her wide-awake eyes. They were so close that his warm breath brushed against her face. Liu Qingyue pressed her lips together and nodded honestly. There was no point in lying; a tired person doesn’t toss and turn.

“Me neither. Perhaps I slept too much this afternoon,” Gu Qingjia chatted idly.

They didn’t actually have much in common. Lately, their conversations revolved mostly around where to go, what to eat, and what to do. He wasn’t a talkative man; usually, he would start a topic and Liu Qingyue would chatter on. But tonight, her mind was elsewhere, and she couldn’t exactly ask him to confirm her suspicions. The conversation fizzled out into silence.

Gu Qingjia reached out a long arm, pulling her into his embrace and patting her soothingly.

“Go to sleep. Don’t overthink things.”

The night was deep, and even the moon had tucked itself away. Drowsiness finally began to overtake Liu Qingyue. Hearing his words, she closed her eyes. They were going out tomorrow; while it wasn’t urgent, she didn’t want to ruin their plans.

The next morning, Liu Qingyue woke up to find herself in Gu Qingjia’s arms again. She was so used to it by now that she sat up with a perfectly composed face. Once she rose, Gu Qingjia sat up as well.

The servants outside heard the movement and entered to attend to them.

“Master, Madam, breakfast is ready.”

Only after the two had finished dressing did the servants dare to speak. Gu Qingjia nodded, speaking with his usual languid air. “Serve the meal, then.”

He wasn’t in a rush to eat, but he noticed Liu Qingyue’s eyes light up with anticipation the moment the servant mentioned food. If he didn’t know that the Liu family was meticulous to a fault, he would have suspected they had mistreated her and starved her.

Upon hearing him give the order, Liu Qingyue headed straight for the dining hall. Now that their living conditions had improved, they no longer had to eat in their bedchamber.

Gu Qingjia followed slowly behind her. If someone had handed him a birdcage, he would have looked exactly like an old man strolling through a park in the morning. The contrast between the two was striking.

The atmosphere between them was slightly odd—the servants noticed, but none dared to ask. Despite the silence, their silent understanding remained. After breakfast, the maidservant Gu Qingjia had promised arrived.

“This is Shuanghua. She will wait on you from now on. If I am not by your side and you need something done, give her the order.”

Shuanghua was actually one of his secret guards. Masking her as a maid made it easier for her to provide close-range protection. Gu Qingjia ultimately didn’t trust Liu Qingyue’s safety to luck. Though she had learned a few moves from him, they were mostly for show; in a real fight, she would be defenseless.

“Alright,” Liu Qingyue nodded. Having a maid would indeed be convenient.

Shuanghua was perceptive and knew when to keep her mouth shut while they were out. She was nothing like Cuihe, the maid Liu Qingyue had brought from the Liu household, who constantly tried to dictate her behavior as if she were the master.

Liu Qingyue played with reckless abandon. After days of being cooped up in a carriage during their travels, she had begun to feel like she was back in her past life, confined to a hospital bed. It often made her feel like this world was just a dream. Only when her feet were on solid ground did she feel at peace.

Jiangzhou was a large city. Though far from the capital, it was quite prosperous. It was no wonder Gu Qingzhan had chosen to hide in a Jiangzhou village in her “previous life” (the book’s original plot). If she hadn’t read the novel, she never would have known his exact location.

Gu Qingjia couldn’t fathom how the Liu family had raised a daughter who yearned so much for freedom. He watched her figure—dressed in pale yellow—weaving through the crowds like a happy bird.

She was so easy to please, so quick to find joy.

With Shuanghua by her side, she seemed less dependent on Gu Qingjia. This sparked a faint trace of displeasure in him. Before they reached Jiangzhou, Liu Qingyue would pull him along whenever they went shopping. Even if he lagged behind, she would wait for him. The charming girl would stand in the middle of the crowd, turn back, and smile as she called out, “Husband!”

But now that she was having fun, she seemed to have forgotten he existed. Gu Qingjia suddenly found Shuanghua quite an eyesore. Had he known, he might not have arranged for a maid at all.

While he was lost in thought, Liu Qingyue vanished from sight. Though he knew Shuanghua would protect her, he couldn’t feel at ease without seeing her with his own eyes.

Liu Qingyue was indeed having the time of her life, having completely forgotten her “cheap” husband. Shuanghua was incredibly efficient; whenever Liu Qingyue took a liking to something, Shuanghua would proactively pay for it and follow a step behind. Liu Qingyue didn’t have to constantly look back for her companion; she could just focus on the fun.

She couldn’t remember the last time she had played like this. While shopping with Gu Qingjia was nice, he clearly didn’t enjoy these activities. Compared to the bustling streets, he preferred teahouses.

“Shuanghua, look! It looks lively up ahead. Let’s go see!” Liu Qingyue pointed at a crowd, her face bright with excitement.

“Madam, perhaps we should wait for the Master before going over?” Shuanghua was already carrying quite a few items. While it didn’t hinder her movement, it would be difficult to fend off any hidden threats in a dense crowd. Moreover, Gu Qingjia had fallen quite far behind; if they went deeper into the throng, he might not be able to find them.

As a female secret guard, Shuanghua was more observant than her male counterparts. She knew clearly that the Master treated the Madam differently.

“Alright, let’s wait for them.” Liu Qingyue nodded, though her eyes continued to scan her surroundings.

Jiangzhou had a unique local flair, entirely different from the capital, right down to the architectural styles. Liu Qingyue loved seeing different landscapes and cherished these moments deeply. Opportunities like this were rare—whether in her past life or this one.

She didn’t know if she would be able to escape the coming conflicts unscathed in the end, but she didn’t want to dwell on it.

Gu Qingjia’s figure gradually appeared in her line of sight. Just as before, she smiled and waved to him, calling him over.