The Whole Family is Reborn, But I Transmigrated into a Book - Chapter 26

Gu Qingjia walked toward her with long, purposeful strides. His expression was composed and his voice steady; no one could have guessed how frantic he had been just moments ago when he lost sight of her.

“Walk a bit slower,” he said, reaching her side. He scanned her face intently for a moment, as if confirming that she was indeed unharmed after being out of his sight. “There are too many people. Be careful not to get separated.”

Liu Qingyue nodded rapidly—a performance of pure perfunctoriness. Deep down, she knew that the moment she was away from him again, she would go right back to running wild.

“Husband, it still looks lively up ahead. Let’s go see!” Having waited for him this long, she was already itching to move.

Gu Qingjia looked into her expectant eyes and knew his warning had fallen on deaf ears. “Go on then,” he sighed helplessly. He knew there was no stopping her.

Aware of his concern, Liu Qingyue reached out and took his hand before pulling him into the crowd. “There. Now we won’t lose each other.”

She turned her head to look at him, her eyes shimmering with a playful smile. Gu Qingjia looked down at their intertwined hands, and the corners of his lips quirked upward.

“You’re right,” he murmured. “We won’t lose each other this way.”

He tightened his grip on her hand, as if he could truly keep her by his side forever through this simple gesture. Liu Qingyue didn’t notice the weight behind his actions; she was too busy pulling him toward the noise. She loved the bustle; it was a visceral reminder that she was alive—truly living in the world of the living.

In her past life, she could only lie in bed waiting for death to claim her. Now that she had regained her health, she wanted to prove every second that she truly existed. Perhaps only those who have stared death in the face can understand how terrifying and helpless that feeling of stasis truly is.

Gu Qingjia didn’t know what she had been through, and he had no way to investigate it, but for a fleeting moment, he felt as though the person beside him didn’t belong to this world. However, her vibrant energy soon swept him up, and he allowed himself to be led willingly into the heart of the crowd.

Watching their retreating figures, Yue Qing sidled up to Shuanghua. “Fifth Sister, the Master has finally fallen for her, hasn’t he?”

The moment Gu Qingjia assigned Shuanghua to Liu Qingyue, the answer had become clear to all of them.

“Do your job and stay out of the Master’s private affairs,” Shuanghua replied coolly, glancing at him. She knew Yue Qing had his own missions, but their duty was to serve diligently; everything else was for their Master to decide.

Yue Qing rubbed his nose, wanting to say more, but Shuanghua had already hurried after the couple. He didn’t dwell on it further. Among the twenty-four secret guards, Shuanghua ranked fifth—a position earned through sheer strength, not seniority. In their world, gender mattered less than results.

In the midst of the thrumming crowd, Liu Qingyue’s eyes were bright. Even without her saying a word, Gu Qingjia could feel her joy.

“That happy?” he asked, squeezing her fingers with a smile.

“Of course! I love lively places the most,” she replied. It was no lie, and Gu Qingjia could see the sincerity in her face. Her sheer delight made his heart soften. He wished she could stay this happy forever, but the reality of their status made that a difficult promise to keep.

“If you like it, then enjoy yourself,” he said softly, his voice trailing into a calm, unreadable tone.

Liu Qingyue didn’t catch the shift in his mood. She continued to lead him through the throng. However, a crowded street is the perfect place for secrets. Even with Gu Qingjia right beside her, someone managed to slip a note into her hand during the chaos.

She didn’t recognize the person, yet they looked vaguely familiar. She suspected they were from the Liu family. Knowing she had left the capital with Gu Qingjia without sending word, the Liu clan likely felt she was slipping from their control. She wondered: was this note a warning, or a threat?

Her good mood evaporated instantly. Standing in the middle of the cheering crowd, she could no longer feel the joy.

Gu Qingjia was quick to sense the change. He squeezed her soft hand and whispered in her ear, “What’s wrong? Why the sudden long face?”

Surprised that he had noticed so quickly, a flash of astonishment crossed her eyes. She quickly regained her composure and offered a casual excuse. “It’s too crowded. I feel like I can’t see anything anyway. Let’s go somewhere else.”

It was a plausible excuse, but she was dealing with Gu Qingjia. He was not easily fooled. He could tell her distress had nothing to do with the crowd. Back in Ruzhou, she had been more than happy to drag him into the thick of a similar crowd just to watch the festivities.

Carrying their separate thoughts, they squeezed out of the crowd and reached an open space. The note was still clutched tightly in her palm. She was debating whether to tell him.

Gu Qingjia was a good partner, but she had her reservations. Their identities were complicated. Though she was married to him, he wasn’t obligated to remain loyal to her alone. They were currently in the “honeymoon” phase, and he might tolerate her out of duty or novelty, but there was no telling how long that would last.

Liu Qingyue had to look out for herself. She had even considered that if Gu Qingjia were willing to let her go, she would abandon this life of luxury without hesitation to live out her days in anonymity. Unfortunately, as the Princess Consort of Jing, too many eyes were on her. She couldn’t simply “die” and disappear.

“Are you tired?” Gu Qingjia asked, providing her with an easy out when he saw she was no longer interested in sightseeing.

He wasn’t entirely sure of his own heart, but he knew he enjoyed her company. Liu Qingyue nodded; she needed a quiet space to think about her next move. Even if she chose to trust him, she had to figure out how to frame it.

The four of them entered a tavern and requested a private room. Without the prying eyes of the public, it was the perfect setting for a hidden conversation.

Gu Qingjia knew she had something on her mind and waited for her to share it—whether it concerned the Liu family or something else. He wanted to know, and he needed to know. They were husband and wife—a community of shared interests. Barring any accidents, they would spend the rest of their lives together.

Instead of pressing her, he ordered a few of the tavern’s specialties and waited patiently for her to make her move. Liu Qingyue realized that he likely already suspected something; there was little point in hiding it further.

“Back in the crowd, someone slipped me a note. I suspect it’s from the Liu family.”

She made her choice to speak, though she remained cautious. Even so, Gu Qingjia was pleased by her honesty. He watched as she held the note out to him.

“I don’t know what’s written on it yet, but I imagine it’s a warning of some sort.”

She pursed her lips. She knew the Liu family wanted to keep her on a short leash as a pawn, but she refused. She wanted a life of her own.

“I want to know where you stand,” she said.

Gu Qingjia didn’t take the note. He was more interested in her attitude. Surprised by the question, she answered truthfully.

“Isn’t my stance obvious? Your Highness, I don’t understand court intrigue or politics, and I have no desire to be a pawn. I just want to live—to live as Liu Qingyue.”

But that was no simple feat. She was already deep in the game; the only way out was to wait for the struggle for the throne to end.

Gu Qingjia remained silent, unable to give an immediate answer. It was one of the few times she had addressed him formally as “Your Highness”—a title that emphasized the inequality of their status.

“Even though I am a Prince, I cannot control our fates. Isn’t that ridiculous?” Gu Qingjia found it laughable himself, but such was the life of those born into the imperial family.

“I know we are both caught in circumstances beyond our control,” Liu Qingyue said. “But on our wedding night, when I whispered in your ear while pulling it, you didn’t get angry. I think… I think I can trust you.”

She didn’t trust him solely because of that one incident, but she didn’t intend to say more.

“You can certainly trust me,” Gu Qingjia said, bringing the matter to the table. “You are my Princess Consort. If something happens to you, I will suffer for it. Likewise, if something happens to me, it affects you. We need to be open with one another.”

“You’re right. That is the reality,” she conceded. It was this logic, combined with her knowledge of his character from the book, that allowed her to lower her guard.

“I believe we can reach an understanding,” she continued. “Even if there is no affection between us, we can work together for our mutual interests. We are both forced into this. When this is all over, I want my freedom. In exchange, I will cooperate with you in any way you need.”

She was no child; she knew that to get something, she had to give something.

“My Lady, one shouldn’t be too greedy,” Gu Qingjia sighed. “Even I do not dare dream of freedom…”

He left the sentence unfinished, but she understood: he couldn’t grant that condition.

“I am merely a Princess Consort. Once the dust settles, if you are willing, you can simply claim I have died.”

Liu Qingyue didn’t know if she could survive on her own after leaving the Prince’s estate and the Liu family, but she had been confined for too long. If there was a chance, she wanted to live a life of her own making.

“Except for that one request, I can promise you anything else,” Gu Qingjia said, still refusing to yield on her departure. He lowered his eyes; even if love wasn’t the factor, he wanted to keep her by his side.

“Then you must guarantee that I won’t die. Let me live a good life,” she proposed as a new condition.

Gu Qingjia smiled and nodded. “That goes without saying. You are my wedded wife. Even if you did nothing at all, I would protect your life.”

Liu Qingyue knew he was an honorable man, but she still didn’t dare gamble entirely on human nature. Regardless, now that the cards were on the table, things would be much easier to handle moving forward.