The Whole Family is Reborn, But I Transmigrated into a Book - Chapter 30

Jian Fan arrived at the entrance of the newcomers’ residence, only to be met by a strikingly familiar face. At that exact moment, Liu Qingyue turned her head, her gaze locking with his.

She nudged Gu Qingjia beside her and said with a chuckle, “Your Eldest Brother really is here. He didn’t even last a day; I thought he’d at least hold out for two.”

Liu Qingyue knew exactly why he was in such a rush. His wedding was fast approaching, and he couldn’t afford any complications at such a critical juncture.

“Had I known, I would have made a bet with you,” she added regretfully. “It’s only fun when there are stakes.”

Gu Qingjia looked at her helplessly, his voice tinged with an unconscious sense of doting. “When have I ever refused a request of yours? Why would you even need to win a bet against me?”

“That’s different,” she countered. “A request granted is the result of your compromise. A bet won is something I’ve earned by my own skill.”

Liu Qingyue maintained a clear boundary; though she and Gu Qingjia were in the same boat, she never made unreasonable demands.

“A missed opportunity, then,” Gu Qingjia said smoothly. “We’ll just have to wait for the next one. For now, let’s go out and greet Big Brother. Since we’ve come all this way, we can’t exactly let him leave without a word.”

Liu Qingyue agreed wholeheartedly. Since he was at their door, a conversation was mandatory.

Jian Fan, realizing he had been spotted, stood motionless outside the courtyard, waiting for them to emerge.

“I trust you have been well, Eldest Imperial Brother?” Gu Qingjia greeted him with a casual, almost indifferent tone. They had never been close, and he didn’t expect Gu Qingzhan to demand a display of formal reverence.

“You have only just married,” Jian Fan said, skipping the pleasantries. “Why would Father allow you to come here?”

Jian Fan hadn’t expected the visitor to be Gu Qingjia. Regardless of their personal friction, as a newlywed, Gu Qingjia should never have been permitted to leave the capital so soon.

“To find you, of course,” Gu Qingjia replied. “You fled the palace on my wedding day, forcing me to be summoned to the palace in the middle of the night. Now that we have reunited, you offer no explanation, only interrogation? Don’t you think that’s a bit much, Brother?”

From Gu Qingjia’s perspective, Gu Qingzhan’s flight had indeed been a massive inconvenience.

“Do not call me ‘Eldest Brother.’ This is Li Family Village, not the capital,” Jian Fan corrected him coldly, asserting his new identity. “And my name is Jian Fan.”

Gu Qingjia let out a playful, mocking laugh. “It seems my wife was right. You really do have a sweetheart in this tiny village. Why else would you be living here under a false name?”

His tone was far from respectful—in fact, it bordered on flippant.

“That is your Sister-in-law!” Jian Fan snapped, his eyes cold. “Even if we are not on good terms, you should not speak of my wife in such a manner.”

Though his union with Li Qingge had not been sanctioned by the Emperor, in his heart, she was already his true wife.

“Fine. So, when do you plan to take this ‘Sister-in-law’ back home?” Gu Qingjia asked bluntly. His mission was to find the Eldest Prince; how many people he brought back or when they left was of no concern to him.

Jian Fan’s brow furrowed. “I have no intention of returning for the time being. I don’t know how you found me, nor do I know your true purpose. But keep your mouth shut—do not let anyone here know I have any connection to you.”

Jian Fan didn’t believe Gu Qingjia had come purely for his sake, and even if he had, he doubted his brother’s intentions were noble. Their relationship had always been bitter. In his past life, he had felt no remorse when he eventually killed the “Fifth Brother.” Even when others claimed Gu Qingjia was no threat, he had been unable to tolerate his existence.

Only now, facing him again, did Jian Fan realize that his flight from the capital wasn’t just about missing Li Qingge—it was an attempt to escape the cycle of conflict with his father and brothers. He had spent an entire lifetime atoning for his sins. Now that he had returned to a time before the tragedies occurred, his instinct was to hide in this rural paradise.

“You must be joking,” Gu Qingjia said. “If you don’t return, how am I supposed to answer to Father? The court officials are all clamoring for you. If you don’t go back, they’ll come to me demanding your whereabouts.”

He felt his brother was losing his mind. Why trade the capital for a backwater village and drag him into the mess? If it hadn’t been for this disappearance, Gu Qingjia would still be back in the capital, enjoying his life as a leisurely prince.

“Isn’t it better if I don’t go back?” Jian Fan smiled thinly. “You’ve all just lost a powerful rival for the throne.”

He had been Emperor before. He had governed, fought wars, brought prosperity to the people, and secured the borders. In this new life, he no longer craved that cold, lonely seat of power. He only wanted a quiet life. The work in the village was hard and the adjustment difficult, but his spirit felt lighter than ever.

“The Third Brother may be a playboy, but he has talent,” Jian Fan continued slowly. “In my absence, he will naturally rise to fill the void. Now that you’ve married his cousin, you’re practically family. Why don’t you scheme on his behalf instead?”

He watched Gu Qingjia, realizing he had never truly seen through him. The world called the Fifth Prince a “waste,” and he had believed it. But looking back, if the Fifth Prince were truly useless, how could he have remained a thorn in his side for half a lifetime? Compared to the arrogance of the other brothers, Gu Qingjia simply knew how to hide.

“Heh, Big Brother is certainly sharp,” Liu Qingyue chimed in, sensing the rising tension. “Lucky we’re in Li Family Village. If you said such things in the capital, I’d never be able to show my face in public again.”

Being a member of the Liu family, her ties to the Third Prince were a sensitive subject that few dared to mention, especially given the current volatility of the court.

“But I only speak the truth, don’t I?” Jian Fan raised an eyebrow. He was now certain that Gu Qingjia was anything but a “waste.”

“Regardless of your plans, I only wish to spend my life here with the woman I love. I have no desire to return. You need not concern yourselves with me.”

His message was clear: he was withdrawing from the race for the crown. Gu Qingjia frowned, looking at him with genuine confusion.

“I don’t understand what could make you reach such a decision,” Gu Qingjia said. “But if you insist on staying, I cannot force you. I am merely here on orders to find you. The rest is none of my business. I will stay in this village for half a month; after that, I leave. You need not worry about me either.”

He laid all his cards on the table, having no patience for further debate.

“Fine. Remember your words today,” Jian Fan nodded and turned to leave. He had only come to ensure Gu Qingjia wouldn’t disrupt his life.

As for the throne, he was done. He had left a personal letter for his father before fleeing; his stance was clear. He had expected someone to come looking for him, but he hadn’t expected it to be Old Five. However, it was a stroke of luck—had it been any other brother, there would have been endless trouble. Despite their history, he trusted Gu Qingjia’s basic integrity.

Liu Qingyue watched Jian Fan’s retreating figure, her mind a whirl of confusion. If the Eldest Prince truly refused to return to the capital, was she still living in a story where he was the protagonist?

“What are you thinking about?” Gu Qingjia asked, waving a hand in front of her face. “You didn’t actually believe him, did you?”

A dark glint flashed in his eyes. He didn’t trust his brother’s sudden change of heart. Perhaps he didn’t want to go back now because the countryside felt fresh and novel, but once he grew tired of rural life, he would return. Whether there would still be a place for him in court by then was another matter entirely.

“Maybe he truly means it?” Liu Qingyue blinked. She recalled a passage in the original novel where Gu Qingzhan momentarily looked back on his village life with a hint of regret after returning to the palace. Perhaps, for this moment, he was sincere.

“Sincere or not, it has nothing to do with us,” Gu Qingjia said. “I’ve said what needed to be said. Whatever he chooses, it’s his path. Since we’re here, let’s just enjoy ourselves for a few weeks before we head back.”

Liu Qingyue didn’t argue. He was the Eldest Prince, Gu Qingzhan, in the capital—but here, he was just Jian Fan, a man with no family in Li Family Village. Their mission was technically complete.

Back at the Li house, Jian Fan greeted Li Qingge with a heart full of warmth.

“Brother Jian! Where did you disappear to? I couldn’t find you anywhere,” she said with a playful pout.

Instead of answering, he pulled her into a firm embrace. “Hush. Just let me hold you for a moment.”

Seeing Gu Qingjia had rattled him. He was still uncertain of his father’s true attitude. Only the warmth of Li Qingge’s embrace could settle his nerves.

“Brother Jian? What happened? Tell me, we can face it together,” she whispered, startled by his intensity. To her, he was always calm and unshakeable. But now, his hands were trembling slightly.

“Don’t worry,” she continued, hugging him back. “No matter what happens, I’ll be by your side.”

Jian Fan held her tighter. In his past life, she had never abandoned him, suffering through countless hardships by his side. While other princes had power and influence, he had survived the struggle for the throne partly because of her selfless devotion. He would never let her suffer again.

“I’m fine now,” he said, taking a deep breath and releasing her. “I was just… startled by something.”

Li Qingge looked at him, her eyes still clouded with worry. “Brother Jian, we’re about to be family. If something is bothering you, you must tell me. Don’t keep it all bottled up.”

He felt a surge of affection for her. This was the woman he loved—someone who would never think of leaving him, even with a sword at her throat.

“You’re right, Qingge. We are family.” He took her hand and led her inside. “Did you come looking for me for a reason?”

“Nothing urgent,” she blushed. “My father wanted me to tell you that he wants to set a dozen tables for our wedding feast. He wants the whole village to come and celebrate. It’ll stop the neighbors from gossiping about us.”

Jian Fan didn’t care about the neighbors, but if a grander feast would make things easier for her, he wouldn’t refuse.

“Tell Father we shall do exactly as he wishes. I have no objections.”