The Whole Family is Reborn, But I Transmigrated into a Book - Chapter 4

Gu Qingjia spent the entire journey home lost in thought, yet he still could not reach a decision. He was not naturally indecisive, but a man of his standing had to move with extreme caution.

The imperial court was a whirlpool of hidden currents; those who wished for his “accidental” death were not few in number. His departure would be no secret, and if he traveled without a retinue, he feared the road would be anything but peaceful. His greatest concern, however, was Liu Qingyue. If they encountered assassins, he wasn’t certain he could protect her.

With these heavy thoughts, he returned to their quarters to find her.

Liu Qingyue, however, remained nonchalant. “Just don’t wear such expensive clothes when we go out. Dress simply. If anyone asks, we’ll just say we’re traveling to visit relatives. Wouldn’t that work?”

Though the idea had occurred to her on a whim, she found it increasingly brilliant.

“If you swagger down the street with a massive entourage, you’re practically shouting to the world that you’re a person of high status. If you change into common clothes, who would have the leisure to care who you are? How else do you think Eldest Brother escaped? If he had traveled with fanfare, the Emperor’s men would have brought him back long ago.”

She spoke with such conviction that Gu Qingjia began to wonder if he was indeed overthinking things. Unlike the other princes, he had been neglected since childhood and lacked a powerful maternal clan. Before being granted his title and estate, he had rarely left the palace. Even now, he never moved without guards, fearing an assassination attempt—and even with them, he had nearly lost his life once before.

“Even if we don’t bring servants, we must take hidden guards. Only then will Imperial Father be at ease,” Gu Qingjia said, playing the card of filial piety.

Liu Qingyue was left speechless. “You really are a paragon of filial devotion, aren’t you?” she remarked sarcastically. She didn’t believe for a second that such deep father-son affection existed in the Royal Family.

Gu Qingjia pretended not to catch her drift. Before the wedding, he had decided that as long as Liu Qingyue didn’t cross the line, he would tolerate her whims.

“Most people wish they could travel in a grand sedan chair with eight carriers. Why is it that you want to do the exact opposite?” he asked with a smile, finding his new wife more intriguing by the minute.

Liu Qingyue beckoned him closer. She cupped his face in her hands and said, “With a display as grand as yours, Your Highness, you might as well carry a banner. On the left: ‘I am Prince Jing’; on the right: ‘Assassinate me quickly’; and the header: ‘Protected by ten hidden guards.’”

“I wonder if my Father-in-law knows how ‘interesting’ his daughter is,” Gu Qingjia said, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied her.

Liu Qingyue let go of him abruptly. “He doesn’t. Keep it a secret for me,” she replied airily.

The Liu family had always raised their daughters to be gentle and elegant, emphasizing that they must never harm the family’s interests. If Lord Liu ever saw her like this, he would likely lock her in the ancestral hall to kneel in penance.

Gu Qingjia caught her hand and pulled her back toward him. “I can keep your secret, Princess, but what benefit do I get in return?”

He looked at her lovely face, his gaze darkening. Though they were husband and wife, they had not yet consummated their marriage.

Liu Qingyue laughed. “What kind of benefit does the Prince want?” She hadn’t expected the “honest man” to start making demands.

Gu Qingjia didn’t fall into her verbal trap. “That depends on what the Princess is willing to give me.”

“Now, what should I do?” Liu Qingyue looked at him with a look of mock distress. Her delicate hands grasped his lapels, as if she were about to undress him at any moment. “I have nothing to give Your Highness. After all, you are of noble status and lack for nothing.”

She wasn’t lying. Gu Qingjia had plenty of rare treasures; ordinary things wouldn’t catch his eye. He wasn’t truly trying to make things difficult for her, though. If she had just acted a little spoiled and begged him, he would have agreed.

“If the Prince is unwilling to help me, then go ahead and inform on me,” she said, letting go of his clothes and slumping back with a “couldn’t-care-less” attitude.

Seeing her brazen, willful manner, Gu Qingjia found her vividly charming—far better than the lifeless, doll-like creature she had seemed the night before. He lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to it.

“I have already collected my benefit. The Princess need not worry.”

Shocked by the gesture, Liu Qingyue immediately snatched her hand back, a thin veil of crimson rising to her cheeks. “Just don’t forget your promise!” she called out as she fled the room.

Having been bedridden for years in her previous life, she had never experienced such intimacy. Even after leaving the room, she couldn’t calm her racing heart.

“Miss, why is your face so red? Are you unwell? Do you have a fever?” her maid, Cuihe, asked anxiously upon seeing her.

Liu Qingyue forced a smile, inwardly cursing Gu Qingjia for being so “unrestrained” and bold. “It’s nothing. The Prince’s estate is just too large. I’ve been walking for a while and got a bit overheated.”

She realized she needed to re-evaluate Gu Qingjia. He was clearly not as “honest” as she had imagined. Perhaps he only seemed humble because her Third Cousin was such a notorious rake.

“Then you should change and rest, Miss. If your sweat cools, you’ll catch a chill,” Cuihe said with a smile. “I remember when you were little and loved wandering the gardens. You once fell into the pond and were sick for days. The Madam was so worried she couldn’t eat. If you catch a cold right after your wedding, the Madam will surely blame me for being negligent.”

Liu Qingyue remembered the incident. Her fall into the pond hadn’t been an accident; she had been pushed by jealous sisters after her engagement to Gu Qingjia was announced. Her mother had forbidden anyone from mentioning it, assuming Liu Qingyue was unaware of the truth. In the Liu family, every daughter—legal or concubine-born—had to maintain a spotless reputation to marry well and stabilize the family’s power.

“Cuihe, that is an old story. Do not mention it again. Mother doesn’t like to hear of it either.”

Liu Qingyue looked at Cuihe coldly. She had a strong feeling that Cuihe wasn’t just here to serve her, but to monitor her. As a daughter, she was excluded from major family affairs; her education was designed to make her a virtuous, wise wife who always prioritized the clan’s interests.

Cuihe lowered her eyes and followed her into the room to help her change. “Miss…”

“We are in the Prince’s estate now. Call me ‘Princess Consort,'” Liu Qingyue interrupted. “If the Prince hears you, he’ll think my family has no sense of decorum.”

Cuihe nodded and began to study Liu Qingyue quietly. She felt the young miss had changed, though she couldn’t put her finger on how.

The scrutiny made Liu Qingyue uneasy. Had she made a mistake? Though she was “free” in front of Gu Qingjia, she still maintained the act of a refined lady before others. “I’m tired. Leave me. Call me when it’s time for lunch.”

She needed space to think. She was in a book where the First Prince was the protagonist. He had already fled, and she and Gu Qingjia were about to leave the court. That meant the Third and Sixth Princes would likely take over the administration. And with Cuihe watching her, things were clearly not simple.

The book mentioned very little about Gu Qingjia. In almost every story, the “useless” character like him was a mere footnote, often dying in a couple of sentences. She hadn’t cared about him while reading, but now that she was his wife, she felt this “ordinary” prince didn’t deserve a tragic end. He was just a man born into a family of tigers.

They shouldn’t die as political sacrifices. Even without their titles, they could wander the world together.

Resolved, she went to find Gu Qingjia again. “Where is the Princess heading in such a hurry?” he asked, having waited in his study before coming to find her.

“I was looking for you,” she blurted out.

He walked over, took her hand, and led her to a seat. “What do you need, Princess?” His movements were familiar, as if they had known each other for years, despite having had almost no contact before the wedding.

“I want to talk about our trip again. I still insist on not bringing anyone.”

She looked at him with total sincerity. She couldn’t tell him that traveling alone was their only hope of survival. Seeing her so serious, Gu Qingjia dropped his playful act.

“I understand your meaning. But a royal journey is no small matter. If we take no one, how can I convince Imperial Father?”

As the weakest prince, he had no real power. He had always seen his life as a path pre-determined by the Emperor.

Liu Qingyue blinked and gave a mischievous grin. “Then don’t convince him. We’ll just leave in secret.”

She was bold, her understanding of the era limited to books and her host’s memories. She didn’t fully grasp the weight of his caution. Gu Qingjia thought his wife was incredibly daring, yet her words sparked a dormant streak of rebellion in him. He had been the most obedient son, the most “average” son, bound by the palace walls his entire life.

“The First Prince could go alone, so why can’t we? I won’t hold you back. Please, just agree.” She reached out and tugged his sleeve, swaying it like a child acting spoiled.

Gu Qingjia wanted to scold her for being ridiculous, but the words wouldn’t come. Looking into her eyes—bright as starlight—he finally nodded.

“I agree. But you must listen to me. No acting out.”

He could see the restless spirit in her. Liu Qingyue nodded obediently, as if she hadn’t just been tugging his sleeve a second ago.

“I really don’t know what to do with you,” Gu Qingjia sighed softly, his tone carrying a hint of quiet, unexpected surrender.