The Whole Family is Reborn, But I Transmigrated into a Book - Chapter 53

“No need,” the Fourth Prince, Gu Qingzhao, replied, shaking his head as he looked at the crimson clouds gathering on the horizon. “I am going to meet my calamity.”

Gu Qingjia didn’t catch his final words clearly, but watching his brother’s retreating figure, he sensed a subtle shift.

“Fourth Brother…” Gu Qingjia called out, but then hesitated, unsure of what to say. They had never shared a deep brotherly bond, and any sudden display of affection would only seem hypocritical.

Standing in the glow of the setting sun, Gu Qingzhao turned back and looked at him quietly. Dressed in white, tall and elegant, he appeared more ethereal than ever.

“It is nothing. Travel safely,” Gu Qingzhao said. He turned and walked away without looking back again.

As evening approached, the streets grew quiet. A man of Gu Qingzhao’s bearing was exceptionally striking; many passersby cast curious glances his way. Unlike his brothers, he had spent years in a monastery and lived a secluded life, so the citizens of the capital did not recognize him. The prince the people were most familiar with was the Third Prince—though his reputation was dubious, known for his love of beauty and his ongoing entanglement with Wei Changxu’s daughter.

“Which family does that young master belong to? I wonder if he is betrothed? He would be a fine match for my niece,” a bystander whispered.

“Such a handsome gentleman! Does your niece truly deserve him?” another scoffed.

Gu Qingzhao lowered his head and chanted a Buddhist prayer, quickening his pace. As a practitioner of martial arts, his hearing was excellent; he couldn’t help but overhear the chatter.

Those trailing him in the shadows thought they had been discovered. They exchanged looks but continued the pursuit. Their master had said the Fourth Prince was merely a vegetarian monk who could be easily dealt with. If they couldn’t even defeat a frail monk, they needn’t bother returning.

Once Gu Qingzhao led them into a secluded alleyway, he spoke calmly, “You have followed me for a long way. Are you not coming out?”

The assassins stepped into the light—six men in total. “Today, we take your life.”

Gu Qingzhao couldn’t help but chuckle. “I don’t know who is behind you, but he certainly thinks highly of me to send six men.”

“Stop wasting words. Move!” one of the men barked, wanting to finish the job before any reinforcements arrived.

Within two minutes, the man was flat on the ground. Gu Qingzhao carried no sword, but the prayer beads in his hand served as a formidable weapon.

“The intel is never right! Didn’t they say this kid knew no kung fu?” the man groaned from the floor. He could tell the Prince had no intention of killing him.

“His internal strength is far beyond ours,” his companion snapped, swinging his blade. “Stop lazing around and help, or do I need to light incense to invite you up?”

Gu Qingzhao stood in the center of the five-man formation, perfectly at ease. He decided to end this quickly to avoid involving innocent civilians. The jade-white beads in his hand suddenly took on a fierce edge, and after a brief flurry of movement, the six men were subdued and tied together.

“I do not care who sent you,” Gu Qingzhao said. “But this is clearly not your first attempted murder. I shall notify the authorities.”

As his voice trailed off, he heard a familiar, heated exchange nearby.

“Cousin, please, stop being angry with me! I only did it because I didn’t want anyone to bully you,” a man’s voice pleaded, sounding more self-righteous than repentant.

“I have told you, I was not bullied, and I do not need you to interfere,” a woman replied sharply. This was Shen Xizhi. “We are merely cousins. If you continue to spout nonsense and ruin my reputation, I will tell my father.”

Shen Xizhi did not like this cousin, Jiang Yucheng. She had only tolerated him out of childhood sentiment, but he had become increasingly overbearing.

“Cousin, don’t joke,” Jiang Yucheng replied, his eyes flashing with resentment. “We were betrothed since before birth. If not for your poor health and my aunt wanting to keep you home for a few more years, I would have proposed long ago.”

He looked at Shen Xizhi’s frail form with a mix of greed and disdain. With her broken body, who else would marry her? Shen Xizhi was shocked by his shamelessness. She tried to retort, but a tickle in her throat forced her to cover her mouth with a handkerchief and cough.

“My father’s words were merely a drunken jest at a dinner table,” she managed to say. “If you truly wish to marry into the Shen family, my sister Xixue is a fine choice.”

Jiang Yucheng grew frantic. “Xixue and you are not the same! I want to marry the legitimate daughter of the Shen house.” He tried to act the part of the devoted lover, but Shen Xizhi saw through the facade.

“Cousin, I remember we rarely played together as children. There is no ‘long-standing sentiment’ to speak of.” She stepped back, finding him increasingly repulsive.

Their argument was interrupted by a voice from the shadows. “Forgive me, Miss Shen. I did not intend to eavesdrop, but you have been delayed here quite a long time.”

Gu Qingzhao stepped forward, his body half-hidden in the gloom. Jiang Yucheng, who did not recognize the Prince, looked him up and down with instant hostility.

“Eavesdropping is not the act of a gentleman,” Jiang Yucheng snapped. “Why did you not announce yourself instead of listening in silence? Do you have some hidden motive?”

“If we are talking about eavesdropping, I could say you are eavesdropping on me,” Gu Qingzhao replied, pressing his palms together in a Buddhist greeting. “After all, I was here first.”

He looked at Jiang Yucheng with disapproval. “A gentleman who harasses a lady in the street… if this became public knowledge, I don’t think the people would judge me as the one in the wrong.”

“What nonsense! Xizhi is my betrothed,” Jiang Yucheng boasted. “I can see you are a man of fine appearance, surely not a hypocrite who would break up a marriage? This is a private matter; please do not interfere.”

Gu Qingzhao smiled. “I’m afraid I cannot be convinced. Miss Shen clearly does not like you, and she stated quite plainly that she will not marry you. If you want an alliance with the Shen family, you should take her advice and find another cousin.”

“This is none of your business! Mind your own affairs!” Jiang Yucheng yelled, his face flushing with shame as his “fig leaf” was torn away.

Gu Qingzhao ignored him and looked only at Shen Xizhi. “Whether I mind this business is not for you to say, but for Miss Shen. If she feels I am intruding, I shall leave.”

Shen Xizhi bit her lip. She knew Gu Qingzhao was standing up for her. “Cousin, this gentleman is direct, but he is right. I will never marry you. Do not waste your time on me.”

“Cousin, don’t say that! You know my heart is sincere,” Jiang Yucheng pleaded, though he was already plotting how to force her hand. He had invested too much time to leave empty-handed. If he had the Shen family’s backing, his political career would soar.

Shen Xizhi didn’t want to linger. “Let us leave this matter for later. We should go home and stop bothering this gentleman.” She glanced at Gu Qingzhao, realizing he was keeping his identity as the Fourth Prince a secret.

The “mysterious and unapproachable” Fourth Prince was not as distant as the legends suggested. Her impression of him improved, while her disgust for Jiang Yucheng deepened.

“Sir, we shall take our leave. Perhaps fate will let us meet again,” she said softly.

“Miss Shen,” Gu Qingzhao replied with a smile. “We will meet again.”

He knew there was a thread of fate between them. Even if he did not seek her out, he would find her again among ten thousand people. Today was proof enough.