The Whole Family is Reborn, But I Transmigrated into a Book - Chapter 56

Shen Xizhi and Shen Xixue had both achieved their desires, and each was happy in her own way.

Gu Qingzhao, however, was not quite so cheerful as he descended the mountain. Since his return to the secular world, he had encountered Shen Xizhi only once by chance and had not seen her since.

“Fourth Brother, how can a transcendental figure like you have such worldly troubles?”

The Seventh Prince glanced at Gu Qingzhao and spoke with a smile. Ever since the Fourth Prince had descended the mountain, the Seventh Prince felt something was amiss. Previously, no matter how much the Emperor pleaded, Gu Qingzhao had refused to leave his mountain retreat; yet now, he had returned of his own accord.

However, the Fourth Prince remained tight-lipped, refusing to breathe a word. No matter how curious the Seventh Prince was, it was to no avail.

“Everyone in this world has troubles,” Gu Qingzhao replied. “It is simply that some wear them on their lips, while others hide them in their hearts.”

Gu Qingzhao was not one to share his private thoughts, especially secrets of that nature. He had entered the temple as a youth to pray for the nation’s prosperity, returning only during major festivals. Even now, with the country at peace and the harvest plentiful, he was still accustomed to the quietude of the temple.

The Fourth Prince had never harbored ambitions for the throne. He was not of the direct line of succession, possessed no powerful backing, and had been away from the court since childhood; gaining the ministers’ support would be an uphill battle. Years of monastic life had tempered his temperament, leaving him with little desire for fame or fortune.

Furthermore, he understood clearly that when the Emperor sent him to the temple, it wasn’t because he was the only candidate, but rather a way to exclude him from the struggle for the throne. Gu Qingzhao did not fully grasp his father’s intent and had never thought to ask. He held no great obsession regarding his own future—until he met Shen Xizhi. Only then did the thought of descending the mountain occur to him. Perhaps this was his fate: to meet his destined one at that exact moment.

“Fourth Brother truly thinks differently from us mortals,” Gu Qingxian remarked. “No wonder you could refuse the Emperor’s summons to court with such calm indifference.”

Gu Qingxian himself held no vital post and was not required to attend daily court sessions. However, he was at least not as entirely marginalized as Gu Qingjia. Now that the Fourth Prince had returned, he ought to attend court in his capacity as a prince if he wished to compete for the throne in the future.

Does he truly have no desire to be Emperor? Gu Qingxian wondered. He believed few men could resist the allure of imperial power. He could not ask the question directly, and despite his various probes, he received no answer. Instead, the Fourth Prince seemed to see right through him, offering a subtle hint in return. Gu Qingxian turned the jade ring on his thumb and ultimately fell silent.

“What are Fourth Brother and Seventh Brother whispering about? Why not include me? Since it’s a private talk between brothers, there’s no harm in letting me listen,” the Sixth Prince said, squeezing his way in with a smirk.

He was a narrow-minded man; if others spoke behind his back, he immediately suspected a conspiracy. Usually, the brothers didn’t bother arguing with him, and since today was a palace-sanctioned gathering, they were even less inclined to say anything unpleasant.

“We were just chatting casually,” the Fourth Prince replied. “I see Sixth Brother is looking rather pleased with himself lately. I assume some good news is on the horizon?”

Though Gu Qingzhao looked like a refined immortal who was above worldly desires, he was no pushover. Moreover, the Sixth Prince was notoriously foul-mouthed; even if you yielded to him, he wouldn’t necessarily return the favor.

“Fourth Brother, you are detached from the world, so naturally you wouldn’t know that this gathering was arranged to select a consort for Sixth Brother,” Gu Qingxian explained, fanning himself with a smile. “If the Emperor had formally summoned the families to bring their daughters, people might have schemed. Using a casual gathering as a pretext allows him to observe which of the daughters are truly gentle and dignified.”

“Additionally, it’s to soothe Third Brother’s lovesickness,” Gu Qingxian continued. “Fourth Brother, you may not know, but Third Brother and the daughter of the Wei family have had quite an entanglement. I thought the Emperor was about to issue a marriage decree for them.”

The Third Prince was thick-skinned and didn’t mind being the subject of gossip, but the Wei lady had no formal engagement to him. To be talked about in such a manner would surely provoke anger. Gu Qingzhao truly hadn’t known; though he was back in the city, he rarely went out and took little interest in his brothers’ affairs.

“I’m telling you, Third Brother has finally met his match,” Gu Qingxian whispered gossipingly. “In the past, no matter how the Noble Consort pleaded with him, he never listened.”

Just as the words left his mouth, the Third Prince appeared before them, with the Wei lady not far off. Wei Shangzi clearly wasn’t giving him the time of day, yet the Third Prince continued to follow her at a respectful but persistent distance.

“Third Brother really is… if he knew it would come to this, why did he behave that way before?” Gu Qingxian shook his head. In his view, the Third Prince had simply been too arrogant in the past.

“If I were Miss Wei, I wouldn’t just be giving him the cold shoulder,” Gu Qingjia remarked as he approached with Liu Qingyue, having overheard the conversation.

“I think Miss Wei still has some affection for Third Brother; they just haven’t reconciled yet,” Liu Qingyue whispered into Gu Qingjia’s ear. She felt that if Wei Shangzi truly loathed Gu Qingyi, she would be avoiding him entirely rather than letting him follow her.

“It is not our place to gossip about Third Brother’s affairs,” Gu Qingjia cautioned, glancing around before leaning down to reply to his wife. “Stay close to me and don’t wander off. We’ll find a chance to head home in a little while.”

Liu Qingyue nodded slightly. “I know. Don’t worry.” This wasn’t a place she was familiar with; even without his warning, she wouldn’t dare wander. Even if her current status meant no one dared touch her, who knew if some lunatic might cross her path.

Gu Qingxian noticed the couple whispering and waved them over without any sense of intrusion. “Fifth Brother, Fifth Sister-in-law, come and sit!”

Having lived alone in his manor for years, Gu Qingxian loved a crowd. Although the brothers weren’t exactly harmonious, he was the most familiar with all of them and enjoyed gathering together. “Third Brother probably won’t be coming over anytime soon. Let’s talk amongst ourselves.”

Gu Qingyi indeed had no intention of coming over. After so many days, he had finally caught sight of Wei Shangzi; he wasn’t about to let the opportunity slip away. Gu Qingjia didn’t care either way, as he only planned to stay for a short while.

“Seventh Brother looks well today. It seems your attendants have been taking good care of you,” Gu Qingjia remarked politely as he sat.

Gu Qingxian nodded. “My health has been quite good this year, and my spirits are higher.” He thought to himself: If I were still as sickly as before, how could I come out to watch the drama of my elder brothers? Such entertainment—especially involving the suave Third Brother—was rare. He only regretted not having a handful of melon seeds to snack on while he watched.

“Perhaps it’s because this year is more lively. Fifth Brother, you know me; I love a good spectacle. I lacked the strength before, but now that I have the chance, I intend to enjoy it.”

Gu Qingxian was several years younger than Gu Qingjia, so a playful heart was only natural.

“Then stay and enjoy yourself. If there is a lady who catches your eye, you can tell Father. I doubt he organized this banquet solely for Sixth Brother,” Gu Qingjia said. Having had his own marriage settled early, he saw no issue with the Seventh Prince looking for a consort.

“Don’t worry about my marriage, Fifth Brother. I have no wish to marry yet; being alone is quite fine,” Gu Qingxian waved it off. His health had not yet fully recovered.

Gu Qingjia only mentioned it in passing. His brothers were becoming increasingly eccentric. The Eldest Prince was still in the countryside and it was unknown if he would return for the New Year. Gu Qingjia lowered his gaze; if all the brothers returned, the New Year would be truly interesting. The Second Prince would surely bring Ren Songyan back, while the Eldest would bring a peasant girl. He wondered which daughter-in-law the Emperor would prefer. The thought brought a spark of anticipation.

“The Emperor, the Noble Consort, and Consort Ling should be arriving soon. The feast is about to begin.”

Gu Qingxian wasn’t interested in the food; he just felt that the real drama would start once the feast began. His head had been foggy for days, but today his vitality had returned, and he intended to observe everything closely.

The brothers were seated by age. Gu Qingjia sat next to the Fourth Prince, with the foul-mouthed Sixth Prince on his other side. However, the Sixth Prince seemed to have been lectured beforehand, as he wasn’t as annoying as usual.

“There will be wine once the feast starts. If you can’t drink, don’t force yourself. We aren’t the protagonists today; Father won’t make things difficult for us,” Gu Qingjia whispered. He wasn’t lying; as a married Prince, he was merely a background character. Since they were still newlyweds, even if the Emperor intended to grant him a secondary consort, he would wait a year or two. This was an imperially decreed marriage, and the Emperor had to uphold its dignity to avoid “slapping his own face.”

“I know. You don’t need to worry so much about me.”

Liu Qingyue felt Gu Qingjia was being overly nervous today, almost overprotective. She had already committed his instructions to memory. “Your Highness, though I haven’t experienced many grand occasions, I feel at ease with you by my side,” she said with a smile.

Gu Qingjia nodded and fell silent.

The Emperor and the consorts arrived, and the banquet officially commenced. As expected of a royal feast, there were jade plates of delicacies and flowing wine; every face was bright with smiles. Liu Qingyue quietly faded into the background and began to eat. The imperial chefs were a grade above those at the Prince Jing Manor. Rarely having a chance to eat her fill of such food, she fully intended to enjoy the experience.

Gu Qingjia knew of her love for fine food. While he drank, he didn’t forget to push the dishes she liked toward her. Gu Qingxian took note of these small gestures but, with the Sixth Prince sitting between them, remained silent.