Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Chu Yun Fei and Liu Ru Yue

“Sister Yun Fei, you came too!”

A clear voice rang out from the Liu family carriage nearby. A woman in fitted martial clothes hopped down lightly and strode to the Chu family carriage, smiling wide.

Chu Yun Fei hurried to respond. “Sister Ru Yue—Yun Fei greets you!”

“No need for that,” Liu Ru Yue said, still smiling. “You came to welcome my Cheng An too, didn’t you?”

Liu Ru Yue was the Liu family’s eldest daughter and Liu Cheng An’s eldest sister. The Liu family was a military officer clan; men and women alike trained from childhood. Liu Ru Yue wore martial clothes as naturally as breathing, her posture straight and her presence sharp as winter air.

“Today is the day Brother Cheng An returns to the capital,” Chu Yun Fei said softly, cheeks warming. “I happened to be free, so… I came to take a look.”

Liu Ru Yue laughed, bright and open. “Sister Yun Fei is thoughtful.”

She was four years older than Liu Cheng An. At twenty-three, she was already considered an older miss in the capital. Suitors lined up in long, eager queues, but Liu Ru Yue was proud and picky. Ordinary men didn’t stand a chance.

That didn’t mean she was blind.

She had long noticed Chu Yun Fei’s feelings for her little brother. And the Chu family and the Liu family already had a marriage arrangement.

Deep down, Liu Ru Yue approved of Chu Yun Fei. Most of the Liu family did too. They were only waiting until next year—after Liu Cheng An’s capping ceremony—to go to the Chu family and formally settle the betrothal.

Then hoofbeats thundered in the distance.

Not from outside the city.

From behind them—from the direction of the capital itself.

The crowd rippled, voices rising.

“It’s Chancellor Gu!”

“That’s the Chancellor’s Residence carriage!”

The carriage was unmistakably extravagant. Rumor said it had been bestowed by His Majesty, and in the capital, people recognized the Gu Residence carriage at a glance.

Chu Yun Fei’s expression tightened. “It’s… the Left Chancellor.”

She didn’t understand court politics in detail, but she’d overheard enough while serving tea at home. The new nobles from humble origins, led by the Left Chancellor, stood opposed to old meritorious clans like theirs. In the past two years, the Left Chancellor had gained the support of the civil officials, and the conflict with the military officer clans had only grown sharper.

He probably didn’t like the Liu family.

Chu Yun Fei turned to Liu Ru Yue—and froze.

Liu Ru Yue’s gaze was complicated, her expression dim, as if something heavy had settled in her chest.

Gu Yan Qing.

Of course Liu Ru Yue knew who sat in that carriage.

Why would he come?

And her first thought—absurd enough to make her flinch—was that she should have dressed up before leaving.

The thought startled her. Her eyes dulled further.

That man was not of the same world as her.

Inside the Gu Residence carriage, Gu Yan Huan lifted the curtain a little and peeked out, voice bright with excitement. “Are we there? There are so many people!”

The snow had stopped. The sky had cleared. It really was a good day.

Gu Yan Qing sat opposite her, calm and composed, sipping tea as if nothing in the world could disturb him. But his thoughts moved like knives.

The Liu family couldn’t be cut down to the last root.

At least… he needed to leave one Liu Cheng An alive for his sister.

So framing them for treason was out. Treason meant wiping out nine clans.

Annoying.

Troublesome.

But for his most beloved sister, it was worth it.

He set down his cup, eyes lowering like a decision made.

Slow planning, then. Careful planning.

He could afford patience.

For her.