Chapter 13. This time, he didn’t want to miss her again…

Given Mu Jiulu’s status, it was indeed impossible for her to come specifically for a junior’s birthday banquet.

But who told her that Gu Sui was also there?

As the New Year approached, she was very busy. Although she had originally planned to let him cool off for a while, she still couldn’t help but miss him.

So, she came to the Li family under the pretext of Li Fuyu’s birthday.

“Please come in, Your Highness. It’s an honor for my son to have you at his birthday banquet,”

Li Changtong, the head of the Li family, flattered and personally invited Mu Jiulu into the mansion.

Mu Jiulu gave a faint “hmm” in response, her gaze sweeping past, her expression cold.

She didn’t want to deal with Li Changtong.

Her cousin had married down to her, yet she dared to take advantage, not only taking in a male concubine but also giving birth to a pair of illegitimate children. Even that illegitimate daughter was older than Li Fuyu.

Now that her cousin had passed away, the back court of this Li mansion was actually managed by a concubine.

If it weren’t for Gu Sui being here, she truly wouldn’t want to set foot in this place.

“Wah, Imperial Sister! That Li Fuyu bullied me!”

Before Mu Jiulu could reach the banquet hall, she saw her arrogant and domineering younger brother rushing over with tears in his eyes.

She quickly stretched out her hand to block his forehead, preventing him from crashing into her.

Li Changtong’s face turned pale upon hearing these words.

“Young Highness, this must be a misunderstanding…”

“Tell me, what did you two argue about this time?”

Mu Jiulu rudely interrupted Li Changtong’s words. Mu Yi, who was blocked two steps away from her, spoke angrily.

“He said Imperial Sister isn’t good enough for that Gu Sui!”

Mu Jiulu’s eyes unconsciously darkened, filled with a hint of anger.

“What did you say?”

A cold aura spread around, causing Li Changtong to shiver involuntarily and hurriedly speak up.

“Your Highness, how could my son dare…”

“Shut up.”

Mu Jiulu glanced at her, an intense pressure bearing down. A drop of cold sweat fell from Li Changtong’s temple.

Mu Yi, having found support, wiped away the tears that had just been forced out by anger, and said while hugging Mu Jiulu’s arm.

“He’s too much! It’s clearly that Gu Sui who isn’t good enough for Imperial Sister. I just spoke the truth and he argued with me. He’s siding with outsiders. Imperial Sister, you should teach him a lesson!”

Mu Jiulu’s cold gaze shifted from Li Changtong to Mu Yi.

“Did you say this in front of him?”

Suddenly bearing the brunt of his Imperial Sister’s anger, Mu Yi couldn’t help but swallow. He was stunned for two seconds, then weakly let out an “Ah.”

Mu Jiulu’s hand pressed against his forehead moved in mid-air twice, almost poking into his forehead.

“Mu Yi, oh Mu Yi, you truly are my good little brother.”

Mu Yi was a bit scared and bit his lower lip pitifully: “What’s wrong, Imperial Sister?”

“As a national minister, to be able to speak such unrestrained words, and even argue with your own nephew, you have the nerve to come and complain to me.”

Mu Jiulu said with a cold laugh. Mu Yi, suddenly being scolded, was a bit confused and grumbled discontentedly.

“It’s not the first time I’ve argued with him. Imperial Sister, if you’re going to be angry, you should be angry at him. Why scold me?”

Mu Jiulu glanced at him: “You still don’t know where you went wrong.”

Was the point that he argued with Li Fuyu?

These two had always been arguing and making up, and Mu Jiulu was too lazy to manage it.

But this time, he actually said in front of Gu Sui that he wasn’t good enough for her.

Mu Jiulu couldn’t predict how many thoughts the sensitive Gu Sui might have.

Mu Yi was still grumbling: “But I wasn’t wrong in the first place.”

If it weren’t for Gu Tingsong, the day his sister returned a year ago would have been the day she returned to the peak. There wouldn’t have been any place for that little brat Mu Huan.

Mu Jiulu glared at him, and Mu Yi lowered his head, not daring to speak anymore.

“Take me to find him.”

Mu Jiulu directly ignored the trembling Li Changtong beside her and dragged Mu Yi towards the banquet hall.

“Ah, Imperial Sister, slow down!”

A moment later, the Regent sat in the main seat of the banquet hall. Li Fuyu, who had been pulled away by Gu Sui, had also returned, standing side by side with Mu Yi in front of her, not daring to breathe.

As for the others, they had already retreated when faced with this situation.

Although Li Fuyu had just been shouting ‘Sui Brother save me’, when he really faced the Regent, he didn’t want to drag the innocent Sui Brother into it.

“Ninth Aunt, today is Feather’s birthday. Ninth Aunt, please don’t be angry.”

He said softly, appearing much more obedient than when Mu Yi had rushed over to tattle earlier.

Mu Jiulu coldly snorted. Didn’t she know him? He was just as mischievous as Mu Yi!

“You really dare to say anything, huh.”

Suddenly, a cup of hot tea was passed over from the side, and slender fingers entered Mu Jiulu’s view.

It was Gu Sui.

“Anger is bad for your health. It’s just children arguing, don’t take it seriously.”

At that moment, Li Fuyu regarded his Sui Brother as light.

Mu Yi, however, looked up and glanced: “Hmph, hypocrite.”

Mu Jiulu picked up a red date from the fruit plate on the table and threw it at him.

“Will you die if you don’t speak?”

Mu Yi was extremely aggrieved. Li Fuyu took the opportunity to stick out his tongue at him gleefully while Mu Jiulu was looking at Gu Sui.

Hmph, Sui Brother is still the best to me.

“Yi’er has been spoiled since childhood and speaks without restraint. You needn’t mind his words.”

Mu Jiulu took the teacup he handed over and said slowly. Hearing this, Gu Sui curved his brows and eyes.

“You care so much about my feelings?”

Mu Jiulu: “……”

It’s over, in a moment of anger, she forgot about her current persona.

How could she, the cold and heartless Regent, care about Gu Sui’s feelings?

Damn it, these two brats Mu Yi and Li Fuyu, always causing her trouble.

“This King said, don’t overthink it.”

Mu Jiulu turned away her gaze, her voice cold. This double entendre made Gu Sui sigh.

Was she telling him not to overthink Mu Yi’s words, or not to overthink what she just said?

“You two, go back and copy the Rules of Conduct ten times each. Finish it before the New Year and give it to me, otherwise, heh.”

Mu Jiulu expressionlessly handed out the punishment. Both Li Fuyu and Mu Yi let out a wail.

“Imperial Sister!”

“Ninth Aunt!”

Ten times, they wouldn’t have a day of rest before the New Year.

“Think it’s too little? Twenty times.”

If it weren’t for seeing that Gu Sui wasn’t too affected, it wouldn’t have been as simple as just copying.

Mu Yi and Li Fuyu completely dared not speak this time.

After Mu Jiulu and Gu Sui left the banquet hall, Li Fuyu rolled his eyes at Mu Yi in annoyance.

“You’re really something, giving me such a big birthday gift.”

“You have the nerve to say that, if it weren’t for you, how would this prince end up so miserable!”

“It’s your fault!”

“It’s your fault, your fault!”

“It’s your fault, your fault, your fault!”

……

Outside the banquet hall, Gu Sui, who could still faintly hear the voices inside, couldn’t help but turn his head to look back, feeling somewhat amused.

“Their relationship shouldn’t be bad, right?”

It’s just a pity, oh, one is Mu Jiulu’s loyal fan, and one is his loyal fan.

A bit troublesome.

But it doesn’t matter, he believed that as long as he won over Mu Jiulu, the two young ones would also reconcile.

“Don’t worry about them, they’ll make up on their own after a while.”

Gu Sui was completely reassured now. He turned around, facing Mu Jiulu, walking backwards on the cobblestone path.

“Mu Yi is your younger brother?”

Mu Jiulu looked behind him, saw there were no obstacles, and then nodded.

Gu Sui tilted his head: “Just him?”

“Just him is enough to worry about.”

Mu Jiulu shook her head and said. Gu Sui smiled.

“I think I know why he has an issue with me.”

“It’s not important.”

Mu Jiulu suddenly spoke up. Gu Sui asked puzzledly: “What’s not important?”

Mu Jiulu: “His opinion.”

No one had ever been able to interfere with her decisions. Not to mention Mu Yi, even if her father was still alive, he couldn’t do it.

Gu Sui was backlit, the corner of his lips curving into a shallow arc. The golden sun covered the wind-blown tips of his hair, and his serious voice came out.

“It is important. He’s your family. Having a family member who cares about you is a happy thing.”

Mu Jiulu’s gaze slightly condensed, falling on the yearning in his eyes. She suddenly felt a tightness in her heart, and her speech sped up.

“So, you still mind what he said?”

Gu Sui shook his head and said firmly: “Maybe I would have before, but now, I’ll only make him acknowledge me.”

After a long gaze, Mu Jiulu slowly spoke: “That’s not as easy as you think.”

Gu Sui smiled: “It doesn’t matter.”

He had endured even harder things. This time, he didn’t want to miss her again.

*

The two walked along the stone path for a circle and returned to the entrance of the banquet hall. It still hadn’t quieted down inside.

Gu Sui was a bit surprised: “Still arguing?”

Listening carefully, he felt something was off.

“Li Wenxin, give me back my things, or don’t blame me for being impolite!”

“Why should I? Mother said it was given to me.”

“That was my father’s dowry, she dares to give it to you and you dare to take it?”

“Then go talk to Mother about it. Anyway, this jade pendant is mine now.”

“Pah! Who do you think you are, just a mere illegitimate son. Do you think you can bully Li Fuyu?”

“Your Highness jest, how could I bully Brother?

Mother just saw that Brother wasn’t using this jade pendant, it was just lying around idle, and seeing how considerate I am, she gave it to me.

Now Brother insists on snatching it back from me. Your Highness, how am I supposed to explain this to Mother? Losing a gift from an elder is a great fault, I dare not.”

Both Li Fuyu and Mu Yi were the type who, although spoiled, were straightforward and open-hearted.

When encountering someone as sly and hypocritical as Li Wenxin, it was like hitting a soft nail. Because they had to be mindful of etiquette, they always felt somewhat constrained.

Gu Sui couldn’t bear to listen anymore. Mu Jiulu watched as he kicked open the door.

“Just because he’s not using his things, you can take them? I see your mouth is idle too, why don’t you call me father and let me hear it?”

An angry voice came from the doorway. Li Wenxin was obviously stunned for a moment, then said arrogantly.

“Who are you!”

Li Wenxin wasn’t there when Li Fuyu brought him in earlier, so he didn’t know who he was.

“Your father!”

At this moment, there wasn’t a trace of a smile on Gu Sui’s face. His originally gentle gaze had become much sharper.

He didn’t waste words at all. Seeing the jade pendant in his hand, he directly stepped forward and grabbed his wrist, forcefully taking it back.

“Here, take it.”

Gu Sui handed the white jade pendant to Li Fuyu. After receiving it, Li Fuyu tucked it into his bosom. The strong front he had been putting up instantly dissipated by half.

“Sui Brother!”

He directly hugged Gu Sui, whimpering as he called out. Mu Jiulu, who was following behind Gu Sui, looked over calmly.

“Mu Yi, pull him away.”

Mu Jiulu said expressionlessly. Mu Yi was still in shock from Gu Sui’s direct action. Hearing this, he dazedly let out an “Ah,” belatedly realizing what his Imperial Sister was asking him to do.

After Mu Yi pulled Li Fuyu away, seeing his makeup smeared with tears, he disgustedly handed over a handkerchief.

“What are you crying for? You act so tough with me, but as soon as he mentions your mother, you become a coward. How many things have been snatched away by him and you still haven’t learned your lesson?”

Li Fuyu wiped his face and then directly threw the handkerchief onto him, glaring at him furiously.

“You’re the coward, I just couldn’t be bothered to deal with him before!”

Li Wenxin hadn’t expected that the jade pendant he had finally obtained would be snatched away so easily. Red marks appeared on his wrist, causing him to inhale sharply in pain.

He raised his hand, pointing at Gu Sui, and shouted in angry humiliation.

“Just you wait, I’m going to tell my mother!”

Gu Sui glanced over, just about to teach him how to behave with actions, when Mu Jiulu suddenly spoke from the side.

“This King would also like to have a good talk with Li Changtong. Since when did Minghua Jun’s dowry all become her possessions, that even an illegitimate son dares to take them at will?”

***

Seducing a God, Do You Dare? 

This is also on my reread list!

The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.

But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.

Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.

I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.

The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.

As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.

This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.

Definitely worth a read, y’all!

Intro

As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.

But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…

Do you dare?

Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.

Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.

The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.

Link to read