Chapter 4. Hoping to catch up once, then catch up a second time…

It was not yet noon when news had already spread that the Regent was the only one who had caught the embroidered ball thrown by the Gu family’s young master.

In the Imperial Study, the young ten-year-old emperor listened to the report from the palace maid with a stern look on her childish face, angrily throwing the memorial in her hand onto the table.

“I knew it, the Regent has ulterior motives!”

The little emperor said through gritted teeth. She just couldn’t understand.

How could the Empress Mother, on her deathbed, have authorized her ninth aunt to serve as Regent? Wasn’t this clearly creating trouble for her?

“How long has the Supreme General been gone?”

With a low pressure hovering in the Imperial Study, the palace maid below answered fearfully.

“In response to Your Majesty, the Supreme General left the palace a quarter of an hour ago. Judging by the direction she left, it seems she went to the Imperial Advisor’s mansion.”

The little emperor opened her mouth, but the words to summon Gu Tingsong back got stuck in her throat.

The Imperial Advisor and the Supreme General – she couldn’t afford to offend either of them.

With the Regent’s wild ambitions and overwhelming power at court in front, if she lost the support of these two as well, her throne would likely be even more unstable.

So it was even more important not to let the Gu family and the Regent form a marriage alliance!

The troubled little emperor tugged at her hair, her childish face looking increasingly serious as she said irritably,

“Go to Yongning Palace and find the Imperial Grandfather.”

“Yes.”

*

At the Imperial Advisor’s mansion, in the Star-Gazing Pavilion, Gu Tingsong sat boldly at the desk, glancing around at the surroundings that could almost be compared to ruins, and clicked her tongue.

“I heard the Regent demolished the Imperial Advisor’s mansion again half a month ago?”

Behind the bamboo curtain, Wan Qi Xingyin shook her head helplessly upon hearing this and said,

“We haven’t had time to repair it yet. The Supreme General must find it amusing.”

The ethereal voice seemed to come from nothingness, and seemed about to return to nothingness.

Gu Tingsong actually didn’t like these mystical qualities about her, but for the sake of her son, she endured it.

“It doesn’t matter. I don’t interfere in affairs between you two.”

As long as the Regent didn’t think about usurping the throne and causing turmoil, whatever she did was of no concern to her.

“I came to tell you that Sui has spoken, just this morning.”

As soon as the words fell, a sigh like one of relief came from behind the curtain, causing Gu Tingsong to narrow her eyes.

“Then congratulations to the Supreme General for getting her wish.”

Wan Qi Xingyin’s voice remained as calm as a still pond, as if that sigh just now had been an illusion.

“If that’s the case, what you said before…”

“The Supreme General need not dwell on these things. What is meant to happen will happen sooner or later, or perhaps has already happened.”

Gu Tingsong frowned, “Speak more clearly. Don’t give me this vague talk.”

Wan Qi Xingyin fiddled with the chessboard in front of her and slowly shook her head.

“I have already told the Supreme General all that I can say.”

“You!”

Though Gu Tingsong was skilled at doting on her son, her temper at other times was really not very good.

It should be known that the first time the Imperial Advisor’s mansion was demolished was her doing.

“My lord, news has come from Yulu Tower.”

A child’s voice sounded from outside the Star-Gazing Pavilion. Upon hearing the words “Yulu Tower”, Gu Tingsong immediately looked over. Wan Qi Xingyin called for the person to enter and report.

“Greetings to the Supreme General.”

The child disciple bowed respectfully. Gu Tingsong impatiently waved her hand and said, “Don’t waste words. What happened at Yulu Tower? Is my son alright?”

“The Supreme General need not worry. Young Master Gu is fine. It’s just that in the end, the one who caught the embroidered ball was the Regent.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Tingsong stood up abruptly, her brows tightly furrowed.

“What did you say?”

The child disciple recounted the events at Yulu Tower in detail. Gu Tingsong paced back and forth in the room, her face visibly agitated.

How could Sui have become entangled with the Regent!

“Imperial Advisor, I’ll take my leave for today. I still have some doubts. I’ll come another day to discuss them with you.”

Gu Tingsong said this and turned to leave, her departing figure carrying a murderous aura as if she were about to go into battle.

Wan Qi Xingyin’s voice followed after her: “The Supreme General, take care.”

The Star-Gazing Pavilion soon returned to silence. The young disciple who had long served at Wan Qi Xingyin’s side scratched his head in confusion, and after much thought, still asked a question.

“My lord, what do you think the Regent’s intentions are?”

She had come to the Imperial Advisor’s mansion making such a fuss before, but now she acts like this. It’s truly incomprehensible.

From behind the bamboo curtain, the ethereal voice drifted out.

“The thirty-six stratagems, number sixteen.”

The young disciple pondered for a moment, then said uncertainly, “Letting the enemy off in order to catch him?”

*

At Yulu Tower, the noble ladies who had failed to catch the embroidered ball were all demanding an explanation.

But they clearly didn’t dare to offend the Regent, so they directed their anger towards Gu Sui.

Gu Sui raised his hand to press his brow. Mu Jiulu’s behavior just now had already irritated him enough, and now these people were chattering away, it was maddening.

“Silence, all of you!”

With one angry shout from the noble young master, even Sui Yu and Yun Mu beside him were startled for a moment.

“I threw the embroidered ball. As for not catching it, that’s your problem. What does it have to do with me?”

Gu Sui said coldly, looking down at the people below. Those who had been clamoring loudly moments ago were somewhat cowed.

It was only at this moment that they remembered that the one on the high tower was not one of those sheltered young masters from the capital, but a young general who could order a city massacred without changing expression.

Seeing that these people had finally quieted down, Gu Sui turned to look at Mu Jiulu across from him and said through gritted teeth,

“As for your question just now, don’t you know whether I want to get married or not?”

Mu Jiulu raised an eyebrow: “This King is not familiar with Young Master Gu, how would I know?”

Not familiar?

Very well.

Gu Sui’s temper flared up again.

He raised his hand and undid the cloak ties that were extremely inconvenient for movement, striding out along the circular corridor with an imposing manner.

“Young Master!”

Sui Yu and Yun Mu hurriedly called out, not understanding what their young master intended to do.

The sound of firm footsteps on the carpet grew closer and closer. Mu Jiulu continued to casually play with the embroidered ball in her hand.

Until an angry voice sounded by her ear.

“Give it back to me!”

Long fingers reached straight for the embroidered ball, but Mu Jiulu raised her hand backwards and upwards, while her foot inconspicuously moved forward a few inches.

Gu Sui, who had grasped at empty air, lost his balance and fell forward.

Gu Sui’s body moved faster than his mind, and he didn’t completely fall into the other’s embrace.

He used his right hand to support himself on the large chair, while his left hand reached forward again.

But he only saw the colorful tassels trace an arc through the air as the embroidered ball instantly moved from Mu Jiulu’s right hand to her left.

At the same time, Mu Jiulu shifted her weight backwards, and that heavy sandalwood chair tilted back a few inches.

The half-right angle finally caused Gu Sui, who was precariously supporting himself on it, to crash down. The rich fragrance made him lose his senses for a moment.

The Regent’s lips curled into a mischievous arc, her voice playful.

“Throwing yourself into my arms like this, yet saying you don’t want to marry. Young Master Gu’s words don’t match his actions.”

Gu Sui raised his head angrily, his face twisting slightly with rage.

“Mu Jiulu!”

“Don’t go too far!”

“This King is merely protecting what belongs to me from being snatched away. How is that going too far?”

Gu Sui was nearly infuriated to death by her righteousness. After standing up from her body, he spoke viciously.

“Is this embroidered ball something you caught fairly? How dare you!”

“The process doesn’t matter. The final result is that this embroidered ball is in This King’s hand. In the upcoming battle with Young Master Gu, This King will personally take action.”

After Mu Jiulu sat the chair upright again, she tossed the embroidered ball in her hand idly, as if taunting or provoking.

Gu Sui, with his arms crossed, took two deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down.

No matter what her attitude was now, the development of things seemed not much different from what he had initially envisioned.

If he had to marry…

“However, This King is not feeling well today and is unfit for combat. Let’s postpone this third round of dueling to another day. When This King defeats Young Master Gu according to the rules, then I will take Young Master Gu as my husband.”

Gu Sui’s emotions, which had just calmed down, were stirred up again.

“What do you mean! Are you doing this on purpose? Getting revenge on me?”

Mu Jiulu met his gaze, her eyes filled with a trace of confusion.

“This King has said, This King is not familiar with Young Master Gu. How could there be talk of revenge?”

Gu Sui’s heart sank. If she was holding a grudge for his breakup back then, he could explain, he could make amends. Why did she have to be like this?

Could it be that she still didn’t know who he really was?

When she said they weren’t familiar, did she actually mean she and Gu Sui?

Thinking of this, Gu Sui felt much more at ease. He relaxed his tense expression and said softly,

“Mu Jiulu, I am Gu Sui.”

“When did Young Master Gu change his name?”

The confusion in Mu Jiulu’s tone deepened. Gu Sui’s face stiffened, and a chill ran through his whole body.

“You… you don’t recognize me?”

Gu Sui’s voice trembled slightly. Mu Jiulu tilted her chin, her voice indifferent.

“Young Master Gu’s reputation shakes the world. This King is aware of that.”

“That’s not what I mean. You don’t recognize… Gu Sui?”

Mu Jiulu raised an eyebrow but didn’t speak. The long silence crushed the last bit of hope in Gu Sui’s heart.

“Then why did you catch the embroidered ball?”

Gu Sui asked dejectedly. Mu Jiulu leaned back, the playfulness in her eyes quickly fading, replaced by an impenetrable coldness.

“The Gu family’s two hundred thousand troops, This King cannot allow them to fall into anyone else’s hands.”

“You…”

Gu Sui couldn’t help taking a step back. Without the thick cloak’s protection, the winter wind was particularly biting.

“You don’t want to marry me, but you also don’t want anyone else to marry Gu Sui and inherit the Gu family’s army, so you destroyed two embroidered balls and caught the last one?”

Gu Sui murmured, his lowered brows and eyes hiding the shock, astonishment and disappointment that flashed through his eyes. But his voice, as light and cool as falling snow, had nowhere to hide.

Mu Jiulu didn’t answer, but the smooth embroidered ball in her hand somehow developed several creases.

She wanted to do something, but the resentment and discontent accumulated over the past three hundred plus days made her suppress that impulse in her heart.

“You don’t recognize me…”

Gu Sui raised his head and stared into her eyes as he spoke.

In that moment, Mu Jiulu’s heart contracted violently, her eyelashes trembling imperceptibly.

His first two embroidered balls were thrown towards her voluntarily, Mu Jiulu thought. Actually, it wouldn’t be impossible to forgive, as long as…

“But I recognize you.”

Before Mu Jiulu could say anything, Gu Sui strengthened his tone.

“If I can catch up once, I can catch up a second time. Mu Jiulu, I will make you recognize me.”

Mu Jiulu parted her lips slightly, speaking with seeming indifference.

“Is that so?”

I’m looking forward to it.

***

He Said He’s Pregnant, and It’s My Child (Female-dominant)

Intro 1

Something seems a bit off about this world.
Wang Zhao thought as she watched a pregnant man walking towards her…

Intro 2

Female lead finds herself in a world where the men who possess the ability to bear children.

As she navigates this unfamiliar reality, she is caught off guard by the sudden appearance of her boyfriend, who reveals that he is pregnant.

Is this truly her boyfriend?

Why can’t she recall any details about their time together?

She begins to doubt whether the child her boyfriend is carrying is even hers.

Is there a hidden reason behind her amnesia, or could it be a side effect of her sudden arrival in this strange new world?

Just when it seems the protagonist’s life couldn’t become any more entangled, her ex-boyfriend makes an unexpected appearance, raising questions about the protagonist’s past.

Link to read

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