Chapter 21: The Fifth Year of Tian You

In the summer of the fifth year of Tian You, it was clear in the memory of Xie Mengxuan that there was no fragrant scent of lotus but funeral music and the disgusting smell of rotting corpses.

At that time, she was only five years old. In the scorching heat, she stayed at home from day to night, waving the fan and drinking cold sweet-sour plum juice. How pleased she was.

Gu Yusheng came to play with her every day. However, on that day, he didn’t come. Instead, his manservant delivered the message to her that he could not come in the following days due to what happened at home.

Although Xie Mengxuan, at that young age, was unhappy and even a little sad about not meeting with brother Sheng, she was aware that he had a lot to deal with as he was in the crown prince’s company.

One day, two days, three days, five days… About half a month had passed, but there was not a peep from him. Her servant girls and manservants failed to bring her more messages. All she knew was to wait for him.

Finally, on the fifth day of June, she went out of her yard to the main hall. Hiding behind the door, she saw her parents cuddle up together while sobbing.

“Is that kid really dead?”

“Yes. He was poisoned and then discarded in the wild. In addition, his corpse has already been found, from which white bones could be seen. The Gu family is keeping his coffin in a temporary shelter before burial.”

“There’s a good relationship between Mengxuan and him. Should we tell her?”

“Xuan is too young to learn about the truth. We should not tell her in case she is scared.”

Inside the room, her parents both gave out a sigh. Xie Mengxuan felt cold from head to toe. Although she was only at the age of five, she already knew what “pass away” meant.

She wiped the sweat from her brow but felt no warmth. Despite the blazing sun, she quickly ran to the Gu family while hitching up her dress.

Under the hot sun, the small figure ran with all her might. When she arrived at the Gu family’s manor, no one stopped her due to her unique identity. Regardless of the propriety, regardless of anything else, she broke into the empty mourning hall. There was a scent of candles, behind which an awful stench of rotting things hung in the air.

In a short while, her parents became aware that she had run out. They came in a hurry to take her away after making an apology.

Xie Mengxuan pushed her parents away and went straight to the Gu parents. “Is Brother Sheng dead?”

“Xuan, I know you’re in a good relationship with Sheng, but he… without the blessing… in order to save the crown prince… It might also be the blessing of the Gu family.”

With red eyes, Mrs Gu spoke while sobbing. Her lips curved into a smile at the end.

Having only a hazy notion, Xie Mengxuan nodded. She attended the funeral like a puppet manipulated by her parents. However, she failed to recall what happened in those three days. Only the smell of candles and of the rotting corpse were left in her mind.

As a matter of fact, it always came back like a receding tide on the fifth day of June each year.

“Xuan?” Noticing Xie Mengxuan lost in thought, Gu Yusheng paused and waved his hand in front of her.

Xie Mengxuan returned from her thoughts and wore a subtle smile. “Sorry, I was in a daze. At that time, even the Gu family had admitted the death of Brother Sheng. How did you survive?”

Gu Yusheng gave out a deep sigh. “On that year, the crown prince went out to pray for God’s blessing with me. Nevertheless, we were attacked halfway, so we got separated. I fell onto the hillside by accident and lost my consciousness. When I woke up, there was a boy of the same age as me nearby who had already died. In order to survive, I had to change my clothes with him.”

He sighed, but when he noticed Xie Mengxuan was wearing a worried look, his lips curved into a smile. “When I was running for my life, I met my master, Uncle Luo.”

Through the few words, Xie Mengxuan thought of the hardships he had experienced. She gave out a soft sigh. “Why not come back?”

His eyes took on an expression of sorrow. “Xuan, the current Mistress Gu is not my biological mother. She’s dreading me at all times.” Gu Yusheng said.

Mrs Gu née He, the mistress in power of the present Gu family, was his stepmother. Since his father had married her, Gu Yusheng led a worse life as the former Mrs Gu’s eldest son. At that time, she appeared to be crying her heart out in the mourning hall, but there were no tear stains on her face.

“Why did you mention her?” Xie Mengxuan furrowed her eyebrows as she was unwilling to look back in the past.

Gu Yusheng lapsed into silence for a while. “I thought that it was just a coincidence that the crown prince and I were ambushed. However, when I went back to the imperial capital, I came into contact with the prince who told me that it was actually her who had ordered the attack.”

Xie Mengxuan chimed in. “Impossible! If so, the Gu family could not get any benefit from this matter.”

“In fact, those people never ceased to chase me.”

How could others fail to think of this point?

Xie Mengxuan was astounded. “Where were you over these years? Why was there no message from you?”

She continued, “A few days ago, in the heavy rain, did you pass by here?”

Gu Yusheng nodded. “Yes. Over the past years, I’ve been hiding in secret on the crown prince’s orders. The Gu family doesn’t know that I’m still alive. Therefore, I just have one name, Gu Yusheng.”

“I see. What are you going to do now?”

Since he was so open in all his explanations, it seemed that he was going to make a reappearance.

Gu Yusheng looked out, and a light flashed in his eyes. “Now that Mistress Gu née He has caused pandemonium in the Gu family, it’s time for me to return. The Gu family is destined to belong to me.”

Looking at his side face, Xie Mengxuan suddenly felt as if she didn’t know him. However, it was easy to understand as they had been separated for many years.

“Ah…Brother Sheng, how did you know I’m here?”

She asked with puzzlement. With a faint smile, Gu Yusheng touched her nose. “Silly girl, how can I not be concerned about you? If no one came to save you, how could you have only broken one leg when you jumped from the cliff-top?”

“I had a nagging suspicion that someone had saved me in secret. I thought…” Xie Mengxuan felt surprised and low-spirited. Why? Why was she thinking of that man? She shook her head and wore a bitter smile with a touch of disappointment in her heart. “I made a mistake.”

Looking at her with a smile, Gu Yusheng showed no impatience on his face.

“Brother Sheng, when shall we go back?”

“Take it easy. First, you’d better take a rest to recover from your injuries. In addition, why not change the way you call me since I’ve called you Xuan?”

“Big Brother Gu?”

Thinking for a while, Xie Mengxuan felt a bit awkward no matter how hard she tried. Finally, she decided to call him Big Brother Gu. Gu Yusheng was also relieved as the lingering feeling of unfamiliarity was gone after she changed her way of addressing him.

“Xuan, forgive me for not coming to save you as soon as possible.” Gu Yusheng suddenly reached out to hold the hand of Xie Mengxuan and made a sincere apology.

By instinct, Xie Mengxuan wanted to take her hand out but gave up in the end. “Big Brother Gu, since it’s not a coincidence that you’ve appeared, were you aware of what happened to me over these days?”