Chapter 69 Past Events (2)

  The story is far from over.

  Shen Qiuyu and Gu Xiannian were a perfect match, but unfortunately, the entire Dingguo Gongfu disagreed with their marriage. The main reason was not that Shen Qiuyu's humble background made her unworthy of Gu Xiannian, but rather because there were too many men who liked Shen Qiuyu. Among them, one was particularly troublesome and headache-inducing.

  He is the current Crown Prince Zhao Yu.

  Ye Qinglan's smile paused, and she unconsciously furrowed her brow. Zhao Yu? Who was this person?

  She was an excellent student in those years, and to prepare for the history exam, she almost memorized a thick historical data book. Not to mention anything else, at least she remembered the emperors and princes of each dynasty clearly. In the early Northern Song Dynasty, there was no such person as Zhao Yu...

  Rui Xue saw Ye Qinglan's face was not quite right and couldn't help but pause for a moment: "Miss, what's wrong with you?"

  Ye Qinglan didn't care if she would arouse Rui Xue's suspicion or not, and asked in a low voice: "Rui Xue, what year is it now?"

  "This question is too sudden, Rui Xue was a bit slow to react and replied blankly: 'In the 22nd year of Xi Song, miss, how could you have forgotten even this?'"

  Western Song!

  Ye Qinglan's mind went blank, and she was stunned for a long time before finding her voice again: "I just asked casually." Where on earth had she crossed over to? In history, there were only the Northern Song and Southern Song dynasties, where did this Western Song come from?

  Forget it, this is not the time to study this. Leave it for now and ask slowly later. Ye Qinglan took a deep breath, suppressing all her doubts and regaining her composure: "Where were we just now?"

  Rui Xue felt that the young lady's expression was a bit strange, but she didn't think much of it and continued to smile: "Speaking of the crown prince, one can't help but mention the empress who is honored with the six palaces."

  The queen's surname is Gu, and she is the eldest daughter of Madame Dingguo, the wife of Duke Dingguo. She is also the elder sister of Gu Hong, the heir to the title of Duke Dingguo, and the aunt of Gu Xianyun. In other words, Gu Xianyun and Crown Prince Zhao Yu are first cousins by blood.

  Crown Prince Zhao Yu was three years older than Gu Xi Ye, and due to the relationship with Empress Gu, their relationship was naturally very close. Gu Xi Ye had been in and out of the palace since he was young and was a study companion of the Crown Prince. If nothing unexpected happened, Gu Xi Ye should have become one of the most trusted people closest to the Crown Prince, and when the Crown Prince ascended to the throne as Emperor, the connection between the Dingguo Duke's household and the imperial family would also be even closer.

  No one would have thought that the two of them would almost become sworn enemies because of Shen Qiuyu.

  What exactly happened in between is unclear to outsiders. In short, Shen Qiuyu became the concubine of Crown Prince Zhao Yu at the age of sixteen.

  Gu Xiannian came out of the Gongyuan examination hall and saw a scene of jubilation, with lanterns and streamers decorating the mansion. There was also Shen Qiuyou, dressed in her wedding attire and wearing a veil, about to get into the bridal sedan chair.

  "What happened next?" Ye Qinglan listened with bated breath.

  Rui Xue smiled apologetically and said: "After that, things happened so quickly that Yue didn't have time to say anything before Zhi Xia arrived."

  How can the story stop at such an exciting place! Ye Qinglan's face was unsatisfied: "Tomorrow, go to Ruyue again and ask carefully."

  Rui Xue suppressed her smile and replied solemnly.

  It's getting late, and it's time to go to bed. The snowstorm had extinguished all the candles, leaving only one candle holder by the door. Ye Qinglan closed her eyes and pretended to sleep, but her mind was racing nonstop.

  Judging from common sense, the story below seems not hard to guess.

  After Shen Qiuyu married the prince, she cut off all contact with Gu Xiannian. Once a vast ocean, now just a small stream, without the misty mountains, there is no cloud; Gu Xiannian's heart turned cold and grey, he refused to take office or get married, and lived alone...

  Is it really that simple? Ye Qinglan furrowed her brow. The pair of profound and unfathomable eyes flashed through her mind quickly.

  Something else must have happened that outsiders didn't know about. Although she didn't know what the other two protagonists looked like or their personalities, her intuition told her that things weren't that simple.

  Let's put this puzzle aside for now, but what about Gu Xiangyun's subtle hostility towards her?

  At the time of this entanglement of love that ended in tragedy, the original master was just a child of several years old, living in Zhengzhou all along, and had never been to Beijing. Gu Xiannian could not have known the original master at all...

  Ye Qinglan furrowed her brow in thought. The doubts in her mind grew bigger and bigger.

  One day, she would personally uncover the mystery! Ye Qinglan made a silent decision. Then her thoughts turned to the two words "Western Song" again.

  Western Song 228 years... That is to say, this so-called Western Song dynasty has been established for more than 200 years. She can be very certain that such a dynasty has never appeared in history. So there is only one possibility left, she crossed into a parallel space-time. This space-time is similar to the early Northern Song Dynasty, with stable politics, prosperous economy and happy people living and working peacefully.

  Since she's here, she might as well make the most of it and live happily ever after.

  Ye Qinglan finally fell asleep in a daze.

  The next few days were uneventful. The morning hours passed quickly with a visit and some conversation. The long afternoons were spent practicing piano.

  Rui Xue didn't forget Ye Qinglan's reminder - of course, she was also very curious. Finally, she found some free time to ask Ruyue about Gu Xiannian's past.

  Although Ruyue loved to gossip, seeing Ruixue so interested, she couldn't help but feel a bit wary. Half-jokingly and half-seriously, she said: "Ruixue, why do you keep asking about Master Gu? Could it be that you're actually inquiring on behalf of Miss Shi?"

  Rui Xue's heart tightened, but she forced a smile on her face: "Nothing like that, don't talk nonsense. If Miss heard it, I'd be skinned alive." After a pause, she deliberately provoked: "Forget it, I won't ask you anymore. I'll go find someone in the know to ask instead."

  "Who can be as clear as I am?"

  "Really?" Rui Xue's face was half-believing and half-doubting.

  "That's a matter of course. Come closer and listen." Rui Xue felt secretly pleased, perked up her ears to listen, and secretly memorized everything Kagutsuchi said.

  What happened afterwards was roughly what Ye Qinglan had guessed.

  Gu Xiannian's face turned pale as he stared at Shen Qiuyu, who was wearing a wedding dress. His eyes were filled with disbelief. The vows they had made to each other still echoed in his ears, yet she had already put on the wedding dress for another man.

  It just so happened that a gust of wind blew by, lifting up one corner of the canopy. In a flash, Shen Qiuyu's face, with tears in her bright eyes and filled with sorrow, was forever etched in Gu Xianyun's heart...

  "Pfft!" Ye Qinglan listened to Rui Xue's vivid description and couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of tea.

  What kind of adjectives are these! Do you think this is a tragic movie or something? And forever leaving an imprint on my heart, why not say "the person has left and from now on my heart will be dead ashes, I'll never love again for the rest of my life"?

  Ye Qinglan couldn't help but laugh more and more, finally bursting into loud laughter.

  Rui Xue was laughed at and felt embarrassed, so she quickly explained: "Miss, I didn't deceive you, Ruyue really said that!"

  Ye Qinglan suppressed her smile and asked, "Was Ruyue also present at the time? How did you know so clearly?" Even Shen Qiuyu's "bright eyes with tears and a face full of sorrow" were crystal clear.

  "It's probably just hearsay, slightly exaggerated."

  That's how rumors are spread, right? You exaggerate a few sentences, I add a few more, and the story becomes more and more distorted. Anyway, Ye Qinglan couldn't imagine what Gu Xiannian would look like with a shocked, heartbroken, and desperate expression.

  "Alright, you tell me everything Rikka said."

  Rui Xue nodded and continued speaking.

  In the sentimental version of Ruxue, after Shen Qiuyu got married, Gu Xiannian fell seriously ill and did not leave the hospital for two whole months. When he reappeared in front of people again, he had recovered his usual warmth and calmness, but never mentioned the three words "Shen Qiuyu" again.

  The relationship between Dingguo Gongfu and Crown Prince Zhao Yu was also very subtle, seemingly close but actually distant.

  In the following years, Mrs. Zheng repeatedly advised Gu Xiannian to get married, but Gu Xiannian was unmoved and refused to get married, dragging it out until now. Looking at this situation, it seems that he intends to remain chaste for Shen Qiuyu and never marry.

  It was precisely because of Gu Xian's unwavering devotion that his standing among the young women of Beijing rose instead of falling. Countless people hoped to marry a good man like him, who had both emotions and integrity...

  "That's enough, let's stop here, no need to say more." Ye Qinglan hastily interrupted Rui Xue.

  The main plot has already been revealed, and the following are obviously Ritsuki's own melodramatic performances, which can be ignored.

  Rui Xue finally stopped talking, and with a tone of not being able to say enough, she added a few more words: "Miss, I also think that Ruyue is right, Master Gu really is different from ordinary men!"

  If it were another man, he would probably be heartbroken for a while and then quickly forget his old lover and marry someone new. Who else is as foolishly devoted as Gu Xi Ye?

  Ye Qinglan raised an eyebrow with a hint of a smile but didn't say anything.

  Is the truth of the matter really like that? Everything is hearsay, and only those involved know the real situation...

  The knock at the door broke into Ye Qinglan's thoughts.

  Osmanthus fragrans smiled and walked in to report: "The sixth lady sent someone over, saying that Zeng's wife will be here soon, please ask the young lady to go now!" Zeng's wife used to come every day a few years ago, but since Ye Qingning's piano skills were accomplished, she changed to come once every three days.

  Ye Qinglan smiled and nodded. These past few days, she had been diligently practicing her finger techniques and felt that she had already made great progress, so it was just right to let Zeng's wife test her today.

  Arrived at the Ringui Pavilion, it was the little maid Ying'er who came to open the door.

  Ying'er saw Ye Qinglan and hurriedly smiled: "Tenth Miss, you've finally arrived! Our miss has been waiting for you!" Everyone in the Hong Cui Pavilion knew that Ye Qinglan was on good terms with their master, so no one dared to neglect her.

  Ye Qinglan smiled and walked in. As she approached the music room, a gentle stream of piano sound came out. The piano sound was melodious, calm and serene.

  Ye Qinglan felt a sense of wonder, Ye Qingning was playing a tune that didn't seem to be the one taught by Zeng's wife.

  Ye Qingning seemed to have heard Ye Qinglan's footsteps, and the sound of the guqin stopped abruptly, replaced by that one piece she usually practiced.

  ……

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