Chapter 264 - 252: Old Friends in the Capital City (Part 5)
Rong Yichu had a face full of smiles, but after his joy, his brows furrowed tightly. He said, "However, for Lord Gu to reach this far, it seems glorious, but he must have endured many trials that ordinary people cannot bear. Now, he is surely standing at the eye of the storm, with countless people watching him.
With Lord Gu’s unyielding character, he likely faces numerous open and hidden threats, yet I am not by his side!"
After speaking, Rong Yichu let out a long sigh, feeling very guilty. He said, "I only blame myself for my lack of ability, for being unable to accompany Lord Gu. With his current status, I don’t even have the qualification to shield him from hidden threats."
Gu Chuan patted Rong Yichu on the shoulder and said, "You shouldn’t belittle yourself like this, Mr. Rong. Being able to join Jixia Academy already proves your capability!"
"Not enough, far from enough," Rong Yichu said. "When Lord Gu pulled me out of the abyss, I vowed to follow in his footsteps all my life, to clear the thorns on the long road ahead for him. As just a scholar, it is certainly not enough."
Gu Chuan frowned and said, "You... don’t intend to take the path of the Mountain of Books and Sea of Learning, do you?"
Rong Yichu nodded and said, "Only by climbing the Mountain of Books and crossing the Sea of Learning can I truly enter Confucianism and glimpse that strand of Literary Qi, giving me the qualification to follow Lord Gu."
Gu Chuan said in a deep voice, "The Mountain of Books and Sea of Learning is within the Academy Palace, and there are no restrictions, anyone can go. But for hundreds of years, few dare to set foot there. Do you know why?"
Rong Yichu said calmly, "Because of the high difficulty, a slight mistake can lead to getting lost within, and even if one comes out alive, they will forever be a madman. Moreover, even obtaining that strand of Literary Qi, truly achieving success is rare, a one-in-a-hundred chance, and finally nurturing success and entering the Confucian Dao is also a one-in-a-hundred chance."
Gu Chuan nodded and said, "Since you know the dangers, and the disparity between effort and gain, do you still want to go?"
"I want to go," Rong Yichu said. "The Mountain of Books and Sea of Learning tempers the will. I have been to the abyss, swallowed by darkness, but was pulled out by that light. Since then, I always have a ray of light in my heart, no matter how vast or terrifying the Mountain of Books and Sea of Learning is. As long as the light in my heart exists, I can walk through it!"
Gu Chuan looked at Rong Yichu for a long time and said, "You are very similar to Brother Gu, both of you are unwavering people. Since your mind is made up, further persuasion is useless. I will help you achieve success; I will send someone to protect you. I may not be able to help you in the Mountain of Books and Sea of Learning, but I can ensure no external interference."
"Thank you, Lord Gu." Rong Yichu bowed his hands.
Gu Chuan waved his hand and said, "No need for courtesy. Brother Gu and I are as close as brothers who trust each other with our lives. Since you are his person, it is only right for me to assist you."
At this moment,
a guard ran in from outside, looked at Gu Chuan, and then bowed to Rong Yichu, saying, "Sir, Miss Li is here again, insisting to see you and claiming that if you don’t see her today, she’ll set this courtyard on fire!"
Rong Yichu’s facial muscles slightly twitched.
Gu Chuan’s face also changed instantly and said, "Don’t tell me it’s Li Anle from Lantian County again?"
Rong Yichu looked quite awkward and slowly nodded.
Gu Chuan stood up abruptly, bowed, and said, "Mr. Rong, farewell!"
Rong Yichu hurriedly said, "Lord Gu, you are familiar with Miss Li; would you mind persuading her before you leave?"
"I haven’t lived enough," Gu Chuan said speechlessly. "Mr. Rong, of all people, why did you have to provoke Li Anle? With your intelligence, you can’t possibly not guess her identity, can you?"
Rong Yichu nodded, saying, "Surname Li, lives outside the Capital City in Lantian County, under the alias Anle, and is shunned by people in the city. She can only be Princess Anle."
Gu Chuan said, "It’s good that you know. Beauty is nice, but you have to consider the circumstances. This Princess Anle is already promised to someone from the Du Family, a family no less influential than the Gu Family.
This Princess Anle is notorious for her reckless behavior and has a terrible reputation. But after all, she is a princess, and the Du Family cares about face. If there’s any rumor about you and her, it could be quite troublesome."
Rong Yichu helplessly said, "I didn’t mean to do it. I never intended to provoke her. A few days ago, I went on an outing with classmates and saw her fall into the water. She couldn’t swim, so I saved her in a moment of panic. Who knew saving her would lead to this trouble."
Gu Chuan chuckled lightly, "A hero saves a beauty; the beauty falls for the hero. It sounds like quite a poetic and charming tale."
"Come on," Rong Yichu said helplessly, "Lord Gu, please don’t tease me. I am already so troubled here."
At this moment,
another guard ran in, joyfully saying, "Sir, that Miss Li has left!"
Rong Yichu and Gu Chuan were both a little surprised.
The guard said, "It was Miss Gu Qi who called her away."
Gu Chuan was taken aback for a moment and said, "My seventh sister?"
"Yes." The guard said in a low voice.
Gu Chuan grinned and said, "Mr. Rong, with my seventh sister stepping in, you should be temporarily safe. Among the younger generation in the Capital City, my seventh sister has quite a face, and not many young people challenge her."
Rong Yichu smiled lightly, "Miss Gu Qi is indeed unrivaled in beauty and reputation; the youth in the Capital City, whether male or female, all respect her."
Gu Chuan nodded, "Indeed, even in the Gu Family, whenever those old relics argue, as long as my seventh sister steps in, they all sit down and discuss properly. Honestly, I’m not afraid of my father and mother or those elders in the Gu Family, but I am afraid of this sister of mine.
She’s always been gentle and generous and never argues or fights with anyone, but just standing there, I get inexplicably anxious. Luckily, she didn’t come in today!"
Suddenly, the guard spoke up, "Lord Gu, Miss Gu Qi asked me to give you a message."
"What message?" Gu Chuan asked.
The guard handed over a piece of rice paper and said, "Miss Gu Qi said that as an elder brother, how can you easily joke about your sister’s lifelong matters?"
Gu Chuan took the rice paper,
it was the page from the Yunzhou Celestial Pride List featuring Gu Zhan.
Gu Chuan’s face fell, "It’s over, it’s over; my big mouth has gotten me in trouble again!"
Rong Yichu asked confusedly, "What does this mean?"
Gu Chuan said helplessly, "Back in Linjiang City, when I was in harmony with Brother Gu, I casually mentioned that when he comes to the Capital City, I’d introduce my sister to him."
Rong Yichu said, "The Gu Family has many daughters..."
Gu Chuan, with a sullen face, said, "But the only sister I am qualified to talk about in terms of marriage is my full-blooded sister, just this one!"
Rong Yichu smiled lightly, "Actually, my lord is quite excellent, isn’t he? So young, and already on the Celestial Pride List?"
Gu Chuan drooped his face, hopelessly saying, "But my sister is already on the Grandmaster List! Of course, that’s not important. What’s important is whether I can still go home?"