Gu Fu traded a piece of blood jade with Princess Ruiyang to make an earring for Fu Yan.
In exchange, Gu Fu had to teach the first half of the year’s classes at Lingxi Academy.
“I thought you’d ask me to go to the Liu family and beat someone up,” Gu Fu remarked, holding the blood jade up to the sunlight. Its translucent quality and smooth texture left her quite satisfied.
Across from her, Ruiyang, now more mature, took a sip of hot tea and said calmly, “He’s not worth your effort.”
Ruiyang no longer needed to attend classes at the academy, but instead of leaving, she took over Gu Fu’s position as the academy’s dean.
Over the years, the Empress and Gu Fu had established a new women’s academy in Qingzhou. However, since Gu Fu held an official position and the Empress was busy managing the Six Palaces, they didn’t have the energy to open a third academy.
According to the Empress’s plan, the establishment of women’s academies beyond the capital and Qingzhou would be left to Ruiyang. Thus, Ruiyang had spent years traveling back and forth between the two cities, familiarizing herself with the operation of these academies.
As for the “beating someone up” Gu Fu mentioned, it had to do with the talented scholar Liu Ruxuan from Qingzhou.
Ruiyang and Liu Ruxuan shared a complicated history.
Initially, Ruiyang, seeking a consort candidate, had her eye on Liu Ruxuan. Those under her, eager to please, used underhanded methods to bring him to the capital. Misunderstanding the situation, Liu Ruxuan believed it was Ruiyang who had orchestrated his forced relocation and grew to despise her.
Once the misunderstanding was cleared up, Liu Ruxuan wished to apologize, but by then Ruiyang had begun avoiding him.
At the time, Ruiyang hadn’t realized her feelings for Liu Ruxuan. She simply wanted him to feel regret and, ideally, to keep his eyes on her forever.
During the Lantern Festival in the second year after Gu Fu’s return to the capital, Liu Ruxuan encountered Ruiyang, who had sneaked out of the palace. He finally voiced his long-overdue apology.
The Lantern Festival, being the only time of the year without a curfew, was bustling with activity.
As Liu Ruxuan apologized amidst the lively streets adorned with colorful lanterns, Ruiyang, gazing at his handsome face under the lantern light, felt her heart skip a beat.
Boldly and directly, she confessed her feelings to Liu Ruxuan. Though surprised, he did not reject her.
From then on, Ruiyang often disguised herself as a man and sneaked out of the palace to meet Liu Ruxuan.
At first, Liu Ruxuan was shocked and advised her to be mindful of her status as a princess, cautioning her against such reckless behavior.
But Ruiyang paid no heed and continued doing as she pleased.
Though initially uneasy, Liu Ruxuan secretly enjoyed Ruiyang’s efforts for him.
As they spent more time together, they naturally talked about their aspirations for the future—Liu Ruxuan hoped to contribute to the kingdom, while Ruiyang dreamed of establishing a third women’s academy.
However, this difference in their visions led to conflict. Liu Ruxuan wished that once they married, Ruiyang would settle down and stay at home.
Even if she was a princess, once married, she would be his wife. Constantly running around was unbecoming.
Ruiyang, deeply in love, was hesitant, but an incident later made her resolve to sever her feelings completely. When she visited the Qingzhou Academy, she discovered that Liu Ruxuan had a close female confidante there—none other than the most famous courtesan in Qingzhou. The two were still corresponding by letter.
Though Liu Ruxuan had never so much as touched her, nor was he foolish enough to let a princess compete with a courtesan for his affection, he refused to end their correspondence. He admired her literary talent and respected how she remained virtuous despite her circumstances.
He believed their letters were purely platonic, merely friendly exchanges, and thus felt no guilt.
Such blamelessness!
An outraged Ruiyang confronted Liu Ruxuan, asking why she, as his future wife, wasn’t allowed to pursue her dream of running a women’s academy after marriage, while he could continue communicating with a courtesan.
Ruiyang would never forget the look on Liu Ruxuan’s face at that moment—an amused yet puzzled expression, as if her question was utterly ridiculous.
Ruiyang felt a hollow ache in her heart, but she wasn’t ready to give up. She warned Liu Ruxuan that if he didn’t cut ties with the courtesan, she could easily make her disappear from Qingzhou. After all, she wasn’t like other women—she was the Princess Royal.
Liu Ruxuan responded, “Then I ask that Your Highness cease to trouble me. Though I come from humble origins, I will not bow to power.”
—He was threatening her.
Ruiyang had fallen for Liu Ruxuan because of his integrity and unyielding character. But she never imagined that one day, she would suffer because of these very traits.
When Ruiyang gave the blood jade to Gu Fu, it was only half a month before Liu Ruxuan’s wedding.
The bride wasn’t her.
But she had no regrets.
…
After Gu Fu returned to the capital, she became busy with official duties and her wedding. Later, when she became pregnant, the Emperor granted her leave to rest.
However, Gu Fu couldn’t stay idle. She began assisting with the establishment of the women’s academy in Qingzhou.
Within a year, the Qingzhou Academy was successfully completed, but her childbirth was anything but smooth—it was, in fact, perilous.
Even so, as soon as she recovered, she couldn’t resist returning to work. She had to ensure the academy’s operations were flawless while also resuming her court duties. Her child was looked after by Fu Yan, who preferred staying at home, but Gu Fu couldn’t neglect her maternal responsibilities entirely. As a result, she had no time to oversee the Lingxi Academy in the capital.
Now that the Qingzhou Academy was running smoothly and their son Yuan’er had grown a bit, Gu Fu could find time to teach at the academy, provided she managed her official duties well.
Gu Fu had many titles: the first female general, female marquis, and female official of Dayong.
So, when she arrived at the academy, the entire place was abuzz.
The Yong’an County Princess, who was familiar with Gu Fu, showed her around, explaining the current academy system and recent internal changes. She also conveyed the Princess Royal’s hope that Gu Fu would not only teach martial arts but also give lectures in the classroom.
Gu Fu: “What kind of lectures?”
Yong’an County Princess: “Her Highness didn’t specify, but she hopes you could share your experiences in the Northern Territory, your thoughts on serving in court, or perhaps teach them military strategy.”
Gu Fu: “Oh, I thought she wanted me to teach the konghou.”
Gu Fu believed her martial arts were her standout skill. If she were to teach in a classroom, she thought playing the konghou might be her most presentable talent, as she practiced it diligently every day during her time in the capital and continued even after returning.
The Yong’an County Princess, who had never heard Gu Fu play the konghou: “That works too. I’ll have someone fetch one from storage and bring it to the classroom.”
Out of curiosity, the Yong’an County Princess decided to attend that class. However, before the session was over, she had to hold onto the wall and sneak out of the room. Unfortunately, the students inside couldn’t leave until the bell rang and had to endure the ordeal.
Thankfully, aside from the konghou, Gu Fu’s other lessons lived up to her reputation and achievements.
Since it was Gu Fu’s first day of teaching, Fu Yan brought their son, Gu Yuan, to the academy to pick her up.
Upon hearing this, the Yong’an County Princess immediately welcomed him into the academy and seized the opportunity to ask the Imperial Preceptor for a favor.
Gu Fu, unaware of her own konghou-playing shortcomings, seriously planned to teach the students how to play. The Yong’an County Princess felt too embarrassed to stop her and could only hope Fu Yan would intervene.
“My lord, could you please persuade her?” The Yong’an County Princess placed all her hopes on Fu Yan.
Fu Yan frowned slightly and asked, “Why should I persuade her?”
The Yong’an County Princess choked, wanting to say, “Because it’s unbearable to listen to!”
But in the end, she didn’t dare voice it aloud.
She didn’t dare, but Fu Yan certainly did. He said, “I think it sounds quite pleasant.”
The Yong’an County Princess was utterly stunned, her face a picture of disbelief and bewilderment.
Nearby, Gu Yuan touched the xun hanging around his neck, his little face scrunched up as he thought, My xun playing sounds much better.
…
Meanwhile, Gu Fu, having finished her class, was about to leave the academy when a student named Zhao Yan stopped her, saying she had some questions.
Gu Fu took Zhao Yan to an empty tea room, ready to listen to her concerns.
“Master Gu…” Zhao Yan began.
Gu Fu interrupted, “In the academy, just call me ‘teacher.’”
Zhao Yan nodded and corrected herself. “Teacher, I’ll be leaving the academy next year. But I don’t want to get married. I want to travel the world like Teacher Wen, to see far-off places. However, everyone says that as a girl, I should follow my family’s wishes, marry, and have children.
“I’m not sure what to do. I’ve asked many people, but I still can’t make a decision. So, could I ask you to guide me?”
Gu Fu placed a kettle on the small stove, then took tea leaves and utensils from a cabinet by the table. She asked, “How’s your martial arts training?”
Zhao Yan straightened her back slightly, her pride showing as she said, “I placed first in last month’s martial arts exam.”
Gu Fu opened the tea jar, checking the ground leaves inside. “Have you decided where to go? And with whom?”
Zhao Yan replied, “My friend’s uncle runs a security escort company. I thought I’d travel with them first. The destination doesn’t matter—I’ll learn skills and gain experience. Once I’m proficient, I’ll set out on my own.”
Gu Fu asked, “What about your family?”
Zhao Yan explained, “My grandparents have passed away. At home, it’s just my parents, two older brothers, and a younger sister. My parents are healthy but don’t approve of me traveling far. My brothers are obedient and help my parents, while my sister, who just entered the academy last year, fully supports me. But she’s young, and no one really listens to her.”
Gu Fu noticed that Zhao Yan’s responses were smooth, not like someone improvising but as though she had long thought everything through. Finding this odd, she asked, “You’ve considered all of this so carefully. What are you afraid of?”
“I…” Zhao Yan hesitated, then finally shook her head. “I don’t know.”
As the water boiled, Gu Fu picked up the kettle and rinsed the tea set. “I can’t tell you what’s right or wrong.”
After scalding the teapot and cups, Gu Fu carefully measured tea leaves into the pot. “Whether you choose to travel or stay in the capital and follow your family’s wishes to marry, I can’t guarantee your future will be filled with happiness.”
Gu Fu placed the tea leaves in the teapot and poured in the hot water. The boiling water rushed over the tea leaves, making them slowly rise to the surface.
“If you choose to travel, you might encounter bandits and die a tragic death. In your last moments, filled with regret, you might think that you should have stayed safe in the capital. On the other hand, if you stay in the capital and marry, but end up with an unkind husband and harsh in-laws, you’ll be trapped. Every time you wake from a nightmare, you’ll regret not pursuing your dream of travel. Even dying out there might seem better than living a life where you feel dead inside.”
Gu Fu covered the teapot and looked at Zhao Yan, whose face was filled with shock. Smiling, she asked, “Does this sound too ominous to you?”
Zhao Yan hesitated before nodding slightly, then shook her head and said, “No, what you said isn’t impossible. The princess once told us: some things don’t disappear just because you ignore or avoid them.”
Gu Fu raised an eyebrow, surprised that Ruiyang had shared such wisdom with her students. She nodded and said, “That’s true. But just as bad things might happen, so too might good things. You don’t need to dwell on fears or hold back, but you do need to be prepared. It’s fine to envision a smooth path ahead—it can give you motivation. But also prepare for the worst so that, if something does go wrong, you won’t be caught off guard.”
Gu Fu picked up the teapot and poured tea for both of them.
Zhao Yan listened carefully, nodding as she absorbed the advice.
As the tea filled the cups, Gu Fu shifted her tone and asked, “You mentioned earlier that you’ve asked many people for advice?”
Zhao Yan nodded. “Yes.”
Gu Fu continued, “Have you asked yourself?”
Zhao Yan froze, caught off guard.
Setting the teapot down, Gu Fu lifted her cup and gestured with it. “Why not ask yourself?”
Zhao Yan hurriedly picked up her own cup, but her focus remained on Gu Fu’s words as she heard the critical question:
“What do you want?”
…
After leaving the tea room, Gu Fu was making her way outside when a student ran up to her, saying, “Teacher, the Imperial Preceptor is here to pick you up. He’s waiting in the flower hall.”
Gu Fu thanked the student and quickened her pace. When she arrived at the flower hall, she saw Fu Yan sitting calmly in a chair. Their son, Gu Yuan, sat on his lap, his tiny hands clutching Fu Yan’s robes as he slept soundly.
“Why did you come to the academy?” Gu Fu gently lifted her son and quietly asked Fu Yan.
Fu Yan stood up and took her other hand. “I came to pick you up.”
Gu Fu smiled happily, and the two left the academy together, boarding the carriage Fu Yan had arrived in.
As the carriage headed toward Marquis Zhongshun’s residence, Gu Fu explained why she had kept Fu Yan waiting and added, “She said she still wants to leave the capital and explore the world, so I made an agreement with her. I’ll invite Wen Xi to the academy to teach a few classes. After all, when it comes to traveling, Wen Xi is far more experienced than I am.”
The “Mr. Wen” Zhao Yan mentioned earlier was Wen Xi.
Wen Xi had never married. Though he passed the imperial exams, he only served a few months in the Hanlin Academy before resigning. He then traveled extensively with his third brother’s merchant caravan, refusing to return to the capital.
During his travels, Wen Xi authored several widely acclaimed travelogues, which only further infuriated his father, Marquis Changning, and Grand Tutor Wei.
When Zhao Yan sought her advice earlier, Gu Fu couldn’t help but think: Will there ever be a time when women can leave home and travel freely, just as men do? But for now, given the way of the world, she couldn’t irresponsibly encourage Zhao Yan to run away. The choice had to be Zhao Yan’s.
Gu Fu suddenly said, “Before I left for the Northern Border, I thought to myself—perhaps I’d never come back.”
Fu Yan frowned slightly, clearly displeased by her words, but Gu Fu continued:
“I was terrified. Back then, all I had was my martial skill. I knew nothing else, not even as much as the student who came to me today. On the road to the frontier, I was so scared I couldn’t sleep.
“But I was more afraid of staying in the capital. I feared that this glittering city would gradually wear away my defiance and reshape me into what others wanted me to be. So, I left for the frontier.”
She smiled. “And it turned out well. I went to the frontier.”
Fu Yan looked at her. Perhaps it was just his imagination, but as she reminisced with that radiant smile, she seemed to glow. Taking advantage of their sleeping son, Fu Yan leaned in, lightly kissed her lips, and rested his forehead on her shoulder.
Gu Fu wrapped her arms around him. “What’s wrong?”
Fu Yan softly replied, “Nothing.”
—Nothing at all. I just love you even more.
[The End]
Translator’s notes:
Thank you everyone for staying with me throughout this journey! This was my first ever translation, and I’m so glad to share it with all of you. You can contact me on Discord: snickerdoodle_23.
You can consider supporting the author on jjwxc; a guide on how to do that is linked here.
If you enjoyed my translations so far, you can support me from here:
