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“After Shedding My Armor, I Await Marriage” Chapter 38

"Yes, yours."

Qingshui Pavilion is situated at a higher elevation, and the wind is strong, easily dispersing the heat generated by more than twenty people gathered in one room. Ice basins are placed in the corners of the walls, making it not only not hot but also slightly cool.

The classroom is quiet but not silent. None of the twenty-five girls dared to speak recklessly as they used to. Only the sound of pages turning and Fu Yan’s straightforward lecture could be heard.

A class lasted about half an hour. When it was time, a nanny outside would ring a bell, and as the bell rang, the atmosphere in the room immediately relaxed.

Fu Yan had no intention of dragging the class. He assigned the homework and prepared to leave.

“Second Miss Gu…” Miss Wei, who was sitting behind Gu Fu, quietly tugged on Gu Fu’s clothes. She was about to say something when she saw the white-haired Imperial Preceptor glance over lightly.

Miss Wei immediately fell silent, as if struck by cold.

Gu Fu heard Miss Wei calling her, slightly turned her head to listen, and thus did not notice Fu Yan’s glance.

When Miss Wei fell silent, Gu Fu thought she was just bored and called out for fun, so she turned her head back and noted down the homework.

At the same time, she was puzzled—why did Fu Yan come?

Before today, the Empress had told her all the teachers who would be coming, but she never mentioned Fu Yan.

Gu Fu did not know that the Empress had no choice. She selected the teachers mostly through herself and her family, fearing delays and unclear judgment of people, so she asked the Secret Cabinet to assist in the investigation.

Through this back-and-forth, Fu Yan naturally learned about Gu Fu being the study companion for the Princess and proposed to the Empress that he should come and give a lecture.

The Empress knew Fu Yan liked Gu Fu, and this move was mostly directed at Gu Fu. However, she did not know that Gu Fu also coveted Fu Yan. Thus, thinking that there was no way to turn things around, she might as well try to match them. If Gu Fu could like Fu Yan, it would not be too tragic when the Emperor grants marriage in the future.

This led to today’s situation.

The Imperial Preceptor exuded an icy aura that warned others to stay away. No one dared to speak after class until he left the classroom and his figure completely disappeared down the corridor. Only then did the group of girls heave a sigh of relief and engage in lively discussion before the next teacher arrived—

“Why did the Imperial Preceptor come to teach us?”

“My goodness, how can there be someone so good-looking in the world? No, he’s not a person, he’s an immortal! Who was it that said the Imperial Preceptor wasn’t good-looking before? Come out and take your punishment.”

“I don’t get it. Why doesn’t the Xuanlin Selection publish portraits of the Imperial Preceptor? Why don’t they?!!”

“The second round must include them. I’ll buy one to hang in my room and admire day and night. If anyone asks, I’ll say I revere the Imperial Preceptor and hanging his portrait is for seeking his blessing.”

“Su’er, what are you drawing?”

Because her family was strict, Miss Su had never bought the Xuanlin pamphlet. She continued drawing while saying, “My family forbids me from buying the pamphlet, and even if I did, I might not get it. It’s better to draw it myself.”

Knowing that Miss Su was drawing the Imperial Preceptor, everyone immediately gathered around.

Miss Su was skilled at painting and worked quickly. Though her drawing wasn’t extremely detailed, it captured the cold aura of the Imperial Preceptor.

Gu Fu sat in her seat without moving. When she turned her head, she could only see their slightly mesmerized expressions as they looked at the drawing. Feeling annoyed, Gu Fu lowered her gaze and, through the gaps between their waists, saw the drawing on the table. She noticed someone unconsciously placing their hand on the drawing, as if stroking the person depicted.

All her confusion suddenly turned into sharp thorns, making her feel uncomfortable all over.

Gu Fu initially planned to ask Fu Yan at the Qitian Tower in the evening why he had come to the Qingshui Pavilion.

But when she arrived at the Qitian Tower, she no longer wanted to ask—

She had no right to question what Fu Yan wanted to do. She was just a remedy for Fu Yan, a medicine to help him sleep. What right did she have to interfere with how the medicine was used?

Gu Fu completely forgot how she had been doing as she pleased in Qitian Tower for the past six months. Just yesterday, she had even asked a young attendant for a brazier and spices to roast lamb with ice bowls, making Fu Yan’s reports to the emperor smell like lamb. When they reached the emperor, the scent hadn’t dissipated, making the emperor crave it and order a whole roast lamb from the imperial kitchen that day.

Today, however, she was restrained, sitting by the konghou, practicing old tunes with her head down. Unless Fu Yan spoke first, she wouldn’t say a word.

Fu Yan sensed something was off and, after some thought, asked her, “I gave a lecture at Qingshui Pavilion today. How do you think I did?”

It would have been better if he hadn’t brought it up. When he mentioned it, Gu Fu couldn’t help but think of that drawing everyone had been crowding around and touching. She couldn’t help but say, “You’re not a teacher, so why did you go there and join the fun?”

Fu Yan had never been confronted by Gu Fu like this before. After a moment of silence, he asked, “Are you angry?”

Gu Fu didn’t look at Fu Yan and just said, “Why would I be angry? Do whatever you want. What does it have to do with me?”

“You’re angry.” This time, it was a statement.

Gu Fu decided to go all out. She stood up, walked over, and sat down opposite Fu Yan, one hand propping her up and the other resting on her bent knee. Her posture was casual, and her tone was unfriendly, “Yes, I’m angry.”

Fu Yan looked at Gu Fu and asked, “Why?”

Why? What else could it be? The person she liked was being stared at adoringly by other girls, and they even drew a portrait of him to touch. How big-hearted did she have to be to remain unaffected!!

The worst part was, he didn’t even like her. The more she dwelled on it, the more pathetic she appeared.

Gu Fu uncharacteristically didn’t respond to Fu Yan, remaining silent and isolated, like the Fu Yan of the past, erecting an invisible barrier between herself and others.

However, Fu Yan had changed. He continued talking like Gu Fu usually did, even if no one responded, “The matter of you redeeming Miss Lin in the Northern Territory wasn’t told to me by Li Yu.”

Gu Fu frowned, not understanding why he brought this up.

Fu Yan continued, “I learned about it from Guo Jian through the spies of the Secret Cabinet.”

Gu Fu sensed something was amiss and finally spoke, asking him, “Why do you need to know about this?”

Fu Yan’s tone was calm, yet his words were like thunderclaps, leaving Gu Fu bewildered: “No particular reason, just curious about your experiences in the Northern Territory. I heard you redeemed Miss Lin, and I thought you liked women. I didn’t know how to ask, so I went to Qingshui Pavilion to see how you interact with other girls.”

Gu Fu slowly, very slowly, lowered her bent knee, straightened her body, and, not knowing where to place her hands, clasped them under the table.

She spoke, her voice a bit hoarse, “Why… why are you curious about that?”

Fu Yan replied, “Whether you like men or women is very important to me.”

Although Fu Yan spoke calmly, his outward composure could not hide his inner tension.

But he had no regrets. Gu Fu’s unusual behavior gave him the courage to take a gamble. If he was right, he wouldn’t have to be so apprehensive in the future.

If he was wrong… for a moment, a very bad thought flashed through Fu Yan’s mind—he could seize the throne for his brother, so why couldn’t he win Gu Fu for himself?

Fu Yan’s ambiguous answer left Gu Fu unsure of how to proceed. So she reached out her hand, slowly, very slowly, across the table, and grasped Fu Yan’s hand.

Throughout the process, Fu Yan did not pull away.

So Gu Fu slowly brought Fu Yan’s hand closer, then lowered her head and kissed the back of his hand.

During this time, Gu Fu kept her eyes on Fu Yan. When she saw him turn his face away, she tightened her grip on his hand, afraid he might pull away.

But Fu Yan didn’t. Not only did he not pull away, but he also squeezed Gu Fu’s hand firmly in return, as his response.

Time seemed to slow down infinitely, and all their senses were focused on the points where they touched.

Gu Fu felt that Fu Yan’s hand was cool and smooth, very comfortable to touch.

Fu Yan felt that Gu Fu’s hand was soft, and her breath on the back of his hand was hot.

Finally, Gu Fu was the first to let go. Only then did Fu Yan withdraw his hand.

From that moment, something changed. Gu Fu reflected deeply on her earlier attitude and, after a long silence, asked Fu Yan, “Are you… still going to teach at Qingshui Pavilion?”

Her voice grew quieter, betraying a hint of guilt. After all, she had been a bit harsh just now.

Fu Yan lowered his head to look at the memorial report but couldn’t focus on a single word. He stubbornly refused to look at Gu Fu, “I’m not free every day, and besides, weren’t you angry and didn’t want me to…”

“I’m not angry!” Gu Fu lay on the table, looking at Fu Yan expectantly, “I’m not angry anymore. Will you come?”

Now that she was sure of Fu Yan’s feelings, why would she still be jealous? Of course, she wanted to seize every opportunity to see him.

Fu Yan still didn’t dare to look at her, just nodded, “Mm.”

Gu Fu couldn’t stop the wide grin spreading across her face.

She then moved the konghou to sit across from Fu Yan and, after playing a few notes, couldn’t help but glance at him.

Fu Yan, however, appeared much more composed than Gu Fu, though he took an unusually long time to switch to the next memorial report. It was unclear if he understood any of it.

Time suddenly flew by for the two of them. Gu Fu felt like she had just arrived, and in a blink, it was already the beginning of the hour of the pig—the time Fu Yan usually went to sleep.

Fu Yan put down the memorial report, stood up, and said, “I’m going to sleep.”

“…Huh? Oh, okay.” Gu Fu watched him leave. Only when the young attendant came to tidy up did she come back to her senses. Feeling like a thief, she walked to the edge of the stairs, hesitated, paced back and forth a few times, and finally made up her mind. She quietly tiptoed up to the sixth floor, stopping at Fu Yan’s bedroom door.

She knocked, and moments later, Fu Yan opened the door, still fully dressed. Who knew what he had been doing all this time?

Gu Fu beckoned him with a finger, and Fu Yan obediently leaned down, allowing her to kiss him on the cheek.

“Marking my territory,” Gu Fu said, hands behind her back, exuding confidence.

Fu Yan thought of how painters would stamp their seals on their artwork and suddenly smiled, declaring his own claim, “Mm, yours.”

Gu Fu felt her heart take a fierce hit.

It wasn’t just Fu Yan’s words but also the rare smile on his face. His upturned lips were more intoxicating than any wine she had ever tasted. His eyes, smiling, reflected a brilliance like morning light on a frosty pond, warm and dazzling, melting away the frost and snow in an instant, leaving unparalleled beauty.

The young servant heard Gu Fu’s footsteps coming upstairs and was about to ask if she wanted to put the konghou back in its original place or leave it as it was. However, as soon as she got upstairs, Gu Fu dashed past him, running to the window and jumping out.

The young servant: “…?”

As usual, Gu Fu clung to the eaves, leaping down the Qitian Tower layer by layer, then stepping across rooftops to return to Quyu Alley. But tonight was different.

She was so excited that she misjudged her strength while jumping from one rooftop to another. She nearly broke through the eaves below her and caught the attention of a patrolling guard, who chased her down three streets, blowing his whistle.


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After Shedding My Armor, I Await Marriage

After Shedding My Armor, I Await Marriage

卸甲后我待字闺中 Xiè Jiǎ Hòu Wǒ Dài Zì Guī Zhōng
Score 9.2
Status: Completed Type: Author: Released: 2020 Native Language: Chinese

In the ninth year of Yongqing, General Gu Fu died in Qi Huai. The current emperor posthumously honored him as Marquis Zhongshun.

In the twelfth month of the same year, the second Miss Gu, who had accompanied her grandmother to the mountains to perform Buddhist rites for five years, returned home. The first thing she faced upon arrival was punishment—kneeling in the ancestral hall. In the ancestral hall, the elder of the Gu family scolded her, telling her not to act recklessly in the future and to obediently wait for the elders to arrange a marriage for her. However, she responded with a single sentence that made him storm off in anger. An unaware aunt and younger sister came to visit, seemingly out of concern, but they were actually mocking her. She calmly countered their remarks. Finally, her elder brother arrived. The scholarly eldest son of the Gu family paced back and forth in front of her, eventually blurting out, "The military camp is full of men! Do you know that if word of your disgraceful behavior spreads, it will bring shame to the family's daughters?" Gu Fu finally shed her carefree demeanor and replied seriously, "Defending the country is not a disgrace." Upon hearing that the Gu family wanted to marry off the second Miss Gu, the current emperor immediately sought out the empress, earnestly saying, "I regard the second Miss Gu as my own daughter. I can't let her marry just anyone. If empress has time, perhaps you could help me by looking for suitable candidates for her in the capital." The empress: "..." Understood, Matchmaking 101 it is.
If you enjoy my translations, feel free to consider supporting me on ko-fi! Thank you! Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com Release schedule: Every Monday. Unlock chapters to read ahead!

Comment

  1. F_J says:

    Good for them xD
    Hahaha
    Many thnaks

    1. Cinnonym says:

      Thank you for reading!

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