It's him! It's her!

  The slave market is not open every day, Gu Yuqie can only wait until the 15th of this month, and it's only seven days.

  In the Danxia Courtyard, there was only one Huizhi who was of top quality, but she was still young. In order to prevent Liu from making more trouble, Liangshi sent Chun Xiang to take care of Gu Yuqie in the Danxia Courtyard. It wasn't until then that Gu Yuqie discovered that Chun Xiang was not an ordinary servant girl either, but a skilled martial artist.

  In her past life, she surprisingly didn't notice this.

  She would talk to Chun Xing about some things that happened when the Liang family was young every night before going to bed, and the more she listened, the more she felt that her mother had really married into a humble situation. She shouldn't just be confined to this small marquis's manor; she should have a broader world where she could live freely and unrestrainedly.

  Gu Yuqie even had some thoughts of taking her mother away from the capital city.

  Gu Yuqie would often go to the Wanhui Chamber to accompany Liang Shi, with Gu Yuqie by her side, and after a good venting session earlier, her illness actually started to get better.

  Perhaps due to Gu Huai's words, Liu also became more obedient and came over every day to pay her respects. Even if there was nothing to say, she would still try to make small talk. Although Liang didn't like her, she wouldn't hit someone who smiled at her, so she went along with it. Gu Siyang had been scolded by his father after being taken advantage of by Gu Yuqie and now knew that this elder sister was not easy to mess with. When he looked at her, there was a hint of resentment in addition to respect. He too had received Gu Huai's teachings and now knew to address Liang as "mother" when he saw her. As for Liu's daughter, she naturally followed her brother's lead in addressing her. However, although Gu Siyang respectfully called Gu Yuqie "sister", behind her back, he would roll his eyes in disdain.

  Gu Yuqie doesn't care about this. How many people from the previous generation still hold grudges against her? What can a little brat do to her by rolling his eyes a few times?

  The Liu family temporarily yielded, and the entire Marquis's estate also became respectful to the Liang family and Gu Yuqiu, even if it was just superficial. The Liu family pretended to hand over the keys of the house to the Liang family, who this time did not decline, took them, this Marquis's estate originally belonged to her, there was no need to be polite with the Liu family. The Liu family was so angry that she almost gritted her teeth, but on the surface, she could only smile.

  After seeing the harmonious scene in the backyard, Gu Huai Zhong was also delighted. He specially invited Mr. Chen, a retired Hanlin, to give lessons to Gu Yu Qiu. Chen, an old Hanlin, was considered one of the greatest scholars of Da Qi and was initially unwilling to teach a young girl. However, when Gu Huai Zhong described Gu Yu Qiu as a child prodigy, he became curious and agreed to come to the Hou Mansion to see what kind of "child prodigy" she was.

  Thanks to her hard practice in calligraphy in her previous life, Gu Yuqie didn't need to practice writing characters at all this time around. As soon as she picked up a brush, beautiful handwriting flowed out effortlessly. The ten-year-old girl's elegant and refined penmanship left Chen Hanlin both astonished and delighted. He grew more fond of this clever little girl with each passing day, feeling at ease teaching her at the Hou Manor. The more he taught, the more he found Gu Yuqie to be intelligent and perceptive, grasping concepts quickly and having her own opinions and insights. She could even engage in discussions about literature and philosophy with him, which made Chen Hanlin like her all the more. He couldn't stop praising his new female disciple, even when they were outside.

  Gu Huai Zhong spread Gu Yu Qiu's reputation as a genius through Chen Han Lin, all of which was unknown to Gu Yu Qiu.

  In her previous life, she herself was busy doing things, but in this life, Gu Huaizhi did them for her instead, and she was kept in the dark.

  Gu Yuqie learned with ease, Chen Hanlin only came to teach her for two hours every day, and the rest of the time Gu Yuqie spent practicing martial arts. She had some foundation in her previous life, plus she was smart, so she practiced with a good model, learning quickly whatever she did. In this life, she also worked hard, making new progress every day.

  Gu Huaizhong was a military general by origin. Seeing that his eldest daughter not only excelled in literature but also loved martial arts, he was delighted at heart.

  He went to the Liang's place and met with Gu Yuqie, who would patiently watch his daughter practice her boxing skills for a while. Drawing from his own experience of fighting on the battlefield, he would occasionally offer some pointers to his daughter.

  Gu Huaizhong was pleased with Gu Yuqie's diligence in her studies. As time passed, he grew more and more fond of this daughter. Seeing his daughter's pretty and youthful face filled with seriousness and determination made Gu Huaizhong very happy. Because Liu Yue felt that letting children learn martial arts was too bitter, Gu Siyang did not follow him but instead entered the Imperial Academy to study. Of course, reading books is a superior pursuit, and it has been many years since literary officials have held power over military generals. If his son could make a name for himself through studying, he would be pleased, but he couldn't help feeling regretful that no one was inheriting his own martial arts skills. Gu Siyu was even more impossible to follow him in learning martial arts; he treasured her like a precious jewel.

  This eldest daughter is willing to suffer hardship, which was quite unexpected by Gu Huai Zhong.

  In the following days, Gu Huai Zhong would go to Liang Shi's Wu Xin Zhai to watch Gu Yu Qie practice martial arts whenever he had free time. Liang Shi watched with a mixture of emotions, unsure how she felt about it. If it were in the past, she would have been delighted, but now she had grown indifferent towards Gu Huai Zhong. However, seeing Gu Yu Qie bring joy to Gu Huai Zhong made her happy as well, after all, he was Gu Yu Qie's father. Although Gu Huai Zhong went to Wu Xin Zhai every day, he never stayed overnight and would return to Wang Yue Ju each evening. Liang Shi never tried to persuade him otherwise, for in her eyes, the Gu Huai Zhong that belonged to her had already died.

  In the quiet and peaceful courtyard, there was a harmonious atmosphere. However, Liu Yue's hatred made her grit her teeth, wishing she could smash everything in Wangyue House to pieces to vent her anger. Now that she was competing with Liang Shi for the title of virtuous wife, she couldn't afford to make the first move and had to observe from the sidelines for now. Every day, when Gu Huai came over, she would serve him with utmost gentleness, making him feel like his current life was almost too perfect.

  Today is the fifteenth, and the slave market on the west outskirts of the capital has opened. The goods sold in the market are divided into two types: one is called "dead contract", and the other is called "live contract". As the name suggests, a dead contract means that once a person is sold, they cannot be redeemed unless the master's family agrees to release them. A live contract, on the other hand, has a time limit, and when the time limit is up, one can pay some silver to redeem themselves and regain their freedom.

  Most of the market is selling living contracts, after all, no one wants to risk their own lives. Dead contracts are not uncommon either, many are those who cannot survive on their own, and there are also children who have been kidnapped, the silver for dead contracts is much more than that of living contracts.

  Liang brought Gu Yuqie out of the Hou Mansion's gate early in the morning, accompanied by his ten personal guards from Jiangnan.

  Gu Yuqiu wore a pink satin jacket with white fur trim on the cuffs and collar, which set off her small face even more. Her hair was styled in a large braid by Liang, starting from the top of her head and hanging down softly behind her back. A pale pink ribbon with pearls was also added to her braid, making Gu Yuqiu look refreshing, neat, and elegant. After getting out of the carriage, Liang even helped Gu Yuqiu fasten the hood on her cloak, revealing a small, delicate beauty like a jade carving in the snow.

  She held one hand with Gu Yuqie, and the other covered in a white fox fur muffler. In the morning, she was entwined by Gu Yuqie, and she also wore a pale pink jacket, matching Gu Yuqie perfectly. The two beautiful people, one big and one small, walked on the road, looking like a stunning scenery that caught everyone's eyes.

  In front of her were two guards and two matrons leading the way, beside them were another two guards and two maidservants escorting her, while behind her followed six guards and two maidservants. This grand procession was extremely eye-catching wherever they went.

  So, Liang Huaiyu and Gu Yuqiu caused a stir as soon as they entered the market in Xijiao. Those with good eyesight knew that this was a noblewoman from a certain mansion who had come out to buy people herself, and they all crowded forward, but were blocked by the guards.

  "That's the lady of which family, quite a grand sight indeed. She's born beautiful, but I wonder what that little girl she's holding looks like. If she's half as pretty as her mother, it wouldn't be bad." On the balcony of a wine tower by the road, two young men in brocade clothes stood leaning against the window, the slightly taller one smiling and saying to the slightly shorter one beside him.

  Gu Yuqie wore a wind hat on her head, and these two people standing in a high place couldn't see what she looked like.

  A slightly short young man with clear and cold eyebrows, he lightly swept a glance at the mother and daughter who were walking towards them. The morning light cast a faint halo behind the mother and daughter as they walked hand in hand, their feet on the faintly white accumulated snow, it was a beautiful scene like flowers in the clouds.

  As Gu Yuqiu and Liang Huaiyu walked into the teahouse, a sudden gust of cold wind blew up, swirling the snow on the ground, and the snowflakes got into their eyes, making them involuntarily close their eyes. The cold wind also blew off the little girl's hood, and she involuntarily raised her head.

  Her gaze, which had been wandering aimlessly, suddenly contracted when it landed on the second-floor window of a street-side building, and the smile on her face also froze in an instant.

  On the second floor, within the ancient wooden window frame, a young man in a deep blue long gown stood by the window, half of his body exposed. His black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and he wore a golden crown on his head. His skin was as smooth and delicate as white jade, his eyebrows were sharp as if carved by a knife, slanting upwards at an angle, his starry eyes were as cold as ice and snow, without any warmth. His thin lips were tightly pursed, silently gazing at her. In just an instant, Gu Yuqiu felt that all things in the world had lost their luster, and amidst the vastness, only he was vividly cold and aloof, making her feel a chill run down her spine without feeling cold.

  It's him!

  Gu Yuqiu's heart skipped a beat, and her fingertips suddenly lost their warmth.

  It was just a moment, but Gu Yuqie felt as if she had been reborn for so long.

  Every detail of her time with him was etched in her memory, overlaid with a crimson hue, like the fierce flames that had burned in her eyes before she died, scorching the depths of her gaze, and now even the calm youth before her seemed to intensify.

  "Ah Nuan?" Sensing her daughter's abnormality, Liang Huaiyu looked at her daughter with a lowered gaze. Gu Yuqie immediately came back to her senses and pretended to be nonchalant, pulling the wind hat that had been blown onto her forehead over her head and face. She then gave her mother a sweet smile, "It's just windy, my hat was blown off."

  "En." Liang Huaiyu didn't suspect anything else and smiled as he walked forward with his daughter.

  The two young men in brocade robes upstairs obviously saw Gu Yuqiu's appearance, and the slightly taller one couldn't help but click his tongue twice. "This little girl is really beautiful, she is indeed more talented than her mother, with time, she will surely be a stunning beauty, I wonder which family she comes from?"

  "If Fifth Brother is interested, then I'll go and ask around." The calm youth said slowly, his voice as cold as ice water flowing through rocks.

  "Haha, no need for that, she's still young anyway." The youth known as Fifth Brother chuckled and shook his head, saying "I was just curious."

  The cold and handsome young man fell silent, his eyes following the delicate and tender figure until it disappeared at the street corner, with a subtle glow flowing in his snowy pupils, unknown what he was thinking.

  It's her...

  The boy's fingers on the windowsill exerted a slight force, and his joints turned a little white.

  "Yun Ke, I, Gu Yu Qie, today use the light of fire to illuminate the path, with my blood as a guide, all the gods in heaven as witnesses. If there is an afterlife, I will never see you again for eternity."

  That seemed to bring endless resentment and indignation, as well as a voice of injustice that still echoed in his ears, just like it had happened just now, but also like it had been a lifetime ago, so long that even he himself was about to forget, yet being recalled by the small figure in front of him.

  The youth's lips gradually overflowed with a cold smile. Never see each other again for generations to come? Hmm? What was that just now?

  "What's Xiao Qi thinking about?" A voice came from beside him, Yun Yi's voice. Yun Ke slightly lowered his head and replied faintly, "Nothing."

  "Come on, follow me downstairs to take a look at the market." Yun Yi said and walked ahead, Yun Ke followed closely behind.

  Just now did he see himself? Gu Yuqie's mind was a mess, mechanically following her mother's footsteps forward.

  She didn't meet him for the first time in a place like this in her past life.

  Gu Yuqiu felt a sudden palpitation and shortness of breath, as if she was going to get heart disease.

  However, in her previous life, she had never been here either. Thinking about it this way made her feel slightly better. It was because of her change that the location of their first meeting changed too. Maybe this time around, she wouldn't have to get entangled with him again. That would be great, just great.

  Gu Yuqie kept comforting herself in her heart.

  The top priority is to pave the way for herself! Pave the way! Gu Yuqie sorted out some threads in her chaotic thoughts and temporarily shook off the disturbance caused by Yun Ke's encounter with her earlier.

  She raised her eyes and looked at both sides of the street, which would become a human market every 15th day of each month. People with children or laborers to sell would gather here for selection.

  Gu Yuqie looked at the people sitting or standing on both sides, and she couldn't help but feel a little sad. Among them were young and old, some with dull eyes, some with fearful glances, and some crying. However, no matter how they appeared, in other people's eyes, they were no longer human beings, but just goods.

  She is not the Virgin Mary and cannot save them, she can only let things drift with the tide.

  Just as her gaze swept over those "goods", a voice suddenly entered her ears, causing her to turn around and look back.

  "You stinky brat! You think your dad sold you over here to do what? And you still dare to be picky? What's with the brothel? Maybe someone will take a liking to you and take you away to eat good food and drink spicy soup! You're really ungrateful!" A rough voice came, followed by two slapping sounds of a whip hitting flesh.

  The whip landed on the back of a small, thin child. The winter clothes he wore were already tattered and worn out. Two lashes later, not only did his clothes tear apart, but also faintly revealed bloodstains.

  "What's wrong with you? Are you still pretending to be a big shot here? You're so picky!" The big man continued to scold, "Always courting death! Every time you get sent back! I'll beat you to death today, and consider all the silver I spent on you as money thrown into the water!" The whip fell heavily on the child's back like raindrops.

  The people around just stared numbly and no one went up to stop it.

  That kid was quite something, beaten to the point of being covered in blood and bruises, yet he didn't make a sound or move. Just when Gu Yuqiu thought the kid might be dead, he suddenly lifted his face and looked at Gu Yuqiu.

  Under his disheveled hair, his face was unclear, only a pair of eyes that were dull but full of stubbornness and indifference.

  He glanced at Gu Yuqie for only a moment before lowering his eyelids, but Gu Yuqie's heart skipped a beat involuntarily.

  She recognized those eyes.

  "Mother!" Gu Yuqie hastily pulled Liang Huaiyu's hand, pointing at the child and shouting to her mother, "Buy him! I want him!"