Chapter 139: Things Remain, People Change

At this moment, gazing upon Gu Weifang—no longer exuding her former proud demeanor but instead appearing somewhat timid and uneasy—Gu Weiyu’s mind was flooded with countless thoughts. Over the past three years, what hardships could she have possibly endured to cause such a profound change?

Recalling the time before she left, Gu Weiyu remembered the passing of Seventh Aunt, an event that must have dealt her a heavy blow. Especially since Seventh Aunt had died at the hands of her proud Lu family cousin—Chu Xingyun—the pain inflicted upon her surely ran deep.

Gu Weiyu's emotions were a tangled web. Those she once found irksome now seemed endearingly dear, stirring an irresistible urge to draw closer. In truth, it wasn’t only Fifth Sister who had changed; she herself was not the same.

“Fifth Sister—” Gu Weiyu approached the young girl, calling softly. A smile bloomed on her face. “Long time no see!”

Gu Weifang’s expression flickered with a trace of confusion, her mind involuntarily drifting back to the past. In days gone by, whether within the Yanxi Hall or beyond, they had never been so serene and composed as now.

Hearing Gu Weiyu’s greeting, Gu Weifang snapped back to reality and couldn’t help but curl her lips into a faint smile. “Eleventh Sister, long time no see!”

The two exchanged smiles, a quiet warmth flowing between them, conveying all that words could not. That smile seemed to bridge the chasm that once lay between them, drawing their drifting, lonely hearts closer.

Nearby, Gu Weilan also stepped forward, her gaze gentle as she addressed Gu Weifang with a soft, “Fifth Sister—”

Gu Weifang looked up at her, feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the attention. In her heart, Fourth Sister had always been aloof and cold, seemingly disdainful of associating with a sister of her modest talents.

She looked from Gu Weiyu to Gu Weilan and suddenly felt a lightness within. The bitterness and regret that had weighed upon her like dark clouds seemed to dissipate, melting away like smoke.

This—this was sisterhood. This was family. To depend on one another, to never abandon each other.

When you fall into the depths, only your kin will reach out their hands to pull you from the mire.

In the past, it had all been her own delusion.

Recalling her former thoughts and actions, Gu Weifang felt a flush of shame. She had been far too self-righteous, far too selfish.

Tears pricked the corners of her eyes, her emotions surging.

“I wonder how Ninth Sister and the others are doing,” Gu Weiyu murmured softly from the Taihe Residence, gazing at the reunited family with a sigh.

Upon hearing this, sorrow briefly shadowed Gu Weifang’s face. Yes, she still had the protection of her maternal grandfather and had returned to the Gu household, no longer needing to live as a dependent or endure the disdainful gazes of her aunt and cousins.

But what of Gu Weihuan? Her talents were inferior even to hers, and with a delicate, fragile appearance—who knew where fate had cast her now?

The sisters’ expressions darkened at the thought of their missing kin.

————

Yesterday, Gu Gun had already issued orders to tidy the mansion and instructed the servants to recruit new hands to fill the vacancies.

Gu Hui, accustomed to managing household affairs, stepped forward willingly to assist the head of the family.

Gu Gun, his face kind, stroked his beard and smiled from the side.

With age advancing, Gu Hui was a promising junior whom Gu Gun had long intended to groom for leadership. Now, it was clear he had not been mistaken; Gu Hui was indeed a talent worthy of the investment, a treasure worth bringing back from the verge of oblivion.

“Shall we take a walk?” Gu Weiyu suggested as the others began to disperse.

“Good!” Gu Weifang’s eyes brightened. She had never returned to the Gu estate in all this time and felt an inexplicable longing.

Gu Weilan, always composed and unreadable, merely nodded in assent.

“Brother Xu, will you join us?” Gu Weiyu glanced at Xu Weizhou. “We’ve never had the chance to stroll together.”

Xu Weizhou shook his head, preferring not to intrude on the sisters’ reunion.

Gu Weiyu did not insist. The three sisters walked out together from Taihe Residence.

Wandering through the Gu estate, they were like birds returning to a familiar nest, cherishing the old woods where every blade of grass, every flower and tree was steeped in memories.

Shifei Garden, Furong Residence, Songyang Pavilion, Lingshuang Chamber…

Tenth Aunt, Ninth Sister, Third Brother, Twelfth Brother—their faces and laughter appeared vividly before their eyes.

Finally, they arrived at the Yanxi Hall, their former training ground.

“Fifth Sister, you used to be the queen of Yanxi Hall!” Gu Weiyu said wistfully.

Gu Weifang recalled her youthful antics and burst out laughing. “Hardly! If we’re talking about the queen bee, I’m no match for you or Fourth Sister.”

Gu Weiyu laughed heartily. “Haha, Fifth Sister, you are truly amusing!”

Even the usually reserved Gu Weilan softened, memories of training alongside their siblings flooding back, her features gentle and warm.

The three strolled through Yanxi Hall. Due to Chu Xingyun’s neglect, the hall had long been untended. Peach and plum branches grew wild, weeds overtook the grounds, and a pervasive sense of desolation lingered.

It was autumn; the peach and plum trees in front of Yanxi Hall were barren, fallen leaves blanketed the ground, and withered grass added to the bleakness.

Gu Weiyu and her two sisters stepped inside the empty hall, their expressions tinged with melancholy.

Not long ago, whenever they entered Yanxi Hall, their second granduncle would look upon them with gentle affection.

Now, only a solitary meditation cushion remained in the outer hall.

Once, through the folding screen inside the hall, they could hear the laughter and playful chatter of children.

Behind the screen sat youths perched upon cushions, their youthful faces radiant.

But now, though everything inside the hall appeared as before, the screen was covered in dust and the cushions were worn and tattered.

Things remain old, but people have changed.

The surroundings are the same, yet those who once filled them are gone.

After parting ways with Gu Weilan and Gu Weifang, Gu Weiyu returned alone to the Bamboo Grove Garden.

Upon opening the courtyard gate, she saw a girl of sixteen or seventeen sweeping fallen bamboo leaves.

Hearing the creak of the gate, the girl looked up. Her eyebrows arched like crescent moons, her face round and luminous like a silver plate—an instantly likable presence.

Gu Weiyu studied her for a moment, then exclaimed in surprise, “Sister Yueya?”

The girl’s face brightened with a radiant smile. “Miss, you’re back?”

This was Yueya, Gu Weiyu’s former personal maid.

Yueya set down her broom and approached. “Miss, are you hungry? Thirsty?”

Hearing those familiar words, Gu Weiyu felt as if awakening from a dream.

After leaving Qin County alone, countless times in the dead of night, she had vaguely heard Yueya’s voice in her dreams.

But each time she awoke, it was only a fragment of a dream.

Looking at Yueya, Gu Weiyu had so much to say, yet found herself at a loss for where to begin.