Before coming to Gu Xingzhao, Feng Cui had been full of confidence. After all, she had worked as a matchmaker for over ten years, with half the marriages in the town thanks to her efforts.
But she hadn’t expected Gu Xingzhao to be so stubborn. She kept changing her approach, but in her rush, she slipped and used the same reasoning she’d give a girl reluctant to marry far away.
Her father doesn’t care, her mother doesn’t either, and I’ve heard Gu Chengzhang is in trouble with the law. He might even end up in jail, and she’ll have no family left.
Realizing she had crossed a line, Feng Cui tried to backtrack.
Gu Xingzhao calmly handed back the fruit basket on the table. “Aunt Cui, there’s no need to say more. You should head back.”
She had heard every trick by now, and Feng Cui had even managed to touch on a sore spot without meaning to. Even with her thick skin, Feng Cui couldn’t stay any longer.
“Alright then, but if you change your mind, just let me know,” Feng Cui offered, standing awkwardly before leaving.
Gu Xingzhao smiled and watched her leave, waiting until Feng Cui was far past the grocery store doors before locking up and heading back upstairs.
She thought about the incident with Aunt Yang outside the shop a while back. She wondered what kind of match Feng Cui was suggesting this time. She often saw Aunt Yang, but as for Aunt Yang’s son, Gu Xingzhao couldn’t recall ever meeting him.
Besides, someone like her—surely she wasn’t someone Aunt Yang would consider?
Gu Xingzhao dismissed these thoughts, grabbed some snacks, and stuffed them in her pocket before turning on the TV and transporting herself back to the ancient times.
When she arrived, the exile caravan was on the move. She walked up beside Lu Xingyao, munching on her braised duck wing while watching him with curiosity. From his eyebrows, his eyes, down to his nose and mouth—he looked exactly like Xu Zian.
Feeling someone’s gaze on him, Lu Xingyao looked around, puzzled, but didn’t see anyone watching him.
His companion noticed and asked, “Yao Ge, what’s wrong?”
Lu Xingyao muttered, “I feel like someone’s been watching me, but I can’t see anyone.”
One of his relatives teased, “Maybe it’s that ghost you saw last night?”
Another nearby chuckled, “Are you stupid? Ghosts don’t appear in broad daylight.”
Lu Xingyao’s eyes brightened, “Maybe it’s the ancestor?”
At this, the rest of the family turned their attention to him.
Ahead, Lu Yang was struggling to keep pace and turned to look at his nephew, “Why would the ancestor be watching you? What’s so special about you?”
Not to be mean, but his nephew wasn’t exactly someone the ancestor would waste time watching.
Hearing his uncle’s words, Lu Xingyao agreed. He probably wasn’t that interesting—maybe it was just his imagination.
At that moment, Gu Xingzhao was trying to get a better look at the area behind Lu Xingyao’s ear, but a few stray locks of hair were in the way. She reached out carefully, like a thief, to move them aside for a clearer view.
Once she saw that there was nothing behind his ear, she let the hair fall back into place and stopped following him.
The falling strands tickled Lu Xingyao’s ear, making him scratch the itch, still puzzled by the sensation as he glanced back at his relaxed companions.
Lu Xingyao grew more confused. Was it really just his imagination?
Walking away from Lu Xingyao, Gu Xingzhao thought back to when she had left the Xu family earlier and passed by Xu Zian. She remembered noticing a scar behind his ear, but now, seeing that Lu Xingyao had no such scar, she was sure—Xu Zian only looked like Lu Xingyao; they weren’t the same person.
It really was just a coincidence. When she had first seen Xu Zian today, she had been startled, thinking for a moment that Lu Xingyao had somehow traveled to the modern world.
Ever since witnessing the murder of that official, the other exiles had grown fearful of the Lu family. The Lu family was clearly not like the rest of them—after all, they had killed an official and walked away unscathed, even more feared than the officers themselves.
The guards, aside from Du Hangwu, had completely changed their attitude toward the Lu family. Where they once treated them as criminals, they now deferred to them with respect, realizing that survival was more important than climbing the ranks upon returning to the capital.
The Lu family had no idea that people were harboring such thoughts, let alone that they were being blamed for Jinlin Guards’ actions.
Gu Xingzhao wandered over to Lu Qing’s side. She noticed that the old man could barely walk anymore, his shoes, which she had given him, nearly worn out. Seeing his frail frame made her throat tighten with emotion.
She reached out to steady Lu Qing’s arm.
Feeling a hand suddenly supporting his arm, Lu Qing instinctively looked to his left, expecting to see one of his sons. But no one was there. His heart skipped a beat, and then he realized—”Ancestor, is that you?”
“It’s me,” Gu Xingzhao replied softly. “Lu Qing, how much longer do you have to walk?”
They had been traveling for a month and a half already, and they still hadn’t reached their destination.
Hearing the question, Lu Qing calculated in his head. They had just passed through Ji County. If they kept up their current pace and nothing delayed them, they would reach the northern territories in about half a month.
Gu Xingzhao once again marveled at how difficult life was for people in ancient times. She could only hope the next two weeks would pass without any trouble, at least until they safely reached the north.
Lu Qing, on the other hand, was curious as to why the ancestor had come at this time. She usually appeared in the mornings or during the night when they were resting.
Gu Xingzhao smiled to herself. She couldn’t exactly tell Lu Qing that she had seen someone who looked just like Lu Xingyao in the modern world and had come to make sure it wasn’t the same person, right?
With her new business venture—the ancient-themed supermarket—about to open, she told Lu Qing, “I have some things to take care of in a few days, so I’ll be checking in on you more frequently. If you need anything, tell me in advance so I can prepare.”
As she spoke, her hand remained on Lu Qing’s arm, not thinking much of it.
But Lu Qing felt both nervous and excited. How could he let the ancestor support him? It was such a humbling experience for an old man like him.
Still, he was also pleased. He had heard from his grandson that the ancestor had delivered food to him during his night watch—big fish and large servings of meat. By the time the others came out of their tents, the food had already been devoured.
Though the ancestor often showed favoritism toward his grandson, Lu Qing, in his old age, secretly longed to feel that special attention for himself.
Sensing Lu Qing’s thoughts, Gu Xingzhao couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ll walk with you for a bit and then leave,” she said.
She thought to herself how adorable the Lu family was. It wasn’t just the younger generation—the grandfather and grandson were competing for attention, too.
Nearby, Lu Xingyan overheard the conversation. His eyes landed on his father, noticing that his older brother was walking beside him, occasionally helping him along. But when he looked toward his father’s right side—where the ancestor supposedly was—he saw nothing.
His heart raced. Could the ancestor really be right here?
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