Traveling back to ancient times to get rich

Chapter 407 Princess Wen's Journey to the Western Regions

In the Great Xia Imperial Palace, willow catkins fluttered, and the new green of the branches contrasted beautifully with the vermilion pillars, creating a vibrant scene. Gu Wenchao's hand trembled slightly as he held the letter. The familiar handwriting on the pages shimmered in the sunlight: "Goodnight, Your Majesty. Wenxuan is three months pregnant in the Western Regions, and all is well." His gaze fell on the small twin lotus flower mark at the end, a mark his sister Wenxuan had taught him to draw when he was young. Over the years, this mark had become a secret code for reporting that he was safe and sound.

"Quickly! Send a message! Tell the Emperor of the Western Regions!" Gu Wenchao shouted at the guards under the corridor. As he turned around, the hem of his robe swept across the stone table, and the celadon teacup fell to the ground with a "clang". The broken porcelain and tea soup meandered on the blue bricks, but it did not affect his joyful mood in the slightest.

Gu Wenyou received Gu Wenchao's letter and opened it with great fanfare, the jade pendant at his waist still jingling. He had just snatched the letter from the eunuch's hand, glanced at it a few times, and suddenly burst into laughter: "Good! Good! Sister is doing well over there!" The laughter startled the white doves perched under the eaves, which fluttered past the carved wooden window and landed on the crabapple tree in the courtyard.

Standing in the main hall, Gu Wenchao was overwhelmed by memories. Half a year ago, Gu Wenxi had been resolute, refusing to marry into the Western Regions because she disliked Ouyang Lie for marrying another woman. Prince Wen had personally requested that his daughter, Gu Wenxuan, marry into the Western Regions. Gu Wenxuan was also reluctant; she didn't want to leave her family. Princess Wen, with red eyes, comforted Wenxuan but ignored Prince Wen completely. Prince Wen paced back and forth in the hall, his footsteps on the bluestone bricks growing heavier with each step. Finally, Gu Wenhua and Gu Wenye knelt before their father, their foreheads pressed against the cold ground, pleading, "Father, my sister is stubborn. If she goes, I'm afraid..." Before they could finish, their father's angry shout interrupted them: "Shut up! This marriage is a royal decree, not a game! I'm only thinking of your sister. Is being a princess in the Great Xia better than being an empress in the Western Regions? Wouldn't that be a real waste of your sister's talent!"

The concerns at the time were not unfounded. Ouyang Lie, the rumored ruthless emperor of the Western Regions, was an emperor who fought his way up from the bottom. In his childhood, he and his mother suffered endless bullying, forcing him to appear uneducated and utterly dissolute. It was only with the help of Gu Mochen, the retired emperor, that he was able to eliminate his own rivals and rise to the top, commanding respect even from envoys of other nations. Although Wenxuan was intelligent and decisive, who could guarantee she wouldn't be mistreated in that unfamiliar foreign land? The news that arrived at the time of the wedding was brief, only mentioning a grand ceremony, and then vanished without a trace. Until today, this letter, still carrying the scent of ink, finally put her mind at ease.

"Prepare the gifts!" Gu Wenchao suddenly clapped his hands. "The best of everything! The thousand-year-old ginseng, bird's nest, lingzhi and other fine medicinal herbs bestowed by the palace, as well as the Yun brocade from Jiangnan, pack them all!"

“Brother, I also have something good.” Gu Wenqian smiled mysteriously and took out a brocade box from her sleeve. When she opened it, there was a pair of crystal clear jade bracelets. “These are gifts from Mother. I don’t really like these things, so I’ll give them to Sister Wenxuan. She’s essentially marrying in my place.”

Meanwhile, Gu Wenyou also sent a large amount of tonics and gold and silver jewelry through Gu Wenchen and Gu Wenxi. He originally thought of having the royal merchants of the Western Regions send them directly, but he felt that it would not show enough importance, so he simply had Gu Wenchen and Gu Wenxi send them. It was convenient for the two brothers to come, and they just flashed over. It has to be said that their ability to travel through time and space is simply too strong.

The two brothers were busy at work when they suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside the palace. The head eunuch, sweating profusely and panting, reported, "Your Majesty, Your Highnesses, Princess Wen... she's packing her bags to go to the Western Regions. Prince Wen is asking you if she can go with you!"

Gu Wenchao, Gu Wenchen, and Gu Wenxi exchanged a glance and invited Prince Wen into the hall to speak. Prince Wen pushed open the door and saw what he had just witnessed: Princess Wen was directing the maids to pack boxes, jewelry and silks scattered all over the floor from the sandalwood cabinet. The pearl hairpin in her hair swayed slightly, her face filled with urgency. She said she needed to see Xuan'er; she was pregnant and needed care. Prince Wen was somewhat worried about Princess Wen; her safety was one concern, but more importantly, he feared she might do more harm than good.

Gu Wenchao thought about Prince Wen's gentle nature and said to him, "Uncle, the affairs of the court are very busy. I think we should let Wen Hua and Wen Ye go with Aunt... and take two hundred guards with them. They will be able to protect them well."

After some thought, he still felt uneasy. He pondered for a moment, then frowned. His two brothers, Wen Hua and Wen Ye, were neither skilled in literature nor martial arts; they might not be able to handle the complexities and interpersonal relationships in the Western Regions, let alone deal with potential conflicts. Suddenly, a thought struck him—his cousin, Gu Wenlin!

Gu Wenlin's life story is quite tumultuous. Years ago, he was mistakenly identified as the Crown Prince's son and received immense respect, only to have his true identity exposed by Emperor Gu Mochen in public – it was all a case of a switcheroo. One would think he would be crushed by this, but unexpectedly, this young man, through sheer tenacity, won the favor of his younger brother, the current Emperor Gu Wenchao, and was bestowed the title of Prince Lin. In recent years, he has studied under Grand Tutor Wu, learning literature and martial arts alongside the princes, mastering the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and his wisdom is second to none.

Gu Wenchao looked at Gu Wenlin and said without hesitation, "Cousin, I have two things to tell you." His voice was calm and steady, as if he had already thought about these words repeatedly in his mind.

Gu Wenlin looked at him quietly, waiting for him to continue.

Gu Wenchao took a deep breath and then recounted in detail the news of his sister Wenxuan's pregnancy and the fact that Princess Wenqin was going to the Western Regions. He spoke very clearly, without hiding anything, so that Gu Wenlin had a clear understanding of the whole matter.

Finally, Gu Wenchao earnestly said, "Brothers Wenhua and Wenye are straightforward and somewhat impulsive. I'm afraid they won't be able to handle things properly in the Western Regions. But you, cousin, are exceptionally intelligent. If you could go with us, you would surely be able to protect them and ensure their safety, and also prevent Sister Wenxuan from losing face in the Western Regions."

Gu Wenlin was slightly taken aback after hearing these words, clearly not expecting Gu Wenchao to make this request so directly. He remained silent for a moment, seemingly considering the pros and cons.

Over the years, although Gu Wenlin appeared cheerful and optimistic on the surface, he was actually shrouded in the shadow of his background. He knew that his origins were not honorable, which placed him in a delicate position within the family.

However, Gu Wenchao's invitation gave him a glimmer of hope. It wasn't just a sign of trust in his abilities, but also an opportunity to prove himself. If he could perform well on the journey to the Western Regions, perhaps he could change his family's opinion of him and truly free himself from the constraints of his lineage.

Thinking this, Gu Wenlin's gaze gradually hardened. He looked at Gu Wenchao and said without hesitation, "Alright! I'll go with them."

Half a month later, the grand procession departed the capital. Princess Wenqin sat in her carriage, watching the city walls recede into the distance, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She gently stroked the brocade box in her arms, containing baby clothes for her daughter, each stitch sewn by her own hand. Gu Wenhua and Gu Wenye rode alongside the carriage, frequently glancing back, their eyes filled with worry and reluctance. Gu Wenlin, dressed in a black, close-fitting outfit, sat astride a tall horse, his gaze sharp. He should have ridden in a carriage too, but he was too lazy; the carriage was also crammed with gifts for his sister, Wenxuan.