The Jade Necklace

In the seventh year of Chengning, the borderlands fell into chaos.

With the Wen father and son about to depart for war, they could not bear to leave the family's legitimate daughter at home alone. They had no choice but to send her back to the capital under escort, entrusting her to a close friend.

Before leaving, the young General Wen repeatedly warned his sister, earnestly and at length: “Uncle Gu and Aunt Gu are both good people, but Gu Huaize is a two-faced, heartless scoundrel. Don't believe a single word he says. It may take a month, it may take a year, but your brother will come bring you home.”

Wen Ying nodded, only half understanding. She had no idea why her brother was so wary of him.

When word reached the capital, the Marquis Gu's wife was overjoyed. She had always wanted a sweet little daughter, but sadly, complications had left her unable to have one. Now she happily set about making arrangements, even having several paintings and calligraphy scrolls removed from Gu Huaize's study.

Gu Huaize: “…”

Wen Lan's younger sister was just as much trouble as he was.

But Gu Huaize soon forgot about the few paintings and scrolls and left on official business. When he returned to the estate half a month later, he found a young woman beside his mother.

She looked young and delicate, as if the slightest breeze could knock her over.

Oh? So this was that troublemaker Wen Lan's younger sister.

When she saw him, she stood up from across the room and greeted him with easy confidence. “Brother Gu.”

Her beautiful eyes brimmed with laughter.

Gu Huaize stared blankly for a long while before finding his voice. “…Mm.”

*

The Gu and Wen families had been friends for generations, but their younger members could not get along. Wen Lan and Gu Huaize had been at each other's throats since childhood, competing over everything.

When Wen Lan went to war, their father had no choice but to entrust his daughter to his friend. Worried that Gu Huaize would bully his sister, Wen Lan hurried back to the capital as soon as the fighting was over. At the Gu estate, he found Gu Huaize patiently painting a kite, while someone beside him pointed at it in displeasure.

Wen Lan almost thought he was seeing things.

When Wen Ying spotted him, she happily ran over and called out brightly, “Brother!”

Before Wen Lan could answer, the man who had been painting the kite strolled over unhurriedly and said, “Brother.”

Wen Lan: “…”

If he remembered correctly, he was three months younger than Gu Huaize.

2025.1.14

Theme: May I find one heart to call my own, and stay together until our hair turns white