The first quarter moon hung high.

Gu Yi, guided by four palace servants holding lanterns, arrived at the terrace behind Xuanyu Pavilion.

A long rectangular rosewood table had already been set up on the terrace, with a jar of peach blossom wine and various dishes.

The terrace was quite spacious. From the railing, one could look down at the pavilions and buildings behind the hall, or look up to observe the stars, sun, and moon.

A dozen white paper sky lanterns were arranged in sequence under the railing. Red silk ribbons were tied to the bottom of the candle stands, weighted down with blue tiles.

Eunuch Gao smiled and said, “Today is Noble Lady’s birthday. These sky lanterns were prepared for the Noble Lady on His Majesty’s orders. When the brush and ink arrive, the Noble Lady can write wishes on the sky lanterns and release them into the sky. When the heavenly lord hears them, he will help the Noble Lady’s wishes come true.”

Gu Yi looked around, “Where is His Majesty? Where is His Majesty now?”

Eunuch Gao groaned inwardly but smiled and said, “His Majesty is busy with state affairs today. Noble Lady should not wait any longer and should have dinner first.”

Gu Yi nodded, “It’s only just past the Hour of Xu. I’ll wait a while. It’s fine if His Majesty is truly too busy.”

Eunuch Gao responded and turned to have the palace servants serve the meal.

Gu Yi had eaten a half-meter-long longevity noodle at noon and had snacks in the afternoon, so she wasn’t very hungry now.

Tao Jia poured her a cup of peach blossom wine, “Noble Lady, have a cup to warm yourself.”

Gu Yi drank a cup of wine and looked up at the sky.

The night sky, like black satin, was embedded with thousands of twinkling stars.

The terrace was indeed an excellent place to observe stars and admire the moon.

There were sixteen dishes in total, both meat and vegetarian options.

Gu Yi picked up her chopsticks and ate a few bites, then poured herself another cup of wine.

But even after Gu Yi had drunk a pot of wine and looked at the stars until her neck was sore, and the palace servants had cleared away the cups and dishes one after another, Xiaoyan still hadn’t come.

Scattered stars accompanied the moon, and all around was quiet.

A palace servant carefully approached with a tray, “Noble Lady, the brush and ink have arrived.”

Tao Jia smiled, “Noble Lady, go make a wish at the sky lanterns by the railing.”

Gu Yi, holding the wolf-hair brush dipped in ink, rose and walked to the railing, picking and choosing before selecting the lantern in the middle.

She squatted down and first wrote: “Happiness.” Then she turned the lantern over to the other side and continued writing: “Rich Lady.”

After writing, she reached out to remove the blue tile, and the sky lantern floated up, gradually ascending and slowly flying away.

When the sky lantern flew out of sight, Gu Yi clapped her hands and said, “Let’s go. It’s getting late. Let’s return to Xun Xue Palace.”

The Emperor truly didn’t come!

Tao Jia’s face stiffened slightly, then she revealed a smile and comforted her, “Noble Lady should rest early. Tomorrow morning, you can go soak in the hot spring pool again!”

Gu Yi nodded, made an “mm” sound, and walked down from the terrace. The rose-colored skirt hem trailing behind her slowly swept across several stone steps.

As she walked, she removed the white jade mandarin duck begonia hairpin from her bun and handed it to Tao Jia, “Put it away.”

Tao Jia dared not say more and carefully wrapped the jade hairpin in a silk handkerchief, placing it in her waist pouch.

After walking a few steps, the cool breeze cleared Gu Yi’s head, dispersing some of the wine’s effects.

Suddenly, she felt a bit ridiculous.

It wasn’t even her real birthday, so what was there to be disappointed about?

Besides, Xiaoyan was the Emperor, and wasn’t it normal for an Emperor to be busy!

Moreover, she wasn’t the female protagonist!

Could it be that after staying with Xiao Gouzi for so long, she had developed inappropriate delusions?

Sooner or later, she would happily leave the palace and become a joyful, wealthy lady!

While Gu Yi was engaged in this profound self-reflection, her feet unconsciously followed her habit and led her to the edge of the hot spring pool.

She looked carefully and saw that someone was sitting in the pool.

Xiaoyan, with a dark crown on his head and dressed in black, was leaning against the pool’s edge with his eyes closed.

Gu Yi couldn’t help but widen her eyes.

Tao Jia, behind her, exclaimed in surprise, “It’s His Majesty!”

Gu Yi immediately turned her head and instructed, “Quick, go find Eunuch Gao!”

Tao Jia hesitated for a moment, lightly biting her lip, her gaze fixed intently on Xiaoyan, but she didn’t move.

Gu Yi urged anxiously, “Go quickly!”

Tao Jia finally seemed to come to her senses and ran off.

Gu Yi walked to the edge of the pool and called out, “Your Majesty!”

Xiaoyan opened his eyes, looked up at her, his eyes rippling with light.

Gu Yi squatted down and examined him closely, “Is Your Majesty drunk?”

His clothes were already wet, and Gu Yi saw dried blood on his shoulder, exclaiming in shock, “Your Majesty is injured?”

Xiaoyan tilted his head slightly to look at her and smiled, “It’s not my blood.”

Gu Yi’s shoulders relaxed, and she was somewhat relieved, although tonight’s Xiaoyan was indeed acting strangely.

“Your Majesty, please get out. The night wind is cool. Don’t soak any longer.”

Xiaoyan recognized her, “Gu Yi.” Suddenly, he turned to face her and reached out from the water to grasp Gu Yi’s right ankle.

Gu Yi paused, vigilantly asking, “Your Majesty, what are you doing?”

As soon as she finished speaking, a strong force pulled her into the hot spring pool.

With a splash, water sprayed in all directions.

Gu Yi’s carefully arranged layers of clothes were soaked and clung heavily to her body, feeling like a hundred pounds pressing on her shoulders.

She said angrily, “Your Majesty, stop fooling around!”

Xiaoyan laughed and gazed into Gu Yi’s slightly annoyed eyes.

But Gu Yi felt that his eyes weren’t laughing.

His eyebrows and lashes blinked, and there seemed to be a flash of moisture in his eyes.

Xiao Gouzi…

Was he… crying…?

Gu Yi was shocked by this realization…

She opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say, “Your Majesty…”

The plot from the book flashed rapidly through her mind.

September, Wu Mountain villa, September!

So…

So it was today…

Coinciding with the cannon fodder’s birthday in the book!

Tazhu’s death anniversary…

Xiaoyan’s birth mother, Tazhu, died before Xiaoyan’s eyes.

“Xiaoyan…”

Gu Yi’s chest tightened, her eyes grew warm, and she couldn’t help but reach out to gently stroke his forehead, her fingers sliding past the shallow scar at his temple.

“Xiaoyan… don’t be sad anymore…”

Xiaoyan reached out to cover her mouth, “You’re too noisy.”

Gu Yi saw his long eyebrows slightly drawn together, his almond eyes bright and shimmering.

He had been crying!

Yet still trying to act cool!

Gu Yi pushed away the palm covering her mouth, “Your Majesty…”

Just as she was about to speak, Xiaoyan suddenly leaned forward and kissed her lips, silencing her.

Gu Yi was startled, feeling only a feather-light, gentle, trembling touch on her lips. Her heart ached, and she could only close her eyes.

Eunuch Gao, leading a long line of palace servants, hurried over.

Seeing the scene before him, he immediately stopped several steps away, turned back, and scolded in a low voice, “All of you, lower your heads.”

The palace servants quickly bowed their heads, not daring to look around.

Eunuch Gao glanced out of the corner of his eye, saw the two figures separate, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Only then did he hurry forward a few steps and fake-coughed, saying, “Your Majesty, this old servant has brought cloaks. The night is deep, and the dew is heavy. Your Majesty and the Noble Lady should return to the palace early.”

Xiaoyan saw the cloak in Eunuch Gao’s hand and looked at Gu Yi.

Eunuch Gao immediately said, “Noble Lady, please come up first.”

Gu Yi, weighed down by her heavy clothes, was given a boost by Xiaoyan before she could climb ashore. She accepted the thick cloak handed to her by Eunuch Gao.

Xiaoyan nimbly came ashore and also accepted a cloak handed to him by another palace servant.

The two, looking like drowned chickens, returned to Xuanyu Pavilion.

Gu Yi took off her wet clothes and soaked in a hot bath before changing into new clothes.

When she returned to the main hall of the pavilion, Xiaoyan was already dressed neatly in his dragon-patterned regular attire, standing before the jade steps, his eyes restored to their usual distant clarity.

Gu Yi stood in place, not knowing what to do.

This plot point was briefly mentioned in the book, stating that on the death anniversary of Xiaoyan’s mother, he went to Wu Mountain and killed the remnants of Crown Prince Heng’s faction in the villa.

Gu Yi thought for a moment and felt that as Noble Lady Gu, she shouldn’t know the reason for this. Just as she was preparing to engage in some small talk like “Would Your Majesty like some tea?”, she heard Xiaoyan say, “Follow me to the terrace for a look.”

She naturally followed.

Xiaoyan looked at the several sky lanterns remaining under the railing and asked, “Have you already made your wish?”

Gu Yi nodded, making an “mm” sound.

Xiaoyan saw that the wolf-hair brush and ink stone were still on the table, so he picked up the brush, dipped it lightly in ink, and walked to the railing to select a sky lantern.

He raised the brush, hesitated for a moment, but ultimately wrote nothing, releasing the blank sky lantern into the air.

Looking up at the night sky, the light in his pupils flickered in and out.

Gu Yi looked at his cold, clear profile, her heart tightening slightly, “Your Majesty…” But words of comfort, though she thought for a long time, wouldn’t come out.

Xiaoyan hadn’t told her that today was Tazhu’s death anniversary.

Naturally, she couldn’t mention it.

Gu Yi stood frozen in place, only able to look at Xiaoyan for a while, then look at the sky for a while.

The night was empty and quiet, with a gentle breeze, the starry sky like jewels adorning a brocade.

She gazed up at the stars and finally made up her mind, slowly asking, “Your Majesty, see how those sky lanterns fly into the night sky, don’t they look like stars?”

Xiaoyan glanced at her but didn’t answer.

Gu Yi smiled gently, “When this concubine was young, I heard a story that said those whom you sincerely miss in your heart turn into stars at the edge of the sky. Even though day and night cycle, and they cannot always be by your side, whenever you look up at the starry sky, the person you miss in your heart is also gazing back, wishing you a lifetime… of peace and joy.”

Xiaoyan lowered his eyebrows and said, “Gu Yi…”

Gu Yi responded with an “mm” sound, waiting quietly for what was to follow, but then heard Xiaoyan say, “A gentleman does not speak of strange powers and supernatural beings…”

Gu Yi: …

Xiaoyan saw her frozen and laughed softly, then bent down to pick up another sky lantern.

Gu Yi leaned forward to look and saw him write stroke by stroke:

Congratulations on Gu Yi’s birthday.

He turned it over and wrote on the other side: Long life and prosperity.

Four large characters.

Gu Yi smiled, “Thank you for Your Majesty’s great kindness.”

Xiaoyan smiled faintly and removed the blue tile weighing down the silk ribbon.

The sky lantern bearing the words “long life and prosperity” slowly rose, its candle flame flickering half-bright and half-dim in the air, rising higher and higher, becoming a flying star.