The summer rains of the past few days had been both urgent and heavy. Due to years of neglect, half a blue tile on Pingcui Palace’s roof had been flipped by the wind, causing a constant leak in the entrance hall.

Last night brought another sudden downpour, forcing Tao Jia to place a red-lacquered wooden bucket in the center of the hall. The lingering rainwater continued to drip through the hole in the eaves.

Tao Jia’s face was red with anger, “The people at the Craftsmen’s Bureau are bullying us! This servant has reported it several times over the past month, but they’ve made endless excuses. Today they still haven’t sent anyone!”

Gu Yi looked at the half-full bucket, noting that the rain seemed to be falling more slowly.

“A leaky roof is still bearable in summer, but it would be quite difficult in winter… Once I have some silver, I’ll offer some incentives. Perhaps that will speed things up.”

No sooner had she spoken than orderly footsteps were heard outside Pingcui Palace.

Tao Jia looked and exclaimed with delight: “Talent, it’s the Ceremonial Bureau!”

The Ceremonial Bureau…

Gu Yi quickly rose and walked to the door to look outside. She saw a procession of jade-green-clad female officials with red sashes at their waists, carrying round trays decorated with pine, bamboo, plum, and crane patterns.

It truly was the Ceremonial Bureau.

She looked in astonishment at the leading blue-clad female official, who curtsied slightly and said, “Greetings to Talent. Congratulations to Talent. Felicitations to Talent.”

Gu Yi hesitantly asked, “Has His Majesty… turned over my jade tablet?”

The blue-clad female official nodded with a smile and recited again, “Congratulations to Talent. Felicitations to Talent.”

Tao Jia, beside her, immediately curtsied as well, “Congratulations to Talent. Felicitations to Talent.”

Seeing that Talent Gu remained silent, the female official turned her gaze away, surveying Pingcui Palace. She noticed the peeling red lacquer, the leaking roof tiles, the desolate courtyard, and for some unknown reason, the front yard was full of pits and holes.

Her brow twitched, and she immediately adopted a solemn expression, instructing the female officials behind her: “Quickly go to the various departments of the Palace Works Bureau. Have the Craftsmen’s Bureau send people here. Pingcui Palace will be receiving His Imperial Majesty. If there is any negligence, punishment will be administered according to regulations.”

After midday, people and materials arrived from various departments.

The leaking blue tiles were quickly repaired.

The craftsman from the Craftsmen’s Bureau came with a smile, bowing to Gu Yi: “Talent, see how everything has been fixed? I guarantee there will be no more leaks. Even the moss on the eaves has been swept away for Talent. Look, Talent, those blue tiles gleam in the sunlight.”

Gu Yi looked up, “Fine craftsmanship.”

The craftsman heaved a sigh of relief, bowed deeply, and withdrew.

The Treasury Department successively delivered glass bead curtains and a landscape folding screen, while the Textile Department replaced all the bedding covers.

Gu Yi walked into the courtyard and saw that the red-lacquered palace gates had also been carefully repainted, now a dazzling red. Diligent palace servants had filled in all the ball holes she had painstakingly dug in the ground, covering them with new soil, making everything neat.

Gu Yi: …

She turned and saw two palace servants jointly carrying a water jar into the courtyard.

The water jar was blue-black porcelain, round-bellied, taller than half a person. When placed in the small courtyard, it seemed even larger than the jar Sima Guang broke in the famous story.

A palace servant smiled, “Talent could grow some lotus or raise some fish in this water jar. It would bring more life to the courtyard. Having just one loquat tree is rather sparse.”

She merely nodded with a smile and made a sound of acknowledgment.

At the Hour of the Rooster (5-7 PM).

After bathing, Gu Yi was surrounded by palace maids who helped her change into a new outfit: a cinnabar-red skirt with a dark blue gauze jacket.

Her fingernails were dyed with safflower red, her hair styled in a cloud-gauze bun, with gold thread tassels hanging down the back of her head.

Fortunately, layers of ice mountains were arranged on both the east and west sides of the hall.

Though dressed in multiple layers, she didn’t feel hot.

However, Gu Yi found something strange. She had dealt with the Ceremonial Bureau before, but never had they been as solemn as today. Was it because her rank had been higher before, allowing for more leniency, but now, as a mere Talent, they had to be more strict?

The female official from the Ceremonial Bureau, seeing that everything was in order, curtsied and took her leave, leading a string of palace servants from various places in a grand procession.

Gu Yi had just prepared to sit down for a cup of tea when she heard the familiar voice of Eunuch Gao announcing loudly: “His Majesty arrives!”

She nervously clenched her fist, quickly walked to the door, and bowed: “This concubine greets Your Majesty and wishes Your Majesty golden health.”

Having not set foot in Pingcui Palace for a long time, Xiaoyan was momentarily stunned to see that the single loquat tree in the courtyard had grown tall and elegant. After a brief pause, he looked at the kneeling Gu Yi with her head lowered.

“Rise.”

Gu Yi rose and looked up to see Xiaoyan wearing a dark gauze winged cicada crown, dressed in bright yellow formal attire adorned with the sun, moon, and stars, with a golden dragon soaring on his chest.

Yet his eyes were calm and waveless.

The most familiar stranger.

She thought.

Xiaoyan saw that Talent Gu was staring at him in a daze, momentarily without movement or words, so he stepped into Pingcui Palace himself.

As Eunuch Gao passed by, he gave Talent Gu a glare, frustrated by her lack of initiative.

What’s going on! Wasn’t she quite clever last time?

Gu Yi came to her senses and quickly turned to follow, automatically standing by the table in the entrance hall, asking: “Would Your Majesty like some tea?”

Xiaoyan saw her standing nervously and merely made a sound of acknowledgment.

Pingcui Palace was not large to begin with, and now with Xiaoyan sitting majestically in the hall, the dwelling suddenly felt even more cramped.

Intimidated by his imposing presence, Gu Yi silently took a deep breath, lifted her sleeves, and carefully poured him a cup of tea.

Fortunately, not a drop of tea was spilled.

After drinking, Xiaoyan slowly said, “Bring the meal.”

Eunuch Gao went out to summon the palace servants waiting nearby. Within half a quarter hour, servants from the kitchen entered in single file carrying trays.

Gu Yi glanced at the dishes arranged on the table, unable to suppress her overly envious expression.

Having been a Talent for so long, the food she ate had been too plain and tasteless.

For instance, she hadn’t enjoyed her favorite soy-braised pork hock for a long time.

Xiaoyan noticed her staring intently at a dish of soy-braised pork hock on the table and said: “Talent, serve our meal.”

Gu Yi picked up the chopsticks and first took a piece of soy-braised pork hock for Xiaoyan. The sauce was richly colored, emitting a fragrant aroma. The meat was so tender that it came apart with just a touch of the chopsticks—definitely melt-in-your-mouth.

Gu Yi’s heart wept as she properly placed that small piece of soy-braised pork hock in the dish in front of Xiaoyan.

She couldn’t help looking down at him.

Since she couldn’t eat it herself, she might as well watch him eat it.

Xiaoyan looked up to see her apricot eyes wide open, gazing at him brightly with expectation.

Xiaoyan lowered his head and began to eat leisurely, with proper manners, all dignified.

Silence during meals.

This food-watching was too agonizing.

Gu Yi stood to the side, and seeing his dish empty, she reached out with the chopsticks to pick up another piece of soy-braised pork hock for him.

Xiaoyan laughed in annoyance, “Talent Gu, have you never served a meal before?”

To be honest, it was practically equivalent to never having done so.

But Gu Yi understood immediately, “This concubine acknowledges her mistake. Please don’t be upset, Your Majesty. From now on, I will distribute evenly and treat all dishes equally. What does Your Majesty prefer to eat?”

Xiaoyan put down his chopsticks and said irritably: “Just sit down.”

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

After she was seated, Xiaoyan picked up his chopsticks again.

Gu Yi immediately took a small piece of soy-braised pork hock for herself with restraint.

Ah, that familiar savory taste!

Eunuch Gao, standing by the pillar in the entrance hall, was dumbfounded.

What was wrong with this Talent Gu?!

After the meal, the palace servants silently cleared away the cups and dishes.

Eunuch Gao, as per the Emperor’s request, brought several scrolls of memorials, but Pingcui Palace was no longer in its former palace style. Now it only had an entrance hall and a bedchamber, without even a study.

Eunuch Gao reluctantly placed the memorials on the sandalwood long table in the bedchamber.

Xiaoyan read the memorials there, while Gu Yi, not wanting to disturb him, went to the courtyard to look at her new water jar.

Clever palace servants had already filled the jar with clear water and even placed several small colorful fish that swam back and forth.

Gu Yi saw her reflection in the water—her face was flushed red.

She touched her face and found it slightly hot.

She shook her head and continued watching the fish.

Eunuch Gao felt he could no longer stand by as a cold observer.

He slowly walked down the steps, stopped behind Talent Gu, and gently fake-coughed.

Gu Yi turned around and smiled, “Eunuch Gao.”

Gao smiled kindly, “Talent, you’re watching the fish.”

Gu Yi nodded, waiting for what would follow.

“The sun is about to set. Talent should enter the hall early. Although His Majesty is busy with state affairs, he needs someone attentive by his side. Talent should accompany him in the hall, talk with him, alleviate his boredom…”

Gu Yi frowned, “But His Majesty is reading memorials. This concubine dares not disturb him.”

Eunuch Gao sighed inwardly but could only patiently guide her, “Talent, how is it a disturbance? Go serve a cup of tea. Even if you don’t speak, just sitting in the hall, keeping him company is enough.”

Gu Yi felt that the current Eunuch Gao was a bit strange—now he was managing even such small details…

The Great Mu Dynasty’s premier villain—she hadn’t even paid him any money, yet she got selected, which was very bizarre…

Eunuch Gao saw that Talent Gu before him still appeared clueless.

With a forced smile, “Talent, please go in quickly.”

How exhausting.

Gu Yi had no choice but to return to the hall, picking up a round fan and walking into the bedchamber where Xiaoyan was still reading memorials with his head bowed.

Hearing footsteps, he turned his head to look at her.

Gu Yi instinctively put on the expression of a girl with a fake smile.

Xiaoyan coldly said: “If you don’t want to smile, there’s no need to force it.”

Gu Yi’s face froze, and she withdrew her smile.

She slowly walked a few steps closer, “Would Your Majesty like some hot tea? Shall this concubine brew a fresh pot?”

Xiaoyan turned his head and said: “Not necessary.”

Gu Yi could only find an embroidered stool in the hall to sit on and fan herself.

Upon reflection, the current Xiaoyan seemed even more cold-hearted than before.

Alas.

She unconsciously sighed aloud.

Since she had entered the hall, Xiaoyan had been distracted from the memorials by her slight movements and the gentle waving of her fan.

Now hearing her soft sigh, he couldn’t help but put down the scroll in his hand.

“Talent Gu, do you have something to say at this moment?”

Seeing a hint of annoyance on his face, Gu Yi raised her fan to half-cover her face, “This concubine has nothing to say at present.”

Xiaoyan saw her sitting on the embroidered stool, several feet away from him.

But this Talent Gu was not afraid of him.

As emperor, his word was law, with power over life and death.

Those who feared him, those who dreaded him—he had seen many and could recognize them at a glance.

But this Talent Gu, though outwardly submissive and humble, seemed not to fear him at all.

Seeing Xiaoyan silently gazing at her, Gu Yi stood up and tentatively asked: “Shall this concubine remove Your Majesty’s crown and hairpins?”

Xiaoyan nodded but first called Eunuch Gao into the hall, “Take the memorials to Tianlu Pavilion.”

Eunuch Gao acknowledged the order and left carrying the memorials.

Gu Yi then stepped forward, and because Xiaoyan was still seated, she easily removed his winged cicada crown and black wooden hairpin.

His hair was still as black and glossy, as soft as she remembered.

Gu Yi took a step back.