But she wasn’t foolish either. It was obvious at a glance that Yuwen Changqing had no interest in her. How exhausting to harbor one-sided feelings—better to wait for things to develop naturally. If he truly had no thoughts toward her, then so be it. She wouldn’t force it.

“Don’t worry about me first. Look, it’s getting dark. Noble Lady Yan, don’t you want to go see Imperial Brother?” Princess Duanwen turned to ask.

Shen Guiyan turned to look outside. The post station had already begun preparing fine dishes. At this time, the Emperor was probably with Consort Zhuang.

“Forget it. I’ll just pay my respects after the meal.” Shen Guiyan lowered her eyes.

Princess Duanwen’s eyes rolled, and she didn’t insist. The game hunted during the day would all be roasted and eaten in the evening. Originally everyone should have dined in their own rooms, but the Emperor had a sudden whim and said, “Everyone go enjoy the meal together in the open ground.”

So everyone could only shiver in the chilly spring breeze sitting in the courtyard.

Venison, pork—everything was roasted, brought out, and distributed. Shen Guiyan still sat according to rank, on Gu Chaobei’s left side, though she didn’t dare look at him much. Just as she was about to pick up her chopsticks to eat meat, the Emperor spoke. “Noble Lady Yan.”

Shen Guiyan nearly dropped her chopsticks in fright and quickly turned her head. “Your Majesty?”

“You eat these instead.” The Emperor waved his hand, and palace servants came to remove all the meat before Shen Guiyan, replacing it with a uniform spread of vegetarian dishes—bright green and glistening.

Shen Guiyan sat stunned, looking at the fragrant spicy roasted meat on Princess Duanwen’s table, then pressed her lips together. “This concubine wants to eat meat.”

Gu Chaobei glanced at her sideways. “You’re with child. Aren’t you not supposed to eat randomly? Vegetables are enough.”

Consort Zhuang coughed lightly, tugged at the Emperor’s sleeve, and said quietly, “Pregnant women can’t eat randomly, but they also need to eat meat, Your Majesty.”

Gu Chaobei was startled and leaned close to Consort Zhuang with a stern face. “Any kind of meat is fine?”

Consort Zhuang gently shook her head. “Eating some pork is harmless.”

Gu Chaobei sat up straight and glanced at Shen Guiyan. “Then I’ll leave you a plate of roasted pork.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Shen Guiyan looked at him strangely twice, accepted the roasted meat from a palace servant’s hands, and slowly began eating.

Gu Chaobei stared straight ahead without looking sideways, but the corner of his eye kept sweeping left, watching as she seemed to really enjoy the roasted meat. He waved for palace servants to bring up another plate.

“The wild boar Your Majesty hunted today has excellent meat quality.” Consort Zhuang helped praise it.

Gu Chaobei nodded, ears perked listening to the left side.

Shen Guiyan also found it delicious, but seeing him chatting happily with Consort Zhuang, she didn’t feel it was appropriate to interrupt and just quietly ate with her head down.

Was it so difficult to hear a word of praise? The Emperor was slightly annoyed. Disregarding that there were subjects all around, he turned to glare at Shen Guiyan.

But Shen Guiyan had turned her head to talk with Princess Duanwen and completely missed his look.

Gu Chaobei was about to die of frustration. Unable to help himself, he reached out and gently tugged at Shen Guiyan’s hand resting under the table.

Slightly startled, Shen Guiyan turned her head back.

Gu Chaobei’s eyes were full of grievance, even looking somewhat pitiful, as if he’d suffered some great injustice. Shen Guiyan was stunned at the sight.

She hadn’t seen such an expression in so long. It seemed like the next moment he would embrace her and shamelessly call out “wife.”

Unfortunately, times had changed. No matter how pitiful Gu Chaobei’s eyes looked, he only glanced at her this once and couldn’t possibly say anything more.

Shen Guiyan’s heart suddenly felt a bit sour. She pressed her lips together and lowered her head. She let him hold her hand without pulling away.

“After the meal, Noble Lady Yan, come to this concubine’s room for a moment. This concubine has something to give you.” Consort Zhuang smiled.

“Alright.” Shen Guiyan nodded.

Gu Chaobei held her for quite a while before reluctantly letting go, glancing at Consort Zhuang and suppressing his thoughts.

He could wait a bit longer.

Yuwen Changqing was still in his room recovering from his injuries, without meat to eat. After eating for a while, Princess Duanwen ordered someone to bring food to General Yuwen and followed along herself. Consort Zhuang stood and beckoned, indicating for Shen Guiyan to follow her. Shen Guiyan set down her chopsticks and got up to leave.

“Why do His Majesty and Guiyan seem odd together?” Gu Chaonan watched from afar and couldn’t help muttering quietly.

Xu Mengdie smiled. “When someone wants to watch a play, they naturally can only act. But this won’t last much longer. Princess Duanwen also relies on the Emperor. Just waiting for the next opportunity, His Majesty can turn the tables.”

Gu Chaonan was startled and frowned, turning to look at her. “Mengdie, you seem different from before.”

Xu Mengdie was slightly alarmed and quickly lowered her eyes. “How could that be? You’re overthinking, husband. This wife will help advance your official career. Please rest assured.”

Gu Chaonan frowned, looking at Xu Mengdie for a long while before shifting his gaze away.

Shortly after Consort Zhuang left, the Emperor also left. The remaining people quickly returned to their rooms to dine warmly.

“Wait here.” Consort Zhuang brought Shen Guiyan into the room, then went straight out.

Shen Guiyan’s heart beat quickly. Sitting at the table, she could roughly guess what Consort Zhuang meant. She was just surprised she would help her to this extent.

The door opened again. Gu Chaobei slipped in like a thief, closed the door and locked it, his breathing still somewhat unsteady.

Shen Guiyan stood up looking at him, opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say, only managing to smile. Gu Chaobei was quite unhappy though. He came over and embraced her in one movement. “Are you about to forget me?”

Shen Guiyan: “…”

Shouldn’t those words be hers to say? Clearly he was the one about to forget her!

Pressing her lips together, she looked at him and said gently, “Is it alright for Your Majesty to meet with this concubine like this now?”

“If I could bear not to see you, I would have.” Gu Chaobei said in a muffled voice. “But you—you don’t think of my good points at all, and even gave the belt to Yuwen Changqing?”

In the plan, he wasn’t supposed to explain the situation to Yan’er this early, but this journey had been truly infuriating. A perfectly good belt given away, and when Yuwen Changqing was injured she even went to support him. It made him extremely displeased.

She should only be like this with him.

The belt? Shen Guiyan thought for a moment. “Consider it as the Princess giving it to General Yuwen. This concubine gave it to Princess Duanwen.”

Gu Chaobei was startled. “To Duanwen?”

“Yes. Princess Duanwen has been very good to this concubine. Today seeing Your Majesty traveling together with Consort Zhuang, this concubine… just casually gave the belt to the Princess.” Now speaking of it, it seemed somewhat improper. That composure she’d had before had completely disappeared—she’d actually felt jealous.

Shen Guiyan reflected internally, then looked up at Gu Chaobei. “If Your Majesty likes it, this concubine will embroider another for you.”

“Don’t, don’t.” Gu Chaobei gently held her, resting his head on her shoulder. “Embroidering that troublesome thing kept you from sleeping well for days. Why torture yourself? There’s also something in your belly.”

“How do you know?” Shen Guiyan raised an eyebrow.

Gu Chaobei coughed dryly, too embarrassed to mention his nighttime sneaking around to steal fragrance, and immediately changed the subject. “Yan’er, wait for me one more month. I won’t let you suffer grievances anymore.”

The court was about to implement new policies. Currently, the Empress Dowager still thought he was a useless person who didn’t manage state affairs. When the time was ripe, Prime Minister Gu would announce the new policies in court. That day would also be when he formally made his stunning debut.

With the power to contend with Empress Dowager Wen, he could follow his own wishes and bring Yan’er openly and properly to his side.

“This concubine can wait.” Shen Guiyan lowered her eyes. “But this concubine dares ask Your Majesty one thing: if one day someone else weighs more in Your Majesty’s heart than this concubine, will this concubine’s fate be to spend her days in the Cold Palace?”

Gu Chaobei was startled and frowned. “What person could surpass you?”

What did women think about all day?

Shen Guiyan pressed her lips together. “This concubine is merely supposing. They say an emperor’s favor flows like water. Your Majesty loves beautiful women, and this concubine’s looks will fade sooner or later.”

Was he such a heartless and disloyal person? Gu Chaobei frowned, gripping Shen Guiyan’s shoulders and looking into her eyes. “I won’t betray you. Even if there are more beautiful people in the future, I’ll definitely still love you most.”

Because the person who accompanied him from having nothing to having everything was her.

Shen Guiyan sighed softly. She wanted very much not to believe his words, but Gu Chaobei’s expression was too serious, his gaze heavy as stone, making her have to believe.

Perhaps he truly was different from ordinary people—what he promised, he could accomplish?

Smiling, Shen Guiyan nodded. “This concubine believes you.”

Just as Gu Chaobei was about to say more, the door outside knocked lightly three times.

Time was up already? Gu Chaobei was extremely vexed. Shen Guiyan also sensibly put on her cloak to prepare to leave.

“Remember, don’t get so close to Yuwen Changqing anymore!” The Emperor’s final words came out as a low growl, yet this was what he said.

Shen Guiyan smiled gently, squeezed his hand, then quickly walked to the door.

Consort Zhuang stepped inside, instead pretending to be seeing her out. “Noble Lady Yan, take care.”

Remembering Xu Mengdie’s words, Shen Guiyan paused and looked at Consort Zhuang. “Can Your Ladyship do this concubine a convenience tomorrow? This concubine wishes to ride with His Majesty.”

Consort Zhuang looked back into the room, paused for a moment, then nodded. “Perfect. With your condition carrying a child, the Princess’s phoenix carriage would certainly still be bumpy. It would be better to use His Majesty’s dragon carriage.”

“Thank you, Your Ladyship.” Shen Guiyan smiled and left wrapped in her cloak.

Though she didn’t know Xu Mengdie’s intent, Shen Guiyan still kept an extra eye out. When she returned, she borrowed Princess Duanwen’s armor and wore a piece on her shoulder and back.

Princess Duanwen’s room was next to hers, but though she’d said she was going to care for General Yuwen, she never returned after. Shen Guiyan didn’t ask, afraid of disturbing something.

The next day when they were to depart for the palace, Shen Guiyan came out to see Princess Duanwen wearing a cloak, standing outside with a stern face. Beside her, Yuwen Changqing wore a bitter smile, his injuries still not fully healed.

“Since Noble Lady Yan will ride with His Majesty today, this Princess will go with Consort Zhuang.” Princess Duanwen came over and supported Shen Guiyan. “Let me escort you to the dragon carriage first.”

Shen Guiyan swept several glances over these two, feeling something was odd. When Princess Duanwen was leading her over, Shen Guiyan quietly asked, “What did the Princess do yesterday?”

Princess Duanwen irritably rolled her eyes. “Kept someone company watching the stars and moon, and incidentally listened to someone’s drunken rambling.”