“Last year? Was it last year?”

Gu Yi paused at his words, thinking hard, and suddenly realized that she might have never told Xiaoyan in person that she loved him.

No, she seemed to have said it before.

Gu Yi’s mind raced, thinking for quite a while, but she still couldn’t remember when or where she had said those words.

Sensing Gu Yi stiffen in his arms, Xiaoyan’s doubts grew stronger.

“Your Majesty’s servant…”

Gu Yi hesitantly looked up, only to see that Xiaoyan showed no anger, just gazing at her tenderly, his eyes gently rippling like water, soft and filled with starlight.

She forgot what she had wanted to say.

Xiaoyan lowered his head and kissed her.

His lips were dry yet soft, their lips and teeth meeting, sharing each other’s breath.

Only after tasting the tears rolling down her lips did Xiaoyan finally release her.

With a soft sigh, he gazed tenderly at her features, his thumb gently wiping away several teardrops from her cheek.

“If you don’t want to return to the palace, then don’t. Stay here for a few more days.”

Gu Yi stopped her tears and was about to speak when she heard Xiaoyan call out: “Prepare water.”

A familiar voice came from outside the window: “Yes, Your Majesty.” It was Eunuch Gao.

By the time Xiaoyan had finished bathing behind the screen and changed into his middle garments, Gu Yi couldn’t voice any of the arguments she had prepared to persuade him to leave first. She lay on the couch, hugging the blanket in frustration, and simply turned to face the wall in resignation.

Xiaoyan, bringing the fragrance of his bath, came to the couch and turned her around to face him.

“I have bathed,” he said.

Gu Yi responded with a sound of acknowledgment, noticing that his face had indeed become several shades paler, and upon closer inspection, he seemed even paler than before.

Xiaoyan suddenly asked, “When you were at the Southern Garden for horseback archery, were you already wearing the golden armor?” He had noticed the soft golden armor on the chair beside the couch as soon as he entered the room.

Gu Yi made another sound of acknowledgment.

“Why?” Xiaoyan pursued.

Gu Yi, seeing the inquiry in his gaze, casually replied, “Your servant was being cautious. Accidents can happen during archery practice.”

Xiaoyan stared at her unblinkingly. “During your time at the Southern Garden, did you also hide a mother pearl on your person?”

Since Hamu’er had accused Gu Yi of poisoning, after much thought, he believed the poison Gu Yi could have possessed was the mother pearl left by Tao Jia, though he wondered why the shadow guards hadn’t found it in the Heluo Palace.

He spoke with such certainty that Gu Yi, though alarmed, knew she couldn’t deny it. “Your Majesty, how did you know?”

Xiaoyan answered truthfully, “Hamu’er said you poisoned him, so I had this suspicion.”

Hamu’er wasn’t dead.

Gu Yi secretly breathed a sigh of relief and stammered, “Your Majesty is wise.”

Xiaoyan’s gaze remained fixed on Gu Yi’s face as he smiled faintly. “If that’s the case, did you walk into the trap willingly, allowing Hamu’er to take you away?”

Gu Yi’s chest immediately tightened.

Seeing the slight movement of her brow, Xiaoyan asked further, “You wore the golden armor and hid the mother pearl, both as means of escape?” His eyes suddenly brightened, and he moved closer.

“How did you know of Hamu’er’s plan in advance? How could you anticipate it?”

Their eyes met at close distance, and under his gaze, Gu Yi had nowhere to hide.

She knew Xiaoyan had always been clever, but she hadn’t expected him to be this perceptive.

Anticipation—he had described it accurately.

She looked at him speechlessly. What she had thought would be a tender reunion had suddenly turned into a midnight interrogation demanding honesty.

Seeing Gu Yi silent before him, her almond eyes staring at him in bewilderment, Xiaoyan placed his hand over her heart, feeling its rapid beating.

He chuckled softly and moved closer, lightly pecking her vermilion lips.

He couldn’t push her too hard; he needed to proceed gradually.

He softened his tone, “It’s alright if you don’t want to tell me now. I’ll wait until you’re ready.”

Gu Yi unconsciously touched her lips, somewhat stunned.

Xiao Gouzi was acting strange.

First, he said they didn’t have to return to the palace if she didn’t want to, and he wasn’t even angry.

In his eyes, the Southern Garden archery incident was full of holes, yet he didn’t press the matter.

Gu Yi heard his laugh and felt increasingly uneasy. After considering for a moment, she chose to avoid the main issue: “Your servant hid the mother pearl in a hairpin. Concubine Qi made the mother pearl the head of a red jewel ebony hairpin, and Tao Jia switched my hairpin. Your servant turned the tables on them by deliberately keeping the wooden hairpin.”

Xiaoyan’s hand involuntarily tightened, causing Gu Yi some pain.

“Why didn’t you tell me? The mother pearl is highly toxic; the slightest misstep could be life-threatening.”

Hearing his tone deepen slightly, she had to lie: “Your servant didn’t know the pearl was so toxic at first. It wasn’t until Tao Jia told me before she left that I knew. I thought it would be good to keep it for self-protection.”

Good for self-protection.

After Gu Yi escaped using the mother pearl, she not only didn’t go back to look for the hawk incense pearl, nor did she head south to return to Da Mu, but instead was reluctant to return to the palace, and now was even urging him to leave first.

Could it be that Gu Yi had calculated the days and was deliberately avoiding him?

Xiaoyan’s heart sank heavily, an inexplicable unease growing within him as he recalled Gu Yi’s several early deaths.

He reached out and embraced Gu Yi tightly, pressing her to his chest, heartbeat against heartbeat, the heavy sensation giving him some comfort.

Gu Yi raised her arms to encircle Xiaoyan’s waist, feeling through the thin middle garment that Xiaoyan had indeed lost a lot of weight.

“Your Majesty has lost weight.”

To be able to reach Guocheng so quickly, Xiaoyan must have been traveling south without rest since the fall of the capital.

Xiaoyan touched her cheek and sighed, “You’ve lost weight too.”

Gu Yi’s nose stung, feeling that tonight her tears were flowing too easily.

She rubbed her face against Xiaoyan’s clothes to dry her tears. After a few moments, she acutely sensed that where their legs intertwined, something was growing hot, as if something was quietly changing.

She looked up at Xiaoyan, dumbfounded.

Xiaoyan’s ears had reddened, a rare sight.

After months apart, having a warm fragrance in his arms was a natural reaction.

As emotions followed desires, he became more physically intimate, lowering his head to take Gu Yi’s earlobe in his mouth, while his hands swiftly undid the ties on Gu Yi’s chest.

The moon hung high, parting the thin clouds, illuminating the courtyard brightly.

Eunuch Gao, who had been waiting outside the door for instructions, now heard the sounds and tactfully returned to the guest room prepared for him by Zhou Tinghe. He had traveled for months to meet the Emperor at the capital, only to immediately set off with him to Guocheng under the stars.

He wasn’t young anymore, and after so much strain on his muscles and bones, he deserved a good rest.

*

Morning came again.

Gu Yi woke up with a slightly sore throat.

Xiaoyan had been awake for some time, lying on his side watching her. Seeing her open her eyes, he thoughtfully handed her the teacup from the table.

After drinking the tea, Gu Yi looked down and saw that she was already wearing her undergarments, though she didn’t know when they had been put back on.

Xiaoyan chuckled, “I was afraid you’d catch a cold, so I dressed you earlier.”

Gu Yi: “Thank you…”

Footsteps sounded outside the door. “Your Majesty, are you awake?” Eunuch Gao inquired.

Xiaoyan answered, and several servants entered carrying hot water. Among them was the little maid who had been serving Gu Yi these past days, but now her face was flushed red, and she kept her eyes fixed on the blue brick floor, not daring to look up. After putting down the water basin, she fled the room like the wind.

Last night’s commotion seemed to have been rather loud, and this residence was unlike the palace—the rooms were far apart with poor soundproofing.

Gu Yi suddenly didn’t want to go out anymore. Xiaoyan’s mood, however, was visibly better as he unhurriedly washed up and then took her to the flower hall for breakfast.

After breakfast, the master of the residence, Zhou Tinghe, came to pay his respects.

His complexion today looked even worse, with dark circles under his eyes, clearly showing he hadn’t slept well the previous night.

Gu Yi lowered her head, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into.

She glanced sideways at Xiaoyan, who appeared refreshed and conversed easily: “Zhou Minister has rendered great service this time. When I return to the palace, there will certainly be rewards.”

Zhou Tinghe lowered his eyelids and bowed, “This humble servant thanks Your Majesty for the great favor.”

Xiaoyan smiled brilliantly, “Zhou Minister is being too modest.”

After expressing his gratitude, Zhou Tinghe withdrew from the hall with unsteady steps.

Xiaoyan turned to see Gu Yi’s long face and raised an eyebrow, “What’s wrong? Does Concubine Ruo feel sorry for him?”

Sorry, my foot!

I’m embarrassed beyond words!

Taking over someone’s nest was one thing, but imagining herself in Zhou Tinghe’s position, Gu Yi felt it was too cruel!

Xiao Gouzi and his hundred schemes—he truly had bad intentions!

The man was at least their savior!

Xiaoyan’s face darkened as he turned Gu Yi’s face toward him, “Don’t think about him!”

“Your servant wasn’t thinking about him; Your servant was thinking about you. My lord!”

Xiaoyan said coldly, “If Zhou Tinghe doesn’t give up his thoughts from now on, I will have no choice but to kill him in the future.”

Gu Yi urgently pulled down his hand and said earnestly, “Minister Zhou’s family has already arranged a marriage in Fuzhou.”

Xiaoyan was startled, “Really?”

Gu Yi nodded, “Absolutely true.”

This was what a servant of Zhou Tinghe had told her, though she didn’t know if it was true, but she knew Zhou Tinghe had deliberately let her hear it.

Xiaoyan’s expression eased slightly, and he cleared his throat, taking a sip from the teacup on the table.

This matter was finally put to rest.

Gu Yi’s heart was still concerned about the finish line. Although it wasn’t easy to part from Xiaoyan, she had to try her best.

What if she really was struck by lightning on the fifteenth of October and sent back to the fifteenth of June? Did she want to be turned to ashes in front of Xiaoyan? And what if, once the plot was over, she died?

Just thinking about these possibilities gave Gu Yi a headache.

She forced a smile, “Since arriving in Guocheng, your servant hasn’t gone out to explore. Since we’ll be staying for a few days, your servant would like to tour the city. The weather is getting cold, so it would be good to get some new clothes as well.”

Xiaoyan put down his teacup, “Alright.”

Gu Yi stood up, but Xiaoyan also rose, “I’ll go too.”

Gu Yi returned to her room to change, putting on a thick saffron-colored cloak and a black veiled hat.

By the time they were ready, it was past noon when they finally left.

Guocheng wasn’t large, with only two main streets that had shops.

The afternoon streets were livelier, with people coming and going. Xiaoyan, with his jade crown standing tall, walked among them dressed in a dark patterned black robe that didn’t reveal his identity, yet passersby still turned to look at him from time to time.

Gu Yi asked with concern, “Young master, is Guocheng peaceful?”

Xiaoyan heard the implication in her words, “From the city lord to the garrison, everyone in Guocheng has been replaced. Madam need not worry; shadow guards will follow us when we go out.”

Gu Yi nodded, stopping in front of a fur shop. There weren’t many customers in the store, and as the two entered, the shopkeeper approached with a smile, “We received new white fur today, would you like to take a look?”

The shop displayed two snow-white light furs and several arm-length scarves on the front ebony counter.

Xiaoyan looked at them for a moment. The workmanship of the light furs wasn’t particularly fine. He took a white fur scarf, lifted the black veil in front of Gu Yi, and wrapped it around her neck, asking, “Is it warm?”

Gu Yi carefully felt it—the fur was fine, white, and thick, blocking the cold wind, with a soft touch and no strange smell.

She nodded, “It’s warm.”

With Gu Yi standing with her back to him, the shopkeeper couldn’t see her face but heard her voice and immediately smiled, “If the lady likes it, why doesn’t the gentleman buy it?”

Xiaoyan smiled, carefully tying the strings at her neck, then turned to pay the silver.

Walking out of the fur shop, Gu Yi touched the soft white fur, asking curiously, “Is this rabbit fur or fox fur?”

Xiaoyan replied, “It’s white wolf fur.”

Gu Yi was surprised, “Really?”

Xiaoyan chuckled softly, “I’m joking.”

Gu Yi: …

She looked at him carefully, wondering if it was her imagination, but since arriving in Guocheng, Xiaoyan seemed to have completely relaxed. Perhaps it was because he had defeated the Danta, fulfilling his long-cherished wish, and the burden on his shoulders had suddenly lightened.

She smiled happily and said, “I’ve heard there’s a Tiger Hill outside Guocheng. Has the young master been there?”

Xiaoyan glanced at her, a flash of light passing through his eyes, “I’ve heard of it but haven’t been there. Do you want to go?”

“I’d like to! Can we go tomorrow?” It seemed easier to escape in the mountains.

Xiaoyan slowly caressed Gu Yi’s hand in his, chuckling softly, “Alright.”