Silence reigned in the forest, with only occasional startled birds taking flight.

Xiaoyan waited for several moments but received no answer from Gu Yi.

He turned his head slightly, “Gu Yi…”

Gu Yi counted seconds in her mind, and only when sixty seconds had passed did she finally take a deep breath: “As Your Majesty says, your servant is learning from the hawk’s resolve.”

Was the system’s speech restriction effective? So she truly couldn’t reveal the plot system!

Gu Yi had wanted to test whether the speech restriction still existed, and it indeed still worked. Was this the final stubbornness of the plot?

She tried another approach: “Your servant indeed remembers past lives and present ones. The several cycles that Your Majesty remembers, your servant remembers them too. But your servant is destined to die young. By a stroke of fate, your servant received guidance from a transcendent master. To break this fate of early death, your servant must pass through several cycles. However, tomorrow, the fifteenth day of the tenth month, is truly dangerous. Your servant doesn’t know if I can safely pass through it.”

Xiaoyan remained silent for a moment, then asked: “If you cannot pass through the fifteenth of the tenth month, in the next cycle, will we meet again?”

Gu Yi hadn’t expected Xiaoyan to grasp the key point so quickly.

To be honest, she couldn’t be entirely certain. If even the protagonist’s awakening couldn’t cause the plot system to collapse, then logically she should just die on the spot and restart. But if the plot was ruthless and bid her a final farewell, there would be no next time.

But at this moment, she knew she couldn’t say that.

So she quickly nodded: “If not, your servant will return to Your Majesty’s side in the next life.” She anxiously asked, “Will Your Majesty still remember me?”

“Of course I will remember you. In the next life, I will seek you out earlier.”

Alarm bells immediately rang in Gu Yi’s mind. Though she knew the probability was low, she urgently moved her face close to Xiaoyan’s cheek: “If we meet in the next life, let’s set a specific date, so I’ll know Your Majesty remembers. Let’s agree on the fifteenth day of the sixth month in the year I enter the palace!”

She stared intently at Xiaoyan, repeatedly asking: “Is that alright? Is that alright?”

Seeing her anxiety, Xiaoyan responded: “Yes.”

Gu Yi felt both relieved and anxious.

It should be secure now, she reassured herself.

Xiaoyan, noticing she had quietly settled back against his neck, laughed loudly: “However, now that I’ve heard your true feelings, I have no regrets.”

Gu Yi’s face reddened at his words, and she boldly said: “Does Your Majesty think your servant doesn’t love you? That your servant would allow Consort Zhao to become Empress without putting up a final fight?” Although she knew Xiaoyan would never make Zhao Wan the Empress, she just wanted the female lead to know the difficulty and retreat, to have thoughts of withdrawal!

The mountaintop was now in sight.

Xiaoyan stopped walking and set Gu Yi back on the ground.

After Gu Yi was on her feet, Xiaoyan turned to look at her closely, his gaze profound: “I originally thought you loved who I was before.”

Gu Yi was startled and shook her head urgently: “Whether before or now, your servant loves Your Majesty!”

Xiaoyan smiled softly, under his raven-like eyebrows and lashes, his peach blossom eyes were clear as crystal, his gaze increasingly gentle.

He reached out to pick a small leaf that had fallen into her hair at some point, smiling as he said: “Now I know.”

After speaking, he turned to look at the view below the mountain. Gu Yi followed his gaze northward.

The Guocheng they had come from was faintly visible at the end of the path below the mountain. Looking farther, a verdant grassland stretched for thousands of miles. Towards the north, the vegetation became somewhat yellowed, but it still extended endlessly, with a golden glow hanging high above the grassland.

“This scenery is truly magnificent,” Gu Yi couldn’t help but sigh.

Xiaoyan smiled at her and slowly said: “Tazhu once passed through this hill, heading south to Da Mu.”

Hearing this, Gu Yi gazed at him. This was the first time Xiaoyan had mentioned Tazhu. He continued: “Standing on Tiger Hill, looking north to Danta and south to Da Mu—but once you go down the mountain southward, you leave behind your homeland and people forever, never to return. Yet Tazhu said she had no regrets, never had any regrets.”

Xiaoyan chuckled softly: “I didn’t understand before, how she could have no regrets.”

He turned to look at Gu Yi: “But now I understand. Having no regrets means never regretting for a lifetime, regardless of what tomorrow brings.”

For some reason, Gu Yi’s nose stung, and she began to cry again.

In Xiaoyan’s eyes was reflected her tear-filled gaze.

“Gu Yi, will you marry me as my wife?”

Gu Yi’s lips trembled slightly, and tears suddenly poured down like a flood.

She opened her mouth to say “Yes,” but what came out was a series of indistinguishable sobs.

“Ah ah ah…”

Xiaoyan embraced her, “I’ll take that as your agreement.”

Gu Yi nodded in his embrace.

*

The fifteenth day of the tenth month was auspicious for weddings.

Although Guocheng was not Eunuch Gao’s territory, in just two short days, he had used his skills and financial resources to perfectly complete the important task the Emperor had given him.

Although this wedding in Guocheng was being conducted like a commoner’s wedding, with the formal Empress investiture ceremony to be held after returning to the capital, Eunuch Gao was still overjoyed.

He had waited for this day for far too long.

Since the Emperor was eight years old, he had served by his side. Risking his head with such words, though he was a palace servant, he was also half a father to the Emperor, enduring hardships while remaining by his side.

Finally, he had waited until the day of his marriage.

That day, when he heard the Emperor ask him to arrange the wedding, Eunuch Gao maintained a calm exterior, but in private, he found a secluded spot to secretly wipe away hot tears.

He silently vowed that the wedding in Guocheng would be beautifully arranged.

The residence in Guocheng was already hung with red lanterns, with three layers of lanterns hanging from every eave and corner.

Though there were no guests, the courtyard was fully prepared with all necessary arrangements, and dishes were prepared according to old customs.

Early in the morning, he went out personally to fetch the auspicious garments.

The vermilion auspicious garments had no dragon or phoenix patterns, but the subtle pattern was of connected pearls and pomegranates with hundreds of seeds.

After Gu Yi got up, Xiaoyan was no longer on the bed. She was led by several maids to bathe, groom, apply makeup, and change clothes.

Within half a day, many people came and went in the courtyard, offering her numerous auspicious phrases.

By the time the red veil with gold threads was finally placed over her head, it was nearly dusk.

Gu Yi was led by the wedding attendant to step out of the room, walking to the center of the residence, directly facing the flower hall.

A sudden breeze almost blew away her red veil. After she reached up to hold it in place, she heard laughter from in front of her. Looking down, she saw the corner of a vermilion robe stop before her, and a distinct hand with long fingers took her hand from the wedding attendant.

Their palms joined, guiding her into the flower hall.

Gu Yi’s heart pounded like a drum. After she stood still, she heard Eunuch Gao announce: “First bow to Heaven and Earth.”

Xiaoyan led her to turn in a circle, bowing toward the door.

“Second bow to the elders.”

They remained in place and bowed again.

“Husband and wife bow to each other.”

Gu Yi turned around and bowed deeply.

All around them fell silent.

Xiaoyan’s voice said: “In life and death, in union and separation, I join with you in this pledge.”

Gu Yi thought, don’t people usually say the next line?

She pondered for a moment, as if responding to a couplet: “I will hold your hand and grow old with you.”

Xiaoyan seemed to laugh again.

Only then did Eunuch Gao announce: “Escort them to the bridal chamber.”

The two returned to the side room, sitting on the bed with its red silk quilt embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in water.

The voices gradually quieted, and Gu Yi heard the door close, leaving the room in silence.

It seemed everyone had left.

She looked through the gap in her veil at the person beside her, watching him rise and stand in front of her but take no further action.

Her palm inexplicably became covered with a fine layer of sweat. Suddenly, the view before her brightened—Xiaoyan’s face was just inches away, dressed in red, with sharp eyebrows and an air of heroism about him.

Xiaoyan was also examining Gu Yi, seeing her flushed cheeks, her almond eyes rippling like water, her eyebrows and lashes curved like the crescent moon at the edge of the sky.

They gazed at each other, speechless.

The red candle on the table suddenly popped twice with light crackling sounds.

Gu Yi came back to her senses and quickly asked: “What time is it now?”

Xiaoyan answered: “It’s past half of the hour of Xu.”

Just two more hours, and they would have passed the fifteenth of the tenth month!

Gu Yi’s face showed delight as she glanced at the snacks and dishes prepared on the table.

Xiaoyan suggested: “Why don’t we drink first, instead of eating?”

That makes sense!

Gu Yi nodded, still feeling uneasy.

The two walked to the table, and Xiaoyan picked up two silver wing cups filled with wine, handing one to Gu Yi.

“Wife.”

“Husband.”

The two wing cups clinked lightly, sounding like silver bells.

Xiaoyan drank the barley wine in his cup, and seeing this, Gu Yi also tilted her head back and drank it all at once.

The Danta barley wine was indeed spicy as it went down her throat.

Gu Yi frowned at the spiciness, only to see Xiaoyan’s face draw closer as he smiled: “On the wedding night, every moment is worth a thousand gold. To sit idly would be a waste.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Yi was lifted by the waist and placed on the wooden couch.

The brocade curtain shimmered, the wedding candles glowed, and the red waves turned.

When the third watch drum sounded, Gu Yi awoke from a half-dreaming state, immediately rushing toward the awake Xiaoyan with delight: “It’s already past the fifteenth of the tenth month.”

Xiaoyan was unusually stunned, seeming to take quite a while before responding.

With their bodies entwined, Xiaoyan suddenly buried his head in the crook of her neck. Gu Yi felt several drops of water flowing down along her collarbone.

Was Xiaoyan crying?

Gu Yi hurriedly reached to touch his face, but saw him raise his head with a smile, his face showing no tears.

Could it have been her sweat, an illusion?

Her heart eased a little. After remaining silent for a while, her heartbeat gradually calmed somewhat, and she finally said: “Your servant wants to see the sunrise early tomorrow morning.” To welcome a brand new life!

“Alright,” Xiaoyan said, rising.

The two put on their clothes, wrapped themselves in fox fur, and Gu Yi even tucked a hand warmer in her hands as they went outside the courtyard to wait for the sunrise.

Big red lanterns filled the garden as the two sat on the steps waiting for the sunrise.

Gu Yi was full of joy; most of the depression that had been weighing on her chest now dispersed.

The two sometimes chatted, sometimes fell silent, leaning against each other. Despite the rising cold wind, they finally waited for the first golden light at the edge of the sky.

“The sun is coming up.”

As the rising sun shone upon them, Gu Yi squinted her eyes and turned excitedly to look at Xiaoyan beside her, only to see him suddenly fall to one side.

His red clothes were like blood, making his face appear even more paper-white. Gu Yi watched as his eyes gradually closed, this sudden change unfolding slowly before her.

Her chest felt as if it had unexpectedly received a heavy blow, the pain causing her breath to halt abruptly.

The next moment, she hurriedly caught Xiaoyan’s falling body.

“Husband…” she called tremulously.

What was happening?

“Is anyone there! Help!” she shouted.

Hearing this cry, Eunuch Gao hurried over to find Gu Yi’s face covered in tears. “Eunuch Gao, His Majesty…”

He was immediately terrified, “What’s happened to His Majesty?”

Gu Yi’s tears flowed like a spring, “His Majesty…” She hurriedly checked his breathing, which was still warm.

Eunuch Gao called repeatedly for people to come and carry the Emperor back to his room.

Just at this moment, the sound of galloping hooves approached rapidly from outside the courtyard.

Through tear-blurred eyes, Gu Yi saw a long-absent figure dismount from a carriage and rush over.

“Official Hu…”

Official Hu let out a great sigh: “Quickly take His Majesty back to his room. His Majesty’s residual poison is clearing, he should be resting quietly!”

*

After Official Hu examined Xiaoyan, Gu Yi finally stopped crying, and her rationality gradually returned.

“His Majesty is not in danger,” Official Hu told her, then explained in detail about the Emperor’s poisoning.

“Your Highness, after His Majesty was poisoned, though this humble official used the mother pearl to neutralize the poison, the mother pearl itself is also toxic. These past months, with the war situation, His Majesty riding and fighting, it has not been easy. Since arriving in Guocheng, he doesn’t seem to have properly recuperated. Now, accumulated exhaustion has led to illness. If he doesn’t rest, I fear the disease will take root and be difficult to eradicate in the future.”

Official Hu thought about how, for months, he had been on tenterhooks, working diligently to detoxify the Emperor whenever possible. Now that the war had finally settled and the Emperor had come to peaceful Guocheng, his injuries had instead worsened.

In his anxiety, though he dared not scold the person before him, his words carried some reproach.

Gu Yi stood with lowered eyebrows, recalling the wild days they had just spent—Xiaoyan carrying her up the mountain, and last night sitting in the wind all night. The more she thought, the more guilty she felt.

Seeing the newly appointed Empress about to cry, Official Hu couldn’t bear it and turned to comfort her: “Your Highness, don’t worry. With good care, His Majesty is young and healthy, and should recover well. I think His Majesty has been concerned about Your Highness all along, hanging on to reach Guocheng. Now that he sees Your Highness is safe, the tension has relaxed, which is perhaps why his illness has flared up. These next few days, Your Highness should remind His Majesty to take his medicine on time and rest carefully.”

Gu Yi nodded: “Thank you, Official Hu. I will go with you now to prepare the medicine.”

Once the medicine was prepared, Gu Yi carried the tray into the room.

Xiaoyan had already awakened on the bed, leaning against it, while Eunuch Gao stood by the bedside, still holding several scrolls.

“Your Majesty, it’s time to take your medicine.”

Gu Yi handed the medicine bowl to Xiaoyan, but saw him frown slightly, placing a hand on his chest.

She exclaimed in alarm: “Is it painful again? Your servant will go find the Official right away.”

Xiaoyan shook his head, looking at her: “It’s fine, the medicine will help ease it.”

Gu Yi sat by the bed, “Then let your servant feed you.”

Eunuch Gao watched as the Empress gently blew on the medicine to cool it, then fed it to the Emperor spoonful by spoonful.

He couldn’t help but sigh to himself. Before the Empress arrived, the Emperor had been fine, even writing comments on several memorials and righteously rebuking Qi Rutang. But as soon as the Empress arrived, the Emperor suddenly became unwell.

Eunuch Gao tactfully gathered the memorials and quietly withdrew.

After drinking the medicine, Xiaoyan asked Gu Yi: “Not seeing you all morning, were you preparing the medicine?”

Gu Yi shook her head: “The medicine was prepared by the Official himself, your servant just watched over it.” The medicine smelled bitter, so she asked, “Would Your Majesty like some milk candy to help with the taste of the medicine?”

She brought forward a plate of milk candy from the tray.

Xiaoyan typically didn’t like such sweets and was about to refuse, when Gu Yi said: “Your servant learned to make these from the kitchen master this morning. He said it’s a Danta dessert. Would Your Majesty like to try some?”

Hearing this, Xiaoyan reached for one—a snow-white square, about half a finger in length and width.

He tasted one and saw Gu Yi expectantly ask: “Is it good?”

Actually, for him, it was too sweet.

He nodded lightly: “Sweet but not cloying, quite delicious.”

Gu Yi was delighted and smiled, pushing the plate forward again, “Your Majesty, please try another piece.”

Xiaoyan’s brow twitched slightly, but he had no choice but to eat another piece.

Gu Yi put the plate away and said softly: “Your Majesty’s collapse was truly your servant’s fault. If your servant had known Your Majesty was poisoned, your servant would certainly not have…” She thought about how Xiaoyan had been poisoned by the mother pearl while trying to save her life, and thus couldn’t save himself. Yet she had half-believed Hamu’er’s words, thinking Xiaoyan might have saved Zhao Wan instead, abandoning her.

In that moment, she felt like an ungrateful wretch.

Seeing Gu Yi’s gloomy expression, Xiaoyan smiled: “How is this your fault? It’s because my body is unwell, not your fault at all.”

Gu Yi asked: “Why didn’t Your Majesty say you were poisoned? Your servant… when your servant first saw Your Majesty collapse, I thought you…” She couldn’t continue.

Xiaoyan took her hand, “Now do you understand how I felt?”

Gu Yi looked up at him in confusion.

“If anything happens in the future, I will tell you, and likewise, you should not conceal anything from me. Don’t always think everything depends on you alone. If you had run off to some deserted place to face death alone, and I found out afterward, how would I…”

He let out a long sigh, “I truly cannot bear to see you again… In the future, I only hope that before you act, you’ll think of me…”

Gu Yi tightly grasped his hand in return, “Your servant won’t do it again. Your servant will tell Your Majesty everything in the future!”

Xiaoyan gave a soft sound of acknowledgment.