Zhao Wan kowtowed, “Thank you, Your Majesty.” Then she left Xun Xue Palace.

Gu Yi gazed at Xiaoyan with expectant eyes, “Your Majesty, it would be nice if you would reward this concubine sometime too…”

Fifty taels… this was no small amount. Although palace concubines didn’t need to pay for food, clothing, or lodging, a Noble Lady’s monthly stipend was only five taels. At this moment, the penniless Gu Yi felt a bit jealous.

Living a wealthy life after leaving the palace would be quite difficult if she relied solely on saving her monthly stipend. She hoped that when Xiaoyan disbanded the six palaces, he would have some compassion and give her a decent pension…

So she was indeed jealous.

Xiaoyan smiled, “She’s just a palace maid. What is there to mind?”

Gu Yi:?

Near evening, the rain finally stopped.

Xiaoyan led his palace servants back to Xuanyu Pavilion.

Tao Jia asked in confusion, “Noble Lady, why didn’t you ask His Majesty to stay for dinner?”

Of course, she couldn’t ask him to stay! Xiaoyan was supposed to encounter Zhao Wan bathing in the hot spring pool at Wu Mountain villa one night.

Since she didn’t know exactly which night, she naturally couldn’t casually invite him to stay!

If the main plot point of appointing Beauty Wan didn’t happen, she would certainly be sent back to June 15th in an instant.

Gu Yi waved her hand, “For the birthday banquet three days from now, it wouldn’t be appropriate to keep him now.”

Tao Jia thought about it and nodded, “Noble Lady is wise! Have you decided how to dress for that day? Among the clothes we brought, there’s a rose-colored robe and skirt that you haven’t worn before. Why not choose that one?”

Gu Yi nodded, “Alright, you handle it.”

Tao Jia was full of fighting spirit. On that day, she would make those unobservant imitators take a good look!

Night gradually deepened. After the heavy rain, a thick fog arose on the mountain, floating like a curtain, lightly covering the majestic Wu Mountain villa.

The night grew ever darker.

Eunuch Gao stood with a lantern under the eaves behind Xuanyu Pavilion, watching the lonely and desolate figure practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard.

It was September now, and counting the days, it was almost time.

The Emperor had been sleeping less and less lately, unable to fall asleep.

Alas.

His Majesty’s life was too bitter.

During the day, he had to deal with court officials, making decisive moves on the political stage. But in the deep of night when all was quiet and no one was around, there was not a single person to whom he could pour out his heart.

Everyone believed that the Emperor was heartless—killing his father and brothers, addicted to slaughter, stepping on the skulls of his relatives and the bones of soldiers to ascend the throne.

But who was right and who was wrong, what was true and what was false, nobody cared.

His Majesty had endured cold looks and contempt since childhood. Throughout his journey, even after becoming Emperor, he wasn’t necessarily happy.

Eunuch Gao’s eyes inevitably filled with a sense of bitterness, and he immediately lowered his gaze.

Xiaoyan sheathed his long sword, his back covered with a thin layer of sweat.

Eunuch Gao quickly stepped forward to drape a sandalwood-colored cloak over him. Seeing that he still showed no sign of weariness, he suggested, “Your Majesty, the mountain dew is heavy. Why not go soak in the hot spring pool? Perhaps afterward you will sleep better.”

Xiaoyan thought of Gu Yi’s awkward appearance in the pool last night and couldn’t help but laugh softly, then nodded.

Eunuch Gao immediately prepared a change of clothes, casually selected two palace servants, and headed toward the hot spring pool.

The night was ink-black. By the hot spring pool, someone had placed a crystal palace lamp. The candle inside the gauze emitted a jade-white glow, shrouded in misty white smoke.

Eunuch Gao was about to speak, but was stopped by the Emperor, who gestured for him to be silent.

From a distance, Eunuch Gao carefully looked at the silhouette in the pool, observing the hairstyle.

Was it Noble Lady Gu?

Was she waiting specifically for His Majesty?

Or did Noble Lady Gu simply love this pool so much that she had to come soak day and night?

Seeing the Emperor walking quietly forward, Eunuch Gao tactfully stopped his steps and waved his hand, ordering the palace servants behind him to stop as well.

Xiaoyan walked closer and closer, seeing that the figure in the pool seemed unaware, merely extending a hand to play with the rippling water.

He said with amusement, “Gu Yi…” How could she not have even a single palace maid attending her? Had she sneaked out on her own?

Zhao Wan heard the voice and immediately turned around.

Upon seeing who had come, she felt a rush of heat surge to her chest. She immediately lowered her body in the water, and although there was white mist for cover, she still reached out to shield her chest.

“Your Majesty, please forgive this servant. This servant didn’t know Your Majesty was coming here. This servant will leave immediately!”

Xiaoyan frowned. It was her again.

Zhao Wan saw that Xiaoyan had stopped several steps away from the pool, so she retreated a bit more.

“This servant will leave right away. Please forgive this servant. This servant has disturbed Your Majesty.”

As she spoke, she had already retreated to the edge of the pool, unable to retreat further.

But at this moment, she was completely unclothed. What should she do?

Eunuch Gao saw the Emperor standing several feet away from the pool, and his heart sank.

It wasn’t Noble Lady Gu!

Sure enough, a moment later, he saw the Emperor turn around expressionlessly and return.

Who was the unobservant fool who had disrupted His Majesty’s pleasure?

Eunuch Gao didn’t have time to look back carefully and had to hurry to follow his footsteps.

Zhao Wan saw Xiaoyan’s cold expression as he turned to leave without sparing a single word for her.

The heat on her face instantly receded, and she felt the night wind blowing, a chill spreading from her heart.

Xiaoyan had truly forgotten her completely.

The old times they had spent together had ultimately left no trace in his heart.

*

On the day of Gu Yi’s birthday, Tao Jia specially decorated Xun Xue Palace, replacing the streamers on the bed canopy with red silk, and specifically embroidered a handkerchief for her.

On the handkerchief was a huge bright red character for “longevity.”

Touching as it was, Beauty Gu was only about twenty years old, wasn’t she? Could she bear the weight of this “longevity” character?

Gu Yi accepted the handkerchief and tucked it into her sleeve. “Thank you for your hard work!”

Tao Jia smiled, showing her teeth, “Noble Lady treats Tao Jia well, and Tao Jia knows it! But although Noble Lady has a good temperament, you can’t afford not to compete! Today, you must intimidate those petty people who attempt to imitate the Noble Lady!”

Imitate?

Gu Yi listened in confusion but changed the subject, “What did Eunuch Gao tell you last night?”

“Eunuch Gao said that the terrace behind Xuanyu Pavilion has already been arranged. Although today should be a clear day, to prevent rain, they’ve set up canopies. However…” Tao Jia was silent for a moment, “Eunuch Gao said that His Majesty might come later… but Noble Lady shouldn’t worry. You can watch the stars and admire the moon on the terrace while waiting for His Majesty.”

Gu Yi nodded, “Good, later is fine.”

The palace servants entered the hall with food, and Tao Jia brought a bowl of noodles, “Noble Lady, try this quickly. These are specially made longevity noodles for today.”

Gu Yi took a bite, the flavor lingering on her lips and teeth.

Tao Jia immediately said, “Noble Lady, this is one continuous noodle, symbolizing longevity. Not breaking it is a good omen.”

Gu Yi picked up her chopsticks and lifted the noodle, which was at least half a meter long.

If it weren’t for Tao Jia’s consistent loyalty, she would have suspected this was the plot trying to sabotage her!

Trying to choke her to death!

Gu Yi reluctantly ate the noodles at a leisurely pace.

From outside the door came a eunuch’s loud announcement: “His Majesty rewards Noble Lady Gu with an imperial gift of a pair of white jade mandarin duck begonia hairpins, and six purple sunflower hairpins.”

Gu Yi’s longevity noodle was destined not to remain intact.

She put down her chopsticks, rose, and walked to the door to receive the reward, kneeling in gratitude, “Thank you for Your Majesty’s great kindness.”

Palace servants carried in brocade boxes, placing two pear wood carved square boxes on the table.

Tao Jia said joyfully, “His Majesty indeed remembers the Noble Lady, thinking of the Noble Lady’s birthday!”

Gu Yi reached out to touch the white jade hairpins in the box. They felt cool to the touch, with symmetrical wing-shaped designs on the left and right, small and light, suspended at the top of gold hairpins.

The six purple sunflower hairpins were only about the size of a fingernail, with purple-indigo petals, and the stamens inlaid with several small white pearls.

“This servant will pin them for the Noble Lady right away. When His Majesty sees them at dinner, he will be pleased.”

Gu Yi nodded.

After delivering the rewards, the Xuanyu Pavilion palace servants returned to Eunuch Gao and said, “Eunuch Gao, the task at Xun Xue Palace is completed. Should we report to His Majesty?” This was a rare opportunity to see the Emperor!

Unexpectedly, Eunuch Gao shook his head, “There’s no need. You may withdraw.”

The palace servants looked at each other in dismay. Although they were reluctant, they could only withdraw.

Eunuch Gao wasn’t being stingy with imperial favor; he simply didn’t care about these mere villa attendants.

The thing was, His Majesty wasn’t in Xuanyu Pavilion at all.

*

On Wu Mountain, the sky was clear and bright. Sunlight penetrated through the branches like golden swords falling to the ground.

Qi Chuang looked at the Emperor walking silently ahead, his brow slightly furrowed.

He saw him heading into the mountain, walking briskly, his leather boots stepping through the mud, wetting the hem of his dark dragon-patterned robe, leaving mottled stains.

Behind him followed two unfamiliar guards, both from the villa.

Qi Chuang had not seen them before coming to Wu Mountain.

Xiaoyan continued walking without stopping, but he had turned his back to the guards behind him.

In this secluded place on the mountain, only the Commander of the Imperial Guards was behind him with a sword.

This opportunity would not come again.

The two guards exchanged a glance, and one of them gritted his teeth and drew the long knife from his waist, thrusting it straight toward Xiaoyan’s back.

Qi Chuang shouted, “Traitors!”

Xiaoyan turned around, a silver flash in his hand.

Blood spurted from the guard’s neck, instantly staining half of Xiaoyan’s face red.

His originally cold and melancholic expression now made him look like Asura.

The other guard could only make a desperate move, drawing his knife, “I die for Crown Prince Heng, and I die without regret.”

Xiaoyan laughed loudly, “Then go die.” He dodged the long knife, and the silver knife in his hand went straight into the guard’s throat.

The guard spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, like a dying fish, breathing rapidly twice, making a “huo-huo” sound.

The two corpses fell stiffly to the ground, like autumn leaves falling in the mud.

Qi Chuang sheathed the long sword at his waist and knelt on the ground, “This subject failed to protect Your Majesty. Please forgive me.”

Xiaoyan wiped the slick fresh blood from his face and laughed softly, “Qi Chuang, didn’t you want to avenge Crown Prince Heng just now?”

Qi Chuang’s chest tightened, as if a huge rock had suddenly fallen, an obscure and indescribable guilt weighing heavily on him, “This subject does not have such thoughts!”

Xiaoyan took out a silk handkerchief from his bosom and methodically wiped the blood from half his face.

The handkerchief, now stained red, was discarded like worn-out shoes, thrown into the mud. Qi Chuang, with his head bowed, saw the bright red bloodstains covering the original rosewood pattern on the handkerchief.

“You may rise.”

Qi Chuang stood up and saw Xiaoyan ascending the mountain steps, heading toward the summit.

Several black shadows leaped out from the forest and knelt on the ground, “Your Majesty, how should we dispose of the traitors’ bodies?”

“Cut them into a thousand pieces.”

Qi Chuang was shocked. Xiaoyan had already set up an ambush here.

If he had harbored even the slightest ill intention just now, he would have met the same fate of being cut into a thousand pieces.

The higher they went, the fiercer the mountain wind became.

It was cold at such heights.

As far as Xiaoyan’s eyes could see, he gazed toward the horizon, where floating clouds and mountain ranges chased and accompanied each other.

Tazhu once said she loved the clear mountain breeze and the high-hanging sun and moon, but the palace walls were too high and dense, making it impossible to see.

What about now? Had she returned to her grasslands? Had she seen the high skies and long rivers, the mountains and rivers, the sun and moon that she loved outside the palace walls?

Qi Chuang stood several steps away, watching Xiaoyan standing silently against the wind.

In the distance, the sun gradually sank below the horizon, a crimson golden lacquer seemingly sealing away the past of rising and falling, singing and shouting.