In Xun Xue Palace, Gu Yi naturally heard that the Emperor had summoned Zhao Wan to Xuanyu Pavilion tonight.
This… was the plot continuing?
Tao Jia saw her staring blankly with wide eyes and quickly consoled her: “My Lady, don’t worry! A mere Talented Lady, compared to you, is far inferior! He’s just seeking novelty!”
Zhao Wan receiving the Emperor’s favor at the Wushan Imperial Villa—although the location had changed from the hot spring pool to Xuanyu Pavilion—the plot point had indeed connected!
Gu Yi’s lips trembled, but she couldn’t make a sound. She shook her head.
The plot was certainly most important! The plot was a matter of life and death!
She secretly let out a breath, “I understand. You… go to the bookshelf and fetch me a book…”
Tao Jia immediately nodded, “My Lady is right! Reading is the best distraction…” Her eyes turned, and she thought of something else, “Or shall this servant find something curious for My Lady to see? This servant has heard that behind the bamboo garden of the kitchen in this Wushan Imperial Villa, they keep many rabbits. Shall this servant bring a small rabbit for My Lady to enjoy?”
Rabbits?
Gu Yi couldn’t help but exclaim: “How do you know so much? Have you mapped out every corner of Wushan Imperial Villa these past few days?”
Tao Jia froze for a moment before smiling, “My Lady, please don’t tease this servant!”
Gu Yi stood up, “Then let’s go see!”
As the sky began to darken, Tao Jia draped a bamboo-green silk cloak over Gu Yi and carried a palace lantern to lead the way.
Walking through the imperial villa, Gu Yi saw buildings hidden behind bamboo groves, with stoves still hot and wisps of cooking smoke rising straight to the sky.
Tao Jia led her around the bamboo grove, “My Lady, follow this servant. The rabbit hutch is behind the building.”
After turning past several green-tiled white walls, Gu Yi saw a patch of grass enclosed by a square fence, within which crouched more than a dozen snow-white little rabbits, each only as big as a palm.
When they hopped, their fluffy tails bobbed up and down.
Hearing footsteps, the little rabbits didn’t run far but instead hopped to the fence, all raising their ears.
So adorable!
Gu Yi immediately squatted down to look at the little rabbits.
Tao Jia, seeing her face light up as she reached her fingers through the fence to touch the rabbits, also smiled and said, “My Lady, be careful with your hands. There are carrots beside the fence. My Lady can try feeding them.”
Gu Yi turned to look and saw that there was indeed a stack of red carrots beside the fence.
She took a carrot to feed the rabbits.
*
At the third quarter of the Hour of the Rooster (around 6:45 PM), Zhao Wan entered the side hall of Xuanyu Pavilion and was led to sit in the flower hall.
She sat until the third quarter of the Hour of the Dog (around 8:45 PM) before a palace maid led her to the sleeping chamber in the side hall.
After the palace maid had attended to her bath, she was brought to sit on the wooden couch in the hall.
The water clock in the hall dripped steadily. Zhao Wan didn’t know how long she had been sitting. When she turned to look, it was already the Hour of the Pig (9-11 PM).
Her heartbeat grew faster and faster, thump-thump, one beat after another.
Her fingers stiffened slightly. Zhao Wan moved them gently and felt fine sweat on her palm.
Voices came from outside the hall.
“His Majesty arrives.”
Zhao Wan hurriedly stood up, knelt, and said, “Greetings to Your Majesty.”
Xiaoyan walked into the brightly lit sleeping chamber and glanced at Talented Lady Zhao kneeling before him.
She wore plain clothes, and her hair was already loose.
“Rise.”
Zhao Wan looked up, her gaze meeting Xiaoyan’s dark brown, glass-like eyes. But there was no joy on his face, only a cold gaze examining her.
Zhao Wan’s heart skipped a beat as she saw him lift his robe to sit on the square stool at the table.
She held her breath, stepped forward, and asked, “Your Majesty, would you like some tea?”
Xiaoyan nodded.
Zhao Wan picked up the teapot, using all her strength to control herself so that her hand wouldn’t tremble.
Xiaoyan held the teacup but looked at the carved window outside.
Outside the window, attendants stood under hexagonal palace lanterns, their shadows cast on the window patterns, dark silhouettes floating.
Several silhouettes suddenly moved, and one figure darted in.
Zhao Wan saw Xiaoyan’s eyes brighten slightly, with a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips.
Xiaoyan sat still.
She finally couldn’t resist? Going to use the old trick, a headache?
He waited for the sudden sound of palace attendants knocking at the door, but after waiting for a moment, there was still no sound.
The lamp shadow outside the window suddenly returned.
Xiaoyan frowned, stood up, and walked straight to the front of the hall.
The hall door opened to reveal Eunuch Gao’s surprised expression, “Your Majesty, what are your instructions?”
“Who just came?”
Eunuch Gao was confused for a moment, “No one came… ah… it was a stable attendant coming to report to this servant about tomorrow’s departure matters. This servant has already sent him away…”
Xiaoyan stood silently at the hall door, holding back for a moment before abruptly snatching the cloak that Eunuch Gao was holding and walking out of the side hall of Xuanyu Pavilion.
Eunuch Gao became even more confused, “Your Majesty…”
He leaned back to look at Talented Lady Zhao in the sleeping chamber and saw her standing in the room with a deathly pale face, helplessly watching the Emperor’s departing figure.
Was it that she didn’t know how to serve? Had she angered His Majesty?
Eunuch Gao had no time to think further and could only hurry to follow the Emperor’s footsteps.
The Emperor returned to the original sleeping chamber of Xuanyu Pavilion.
Eunuch Gao had never encountered such a situation before and couldn’t tell whether the Emperor was angry or not.
If he was angry, Eunuch Gao couldn’t fathom why he was angry.
But Eunuch Gao was no ordinary person. With a smile on his face, he bowed deeply, “We will be departing early tomorrow morning. Your Majesty should retire early.”
Xiaoyan made a sound of acknowledgment.
Eunuch Gao turned, his eyes glancing to see palace attendants carrying trays entering the sleeping chamber.
After Xiaoyan lay down, Eunuch Gao finally withdrew from the sleeping chamber.
The palace attendant responsible for the side hall anxiously waited outside, “Elder Gao, what about the Talented Lady in the side hall?”
Eunuch Gao looked up at the bright moon in the sky—it was late.
“What can we do? Attend to her sleep. Everyone must depart on time early tomorrow morning. If the return journey is delayed, all your heads won’t be enough to chop off.”
The attendant acknowledged and hurried back to the side hall.
Eunuch Gao stood in place and glanced in the direction of Xun Xue Palace.
It was completely dark.
*
At exactly the Hour of the Rabbit (5-7 AM), the sky was still pitch black as palace attendants began to move boxes and trunks outside, loading them onto carriages.
Gu Yi was awakened by Tao Jia.
“My Lady, it’s time to rise. We’re returning to the capital today and cannot be delayed.”
Gu Yi turned over and got up. Fortunately, she had gone to bed early last night, so she wasn’t particularly tired when she woke up.
She let out a light yawn as Tao Jia lifted the bed curtains and helped her wash up.
“This servant specially requested a jar of sour plums from the kitchen. If My Lady feels unwell in the carriage later, you can suck on one.”
Gu Yi, thinking about having to ride in a carriage, said miserably, “No need for breakfast this morning. Just pack some small snacks to stave off hunger.”
Tao Jia acknowledged and left.
It was nearly the Hour of the Dragon (7-9 AM).
The sky was finally beginning to lighten. Gu Yi walked outside Xun Xue Palace and sneezed when the cold mountain wind blew against her.
Tao Jia tied the silk ribbon of her cloak.
“My Lady, please bear with it. It won’t be cold once you’re in the carriage.”
Gu Yi walked toward the carriage and saw Xiaoyan in the distance, wearing a tall official cap and a crow-black cloak, standing in front of the jewel-topped imperial carriage.
She quickened her pace, approached him, and curtseyed, “Greetings to Your Majesty.”
Xiaoyan turned his head, glanced at her, and then turned his gaze away.
Gu Yi keenly felt that she had been ignored.
Her questioning gaze turned to Eunuch Gao standing nearby, but he lowered his head, refusing to give her even a glance.
Gu Yi stood helplessly for a moment, then turned to see a palace attendant leading Zhao Wan in their direction.
She curtseyed again, “Then this concubine… shall take her leave first…”
She frowned slightly, and after walking just a few steps, couldn’t help but turn back to look at Xiaoyan. Her gaze just happened to meet his.
Before the expression of a fake smile could even appear on her face, Xiaoyan had already indifferently turned his gaze away.
Gu Yi: …
Meanwhile, Zhao Wan, also wearing a crow-black cloak, walked to Xiaoyan’s side.
Gu Yi averted her eyes, lifted the curtain, and got into the carriage.
Tao Jia hesitantly said, “Does My Lady feel that His Majesty is displeased with you?”
I think so too, Gu Yi nodded, showing a bitter smile, “But I don’t know why.”
Tao Jia boldly conjectured, “Could it be because of Talented Lady Zhao? Did Talented Lady Zhao speak ill of My Lady to His Majesty last night?”
That can’t be right. Why would the young couple, who were getting along fine, speak ill of her? And upon self-reflection, she had nothing but good things to say about the female protagonist!
Seeing her disbelieving expression, Tao Jia guessed again, “Could it be that His Majesty is dissatisfied with Talented Lady Zhao and is taking his anger out on My Lady?”
This seemed somewhat plausible.
The heartless emperor’s romance storyline obviously wouldn’t be smooth sailing from the beginning.
The female protagonist would also have to act out according to the plot a few times.
But she had already smiled and blessed them, trying her best to lower her presence to the minimum. Why was she still being forced to be a plot device?
With this thought, Gu Yi said with a dejected expression, “Never mind. Perhaps it’s just a phase. After a while, His Majesty will be fine.”