After the Hai hour.

Gu Yi finished washing up and got onto the couch to rest.

She looked at the wound on her leg, gently touching it. The scar tissue was still puffy and soft.

A mixture of red and brown, truly unsightly.

Though Chief Physician Hu had prescribed ointment to remove the scar, she felt the mark would certainly remain.

Fortunately, the injury was on her leg, where people wouldn’t normally see it.

However, according to palace rules, having a scar on her body was considered unseemly in the Emperor’s presence, so she probably couldn’t serve in his bed anymore…

Gu Yi felt a subtle sense of relief, as if a great stone had been lifted from her heart.

The official couple had begun their romantic storyline.

She couldn’t allow herself to harbor any inappropriate fantasies about Xiao Gouzi.

She needed to endure until the end of the plot, then happily leave the palace to become a joyful, wealthy woman!

Looking up, she saw Tao Jia entering the bedchamber carrying a black lacquered tray.

Smiling, Tao Jia said: “The Department of Ornaments has sent a pair of embroidered gloves for Concubine.”

Gloves?

Gu Yi craned her neck to look and indeed saw a pair of tea-colored silk gloves on the tray, simply embroidered with two white plum branches. They looked very smooth but weren’t divided for fingers, only fastened at the wrist with moon-colored silk ribbons.

If she hadn’t been told they were gloves, she would have thought they were two bags.

She tried them on, letting Tao Jia help tie the silk ribbons at the wrists. They were truly like half-round cloth bags covering her hands.

She could still extend her round hands at any time…

What a strange aesthetic!

Seeing this, Tao Jia couldn’t help but laugh, “What strange gloves!” Her eyes darted as a realization dawned on her, “They must have been… specially made to prevent Concubine from scratching her wound these days. I didn’t expect the Imperial Medical Institute to be so thoughtful, even instructing the Department of Ornaments to make these!”

Gu Yi’s heart stirred, and she forcefully suppressed her upturned mouth corners as she lay down on the couch, “Since it’s the Imperial Medical Institute’s thoughtfulness, I’ll wear them to sleep tonight.”

Seeing Gu Yi settled, Tao Jia extinguished the candles in the hall and tiptoed out.

Wearing the gloves, Gu Yi couldn’t fall asleep for a long time. Through the green gauze bed curtains, she stared at the carved wooden window, her mind wandering.

Searching her heart, Xiao Gouzi had truly been good to her.

Even after she left the palace in the future, she might… still… occasionally think of him.

But she wondered if by that time, after Xiao Gouzi had spent his life with the female protagonist, would he still remember the concubines he had once favored in his harem.

Gu Yi folded her two round hands on her chest, slowly turning over, beginning to imagine sorrowfully.

One day, when Xiao Gouzi was old and frail, he might suddenly remember a concubine he had once favored in his youth.

At that time, with frost and snow filling the sky outside the window, he would silently think that perhaps there were a few moments when he had truly liked her…

Gu Yi sighed, this was enough…

Having completed her imaginary scene of Xiaoyan’s melancholy, Gu Yi quickly fell asleep.

Early the next day, the first day of the eleventh month, snow suddenly fell in the capital—the first winter snow.

Between heaven and earth, everything was covered in silver and white.

The fallen snow rested upon yellow tiles and red walls, varying in depth, a mosaic of white and gray.

Gently flying snow fell in flurries, yet the sky remained filled with white clouds.

Gu Yi, wearing a dark blue fur-lined cloak and holding a hand warmer, went out to see the snow.

Tao Jia, holding an umbrella, followed behind.

Gu Yi carefully looked at her fingers, seeing that the redness and swelling seemed to have subsided somewhat.

With her leg injury, she couldn’t walk far, only slowly walking along the vermilion palace walls outside Heluo Palace.

Tao Jia cheerfully said, “When the snow gets thicker in winter, Concubine can build snowmen and even have ice sculptures brought for enjoyment.”

Gu Yi nodded, but her mind was still on lamb hot pot, “Is it the season now? Can we have lamb hot pot?”

Tao Jia giggled, “This servant will ask the kitchen today to see if we can get a lamb hot pot!”

Gu Yi was delighted, “We’ve seen enough snow now. Let’s return to the hall so you can go ask earlier.”

As soon as the two returned to Heluo Palace, Tao Jia headed to the kitchen.

During the boring wait for her lamb hot pot, Gu Yi decided to read a book—still that collection of romantic Buddhist poems.

Xiaoyan came silently, gesturing for the palace servants to remain quiet, so there was no announcement.

Gu Yi sat in an armchair with a charcoal stove by her feet, reading enthusiastically, when the book was suddenly taken from behind.

Gu Yi was startled and turned to look—it was indeed Xiaoyan.

Today he hadn’t put on his formal hat, only binding his hair with a black silk band. He wore a vermilion robe with gold dragon patterns, a clean white collar at the neckline, dark narrow sleeves, and a jade belt around his waist.

With his sword-like eyebrows, he exuded a heroic spirit.

What’s going on? Why so handsome today!

However, Xiaoyan’s brows were now furrowed as he quickly scanned through the thin booklet in his hand.

Gu Yi’s heart sank, and she smiled awkwardly, “Greetings to Your Majesty. Your Majesty looks particularly handsome today!”

Xiaoyan couldn’t believe what he was reading. He looked up at Gu Yi and asked, “Is this what you read regularly?”

Gu Yi gave a dry laugh and said pitifully, “This concubine injured her leg, so I’m just reading this story to pass the time. It’s not to be taken seriously!”

Xiaoyan resisted the urge to tear up the book and instead threw it onto a nearby table, criticizing her for “letting playthings corrupt the will.”

Gu Yi smiled falsely, “This concubine will heed Your Majesty’s teachings.” After a pause, actively learning from her previous lesson, she asked, “Would Your Majesty like tea? I’ll have it served immediately.”

Xiaoyan waved his hand, “No need. I’ve come to take you out of the palace for a visit.”

Gu Yi exclaimed in surprise, “Out of the palace? Where to?”

Xiaoyan said slowly, “West of the capital, there’s another garden built on a mountainside. Enjoying snow in winter, it is also beautiful.”

Hearing this, Gu Yi vaguely remembered that at Wu Mountain Villa, Xiaoyan seemed to have mentioned taking her to this garden to enjoy the snow.

She blinked, “Are we going today? With whom?”

This was a plot not in the book.

Xiaoyan laughed, “We’ll go today, with Concubine Gu accompanying me.”

Only me?

Gu Yi’s heart stirred, but she didn’t voice her gratitude.

Xiaoyan saw her look of disbelief and said deeply, “Just for one day. We’ll return tonight.”

Gu Yi nodded, “This concubine… will prepare.”

With Tao Jia absent, she didn’t want to call anyone else. She rose and took the cloak she had worn earlier to see the snow.

Thinking they might go up the mountain, she also reached for a pear wood walking stick.

But Xiaoyan said, “No need for the walking stick.”

Gu Yi responded with an “Oh” and put it down.

Only upon leaving Heluo Palace did she discover a jewel-topped, red-lacquered carriage waiting at the entrance.

Xiaoyan first carried her into the carriage.

Gu Yi sat on the soft cushion inside the carriage and stammered, “This concubine thanks Your Majesty.”

The carriage proceeded out of the palace gates, heading west.

Gu Yi slightly rolled up the carriage curtain to look outside. After leaving the city, the snow seemed to fall more urgently.

“Your Majesty, is this garden far?”

Xiaoyan leaned against the carriage wall, watching her curiously, “We’re almost there.”

Gu Yi nodded and returned to the window to view the snowy scenery.

Xiaoyan asked, “Do you enjoy leaving the palace?”

Gu Yi turned to look at Xiaoyan, seeing his smiling face, and nodded, “This concubine enjoys the freedom outside the palace. I’ve seen all the scenery inside the palace.”

Xiaoyan asked further, “Is the scenery in Fuzhou different from the capital?”

Gu Yi’s heart skipped a beat, and she evaded, “One south, one north—naturally they’re different.”

Fortunately, Xiaoyan didn’t continue to ask how they differed.

As the snow and wind slightly subsided, a small courtyard with white walls and black tiles gradually appeared ahead, built against the mountain—very serene, though its design didn’t look like an imperial garden.

Seeing her puzzled expression, Xiaoyan smiled and said, “This is my former villa from when I was a prince.”

Gu Yi made an “mm” sound, “I see.”

No wonder he hadn’t brought many palace servants on this outing.

Gu Yi saw him exit the carriage first, with his back to her, standing motionless in front of the vehicle.

Gu Yi: “Your Majesty?” Could you please move aside…

Xiaoyan looked toward the peak, “The snow scene is perfect now. Let’s go up the mountain.”

As soon as he finished speaking, an attendant nearby handed over a black fur coat.

How to climb the mountain?

Gu Yi looked up at the steep mountainside, aware of her leg injury.

Just as she was about to speak, she heard Xiaoyan say, “Come up, I’ll carry you on my back.”

Gu Yi didn’t dare move.

Xiaoyan turned his head, his brow slightly furrowed, impatiently saying, “Hurry up.”

Gu Yi was still standing at the front edge of the carriage by the shaft seat, only needing to bend slightly to rest on Xiaoyan’s back.

Xiaoyan reached back to support her legs, and palace servants draped the black fur over Gu Yi.

From a distance, it looked as if Xiaoyan was carrying a round, fluffy ball.

The black fur was much thicker than the cloak she was wearing.

Gu Yi’s cheek rested against Xiaoyan’s shoulder, the gold-threaded pattern touching her face, slightly cool.

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s great favor.”

Xiaoyan didn’t respond, lifting his foot to walk up the mountain.

The mountain was covered in snow, yet Xiaoyan’s steps were steady.

Gu Yi looked up at the snow-laden branches, the jade-like snow and emerald leaves complementing each other—truly beautiful.

Xiaoyan seemed always to be a man of his word.

He had said he wanted to come see the snow; she had thought it was just a casual remark.

Yet on the first day of snowfall, he truly brought her.

Thinking about it, the only time Xiaoyan hadn’t kept his word was at Wu Mountain Villa when he said he would never let her jump over Concubine Gong.

Gu Yi sniffled and nestled back into the crook of Xiaoyan’s neck.

Besides the crisp scent of pine and snow, there was also the sandalwood fragrance in Xiaoyan’s hair.

She couldn’t help but smile, though halfway through she forcibly restrained herself.

In this scene and mood, she impulsively asked, “Will Your Majesty carry Concubine Zhao up the mountain in the future?”

Concubine Zhao…

Xiaoyan asked, puzzled, “Why would I carry Concubine Zhao up the mountain?”

Because you’re destined to be together forever!

Although Xiao Gouzi was somewhat doglike, he was decisive in killing and firm in character. If he were to be devoted to someone in the future…

Suddenly feeling a bit envious of the female protagonist—what was happening…

Realizing this, Gu Yi quickly admonished herself: I can’t be like this! I can’t go from shipping them together to being a devoted fan of him!

Gu Yi gave a dry laugh, “This concubine… was just asking casually…”

Xiaoyan said amusingly, “Then why don’t you ask about Noble Consort De, Consort Shu, Concubine Gong, or Concubine Wang…”

Gu Yi had no choice but to ask, “Then will Your Majesty carry Noble Consort De, Consort Shu, Concubine Gong, or Concubine Wang up the mountain?”

Xiaoyan sneered, “Am I a porter?”

Gu Yi: …

She promptly pressed her face back against Xiaoyan’s broad shoulder, taking a gentle breath.

Xiaoyan’s breathing was light and smooth. Snow fell on the branches with a soft, fragmented sound.

The higher they went up the mountain, the deeper the snow—a foot thick, crunching with each step.

Gu Yi wrapped the fur tightly around herself, feeling warm. Xiaoyan lifted her higher, and she pressed against his back, seemingly able to hear his slightly quickened heartbeat—thump-thump, in rhythm with her own.

This scene, not in the book, felt like stolen good times.

It was as if a flower bud in her heart had broken through the ice, seeing daylight again, longing for a bit of warm sunshine in winter.

Gu Yi sniffled, summoning her courage to say, “When this concubine’s hair turns white and skin wrinkles, I will still remember today. Your Majesty’s kindness to this concubine, I will remember it all!” Even after leaving the palace to become wealthy, I won’t forget you!

Hearing this, Xiaoyan paused slightly, the corner of his mouth lifting, though he said coldly, “Gu Yi, you’d better remember it all!”

He was silent for a moment, with only the gentle falling of snowflakes around them.

He said softly, “Be good to me.”

This almost fragile, pleading tone made Gu Yi’s heart melt, filling her chest with a bittersweet feeling.

What should I do? I think I’m becoming his devoted fan!