Half an hour later, Zhao Wan entered the main hall of Heluo Palace again.

Gu Yi was wearing a “clear sky after rain” colored fur-lined jacket, with fine white fur trim around the collar. Her black hair was like silk, and her lips were lightly touched with consort-colored fragrant balm.

She looked gentle, seeming even more radiant in recent days.

Zhao Wan gracefully curtseyed and said, “A’Wan pays respects to Concubine Gu.”

Gu Yi raised her hand, “No need for such formality. Noble Lady Zhao, I haven’t yet congratulated you on your promotion!” She handed a palm-sized brocade box beside her to Zhao Wan. “This is a new small item from the Imperial Treasure Department. I gift it to Noble Lady Zhao for her enjoyment.”

Zhao Wan took it with both hands and saw that the box lid was already open. Inside lay a white jade hairpin with a jade rabbit reporting to the moon design on its head.

Zhao Wan smiled, “This concubine loves it very much. Thank you for Concubine’s gift.”

“I’m glad you like it.” Gu Yi nodded with satisfaction.

Zhao Wan closed the brocade lid. “Since A’Wan entered Heluo Palace, I’ve received much care from Concubine, both during the polo match and last night at the birthday banquet. A’Wan has no way to repay you, but in the future, I am at Concubine’s disposal.”

Hearing this, Gu Yi was delighted. Did this mean she had finally earned enough favor points from the female protagonist?

She smiled faintly, “Between us, what’s there to command? Living in the same palace, we should naturally look after each other.”

Zhao Wan lowered her eyes for a moment, recalling her first meeting with Concubine Gu. Previously, A’Wan had some friction with Concubine. Looking back now, I misunderstood Concubine…”

Gu Yi felt a bit guilty. She was probably referring to the white rabbit jade pendant incident.

“Let’s not mention past matters anymore…” It was all required by the plot!

Zhao Wan smiled again but looked up and asked, “Is Concubine still curious about that white rabbit jade pendant? This concubine can explain its origin in detail to Concubine…” Perhaps Concubine Gu could be useful to her…

This… isn’t necessary… right?

These sentimental past affairs should be saved for the male lead…

The key plot device for advancing the romantic storyline would be useless if told to her!

Gu Yi slowly shook her head, “I’ve long forgotten about it… No need to bring up the past…”

Zhao Wan was disappointed inside, but maintained a faint smile on her face. She nodded slightly, stayed for another cup of tea’s time, and finally left the main hall.

Tao Jia summoned palace maids to the flower hall to clear away the teacups.

After the young palace maids left, Gu Yi saw Tao Jia standing hesitantly to one side and simply said, “If you have something to say, just say it!”

Tao Jia chuckled, “Concubine is perceptive. This servant has an unreasonable request today and wishes to ask for Concubine’s favor.”

“Oh?” Gu Yi was quite surprised, as Tao Jia rarely made extra requests. “Tell me, if possible, I’ll certainly fulfill it for you!”

Tao Jia smiled, showing two shallow dimples on her cheeks. “This servant heard that the Accounting Department is going out of the palace tomorrow to purchase items. This servant thought, It’s been a long time since I’ve visited home, so I’d like to go out with Accountant Hu tomorrow. Just for one day, returning the same day, this servant can visit home.”

This was the first time Gu Yi heard Tao Jia mention her family affairs, and she couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Is your family from the capital? How many people are in your family?”

Tao Jia answered softly, “This servant’s parents are no longer here. There’s only one younger brother at home, a few years younger than me.”

Gu Yi, imagining Tao Jia’s childhood hardships and entering the palace for her young brother’s sake, couldn’t help but ask gently, “What does your brother do now? Has he studied?”

Tao Jia smiled again, “In reply to Concubine, my brother is dull-witted and hasn’t studied. He’s just an apprentice making a small living.”

Gu Yi nodded and rose to take a silver ingot from her treasure box. She was now a person with a thousand taels of silver!

“This is a reward for you. You can exchange it for smaller silver pieces or copper coin strings for your brother.”

Tao Jia bowed, “Thank you for Concubine’s reward, but this servant has silver money to supplement and doesn’t need it.”

Gu Yi insisted, “What I give you is yours!”

Only then did Tao Jia hesitantly accept it with both hands.

Gu Yi’s eyes turned, “Since you’re going out of the palace, could you help me exchange silver notes? I want to convert my silver into notes.” They would be convenient to carry when leaving the palace!

Tao Jia frowned, “Concubine, if you want to exchange the official silver rewards, the palace silver all has markings, and most exchange houses won’t accept it.”

“What?” Gu Yi was shocked. Did this mean the money could only be physically carried out?

Tao Jia paused in surprise, guessing, “Could it be that Concubine wants to subsidize the Gu family in Fuzhou? In that case… silver notes would indeed be more convenient. Capital exchange houses are strictly managed, but outside the capital, local exchange houses might not be so particular…”

Gu Yi had to give up, “Alright, I understand…” Disappointing!

*

After the hour of You, approaching dusk, the sky darkened.

Qi Chuang took off his armor after finishing his duty and left the palace gate.

The Qi residence was less than a hundred li east of Xuanwu Gate.

The Qi family had Qi Ruotang as a first-rank official and several second-rank officials, so the Qi residence had high walls and deep courtyards, with a spacious hall five rooms wide and nine beams high.

Two red lanterns hung outside the gate, already lit, their crimson light swaying gently in the night breeze.

As Qi Chuang approached the vermilion-lacquered door, before he could step over the two stone steps, he heard a soft call from behind: “Young General Qi.”

Qi Chuang’s figure paused, his right hand resting on his sword hilt. He turned his head to see a man emerging from the dark wall shadows, six feet tall, lean and withered, with a curly beard covering his face.

He narrowed his eyes and asked coldly, “What are you doing here?”

The man laughed lightly and countered, “Why can’t I be here?”

As he spoke, he took two steps closer, stopping in front of Qi Chuang. “Does Young General Qi want to call someone to catch me, or report to the one sitting in the palace under cover of night?”

Qi Chuang stepped back, “Bo Gu, you are my father’s disciple and still have the bond of fellow students. This time I won’t hurt you, but you shouldn’t be here. Since you followed Xiao Lü south, you shouldn’t return to the capital.”

Bo Gu sneered, “What if I come back? If Xiaoyan has the ability, let him come kill me.”

Qi Chuang’s brows furrowed with impatience, “What exactly are you here for?”

Bo Gu lowered his voice, “In the south, I heard Grand General Qi Wei plans to retire from the military. Is this true?”

Qi Chuang laughed scornfully, “No comment.”

Bo Gu pondered for a moment, “Is Master… still in the residence?”

Qi Chuang shook his head and said firmly, “No, and even if he were, he wouldn’t see you!”

Bo Gu lowered his head and sneered. “In that case, I’ll leave.” He paused briefly, then said through gritted teeth, “However… if Master thinks this will protect the Qi family, he’s too naive! The Xiao family is all madmen!”

Qi Wei’s retirement from the military was to protect the Qi family and clear suspicions of being the Crown Prince’s remnant faction.

But how could years of favor and entanglements be cleared so easily?

Xiaoyan and Xiao Lü, one in the north and one in the south, standing in opposition.

No matter how many troops Xiaoyan had, they were just a motley crew from Yu Dai.

Xiao Lü was now recruiting troops in Qingzhou Prefecture.

They would eventually clash!

Bo Gu’s face was full of mockery, while Qi Chuang’s expression darkened.

“The affairs of the Qi family are none of your business. Get out of here!”

Bo Gu saw his eagle-like eyes, fierce and provoked him, “Qi Chuang, now you’re just Xiaoyan’s dog. All past friendship is wasted!”

Qi Chuang clenched his fist and aimed for Bo Gu’s face.

Bo Gu narrowly avoided it, laughed loudly, and moved his arm like a swift wind. His large palm suddenly seized Qi Chuang’s vulnerable throat, slamming him against the high wall, gripping his neck as tightly as iron tongs.

Qi Chuang’s face turned pale blue. Just as his right hand was about to draw the sword at his waist, Bo Gu said harshly, “Xiaoyan now holds onto Xiao Lü’s mother. Once Consort Dowager Liu dies, what restraint will be left? We will eventually face each other in battle. Who wins and who loses will be known then!”

With that, he released his hand and turned to leave.

The alley grew quieter, and the night grew darker.

Qi Chuang breathed urgently for a moment. Seeing Bo Gu’s silhouette walk away and disappear, he finally turned and entered the gate.

The danger to the Qi family needed no outsider’s reminder.

With Qi Huo demoted, the Qi family was already trembling with fear.

Powerful officials were always like this, walking on thin ice, as if on the edge of an abyss.

*

Early the next morning, Bo Gu left the inn where he had stayed and headed south.

A long river called Qi Water flowed on the southern side of the capital, flowing east to the sea.

Bo Gu walked east along the Qi Water bank for half a moment, reaching a lush, verdant forest.

The vegetation was flourishing, all evergreen pines and cypresses.

He found a solitary pine standing tall in the forest.

Behind the pine, a broken sword was stuck in the soil, with only the iron sword’s jeweled hilt exposed above ground, already rusted.

But on the clean white pebbles piled in front of the sword hilt, someone had placed a cluster of small flowers bearing morning dew.

Bo Gu didn’t recognize these flowers.

The green leaves were like willow or bamboo, with bright red flowers growing at the tips of the branches. Several petals nestled together, resembling peach blossoms but not quite.

He couldn’t understand who would come here to offer flowers.

Not understanding, he simply didn’t think about it anymore. He just took out a small flask of warm wine from his bosom.

“This morning, I had the inn’s servant warm a flask of wine. It’s still warm now. I offer Your Highness a cup.”

Saying this, he took a sip of the strong wine, then lightly sprinkled it on the sword hilt with the wind.

Xiao Heng wasn’t buried here.

This place only held Xiao Heng’s broken sword.

Xiao Heng had died from a hundred arrows and fallen into the water.

Bo Gu had searched for three days and nights but found no corpse.

Some said it had been washed away by the rapid current. Others said the body had been found by Xiaoyan and fed to eagles raised on the grasslands.

Bo Gu could only establish this sword grave by the Qi Water.

The morning frost wind swept the ground. Bo Gu stood silently for half a moment, finished his cup, and turned to leave.

It was only the hour of Si, and the pale sunlight had just risen not long ago.

The news that the Emperor would tour the south spread throughout the Six Palaces.

The Emperor had personally selected Beauty Zhao of Heluo Palace and Concubine Gu to accompany him.

The female protagonist accompanying the southern tour was part of the plot, but why bring her along and The timeline was wrong too!

Three people traveling, must it always be the male and female leads with her?

Gu Yi was both amused and frustrated inside, but outwardly asked Eunuch Gao in the hall, “Why doesn’t His Majesty wait until spring for this journey?”

The plot clearly stated it was a spring southern tour! Traveling in winter, wouldn’t it be frost all the way?

If the plot advanced early, could there be a possibility of collapse?

Eunuch Gao maintained a kind smile, “This servant dares not make wild guesses. Concubine Gu should think about what preparations to make. Though it’s winter in the south too, it’s warmer. During this journey, by the time we reach the southern regions, spring might have arrived.”

The Emperor’s winter journey was to first visit Fuzhou, then return to Qu City, taking a detour south. But according to the Emperor’s wishes, he wanted to tell Concubine Gu personally, so Eunuch Gao didn’t say more.

Seeing that they would depart in half a month, Gu Yi quickly summoned the palace maids of Heluo Palace and began preparing for the journey.

Eunuch Gao returned to Tianlu Pavilion and naturally reported back to the Emperor.

Xiaoyan nodded without saying much.

The land acreage tax had been implemented in Fuzhou for several months, and among the various prefectures, its effectiveness was considered good.

Fuzhou was a small place with few people. Wang Zibo had led the Ministry of Revenue officials to Fuzhou first, working with Gu Changtong to measure the land, encountering little resistance.

Gu Changtong was a diplomatic person. Although he had only been an official in Fuzhou for two years, he was trusted by local gentry and could be considered a talented local official.

His journey south, first taking the road to Fuzhou, was intended to examine the tax reform methods.

Bringing Gu Yi along was also a reward for the Gu family’s meritorious service.

When the three-year term was complete next year, if all went smoothly, Gu Changtong might be able to enter the capital.