Gu Yi rose to her feet and said with a smile, “I’ll go right away…”

She followed Eunuch Gao’s noble steps through the long corridor, her heart unavoidably anxious.

Could it be that Xiaoyan had noticed something…?

Surely not…

Eunuch Gao halted before the door and gestured with his hand, “Lady Yi, please enter.”

Gu Yi composed her expression and gently pushed open the door.

This chamber wasn’t much larger than her own, consisting of one hall and one bedroom.

Xiaoyan wore only plain clothes and a long robe, sitting at the table in the hall with a charcoal brazier placed near his feet. The silver charcoal glowed red like fire, flickering between brightness and dimness.

He gazed at her without shifting his eyes, as if he had indeed been waiting patiently for her.

Faced with such an attentive scrutinizing gaze, Gu Yi felt completely exposed, and her heart grew even more nervous.

She hid her hands behind her back, anxiously clenching them as she mentally reviewed everything she had done these past few days, wondering if she had done anything particularly out of line.

Besides having two conversations with Eunuch Gao, the only slightly irregular thing she had done was having the thought of exchanging money today.

But Xiaoyan couldn’t possibly know that…

Could it be…

That the silver she had hidden in her trunk had been discovered…?

Was she truly unable to do even a single misdeed…?

Xiaoyan noticed Gu Yi standing stiffly before the table in a moon-white jacket and skirt, her facial expressions cycling through several rounds, glancing about nervously, clearly more anxious than before.

He secretly laughed to himself.

She was truly like a blank sheet of paper.

Although he didn’t know exactly what she was hiding, he could test her.

Xiaoyan slightly furrowed his brow and said coldly, “Speak. How do you explain yourself now?”

Gu Yi’s heart skipped a beat. She forced a dry laugh and said, “I… I am truly too foolish to understand what the young master is saying.”

Xiaoyan rested his chin on one hand, changing his sitting posture, and said coolly, “You still won’t tell the truth?”

Gu Yi saw his gaze sharp as a sword, even colder than before, and her heart was greatly alarmed.

Had he searched through her trunk? How invasive!

Gu Yi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, and said timidly, “This concubine didn’t mean to do it. This concubine brought five hundred taels when leaving, only intending to take it home… not deliberately concealing it from… Your Maj—young master…”

Xiaoyan’s eyelids lowered slightly.

So it was just about a mere five hundred taels of silver…

He suppressed the corners of his mouth from rising.

“The amount isn’t large, but… it still deserves punishment.”

What punishment? Surely not a fine?

Gu Yi wanted to cry but couldn’t.

Xiaoyan beckoned, “Come here.”

Gu Yi approached with a dejected face, slowly taking two steps forward. Xiaoyan said, “Hold out your hand…”

Gu Yi asked warily, “Why?”

Xiaoyan took her right hand, turned her palm upward, and suddenly struck it with his palm.

A crisp, loud slap rang out.

Gu Yi’s palm immediately turned bright red, burning with pain.

Both of them were startled.

Gu Yi hadn’t expected Xiaoyan to hit so hard.

Xiaoyan hadn’t expected Gu Yi to be so susceptible to pain.

With a delayed reaction, Gu Yi cried out “Ah!” and lamented loudly, “It hurts so much!”

A light flashed in Xiaoyan’s eyes. Having practiced martial arts and swordsmanship for so long, he truly hadn’t controlled his strength well.

However, he wasn’t skilled at saying comforting words and could only say firmly, “Don’t let it happen again.”

Gu Yi used her left hand to soothe her right, but it still hurt badly, as if a layer of skin would break.

Xiao Gouzi, you’re already testing the boundaries of domestic violence!

She blew several breaths on her palm before recovering, then said angrily, “Young master has already punished me, so I’ll take my leave now!”

But Xiaoyan said, “Sit down.”

Gu Yi had to obediently sit down.

Her reddened right hand was cradled against her chest.

Xiaoyan stood up, took a small white porcelain bottle, grasped her right hand, and applied medicine to it.

The ointment was ice-cold, and the pain subsided.

Seeing the watery mist in Gu Yi’s eyes, and remembering how she had injured her leg before and cried loudly while lying on the couch, Xiaoyan couldn’t help but sigh, “You are truly… too delicate, unable to bear even a little pain…” Just a light touch, and you become like this…

How could I be as thick-skinned and tough as you?

Gu Yi complained inwardly, but outwardly said, “I cannot bear this physical suffering, young master. In the future, let’s discuss matters. A gentleman uses his mouth, not his hands.”

Xiaoyan rarely showed embarrassment, and merely lowered his head, gently massaging her palm.

He hadn’t summoned her tonight to punish her.

Setting aside the medicine, he asked, “I heard you encountered a fortune teller at the night market?”

Since they had attendants when they went out, she wasn’t at all surprised that this news had reached Xiaoyan’s ears. She nodded and said, “Yes, we met a fortune-telling master.” Though he was an extraordinary old master!

Xiaoyan was still holding her right hand and said, “Oh, I heard that the fortune teller said Zhao Wan has a phoenix destiny… but said you have an early death in your fate…”

Gu Yi’s fingers were slightly pained by his grip. She frowned and withdrew her hand, “Thank you, young master. This ointment is indeed effective; it no longer hurts.” She continued, “The words of fortune tellers shouldn’t be taken seriously; they’re just for amusement.”

But it was too accurate! The original Concubine Gu had died far too early!

Xiaoyan capped the porcelain bottle and said, “But I don’t find it amusing…”

Gu Yi laughed awkwardly a couple of times, “Who could have imagined that those getting their fortunes told were actually from the palace? I’m sure they were just words the fortune teller says for show. Perhaps in this Qu City, five out of ten young ladies have a phoenix destiny, and the other five have signs of early death… Those with phoenix destinies happily give rewards, while those with early death omens also give some silver to seek methods to break the curse…”

After speaking, Gu Yi herself became half-believing, half-doubting.

Perhaps that old fortune teller truly was a charlatan.

Xiaoyan found it very strange that she seemed completely unconcerned and didn’t take it to heart at all.

Gu Yi always seemed to view life and death too lightly.

Although it was just the nonsense of a fortune teller, if Gu Yi truly didn’t care at all, it was a bit too strange.

They both harbored their thoughts in silence for a moment.

Xiaoyan stood up and said, “It’s getting late, you should retire.”

Gu Yi blinked in confusion.

Xiaoyan bent down and kissed her lips, satisfied as he said, “Indeed, the sweetness of sugar-roasted chestnuts.”

Gu Yi: …

The next day, Gu Yi still boldly sent Tao Jia out to exchange silver notes.

First, this money had now been openly acknowledged before Xiaoyan.

Second, converting to silver notes was truly convenient.

Her palm had already been slapped, could she not even exchange silver notes…

Even if Xiaoyan found out about this, it wouldn’t be a big deal.

As long as she didn’t reveal her identity during this trip to Fuzhou, everything would be fine.

After half a month of travel, Gu Yi finally caught sight of the shadow of Fuzhou city from within the blue cloth carriage.

Fuzhou governed two counties, with the state government located in the largest city within the state, called Fu City.

However, it was far smaller than Qu City in scale, with only half of Qu City’s population.

When entering the city, Gu Yi lifted the carriage curtain to look outside. What met her eyes were city walls made of yellow earth heaps, and even the copper-lacquered city gate had a dusty, disheveled appearance.

The passing pedestrians were mostly dressed in coarse cloth, sparse and scattered, far less bustling than Qu City.

It seemed Fuzhou was indeed a poor and remote area awaiting development.

It made sense that Father Gu chose to take a chance here at this time.

The carriage procession was heavily loaded, but the horse hooves fell like raindrops, clip-clopping through the city gate.

Gu Changtong hadn’t dared to go directly to the city gate to welcome them.

With the Emperor touring Fuzhou in disguise, he dared not lead a group of people to openly perform the formal kowtows outside the city gate.

He could only honestly wait in his residence to receive the guests.

As the sun climbed high, the minor official who had been watching at the city gate finally rushed back to the mansion, running until his cheeks were flushed red and his forehead beaded with sweat. Gasping for breath, he reported, “His… His Majesty has… has arrived, entered the city… will be at the door in half a quarter hour!”

Gu Changtong immediately rose to his feet, straightened his clothes and robe, adjusted the collar of his blue commoner’s attire, and checked if the silk belt at his waist was properly arranged. “Quickly, go call the madam and Ah Zhao!”

Shortly after, Madam Gu emerged from the inner courtyard wearing a sandalwood-colored coat with an ivory-colored padded jacket over it. Behind her followed a young boy with his hair tied up, of straight posture, appearing no more than eleven or twelve years old, but with a very proper expression. He wore a moon-white robe with a blue belt at his waist.

Upon seeing Gu Changtong, he bowed and said, “Greetings, Father.”

Satisfaction showed in Gu Changtong’s eyes. “Ah Zhao, you’ve made good progress in your studies lately. When you meet our guests, you must also observe proper etiquette.”

Gu Zhao rarely displayed a childish smile and said, “Sister is coming back too.”

Madam Gu smiled and patted his topknot, “Don’t be mischievous. Your Maj—your brother-in-law is also here, you mustn’t tease your sister like you did when you were younger.”

Gu Zhao nodded with sophistication, “Ah Zhao will strictly follow Mother’s teachings.”

As they spoke, a long horse neigh was heard outside the mansion gate.

Gu Changtong composed himself, straightened his expression, and walked quickly toward the outside.

Crossing the threshold and looking up, he saw a young man in an indigo-blue robe descending from a black-canopied carriage. His hair wasn’t tied up in the formal style but was bound at the back of his head with black silk.

His face was as beautiful as jade and dazzling to the eye, with a pair of dark brown glass-like eyes gleaming with flowing light. Yet his eyebrows and lashes were dark as crow feathers, his long brows fierce, giving him an impressive air of heroism.

He wore a black fur, revealing a slight smile. “Magistrate Gu,” his voice was clear like jade falling onto a platter.

Although Gu Changtong had never had the honor of seeing the Emperor in person, he did not doubt that the person before him was the monarch who sat high on the royal throne.

He bowed deeply, “Gu Changtong of Fuzhou pays respects to… young master…”

Xiaoyan walked up to him and made a gesture as if to help him up, “Magistrate Gu, there’s no need for such formality.”

Gu Changtong straightened up and said with his head lowered, “Young master has come from afar. My humble abode has been swept clean as if new. We have prepared several wing rooms for the young master and his lady. The mansion has already prepared a welcoming feast of home-cooked dishes. I hope the young master doesn’t find them beneath him.”

Xiaoyan carefully examined Gu Changtong, noting his frost-tinged temples, but his eyes still shone like stars, marking him as a clever official.

“Thank you for your trouble, Minister Gu.” He turned his head toward Eunuch Gao and asked, “Manager Gao, where is Lady Yi’s carriage?”

Eunuch Gao looked back and said, “The third one… this old servant will go call her.”

Gu Changtong’s heart beat faster.

Finally, he could see little Yi!

His gaze couldn’t help but follow ‘Manager Gao’ as he stopped beside the third carriage and said something.

The curtain was lifted, and the first to alight was a round-faced girl dressed as a maid with her hair in two buns.

Then, he saw Gu Yi, wearing a rouge-colored cloak with a collar trimmed with fine white fur.

Her complexion looked better than when she was at home, and she seemed to have grown taller.

As soon as Gu Yi got out of the carriage, she saw a middle-aged man opposite her looking at her eagerly, his face smiling but somewhat timid, as if afraid to approach.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she did not doubt that this was Father Gu, Gu Changtong.

Because they both had the same round almond-shaped eyes that curved beautifully when they smiled, looking adorable.