As soon as she was steady on her feet, Emperor Xiaoyan released his hand.
Zhao Wan’s cheeks flushed red as she stepped back half a pace, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Xiaoyan lightly adjusted his sleeves, but when he looked up, he saw Chief Eunuch Gao hurrying over with a lantern. “So Your Majesty was here. This old servant has been searching.” As he spoke, he glanced at Beauty Wan standing awkwardly to the side. “Beauty Wan is here too? Are you heading to the Moon-Viewing Terrace?”
Today was Mid-Autumn Festival, traditionally a day for the Emperor to select a companion. Although he had said “no” earlier in the day, had the Emperor changed his mind now?
Chief Eunuch Gao’s face brightened, “If you wish to go to the Moon-Viewing Terrace, this servant will make arrangements right away.” Remembering that the Emperor seemed to have had a few extra cups at the banquet, he added, “Shall I send someone to bring Your Majesty a bowl of sobering soup?”
But Xiaoyan replied coldly, “No need. Tonight I have no interest in viewing the moon.”
Chief Eunuch Gao was stunned for just a moment before answering, “Yes,” then asked, “Is Your Majesty returning to Tian Lu Pavilion now?”
Xiaoyan made an affirmative sound and began walking along the stone path.
Chief Eunuch Gao glanced back at Beauty Wan with a silent sigh—what a pity.
He hurried to catch up with the Emperor, carrying the lantern, but after walking for a while, he gradually realized this was not the way to Tian Lu Pavilion.
They were heading toward the Western Garden.
The first watch drum had already sounded in the palace, and the Western Garden was now nearly deserted, as quiet as an abandoned grave.
After circling several palace walls, they came upon Tan Yuan Hall, burned down to just a few damaged lacquered pillars, standing eerily in the pitch-black night.
Xiaoyan continued walking, heading east.
After about a hundred paces, he stopped before a pair of vermilion palace doors. The doors had no plaque, their bronze nails were tarnished, and the red lacquer was peeling.
Chief Eunuch Gao stopped half a step behind, his face showing concern as he stammered, “Your Majesty…”
“Open these doors…”
“Your Majesty…”
Xiaoyan turned around, his eyes sharp, “What? Are you refusing my order?”
Chief Eunuch Gao lowered his eyes, “This old servant wouldn’t dare.” He bowed his head and took out a brass key from the pouch at his waist to unlock the iron lock on the door.
Having been untouched for some time, the rusty lock took considerable effort before finally making a soft ‘click.’
At last, it opened.
Xiaoyan pushed the door and entered.
The blue bricks on the ground were covered with black ash and dust that had blown in from outside, but a cherry tree in the corner of the courtyard was thriving, laden with clusters of red fruit.
Xiaoyan crossed the front courtyard and stepped onto the wooden platform under the eaves, lifting his robe as he sat down on the ground.
There were no steps here; the wooden platform was suspended half a foot above the ground, supported by corridor pillars.
Seeing the Emperor seated, Chief Eunuch Gao left two palace servants to guard outside the door while he stood silently in the courtyard.
This was the former front corridor of Ping Cui Palace, once the residence of the Emperor’s birth mother, Ta Zhu.
But when Ta Zhu was alive, the Emperor had never been allowed to call her “Mother.”
Chief Eunuch Gao sighed sorrowfully in his heart.
The anniversary of Ta Zhu’s death was approaching.
Xiaoyan sat before the corridor, watching the jade plate of the moon suspended above the cherry tree.
He recalled that in his childhood, he seemed to have sat in this very spot, gazing at the moon.
Ta Zhu, because of love, had been confined to the palace. But the Emperor had no feelings for her, and she had lived out half her life confined here without joy.
But love is like flowers reflected in a mirror or the moon in water—most burdensome. Children are an even greater encumbrance. Ta Zhu had placed her affections on Xiao Guo, only to be discarded by him like worn-out shoes.
Love is like a poison that enters the throat, driving people to madness.
Even flawless jade cannot escape this fate.
Just like Crown Prince Heng.
Utterly absurd.
Xiaoyan gave a low laugh, then suddenly stood up and walked straight toward the door.
Chief Eunuch Gao, seeing his frost-like expression, hurriedly closed the palace door, locked it, and followed after him.
The second watch drum sounded, with two gong beats echoing throughout the forbidden palace.
Xiaoyan felt a slight breeze by his ear and turned his head.
He saw that one of Ping Cui Palace’s doors was slightly ajar, with a pitch-black head peeking out.
Gu Yi raised her head and found herself face to face with Emperor Xiaoyan passing by outside, their eyes locked in mutual surprise.
The Emperor before her had a face as cold as ice, his dark brown pupils examining her.
All was silent, the atmosphere awkwardly frozen for a moment.
Gu Yi had been about to sleep when she suddenly heard several sounds coming from the neighboring courtyard.
The neighboring palace doors had always been tightly locked, with no one living there. Yet now, in the dead of night, there were sudden noises.
Gu Yi’s imagination ran wild—perhaps it was the gray-robed man with Consort Dowager Liu. Perhaps on the night of the fire, seeing all gates sealed, they had escaped to the Western Garden in the chaos and were only now emerging.
But… she never expected it to be Emperor Xiaoyan.
She straightened up, hiding the wooden club she held behind her back. “Your Majesty…”
“Why are you not asleep at this late hour? What are you doing outside?”
Gu Yi laughed awkwardly, “This concubine heard noises in her sleep and thought there might be rats, so I came out to check.”
Xiaoyan saw that her hair was not in a bun, and she wore plain clothes with just a dark blue jacket casually thrown over her shoulders—indeed looking as if she had just awakened.
Seeing Xiaoyan’s silence, Gu Yi smiled again, changing the subject, “Why has Your Majesty come to the Western Garden?”
*Weren’t you just pulling and tugging with the female protagonist at the Fish-Viewing Terrace?*
*Why do you look so unhappy now?*
Xiaoyan didn’t answer, but Chief Eunuch Gao smiled and said, “Talented Lady Gu is considerate. His Majesty came to enjoy the moon tonight but is now a bit weary. This old servant was about to send someone to fetch a bowl of sobering soup. Perhaps Your Majesty could rest for a while at Ping Cui Palace while this servant quickly summons someone.”
The Emperor stood with his hands behind his back, not immediately rejecting these words.
Chief Eunuch Gao’s heart leaped with joy. He quickly sent someone to the kitchen for sobering soup, then turned to Gu Yi and said, “Please trouble Talented Lady Gu to brew a pot of hot tea for His Majesty.” As he spoke, he pushed the doors of Ping Cui Palace wide open and bowed to welcome the Emperor inside.
Gu Yi: …
Seeing Xiaoyan truly stepping across the threshold, Gu Yi could only curtsey and say, “This concubine will brew tea right away.”
While the tea was brewing, Tao Jia quickly found a silk ribbon to tie up Gu Yi’s loose hair and fastened her blue silk belt.
Gu Yi carried the tea set to the flower hall but saw Xiaoyan standing desolately in the courtyard, seemingly looking at the water vat.
Gu Yi quietly walked up behind him. “Is Your Majesty observing the fish?”
Xiaoyan didn’t turn around, merely answering, “I am observing the moon.”
Gu Yi peered over and indeed saw a full moon reflected in the rippling water, with fish shadows moving across it, causing the moon’s reflection to scatter and gather.
*Flowers in a mirror, moon in the water.*
*Fine.*
*It feels like Xiao Gouzi might have had too much to drink again…*
“Your Majesty, the night air is somewhat cool. This concubine has brewed hot tea. Would Your Majesty please come inside…”
Xiaoyan finally turned to look at her carefully, noticing her slightly pale lips, but her eyes reflected the moonlight, sparkling as she glanced around.
“What… is your name?”
Gu Yi was stunned. Indeed, at this point, Xiao Gouzi didn’t even know her name.
*Gu Leifeng, I’m Gu Leifeng.*
But she honestly answered, “In reply to Your Majesty, this concubine is called Gu Yi.”
“Gu… Yi…”
Xiaoyan’s brow furrowed slightly as he silently repeated this name to himself.
Gu Yi.
Hearing this familiar voice, Gu Yi’s heart skipped a beat, instantly flooded with emotions she couldn’t quite explain.
“Is it… the ‘Yi’ from ‘dignified appearance’?” Xiaoyan hesitantly asked.
Gu Yi was suddenly startled, freezing for a moment before answering, “Yes, Your Majesty is discerning…”
Xiaoyan nodded and went inside.
Tea cups had already been set on the table.
After drinking a cup of tea, Xiaoyan asked, “What about those apricot blossom pastries you made?”
Gu Yi smiled, “They’ve all been eaten…” After a pause, she asked, “Didn’t Your Majesty dislike those pastries?”
Xiaoyan frowned, seeming to recall for a moment, “They were merely… acceptable…”
Gu Yi: … *Please, just leave.*
Xiaoyan, seeing what appeared to be an eye roll from her, couldn’t help saying, “Talented Lady Gu, don’t worry about it. I simply don’t like eating pastries…”
*What?*
*So many concubines in the palace constantly make pastries for you, yet you say you don’t like pastries?*
Gu Yi curiously asked, “Then… what does Your Majesty like to eat?”
Xiaoyan pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, “Sugar-roasted chestnuts. I like sugar-roasted chestnuts.”
Gu Yi opened her mouth, but her throat suddenly felt dry, and she couldn’t make a sound.
Sugar-roasted chestnuts.
She remained silent for a moment, then could only laugh dryly.
Though, come to think of it, sugar-roasted chestnuts are also a type of pastry. Couldn’t he have a more precise understanding of his food preferences?
A moment later, palace servants arrived at Ping Cui Palace carrying the sobering soup.
Chief Eunuch Gao tested the soup before presenting it to the Emperor.
Xiaoyan drank it all in one go. “It’s getting late. Let’s return to Tian Lu Pavilion.”
Chief Eunuch Gao advised, “The hour is indeed late. Tomorrow at early morning, Your Majesty must attend court. Why not rest tonight at Ping Cui Palace? This old servant will summon someone to bring Your Majesty’s court robes…”
Xiaoyan remained silent for a moment, then shook his head, “No need. Return to Tian Lu Pavilion.”
Chief Eunuch Gao glanced at Gu Yi, seeing her just sitting silently on the stool, saying nothing.
*How unambitious!*
He could only follow the Emperor with bitter disappointment.
At the end of August, a list of promotions was made public. Twelve positions of Deputy Directors in the Six Ministries, ranked fifth grade, were filled—six in the Ministry of Personnel and Ministry of Revenue alone—causing an uproar among the officials.
When ministers remonstrated, the Emperor used the summer heat as an excuse to retreat to Wu Mountain Villa for rest.
The Emperor’s party left in haste, taking none of the palace concubines along.
By September, the weather in the capital had gradually cooled.
Gu Yi was relieved, thinking that fortunately, she had already raised the female protagonist’s rank enough; otherwise, even ten lives wouldn’t be enough for her to restart.
However, it seemed that Xiao Gouzi in this cycle was indeed excessively cold-hearted.
As she stood by the window, lost in random thoughts, she saw a young eunuch in crow-blue official robes enter through the gate of Ping Cui Palace. He had a pale face and a scholarly demeanor, but his clear black and white eyes were particularly lively.
Gu Yi went out to greet him, smiling as she asked, “Which eunuch might you be?”
The young eunuch bowed, “This servant is Lu Chao, a disciple of Chief Eunuch Gao, specially come to pay respects to Talented Lady Gu.”
Gu Yi smiled slightly, “So it’s Eunuch Lu. I am grateful for your past assistance.”
Lu Chao, thinking of the gold leaf she had once sent through someone, replied bashfully, “This servant was inadequate. I hope Talented Lady Gu doesn’t blame me.”
Though this cycle hadn’t succeeded, in the previous cycle, she had indeed received substantial help from young Eunuch Lu.
“Eunuch Lu is too modest. I hope for Eunuch Lu’s continued support in the future… May I ask if Eunuch Lu has come today with instructions from Chief Eunuch Gao?”
Lu Chao smiled, “The Talented Lady is perceptive. His Majesty has gone to Wu Mountain Villa, and palace concubines have entrusted express riders carrying memorials to deliver letters to His Majesty, expressing their longing. My master sent someone to say that he hasn’t yet received any letters from Talented Lady Gu, so he specially sent this servant to inquire… to see if the Talented Lady has any inconvenience that has delayed her letter…”
Staying in the Western Garden, Gu Yi had no contact with other palaces except for Beauty Qi, so naturally, she didn’t know about concubines sending letters to Wu Mountain Villa.
However, since Chief Eunuch Gao had specially sent his disciple to ask, it meant that she must send a letter.
Gu Yi considered for a moment, then asked, “Thank you, Eunuch Lu. Allow me to think carefully for a day. When will the express rider depart tomorrow?”
Lu Chao smiled again, “The Talented Lady has a full day to write. The express rider will depart tomorrow afternoon.”