Gu Yi turned her head to glance at Xiaoyan seated at the place of honor, noticing a hint of a smile on his face, as if he genuinely intended to reward someone from the Craftsmen’s Office.

Could it be that a plot point was occurring earlier than expected?

In the original book, when Noble Consort De falsely accused the female protagonist during the polo match, it was later discovered to be her scheme because a young craftsman became frightened and accidentally revealed the truth.

The female protagonist cleared her name, which advanced the romantic storyline between the male and female leads.

This indeed happened before the southern tour.

Gu Yi furrowed her brow in thought for a moment, then looked up to find Xiaoyan’s eyes upon her.

Gu Yi saw him gazing at her calmly, his eyes lingering for several breaths.

Her heart fluttered in confusion, and she quickly averted her gaze.

According to Xiao Gouzi’s habits, he would typically look away quickly, at most giving her a warning glance.

Gu Yi began to earnestly examine her conscience—had she done something wrong today?

Probably not…

Perhaps the birthday gift she had chosen was not to his liking…

After pondering without result, she finally summoned the courage to look at him again, only to find that Xiaoyan had already turned his gaze elsewhere and was taking a small sip from his cup.

Well, she must have been overthinking it…

After a short wait, Eunuch Gao led four craftsmen from the Craftsmen’s Office into Baohua Hall.

The four craftsmen stood in a row, with the westernmost being a young craftsman who appeared to be only about ten years old. He seemed particularly nervous, his legs trembling slightly, causing the chestnut-colored hem of his robe to quiver.

“Greetings to Your Majesty, wishing Your Majesty good health.”

Xiaoyan asked slowly, “Were the plum blossom stakes for tonight made by the four of you?”

The lead craftsman, an elderly man in blue robes, answered in a clear voice, “In reply to Your Majesty, they were indeed.”

“These stakes are exquisite. I reward you with one hundred taels of silver.”

The four men showed expressions of surprise and delight, hurriedly kowtowing to express their gratitude.

Xiaoyan’s face bore a smile as his gaze fell on the youngest craftsman at the end, “You… are you the apprentice of Master Zhou Bo from the Craftsmen’s Office?”

Upon hearing this, the young craftsman immediately knelt, “In… in reply to Your Majesty… this servant is.”

The people in Baohua Hall couldn’t help but show somewhat doubtful expressions.

Gu Yi turned her gaze toward Noble Consort De, noticing that her face had grown increasingly pale in the candlelight.

Then she heard Xiaoyan ask, “Your master had his hands broken and could no longer use tools, so he left the palace. It’s a pity. I once saw the hexagonal palace lanterns made by Master Zhou, which were exquisite. I wonder how much of his craftsmanship you have learned?”

His clear voice echoed throughout the hall, but the young craftsman was already frightened into a cold sweat. He knew that people from the Palace Regulatory Office had visited the Craftsmen’s Office.

His knees trembled even more violently, “In reply to Your Majesty… this servant… is dull-witted and has only learned the basics…”

As his words fell, a musical piece in the hall came to an end, and the string and wind instruments also stopped.

The previously harmonious atmosphere suddenly vanished.

Xiaoyan laughed, “Is that so? It’s a pity about your master’s capable hands… but with silver, even after leaving the palace, he can live comfortably. Don’t you agree?”

The young craftsman trembled like chaff in the wind, knowing that tonight he could no longer conceal the truth.

He kowtowed repeatedly, “Your Majesty’s discernment, Your Majesty’s forgiveness, this servant… did not… intentionally deceive… That day my master didn’t inform this servant before leaving… This servant… only happened to see… to see someone delivering silver to my master…”

Xiaoyan suddenly felt bored and waved his hand, “Send him to the Palace Regulatory Office.”

As soon as the young craftsman heard this, he immediately cried out, “It… it was Aunt Biluo from Luoying Palace who delivered the silver, it was Luoying Palace…”

“Your Majesty!” Noble Consort De exclaimed in shock.

The eunuchs serving at the imperial presence quickly stepped forward, covered his mouth, and dragged the young craftsman out.

Noble Consort De, hearing his continuous whimpering, turned red with embarrassment and hastily defended herself, “This concubine did not do it. That lowly person is slandering this concubine!” She reached out to grasp the Emperor’s sleeve but was subtly avoided.

She only saw a faint smile cross his face, “Noble Consort De is tired tonight. Return to your palace first…”

“Your Majesty…”

She truly had not expected the Emperor would concern himself with such a small matter.

All for a Concubine Wan?

Noble Consort De looked toward Concubine Wan, who was seated in a lower position, and saw her staring at the Emperor with surprise in her eyes.

“Noble Consort De, please return first,” Eunuch Gao whispered at her side. “Don’t spoil His Majesty’s birthday celebration mood.”

Noble Consort De, seeing that the Emperor had not shown anger, rose uneasily and took her leave.

Could an insignificant craftsman from the Craftsmen’s Office bring her down?

Her father was the current Chancellor. For the sake of a minor servant, the Emperor wouldn’t severely punish her.

Thinking of this, she calmed down somewhat.

“This concubine takes her leave.”

After Noble Consort De had hastily departed, singing and dancing resumed.

As if nothing had happened.

Concubine Wang held her wine cup and laughed softly several times.

The Palace Lady Gong beside her didn’t look at her.

Although she had received a reward for her dance, she also perceived that the Emperor was merely using this matter as a pretext.

Palace Lady Gong couldn’t help but look toward Concubine Wan, who was seated several positions away.

This Concubine Wan was truly so favored…

Gu Yi took a sip of hot tea.

The plot was on track.

Liu Fang had been claiming illness and not attending court, so it was only natural that Noble Consort De would be punished.

She turned to glance at Zhao Wan and indeed saw her gaze following Xiaoyan.

Gu Yi lowered her head and gently squeezed the tangerine in her hand.

Maintaining the plot in this timeline was much easier than in her previous one.

Concubine Qi turned her head to look at her closely, “Sister, are you tired? It’s already past the eighth hour now, and I suppose the banquet will be over soon…”

Gu Yi smiled at her.

At the ninth hour exactly.

Snowflakes drifted down from the night sky.

After the final song in Baohua Hall ended, the banquet concluded.

Gu Yi put on her thick cloak, held a hand warmer, and walked outside.

Most of the consorts headed east, while she alone lived in the Western Garden.

Tao Jia followed behind her. The two walked through the stone path in the Imperial Garden and reached the pitch-dark corridor of the Western Garden.

High vermilion walls stood on both sides, letting no light through.

Fortunately, Tao Jia carried a bright lantern. The two stepped through the accumulated snow, their footsteps soft and dense.

Gu Yi felt somewhat afraid and urged, “Let’s walk faster!”

The two walked increasingly quickly, their footsteps alternating, becoming more urgent.

After a while, two more rapid footsteps suddenly came from behind.

Leather boots stepping on snow, making crunching sounds.

It was somewhat frightening.

Gu Yi held up the lantern, turned to look, and saw the figures approaching through the snow.

Her anxious heart finally settled.

Eunuch Gao was walking so briskly that he was slightly out of breath. He had been chasing after them, and seeing Concubine Gu walking ahead as if pursued by ghosts, it was fortunate that the Emperor walked quickly.

They had finally caught up.

“Gu Yi,” Xiaoyan called to her as he approached.

Gu Yi couldn’t help but smile, curtseying, “Greetings to Your Majesty. Happy birthday to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty’s wishes come true.”

Xiaoyan stopped, and Gu Yi saw that the black cloak he wore was already covered with fine snow.

The main entrance of Pingcui Palace was just a dozen steps away.

She hesitated for a moment, “Your Majesty, why not come inside and sit for a while, waiting for the snow to stop?”

Hearing this, Eunuch Gao inwardly let out a long sigh of relief.

She’s improving.

He held up the lantern, walking a few quick steps ahead to lead the way, “Your Majesty, Concubine, please come inside quickly. It’s freezing outside.”

Once inside Pingcui Palace, Xiaoyan took off his cloak, lifted his robe, and sat down. Gu Yi removed her cloak and asked, “Would Your Majesty like some tea?”

Xiaoyan glanced at Eunuch Gao.

Eunuch Gao immediately understood and said, “This servant will take Tao Jia to the tea room. Your Majesty and Concubine can sit in the flower hall for a while.”

Gu Yi let out an “Oh” and sat down on the square-backed chair next to Xiaoyan.

The night had deepened.

The second watch drum had been struck.

Just two sounds, and then it fell silent.

Snowflakes seemed to fall to the ground without a sound.

Gu Yi inexplicably became somewhat nervous. She clumsily felt for the silk handkerchief at her waist and handed it to Xiaoyan, “Your Majesty, there’s snow on the ends of your hair. You’d better wipe it off.”

Xiaoyan looked at it, took it, but didn’t speak, merely raising his hand to casually wipe his sideburns.

Gu Yi saw his sword-like eyebrows and star-bright eyes, his dark brown pupils looking toward her, and quickly averted her gaze, busying herself with bending down to move the charcoal basin closer to his feet, asking, “Your Majesty, are you still cold?”

Xiaoyan lowered his eyes, saw her fussing awkwardly with the charcoal basin, and suddenly found it amusing, “I’m not cold.”

Seeing her indeed pause and straighten up, her face showing embarrassment as she smiled, “That’s good.”

Xiaoyan laughed softly, returning the handkerchief to her, “Your hair is wet too.”

Gu Yi took it, raised her hand to remove a few flower ornaments, and roughly wiped her hair. Then she heard Xiaoyan suddenly say, “The chestnuts you sent were very good. I liked them very much.”

Gu Yi froze, stopping her movements.

Suddenly she realized that she… had probably never been so directly praised by Xiaoyan before.

Had she become conceited, or had she misheard…

“Does Your Majesty truly mean it?”

“Of course it’s true,” Xiaoyan said, looking into her eyes.

Gu Yi’s face warmed, “It’s just a small matter, not worth mentioning. If Your Majesty likes them, this concubine is very happy.”

Xiaoyan laughed lightly, “Flatterer.”

Gu Yi’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. After a moment of silence, she changed the subject and asked, “Has Your Majesty made a wish for your birthday today?”

Xiaoyan thought for a moment, “I haven’t.”

Hearing this, Gu Yi suddenly stood up, “This concubine still has a sky lantern in her room. If Your Majesty doesn’t mind, you can use it to make a wish. At this moment, it’s still Your Majesty’s birthday.”

Xiaoyan watched as she indeed returned, cradling a sky lantern. “Why do you have a sky lantern?”

Gu Yi honestly replied, “This concubine had her birthday last month, and this is one left over after releasing sky lanterns.”

Xiaoyan felt a slight movement in his chest, “Your birthday was last month?”

Gu Yi smiled and moved past it, “Yes. This concubine will go get a brush and ink. Your Majesty can make a wish.”

Seeing her earnestly bring brush and ink, Xiaoyan did not refuse.

He thought for a moment and wrote four characters on the lantern: ‘Peace across the land.’

Well.

Truly befitting an emperor.

Gu Yi also brought a candlestick and carefully lit the candle inside the sky lantern.

Xiaoyan saw the candlelight reflected in her eyes, a smile rippling across her face as she held the sky lantern and stood under the eaves by the door.

“Your Majesty can now go to the courtyard to release the lantern.”

He rose as she suggested, walked over, and took the sky lantern from her hands.

His fingers touched her slightly cool fingertips.

He laughed softly, casually raised his hand, and the sky lantern floated upward, swaying.

Xiaoyan looked up for a moment as the sky lantern flew higher, and the four characters for ‘Peace across the land’ became blurred.

Yet suddenly in his mind appeared another sky lantern, still bearing his handwriting, but inscribed with the four large characters meaning “Long Life of a Hundred Years.”

In an instant, Xiaoyan felt a needlelike pain in his temples.

Gu Yi saw that he had been fine just a moment ago, but suddenly he pressed his hand to his forehead, his long eyebrows tightly furrowed, “What’s wrong, Your Majesty? Is it a headache?”

It seemed… Xiaoyan had experienced this pain once before.

She reached out to support his arm, “Let’s go inside and sit down.”

Could it be that he had some incurable disease?

Gu Yi’s heart sank at this thought.

She helped Xiaoyan sit down, seeing that his expression truly seemed to be enduring great agony.

She asked with concern, “Your Majesty, do you want to lie down for a while?”

Could it be… an incurable disease?

Could the plot be this melodramatic?

She couldn’t help but grow increasingly worried.

She supported Xiaoyan into the bedchamber and watched as his countenance seemed to ease after lying on the couch.

“This concubine will go see if the hot tea is ready, all right?”

Xiaoyan, seeing her worried expression, his five fingers unconsciously gripping the silk quilt tightly, thus reassured her, “Don’t worry. This headache is an old ailment. It will pass in a short while.”

An old ailment…

How did she not know about this…

What kind of old ailment was this?

When did he develop this old ailment?

“Is Your Majesty… feeling better now?”

Xiaoyan felt the shocking pain gradually subsiding and nodded, “Better.”

Gu Yi turned and left, “This concubine will go get tea right away.”

She turned out the door and met Eunuch Gao, who was bringing tea. She took the teacup from the tray and anxiously asked, “Your Majesty’s headache has flared up. Eunuch Gao, what should we do?”

She saw that Eunuch Gao’s face showed that this was routine: “After His Majesty has some tea and sleeps, he will feel better.” He continued with a smile, “In this case, Concubine Gu will have to trouble herself to look after His Majesty tonight…”

Gu Yi saw that Eunuch Gao spoke of it so casually.

It seemed it truly was some kind of old ailment…

Gu Yi responded affirmatively and carried the teacup into the bedchamber, completely bewildered.