Gu Yi lifted the bed curtain and handed the teacup to Xiaoyan.

“Your Majesty, please have some tea first…”

And then, let’s talk about this headache of yours, and whether it’s affecting the storyline…

She noticed he merely propped himself up on his elbow, rising slightly to take the cup and drink a sip.

She carefully observed his expression, which seemed somewhat improved.

“Let me remove Your Majesty’s hairpin. It will be more comfortable when you lie down.”

Xiaoyan remained still, allowing her to reach over and remove the black wooden hairpin from his hair.

Taking the opportunity, Gu Yi ran her hand through his hair—it was smooth and still slightly damp.

She then leaned forward and took a cloth from the couch to dry it for him.

Suddenly, Xiaoyan caught her wrist. “I’ll do it myself. You should also retire early.”

His grip was burning hot against her palm. Gu Yi had no choice but to stop, giving a soft “Mm” in response.

Xiaoyan quickly released her hand, wiping his hair himself before removing his outer robe, leaving only his middle garment.

Seeing this, Gu Yi retreated from the bed curtain, walked behind the screen in the chamber, undid her hair, and also changed into her middle garment.

After walking halfway around, she extinguished all the candles in the bedchamber before feeling her way to the bed.

Nestled in the darkness, Gu Yi felt less nervous.

The third watch drum had sounded.

She slowly turned over, planning to have a heart-to-heart conversation with Xiaoyan about this peculiar headache of his.

But suddenly, a hand embraced her right shoulder, stopping her movement.

The next moment, she felt a gentle breath on the back of her neck.

Gu Yi’s heart rate instantly shot up to one hundred and eighty.

Xiao Gouzi! Didn’t you have a headache?!

“Your… Your Majesty…”

A cool, soft sensation gently fell behind her ear.

“Gu Yi…”

The familiar, husky voice sounded in her ear.

Gu Yi instinctively relaxed.

Outside the window, snow shadows fell unevenly, sometimes rapidly, sometimes gently floating.

The snow light flickered slightly before Gu Yi’s eyes as she stubbornly turned over.

Face to face with Xiaoyan, their breaths mingling, their eyes meeting.

In the light filtering through the gauze curtains, she saw his peach blossom eyes, burning bright.

The corners of his eyes were tinged with that faintly bewitching shade of red she remembered.

Xiaoyan, in moments like these, always revealed a rare vulnerability.

She laughed softly.

I’ve missed you so much.

She leaned forward to kiss his lips.

The snowy night was quiet, with falling snowflakes silently landing on the ground.

It was a tenderness unique to winter.

*

When Gu Yi awoke, there was no one else on the bed.

Outside the window, daylight was bright, and it seemed the snow had stopped.

She turned over, waited for a moment, and then got up, calling out, “Tao Jia.”

Tao Jia arrived promptly, carrying a red lacquered tray, and smiled, “Is the Beauty awake?”

“Yes, is that calming draught in your hands?”

Tao Jia lifted the bed curtain and handed her a white porcelain bowl filled with brownish medicinal liquid. “The Beauty is perceptive. Indeed, it is a calming draught. His Majesty cares for the Beauty; this potion can relieve pain and calm the spirit.”

Gu Yi suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, put her mind at ease, and accepted the medicine bowl, drinking it in one go.

Still the familiar recipe, the familiar taste.

So bitter that her face scrunched up.

Tao Jia quickly handed her a cup of hot tea.

After drinking the hot tea, the bitterness in her mouth subsided somewhat.

“What time is it now?”

“It’s almost noon.” Tao Jia added, “His Majesty only left after the third hour this morning. Seeing the Beauty still sleeping peacefully, he didn’t wake you.”

Gu Yi nodded, “I see. Prepare water for my bath.”

*

Five days later, the Emperor issued an edict: Noble Consort De of Luoying Palace had usurped power, her virtue not befitting her position. Her title of “De” was stripped, and she was demoted to Concubine Liu, to reflect and repent within Luoying Palace for three months.

This punishment was indeed severe.

The entire palace was shocked.

An hour later, the Emperor issued another edict, considering that Beauty Wan of Xiuyi Palace had been wrongly accused during the ball game, she was promoted to Noble Lady Wan as compensation.

This caused a tremendous stir.

The west wing of Xiuyi Palace suddenly became a popular destination.

Palace concubines flocked to offer congratulations to Noble Lady Wan.

In just a few months, Noble Lady Wan had risen from a palace maid in the laundry bureau to a Noble Lady.

Truly, the Emperor’s grace was boundless.

Tao Jia had gone to the kitchen to arrange an early meal and heard about this. She felt quite indignant.

“Why was only the one from Xiuyi Palace rewarded? Wasn’t our Beauty wrongfully accused, too? During the ball game, she even lost one thousand taels in betting chips…”

That stung.

Gu Yi had already felt she’d put it behind her, but now that Tao Jia brought it up again, she could only sigh deeply, “Let’s not speak of past events!”

It’s all part of the plot, nothing to discuss!

Tao Jia lowered her head as she arranged the meal, muttering, “Everyone in the palace now talks about how glorious and favored Noble Lady Wan is, but in this servant’s opinion, that’s not the case at all! His Majesty just finds her novel for now…” She looked up again, encouraging Gu Yi, “His Majesty still cherishes our Beauty!”

Gu Yi laughed lightly, picking up the bamboo chopsticks from the table. “Let’s not talk about these things. The twelfth month is almost here. Are the lamb preparations ready in the palace?”

Hearing this, Tao Jia replied with a smile, “In reply to the Beauty, when this servant went to the kitchen today, I specifically asked about this matter. Strangely, the lambs from the grasslands should have arrived by now, as they do every year, but this year they are delayed. Perhaps it’s because of the heavy snow in the north that they’ve been held up on the road…”

Gu Yi made an “Oh” sound and didn’t pursue the topic further.

Her breakfast was always late; by the time Tao Jia had cleared away the food box, it was already almost mid-morning.

But at the gate of Pingcui Palace, a blue-robed eunuch from the imperial presence arrived to “inquire after Beauty Gu’s well-being.”

When Gu Yi saw the visitor, her heart leaped with joy.

Had Xiao Gouzi finally found his conscience and come to reimburse her money?

She quickly said, “No need for formalities, sir. Please, come in quickly.”

As the blue-robed eunuch approached, Gu Yi saw that his hands were empty.

“What brings the sir here today?”

The blue-robed eunuch bowed and said, “His Majesty specially sent me to deliver a message. He said Beauty Gu’s candied chestnuts from last time were excellent, and he wishes to have them again today. He asks the Beauty to deliver them to Tianlu Pavilion by the third quarter of the noon hour…”

What? Deliver candied chestnuts, and at a specific time?

Not compensating her money was one thing, but what was this? What did he think she was?

A food delivery service?

Gu Yi was displeased internally, but still forced a smile on her face. “I see, but sir, you may not know that the chestnuts sent last time are all gone, and I’m afraid there’s not enough time now…”

Unexpectedly, the eunuch smiled, “Don’t worry, Beauty. The kitchen knows you like chestnuts and surely keeps them in stock. Today’s timing is a bit rushed, but you needn’t prepare them yourself. You can select someone clever from the kitchen to make them for you. Just bring the food box to Tianlu Pavilion yourself.”

Why go to all this trouble? Why not just order chestnuts sent directly to Tianlu Pavilion?

Gu Yi held back from asking and simply nodded, “Thank you for the advice, sir. I will go at the third quarter of the noon hour.”

She tidied herself up briefly, put on a peach-colored fur-lined cloak, and headed first to the kitchen.

At the third quarter of the noon hour.

Gu Yi arrived punctually at Tianlu Pavilion, carrying the food box.

As soon as Eunuch Gao saw her, he smiled and said, “Beauty Gu, please wait a moment. His Majesty is discussing matters of state.”

Gu Yi remembered standing for an entire hour last time, and she was mentally prepared for it.

She drew her cloak tighter around herself, but this time, after standing for just a brief moment, she saw the main doors of Tianlu Pavilion, ten paces away, open wide.

A figure walked out, dressed in the crimson silk official robes of the fifth rank, wearing a black official hat, and holding a bamboo tablet.

He turned his head and happened to see Gu Yi.

His eyes immediately brightened, his eyebrows curving into a smile, looking adorable.

Father Gu.

Gu Yi held the food box, mouth agape in surprise. “Fa… Father…”

What was happening? Why was her father here?

Was she dreaming?

Gu Yi blinked her eyes and looked carefully.

It really was Gu Changtong!

Gu Changtong glanced back once before turning to walk toward Gu Yi.

When he approached, he straightened his robes and said, “Greetings to Beauty Gu.”

Gu Yi finally came to her senses, “And… and… greetings to Official Gu.”

Gu Changtong looked her up and down carefully, noticing she seemed thinner than when she was at home.

For a moment, he felt choked with emotion.

Seeing the corners of his eyes drop, Gu Yi immediately asked, “Official Gu, why have you come to the capital?”

Gu Changtong smiled again, “This humble official has come to report on his duties and was fortunate enough to have an imperial audience.”

“I see.” She nodded slowly.

What was going on?

What was happening with the plot?

Why had the storyline changed again?

While Gu Yi felt some joy at seeing Gu Changtong, the more she thought about it, the more uneasy she became.

Just as Gu Changtong was about to speak, another figure emerged from the doorway behind him, dressed in plain raven-blue clothes without rank insignia, wearing a jade crown, slender and elegant.

When Gu Yi first saw this person, her throat tightened, and her eyes widened.

She wanted to cry but had no tears.

What on earth was going on?!

Why had Zhou Tinghe, who held no official rank, also come?

Was heaven plotting against her?!

Seeing Gu Yi’s expression change, Gu Changtong immediately turned around and saw Zhou Tinghe coming out.

His brow furrowed slightly, and he subtly shifted his position, attempting to block Gu Yi’s line of sight.

They couldn’t linger any longer now.

“This trip to the capital was somewhat hurried. Since we’ve happened to meet today, this humble official won’t delay the Beauty any further…”

Gu Yi understood the unease in Gu Changtong’s eyes.

She quickly looked away, saying with downcast eyes, “Take care, Official Gu.”

Gu Changtong gave her one more reluctant glance.

Several steps away, Zhou Tinghe saw Gu Yi standing gracefully in her peach-colored cloak.

She was with Prefect Gu.

But he couldn’t approach, only able to glance at her a few times.

Seeing Gu Changtong step down the stairs, Eunuch Gao, who had been standing with lowered eyes, timely reminded, “Young Master Zhou, please accompany Official Gu. It snowed on the steps a few days ago, so mind your footing.”

Gu Yi continued holding the food box, not daring to look around.

After the two men had walked away, Eunuch Gao turned with a smile, “Beauty Gu, please enter the hall.”

Gu Yi responded, took several deep breaths, and entered Tianlu Pavilion.

“This concubine greets Your Majesty and inquires after Your Majesty’s health.”

“Rise. You just saw Prefect Gu?”

Gu Yi smiled lightly, “Thanks to Your Majesty’s great kindness, this concubine did exchange a few words with Prefect Gu.”

After speaking, she raised her head to look at Xiaoyan, seeing him seated behind his desk in a bright yellow dragon robe. He wasn’t wearing the winged official hat on his head, only a topknot with a completely green jade hairpin inserted at an angle.

Gu Yi felt inexplicably nervous.

Seeing his expression was normal, she laughed, “Would Your Majesty like to try these chestnuts?”

Xiaoyan looked at her and suddenly said, “You and Prefect Gu do have similar features.”

Gu Yi thought, isn’t that obvious? But outwardly she said, “Your Majesty is truly perceptive.”

Xiaoyan laughed lightly, “Bring the chestnuts up.”