Several days passed, and Gu Yi still hadn’t managed to visit Jianjia Palace to pay her respects to the newly appointed Consort Zhao. Zhao Wan sent someone with a message, thanking her for the jade ruyi scepter but saying there was no need for her to come in person.

Gu Yi couldn’t quite figure out if she had somehow offended the female protagonist.

But she couldn’t dwell on it too much—after all, she and Zhao Wan could never become close friends anyway.

Gu Yi took a bite of fruit and saw Duo Luo enter carrying a sealed letter from outside. “Your Highness, a letter has arrived from Fuzhou.”

This was somewhat refreshing news.

Gu Yi wiped her hands and said happily, “Bring a paper knife, let’s open it and see.”

Duo Luo brought a short gold-carved paper knife and carefully cut open the seal along the closure.

Gu Yi saw that the envelope contained only a thin sheet of paper. After reading it quickly, she couldn’t help but smile.

Gu Tongtong was coming to the capital for his assessment, and the whole family would be coming along. Upon arriving in the capital, Lady Gu wanted to send a note requesting to see Gu Yi, who had been promoted to the rank of concubine.

This wouldn’t be difficult. The greatest convenience of being promoted to concubine was precisely this.

She instructed Duo Luo to take Heluo Palace’s token to report to the Siyan Department first, so that when Lady Gu arrived in the capital, arrangements could be made for her to enter the palace on a specified day.

Duo Luo accepted the command and left. Just as she exited the gates of Heluo Palace, she collided head-on with Eunuch Gao, who was approaching.

Duo Luo’s face reddened, and she immediately stepped back half a pace, curtseying as she said, “Eunuch Gao, are you all right?!”

Eunuch Gao felt his chest struck by her brute force, as if he might cough blood. “You… why are you running! So noisy! Haven’t you learned proper etiquette yet?”

Duo Luo gave a simple, honest smile.

Xiaoyan then walked forward.

Duo Luo, still remembering the dozen or so military canes she had received in the Dengzhou military camp, suddenly turned pale from red. She hurriedly bowed and said, “This servant greets Your Majesty! This servant will return to the hall immediately to inform Your Highness!”

“No need.” Xiaoyan shook his head and merely asked her, “Where are you headed?”

Duo Luo answered honestly, “This servant wanted to hurry to the Siyan Department before they end their shift, to deliver a message for Her Highness.”

“Go quickly then.” After speaking, Xiaoyan directly entered the main gate of Heluo Palace.

Eunuch Gao glared fiercely at Duo Luo, while Duo Luo shrugged her shoulders and ran away quickly.

In the bedchamber, Gu Yi put away the letter from Fuzhou in a brocade box inside the bedside cabinet.

Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned to see Xiaoyan enter. He was still wearing his bright yellow court robes with a white jade crown on his head.

She hurriedly bowed, “Greetings to Your Majesty. This concubine did not hear the announcement just now.”

“Rise.” Xiaoyan looked around the bedchamber, which was much more spacious and bright than Pingcui Palace. Through the half-open latticed windows, one could see the vibrant courtyard, full of spring colors.

Before him, several layers of moon-white and bamboo-green gauze curtains hung from the wooden couch, swaying gently in the breeze. The incense burner in the hall emitted wisps of smoke, still burning the floral and fruity fragrance that Gu Yi habitually favored.

Though it was his first visit to Heluo Palace, he felt strangely familiar with it.

Seeing this, Gu Yi smiled gently, “This concubine thanks Your Majesty for your grace. This concubine is very fond of this palace.”

Xiaoyan gave a faint “Mmm.” Two palace servants entered the hall with bowed bodies, placing a tray containing clothes on the wooden table in the hall, then quietly withdrew.

Gu Yi glanced over, walked closer, and said, “Let this concubine help Your Majesty change…”

Hearing this, Xiaoyan extended both arms.

Gu Yi then reached out to first undo the jade belt at his waist. It felt cool to the touch. After setting it aside, she proceeded to remove his dragon robe.

She unfastened the buttons beneath the round collar and noticed Xiaoyan’s Adam’s apple move slightly.

Gu Yi paused momentarily before continuing to undo the remaining ties.

She tried to focus on her task at hand, but keenly sensed that today’s Xiaoyan seemed somewhat different. Even without looking up, she could feel his gaze constantly upon her.

It was now sunset, and there was no one else in the bedchamber. The evening light stretched the window shadows across the blue brick floor, also elongating the shadows of the two people. For a moment, no one spoke; only the chirping of birds returning to their nests outside the window could be heard, sometimes low, sometimes high.

Gu Yi suppressed her trembling hands and finally removed the dragon robe, turning to hang it on a pear-wood rack. She then took the sapphire blue outer robe from the tray to dress him. Just as she was about to tie the waistband, he pressed the back of her hand, saying, “No need to tie the belt.”

Gu Yi then realized his palm was burning hot. She lowered her head and gave a soft “Mmm.”

Xiaoyan noticed her ears had turned slightly red, the color of March peach blossoms.

The two fell silent again for a moment.

Gu Yi suppressed her inexplicably rapid heartbeat. Just as she raised her head, she saw his eyes brighten as he asked her, “Are you hungry?”

She shook her head, puzzled, “Not very hungry.” Before she could ask “Is Your Majesty hungry?” she felt herself lifted, carried by the waist into the layers of gauze curtains.

Pupil earthquake!

“Your Majesty!” Xiao Gouzi!

On the wooden couch, Xiaoyan’s face was inches away, his figure like a mountain overshadowing her.

“Only today did I realize what the ancients said is true—one day apart feels like three autumns.”

Gu Yi’s face grew hot, and she went with the flow.

The sunset faded completely, and the moonlight gradually deepened.

After the first night watch drum sounded, palace servants were summoned to prepare hot water. After bathing, the two had a plate of snacks to satisfy their hunger.

At the hour of Mao, Eunuch Gao came punctually to summon Xiaoyan.

After he left, Gu Yi, half-asleep, wrapped herself in silk covers and continued to sleep.

When Gu Yi finally awoke, it was already past the hour of Chen.

The palace servants of Heluo Palace entered the hall to serve her washing needs, without looking askance, completely silent throughout.

Gu Yi also felt somewhat embarrassed. Last night’s intimate exchanges, heedless of surroundings, had perhaps been a bit too noisy. Though the palace servants were far away and presumably couldn’t hear much, she still didn’t say much.

After the palace servants left with the bed sheets and quilts changed from the couch, Duo Luo entered the hall carrying a bowl of medicine that had cooled to lukewarm.

“Your Highness, please take this calming decoction.”

Gu Yi took it and had a sip, but did not taste the usual bitterness; the medicinal flavor was very different.

“Is this bestowed by His Majesty?”

Duo Luo nodded, “Indeed it is.”

Gu Yi slowly exhaled and laughed softly, “This medicine tastes somewhat bitter as it enters the throat. Go fetch some dried apricots.”

Duo Luo acknowledged and quickly turned to fetch them.

Gu Yi’s heart pounded like a drum. She wasn’t sure if this bowl of medicine was merely a slightly modified version, still the usual contraceptive decoction, or if it was something entirely different.

With the Southern Dynasty now destroyed and no Empress in the palace, the turmoil over the Emperor having no heir would surely resurface. This time, since Prince Shen hadn’t died, had Xiaoyan changed his mind and now wanted an heir?

Gu Yi truly began to panic. If she were to have a child ahead of schedule, would that count as a plot deviation? And if it were her, not the female protagonist? It felt like a major plot deviation…

But, if the female protagonist had a child…

At this thought, Gu Yi’s breath suddenly halted.

She shook her head. No! To be safe, maintaining the original plot was most prudent.

She quickly put down the medicine bowl, rose, and walked to her dressing table. She opened the bottom layer of the three-tiered jewel box on the table. After pushing aside several pearl flowers, a slender-necked white porcelain bottle rolled out.

She held it in her hand, removed the stopper, and smelled the familiar medicinal scent. She counted about a dozen or more black pills in the bottle. This was the medicine the physician had prepared when they boarded the ship; this formula must be the original prescription.

Duo Luo would return soon. Not daring to delay any longer, she poured out one pill and swallowed it.

A little while later, Duo Luo returned with a jar of dried apricots. Seeing the medicine bowl was already empty, she handed the apricots to her, saying, “Your Highness, if you fear the bitterness, this servant will prepare preserves earlier next time.”

Gu Yi lightly touched her forehead, forcing a smile, “It’s nothing. When it feels bitter, I can always fetch preserves.”

*

Since returning from the southern tour, the Emperor had been attending court, and the officials repeatedly advised on matters of state succession. Memorials urging the establishment of an empress and heir suddenly increased severalfold. Of the original candidates for empress, Consort De and Consort Shu, with Consort De being demoted to Concubine Liu, only Consort Shu remained preeminent.

Left Prime Minister Qi Ruotang, due to the case of his younger son Qi Huo’s official appointment earlier in the year, restrained himself and dared not speak much. However, court officials, dependent on the Qi family tree, all echoed the sentiment, praising Consort Shu’s virtue and talent, noting her reputation from a young age, calling her the unrivaled choice for empress. Right Prime Minister Liu Fang naturally disagreed. Though Concubine Liu had been punished, she wasn’t entirely without chance. Together with Ministers Wang and Gong, he proposed selecting another virtuous empress, stating that Consort Shu had been in the palace for over two years without producing any offspring, making her not an ideal choice.

The court was in an uproar, arguing incessantly, but the Emperor did not take sides, merely observing.

After more than ten days of commotion, court officials took a different approach, raising the proposal of finding a new princess consort for Prince Shen, who had newly returned to the capital.

Upon hearing this, Prince Shen was so frightened that early the next day, he hurriedly requested an audience at court. Kneeling at length with tears streaming, he painfully expressed how he could not forget his late princess consort, likening himself to a half-dead parasol tree or a mandarin duck who had lost its mate, swearing an oath never to remarry in his lifetime.

With that, the matter was temporarily put to rest.

After court, Xiao Lü was invited to the Tianlu Pavilion, and all palace servants withdrew.

Xiao Lü’s temples were already sweating from anxiety as he paced back and forth in the pavilion. “Those old bastards are trying to harm me again!” He looked up, staring at Xiaoyan, who sat with an expression of calm indifference, and declared his loyalty, “Xiao… Royal Brother… this subject-brother has no such intentions! Since returning to the capital, this subject-brother has been extremely cautious, hardly even leaving his residence. Those court officials are deliberately trying to harm me! Royal Brother, please rest assured, if you have no heir, this subject-brother will not have an heir either! When you have a crown prince, then this subject-brother will discuss this matter!”

If Xiaoyan had no heir, he would be the successor. These old officials, unable to crack Xiaoyan’s tough exterior, were again trying to sow discord. This time, he had to be smarter.

Xiaoyan watched Xiao Lü pace back and forth like a trapped beast. After letting him stew for a short while, he finally said, “What are you afraid of? If I don’t suspect you, then you have nothing to worry about.”

Xiao Lü halted his steps and scrutinized Xiaoyan for a breath. Seeing him unperturbed, seemingly unbothered by the disputes, he couldn’t help but lower his voice and ask suspiciously, “Do you already have a plan?” A thought struck him, and he boldly speculated, “You… surely you’re not thinking of establishing… Gu Yi?”

Xiaoyan coldly said, “Insolence!”

Xiao Lü immediately understood and laughed, “Concubine Rou would be a good choice, though her family background is somewhat lacking. To be established as empress, she would first need to bear a child.”

Xiaoyan said with displeasure, “You may go now.”

Xiao Lü was inwardly pleased, thinking he had hit upon Xiaoyan’s true intentions. Outwardly, he yielded, “This subject-brother takes his leave,” and departed contentedly.