Blue Eyes had only entered the palace during the foreign nation’s grand ceremony three years ago, yet the handwriting on this secret letter was fresh. No one had such good memory as to precisely draw a place they’d only seen once three years ago. This drawing could only have been given to her by someone else.
Moreover, that person was very familiar with the palace layout, knew the positional distribution of the Emperor, Empress Dowager, and Empress, and had deliberately marked red dots on top.
What was the purpose of marking this? Shen Guiyan was very puzzled. Looking at Gu Chaobei, she said: “Does someone intend treachery?”
Gu Chaobei gently held her hand and chuckled softly: “How wonderful the empire is now, all under my control. Civil and military officials each perform their duties. Even if I suddenly died, as long as someone new was immediately selected, the court could adapt quickly. Wen Shoushan has already fallen—there are no more threats. Those who want to gain the empire need only climb high enough, then kill me. Yan’er, do you think under such temptation, would anyone be moved?”
Shen Guiyan froze, then frowned: “Killing Your Majesty wouldn’t be easy either.”
“Yes, so I worry the foreign nation has some strange trick. Receiving such a secret letter makes me even more uneasy, which is why I want to go see first.” Gu Chaobei said: “Originally I was going to let the ambassador enter the palace directly, but remembering the many rewards I’ve given Gu Chaonan recently, plus thinking of the Lantern Festival, and adding this letter, I changed my mind.”
Shen Guiyan nodded: “Your Majesty has considered thoroughly.”
The Emperor sighed: “I hope I’m overthinking this. Someone who is like a brother to me, already second only to one and above ten thousand others—how could he still harbor thoughts of seizing the throne?”
In the current court situation, Gu Chaonan held half the military power, with the remaining military power in the hands of Yuwen Changqing and Shen Guiwu, and Princess Duanwen also had some. If His Majesty suddenly died, it was highly likely Gu Chaonan would support the First Prince’s ascension. The First Prince was too young and could only be manipulated. By then, the empire would likely be controlled by someone else.
Shen Guiyan kept thinking of what Xu Mengdie had said: “Mengdie would never harm Your Ladyship.”
From so long ago, she had always trusted her, hoping she wouldn’t disappoint.
“This thing can’t get wet, I already told you!” The yellow-haired ambassador stood at the Gu residence gate in a rage, clutching the iron contraption and refusing to enter half a step: “Find me another place to stay!”
Gu Chaodong looked at him with a troubled expression: “Having water isn’t a big deal, is it? Your iron contraption has paint on it, doesn’t it? It won’t rust.”
This wasn’t about rusting or not! The yellow-haired man shook his head vigorously: “You don’t understand—this is a divine object. If it touches water, it won’t work!”
Gu Chaodong frowned at him. The common people watching were already three layers deep inside and out, and the Emperor’s palanquin finally arrived.
The common people moved aside, the ceremonial guard spread out, and Gu Chaobei came down with Shen Guiyan, looking at the ambassador: “What’s wrong with the ambassador?”
Upon seeing the Emperor, the yellow-haired man perked up. Then seeing at least two hundred armored soldiers behind the Emperor, his face darkened, muttering to himself how the Celestial Empire’s emperor always traveled with so many people.
“Your Majesty, the Gu residence has water. The gift my nation’s envoy wishes to present to Your Majesty cannot touch water,” the ambassador bowed and said. “This represents our nation’s sincere intentions.”
The pitch-black iron contraption was covered with red silk. Gu Chaobei was somewhat curious: “What is this used for?”
The foreign ambassador cleared his throat lightly: “This is a blessing from the heavenly gods. It can only bless once a year but can bless many people. You just need to aim this opening at those you wish to bless and light the fuse on top.”
Deceiving the ignorant, the yellow-haired man spoke as if it were true.
Gu Chaobei chuckled softly. Normally, he would certainly be eager to try it himself. But now, he was very suspicious of the truth in what this ambassador said.
“In that case, since the Gu residence is inconvenient, let’s go to the Shen residence instead.” The Emperor smiled: “It’s also a large estate.”
The ambassador said in confusion: “Why not enter the palace?”
Shen Guiyan smiled: “The palace is also currently constructing water pools in preparation for the state banquet. If we entered the palace, this divine object would also touch water.”
Speaking complete nonsense with a straight face—the palace was so large that if one area was constructing a water pool, other areas wouldn’t be wet at all.
But since the Empress said so, the ambassador could only nod along in agreement, reluctantly preparing to go to the Shen residence.
For propriety’s sake, Shen Guiyan went to personally escort him, while the Emperor stood in front of the Gu residence. After the ambassador had gone far, he turned and asked Gu Chaodong: “Where is your honored wife?”
Gu Chaodong led the Emperor into the residence. Blue Eyes was waiting in a room. Because her health was poor, she hadn’t been able to go to the gate to receive the ambassador.
Since marrying Gu Chaodong, Blue Eyes had never stopped crying, because it wasn’t really marriage—it was imprisonment. She wanted to leave, but everyone here said that once married, she had to stay here for life.
She didn’t want to! With such good years ahead of her, why should she give them to a man who completely didn’t love her and whom she completely didn’t love?
After all these years, Blue Eyes still couldn’t understand why the Emperor, who had clearly been interested in her at the state banquet, ended up bestowing her upon a minister. Was he forced by circumstances? Could she dare hope that perhaps one day, the Emperor might regret it?
Just as she was about to mock herself for overthinking, the room door opened. When Blue Eyes looked up, she thought she might be seeing things.
“Lady Gu.” The man, as handsome as he had been back then, stood in the doorway smiling at her.
Blue Eyes was stunned.
The state banquet was arranged for the evening of the second day after the ambassador entered the capital. Juhuan Pavilion was very lively. Xu Mengdie arrived early with Gu Chaonan. They didn’t sit in the front positions but rather sat far from the Emperor.
The surrounding atmosphere felt very familiar to her. Everyone’s faces were exactly the same as in her previous life. Princess Duanwen came to greet her, Yuwen Changqing pulled Gu Chaonan aside for a brief chat. This scene was different from her previous life because in this life, they had after all already risen to high positions.
The opening was a court dance—correct. His Majesty sat in the center of Juhuan Pavilion’s great hall—correct. Shen Guiyan and Empress Dowager Nian flanked the Emperor very closely on the left and right—also correct.
Xu Mengdie’s face held not a trace of smile. Before her eyes, it was as if past scenes were playing out, making her feel dazed.
The ambassador presented his gift. The yellow-haired man led his people, pushing that iron contraption forward. Xu Mengdie instinctively moved even farther from the thing.
“This is a blessing from the heavenly gods.” Introducing the iron contraption, he said the same things as he had at the Gu residence gate that day. Everyone listening exclaimed in wonder—truly a remarkable and rare thing.
“Then, who will light the fuse on top?” The Emperor smiled and looked toward Shen Guiyan: “Yan’er, will you go?”
Shen Guiyan looked at the thing with some fear and shook her head: “This consort is afraid.”
“Then who should we find? Lighting the fuse is quite an honor.” The Emperor looked around with difficulty, his gaze falling upon Xu Mengdie: “How about having Lady Xu light it instead?”