79 Seeking an audience

"What? I'll take care of the rest?"

The moonlight was bright, and Gu Ningxi couldn't fall asleep in the second half of the night.

Things have come to this point and I don’t know what to do next.

Was she really forced to give up her official position and marry him? On their wedding night, would they just stare at each other like this?

He knew her identity, and she guessed that he knew it, so she was not surprised at all.

Gu Ningxi's mind was in a mess, and even when she closed her eyes, she couldn't convince herself to calm down and fall asleep.

Sometimes when she thought of something, her heart would beat violently even when she was lying flat on the couch.

Unable to fall asleep again, Gu Ningxi simply put on his clothes and got up.

She walked to the desk in the moonlight and lit a candle. After sitting down and being lost in thought for a moment, Gu Ningxi casually opened two or three drawers and flipped through them at random.

Does he...really like her?

It was clear that he had never said anything, as they were friends for many years, Gu Ningxi was afraid that she was just being too sentimental.

But when I recall the past one by one, it seems that there is a trace to follow.

Gu Ningxi's hand paused and he moved the scroll away. Underneath it was an unfinished wood carving.

The carving was of herself, and was made from the same piece of wood as the pair of wood carvings previously presented to His Royal Highness Prince Zhao.

At that time, she prepared a birthday gift for Marquis Wu'an, and he also wanted one, so she hurriedly carved a pair for him.

Gu Ningxi thought about it and decided to carve one for himself with the remaining wood.

But later she was delayed by various things and she put it down and never picked it up again.

Gu Ningxi looked closely at the half-carved wooden figure, which showed him charging on horseback on the battlefield, and fighting with a bow and arrow.

The picture he carved for himself was of a man reading under the moon. Since he couldn't sleep anyway, Gu Ningxi simply took out his carving knife and started again.

She carefully traced the pattern of the clothes, then used a small knife to carve it out one by one.

The moonlight flowed silently, Gu Ningxi yawned from time to time, and the only sound in the room was the sound of a knife carving wood.

…

"Xi'er...Xi'er?"

The sunlight was so bright that Gu Ningxi couldn't open his eyes.

She rubbed her eyes and felt aches all over her body.

She woke up for a moment and asked: "Why is my mother here?"

Madam Meng had already put a coat on her. Seeing that she was alright, she breathed a sigh of relief and found it amusing: "Why did you sleep on the desk yesterday?"

It was almost 9:00 a.m. The maid who had first come to call Xier saw that there was no one on the bed, and Xier was lying motionless on the table with a sharp carving knife beside her. She was so frightened that she lost her soul and hurried to look for her.

"Even your grandfather was almost alarmed."

Such a commotion had already occurred in the morning. Gu Ningxi looked at the carving knife that had been neatly put away.

Are you worried that she might commit suicide? That's totally groundless.

Madam Meng ordered the maid to fetch warm water for Gu Ningxi to wash, and then asked someone to serve breakfast.

She saw that the little wooden figure on the desk was tilted, so she considerately straightened it.

Mrs. Meng looked down and saw that it was Xi'er herself at that moment. She liked the look of her lovely and lifelike appearance.

She instructed, "After dinner, your father will come to see you."

After tidying up, Marquis Xuanping in the study had been waiting for a long time, but he was quite patient.

Fortunately, what happened this morning was just a misunderstanding. If Xier had really made any mistake, the entire marquisate would not know how to explain to the person in the palace.

Mrs. Meng accompanied her daughter, her voice full of joy: "Now that your status has been restored, your family will change your name, and then we can discuss marriage."

"Your father said that your dowry will definitely not be inferior to your elder sister's."

Mrs. Meng also saved some money and always wanted her daughter to get married in a more decent way.

She spoke happily, and Gu Ningxi lowered her eyes, not wanting to ruin her mother's mood.

In the study of Marquis Xuanping, there were three calligraphy pieces with red background and silver borders on the desk.

Marquis Xuanping smiled and said, "Your grandfather chose these characters himself. Which one do you like?"

Among the younger generations of the Gu family, only the eldest grandson of the second branch, Gu Ningjun, and Gu Ningxi were named by the old Marquis Gu himself. The rest of the younger generations did not have this honor.

"Yan" means beautiful and intelligent; "Shu" means gentle and pretty; "Xian" means quiet and dignified.

Mrs. Meng sounded good, just like the "Wan" in the eldest girl's name, like a real sister.

"What do you think?" Mrs. Meng wanted to see what her daughter thought.

Gu Ningxi was quiet for a while, they were all good names.

"It's just that - the child prefers the original name."

"Xi" means bright and harmonious.

Why can't she shine as brightly as the sun after losing her male identity?

…

Under the pressure of various circumstances, Gu Ningxi felt dizzy in the afternoon.

The Marquis Xuanping's mansion immediately invited a doctor to see him. It was just a common cold, not serious, and would be fine after one or two doses of medicine.

Knowing that Gu Ningxi had been having trouble sleeping recently, the doctor specially added some calming herbs to the prescription.

However, with his worries on his mind, he couldn't find a way out. After taking the medicine and falling asleep, Gu Ningxi was still full of worries and dreams.

Dusk was falling, but there was still some light in the sky.

In her dream, she returned to the imperial study, but it was not the scene where they had argued that day.

Gu Ningxi looked at the memorials piled up like a mountain on the imperial desk, which were obviously divided into two factions.

A girl wearing a phoenix crown sat upright on the dragon throne, holding a red brush.

She wore a black top and purple skirt. The pearl hanging from her phoenix crown reflected on her forehead, making her look gorgeous and dazzling.

When she looked up, the aura of the long-lasting superior made Gu Ningxi hold her breath involuntarily, and she also felt unexpectedly familiar.

This aura is very much like him.

Gu Ningxi looked at her. Her face under the phoenix crown was 80% to 90% similar to his own.

Without exchanging pleasantries, she spoke calmly, "Why do you think everyone is fighting for this chair?"

She casually knocked on the golden nanmu throne beneath her.

Gu Ningxi was stunned by her question. She could make out a few fragmented lines of handwriting on a letter spread out on the imperial desk. Emperor Lu Yi, already old enough to rule the country, had abdicated the throne and respectfully welcomed Empress Wen to the throne, ruling the country.

"Wen" is the posthumous title of the late emperor. After three campaigns to defeat the Eastern Turks, the late emperor died of a sudden illness on his way back. The late emperor had no children, and the empress's unborn baby, the gender of which was unknown, was in the family. After deliberation, the court appointed Emperor Wen's younger brother as the new ruler. As the new emperor was still young, the empress, entrusted by the late emperor with the care of the ministers, assumed the helm of government, earning her the nickname "Empress Wen" from both the court and the people.

The golden threads on the phoenix crown swayed slightly. Gu Ningxi moved her lips, but found that she could not answer any sound.

The woman on the throne said calmly, "Only when you reach this position can you have the right to do whatever you want."

"Trapped in power, you know exactly where the solution lies, so why act so willfully?"

"You should be thankful that it's Lu Qian'an who's on the throne now. He's able to protect you. If it were someone else, how would you have a chance to compete?"

She spoke harshly and showed no mercy during her many years in power.

Gu Ningxi wanted to talk to her, and the door of the imperial study was pushed open at this time.

"Mother!"

A bright and beautiful girl in a pomegranate red skirt with gold peony patterns flew into the imperial study like a light butterfly.

Gu Ningxi looked at the young girl of the same age as himself, and his eyes softened unconsciously.

The woman on the throne did the same. She put down her red brush and asked, "Playing polo with Master Xie and the others again?"

"Yes, His Majesty is here too!"

His Majesty is the posthumous son of the Emperor's grandfather, only one year older than her, but due to seniority she has to call him "little imperial uncle".

"What were you thinking about just now, mother?" She snuggled up to her mother and asked with a smile.

"Such a sharp eye? Nothing."

I just thought of myself when I was younger.

Naive as hell, and also...stubborn as hell.

......

The warm sunlight shone all over his body, and Gu Ningxi looked much better after recovering from his illness.

Gu Ningwan looked her up and down. Not only did her complexion look rosier, but she also seemed to be in a more relaxed mood, as if she had figured something out.

"Why are you always staring at me, sister?"

Gu Ningwan asked, "Then where are you looking?"

In the spring, flowers are in full bloom. Xier said she wanted to come to the garden to appreciate the flowers, but she never took a second look at the forsythia, apricot blossoms, and crabapple blossoms.

They have been much more open with each other in the mansion these days. Father has informed mother and asked her, the eldest sister, to teach Xier more etiquette and rules.

As long as she doesn't compete with my third brother for the position of crown prince, my mother will care about the marriage of the girls in the family.

Gu Ningxi pointed in a direction: "I'm counting how many maids and servants are staring at me, and estimating how many of them know martial arts."

There should be a circle of guards outside, patrolling in turns.

Gu Ningwan was shocked: "Are you observing these?"

She looked carefully and saw that the maid who had just loosened the soil for Haitang was now adding soil again.

Gu Ningwan lowered her voice: "You don't mean to—"

She made the shape of the word "run" with her lips. Xier was used to working outside, and suddenly she was asked to be confined to a small place. Gu Ningwan felt that Xier could not bear it.

"I've thought about it." Gu Ningxi said honestly.

But it was only a moment. Not to mention whether there was anyone to help her, whether she could get out safely, and even if she got out, how long could she be free?

The whole world belongs to him. If he is caught, his situation will probably be even worse.

Besides, she couldn't bear to leave her relatives and friends, and couldn't give up her official position.

"So what are you going to do?"

Gu Ningxi pulled out a jade pendant. He had left it for her before the coup, just in case, and she had never had the chance to return it.

She noted the place on the paper, and never expected it would come in handy today.

"Let's go, sister." Gu Ningxi raised an eyebrow, "Let's go out for a walk."

Her family was afraid that she would become ill due to depression, so they allowed her to leave the house, but they sent a lot of guards to accompany her.

Gu Ningwan couldn't guess what she was up to, but she still agreed happily.

The carriage left the front gate of the mansion, went several streets, and visited several bookstores they were familiar with.

Gu Ningwan bought a few books along the way. When others saw them, they thought they were just siblings from a large family traveling together.

After strolling around for half a day, the carriage finally stopped in front of an antique shop called Guyuzhai.

Gu Ningwan realized that this place was not far from the Marquis' Mansion. She looked back and saw that, sure enough, just a few dozen steps ahead was a side door to the backyard of the Marquis' Mansion.

This was also Gu Ningxi's first time in the shop. The shop assistant took a look at the well-dressed couple and was about to greet them when he heard the young man say, "Is your boss here?"

The waiter hesitated for a moment, then went to the inner room to call someone.

Soon, a middle-aged man in his forties, dressed straight, came out and politely asked from behind the counter, "What can I do for you, sir?"

Gu Ningxi placed the jade pendant on the tray in front of him.

The shopkeeper suddenly straightened his expression. If there was no one else in the shop, he would have bowed deeply to Gu Ningxi.

Gu Ningwan was originally admiring a white jade bottle, but upon seeing this, she took the initiative to walk away.

The shopkeeper respectfully said to Gu Ningxi, "Please come in."

"No need. Just give a message to your master for me." Gu Ningxi pushed out a wooden box. "Give this to him as well."

…

In the imperial study, the Minister of Rites had just left.

The Ministry of Rites, in compliance with His Majesty's order, has begun preparations for the wedding. However, as the new empress has not yet been chosen, His Majesty has instructed that this matter not be publicized for the time being.

It was only natural for the new emperor to enthronize the Empress. When the retired emperor was in office, he had already instructed the Ministry of Rites to prepare the necessary gifts and utensils for the Zhao Palace wedding. Everything was already in place. Unfortunately, it was too late, and now it's not in accordance with the rules.

The items that the Emperor Taizong prepared for Your Majesty were all top-notch. The Ministry of Rites doesn't know what to do with them yet, so they're all stored in the warehouse. Perhaps some prince will use them for his wedding in the future.

All the government affairs for the day have been dealt with. Lu Jing stood up and casually turned the wheel on the corner of the desk.

The day before yesterday, news came from the Xuanping Marquis's residence that she had been ill. Although she had only caught a cold at night, she had to recuperate for two or three days before she recovered.

They had not seen each other since they separated seven days ago.

Just like the rules before marriage, it’s better not to see each other.

Lu Jing was genuinely annoyed that day. He knew how much Yuan Le valued her position at court. Shortly after she passed the imperial examination, he had been ordered to leave the capital. Even if Yuan Le hadn't left with him, he could understand her concerns. Madam Meng needed her company in Kyoto. As a civil official, gaining experience in the Hanlin Academy would be a better career path.

From the Hanlin Academy to the Ministry of Works, she took every step steadily, and her rise to prominence was based on untold diligence and hardship.

He never thought of letting her leave the court.

Even if he was charged with deceiving the emperor, he was now sitting on the throne and he could do whatever was necessary for Yuan Le.

But in the end, she gave up everything in Kyoto in order to go to Jiangnan.

It turned out that it wasn't that she couldn't leave the capital, but that she was unwilling to leave the capital for him.

It turned out that the official position that the emperor had been longing for was not that important to her.

Lu Jing was upset. Did he really have to make everything clear to Yuan Le on the wedding night?

Yuan Le wasn't someone who would rather break than bend. She had a temper, but she wouldn't choose to hurt herself. Lu Jing instinctively felt that by that time, many things between them would be irreparable.

Thinking back to that day in the imperial study, when he saw her expression like that, how could he feel good?

"Your Majesty," Sun Jing announced from outside, "something has been delivered from Guyuzhai."

Lu Jing frowned. Gu Yuzhai was originally a secret agent outside the palace. Since he ascended the throne, his original function of delivering information had faded.

"Bring it here."

Sun Jing presented it as instructed, and Lu Jing recognized his jade pendant at a glance.

Beneath the jade pendant was a brocade box. Lu Jing asked, "What did she say?"

Sun Jing relayed the visitor's words verbatim: "A young man has brought your majesty's jade pendant and said he wants to see your majesty."

"Got it. Go on down."

Sun Jing responded "yes", trying to guess what His Majesty was thinking. Should he meet her or not?

He bowed and withdrew, waiting outside the imperial study for a long time. Until dusk, he still did not hear the emperor's order.

…

As soon as dawn broke, the palace carriage was already waiting outside the Marquis Xuanping's mansion.

Gu Ningxi changed into her crimson official uniform after a long absence. The few days she had been trapped in the mansion felt like a long time had passed.

Yinlan tied a leather belt for Lord Gu. Lord Gu had lost a lot of weight recently, and his waist looked even thinner under the jade belt.

Gu Ningxi looked at herself in the bronze mirror. She did not bring anyone from the Xuanping Marquis Mansion with her, and she boarded the carriage and entered the palace alone.

In the imperial study, Lu Jing was already waiting for her quietly.

Sun Jing personally greeted Lord Gu outside the triple doors of the imperial study. On the way to escorting Lord Gu into the imperial study, he opened and closed his mouth, and hesitated five or six times.

He had prayed to the gods and Buddhas late last night, hoping that both masters would be able to rest in peace this time.

Don't make the entire imperial city worry anymore.

He signaled his attendants to step back and stood guard in the corridor himself.

The Imperial Study was exactly the same as when I had reviewed Ning Xilai's arrival. The only difference was that there were fewer memorials on the Imperial Desk, and the scroll had been re-turned several times.

She knelt in the hall and saluted: "Long live Your Majesty."

"stand up."

Gu Ningxi knelt there, not moving at all.

Lu Jing frowned and heard her next words: "I come here today to plead guilty. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

Their eyes met, and Gu Ningxi frankly admitted, "I am a woman. I entered school as the second son of the Gu family when I was young. I later participated in the imperial examinations and have served in the court ever since." She asked, "Has Your Majesty ever noticed this over the years?"

She just wanted to hint that she understood that the emperor had discovered her identity.

As it happened, Lu Jing heard it, and all the memories of that period, including the sleepless nights and disbelief, the jealousy and archery competitions with other girls, and even the superstition about karma in past lives and the determination to become a homosexual, came flooding back like a tide.

The unintentional and sharp sarcasm in those words startled the three small wooden sculptures newly placed on the treasure shelf.

His Highness Prince Zhao, bow drawn, protected Yuan Le, who was reading beside him, protecting her from the noise outside. Late last night, their master had compared them repeatedly under candlelight for a long time before deciding to pair him and Yuan Le together.

Three mu grids away, His Royal Highness Prince Zhao was charging forward on his horse, all alone and still unable to find his beloved.

She was so straightforward that Lu Jing simply said, "Okay, for the crime of deceiving the emperor, how do you think I should punish you?"

Gu Ningxi stood tall and straight, looking him in the eye without flinching or avoiding, "I wish to remain in the court."

Lu Jing almost laughed out of anger at his ignorance and self-righteous look.

"What? I'll take care of the rest?"

He strode down from the imperial desk and looked at the person in front of him. He was so angry that he didn't know what to say.

"Gu Yuanle," he called her by her first name, "Why do you think I have to agree to you?"

【Author’s words】

I added some scenes of Xiao Lu in the previous chapter, you can take a look.