Deceive yourself

Outside the courtyard gate, the night was cool and still, and the moonlight shone on the bluestone slabs.

Murong Xiao's carriage was luxurious and exotic, but he did not get on. Instead, he waved for the carriage driver to follow behind, while he walked side by side with Gu Jinghong on the quiet street.

“Pavilion Master Gu is unlike any other woman I’ve ever met in the Great Yong Dynasty.” He spoke, breaking the silence, his gaze falling on her profile outlined by the moonlight.

"Oh? What's the difference?" Gu Jinghong looked straight ahead, her tone indifferent.

“They are either as delicate as vines, needing to cling to towering trees; or as shrewd as an abacus, their eyes filled with calculations of profit.” He paused, turned to look at her, his gaze sharp as an eagle, “And you, are like a dagger hidden in brocade. Beauty is meant to lower people’s guard; but sharpness is your true nature.”

The metaphor was so precise that it gave Gu Jinghong a slight tremor.

She finally turned her head to meet his probing gaze, a faint smile playing on her lips: "Is Your Majesty praising me, or warning yourself?"

Upon hearing this, Murong Xiao suddenly let out a low, pleasant laugh that carried far in the quiet night. "It's all the truth."

He stopped, turned to face her, his gaze intense. "I'm looking forward to our deal. But I'm more curious about you as a person."

As he spoke, he took off the black cloak from his shoulders. The cloak was embroidered with roaring wolf patterns in gold thread, and he draped it over Gu Jinghong's shoulders with a deft movement.

"The night dew is deep, don't catch a cold." The tone carries a unique flavor of northerners.

The lingering warmth of her body on the cloak, mixed with the chilling scent of desert winds and tanned leather, instantly enveloped her.

Without hesitation, Gu Jinghong took off the cloak and handed it back.

“Jinghong is the heir apparent of the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion in Dayong, while Your Majesty is the ruler of Beizhai. His close relationship with the wife of a foreign official would tarnish Your Majesty’s reputation and damage relations between our two nations if it were to spread.” She raised her eyes, her gaze cold as frost. “I suppose Your Majesty wouldn’t want to be criticized by the world for having designs on the wife of a foreign official, would you?”

“The wife of a subject…hehe,” Murong Xiao chuckled, not retreating but with his gaze growing even brighter. “The people of Bei Di have always been enlightened, their freedom of thought as vast as an eagle soaring through the heavens. As the ruler of Bei Di, I care even less about such worldly fame.”

"not give a damn about?"

"The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion..." He paused deliberately, a sneer curling at the corner of his lips. "Your husband, Gongsun Cheyuan, is nothing but a spoiled brat who relies on his ancestors' legacy. How could he be worthy of a woman like you?"

His words were arrogant, showing no regard for Gongsun Che or the entire Duke's mansion.

Gu Jinghong's expression remained calm and composed: "...Your Majesty, this is a matter of my family, no need for you to concern yourself with it."

Murong Xiao chuckled again, his gaze locking onto her like a hawk's: "I have so scorned him, yet you show no anger whatsoever? It seems that there is truly no affection between you and him."

Gu Jinghong straightened up and stepped forward, "Your Majesty should prioritize cooperation and not delve into these irrelevant matters."

Murong Xiao followed slowly, standing shoulder to shoulder with her: "Since it is a cooperation, we must know ourselves and our enemy in order to make it last. Pavilion Master Gu, you Yong people are too polite and restrictive. If there is no marital harmony, why force a marriage? In our Northern Di, there is only worthy or unworthy. It is already a pity that a pearl is covered in dust, but if it is further burdened by rubble, it would be a waste of resources."

Gu Jinghong stopped abruptly, looked up at him, forced a faint smile, but a trace of unconcealed loneliness flashed across her eyes: "Your Majesty is overthinking it. Jinghong has always been cold-hearted and indifferent. How do you know that my lack of anger means I am not fond of him?"

Murong Xiao smiled again, his deep-set eyes appearing even sharper.

"When you first saw me, your expression was strange. Of course, it's not unusual for a woman to be captivated by my looks. Only you..."

A hint of wariness flashed in Gu Jinghong's eyes: "How is it?"

"...that moment of stunned silence lasted only a moment."

She seemed relieved, her eyes crinkling with a smile: "So what? Does every woman have to fall for the King?"

Murong Xiao's eyes darkened, much like the deepening night.

He took a half-step closer, his voice low and deep, "That only means it's not my appearance that moved you, but that I resemble someone so much... someone you're attracted to but can't be with. Am I right?"

Gu Jinghong lowered her eyes and subconsciously turned her head slightly to the other side: "Your Majesty is overthinking it."

Murong Xiao remained unperturbed and continued, "Since I resemble the person you yearn for, and you cannot be with him, the best choice now is to return to Bei Di with me. With the help of Pavilion Master Gu, the Bei Di cavalry will be even stronger, and dominating the world will be just around the corner."

His smile deepened, his gaze intense. "Naturally, I also have the same appreciation a man has for a woman. Don't think that I only value those crossbows."

Upon reaching the gate of the mansion, he did not insist on seeing him off further, but instead raised his hand to summon the merchant's carriage, which was decorated with an inconspicuous wolf emblem.

Indeed, the new emperor of Bei Di was extremely thoughtful.

Those who have survived the brutal struggles of the Northern Di, where an old emperor suddenly dies of illness, are indeed exceptionally thorough and meticulous in their thinking.

He called out to the coachman, "Make sure to escort Lady Gu back to her residence and watch her safely step into the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion."

The driver nodded repeatedly in agreement.

In front of everyone, he addressed her as "Master Gu" instead of "Princess Consort," clearly indicating that he, Murong Xiao, recognized Gu Jinghong as a person, not as some Duke's mansion.

She curtsied gracefully, her voice clear enough for the coachman and the others to hear: "Then I, Jinghong, will find it impolite to refuse. Thank you for your trouble."

Her pronunciation was so clear and her voice so penetrating—she wanted to make everyone aware of her "trading with Hu merchants."

Murong Xiao returned the greeting with a smile and then placed another token into her hand.

Gu Jinghong took a look and saw that the token was neither gold nor jade, but its whole body was filled with a deep luster. On the front was a wolf howling at the moon, and on the back was a lone eagle soaring.

"This is an edict from the royal family of Bei Di. With it, you can travel from the border of Dayong to the capital of the Lonely Emperor, all the way to the palace. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, whether they come from the Dayong court or your nominal husband's family, with this edict, all the post stations and forces of Bei Di can be at your disposal."

Gu Jinghong held the token, which still carried his body heat, and felt a burning sensation at his fingertips.

She knew full well what accepting this task meant; it went far beyond the boundaries of a collaborator.

But in a flash, a wave of resentment swept through her mind. This token might be the root of her downfall, or it might be the weapon she could use to break free of her shackles.

In the end, she said nothing, only nodded slightly, and turned to board the carriage that symbolized the imperial power of the Northern Di.

The carriage curtains fell, blocking Murong Xiao's view.

In the distance, a tall figure disappeared into the darkness.

...

Bei Zhai's carriage stopped at the side gate of the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion. The coachman bowed respectfully and then drove away.

Gu Jinghong wrapped her clothes tighter around herself, the cool night breeze making her even more awake.

The lights at Chengxinju were still on.

She pushed open the door and saw Gongsun Cheyuan sitting in the outer room, holding a book in his hand, his head nodding, clearly trying to stay awake while waiting for her.

Hearing the noise, he was startled awake. When he saw it was her, a smile immediately appeared on his face.

"Jinghong, you're back!" He stood up, his burning gaze slightly evasive, then rubbed his hands together. "It's late, and I was worried something might have happened to you outside if you didn't come back soon."

His concern was pure and without a trace of impurity, yet he was so naive and helpless in front of her.

Gu Jinghong's tone was calm, with an almost polite distance: "Yes, I had a lot of trivial matters to attend to, so I came back late. You don't need to wait for me in the future, Your Highness."

At this moment, Gongsun Cheyuan seemed to suddenly remember something and asked with a slight hesitation, "I just... I think I saw you coming back in a foreign merchant's carriage? Were you doing business with a foreign merchant?"

"Yes."

She summoned a maid to wash up, but when she finished, she found that Gongsun Cheyuan had already happily made a makeshift bed on the floor next to the bed.

"What are you doing?" Gu Jinghong frowned slightly.

"Although we are married by imperial decree and have no emotional foundation, we are still officially husband and wife. This bed should naturally be yours to sleep in. I'm thick-skinned and can sleep on the floor without any problem."

Looking at his sincere and persistent demeanor, a faint, complex emotion swept through Gu Jinghong's heart.

Her voice softened a bit, "There's no need for that. I'm a man of the martial world, used to being wild. You sleep in the bed, I'll find another place."

"That won't do!" Gongsun Cheyuan immediately shook his head. "You are a woman and I am a man. It is my duty to take care of you. Just go to sleep peacefully."

Gu Jinghong stopped insisting.

She blew out the candle and lay down in the darkness.

However, less than half an incense stick's time later, a rustling sound, barely suppressed, came from the floor.

Gongsun Cheyuan carefully tossed and turned on the not-so-soft bedding.

For a prince like him, raised in luxury and privilege, the hard ground, the thin bedding, and even the air too close to the ground were all unbearable tortures.

He was clearly trying to restrain himself, not wanting her to notice, but the subtle movements were impossible to hide in the quiet night.

Gu Jinghong listened quietly in the darkness.

The sentiment may be genuine, but such forced "goodness" is ultimately like a flower in a greenhouse, unable to withstand the slightest wind or rain.

If even the hardship of sleeping on the floor for one night is unbearable...

Gu Jinghong suddenly thought of Xiao Chengyan, of how he half-jokingly shielded her from arrows in the desolate, frigid wilderness, of how he roasted rabbit for her by the lake, of how he led the soldiers of the Southwest in fierce battle, of how he single-handedly ordered the "burn" under the pressure of a thousand troops, of how deep his affection was...

Then, as he watched her features grow deeper and deeper, gradually taking on a rugged northern look, he spoke in the voice of Murong Xiao.

“Gu Jinghong,” he said, “you do not love Gongsun Cheyuan, so why imprison yourself?”

Gu Jinghong closed her eyes, and a tear silently slid down her cheek—indeed, she couldn't deceive herself.

Just then, Gongsun Cheyuan spoke softly, his voice slightly nasal from discomfort: "Jinghong... Tomorrow is the Peony Banquet in the palace. Father said His Majesty specifically requested that you and I attend together."

In the darkness, Gu Jinghong opened her eyes.

Peony Banquet... I've never heard of the Great Yong Dynasty emphasizing peony banquets in previous years. This must be a less formal occasion where they want to discuss something important.

Gu Jinghong listened to Gongsun Cheyuan's seemingly unreserved smile, remained silent for a moment, and then replied softly, "Okay."

She had just returned when she "coincidentally" encountered a palace banquet. It seems that someone was even more anxious than her and had already laid out a dead end.