87 Wanshou
◎Her white wrist was clasped on the pillow, and she could clearly feel his changes.◎
Once the Emperor proposed a formal marriage, it would be difficult for Xier to refuse.
Gu Ningwan understood her sister's concerns and said with a wry smile, "Between you and me, the situation is exactly the opposite."
Xier's lover wanted to marry her wholeheartedly, but Xier was used to being independent in the world and didn't want to get married;
However, her fiancé, whom she had known since childhood and had been engaged for three years, was driven by profit and only saw the benefits of marriage. As for her...
I don’t really want to get married.
"Sister," Gu Ningxi looked at her for a long time, then lowered his voice. "I've noticed you haven't looked well lately. Are the medicine the doctor prescribed useless?"
"It's just a worry." Late in the night, as everyone was asleep, Gu Ningwan expressed some hesitation and helplessness to her most trusted sister. "My marriage was like knowing that the road ahead was a pit of fire, but I had no choice but to jump in. Because even if I stayed in the Marquis' Mansion, it wouldn't be any better."
Gu Ningxi remained silent. Grandfather and father wouldn't give up on this match, and my sister's mother... Madam Shen was probably the one most eager to facilitate it. She was proud of her eldest daughter, and marrying off to a high position was her greatest honor.
"Mother also said that every mistress in a large mansion has to endure the same hardships. Even if you marry down, you'll still encounter a demanding mother-in-law, and the loss won't outweigh the gain. At least if I marry into the Ningguo Mansion, I won't lose face at all."
Gu Ningwan lowered her eyes, perhaps lost in thought. Lately, she'd been having nightmares. The people and events in her dreams seemed so real that even upon waking, she couldn't tell them apart.
Gu Ningxi clenched her palms. She was helpless at the moment and could not help her sister in any way.
Even if she could cancel the marriage, she had no way to guarantee her sister's life for the rest of her life.
The two sisters sat facing each other in silence for a long time. Then Gu Ningwan asked, "Xi'er, are you familiar with the sixth son of the Lin family?"
"Why did you suddenly mention him, sister?"
Speaking of Lin Yang, Gu Ningxi found an outlet for her already irritated mood. She had previously wondered how the Ningguo Mansion, a century-old family, could raise such a legitimate grandson. Now it seemed that the Ningguo Prince and he, being of the same mother, were birds of a feather.
"Fortunately, Miss Luo from the Nan'an Marquis's Mansion did not marry Lin Yang, otherwise the rest of her life would be completely ruined."
Gu Ningwan's eyes darkened a little as she thought of the accident before the wedding in her dream.
"Sister, what happened?"
Gu Ningxi keenly sensed that something was wrong, but Gu Ningwan just smiled and said nothing more.
The dream was nothing but nonsense. She looked at Gu Ningxi and said sincerely, "I am just like you. I also hope that you can stay in the Marquis' Mansion."
Then I would know that whenever I looked back, there would always be a home waiting for me.
The two sisters each had their own thoughts and parted when the moon was at its brightest.
Gu Ningxi changed into her pajamas and went to bed. She stared at the embroidery on the curtains for a long time and fell asleep without knowing when.
The dream was about the long-lost scene after the palace coup.
The sunlight shines into the hall, and looking at the furnishings inside, it vaguely appears to be the Ruihe Hall.
Behind the heavy curtains, the girl had her black hair loose and was sitting on the couch with her knees hugged.
She was thin and wore a black nightgown that was obviously ill-fitting.
"woke up?"
The emperor's voice came from outside. He lifted the curtain and sat casually beside his couch.
She lowered her eyes, not knowing how to face it for a moment.
The day before yesterday, she was still an accomplice of the deposed prince, kneeling in the imperial study awaiting the new emperor's decision.
Now he has become a plaything on the new emperor's bed. In order to save his life, he has fallen from being a mere civil official to this point.
Two full days had passed, and her eyelashes trembled slightly: "When will Your Majesty let me return home?"
"Tomorrow," the emperor's slender knuckles caressed her jade-like cheek, "Tomorrow."
The mist was rising, and Gu Ningxi opened her eyes, coming back to her senses from the dream of the previous night.
It started like that, probably because they really became a pair of resentful lovers in their previous life.
The water temperature gradually cooled down, and Gu Ningxi sat up straight in the bathtub.
But they didn't grow old together, his life span -
"Xi'er, aren't you ready yet?" Madam Meng urged from outside, "Don't miss the time."
It is customary to bathe and change clothes before entering the palace for a banquet. Today is May 27th, Your Majesty's birthday, and the palace is hosting a banquet and inviting all the ministers.
"That's fine." Gu Ningxi agreed loudly, and the smell of medicine in the room had dissipated.
She wiped herself clean, tied her chest, and changed into her newly ironed crimson official uniform.
Before leaving Leyouyuan, she reminded her mother again, "The banquet ended late. I will go back to Yongningfang to sleep tonight. Mother, you don't have to wait for me."
Madam Meng nodded. It had always been like this. Xi'er lived closer to the palace, so traveling back and forth was less troublesome.
She warned: "Don't drink too much."
"The child knows his limits."
…
The Wanshou Banquet was held in the Zhaoming Hall as usual. From noon onwards, civil and military officials began to enter the palace one after another. All the carriages were parked outside the Danyang Gate. The sight of them was endless and spectacular.
The birthday gifts presented by the officials were placed in the rear hall of Zhaoming Palace. From jade to porcelain cups, from gold objects to wood carvings, they all contained the four characters for "happiness, longevity and good fortune".
Sun Jingqing checked the gift list and found that Lord Gu's birthday gift had not arrived yet.
The banquet was originally scheduled to start at 3 p.m., but Lu Jing had nothing to do today, so he simply left Ruihe Hall early.
Led by attendants in an orderly manner, the civil and military officials either sat on the seats in Zhaoming Hall or chatted in the nearby flower gardens.
This area was much quieter, and Lu Jing saw three familiar figures, standing in an orderly manner.
"Why are you all here?"
"His Majesty."
"His Majesty."
Xie Qian, Qin Yu, and Zhen Yuan greeted each other. Qin Yu hesitated to speak, but Xie Qian spoke for him, "Sister Qin is looking for Master Gu to speak to." He raised an eyebrow, "Yan Ming is worried, so he's here to watch over you personally."
Lu Jing looked through the carved stone window and saw Yuan Le talking to the girl in the bamboo forest in the distance.
Qin Yu sighed. Ever since Lord Gu explicitly rejected the marriage proposal, he knew his marriage to the Xuanping Marquisate was hopeless. He kept a close eye on his sister, hoping she would see Lord Gu less often and eventually forget him.
But after all, he is the person my younger sister admires, and Lord Gu means a lot to her.
"My sister's painting skills were taught by Master Gu."
Fortunately, my sister did not feel sorry for herself, but just practiced painting hard at home.
Qin Yu pretended to be relaxed: "I'll give you a few later."
Xie Qian said approvingly, "Okay, let me see if I can learn a bit from Master Gu."
Lu Jing looked towards the bamboo forest. A brief conversation was coming to an end.
Qin Ying was not comfortable meeting a man from another place, so she bowed to Gu Ningxi and went to the main hall from another place.
Gu Ningxi and Lu Jing's eyes met. Today was the first time they met since they separated from the imperial study that day.
No one took a step, and the few breaths seemed extremely long.
Gu Ningxi still had a birthday gift for him hidden in her sleeve, but when she looked around, she saw that Wu An Hou and the others were all there, so it was inconvenient to give it to him.
Before getting closer, Gu Ningxi simply turned around and went to the back hall of Zhaoming Palace to add birthday gifts.
The bamboo forest was calm and peaceful, and Qin Yu was completely relieved.
After Lord Gu disappeared, Sun Jing stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, why don't you move to the palace?"
Seeing that it was time for the banquet to begin, Lu Jing withdrew his gaze: "Yeah."
Today is His Majesty's first birthday since he ascended the throne, and the Ministry of Rites has made exceptionally grand preparations.
In the Golden Palace, all the ministers raised their glasses and wished His Majesty a long life.
As the sky gradually darkened, the Zhaoming Palace was brightly lit with singing and dancing.
The whole hall was filled with toasts, and royal family members, civil and military officials stood on both sides according to their ranks, praying respectfully.
On the high platform, Lu Jing sat alone facing south.
What he wanted was for Yuan Le to sit beside him and share the glory with him.
What does Yuan Le want?
The wine at the banquet was intoxicating, and Gu Ningxi drank two glasses intermittently. She looked up as if sensing something, and their eyes clearly met, separated by half a palace, but he looked away first.
Gu Ningxi held the wine bottle without caring and told the maid to fill it up.
"Yes, Master Gu."
Gu Ningxi calmly watched the singing and dancing for a while, then raised her eyes and drank, this time gulping it down in one gulp. Then she stood up, gave the maid a few words of advice, and left the hall alone.
There was singing and dancing, and the atmosphere was filled with great joy. People came and went in Zhaoming Hall from time to time, but no one paid any attention to what was going on.
Except for the emperor at the top.
The wine in Lu Jing's glass swayed slightly. Three or four songs and dances had passed, but her seat was still empty.
"Your Majesty," Sun Jing tried to understand the emperor's intention, "would you like me to send someone to look for Lord Gu?"
"No need." Lu Jing put down the wine cup and simply stood up.
All the ministers respectfully bid farewell to His Majesty, and Sun Jing remained in the Zhaoming Palace.
Convey your majesty's order, the banquet in the palace will proceed as usual, and all officials may do as they please.
…
The summer evening breeze blew, dispelling the noise at the banquet.
Gu Ningxi walked alone along the palace path. She remembered the way to Ruihe Hall. She had the token from Prince Zhao's Palace hanging around her waist, so no guards tried to stop her.
The back door of Ruihe Hall is connected to a flower garden. This hall is not far from Taiji Palace and was the palace that the retired emperor specially designated for His Royal Highness Prince Zhao.
The stone, which had been exposed to the sun for a day, was still warm. Gu Ningxi reached out and touched it, then borrowed a low round stone nearby and climbed up the half-man-high stone with a little effort.
She sat steadily and lowered her head to adjust her official uniform.
She looked at the dim moon in the sky. Although she had drunk some wine, her mind was extremely clear at this moment.
She must like him, she thought.
Since she was a child, he has been the best to her except for her mother.
Childhood sweethearts are truly amazing, and the changes in feelings are so hard to explain.
Gu Ningxi supported her chin with her hand and wanted to ask him, when did he fall in love with her?
It had only been a little over a year since he saw through her identity.
Qin Ying's words echoed in her ears. Miss Qin said that she couldn't imagine herself marrying anyone other than Lord Gu.
It seemed like—Gu Ningxi heard footsteps, looked at the person walking towards her under the moon, lowered her eyes and smiled.
It seemed that she had never thought of spending the rest of her life with anyone else except him.
The night breeze was blowing gently, and Lu Jing saw Gu Ningxi sitting on the stone at first sight.
He suddenly recalled a time when Yuan Le entered the palace when he was young, but he was summoned away by his father for something.
After he had finally finished dealing with all his affairs and rushed back, Yuan Le was just sitting on the stone like this, holding his cheeks with his hands, eagerly waiting for his return.
All the attendants left. Lu Jing asked, "Why are you here?"
"Your Majesty, don't you wish to see me?"
This momentum of turning the tables, Lu Jing and her eyes were level: "When did I say that? Can you remember how many days you haven't come to see me?"
Gu Ningxi's jade-like cheeks turned red, and her starry eyes were bright and shining.
The two looked at each other, and Gu Ningxi supported himself with a stone and stood up unsteadily.
Afraid that she would fall, Lu Jing reached out to protect her, frowning: "Why did you drink so much?"
But the next moment, the half-drunk man leaned over and threw himself into his arms.
Lu Jing caught the person off guard and hugged him tightly in his arms. Without taking a single step back, he held the person firmly.
Gu Ningxi put her arms around his neck, her voice low and seductive beside his ear: "Your Majesty, don't you want an answer?"
"Of course I am pleased with you."
It was just like the day when she was attacked by the river outside Beijing, with several long arrows flying through the air without any warning, and his hands reaching out to her.
How could she understand why her heart was beating so wildly at that time?
Their lips and teeth intertwined, each other's breath was enveloped by the other.
Everything happened so naturally.
The palace door was kicked open, and Lu Jing was still holding the person in the same position as before, striding towards the inner bedroom.
The curtains were opened, and the neatly made bed was instantly messed up.
The jade belt was untied, the crimson official uniform fell off, and then the plain white inner garment fell to the ground.
Her skin, whiter than snow, was dazzling, but the bra on top was particularly eye-catching.
Lu Jing almost didn't have the patience to untie them layer by layer. The bra suddenly fell off, and the soft snow-white peaks in front of him filled the blanks in his dream.
His breathing slowed for a moment.
Even though he was extremely skilled in his dreams, when it really came to this, Gu Ningxi felt shy when facing the burning gaze of the person on him.
Her fair wrists were clasped on the pillow, and she could clearly feel his changes.
"You..." She spoke with difficulty and wanted to extinguish the candle.
With almost the last bit of rationality, Lu Jing managed to keep a few inches away from her.
He randomly pulled the quilt aside to cover up all the scenery and dared not take another look.
"Tomorrow," he said, his voice suppressed to the extreme, as if it would collapse in the next moment, "Tomorrow."
【Author’s words】
Xiao Lu's logic: A grand wedding! A formal marriage! Let the world know we're a couple!
Xiao Gu: Let’s get the job done first, so he won’t have to ask me for a formal relationship.
It's summer vacation now. I'll update more if the nutrient solution exceeds 1,000 [花]
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