Chapter 87 It's Absolutely True "Gu Xi, will I be able to see you again tomorrow...?"
Gu Xi stood behind the Gu family's gate, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, her fingertips pressing against the door panel, yet she hesitated to make a further move, her eyes filled with uncertainty.
Xiao Che watched from the side without urging her.
He couldn't help but envy his elder brother again; even though he had hurt her so much, she still cared about him.
How lucky he is.
Gu Xi clenched her fist, then released it, repeating this several times before slowly opening the door.
The moment the door cracked open, he was seen standing in front of it, dressed in black.
Xiao Heng's eyes lit up when he saw Gu Xi, and then he stared straight at her, looking somewhat awkward and cautious, as if he was afraid of disturbing a beautiful dream.
The two were separated by a threshold, and the surroundings were so quiet that it seemed that only their breathing could be heard. Xiao Heng raised his hand to gently stroke her cheek, but Gu Xi dodged slightly backward. Xiao Heng's hand hovered in the air, and then slowly fell down, resting behind his back.
Gu Xi hid most of her body behind Xiao Che, only revealing half of her face. She lowered her eyes to avoid his burning gaze, and after a long while, she muttered, "Why are you still here?"
Xiao Heng didn't speak, but just stared at her intently, as if afraid she would disappear.
Gu Xi bit her lower lip, seemingly lost in thought. When she looked up, her eyes were slightly red. She looked into his eyes and asked, "I came to ask you, will you blame my parents and brother?"
Xiao Heng replied, "No."
They saved her, allowing him to see her alive and well now. How could he blame them?
He should thank them, reward them, and give them everything he can.
Gu Xi pursed her lips, "You have to keep your word..." Her voice was low, but her eyes were stubborn and serious.
"A ruler's word is law." Xiao Che's tone was firm, and his gaze softened unconsciously.
Gu Xi looked at him for a moment, then lowered her head. "You should go back to the palace quickly. Don't stand at my doorstep," she paused, "we have no relationship now. It will cause gossip if people see us."
Xiao Heng froze for a moment, and after a long while, he called out to her in a slightly hoarse voice, "Gu Xi..." His eyes seemed to show a hint of vulnerability.
Gu Xi lowered her head even further, revealing her slender neck. She gripped the hem of her dress tightly with both hands and urged softly, "Go back quickly..."
Xiao Heng verbally agreed, but did not move his feet at all. Gu Xi glanced up at him slightly, then lowered her head again.
During the stalemate, Xiao Che suddenly turned to face Gu Xi and said, "Xiao Xi, you go back to your room and rest first. I will send my brother back in a while."
Gu Xi looked up at him hesitantly, worried that the man wouldn't listen.
Xiao Che smiled warmly, patted her head and said, "Don't worry, I'll tie him up and take him back. You're feeling heavy now, and it'll be cold at night."
Xiao Heng stared at Xiao Che's intimate actions, his eyes slightly cold, but he quickly concealed it.
Gu Xi thought for a moment, then nodded and replied, "Okay," adding, "Be careful on your way back."
As she turned to leave, Xiao Heng suddenly called out to her, "Gu Xi, will I be able to see you again tomorrow?"
Gu Xi paused only slightly before lowering her head and continuing to walk forward.
She wanted to say no, she wanted to say never to come again, never to see each other again, but the words that came out of her mouth for some reason were: "I don't know." Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, and she disappeared around the corner with the person.
Xiao Heng did not hear her reply.
After closing the gate to the Gu family's residence, Xiao Che glanced at Xiao Heng once before leaving.
He hadn't originally intended to persuade him; he was just worried that Gu Xi would get tired from standing for too long.
He could tell that Xiao Heng hadn't yet recovered from the shock of Gu Xi's miraculous return from the dead, so he decided to talk to him about some things tomorrow.
Xiao Heng's gaze remained fixed on the tightly closed gate of the Gu family.
As the third watch of the night passed, the first light of dawn broke.
He stood there until dawn.
He stared at the Gu family's gate and asked uncertainly, "Is it really her?"
He repeatedly confirmed that it was all real, and not a dream.
Zhao Fuquan looked around to make sure no one was watching, then replied with absolute certainty, "It's absolutely true! The Empress is not dead!"
Heaven knows how many times the Emperor asked him that night. He didn't sleep a wink, and his lips were practically blistered.
Xiao Heng hummed in agreement.
Seeing that it was getting late, Zhao Fuquan whispered a reminder: "Your Majesty, it's time to go back to court."
Xiao Heng seemed not to hear, his feet remaining motionless as if welded to the ground.
Just as Zhao Fuquan was extremely anxious, the door of the Gu family suddenly opened.
Xiao Heng's eyes suddenly lit up, and his gaze fell directly on Gu Xi. In that instant, he finally believed that all of this was real, and not just a dream.
Inside the Gu family gate, Gu Chengzhong and Gu Xiao, dressed in court attire, were preparing to leave for the morning court session, their faces bearing gentle smiles. Gu Xi, dressed in a smoky pink dress, stood beside them, her eyes crinkling with laughter.
The three people, who had been talking about something, were all stunned when they saw Xiao Heng, and their smiles disappeared.
Didn't they already go back to the palace?
Gu Chengzhong and Gu Xiao were the first to react, and just as they were about to bow, Xiao Heng said there was no need for such formalities, but his eyes never left Gu Xi.
The two men from the Gu family instinctively wanted to protect Gu Xi behind them, but they heard Gu Xi whisper, "Father, let me say a few words to him."
Gu Chengzhong concealed the worry in his eyes and headed towards the carriage. Gu Xiao glanced at Xiao Heng indifferently and followed.
The two stood there, Gu Xi keeping her head down and not looking at him. After a long while, she broke the silence: "Didn't you go home last night?"
Xiao Heng hummed in agreement.
Another silence followed.
Xiao Heng stared at the top of Gu Xi's head, his voice slightly hoarse: "I dare not go back, afraid that when I wake up... I will find out it was a dream."
Gu Xi felt a lump in her throat upon hearing this, looked up at him, and said, “It’s not a dream…” Her eyes were slightly red as she urged, “Go to court quickly, don’t delay state affairs.”
“Okay,” Xiao Heng replied.
Gu Xi closed the door.
In the end, Xiao Heng returned to the palace in a carriage belonging to the Gu family.
Gu Chengzhong and Gu Xiao did not invite him. They stared at the gate through the carriage window. Just as they were about to leave after Gu Xi went inside, Xiao Heng lifted the curtain and came up on his own.
The ingrained sense of propriety between ruler and subject and the refined manners of a noble family made the Gu family father and son resist the urge to kick him out of the carriage.
Throughout the journey, the carriage was so quiet that the sound of horses' hooves could be heard outside. None of the three men uttered a word; they simply stared at each other.
The carriage drove all the way to the waiting area outside the palace gate. At this time, all the officials were lined up and waiting for the palace gate to open. Everyone was surprised to see that the emperor got off the carriage from the Gu family.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Some people were the first to react, and they all knelt down and kowtowed.
Xiao Heng stood beside the carriage, raised his hand and said "Rise," but his gaze fell on the three regents approaching from afar.
Zhao Fuquan followed his gaze and thought to himself, "Oh no! How could I have forgotten about the imperial edict!"
According to the original plan, the imperial edict was to be read in the Golden Palace during the morning court session today, abdicating the throne to the Sixth Prince.
He glanced at Xiao Heng subconsciously, only to find him calm and composed.
It's like the emperor isn't worried, but the eunuch is!
Fortunately, he had arranged for the imperial carriage to wait at the Meridian Gate in advance, so that he could retrieve the imperial edict from the Golden Palace and then summon all the officials to court.
Zhao Fuquan led the way, and Xiao Heng passed through the Meridian Gate and finally arrived at the Golden Palace in the imperial carriage.
Xiao Heng slowly climbed the steps, but when he stepped into the palace, he found that someone was already waiting inside, with their back to the door.
It's Xiao Che.
Upon hearing the sound, Xiao Che turned around, holding the abdication edict in his hand.
He curled his lips into a smile, as warm as ever, and raised the bright yellow scroll in his hand, asking, "Does Your Majesty wish to retrieve this?"
Zhao Fuquan was startled. The Sixth Prince was about to...
Xiao Heng simply looked at him calmly, without saying a word, and the emotions in his eyes were unreadable.
“Your Majesty, please keep this edict for now… I originally had no interest in the throne, but if I find out in the future that you have treated her badly,” he paused, “then I will take both her and the throne!” Xiao Che’s eyes were more serious and determined than ever before. This seriousness and determination seemed to be a warning. He wanted to let him know that he was not just talking, and that he meant what he said.
Something flickered in Xiao Heng's eyes, but he remained silent, simply looking at Xiao Che.
After speaking, Xiao Che tucked the imperial edict into his wide sleeve, lightly tapping the edge of the sleeve with his fingertips. He then brushed past Xiao Heng and said, "Your subject requests leave today."
As they reached the entrance of the main hall, Xiao Heng, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke up: "That day will never come."
Xiao Che paused, a slight smile playing on his lips: "I hope so."
He didn't know if Gu Xi would still be with Xiao Heng in the future, but he could tell that she still couldn't let go of him.
Since that's the case, he will do everything in his power to protect her and prevent her from being harmed in the future.
After Xiao Che left, Xiao Heng returned to the Qianqing Palace. Once everything was ready, he summoned all the officials to the palace.
Today, in the imperial court, each official harbors their own thoughts.
First, when the three regents saw that the emperor attended court as scheduled, they were surprised but tacitly refrained from mentioning the abdication edict.
Regardless of other factors, they were still sincerely impressed by the emperor's achievements and did not want a change of imperial power in the Sheng Kingdom at this time.
Then there's the fact that everyone's probing gazes always seem to fall subtly on the Emperor and the Gu family father and son.
Before they could figure out why the Emperor had gotten off the Gu family's carriage today, they saw that the Emperor intended to give the Gu family father and son an exceptional reward.
The Gu family father and son were originally the late Empress's father and brother. In addition, General Gu had previously protected the Emperor and quelled a rebellion, so he was already highly regarded by the Emperor. However, this was far from the Emperor's current status, and he wished he could impart all his knowledge to the Emperor.
However, the father and son showed no appreciation whatsoever, repeatedly refusing with the phrase "one should not accept rewards without merit." Their respectful demeanor was tinged with distance, yet their words were sincere and beyond reproach.
The excitement of the morning court session hadn't been enough when new anecdotes emerged afterward.
After the morning court session, Xiao Heng boarded the Gu family's carriage on his own and headed to the Gu residence with the Gu father and son.
Gu Chengzhong and Gu Xiao felt resentful, but due to their relationship as ruler and subject, they could only remain silent. However, something even more unexpected was yet to come.
*
Gu Xi and Su Jinhe were sitting in the main hall waiting for Gu Chengzhong and Gu Xiao to return for breakfast.
Gu Xi checked the time; she should be almost home by now, and the food on the table was warmed to a perfect temperature.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching from afar. Gu Xi's heart skipped a beat, and just as she was about to get up, the two of them strode into the hall.
Gu Xi's gaze fell on the two faces, and she paused for a moment.
what happens?
Why did Father and Brother's faces turn so dark?
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Author's Note: Guess what the male lead did to make his dad and older brother's faces turn black, hahaha [laughing and crying with face covered]
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