Chapter 76: Was he wrong to feel sorry for her?
Inside the sleeping quarters of Weiyang Palace, the underfloor heating was burning brightly, making the room warm and cozy, completely isolating it from the winter chill outside the window.
The woman on the bed trembled slightly, frowned, and slowly opened her eyes.
"Awake?" Xiao Heng was sitting on the edge of the bed, his hand resting on Gu Xi's hair. She had already changed out of her red dress.
Gu Xi gradually regained consciousness. She felt her body was a little weak. When she focused her gaze and saw the person in front of her clearly, she was slightly stunned.
It seems he is alright.
She propped herself up on the bed, bowed her head to Xiao Hengzhen, and said in a hoarse but precise voice, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you." Her manners were impeccable.
Xiao Heng pursed his lips and looked at her, "You don't need to do this."
Gu Xi smiled faintly, her eyes calm and her voice without the slightest fluctuation, "Your Majesty, I dare not overstep my bounds."
Xiao Heng stared intently at her, feeling as if he had been stabbed in the chest.
Gu Xi didn't pay attention to his gaze. She thought back and wondered how she had suddenly returned to Weiyang Palace when she was still in the Sixth Prince's mansion.
She suddenly looked up at him and asked uncertainly, "Brother Che...did you do anything to him?" Her eyes were filled with worry.
Although Xiao Che did that to her, he didn't hurt her in the end. In any case, she didn't want anything to happen to him.
Xiao Heng finally came to his senses and asked in a hoarse voice, "What do you think I would do to him?"
Gu Xi slightly raised the corners of her lips upon hearing this. Judging from his words, it seemed that he didn't, so she didn't press the matter further.
The two looked at each other in silence for a moment.
Gu Xi glanced at the night outside the window and said, "If Your Majesty has nothing else to do, please return to Qianqing Palace as soon as possible. I wish to rest."
She was indeed a little tired, and her head was still a bit dizzy. She didn't know what had happened, but when she opened her eyes, it was already dark.
Xiao Heng's face darkened. "Are you trying to get rid of me?"
"Your Majesty, I dare not, but I am not feeling well right now and I am afraid I cannot serve Your Majesty."
Xiao Heng felt a pang of pain in his heart upon hearing this; their child.
He suddenly stood up, clenched his fists, and stepped out of the bedchamber. When he reached the entrance of Weiyang Palace, he turned around and saw that the lights in her room were already off.
In that instant, an unprecedented panic suddenly arose in his heart. He quickly turned back and pushed the door open with all his might.
She was lying on the bed with her back to him, and there was no sound from her; she seemed to be asleep.
He tiptoed to the bedside, lay down beside her, and pressed her back against his chest. He felt her body suddenly stiffen. He hugged her even tighter, pressing them together so that there wasn't a gap between them, but he still felt that she was very, very far away from him.
A fear of losing her forever gripped his entire body, and his arms tightened suddenly.
Gu Xi was in pain from being strangled, but she didn't struggle in vain. Drowsiness came over her, and she soon fell into a deep sleep.
In the early morning, the north wind howled outside the window, making the window frame rattle loudly.
Gu Xi woke up from her sleep. She didn't know when she had turned over last night. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Xiao Heng's chiseled face. She suddenly felt a little dazed, as if she hadn't seen him in the morning for a long time.
She smiled, got up from the bed, and dressed.
Before long, Huayue brought the meal, and the two ate together.
She didn't have much of an appetite today, whether it was because of the child or because she was upset, she couldn't eat much.
Seeing that she couldn't eat, Xiao Heng forced a smile, his face darkening. "He's not dead."
He wanted to kill him, but he didn't dare to. He wanted her to hate him, but he was also afraid she would hate him.
Gu Xi looked up at him blankly, then suddenly realized what he was talking about. Her eyes lit up, but quickly returned to normal.
It seems that going to jail was just a scheme of theirs, and they were all fooled by them.
fortunately.
She didn't want him to die; no matter the reason, she wanted Bai Xingzhi to live a good life.
The news immediately lifted her spirits, her expression brightened, and she even ate a few more mouthfuls of porridge.
Xiao Heng's eyes darkened, and his fingertips turned white from gripping the chopsticks so tightly.
After having breakfast, Gu Xi sat at her desk, copying medical records with her head down. Xiao Heng sat opposite her, staring at the top of her head without saying a word.
Gu Xi ignored it and focused intently on her own task.
Just as he had copied two pages, Zhu Yin suddenly brought in a bowl of food and placed it on the table.
"Miss, you haven't had much of an appetite lately. Zhuyin made you some white jade dumplings. Please eat more."
Gu Xi is eating less and less, and she is getting thinner and thinner. Now she is pregnant, and this can't go on.
Gu Xi put down her pen, looked at Zhu Yin with a bright smile, and said in a light voice, "Yes, I promise I'll finish it all!"
No wonder Huayue brought her breakfast; it turns out she went to make this for her. The bowl was still steaming.
Xiao Heng looked at the bowl of round, white food on the table and found it extremely irritating. He suddenly raised his hand and swept the food to the ground with a loud clang. Zhu Yin was so frightened that she knelt down.
Gu Xi's smile froze instantly. She stared at the broken porcelain shards and the white jade ball scattered all over the ground, and opened her mouth: "Your Majesty, since you hate me so much, why don't you let me go?"
"Let you go?" Xiao Heng said through gritted teeth, his voice filled with malice. "So you can go out and elope with Bai Xingzhi!"
She was used to him saying that, and she was too tired to explain anymore.
"One year, please give me my freedom after one year?" She looked up at him, her voice earnest.
If she could leave now, that would be best, so that her child could escape the palace, and she would try her best to live until the day he was born.
If not, she wanted to find a place with green hills and clear waters to spend the rest of her life a year later, not wanting to be trapped inside these palace walls even after death.
Xiao Heng suddenly stood up, veins bulging on his forehead. "Don't even think about it! Gu Xi, you can only be with me for the rest of your life!"
After he finished speaking, he turned around abruptly and strode towards the door, leaving behind a mess with his anger and coldness.
As soon as Xiao Heng left, Yun Ke led several palace maids who were there for a study session to enter. They had just bumped into the furious Xiao Heng at the door.
"Miss, how are you?!" Zhu Yin suddenly exclaimed, her voice panicked.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw that Gu Xi was clutching her chest tightly, breathing heavily in pain. Her face was drained of color, and fine beads of sweat were sliding down her temples.
They quickly helped Gu Xi to lie down on the bed, and Zhu Yin put two pills in her mouth. It took her a while to recover.
Yun Ke placed her hand on Gu Xi's wrist, her face full of worry, "Your Majesty, your pulse is getting worse and worse..." She hesitated before continuing.
"Yes, I know."
She knew she wouldn't live more than a year, but she would try her best, for herself and for her child.
The palace maids who had been standing beside Yun Ke suddenly exchanged glances, then looked at Gu Xi with unwavering eyes and said, "Your Highness, do you want to escape? We can help you; we are just lowly servants."
Gu Xi suddenly became serious and said, “You are not allowed to talk about yourselves like that,” her voice still very weak, “Every one of your lives is precious, you must live well.”
She had considered escaping, but what would happen to the people left behind if she left? What would happen to Hua Yue? What would happen to Yun Ke? Would he take his anger out on them?
She can't be so selfish.
*
Xiao Heng returned to Qianqing Palace with a gloomy expression. As soon as he stepped into the front hall, he saw Bai Xingzhi waiting there, and his face darkened even more.
"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty." Bai Xingzhi lifted his robe, knelt, and bowed respectfully.
"Rise," Xiao Heng asked casually, "Didn't you go home last night?"
"Hmm." Bai Xingzhi stood up and responded.
Xiao Heng suddenly stopped and turned to face Bai Xingzhi. The two were a few steps apart. Xiao Heng looked at him with scrutiny in his eyes. "You are... his son?" He was referring to his father, the Emperor.
"No," Bai Xingzhi denied immediately.
Xiao Heng simply looked at him without saying a word.
Before he even said who it was, he already knew what the person was going to ask.
He never understood why he was helping him. He had investigated him, but unfortunately, he found nothing.
His family background is spotless and without any flaws; either it is true, or it is very well hidden.
However, he didn't care. He was an unfavored prince, so he wasn't afraid of what the prince wanted. They benefited from each other. He helped the prince ascend the throne, and in return, he gave him the position of Left Chancellor, which was second only to the emperor.
Little did he expect that he would be his father's son.
Judging from this, his mother must be Consort Lan, who was demoted to a palace maid. He thought the child was dead, but he didn't expect that not only was the child alive, but he was also alive by his side.
He helped him to avenge his mother, by pushing the son they hated most onto the throne, and then making that son pull them down with his own hands. How ruthless!
Xiao Heng sneered, "It's best if he isn't." If he says he is, then he must be killed!
Bai Xingzhi looked calmly at Xiao Heng and suddenly said, "I didn't touch her," if that kiss doesn't count. "Treat her well, she has always loved you."
Whether before or after losing her memory, her heart was always moved by him, and she would still bravely stand in front of him in times of danger.
"She is a pure-hearted person. If she is truly hurt, she may never turn back."
As soon as he finished speaking, Bai Xingzhi turned and walked out of the hall, the hem of his court robes brushing against the gold bricks silently.
Now he has achieved his wish, but there is no possibility for him and her in this lifetime.
Xiao Heng froze on the spot, his fingertips unconsciously clenching. Bai Xingzhi's words struck his heart like a heavy hammer, and hesitation and longing surged in his eyes.
Gu Xi, who do you truly love?
In the midst of his chaotic thoughts, a man dressed in a blue python robe suddenly rushed in. Upon recognizing the man, Xiao Heng's expression immediately darkened.
A raging fire instantly ignited in his eyes, and a fierce voice was squeezed out from between his teeth, "Xiao Che! You dare to come here again!"
Xiao Che stared at him with bloodshot eyes, and said with a mixture of hatred and anger, "Why wouldn't I dare!" As soon as he finished speaking, his clenched fist, which had turned white, slammed hard into Xiao Heng's face.
Before he could react, Xiao Heng lost his balance and staggered back two steps, crashing heavily into the imperial desk, a metallic taste escaping his lips.
Xiao Heng forcefully wiped the blood from his lips with his thumb, his face darkening. "Xiao Che, you're asking for death!" He clenched his fist and swung it back at Xiao Che. "Don't think I don't know what you did to her!"
"So what! Today I've come to warn you, Your Majesty, if you dare to bully her again, I'll take her back!" Xiao Che said, throwing another punch at Xiao Heng.
Xiao Heng groaned in pain, then retaliated with another punch, and, still not satisfied, kicked Xiao Che hard. The two men, their eyes blazing with fury, grappled and their fists and feet flying, their usual composure completely gone.
Zhao Fuquan, who had been standing to the side, was terrified by what he saw. He wanted to offer some advice but dared not, fearing that he would become an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire. Despite the cold winter weather, he was drenched in sweat.
After an unknown amount of time, both of them were exhausted and collapsed to the ground, their faces and bodies bearing injuries of varying degrees. Their heavy breathing echoed in the Qianqing Palace.
Xiao Che stared intently upwards, his voice hoarse, "Royal brother, do you know how much Xiao Xi loves you? I captured her, and she agreed to be with me on the condition that I help you." His tone was filled with heartache, resentment, and envy.
"I really feel sorry for her."
The woman he deeply loved ultimately did not love him back.
Even so, he still hoped that she could be happy, even if the person by her side wasn't him.
Xiao Heng suddenly turned his head and stared blankly at Xiao Che, his eyes shifting from confusion to disbelief.
A complex mix of emotions surged within him: shock, guilt, lingering fear, panic, and an uncertain sense of ecstasy.
Was he wrong?
She didn't lie to him; she had always loved herself.
Everyone knows she loves him, but he himself refuses to believe it.
-----------------------
Author's Note: I'm experiencing severe writer's block during this transition phase, but I've already planned out the part where I really torture him later, hahaha.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com