Chapter 70, "A Love Story Ends in Vain," seems to be bidding a grand farewell. ...
Inside the Qianqing Palace.
Xiao Heng was still reviewing memorials, while Zhao Fuquan stood beside him, bowing his head to reply.
"how?"
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Hospital reports that Consort Xi's pulse has been normal recently," Zhao Fuquan reported.
After Consort Shu left, Xiao Heng sent him to the Imperial Hospital to review Gu Xi's recent medical records. Fortunately, everything was fine.
Xiao Heng put down his pen, rubbed his temples, and hummed in agreement.
Gu Xi, why do you want to return to my side? Are you like those women, coveting the power I give you?
Or is it because you can't bear to part with me?
But you clearly love him.
He lightly tapped the imperial desk with his fingertips and instructed Zhao Fuquan, "The time is almost up. In a few days, you should transfer some people over there."
"Yes," Zhao Fuquan replied.
Meanwhile, inside the Guanju Palace.
"Your Highness, I have done as you instructed. The position of Director of the Imperial Medical Academy..." Zhao Youdao stood with a slight bow, his face full of flattery.
He hadn't spent much time on this matter originally. Mu Yunke seemed to be intentionally covering up for Consort Xi, and no one else in the Imperial Hospital knew about Consort Xi's illness.
"Don't worry, I will definitely do what I promised you." He had indeed fallen for her, and if that was the case, she could not tolerate him.
"Thank you for your kindness, Consort Shu." Zhao Youdao was confident at this moment. After all, the Emperor had once established a system of female doctors for a woman. Now, it was only a foregone conclusion that he would be promoted for a woman again. Everyone knew that Consort Shu was currently favored by the Emperor.
To his surprise, Consort Shu would actually ask him to do such a thing.
He and Consort Shu were old acquaintances; before she fell out of favor, he was the one who always took her pulse.
At that time, she was a rather quiet woman, and such jealousy never appeared on her face. Once, when he came, he saw the emperor fiddling with something to himself, while she was playing the zither at a distance, as if the two were completely unrelated.
Her temperament and behavior are very different now than they were back then. Perhaps the years she spent in the cold palace have dulled her personality. Now that she has finally regained favor, she wants to hold on to it at all costs.
*
Inside Weiyang Palace.
After returning home that night, Gu Xi fell seriously ill, suffering from a high fever that lasted for three days before finally subsiding.
Zhuyin, Huayue, and Yunke stayed by her side. Zhuyin didn't dare to close her eyes all night, afraid that she wouldn't be able to get up if she fell ill.
With the help of several people, Gu Xi's health gradually improved, and she began to smile again, although she would still occasionally appear absent-minded.
For the past few days, the gates of Weiyang Palace had remained tightly closed. On the seventh day, Consort Xue sent someone to announce that a banquet would be held in the palace that evening, and that she would be invited to attend.
When the time came, Zhu Yin helped Gu Xi with her hair and makeup before they went to the banquet together.
As she walked along the path in the Imperial Garden, she heard gossip all around her, all related to her, and it was hard for her not to hear it.
"Have you heard? It turns out that Consort Xi's fall from favor is related to the Left Prime Minister!" a palace maid exclaimed excitedly, as if she had discovered some earth-shattering secret. "I heard their relationship is quite close..."
"No way, Consort Xi doesn't seem like that kind of person..." The palace maid next to her seemed unconvinced.
"You can know a person's face but not their heart; otherwise, why do you think the Emperor suddenly became disgusted with her...?"
Gu Xi grabbed Zhu Yin's hand and quickly left, not wanting to hear any more of these malicious and slanderous words.
Those who are clean will be clean by themselves.
When she arrived at the banquet, she found a seat and realized that there weren't many people there; it seemed she had arrived too early.
After sitting for a while, she felt sleepy and leaned against Zhuyin for a nap until Xiao Heng appeared, at which point Zhuyin woke her up.
Xiao Heng sat down on the throne, glanced down, and finally fixed his gaze on Gu Xi. His face darkened, and he asked in a cold voice, "Why is she here?"
When Gu Xi heard the question, she subconsciously looked up and realized that he was talking about her. It seemed that he did not want to see her.
She laughed self-deprecatingly. Not long ago, she was the one sitting next to him, but now he loathed her to such an extent.
Consort Xue was also surprised. Zhao Fuquan had instructed that Gu Xi not to attend, so she hadn't informed her and didn't know why she had come.
Just as she was about to explain, Consort Shu suddenly spoke up.
"It was I who sent her," Consort Shu said with a coquettish smile. "It's rare for the palace to host a banquet, how can Your Majesty treat my sister so coldly?"
Xiao Heng's expression darkened further upon hearing this.
Gu Xi pursed her lips. The coldness in his eyes still stung her, but she was unwilling to endure it any longer. She stood up and said, "In that case, I shall take my leave." She bowed slightly and prepared to leave.
"Wait!" Consort Shu called out to her, turning to Xiao Heng and saying, "Your Majesty, I caught two gossips today. They were talking about Sister Xi and the Left Prime Minister..." Consort Shu hesitated, then stopped herself.
She continued, unaware of Xiao Heng's increasingly grim expression, "How could I bear to hear them slander my sister's reputation like this? I was about to slap them, but they insisted they were innocent and claimed to have evidence..." As she spoke, she took out a letter from her bosom and handed it to Xiao Heng, "Your Majesty, please take a look. The contents of this letter... I really cannot go into details."
Xiao Heng's deep gaze was fixed on Gu Xi. He unfolded the letter in his hand, glanced down at a few lines, and then suddenly clenched his fist, crumpling the paper. When he looked up at Gu Xi, his eyes were like ice.
Everyone held their breath.
Gu Xi met his gaze, neither humble nor arrogant, but she chuckled inwardly. Even in her current state, someone still wanted to frame her.
Most importantly, he believed it.
In the past, whether he believed it or not, he would have definitely defended her in front of others.
He is no longer someone she can rely on.
Fortunately, she can still rely on herself.
"May I see this letter?" Gu Xi asked.
Xiao Heng continued to stare at her, then flicked his hand to the side, and the letter fluttered to the ground.
Gu Xi got up to pick it up, but Zhao Fuquan quickly bent down, picked it up, and brought it to her.
"Thank you, Steward Zhao." Gu Xichao smiled gratefully at him.
"Your Majesty is too kind. This is my duty." After saying that, he bowed and retreated to Xiao Heng's side.
When Gu Xi saw the envelope, she knew it was the letter Hua Yue had sent to relay a message to the outside world when she was poisoned last time. It had been given to a young eunuch who was out shopping. She wouldn't have used that method if she hadn't been forced to.
Somehow, this letter ended up in Consort Shu's hands; no wonder my father and the others haven't replied.
Gu Xizhan read the letter and a faint smile appeared on her lips.
The letter contained nothing but clichéd sentimentalities about love and romance. The method was exactly the same as the one used against Mu Yunqi last time. Was it the same person? Was it also Consort Shu last time?
She suddenly remembered what Cailian had told her before she died: Was she warning her to be careful of the Empress Dowager? Or someone close to the Empress Dowager?
Gu Xi steadied herself, knowing that dealing with the immediate matter was more important. "This letter wasn't written by me. I have a habit when I write that no one can imitate." As she spoke, she held up the letter and took a few steps toward Consort Shu. "Sister, look, this handwriting is different from what I usually write." She pointed to a character that was also present in the original letter.
Consort Shu looked closely and said urgently, "Nonsense! They are exactly the same."
Gu Xi smiled. "How did you know they were exactly the same, Consort Shu? Have you ever seen my handwriting before?"
Consort Shu was taken aback by Gu Xi's question, her eyes flickering. "I...I saw her at the Empress Dowager's place." She had heard that Gu Xi had copied Buddhist scriptures for the Empress Dowager.
Gu Xi's smile deepened, a smile that made Consort Shu sway slightly. "That's strange. When you were copying Buddhist scriptures for the Empress Dowager, you, Consort Shu, stayed in Guanju Palace and never left. How could you have seen it? But what's even stranger is..." She paused, "When you were copying Buddhist scriptures for the Empress Dowager before, your handwriting was completely different from the one on this letter. How could you have seen it then?"
She loved calligraphy as a child and learned many different styles. Fortunately, she was careful back then, and now even if they searched the entire Weiyang Palace, they wouldn't be able to find any handwriting to compare with, otherwise they would be completely unable to defend themselves.
Xue Huixin raised an eyebrow and said, "Let me see it."
Granny Chang quickly stepped forward and handed the letter from Gu Xi to Consort Xue.
“What Consort Xi said is correct,” Xue Huixin turned to look at Xiao Heng, “During that period, I delivered the Buddhist scriptures of the Empress Dowager to Wanfo Temple. It is indeed not Consort Xi’s handwriting.”
Gu Xi glanced gratefully at Consort Xue, thanking her for being willing to speak up for her at this time.
She hadn't visited her for several days since taking leave. She looked a bit plumper than the last time she saw her, which suggested she had been having a comfortable time lately.
Gu Xi continued to stare at Consort Shu, who said awkwardly, "Then it must be that you've misremembered, sister."
Gu Xi breathed a sigh of relief, turned to face Xiao Heng on the throne, and looked up into his dark eyes. At that moment, she couldn't tell whether she felt more sadness or disappointment.
"Your Majesty, this letter was not written by me. Now that the matter has been investigated, I shall take my leave." With that, she prepared to leave her seat.
"Wait!" Consort Shu called out to her again, afraid that Gu Xi would leave. Before anyone could react, she blurted out, "Your Majesty, I have also heard that Sister Xi and the Left Prime Minister had a secret rendezvous at the Misty Rain Pavilion in the capital!"
"What kind of place is Yanyu Tower?" someone asked curiously.
Consort Shu stammered as she explained, "The Misty Rain Pavilion is...it's a famous music hall in the capital..." She seemed hesitant to speak further.
A commotion broke out at the table.
"Enough is enough." Xiao Heng's sharp gaze swept over Consort Shu in her seat, and he said in a deep voice.
Consort Shu, however, did not notice his gaze and continued to insist, "Your Majesty, I have witnesses!" As soon as she finished speaking, a woman was brought in.
Gu Xi's back was stiff, and she unconsciously clenched her fists, her nails digging into her flesh.
She did indeed visit the Misty Rain Pavilion. Although she did not meet Bai Xingzhi, her presence as a young lady from a respectable family would inevitably attract criticism, especially since she was the emperor's concubine.
It's clear that Consort Shu really wants to get rid of her; she's even ignoring Xiao Heng's words.
But she would no longer naively believe that Xiao Heng's words were meant to help her; he was merely trying to maintain his imperial dignity.
Gu Xi lowered her head and returned to her seat, pondering how to deal with what had just happened.
Her body, still weak from her recent illness, grew tired after standing for a while and broke out in a light sweat. Gu Xi picked up a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead, and only when she looked up did she see who the woman had been brought up was. She immediately felt relieved.
Consort Shu pointed at Gu Xi and asked, "Miss Yueying, tell me, did you personally witness Consort Xi meeting with a man at the Misty Rain Pavilion?"
Yueying glanced at Gu Xi in the direction she was pointing, then turned and reported, "Your Highness, I have never seen this Consort Xi before, nor have I ever seen her at the Misty Rain Pavilion."
Consort Shu paused for a moment upon hearing this, then raised her voice by two decibels: "Take another look!"
"Your Highness, Consort Xi is a woman of extraordinary beauty. If Yueying had seen her, she would never forget her."
Consort Shu looked both angry and anxious. Suddenly realizing something, she continued, "I almost forgot, she didn't look like this before." She took out a portrait of Gu Xi before her appearance was restored and asked Yueying to identify her again.
Moonshadow shook her head again: "Moonshadow has never seen it either."
Consort Shu didn't understand why Yueying had suddenly changed her mind. Her eyes turned angry, and her voice was threatening: "Look at me more carefully!"
Gu Xi was extremely anxious. She was grateful to Yueying, but she was also worried that Yueying would offend Consort Shu and bring disaster upon herself. Just as she was about to get up to help, Consort Xue suddenly spoke up.
Xue Huixin glanced at Consort Shu and said, "Miss Yueying, with the Emperor and I here, you may speak the truth!"
Gu Xi smiled gratefully at Xue Huixin again, never expecting that she would help her so many times today.
Yueying straightened her back and spoke with firm conviction: "Your Highness, I would never say anything against my conscience under duress. Even if it costs me my life, I would never slander others!"
"You!" Consort Shu stared at her with eyes wide with rage, then slumped down in despair after a moment.
Xue Huixin glanced at the composed Xiao Heng, and seeing that he had no intention of speaking, she said, "Alright, now that things are clear, Miss Yueying, please go and prepare the music for later." She had invited the people from Yanyu Tower to perform, but she never expected that this Consort Shu would use her for it.
She truly couldn't stand those people who resorted to such despicable means to win favor! She knew Gu Xi's character to some extent.
Seeing that things seemed to have finally come to an end and that Consort Shu had no intention of making trouble for the time being, Gu Xi quietly left her seat and headed in the direction where Yueying had just left, taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention.
She found her in a side room of the side hall.
"Miss Yueying, thank you so much! Gu Xi is extremely grateful!"
"Your Highness, there's no need for you to be so polite. What Yueying said is the truth." She came to find that person that day, not to meet with someone in secret.
Gu Xi thought for a moment and asked with concern, "How has she been lately? Is she alright?"
Yueying smiled. "She's fine, it's just..."
Gu Xi looked nervous. "What is it?"
"Sister Xi!" Before the words were even finished, a pretty young woman suddenly rushed in from outside the door.
Yueying looked at her with a helpless yet doting expression.
She was a good person, but she insisted on following her into the palace to see her benefactor.
"Yingying!" Gu Xi called out with joy and excitement, opening her arms to hug her. Yingying looked up and exclaimed, "Sister Xi, I never knew you were so beautiful!" If they hadn't carefully confirmed that she was indeed Gu Xi, the daughter of Scholar Gu, they wouldn't have recognized her.
Yueying frowned and forcefully separated the two.
Yingying stomped her feet in anger and glared at Yueying, saying, "This is my sister Xi!"
Yueying said with an unnatural expression, "I know."
Gu Xi looked at them and smiled knowingly.
Yingying was someone she met while practicing medicine with her senior apprentice. Her family had all perished in the famine, leaving her all alone. She taught Yingying to play the zither, and Yingying eventually chose to go to the Misty Rain Pavilion, saying that it was not shameful to make a living by composing music with her own skills.
What outsiders don't know is that many of Yueying's songs were actually written by her and Yingying together. With Yueying protecting her from those people, Yingying doesn't have to come into contact with them.
She was fortunate to be born into an official family, where she had no worries about food or clothing, and her parents and brothers loved her dearly. But there were many other women like Yingying, who drifted like duckweed.
Now that she has found someone to support her, she is happy for her.
Gu Xi and Yingying exchanged a few words before returning to the banquet. She planned to leave quietly after listening to Yueying's music, since no one here wanted to see her anyway.
The hall was brightly lit by candles, the sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air, and dancers twirled gracefully, creating an atmosphere of joy and liveliness.
Gu Xi sat alone in the corner, her gaze vacant, as if she were isolated from the world.
She recalled the events of the night and gave a self-deprecating laugh. If he believed her, he would believe her even if she said nothing; if he didn't believe her, saying anything would be futile. Her actions today were merely to save face for herself.
She wasn't particularly skilled at scheming, but now she was forced to engage in a power struggle with others, which was certainly not what she wanted.
The charcoal fire inside the hall made her throat dry. She picked up a white porcelain cup next to her and put it in her mouth. When the cold liquid slid down her throat, the spiciness made her bend over and cough violently. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she realized that she had actually drunk wine.
She stared intently at the wine glass, lost in thought, and suddenly smiled, though the smile looked somewhat sad.
Her red lips parted slightly as she asked herself, "Is it good?"
She replied, "It's a little spicy..."
It's also a bit bitter.
A moment later, she put down the wine glass and replaced it with a teacup.
Finally, it was Yueying's turn to play a piece. She really liked this new piece, which dispelled some of the gloom in her heart.
As the music ended, she was about to leave her seat, but some people still wouldn't let her go, and all eyes in the hall turned to her again.
"Your Majesty, the music played by Miss Yueying just now was like a clear spring reflecting the moon, and it made me itch to play. I would like to humbly invite Sister Xi to play a piece with me and present it to Your Majesty." She had long heard that Gu Xi was mediocre in talent and only had beauty. Tonight, she had embarrassed her so much, and she would not be able to vent her anger without making her look foolish.
Xiao Heng, seated on his throne, gazed at Gu Xi. She looked up into his deep eyes, and something began to quietly settle down.
She needs to wake up.
Before Xiao Heng could speak, Gu Xi replied, "Why don't you go first, Consort Shu? I'd like to play a piece by myself." She turned to Zhu Yin and said, "Zhu Yin, go back and get my zither."
Consort Shu raised an eyebrow, thinking to herself that it was fine; whether it was a duet or a solo performance, she could outshine her.
She rose and sat in the hall. After she finished playing the piece, everyone praised her highly. However, Gu Xi felt that her piece today was not as good as the one she played at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet.
Zhu Yin returned, holding the zither that Xiao Heng had given her. When Consort Shu saw the zither, a strange light flashed in her eyes.
Gu Xi sat down in the hall and whispered in her heart: Ah Heng, today I will use this zither you gave me to bring an end to this relationship.
She first looked up and gave Consort Xue an apologetic look, then looked straight at Xiao Heng.
She had sat in the seat next to him twice before, but it was now empty. She wondered who would sit there next.
But it will never be her again.
She no longer coveted it.
Gu Xi lowered her head and plucked the strings of the zither. Her fair hands moved lightly, and the music flowed slowly, immersing the listener in its beauty in a moment.
Suddenly, a flute melody rang out, and Gu Xi looked in the direction of the sound, only to find Xiao Che staring intently at her from a distance. She had been lost in her own thoughts and hadn't even noticed that Xiao Che was also in the hall today.
Gu Xi smiled at him, and Xiao Che tacitly put down the flute in his hand.
She wants to perform this piece by herself today.
Gu Xi turned her head to continue looking at the man on the throne, when suddenly she heard the voices of a man and a woman, voices that were distant and ethereal.
"Aheng, do you like me?"
"like."
Will you always like it?
"meeting."
"I knew it!"
The woman smiled radiantly, her voice filled with joy and delight.
She sang softly: "The hardest thing to dispel is the longing for you, the most unbearable thing to hear is the old promise..."
She already knew that the emperor's true feelings were unpredictable, yet she still loved him recklessly.
可她爱得太过卑微，若让爹娘知道了，定要心疼她，哥哥也要骂她没出息，瑶瑶定要替她揍他，师傅和师兄知道了也要直摇头，还有澈哥哥……上一次她竟因为怕他不高兴，就伤了从小疼爱她的澈哥哥的心，她真是太不应该了。
To expect lasting love in an imperial family is utterly foolish.
When she was a child, she wondered why such sincere and pure love was rarely celebrated, while tragedies like the tragic love story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, and the tragic love story of the hairpin phoenix, have been passed down through the ages.
Their story, though seemingly destined to end in tragedy, may well be their fate.
But she doesn't regret having loved.
Before she met him, she lived a simple and pure life. Her parents gave her the best of everything, and her only worry was her illness.
After falling in love with him, her life was filled with many different emotions, sometimes bittersweet, sometimes sweet, sometimes sour, but she enjoyed them all.
But now she no longer wanted to wallow in it. He had shattered her time and time again, leaving her wounded all over. But she didn't live for him alone; she should live for herself, for her parents, and for those who cherished her.
She tried her best and struggled in this relationship, and in the end, she had no regrets about her true feelings.
Everyone was immersed in the music. At first, the music was bittersweet, and the melody was hard to resist. Then it became as sweet as honey, leaving a lingering feeling. But in an instant, it suddenly took a sharp turn for the worse, leaving only sadness.
She wasn't playing a piece of music, but rather composing an epic love story. But that love came to an abrupt end, and when she looked back, it had already reached its limit, leaving one with a sense of regret, yet one had no choice but to cruelly let it go.
Those who listened to the music were moved by the characters' reluctance to part, and couldn't help but shed tears.
She looked up at the man on the throne, her smile both bright and sorrowful.
Long afterward, everyone still remembered that night, when the woman, whose talent and beauty surpassed all others in the palace, played a zither and expressed the love and affection of the world.
The woman playing the zither was breathtakingly beautiful, and her constantly flowing tears seemed to be a grand farewell.
Broken yet resolute.
Xiao Heng stared at her intently until she lowered her head to pluck the last note on the zither. When she looked up at him again, something seemed to be missing from her eyes. He couldn't understand it, but it made him feel uneasy.
His fingertips tightened unconsciously, and he almost crushed the white porcelain wine glass in his hand.
When the music faded, the hall was silent; the people seemed still lost in the melody.
Gu Xi now had a faint smile on her face. She bowed slightly and said, "I will take my leave now, Your Majesty, without disturbing your enjoyment." After saying that, she turned and left.
The crowd finally realized what was happening, their eyes filled with disbelief.
Someone called her from behind again, but this time she didn't stop for anyone and left the hall with Zhuyin.
The banquet was not yet over, but some people's thoughts had already wandered off somewhere else.
Consort Shu was surprised by Gu Xi's remarkable musical skills, and her jealousy intensified. "Your Majesty, I noticed that Sister Xi and the Sixth Prince seemed to get along very well just now. Their relationship..." She hesitated, unable to finish her sentence.
Xiao Heng's gaze had been unconsciously following the departing figure, but upon hearing these words, his expression suddenly darkened.
Xiao Che snorted coldly upon hearing this, his eyes filled with venom. "Consort Shu, please speak your mind. It is perfectly normal to make friends through music. How dare you make such unfounded speculations? Are you trying to ruin someone's reputation?!"
"No wonder your music is so unbearable to listen to; it's because this person is so wicked that they ruined the piece for no reason!"
"I grew up in this palace since I was a child. I've seen plenty of people like you. Do you think anyone here can't see through your thoughts?"
Consort Shu was so choked up that her face turned pale and then red, and she was unable to speak for a moment.
Xiao Heng glanced at Xiao Che indifferently, his eyes unfathomable.
Xiao Che looked coldly at Xiao Heng, "Your Majesty, I speak frankly. If I have offended Your Majesty's favorite concubine, I hope Your Majesty will not blame me. I have official duties to attend to, so I will take my leave now!" Without waiting for Xiao Heng's reply, he clenched his fists and strode away.
Your Majesty, it was wrong of you to steal her away, and now that you have her, you do not cherish her. So do not blame your younger brother.
If it weren't for today's banquet, he would never have known that the woman he cherished so much had been so mistreated by him!
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Author's Note: I've finally let him go! There's not much interaction between the male and female leads in this chapter; I wonder if everyone will like that.
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