Chapter 99 A Lifetime (The Finale) A Lifetime...
When Gu Xi woke up, Xiao Heng was sitting at the desk in the bedroom, handling state affairs with a focused expression.
He had just closed a memorial and set it aside, preparing to pick up the next one, when his hand suddenly stopped, and his eyes swept across a corner of the imperial desk.
There lay a black velvet soap pouch, its opening bound with bright yellow silk thread. He picked it up and, with a slight squeeze of his fingertips, broke the wax seal at the opening. The yellow silk thread unfurled, revealing a secret report inside.
He took out the plain paper, unfolded it with his fingertips, and looked down at it. He couldn't tell what was written on it, but his brows furrowed, his face gradually darkened, and a chill enveloped him. He looked... frightening.
Gu Xi assumed that he was troubled by some thorny matter in the court, so she quietly got out of bed, walked lightly behind him, and touched his brow with her fingertips.
The delicate touch of his fingertips startled Xiao Heng, who had been lost in thought. However, he quickly recovered and calmly closed the letter, his movements so natural that Gu Xi didn't notice anything amiss.
The moment Xiao Heng looked up, his arm moved first. He didn't turn around, but instead grabbed her wrist and pulled her from behind to his side. With a gentle tug, he made her fall onto his knees.
Gu Xi's eyelashes trembled slightly. She quickly reached out to support his shoulder to steady him, but then suddenly remembered that he had an injury on his shoulder. She abruptly let go and said worriedly, "Let me see your injury." As she spoke, she reached out to touch his collar.
Xiao Heng grabbed her hands again and pressed them against his chest, while his other hand gripped her neck. He buried his face in the crook of her shoulder, greedily inhaling her fragrance. His warm breath and the stubble on his face made her feel itchy and numb, and her fair skin was stimulated to blush.
Gu Xi pushed him away with a trembling voice, her tone soft and sticky: "I'll have Steward Zhao summon the imperial physician for you later." Why is this person always so uncooperative?
Xiao Heng lowered her hand, looked at her with deep eyes, and hummed in agreement.
Gu Xi recalled his somber expression and couldn't help but ask with concern, "Is things not going well in the Southern Frontier?" Sheng Kingdom and An Kingdom are currently at war. He wondered if the secret report he had just read was related to this matter.
Xiao Heng pondered for a moment and said, "It is still unknown." According to the previous plan, the capital of Anguo should have been captured yesterday, but it is unknown what the current situation of the battle is, and it will take some time for the battle report to reach the capital.
Gu Xi said with concern, "Once war breaks out, who knows how many people will be displaced?" Since ancient times, it is always the common people who suffer in the end from war.
Xiao Heng took her hand, his fingertips stroking the back of her hand, his voice low and gentle: "Don't worry, I have already sent Bai Xingzhi there, he will handle it properly."
Upon hearing this, Gu Xi's expression immediately relaxed. If it were him, he would definitely make proper arrangements for the suffering people.
Xiao Heng stared at her relaxed brows and eyes, his fingertips suddenly paused, his expression suddenly turned displeased, and he said in a low voice, "You trust him that much?" His tone was somewhat bitter.
Gu Xi was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously straightened her expression, before giving him a disgruntled glare: "I'm worried about the people!" she hurriedly explained.
Xiao Heng glanced at her indifferently and said sarcastically, "Did I say it wasn't true?"
"You!" Gu Xi jumped off him in anger, frowning and glaring at him. "I'm going back to Kunning Palace first!" With that, she turned around and left.
When Xiao Heng saw that she was unhappy, he panicked and quickly got up to chase after her. He hugged her from behind and asked in her ear, "Are you angry?" He wanted to coax her but was also a little angry with her, so he deliberately rubbed his chin back and forth on the delicate skin of her neck.
A tickling sensation came from her neck, and Gu Xi turned her head to avoid it. The moment he hugged her, her anger had actually subsided by more than half, but she still raised her hand to push his chin away, turned around and took two steps back.
She puffed out her cheeks, stomped her foot in feigned anger, turned her face away, snorted heavily, and tilted her nose to the sky.
Xiao Heng was stunned for a moment, then a smile crept onto his lips, a low chuckle escaped his throat, and his eyes were fixed on Gu Xi.
Even her anger is so captivating.
Gu Xi glanced at him sideways and turned to leave. He seemed very busy, and she didn't want to bother him.
Xiao Heng, however, was so aroused by her charming appearance that he pulled her back and kissed her haphazardly. He even deliberately used his stubble to prick her delicate face. Gu Xi dodged left and right, and finally managed to push him away.
She touched her cheek; she didn't even need to look to know it was red from the pricking!
She glared at him playfully, her watery eyes filled with displeasure, and muttered, "You're really annoying!" She kept a wary eye on Xiao Heng as she backed away until she reached what she considered a safe distance before lifting her skirt, turning around, and quickly stepping out of the room.
Xiao Heng chuckled softly. Seeing that she wasn't really angry, he didn't chase after her, thinking he would finish his business as soon as possible before going to find her.
Gu Xi jogged all the way to the front hall, glancing back every now and then to see if Xiao Heng had caught up. She patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief as she left the Qianqing Palace. Before leaving, she still remembered to tell Zhao Fuquan to summon the imperial physician.
As Zhao Fuquan watched Gu Xi's departing figure, he pondered her expression. Why did she leave so soon?
Have these two made up?
Why was the imperial physician sent to apply the medicine instead of the empress doing it herself?
He couldn't help but feel a chill; had things gone wrong?
Oh no!
Things proved he was mistaken; after that day, the two were inseparable, while he, poor man, suffered terribly.
When the Emperor learned that he had acted on his own initiative, he ordered that he be punished with thirty strokes of the cane. Fortunately, the Empress pleaded for him in time and saved his life.
But from then on, the emperor not only treated him with hostility, but also always found fault with him, so he could only keep a low profile every day.
On this day, the Kingdom of Goryeo brought two chests of treasures, and Xiao Heng ordered them to be moved to Kunning Palace for Gu Xi to choose from.
Gu Xi noticed a pair of soft, lightweight silk shoes inside. They were said to be warm in winter and cool in summer, and could be worn for long periods without causing fatigue. Considering that Zhao Fuquan often had to travel around while on duty, Gu Xi suggested to Xiao Heng that he give these soft shoes to him as a reward.
Xiao Heng sat on the pearwood chair, picked up the teacup on the table, and casually glanced at Zhao Fuquan standing beside him: "Since it is the Empress's will, then reward her."
Zhao Fuquan was terrified: "This servant dares not."
How could a mere servant like him dare accept such a precious gift? Besides, the Emperor currently harbors many grievances against him, so it's not necessarily that he truly intends to bestow it upon him; perhaps he simply wants to give him a warning.
Xiao Heng slammed his teacup down and snorted coldly, "Now that you can make decisions for me, what wouldn't you dare to do?"
Zhao Fuquan looked terrified and immediately knelt down, his voice trembling: "Please forgive me, Your Majesty!"
Seeing this, Gu Xi quickly said, "Steward Zhao, get up! Just accept it, he's just joking with you." She turned and glared at Xiao Heng, scolding him angrily, "You just love scaring him!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Fuquan nervously looked up at the man seated on the throne. The emperor seemed genuinely unperturbed, simply sipping his tea leisurely.
He still couldn't believe that the Emperor would joke.
Noticing his gaze, Xiao Heng glanced down at him, and Zhao Fuquan was so frightened that he quickly lowered his head again.
Looking at the two of them, Gu Xi couldn't help but burst out laughing.
This person is really something. If they want to treat others well, why don't they just say it nicely instead of scaring people like this?
A few days ago, Lu Xiao secretly told her that Xiao Heng had instructed him to select a house in the capital and register it under Zhao Fuquan's name, presumably as a reward to him after he retired from the imperial court.
When she heard about this, she felt a mix of joy and sorrow. He, who had been wronged by fate, was finally beginning to let go of the past and feel the true love that the world had given him.
Half a month has passed in the blink of an eye, but Xiao Heng's shoulder injury has not healed yet. The reason is simply that he refuses to cooperate with the application of medicine.
His stubbornness baffled Gu Xi, and in a fit of anger, she expelled him from Kunning Palace. After being turned away for two days, Xiao Heng finally revealed the reason.
Xiao Heng pulled her onto his lap and fixed his gaze on her intently.
How could she be so heartless? She wouldn't let him see her for two days.
He sighed softly, buried his face in the crook of her shoulder, and said in a low, husky voice, "I want to keep this as a reminder to myself." A reminder that I must not let her down again, and a reminder that I must always remember what I owe her, and that I must be kinder to her, and even kinder to her.
He hadn't finished speaking, but Gu Xi understood perfectly. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she felt both angry and aching. But his next words left her speechless, torn between laughter and tears.
He raised an eyebrow and looked at her teasingly: "Besides, I find this tooth mark quite unique, and I like it very much." His tone seemed to genuinely reveal a hint of delight.
After repeated attempts to persuade him failed, Gu Xi decided to sneak out at night to apply medicine to him. However, he was a light sleeper and would wake up at the slightest noise. Once awake, he would grab her and start rubbing against her, keeping both of them awake.
Gu Xi had no choice but to give up, and now he still has that tooth mark on his shoulder.
Besides the tooth mark that puzzled Gu Xi, there was another rather strange thing.
Gu Xi went from being bewildered at the beginning, to confused, to now worrying.
She lay on her back on the bed, looking up at Xiao Heng. His fingertips, which had just been pressed against her heart, were suddenly pulled away. He was now panting heavily, his eyes were red, and his burning gaze was filled with struggle and restraint. He looked like he was in unbearable pain.
He had lost count of how many times this had happened. He was clearly overwhelmed with emotion and his breathing was erratic, yet he always managed to stop himself at the last moment.
She glanced at his tense jawline and immediately became suspicious.
Could it be that he has some unspeakable hidden illness?
Gu Xi wanted to ask him, but she was afraid of hurting his pride. While worrying, she tried her best to take his pulse, but every time she was about to touch his wrist, he would intentionally or unintentionally avoid it, which made Gu Xi even more certain of her suspicions.
That night, Gu Xi finally mustered up the courage to make a bold decision, though she was very shy, but perhaps it could help him.
After taking a bath, Gu Xi didn't rush back to her room. Instead, she hid and drank a few sips of the osmanthus wine that Zhu Yin had prepared for her to bolster her courage. She waited quietly for a while, and only after the effects of the wine took hold did she slowly walk back to her room.
As soon as she entered the room, she saw Xiao Heng sitting in the center of the bed, his black nightgown collar open, revealing his collarbone. He had shed his daytime majesty and looked lazy and casual.
He looked up at her, his gaze sweeping over her dripping hair, her misty eyes, and then tracing the exquisite curves beneath her bathrobe before finally settling on her flushed cheeks, his eyes gradually darkening.
He stared intently at her. She seemed different today. Usually, she would change into her nightgown in the bathhouse before coming out, and this was the first time she had worn a bathrobe like this.
Gu Xi licked her dry lips, pinched the sash of her bathrobe with her fingertips, and approached him step by step, her steps slightly unsteady with a hint of intoxication.
Seeing that she was unsteady on her feet, Xiao Heng realized that her face was abnormally red. He frowned, then sat on the edge of the bed, stretched out his arms and steadily pulled her into his arms. The fragrance of her after her bath and the faint smell of alcohol on her body wafted over him.
He frowned and asked, "You've been drinking? When did you drink?"
Gu Xi stood between his knees, tilting her head and giving him a shy smile, "Just now..."
Taking advantage of her slight intoxication, she boldly sat on his lap, hooking her arms around his neck: "It's sweet osmanthus wine, does Aheng like it?" Her voice was soft and husky with the aftereffects of the alcohol, and her warm breath deliberately brushed against his ear. Looking at his slightly reddened ear tips, she smiled with satisfaction and shyness.
Xiao Heng's body stiffened, and the palms supporting her waist tightened instantly. His Adam's apple bobbed a few times, and his unfathomable eyes were filled with intense lust, turning them a deep crimson.
Gu Xi was already blushing with embarrassment, but after noticing his reaction, she became even bolder.
She suddenly placed her fingertips on his lips, lightly tapping them twice, silently planning that she would kiss him there first. Her gaze followed her fingertips downwards, down his jawline to his Adam's apple, and then she would kiss him there. She paused, her fingertips continuing downwards… but Xiao Heng abruptly grabbed her wrist, stopping her from doing so.
Gu Xi looked up at him, and there seemed to be flames burning in his eyes. She felt as if she had been burned by those flames, and she shrank back slightly, swallowing unconsciously.
She stared at his lips for a while, then, without giving herself a chance to hesitate, she suddenly leaned in and kissed him. After a while, she quietly peeked out with the tip of her tongue to trace his lips.
She lightly brushed against his lips, but never went deeper. Xiao Heng was so aroused by her that he grabbed her neck and kissed her deeply, regaining control. His tongue pried open her teeth and plunged in, then he flipped her over and pinned her beneath him.
Gu Xi's upper body sank into the mattress, but her feet were dangling in the air. His chest pressed against her, so heavy that she could hardly breathe. And his kisses were so hot, his breath was hot, making her feel hot too. She wanted to catch her breath.
She pressed her fingertips against his chest and gently pushed him away.
During the tug-of-war, the ties of her yukata had already come loose, and the yukata had slipped down at some point, revealing her fair and delicate shoulders, and those that were faintly visible... half-hidden, half-revealed, wanting to resist but holding back, that was the most alluring.
Xiao Heng propped himself up on the bed with his elbows, his gaze fixed on her, his dark pupils filled with lingering passion, his eyes reddening from the corners to the roots of his ears.
With bloodshot eyes, he asked, "Gu Xi, are you trying to seduce me?" His voice was hoarse and deep.
Gu Xi bit her lower lip lightly and hummed softly, her ear tips turning bright red.
She reached out and hooked her arm around his neck again, pulling him closer. She shifted her body slightly, pressed her lips to his Adam's apple, and lightly licked it with the tip of her tongue.
Xiao Heng let out a suppressed groan, pressed down on her shoulders and pushed her away, then abruptly got up from the bed.
He stumbled before regaining his footing. Gu Xi was lying on the bed, her clothes disheveled, her slightly upturned eyes gazing at him with a captivating, watery look that made his throat tighten and caused him a sharp pain in that area.
He turned and stepped out of the room stiffly, afraid that if he stayed any longer he would lose control and take her.
After he left, Gu Xi sat up in bed, murmuring, "He really is sick..."
After an incense stick had burned, Xiao Heng returned to his room, where Gu Xi was already asleep.
He took several cold showers in the bathroom to calm his anger down, while she slept soundly.
He sat by the bed for a while until the chill on his body dissipated before lying down beside her. He turned her over and pulled her into his arms, and she snuggled closer like a kitten.
He held her and sighed softly, "Gu Xi, you're taking my life..."
He really couldn't wait a moment longer.
The next morning, when Xiao Heng got up, Gu Xi also woke up.
She stood in front of the mirror and combed his hair. When her fair hand ran through his hair, she suddenly froze. When did he grow so many white hairs?
Only after watching Xiao Heng leave did Gu Xi dare to reveal the worry in her eyes.
She began to peruse numerous medical texts. She had little knowledge of men's ailments and wondered whether his white hair was due to overwork in state affairs or also related to this illness.
Shortly after the morning court session ended, Zhao Fuquan came to deliver a message saying that Xiao Heng was too busy with state affairs to come to Kunning Palace. Gu Xi was busy studying the illness and didn't pay much attention at first. When she came to her senses, she suddenly realized that he hadn't come for two days.
This was unusual; no matter how busy he was, he always made sure to come and be with her at night.
Was it his test that night that made him see through her? Is that why he hasn't wanted to see her these past few days?
After breakfast on the third day, Gu Xi finally couldn't hold back any longer and hurriedly went to the Qianqing Palace.
*
Inside the Qianqing Palace, Xiao Heng sat on a couch, with a tall man standing beside him, dressed in a moon-white long robe, his handsome features revealing a hint of the untamed spirit typical of those in the martial arts world.
The man was none other than Gu Xi's senior brother, Shen Qingchen.
Shen Qingchen's nonchalant expression vanished, and she asked seriously, "Have you thought it through? The medicine has already taken effect. Once this last needle is inserted, there's no turning back."
It would be absolutely impossible for him to have any more children in the future.
Xiao Heng said, "Let's administer the acupuncture." There was not a trace of hesitation in his eyes.
After an incense stick had burned, Shen Qingchen glanced at Xiao Heng, who was lying on the couch with his eyes closed in meditation, then picked up his medicine box and turned to leave the Qianqing Palace.
Not far from the Qianqing Palace, they encountered Gu Xi, who was in a hurry, which surprised both of them.
"Senior brother?" Gu Xi looked at Shen Qingchen in surprise. Why would her senior brother appear in the palace?
"Junior sister..." Shen Qingchen was about to ask about her recent health when Gu Xi interrupted him.
As if suddenly remembering something, she tentatively asked, "Senior brother, how did you end up in the palace?"
Judging from his appearance, he came from the Qianqing Palace. Did Xiao Heng send him here?
Shen Qingchen was taken aback: "He didn't tell you?"
Gu Xi shook her head, unable to contain her worry, and asked, "Senior brother, is he sick?"
Shen Qingchen hesitated, wondering whether to tell Gu Xi, since even the emperor himself hadn't said anything.
"Senior brother, what exactly is his illness? Could it be...?" Could it really be what she thought?
She didn't even realize that her face turned bright red when she asked the question.
Shen Qingchen looked at her abnormally red face, puzzled: "What is it?"
He looked at her suspiciously, then suddenly a flash of inspiration struck him, and he understood everything. He hadn't expected that the emperor's obedience during the medication period had caused his junior sister to misunderstand.
He struggled to suppress his laughter, and said with feigned seriousness, "Junior Sister guessed correctly."
Gu Xi's expression immediately became tense, and her hands unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes: "In your opinion, Senior Brother, can his illness be cured?"
"This..." He shook his head, looking helpless and regretful, and said, "Even I, your senior brother, can't say for sure. Junior sister, you shouldn't have too high hopes."
Gu Xi's heart sank. If even her senior brother said so, then it must be incurable. She asked a few more questions, then hurriedly said goodbye to Shen Qingchen, wondering how to comfort Xiao Heng.
Shen Qingchen watched Gu Xi's departing figure and burst into unrestrained laughter: "Hahahaha..."
Previously, the young emperor had intended to bring him into the Imperial Hospital, which he had initially refused. Now, however, he had changed his mind; it wouldn't hurt to occasionally visit the palace. His days were now more interesting as he could playfully tease the young emperor and his junior sister.
At this moment, inside the Qianqing Palace, Xiao Heng had just changed into clean clothes and was preparing to go to the Kunning Palace to find Gu Xi.
She should have just finished breakfast and gone to the side hall to see the children.
I wonder if she's been thinking about him these past few days?
As Xiao Heng opened the door, Gu Xi happened to push the door open and fell straight into his arms.
With a gasp from her, he held her firmly in his arms. The familiar fragrance stirred his heart. He had been enduring so much these past few days, and now he no longer had to.
He looked down at the person in his arms, put one arm around her waist, and closed the door behind her with the other. At the same time, he pressed down hard on the latch with his five fingers, and the door locked with a "click".
The next moment, he grabbed her waist and pinned her against the door, then leaned down and captured her lips.
The kiss came so fast and intensely that Gu Xi didn't have time to react.
She trembled as she placed her hands on her chest, trying to push him away, but Xiao Heng restrained her hands, raising them above her head and pressing them against the cold door. The hand on her side felt scorching hot, and the force grew stronger and stronger. His chest pressed tightly against hers, and she could feel the ever-increasing heat emanating from him even through her thin clothes.
Gu Xi's legs went weak from his kiss, and she almost couldn't stand up. He pushed his knee forward and firmly wedged her between his knees, trapping her between him and the door. The kiss showed no sign of stopping.
Gu Xi was so confused by him that her vision blurred, and she could only lean on him helplessly, letting him do whatever he wanted.
After what seemed like an eternity, he finally released her. Her hands rested limply on his shoulders, her face buried in his chest as she breathed heavily, oblivious to the terrifying desire burning in his eyes.
When she came to her senses, she had already been carried to the bed. Looking at the face so close to hers, she remembered what Shen Qingchen had just said and tried to comfort Xiao Heng.
"Aheng, you don't need to force yourself..."
Xiao Heng was clearly taken aback, not understanding what she meant.
"It's okay, as long as we're alright, nothing else matters."
Xiao Heng's eyes were slightly confused; her words had left him puzzled.
Seeing that his eyes were still confused, Gu Xi was afraid that if she spoke too bluntly, she would hurt his masculine dignity, but she was also afraid that if she didn't explain clearly, he wouldn't be able to feel her attitude towards the matter.
So he carefully chose his words and said, "I just ran into my senior brother. Actually, I already knew... You don't need to feel sad. I don't mind."
Xiao Heng stared at her intently, pondering the meaning behind her words repeatedly. After a long while, he finally understood and his face darkened.
He laughed in exasperation, gritting his teeth as he said, "So that's how it is!"
So that night she had gone to great lengths to seduce him because she thought he was impotent! Thinking of this, Xiao Heng's face darkened even more, and he was so angry that his teeth itched.
Gu Xi was frightened by his appearance, thinking that her words had hurt him. She wanted to say something more, but Xiao Heng sealed her lips without saying a word, ravaging her lips as if punishing her, kissing them until they were red and swollen, so that she could no longer say those infuriating words.
He took her earlobe in his mouth and whispered in her ear in a hoarse voice, "You'll soon find out whether I'm forcing myself or not!" He then straightened his back, let out a muffled groan, and let the wonderful sensation envelop him.
On this day, Xiao Heng, having broken his vow of virility, vowed to make Gu Xi unable to get out of bed in order to prove that he was still virile. In fact, he did it, but Gu Xi, who had not been intimate for a long time, could not take it.
"Ugh...no more..." Gu Xi weakly grabbed his hair with both hands, pleading in a soft voice.
Xiao Heng gripped her slender waist, showing no intention of letting her go. His eyes were playful as he asked, "Who seduced me that night? Now you say no?" He then gave her a light kiss.
"Hmm..." Gu Xi shook her head haphazardly, unwilling to admit that she had done such a thing.
"Will you still dare to think such nonsense in the future?" he asked fiercely, enunciating each word clearly.
"Ugh...no more...I won't do it again..." Senior brother is too wicked, how could he lie to her? He's ruined her life.
The next day, when Gu Xi got out of bed, her legs trembled uncontrollably, but the other person was completely unharmed. She was truly heartbroken.
As dawn breaks and dusk falls, the willow catkins on the branches along the river in the Imperial Garden have all drifted away, and the rising summer heat spreads up the jade steps. Accompanied by the chirping of cicadas, summer has quietly arrived.
Inside the imperial study, Xiao Heng sat before the imperial desk, while Bai Xingzhi, dressed in court robes, stood with a slight bow in the hall. He had just arrived in the capital last night, changed his clothes, and entered the palace.
Xiao Heng glanced at him, his tone casual: "How did things go?"
Bai Xingzhi reported, "Everything went smoothly."
Xiao Heng hummed in agreement, waved his hand slightly, and said in a lazy tone, "You may leave."
The news had already reached Beijing; he was merely asking as a matter of routine.
Bai Xingzhi bowed and took his leave. He turned and stepped out of the Imperial Study. As soon as he stepped down the jade steps, he bumped into Gu Xi, who had come to see Xiao Heng.
"Lord Bai?" Gu Xi was surprised. She hadn't heard any news of his return before, so it seemed he had just arrived in the capital.
"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty the Empress." Bai Xingzhi stepped forward, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, and performed the proper courtesies.
Gu Xi quickly offered a gesture of support: "Lord Bai, there's no need for such formalities." She paused and asked, "Lord Bai, did you pass through Jiangnan on your way back to the capital?"
"Hmm." Bai Xingzhi straightened up and gave a simple reply.
Gu Xi looked at him hesitantly, her mouth seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping herself.
Actually, she wanted to ask if he had visited Qing'er and the others at Shuangxi Manor. The people there had taken good care of her, but she had left without saying goodbye and had forgotten them all when she left Jiangnan, without leaving them a single word.
After regaining her memories, in order not to make Xiao Heng overthink things, she never mentioned them in front of him.
She wanted to ask Qing'er if they were doing well, but hesitated and didn't dare to ask.
Bai Xingzhi seemed to have read her mind and took the initiative to say, "I went back to see them, and they are doing very well."
Gu Xi's eyes suddenly lit up, and the smile at the corners of her eyes and brows was so obvious: "Really?!" After a moment, she asked somewhat nervously, "Did they mention me?"
They had been kind to her, but she had never properly thanked them. She wondered if they thought she was heartless and ungrateful.
She looked at him with bright, almond-shaped eyes, and in a daze, he seemed to return to that late autumn, to the brief time he spent with her, which, though only half a month, was enough for him to cherish for a lifetime.
Bai Xingzhi shook his head for a moment, then lowered his eyes and chuckled softly, "Yes, they miss you very much too." He paused, looked into her eyes and said with a faint smile, "Miss Qing'er and Brother Hesheng got married, and their child was born last month, a girl."
"Really?!" This is truly something to be happy about!
Gu Xi's face immediately lit up with a smile, her expression showing excitement.
Knowing that they are doing well now puts her mind at ease. She had always worried that her presence would bring them unnecessary trouble or disaster, but thankfully it didn't.
Bai Xingzhi stared at the strands of hair that were flying up on her forehead, his hands clenched and unclenched at his sides, and then he said, "Really. I sent you a congratulatory gift."
Gu Xi thanked Bai Xingzhi profusely, and the two chatted for a long time outside the Imperial Study. She smiled brightly and flamboyantly, unaware of the increasingly unpleasant expression on the man's face on the throne in the Imperial Study.
After bidding farewell to Bai Xingzhi with a smile, Gu Xi turned and entered the Imperial Study. The smile on her lips had not yet faded, and her face was full of joy.
She walked straight to Xiao Heng's side, and before she could speak, he had already wrapped his long arm around her waist and pulled her to sit on his lap.
Xiao Heng's expression had returned. He stared into her eyes for a while, then asked casually, "What did you talk about with him?"
Gu Xi saw through his feigned sourness at a glance and chuckled inwardly.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and said mysteriously, "I won't tell you." Then she looked at him with a smile.
Xiao Heng narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint in them, and called out to her with displeasure, "Gu Xi..."
Seeing his sullen face, looking like he wanted to get angry but didn't dare to, Gu Xi laughed even harder inside.
What a jealous person!
She teased him on purpose, feigning anger: "What? You're allowed to have Li'er and Xin'er before, and maybe Ping'er, Xue'er, and Yan'er in the future..." She made up a few names randomly, "but I'm not allowed to chat with other people for a bit?"
Xiao Heng's heart tightened, unable to discern whether the anger in her eyes was genuine or feigned. He hurriedly explained, "You know perfectly well that I have relationships with them..."
Gu Xi suddenly interrupted him: "I don't know! How would I know?! I only know that you are very close to them, but you call me Gu Xi so formally." After she finished speaking, she looked at him with red eyes, her voice full of grievance.
She originally just wanted to tease him, but as she talked, she actually became sad. He used affectionate nicknames and pet names when calling other people, but when he called her by her full name, it was very distant!
From now on, she will call him Xiao Heng!
Xiao Heng saw her slightly red eyes and panicked: "Are you really angry?"
Gu Xi turned her head to the side and ignored him.
Xiao Heng cupped her cheek in his palm, turned her face back, and sighed softly.
He pulled her into his arms, looked down into her eyes, and after a moment said earnestly, "I love you, and I love your name. 'Gu Xi' means to cherish and treasure, signifying my wish to cherish and treasure you for the rest of my life..."
Gu Xi stared at him blankly. He lowered his head and kissed her forehead, continuing to explain, "As for what you said, my relationships with them weren't even casual. You shouldn't be jealous like that anymore." It was she who was always thinking about other men. Just now, she was chatting and laughing with others, enjoying herself immensely.
Even though he knew that the person in her heart was him, he still felt a tightness in his chest, always afraid that one day she would be taken away from him.
Gu Xi's face lit up with a smile after hearing his explanation, her heart filled with sweetness, and she didn't hear his final, soft sigh.
"What did you just say? I didn't hear you, say it again..."
He said he loved her, just as her name suggests, and would cherish and care for her for the rest of his life.
"Gu Xi..." he murmured her name tenderly.
Gu Xi is only his Gu Xi.
If you are unwilling to grant me a next life, then I pray that we can stay together year after year in this life.
If you are willing, I hope it will be for all eternity.
"Say it again...I want to hear it again..."
Gu Xi kept pestering Xiao Heng to tell him her feelings.
The eunuchs guarding outside the imperial study, listening to the tender words between the two inside, couldn't help but lower their heads and cover their mouths to chuckle. They only hoped that their emperor could keep the empress happy every day. As long as the empress was happy, the emperor would naturally be happy, and if the emperor was happy, then their lives would naturally be happy too.
Around noon, after the two had their meal at Qianqing Palace, Gu Xi rested for a while in her sleeping quarters. When she woke up, Xiao Heng was already sitting at his desk in the front hall, handling state affairs.
She remembered that he had only eaten a few bites at noon, so she quietly went to the imperial kitchen to prepare some side dishes and pastries for him.
When she returned from the imperial kitchen carrying a food box, he was still reviewing memorials with his head down.
She tiptoed to the plank and gently placed the food box on it. She didn't make a sound, but Xiao Heng still noticed.
He paused, looking up at the opposite side. When he saw that it was her, his expression immediately relaxed.
"When did you get up?" His gaze fell on the food box next to her. It looked like she had just come back from outside; he hadn't even noticed she had gone out.
He put down his pen and furrowed his brow wearily.
Gu Xi didn't reply, but asked with a pained expression, "Aheng, are you very tired?"
His affairs of state seemed to be getting heavier every day. She noticed that he hadn't had a proper rest in a long time, and she was really worried that his health wouldn't be able to keep up. She couldn't help but ask, "Have you encountered something difficult?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Heng stopped what he was doing, but did not speak. He simply pursed his lips and looked at her quietly.
Things are indeed a bit tricky. There are so many people coveting her throne these days, he has to make sure he can hold on to it.
Gu Xi was puzzled by his gaze. She frowned slightly, tilted her head, and looked at him with a confused expression.
What kind of look is that?
Xiao Heng's dark eyes suddenly darkened, the weariness between his brows had long since faded, and his deep gaze was fixed on her face, like a beast staring at its prey.
Gu Xi was all too familiar with that look. She was so frightened that she took several steps back and turned to run away.
But before she could take a step, a gust of wind rose behind her. Xiao Heng had already bypassed the plan and arrived behind her. He precisely gripped her slender waist with his palm and lifted her up horizontally with a slight effort.
"Ah!" Gu Xi exclaimed in fright as she was suddenly lifted off the ground.
Xiao Heng looked down at her, his low, husky voice carrying a hint of languor and mockery: "You're right, I am indeed a little tired, it's time to treat myself."
Gu Xi struggled to land, trying to persuade him: "Put me down quickly! We can't let state affairs interfere!"
Xiao Heng tightened his arms around her, looking at her face flushed from the effort, and smiled slightly: "It won't delay anything."
"Help!"
Gu Xi was thrown onto the bed and didn't get off for the rest of the day. In her dazed state, she felt her legs trembling.
Waaaaah...
She secretly vowed to herself that she would never care about him again. Why was she always the one who suffered in the end?
The next morning at court, the emperor appeared refreshed and in high spirits.
However, besides having to guard against Bai Xingzhi and Xiao Che, Xiao Heng also had to be wary of Gu Xiao and Yu Xinyao, who were constantly trying to break them up.
Since Yu Xinyao and Gu Xiao got married, Gu Xi has been returning home more frequently.
She clung to Yu Xinyao all day long, and the two seemed to have endless things to talk about. Because of this, she often stayed at the Gu family's house and refused to return to the palace.
At first, Xiao Heng was jealous, but he could only let her be. But gradually he found that Gu Xi was unwilling to be close to him every time she returned from the Gu family, and he guessed that it was the couple who were behind it.
That day, Gu Xi returned to the Gu family. Around noon, someone came to tell her that she would not be returning to the palace that day. Xiao Heng immediately took the memorial, got into the carriage, and hurried to the Gu family.
At this moment, in the pavilion in Gu Xi's courtyard, Gu Xi, who had just finished lunch, was sitting on a stone bench with Yu Xinyao and Gu Xiao, enjoying tea.
Gu Xi only recently learned that Gu Xiao often clashed with Xiao Heng in court. She also recalled that Gu Xiao always had a bad attitude towards Xiao Heng whenever he came to the Gu family. She couldn't help but advise, "Brother, don't treat Aheng like that. He will be sad."
Upon hearing this, Gu Xiao stopped drinking the tea that was being offered to him and immediately said with a stern face, "Then let him be sad. If you continue to protect him, I will get angry with you too."
Gu Xi, with a sullen face, looked to Xin Yao for help: "Sister-in-law..."
Yu Xinyao couldn't stand seeing Gu Xi like this, so she turned to Gu Xiao and stopped him, saying, "Alright, alright." Then she advised Gu Xi, "But little girl, don't forgive him too soon. Let him suffer a bit more."
Xiao Heng, who had just arrived at the Gu family's gate, felt a sudden jolt in his heart. He quickened his pace and walked towards the inner courtyard. Yu Xinyao saw him from afar and pulled Gu Xiao away.
He walked quickly to Gu Xi's side and sat down next to her, but Gu Xi moved aside, creating distance between them.
Xiao Heng hesitated for a moment, then continued to approach her, but Gu Xi stood up and turned to leave. Xiao Heng panicked and immediately chased after her, finally embracing her in his arms as they reached the room. Gu Xi instinctively tried to dodge but couldn't, struggling to break free from his embrace.
Xiao Heng tightened his arms around her, rested his chin on her hair, and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong?"
Gu Xi turned her head to the side, unwilling to pay attention to him.
Her brother and sister-in-law were right; she shouldn't have forgiven him so quickly.
"Are you angry? But what did I do wrong?"
Gu Xi still didn't answer, turning her head to the other side and letting out a cold snort.
Xiao Heng smiled helplessly, thinking that the couple must have said something to her again.
No matter how Xiao Heng tried to coax her that day, Gu Xi refused to go back to the palace with him. Even when he wanted to stay in her room, she wouldn't allow it, kicking him out of the Gu residence and locking the gate tightly.
Looking at the tightly closed door, Xiao Heng secretly vowed that he would never let her stay with that couple again!
This time, Gu Xi stayed at the Gu family's house for half a month. If Xiao Heng wanted to see her, he could only have the door removed. The Gu family's door was removed and reinstalled every day like this. Lu Xiao and the others became numb to it and even figured out a quick way to install and remove the door.
As a result, the ministers began to have opinions. The Imperial Censor submitted a memorial, saying that the Empress's frequent visits to her parents' home were improper.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Heng said in a deep voice, "If you can persuade the Empress to return to the palace, I will promote you three ranks." He said this with a serious expression, and it seemed that he was not joking.
However, the ministers who offered advice were disgruntled. Everyone knew that the Empress was the Emperor's most beloved person, and offending the Empress was tantamount to offending the Emperor. Furthermore, General Gu was not someone to be trifled with. It was said that he had a very close relationship with the Empress and her brother. If they offended him as well, they feared they would suffer the consequences in the future.
Let her go back; there's nothing wrong with this woman wanting to return to her parents' home.
He swallowed hard and said, "This is, after all, His Majesty's family matter, and it is not appropriate for me to interfere."
Xiao Heng glanced at him upon hearing this, seemingly quite displeased with his desertion at the last minute.
In the end, it was Lu Xiao who came up with an idea, and he managed to coax and trick the man back to the palace.
On that day, led by Lu Xiao and Wei Ran, and followed by a group of eunuchs from the Qianqing Palace, they took turns running to Gu Xi to cry and complain about how the Emperor had vented his resentment on them during her absence from the palace, and how miserable their lives had been.
Lu Xiao limped up to Gu Xi and said tearfully, "Young Madam, you don't know, the Master finds fault with me every day. Look... he gave me twenty lashes today." After saying that, he deliberately sat down in a chair and exaggeratedly exclaimed "Ouch!"
Immediately afterwards, the eunuchs also came in one by one, weeping and pleading their case.
Gu Xi could tell they were putting on an act, but she still agreed to return to the palace the next day because she missed him too.
The next day, Xiao Heng returned to Qianqing Palace after court. Having just finished meeting with the last two ministers, he was now in a very good mood, waiting for Gu Xi. He had just received word that she was already on her way to Qianqing Palace.
He was sitting on his throne, about to get up to greet her, when he saw her quickly step over the threshold, looking like she was there to interrogate him.
Xiao Heng's heart sank. She had finally managed to coax the person back, but what had those two said to her?
Gu Xi took a few steps forward, stood in the hall, looked at the man on the throne, and remembered what Yao Yao had told her.
Yao Yao told her that every late autumn, Bai Xingzhi would take a leave of absence to go to Shuangxi Manor and stay in the clinic where they used to live. However, Xiao Heng ordered his men to burn the clinic down. Bai Xingzhi would rebuild it every year, and as soon as he finished, Xiao Heng would have it burned down again. This cycle repeated itself year after year.
Her gaze fell on the black velvet soap pouch on the imperial desk. She recalled that she had inadvertently glanced at Bai Xingzhi's name on it earlier, and the ugly expression on Xiao Heng's face at that time flashed through her mind. She figured that the secret report must be related to this! She had thought it was some kind of military intelligence and dared not look at it for too long!
Gu Xi withdrew her gaze, put her hands on her hips, and looked at Xiao Heng with an air of seeking justice for him: "You are not allowed to bully him!"
Xiao Heng's originally upturned lips gradually pursed into a line, his eyes darkened slightly, and his aura became stagnant.
Gu Xi's momentum instantly weakened. She swallowed hard and instinctively took two steps back, wanting to run away.
Just as she was about to turn around, she suddenly seemed to remember something and continued to confront Xiao Heng.
The brother said that Yao Yao had always refused to be with him because she thought he had been married before. Gu Xi became angrier and angrier. This person almost ruined the marriage between her brother and Yao Yao!
Gu Xi said angrily, "You clearly know him... and you still arranged the marriage!"
He knew perfectly well that the two were not a good match, yet he still arranged their marriage!
Xiao Heng's expression darkened further, and his words were icy: "Know what? Know that you like him, or that he likes you?"
Gu Xi was somewhat annoyed by his question, but she still stubbornly said, "So what if I like it! I'll still like it in the future!" After saying that, she turned around and walked out without even looking at Xiao Heng.
"Gu Xi!!!" Xiao Heng's thunderous voice rang out from behind her. She was actually very scared, but she kept her back straight, showing no sign of it.
Gu Xi had just stepped out of the threshold when a gust of wind suddenly swept past her, and Xiao Heng swept her up and hoisted her onto his shoulder.
"Ah!" Gu Xi cried out, pounding his back, "Put me down right now!"
Xiao Heng ignored her and carried her towards Kunning Palace. Along the way, the palace servants they encountered all lowered their heads and snickered. Gu Xi's face turned bright red. "Back to Qianqing Palace! Back to Qianqing Palace!" She didn't want to be stared at like this the whole way and preferred to stay in Qianqing Palace.
Xiao Heng snorted coldly: "I want them all to see how disobedient their empress is."
"Ah! I was wrong! Let me go!!!" Gu Xi was so ashamed by his words that she wanted to disappear.
"What's wrong?"
"Wrong...wrong...everything is wrong!"
"It seems you still don't know where you went wrong... It's alright, I'll let you know soon enough."
Gu Xi had a bad feeling when she heard this.
Having finally returned to Kunning Palace, Xiao Heng kicked open the door and threw Gu Xi onto the bed.
He didn't rush to touch her, but stared intently at her, slowly unbuttoning the buttons and waist belt on his dragon robe, his eyes seeming to want to devour her.
Gu Xi kept a wary eye on Xiao Heng while quickly getting out of bed and running towards the door.
Xiao Heng took in all her movements and expressions without stopping her. Just as her hand was about to touch the doorknob, he stretched out his long arm and pulled her back, throwing her back onto the bed. He then began to slowly take off his outer robe.
Gu Xi's eyes held a mixture of stubbornness and timidity, which only fueled Xiao Heng's anger, causing him to become increasingly impatient.
Gu Xi swallowed hard, beginning to regret her decision to provoke him.
She stared intently at Xiao Heng, and in the blink of an eye, she tried to escape again, but she was no match for him. This time, she had only taken two steps out of the bedside when he hugged her from behind, his broad chest pressed against her back.
He leaned down and kissed her earlobe, his voice low and husky as he said, "Trying to run away?" A tingling sensation washed over her, and Gu Xi trembled uncontrollably, collapsing into his arms.
Xiao Heng smiled, quite satisfied with her reaction. The next moment, he picked her up and placed her on the bed, playing with her soft, boneless body, taking off her outer clothes and shoes, and then pressing her down beneath him.
Gu Xi looked up at the handsome and familiar face above her, and at his burning gaze, and couldn't help but blush.
Then, with an irresistible force, he pulled her into a state of decadence, and together they plunged into the sea of clouds.
He lay on top of her, asking again and again, tirelessly, "Do you like him or me?"
Gu Xi's eyes were wet with tears, her voice broken and fragmented: "I like you... um..."
"Say it again, who do you like?"
"I like you... um... I only like you..."
Who likes whom?
"Ugh..." Gu Xi trembled slightly and let out a soft gasp.
Xiao Heng let out a muffled groan, pressing himself against her, his ear filled with her whisper: "Gu Xi likes Xiao Heng..."
He looked at her, fast asleep in his arms, held her tightly, kissed the damp hair on her forehead, and whispered, "Xiao Heng also likes Gu Xi..."
It's not just about liking.
He loves her.
He only loves her.
He will love only her for the rest of his life.
One lifetime is not enough; I wish for lifetimes to come.
(End of main text)
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Author's note: This concludes the main text.
The day of the final words has finally arrived. What follows is the author's rambling, written to myself, to the readers, and to the main characters in my story.
I would like to express my special thanks to all the readers who have accompanied me this far. This is my first novel, and neither my writing nor the plot is mature or perfect. I also frequently revised it and took breaks from updating. Usually, I might even have given up on it altogether. So, I am truly grateful for your understanding and trust, and for sticking with me until now. Of course, I also thank everyone who was willing to click on this novel and take a look. Your brief companionship has given this story life.
As a novice author, I have to say that reader feedback is sometimes really important. Although my original intention for writing remains the same, I still get caught up in the data during the process, and the drop in readers' attention and favorites makes me especially anxious. Whenever I feel like my writing is terrible, seeing the likes, comments, and people following my updates makes me feel like I'm still okay and can keep writing, haha. So, your support is truly indispensable to the final completion of this novel.
This story was started on July 9, 2025, and took six months to complete. The beginning was smooth, the process difficult, and the ending, naturally, was imperfect. The inspiration for the novel came from the opening scene, a picture that had been in my mind for many years. I loved reading romance novels in college, and back then I thought about writing one. Years after graduation, I finally started writing. Originally, I just wanted to write this story, but as I wrote, I discovered that I truly loved writing novels, even to the point of being obsessed—something I never imagined. Immersing myself in the world I created was a wonderful thing; the intense desire to express myself was unbelievable even to myself, and it kept me, someone who often loses interest quickly, writing this novel to the end.
However, there were two times when I couldn't continue writing, and I even considered unbanning the previous chapters and rewriting it as a sweet romance. Because I used to enjoy angst-filled stories, especially those that made my heart ache, I initially conceived the outline in that direction. But as I wrote, I found myself unable to continue. This was because I developed feelings for the characters; the female lead came alive in my mind, like a real person. It was incredibly painful to see her suffer, to the point that thinking about her would make me cry anytime, anywhere—it was unbelievable. Because I couldn't bear to see her suffer, many plot points and character settings were changed, making the story much more mundane, and the ending was more beautiful than originally envisioned. I hope my male and female leads, and every character I created, can live happily ever after in that distant utopia.
Next, I'll thoroughly review this book, revising any poorly handled plot points and adding some extra chapters. Looking back, I might find many parts poorly written, but that won't diminish the significance of this novel to me. I don't know when I'll start my next novel, or even if I'll start a new one at all. However, having learned from this experience, if I do write again, I'll likely finish it before publishing. This book was blacklisted several times due to its popularity and insufficient word count, and each time I missed an update, I felt guilty towards my readers, which caused me a lot of anxiety. I must lament: I'm such a slow writer! Even more absurdly, my writing speed seems to be getting slower. Perhaps it's because the passion faded towards the end. I have to admire those authors who can write long novels and still finish them all.
Finally, I would like to thank the readers again, and also myself. I am grateful that I did not give up halfway this time, and grateful that the readers were willing to give a new author the opportunity to finish a story.
See you in the next story.
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