Chapter 67 I Can't Keep You Anymore "If you beg me, I might consider continuing..."
(The last paragraph of the previous chapter was revised on 20251021)
Gu Xi's gaze followed Xiao Heng's departing figure. The moment the door closed, a sharp pain suddenly shot through her chest. She shakily got up, gave herself two pills, and lay back down on the bed. Not long after, she fainted.
When I woke up, it was already dark, and the discomfort in my chest had disappeared.
She curled up in the corner of the bed, wrapped herself tightly in the quilt, sat with her knees drawn up to her chest, staring blankly ahead, her ears filled with his humiliating words, and tears fell one by one, landing on the quilt.
The door suddenly opened.
The room was pitch black, but the moonlight from outside spilled in through his shadow, illuminating her silent, tearful face—she looked at him with tears streaming down her face.
He stood with his back to the light, his face obscured, and walked towards her step by step.
He pulled her, blanket and all, from the corner of the bed, and rested his chin on her hair. She didn't resist; she just trembled in his arms, whether from crying or from fear, it was hard to tell.
After a long while, he finally let her go and reached out to pull back her blanket.
Gu Xi shrank back in fright, looking at him with a terrified expression: "Aheng, don't do that to me... I'm scared..." she said in a trembling voice.
His heart skipped a beat as he looked at her cowering in the darkness.
He approached her step by step, pinning her against the corner of the bed. He lowered his head and kissed her lightly, their noses touching, their lips rubbing together, their tongues tasting of her tears.
Gu Xi froze, too afraid to respond or resist, fearing his next move.
A moment later, he released her. He had a porcelain bottle in his hand that he didn't know when he had gotten it, but it was hard to see clearly in the dark.
Then I saw him twist the ointment out of the porcelain bottle with his fingertips, and reach his long fingers under the brocade quilt. "Apply the medicine," he said in a hoarse voice.
Gu Xi bit her lip in shame, not daring to move. When the cream touched her there, the coolness made her involuntarily shrink back.
He paused, thinking she was in pain, and softened his movements.
After applying the medicine, he held her as they lay down. Gu Xi's body remained tense, her hands pressed against his chest, afraid to fall asleep.
He glanced down at the red mark on her wrist, his Adam's apple bobbing a few times.
After an unknown amount of time, Gu Xi finally succumbed to sleepiness and closed her eyes, but her sleep was not restful.
I woke up several times during the night, and each time I opened my eyes and saw him, my fear intensified.
Xiao Heng felt a pang of sorrow. Looking at her closing her eyes again, he murmured, "Gu Xi, why can't the person you love be me?"
*
When she woke up the next day, Xiao Heng was no longer there.
She sat in front of the mirror, her gaze blank.
Looking back on everything that happened yesterday, it all feels like a dream, leaving me in a daze.
How did things suddenly turn out like this?
Gu Xi patted her face, forcing herself to cheer up. Now was not the time to be sad; she had to find a way to save Bai Xingzhi.
If he acted this way because he misunderstood her relationship with Bai Xingzhi, she would need to find him and explain things clearly.
Outside the Qianqing Palace.
"Your Highness, the Emperor said he doesn't want to see you right now," Zhao Fuquan said, looking troubled.
Gu Xi gritted her teeth and barged inside.
Zhao Fuquan gave the palace servants a wink, and they didn't dare to stop him too much.
Xiao Heng was reviewing memorials in the main hall when Gu Xi, lifting her skirt, ran to his side and whispered, "Aheng..."
Xiao Heng seemed not to hear her call, and suddenly stood up from his throne, about to leave.
Gu Xi realized what was happening and quickly grabbed his sleeve: "Aheng, I..."
"Think carefully before you speak, and don't say anything that will displease me," Xiao Heng interrupted her.
Gu Xi was stunned for a moment, and her hand unconsciously loosened its grip.
She paused for a moment, then said carefully, "I...I did like him before, but I let go of him after entering the palace. Now, the person I love is you."
"Is that so?" Xiao Heng sneered upon hearing this. "If that's the case, then his life or death is none of your business. Don't let me hear you pleading for him again!"
"I..." Gu Xi tried to explain, but was interrupted again.
"What? You can't bear to part with me?" Xiao Heng suddenly turned around, pressed her down on the imperial table, and kissed her deeply before releasing her.
"Gu Xi, remember whose woman you are!" He looked down at her, his eyes blazing with rage and possessiveness. "If you mention him again in front of me, I will kill him immediately!"
Gu Xi's cheeks were slightly red from the kiss, and her breathing became erratic. She took a deep breath and used her hands to support herself as she got up from the imperial table.
It seems that she can't get through to her. She needs to find Consort Xu as soon as possible to pass on a message to Yao Yao and ask her to think of another way.
Furthermore, she needs to return the evidence she has to Yao Yao. Xiao Heng currently misunderstands her relationship with Bai Xingzhi, and even if she gives him the evidence, he won't overturn the case for her.
With that thought in mind, Gu Xi quickly left the Qianqing Palace.
Xiao Heng squinted at her retreating figure, then grabbed a teacup from the table and smashed it hard on the ground. Broken porcelain shards scattered everywhere, and tea mixed with tea leaves lay on the cold ground.
The palace servants guarding the entrance flinched in fright, barely daring to breathe.
*
After leaving the Qianqing Palace, Gu Xi planned to first return to the Weiyang Palace to retrieve the evidence, and then go to Consort Xu's palace to have her hand it over to Yu Xinyao.
When she arrived at the entrance of Weiyang Palace, she found Zhuyin waiting there. She had left in such a hurry that morning that she had forgotten to call her.
Gu Xi looked at Zhu Yin, who had a worried expression, and her heart tightened. She quickly walked towards her.
"What's wrong, Zhuyin?" Gu Xi asked anxiously.
Zhu Yin whispered a few words in her ear, and the two looked around before hurriedly entering the house and closing the door tightly.
Gu Xi pushed open the door. "Yao Yao! What are you doing here?!" It was lucky that she wasn't discovered yesterday; I never expected her to be in the palace again.
Yu Xinyao suddenly stood up. "Little girl, how is it?" she asked anxiously.
Gu Xi shook her head. "He won't listen to me." Not only will he not listen, but he also misunderstands her relationship with Bai Xingzhi, something she can't tell Yao Yao.
The two sat down.
"Yaoyao, I'm returning the evidence to you. We need to think of another way." Gu Xi opened a brocade box containing letters and papers that Yu Xinyao had given her.
Yu Xinyao stared at the contents of the brocade box for a moment, then suddenly looked up at Gu Xi with a complicated expression. After a moment of contemplation, she said, "Go and persuade him. If he wants to, he can save himself."
Gu Xi frowned: "Should I try to persuade him?" Her voice rose slightly.
Yu Xinyao nodded solemnly.
Gu Xi looked troubled. "Yao Yao, I'm afraid Lord Bai won't listen to me." She thought for a moment. "How about you disguise yourself as Zhu Yin, and I'll take you into the prison so you can try to persuade him?" They were husband and wife, so he would probably listen to her.
Yu Xinyao lowered her eyes: "That's not appropriate. It's easy for me to be discovered when I go in and out of the prison. It's more suitable for you to go."
"But......"
"Listen to me, you can't go wrong!" Yu Xinyao continued to persuade her.
Gu Xi was in a real dilemma. On the one hand, she was worried that she wouldn't be able to persuade Bai Xingzhi if she went, and on the other hand, she was worried that Xiao Heng would misunderstand her if he found out.
Seeing that she was still hesitating, Yu Xinyao suddenly grabbed her hand and said earnestly, "Only you can save him now."
Gu Xi gritted her teeth and agreed.
After seeing the person off, Gu Xi led Zhu Yin to the prison.
They got in without incident, but someone was blocking the dark passage leading to the cell where Bai Xingzhi was imprisoned.
It's Xiao Heng.
It seems they were certain she would come and were waiting for her here.
He looked at her coldly, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
Gu Xi was so startled that she took two steps back. Xiao Heng stretched out his long arm, pulled her in front of him, and hoisted her onto his shoulder.
She was about to struggle when she heard him say coldly, "Zhao Fuquan, pass on my message: punish him with ten lashes!"
"Yes," Zhao Fuquan replied.
Gu Xi was terrified and cried out, "No! No! I'll never come here again!"
Xiao Heng sneered, "Too late!"
Gu Xi was carried back to Weiyang Palace. She struggled with her hands and feet, but to no avail.
When she landed, everything in her arms suddenly fell out. Gu Xi nervously tried to bend down to pick it up, but it was too late.
Xiao Heng glanced at the letters and papers in his hand and sneered, "Trying to overturn his case?"
Gu Xi tried to grab it, but he held it high, out of her reach. The next moment, she heard him say, "Someone come here!"
A moment later, the eunuch brought in a basin of burning charcoal. He beckoned the eunuch with his hand and handed the contents of the basin to him.
Gu Xi realized what he was going to do and ran towards the charcoal fire, but Xiao Heng was a step ahead of her and hugged her from behind, his broad chest pressed tightly against her, trapping her in his arms.
"Stop! Stop!" Gu Xi cried out in distress, her eyes reddening, but the eunuch wouldn't listen to her at all.
The fire burned ever brighter, and she could only watch helplessly as the papers turned to ashes.
Gu Xi watched dejectedly as the eunuch carried the charcoal brazier out and closed the door. Only then did Xiao Heng release her.
Gu Xi turned around, her fists clenched, her eyes red as she looked at him: "You know perfectly well that he is innocent!"
"Whether he's innocent or not is up to me!" He raised his hand and grasped her chin, his eyes as cold as ice. "If you behave yourself, I might let him live a few more days. Otherwise, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"
He looked at her with a mocking gaze: "Since you care so much about him, you don't need to appear before me again." After saying that, he released her and strode towards the door.
Gu Xi panicked and quickly chased after him, hugging him from behind and whispering, "Aheng..."
Xiao Heng raised his hand and covered her hand, gently stroking the back of her hand with his fingertips.
Gu Xi was just overjoyed when she heard him sneer, "What? Are you worried about losing my favor and having no one to protect you in the palace?"
"Or is it that your heart is with him, but your body cannot leave me?"
"If you beg me, I may consider continuing to favor you."
Gu Xi listened to his hurtful words, slowly released him, and stared blankly at his departing figure.
*
In the days that followed, Xiao Heng never came to Weiyang Palace again.
She dared not act rashly again regarding Bai Xingzhi's matter. Later, Xu Taifei's people came once, and she passed on the message to Yao Yao, hoping that Yao Yao could come up with a solution as soon as possible.
Seeing that she was sullen, Zhuyin and Huayue took her for a walk in the Imperial Garden.
Actually, she just missed him.
But she didn't dare go to him, afraid of hearing his harsh words and his cold, distant gaze.
Every time I come to the Imperial Garden, I hear all sorts of news from the palace, and this time was no exception. No wonder Huayue always loves to go to the Imperial Kitchen and the Imperial Garden.
"Have you heard? Consort Xi has fallen out of favor!" a palace maid said excitedly.
"Your information is so outdated..."
"I haven't finished yet," the palace maid said coquettishly, "I heard that the Emperor's favorite concubine right now is Consort Li, and... that one from Guanju Palace!"
"Guanju Palace? You mean Consort Shu?!" The other two palace maids exclaimed in surprise.
"Shh... keep your voice down, a lot of people don't know about this yet..."
Perhaps sensing that someone was there, their voices grew softer and softer until they could no longer be heard.
"Miss......"
"Your Majesty..."
Hua Yue and Zhu Yin called out to Gu Xi with concern, but she only returned their calls with a smile.
Gu Xi sat on a stone bench by the river. She remembered that before leaving the palace, she had released a lantern here with a heart full of wishes.
It suddenly started snowing; it was the first snow of the winter.
She reached out to catch it, and the snow instantly melted in her hand and disappeared without a trace.
Just like that person, they suddenly disappeared.
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Author's Note: I've been experiencing severe writer's block lately, so I'll normally update every other day, occasionally every two days. Please forgive me. [laughing and crying emoji]
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