Chapter 93 The four of them rode together, forcefully holding Gu Xi's waist as they sat on a bench...
Gu Xi took the child back to the Gu family home, and Xiao Heng did not stop her.
When he reached the palace gate, an urgent report from the border summoned him back.
Inside the Qianqing Palace, the atmosphere was slightly tense.
In the area bordering Anguo in the south, someone they never expected has declared himself king, and his development is so rapid that he cannot be underestimated. It is uncertain whether he will annex Anguo in the future.
After analyzing the military situation with Gu Xiao, Xiao Che, and Bai Xingzhi, Xiao Heng quickly made a decision.
After finishing his business, Xiao Heng rode in a sedan chair to the palace gate and naturally boarded the Gu family's carriage.
He had just sat down when three more people boarded the carriage. When his gaze fell on the two people behind Gu Xiao, his expression suddenly darkened.
Four men sharing a carriage was quite crowded, and the atmosphere was even more tense than when they were at the Qianqing Palace.
Gu Xiao glanced at Xiao Heng, his face expressionless, and showed no intention of explaining. In the end, it was Xiao Che who spoke first.
“Your Majesty, please don’t be offended. Two days ago, I promised Xiaoxi that I would pick her up and take her home. However, someone interfered. Now that I know she’s back at the manor today, I naturally have to go and explain.” He paused, “I must not let her misunderstand that I don’t care about her.”
Upon hearing this, the veins on Xiao Heng's forehead throbbed, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "Xiao Che! She's your sister-in-law!"
Xiao Che snorted coldly, "Not anymore..." Suddenly remembering that she had just regained her status as Empress, he said nonchalantly, "So what if she is?"
Gu Xike hasn't fully accepted him yet; he must have used some tricks to deceive her. He can't let him succeed.
Xiao Heng clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with fury. "Xiao Che! You're asking for death!"
Sitting outside the carriage, Zhao Fuquan listened to the commotion inside and couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. He had no doubt that if the carriage hadn't been so small, the two of them would have started fighting again.
Xiao Heng struggled to suppress his anger and turned to look at Bai Xingzhi, who remained calm and composed. "Bai Xingzhi! What were you doing at the Gu family?!"
Bai Xingzhi lifted the carriage curtain and glanced at the snow scene outside the window, saying in a calm tone, "I suppose there is no need for me to explain my private matters to the Emperor."
He invited her to admire the plum blossoms.
Gu Xiao watched calmly from the side, thinking to himself that the Gu family should get a bigger carriage.
The carriage stopped, and Xiao Heng got off first, entering the Gu family residence with practiced ease.
As soon as I entered the courtyard, I heard her cheerful laughter coming from inside. My heart softened instantly, and my anger vanished.
Gu Xi was playing in the snow in the courtyard with Yu Xinyao, Zhu Yin and Hua Yue, and there were still marks on her body from being hit by snowdrifts.
Su Jinhe was sitting in the pavilion, looking at them with a loving expression, glancing at the baby in the cradle every now and then.
On the stone table in the pavilion, steaming hot tea rose from the brewed tea, while the surrounding charcoal fire crackled and popped.
Su Jinhe waved to them, inviting them over for some hot tea to warm themselves up.
Gu Xi, who was squatting on the ground cupping snow in her palms, raised her hands upon hearing this, and the snow fell all over her face and shoulders. She tilted her head back and smiled with her eyes crinkling.
The next moment, she ran into the pavilion and hugged Su Jinhe's shoulder, acting coquettishly.
Xiao Heng stood with his hands behind his back, watching quietly for a long time. His gaze softened, and he couldn't bear to disturb the tranquil scene.
At that moment, he thought that if she wanted to continue living in the Gu family, then so be it; wherever she went, he would be there.
The footsteps behind him grew closer, and the gentle look in Xiao Heng's eyes vanished instantly. His aura turned cold, and he took a step forward, blocking the view of the newcomer.
Hearing the noise, Gu Xi subconsciously turned her head to look over. After seeing who it was, she quickly let go of Su Jinhe and stood up, looking somewhat embarrassed.
Why are there so many people all of a sudden?
Even Bai Xingzhi has come?
When their eyes met, Gu Xi smiled slightly at him and nodded politely.
Bai Xingzhi returned her a gentle smile.
Xiao Heng's expression hardened slightly. He strode towards the pavilion, respectfully addressed his mother-in-law, and then stretched out his long arm to forcefully pull Gu Xi's waist onto the bench, his eyes warily fixed on the other two men.
Gu Xi looked up and stole a glance at him. Although she felt a little embarrassed, she did not break free from him. Instead, she leaned closer to his side.
Upon sensing her approach, Xiao Heng's brows immediately relaxed, the coldness in his eyes faded considerably, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
Su Jinhe tactfully led the two children away from the pavilion, glancing at Gu Xiao before leaving with a hint of helplessness in her eyes.
Why does this child always pick on his brother-in-law? No matter what, he is the emperor. She should talk to him and tell him not to be so presumptuous.
Gu Xiao fixed his gaze on Yu Xinyao, sat down directly beside her, and began to pour her tea.
Yu Xinyao touched her nose, a faint blush rising on her face, her eyes darting around unnaturally.
Gu Xi glanced at her casually, a hint of mischief and delight in her eyes, but quickly looked away after being glared at.
After Gu Xiao served tea to everyone, Xiao Che began to bitterly recount how Xiao Heng abused his power for personal gain on the day Gu Xi left the valley. Not only did he have the Imperial Guards prevent him from leaving the palace, but after he finally managed to leave, he also had his personal guards tie him up in the mansion for a whole day without food or water.
Yu Xinyao added fuel to the fire, saying that when Lu Xiao stopped her, he knocked over the osmanthus pastry she had brought for her, which was a waste.
Gu Xiao didn't say anything, but when Yu Xinyao was talking until her throat was dry, he kept refilling her tea.
Xiao Heng listened to the two men's accusations, some true and some false, with a gloomy face. He wished he could throw them out, but he still forced himself to endure it.
Bai Xingzhi sipped his tea calmly, only glancing at Gu Xi with extreme restraint a few times when they were talking animatedly.
Every time he looked at her, her eyes were fixed on Xiao Heng, her anger mixed with longing.
Her heart always belonged to him.
He lowered his eyes and chuckled softly, ultimately refraining from uttering the invitation.
He knew that she had originally wanted to decline his invitation to the old house to admire the plum blossoms in winter, but Gu Xiao and Yu Xinyao had accepted the invitation for her.
She was only reluctant to refuse him to save face for him.
Perhaps not disturbing her is the last thing he can do for her.
Bai Xingzhi sat for a while longer before leaving under the pretext of having something to do.
Gu Xi watched his departing figure, her eyes slightly lowered.
She vaguely guessed why he had come today, but knowing it was impossible, she shouldn't get too entangled with him; it would be unfair to both him and Xiao Heng.
Her agreement to return to the palace and restore her identity was partly due to this reason: both to let Xiao Heng know her feelings and to avoid giving Bai Xingzhi false hope.
She knew he had done a lot for her, but what's done is done.
*
A month after Gu Xi left the valley, it happened to be the winter solstice.
In Gu Xi's room, she was sitting on a pear wood chair, her hand raised and placed on the table, revealing a section of her fair wrist.
Shen Qingchen placed three fingers together on her wrist, and everyone held their breath, waiting for the result.
Xiao Heng stood beside Gu Xi, his back ramrod straight, his expression tense, his pupils slightly contracted, his apprehension tinged with a hint of panic.
On the day they left the valley, Shen Qingchen explained that the cold poison and heart disease in her body had been temporarily suppressed, and gave Gu Xi a month's worth of medicine, instructing her to take it on time.
He will come to Beijing for a follow-up examination a month later. If there is no recurrence by then, he can rest easy from now on.
As soon as Shen Qingchen withdrew her hand, Xiao Heng asked in a deep voice, "How is it?" His voice was tense.
Shen Qingchen looked relaxed and said succinctly, "I'm fine now. Just take good care of myself from now on."
Everyone in the room immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Xiao Heng asked again, unsure, "Really?!" His voice trembled almost imperceptibly.
Shen Qingchen hummed in agreement, glanced at him, and said in a calm tone, "Just don't upset her in the future."
Gu Xi looked at Xiao Heng with a smile on her lips, and the next moment he pulled her up from the chair and hugged her tightly.
Gu Xi pressed her face against his chest, feeling his body trembling slightly in suppressed pain. Her eyes suddenly welled up with tears, and she gently wrapped her arms around his waist to hug him back.
The others tactfully withdrew, closed the door, and left the two of them to their own devices.
Half an incense stick later, Xiao Heng led Gu Xi to the flower hall, her hand firmly held in his palm.
They had only taken two steps when they encountered Shen Qingchen, who was about to go out.
Shen Qingchen is not from the capital. After marrying Yun Ke, he bought a house in the capital and is probably preparing to return to the new house now.
Today is the Winter Solstice, a day for family reunions.
Mother wanted them to stay for dinner, but her senior brother declined, presumably because the two were newly married and wanted to spend more time alone.
After saying goodbye to him, Gu Xi continued walking towards the flower hall. Suddenly, she seemed to remember something, broke free from Xiao Heng, and chased after him.
Shen Qingchen had already arrived at the gate of the Gu family when Gu Xi suddenly called out to him.
"Senior brother," his voice slightly breathless, "I remember Master said before that this cold poison couldn't be cured. Do you know what method he used to cure it?"
Shen Qingchen lowered his eyes and said after a moment, "Senior brother doesn't know either. Perhaps Master came up with a new method while in seclusion."
Gu Xi nodded, then suddenly said in a sullen tone, "Senior brother, I miss Master a little. It's the winter solstice, and I wonder where he is now?"
Shen Qingchen comforted her, "Junior sister, don't worry. Master is probably having a drink somewhere right now, and he might be thinking about us too."
Gu Xi hummed in agreement, said goodbye to Shen Qingchen listlessly, and then turned and went back into the house.
Shen Qingchen turned around and saw her rush into Xiao Heng's arms, and smiled knowingly.
He didn't dare tell her that perhaps his master was suffering from the cold poison, or perhaps he was already gone.
His master left him a notebook, which recorded all the poisons he had ever encountered in his life, with detailed antidotes for each poison, some of which even had nearly ten antidotes.
Only then did he realize that his master had not been focusing on making poisons all these years, but rather on finding the antidote to all the poisons in the world.
He saw the cold poison in Gu Xi's body in his master's notes. There was no cure for this poison; the only option was to transfer it elsewhere.
Perhaps in a little more time, the master could develop a new solution, but Gu Xi couldn't wait any longer, or perhaps the master himself didn't want to wait any longer.
He had been by his master's side since childhood. He was a quiet and reserved person who didn't show much emotion about anything and wasn't very close to the people in the valley.
But from childhood to adulthood, Master always tried his best to fulfill any of his junior sister's wishes.
Perhaps he wanted to use this method to make up for the person he once wanted to protect but ultimately failed, leaving only regret.
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Author's Note: Poor master [crying emoji]
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