Chapter 38 Triumphant Return The words "Imperial Sister-in-Law" made Xiao Che's whole body...
Gu Xi ate less and less. Without Xiao Heng to accompany her for meals, and with no one forcing her to eat, she became increasingly thin.
She felt sick and tried to cheer herself up, but she just couldn't.
If she weren't still worried about Mu Yunqi's life, she would just want to sleep herself to death every day.
She sat on the couch for a long time, holding the guqin that Xiao Heng had given her, lost in thought. Suddenly, she got up, intending to go to Bihe Garden. When she reached the entrance, she suddenly remembered that she was under house arrest, so she went back and sat there on the steps with the guqin for the entire afternoon.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
Xiao Heng did not see Gu Xi in the courtyard; only her maids were there to greet him.
He pushed open the door and saw Gu Xi holding a zither, staring blankly ahead, seemingly lost in thought, unaware that he had arrived.
"What are you thinking about?"
Gu Xi shook her head, but it didn't seem like she was answering him.
"Want to go out and play the piano?"
She shook her head again.
"Gu Xi?"
Xiao Heng called out a few times before she looked up at him. After a long while, her gaze finally focused: "The Emperor has arrived?" After saying that, her eyes drifted off to somewhere else.
Xiao Heng was startled, feeling that she looked quite abnormal, as if she had lost her soul.
"What happened to her?" Xiao Heng asked, his voice trembling slightly.
With red eyes, Zhu Yin said, "This servant doesn't know either. Your Highness has been like this lately. She doesn't eat and sits for the whole day."
"Go and get some food."
"Yes." Zhu Yin withdrew.
Xiao Heng removed the zither from Gu Xi's hands, pulled her into a tight embrace, and kissed her forehead. She seemed to snap out of her daze and gently hugged him back.
He hadn't visited her for quite some time, simply because he felt she didn't need him; his presence would only keep her awake at night and unable to eat or sleep properly.
But during the days he was away, she didn't take good care of herself either.
"It was my fault. How about I come and dine with you every day from now on?"
Gu Xi nodded.
"Gu Xiao and Xiao Che just arrived in the capital today. They will enter the palace tomorrow. Would you mind arranging a meeting between you?"
He came here today to tell her about this. He had kept Gu Xiao's return to Beijing a secret before, wanting to surprise her, but he didn't expect what happened later.
The incident was suspicious. He was blinded by jealousy and should have believed her. He was the one who hurt her.
He had made some progress in his investigation, but because it involved her reputation, he had to proceed discreetly, which was why the progress was slow.
Upon hearing Gu Xiao's name, Gu Xi looked up, her eyes gradually brightening: "Brother's back too?"
"Hmm, I will arrange for you to meet in the Imperial Garden tomorrow. It is inconvenient for men to come to the inner palace."
Gu Xi's eyelashes trembled slightly as she timidly asked, "Will Your Majesty be angry if I leave Weiyang Palace?"
Xiao Heng suddenly felt a pang of pain in his heart. At that moment, he felt like a villain who had clipped her wings and imprisoned her by his side.
But he was unwilling to let her go.
He rested his chin on her forehead and said, "I'm not angry."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Gu Xi breathed a soft sigh of relief.
Xiao Heng hugged her even tighter.
At dinner time, she was coerced into eating half a bowl of soup and half a bowl of rice. She only stopped eating when she started to get upset.
He held her as they slept at night, and she nestled in his arms like a kitten, sleeping soundly for once. She seemed less afraid of him.
*
Inside the Imperial Study.
"Brother, where is Xiao Xi?" Xiao Che asked, clenching his fists.
He only learned yesterday, after arriving in the capital, that Gu Xi had actually entered the palace and been granted the title of Zhaoyi (a high-ranking concubine) just days after his departure for the campaign. How did things turn out this way? He was supposed to return with military merit to marry her!
His heart feels like it's been gnawed by a million ants—it aches, regrets, and pains!
"Who is Xiao Xi that Sixth Brother is talking about?" Xiao Heng asked knowingly.
Gu Xiao quickly clarified, "Your Majesty, the Sixth Prince was referring to my younger sister, Consort Gu Xi. I only learned yesterday that she had entered the palace. The Sixth Prince and I grew up together since childhood, and like me, he also misses his sister, hence this question."
He understood Xiao Che's feelings for Gu Xi, but now these feelings were nothing more than a burden that Gu Xi couldn't bear to see the light of day. If people found out, they would accuse her of fratricide, and the consequences would be unimaginable.
Xiao Che was a man, and the sixth prince of the court, and he was also favored by the emperor, so naturally no one dared to say anything about him.
But Gu Xi is different. Even if she has no feelings for Xiao Che, the entire court could drown her with a single word.
He absolutely could not let himself harm his sister.
Gu Xiao continued, "This humble general dares to ask, may I go see my younger sister? I have been away from the capital for almost three years, and my parents at home miss me dearly. I am willing to offer my military merits in return, and I humbly request Your Majesty's permission!"
Xiao Heng pondered for a moment and said, "General Gu, there's no need to be so formal. Since you are Gu Xi's brother, you are also my brother. I can arrange for you to meet in the Imperial Garden."
"Thank you for your permission, Your Majesty!" Gu Xiao clasped his hands in gratitude.
"As for Xiao Che, although you and Gu Xi have a sibling-like relationship, she is now my Consort Zhao, and thus your sister-in-law..."
The words "Imperial Sister-in-law" froze Xiao Che in place. He didn't hear a word Xiao Heng said afterward. The woman he loved was now his elder brother's woman, the woman he had longed for for over a decade, and suddenly, there was no longer any possibility between them.
As Zhao Fuquan listened to the Emperor's nonchalant tone and glanced at the Sixth Prince's dejected appearance, his thoughts suddenly drifted back to the month before the army set off.
He still remembers that month was particularly cold, with heavy snow falling for several days and nights, and the snow on Chang'an Street accumulating to a depth of three feet.
He accompanied the Emperor to Bai Xiang's residence, where he first met Gu Xi, though he didn't know it was her at the time.
That day, the Emperor invited Prime Minister Bai to discuss important matters. In order to avoid being seen, he specially chose the residence where Prime Minister Bai lived before he became an official. Unexpectedly, Prime Minister Bai saved a young lady on the way.
What was even more surprising was that the Sixth Prince also came that day. When the Sixth Prince hugged the young lady, the Emperor was watching from a distance. At that time, he clearly felt the coldness emanating from the master beside him.
About three days later, the Sixth Prince went to the palace to see the Emperor, hoping to obtain a marriage decree. However, when he was about to state who he wished to marry, the Emperor interrupted him, saying that he was still young and should prioritize state affairs, and refused.
Zhao Fuquan knew that the Sixth Prince wanted to marry the young lady from the Bai family that day. He had seen that the Sixth Prince was deeply in love with her that day, and the Emperor couldn't possibly have missed it.
After the Sixth Prince left, the Emperor sat alone in the Imperial Study for a long time. That evening, he suddenly said to himself, "Go and tell the Empress Dowager that I have agreed to the selection of concubines that day."
They all knew that the Empress Dowager was holding a selection of concubines to place her own people in the harem, and Zhao Fuquan never expected that the Emperor would agree to it.
He didn't understand then, but after seeing the Sixth Prince's behavior today, he suddenly realized.
It turns out that the young lady at the Bai residence that day was Gu Xi, and everything the emperor did was to welcome her into the palace.
Later, the Sixth Prince went to war, and then the imperial concubine selection system was reformed, and Gu Xi entered the palace. Everything proceeded naturally.
He didn't know what had happened behind the scenes, but he knew it was definitely related to the Emperor.
He had been by the Emperor's side for over ten years, but he had never seen him go to such lengths for any woman.
His master had been alone in the treacherous palace since childhood, fighting against the late emperor, the empress dowager, and his brothers. He had always been estranged from his family, except for the Sixth Prince, with whom he shared a deep bond. Now that the emperor had taken away the Sixth Prince's beloved woman, how would the emperor face the future if the Sixth Prince found out?
Although their Sixth Prince is usually gentle and kind, he is actually quite stubborn, and once he has made up his mind about someone, he probably won't let go of them easily.
He still remembered more than ten years ago, when he was just a eunuch by the side of the late emperor. Once, the Ninth Prince snatched a pair of sugar figurines from the Sixth Prince. The Sixth Prince made a scene before the late emperor, who then ordered the imperial kitchen to make him a basketful of sugar figurines. But he refused them and insisted on getting back the original pair.
Later, the matter escalated to the Empress Dowager's palace, where a fight broke out between the Sixth Prince and the Ninth Prince to reclaim the sugar figurine. He didn't know if the sugar figurine was ever recovered, but he remembered that the Sixth Prince, along with the late Emperor, was furious and ignored the late Emperor for several months.
Although the Sixth Prince is now very different from the child he was, and has a good reputation, he has never forgotten this matter.
If the Sixth Prince knew the truth, who knows what kind of bloodshed would ensue? Just thinking about it sent chills down his spine.
*
A corner of the Imperial Garden.
Gu Xi sat in the Imperial Garden early this morning, feeling both nervous and expectant, her fingers constantly twisting the silk handkerchief in her hand.
She hadn't seen her brother for almost three years. She wondered how he was doing, whether he had been injured on the battlefield, and whether he missed his little sister.
I wonder if he has gone home to see his parents yet, and whether he will be surprised to find out that he has entered the palace, or whether he will worry about her as before?
She still remembered when she first went to Medicine King Valley, her brother would skip school every few days to look for her because he was worried about her. When their father found out, he would be whipped. If she hadn't stopped him, he would have been beaten until his skin was torn and bleeding.
When she sees him later, she will definitely let him know that she has grown up and that he doesn't need to worry about her, as she is doing well in the palace.
"Brother!" Seeing the tall and handsome man appear from a corner of the Imperial Garden, Gu Xi suddenly stood up, lifted her skirt, and ran towards him.
Gu Xiao's heart skipped a beat when he saw Gu Xi running towards him from the opposite direction. She almost tripped because she was running too fast. But when she regained her balance and gave him a shy smile, his heart finally settled down.
Gu Xiao opened his arms, and Gu Xi immediately threw herself into his embrace.
"Brother!" She looked up and smiled at Gu Xiao, her smile as charming and innocent as a child's.
"Xiao Xi, did you miss your brother?" Gu Xiao placed his hand on Gu Xi's head and gestured. His little sister had grown much taller than he remembered after three years of not seeing her.
Gu Xi nodded frantically.
"Did His Majesty make things difficult for you?" Gu Xiao couldn't help but ask. Zhu Yin had already told him what had happened when she led them the way. He knew she had suffered such a great injustice. He knew this was a disgrace for a man, let alone the Emperor. He just felt sorry for her.
Gu Xi's mood instantly plummeted. He hadn't made things difficult for her; he simply didn't trust her.
Gu Xi forced a smile and said, "No, the Emperor treats me very well."
Gu Xiao could tell at a glance that she was putting on a brave face, but he didn't call her out on it. She had always been like this, afraid of worrying her family. He simply opened his arms again and pulled her into his embrace.
"Xiaoxi, if you're sad, you can cry. Your brother won't laugh at you."
Upon hearing this, Gu Xi instantly broke down, and tears streamed down her face like a burst dam.
Gu Xiao felt extremely distressed. Gu Xi had never been so heartbroken in her life. Had his sister fallen in love with the emperor?
Gu Xi cried for a while, then got up from Gu Xiao's arms, wiped away her tears, and suddenly felt that it was a little embarrassing to cry in front of her brother, so she smiled through her tears.
"Has brother gone back to see our parents?"
"Yes, Mom and Dad are doing well, don't worry about them." They just miss her too much. Yesterday, when his mother talked to him about it, she couldn't help but cry.
Xiao Che stood silently by her side, watching her joy and sorrow. His beloved woman should have been cherished and smiled every day, but now she was so unhappy.
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Author's Note: The countdown to the chaotic scene has begun! [Let me see!]
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