Chapter 79 The Crowning Ceremony "You...you are shameless!"...
This chapter was rewritten on November 16, 2025. Except for the beginning paragraph which is the same as before, everything else has been changed. Treat it as a new chapter.
In the early morning, Gu Xi saw Xiao Heng as soon as she opened her eyes, and her mood immediately became somewhat annoyed.
She sat at the dining table, and Xiao Heng would occasionally put food into her bowl. "You're too thin. Eat more. I've ordered the imperial kitchen to make you some more delicious food."
Gu Xi frowned as she looked at the bowls piled up like a small mountain. She picked up a piece of pastry and brought it to her mouth, but her stomach suddenly churned. She quickly put down her chopsticks and endured the discomfort.
She couldn't let him know about the child's existence. Before she died, she wanted to secretly take the child out of the palace and entrust him to the Medicine King Valley, so that he could grow up to be a doctor who helped the world, just like his senior brother.
She opened her mouth and said, "Your Majesty, if you want someone to serve you, I cannot provide that here. Please go find another concubine..."
Xiao Heng's face darkened, and his voice was slightly angry, "Say that again!"
Gu Xi continued, "Your Majesty, I cannot give you either my body or my heart right now. You don't need to waste any more time on me."
Xiao Heng's breath hitched. At that moment, he realized with absolute clarity that she wasn't just saying things out of anger. She had no lingering feelings for him whatsoever, which was why she was pushing him towards another woman.
A sudden, immense emptiness welled up inside him, as if a section of the road beneath his feet had collapsed, leaving him feeling unsteady and panicked, unsure of how to fill the void.
He slammed down his chopsticks and said fiercely, "You have to give it to me whether you can or not! If you don't love me, I'll kill everyone in your household!"
"Hmm, kill me then..." Gu Xi suddenly stood up, took a few steps back, took the hairpin from her hair and held it to her throat. "After you kill me, you will see my corpse tomorrow. I have a hundred ways to kill myself, such as piercing my throat with this hairpin, severing my wrists with the silk thread from the brocade quilt, or taking the poison I made myself. Which one does Your Majesty want to see?" Her tone was as calm as if she were discussing the weather outside the window.
Xiao Heng looked at her with trembling eyes and raised his hand to stop her, saying, "Put the hairpin down!" His fingertips were shaking.
Gu Xi smiled faintly. "Your Majesty can try. If you make one cut on them, I will make two cuts on myself. If you make two cuts on them, I will make ten cuts on myself."
She turned the hairpin to her face and said, "And this face, does Your Majesty like it? If I am unhappy, I will destroy it." She pressed the sharp end of the hairpin tightly against her face, the sharp end gleaming coldly, as if it could draw blood with the slightest pressure.
Xiao Heng's eyes were filled with fear, his heart was in his throat, and his voice trembled slightly: "Stop! I won't touch them, put the things down!"
Gu Xi had just breathed a sigh of relief when a sharp pain suddenly shot through her chest. She forced herself to say, "Go away! I don't want to see you right now!"
"Okay! I'm leaving, but you're not allowed to hurt yourself!" Xiao Heng's heart was still trembling with fear. He gave Gu Xi a deep look, then turned and stepped out of the room.
Gu Xi watched him leave. The moment the door closed, the hairpin clattered to the ground, and she collapsed to the floor. Clutching her chest with one hand and supporting herself with the other, she weakly called out, "Zhu Yin..."
But her voice was too soft, and Zhu Yin, who was far away in the side hall, had no idea what was happening in the bedroom. Gu Xi suddenly fainted.
After an unknown amount of time, Gu Xi's vision remained completely dark, but she could hear intermittent voices.
"Her heart meridian is severely damaged; if this continues, she has at most three months..."
It sounds like my senior's voice.
Did her senior brother come to the palace to see her?
Three months? Does that mean she can only live for a maximum of three months?
She thought she could wait until the day the child arrived.
Two tears involuntarily slid down Gu Xi's cheeks while she was unconscious.
Suddenly, a steady and powerful voice rang out, so familiar, "Xiao Xi, don't be afraid, your brother will save you. Even if it costs the entire Gu family, I will save you."
It's my brother, my brother's here too?
She tried hard to open her eyes but couldn't, and beads of sweat appeared on her forehead as she became anxious.
Is she dead? Did she return to the Gu family after she died?
What about their parents?
Why can't I hear my parents' voices?
"Little girl, you must hold on."
It's Yao Yao! Yao Yao came to see her too.
She wanted to apologize to her.
I wonder if she will forgive her?
She didn't want to lose her best friend.
Gu Xi's eyelashes trembled incessantly, and she suddenly opened her eyes, the figure in front of her gradually becoming clearer.
"Little girl, you're awake?!" Yu Xinyao, who was sitting by Gu Xi's bedside, exclaimed with delight, her eyes lighting up.
Gu Xi looked around, her eyes instantly reddening. She wasn't dead; they really had come to see her.
Zhu Yin helped Gu Xi sit up, leaning against the bed frame.
She called out softly, "Yao Yao..." She reached out her hand and then pulled it back, looking at her helplessly.
Seeing this, Yu Xinyao moved closer to her and hugged her.
Gu Xi hugged her back, her voice choked with emotion, "Yao Yao, I'm sorry..."
"Silly girl, this isn't your fault." Yu Xinyao patted her back gently.
She knew what she was talking about, but it wasn't her fault.
Just like in the storybooks, she loved him, he loved her, and she loved him.
It's not wrong for someone not to be liked, nor is it wrong for someone to be liked; the fault lies in the cruel twist of fate.
Zhu Yin had already told her everything, including her past with Bai Xingzhi and what had happened to her recently.
When she first saw the hairpin, she only thought that Bai Xingzhi secretly admired Gu Xi, and she didn't know anything about their relationship.
If she had known that asking her for help would cause so much trouble, she would never have dragged her into it and made her suffer so much.
Yu Xinyao would never abandon her sisters for a man.
Gu Xi cried so hard she could barely breathe and couldn't speak.
It was her fault. She had already guessed that Xiao Heng had arranged their marriage because of her, and that they would divorce because of her. She had messed up their relationship.
Yu Xinyao pulled her out of her arms and scolded, "You brat! Stop crying! Take care of yourself!"
Gu Xi hastily wiped away her tears with her sleeve. When she looked up, she saw Gu Xiao and Shen Yichen looking worried. She sniffed and forced back the tears.
Gu Xi asked, "Brother, how did you get in?" Her voice still had a heavy nasal tone.
Gu Xiao explained, "It was Consort Xu and Xiao Che who brought us in. Consort Xu is waiting at your palace gate right now. We can't stay any longer; we have to leave soon."
That day in the Golden Palace, he saw that she was so thin that he had repeatedly asked the Emperor to let him see Gu Xi, but his requests were rejected each time. Later, after seeing Gu Xi's letter, he learned that her heart disease had relapsed, and he had no other choice but to resort to this desperate measure.
I only found out today that so much had happened to her. If I had known this earlier, I would have... But they didn't have a better choice back then.
When the Empress Dowager forced him to abdicate that day, he saw that the Emperor was willing to give up the throne for Gu Xi, and thought that he must be sincere towards her. However, he did not expect that he would also hurt her the most.
"Xiao Xi, let me make this brief," Gu Xi said, taking a letter from his robe and handing it to Xiao Xi. "You must be careful of the Empress Dowager. She is now heavily guarded, and you must not go to see her. I know you must have many questions, and the letter will tell you the answers."
"Okay, I understand." Gu Xi took the letter and nodded solemnly.
Shen Yichen continued, "Junior Sister, I will go back and report your situation to Master..."
Gu Xi's eyes lit up, and she interrupted him, "Senior brother! You've found Master!"
“Okay,” Shen Yichen nodded. “Look back at the letter. I will have someone send you some medicine in a few days.” She turned to Yun Ke in the corner and said, “Physician Mu, just give it to her as we just said.”
Gu Xi then realized that Yun Ke was also in the room; she hadn't even noticed her hiding in the corner.
Mu Yunke nodded in agreement, her face serious.
Yu Xinyao got out of bed. "Little girl, it's almost time. We need to go."
Gu Xi nodded, her eyes filled with reluctance.
They turned and walked towards the door. As Shen Yichen passed by Mu Yunke, he whispered, "Brother Mu asked me to tell you that he is doing well, so you don't need to worry." Without waiting for Yunke's reply, he stepped out of the room.
As Gu Xi watched them disappear through the door, a sudden panic gripped her. She hastily put on her shoe covers and chased after them, calling out to Gu Xiao's retreating figure, "Brother, how are Father and Mother? Are they alright lately?"
She may never have the chance to see them again in her life.
Gu Xiao turned to look at her. "They are fine. Take care of yourself."
"Yes!" Gu Xi nodded vigorously and said with a smile, "I will take good care of myself!"
As Gu Xi watched their departing figures, tears streamed down her face.
Perhaps this is the last time she will see them.
*
Xiao Heng still came after the lights were turned off at night.
He lay down beside her and hugged her from behind, and Gu Xi, unusually, did not struggle.
He whispered in her ear, "Gu Xi, don't push me away." His voice was low and husky. "I will not go to other women. I have never had any physical intimacy with them. I only have you."
Gu Xi was stunned for a moment. What did that mean?
He kissed her hair: "The coronation ceremony is in ten days, and your body has almost fully recovered."
Gu Xi was stunned for a moment. The coronation ceremony? Who was being crowned empress?
If the Imperial Concubine has rebelled, then who else could it be? Consort Shu? Consort Li?
"Gu Xi, do you know how long I've waited for this day?"
He himself couldn't remember how many times he had thought about the day when they would stand side by side, from the time he began plotting for the throne until now.
Whether she loves him or not, she is his queen.
"Gu Xi..." Xiao Heng called her softly, but the person in his arms did not respond, as if she had fallen asleep.
He turned her over so she was facing him and kissed her forehead.
*
Ten days later.
The empress did not appear at the coronation ceremony.
"Gu Xi! Are you trying to drive me crazy?!" Xiao Heng appeared at Weiyang Palace with a furious expression.
Inside and outside the Weiyang Palace stood a group of palace servants, holding phoenix coronet and wedding robes, each one trembling with fear.
Gu Xi was still dressed in a plain palace dress, and even the hairpins and ornaments in her hair were the same as before. She said innocently, "What nonsense is Your Majesty talking about? How dare I?"
Xiao Heng suppressed his anger, "Do you even know what day it is today?!"
"What day is it?" Gu Xi asked, looking completely clueless.
"You!" Xiao Heng said through gritted teeth, "Today is the ceremony to crown the empress!"
"oh."
Xiao Heng was taken aback. "Oh, what do you mean?"
"Which sister or younger sister was crowned empress?" Gu Xi asked curiously.
Xiao Heng's eyes were blazing with anger. "You knew perfectly well!"
"How would I know?" She truly didn't know before; she only found out today. He hadn't explained it clearly that night, and she wouldn't presume to know for sure. "I only know that many people want to be the Emperor's Empress, but... that doesn't include me!"
"Your Majesty, please tell me quickly. I must prepare a gift for her. What should I give her? How about the zither that Your Majesty gave me? It was made by Your Majesty himself and is an extremely precious gift..." One day, he suddenly told her that he had made the zither for her. She was half-believing and half-doubting. They had only just met when he gave her the zither. How could he have made it for her?
Seeing Xiao Heng's increasingly gloomy face, she continued, "But I've gotten tired of it after a while, just like this person," she gave him a disdainful look, "No wonder emperors have three palaces and six courtyards. It's a pity I don't have that right, otherwise..."
"Shut up!" Xiao Heng didn't want to hear another word from her; she couldn't utter a single thing that pleased him.
He ordered the palace servants to dress and do her hair, and then forcibly tied her up.
During the ceremony, Xiao Heng pressed Gu Xi down to complete the ceremony.
As everyone could see, during the coronation ceremony, the emperor was furious, while the empress remained indifferent, occasionally glancing around as if it were none of her business.
This is utterly childish.
*
At night, red candles cast shadows inside the Kunning Palace.
After the day's ceremony, Gu Xi was exhausted; she was very unaccustomed to this unfamiliar palace.
The palace servants served them a cup of wine, and she and Xiao Heng sat facing each other, each holding a cup.
As they were toasting, Gu Xi suddenly thought of her child and frowned, saying, "I don't want to drink!"
Xiao Heng's eyes flickered slightly, and he coaxed, "Listen to me, one cup won't make you drunk."
Knowing she couldn't escape the ritual of drinking the wedding wine, Gu Xi had no choice but to say, "I will use tea instead of wine."
Xiao Heng stared at her for a moment, then said, "Okay."
He got up and personally changed her cup of tea, handing it to her. The two leaned slightly forward, their dragon robes and phoenix robes clinking together.
Gu Xi looked up and met his deep eyes, which were filled with nothing but her.
She lowered her eyes to avoid his gaze, but he pulled her close and kissed her lips.
Gu Xi reacted and pushed him away forcefully, but suddenly a burning sensation surged up, her body gradually went weak, her hands suddenly lost strength, and her fingertips trembled slightly.
His kiss deepened, and he laid her down on the bed, his voice slightly hoarse: "Gu Xi, from now on you are my wife, and you will be with me for all eternity." His fingers stroked her hair, strand by strand, entwining it around his fingertips.
Gu Xi looked at him with hazy eyes, and for some reason suddenly forgot all the pain of the past. She wanted to indulge herself and immerse herself in the tenderness in his eyes at this moment.
He lowered his head and kissed her neck, and a tingling sensation suddenly spread throughout his body, a feeling he had never experienced before.
She suddenly realized something and angrily said, "You actually drugged me!" Her voice trembled slightly.
Xiao Heng said in a hoarse voice, "I consulted the imperial physicians, and this medicine is harmless to the body..."
"You...you shameless!" Gu Xi cursed, but her voice was as soft as a lover's murmur.
He actually went to ask the imperial physician! How could someone do such a thing!
"Hmm, I am shameless..."
Xiao Heng first kissed her lips, then moved downwards to her taut toes.
"Do you like it?" His eyes were red-rimmed, and his voice was hoarse.
"Hmm..."
He devoutly worshipped her body, hoping to keep her in this way.
He didn't know what to do to win her back.
He made her empress, granting her the power that everyone in the palace coveted, but she didn't seem to care.
He tried to please her, but she said she didn't want to see him.
He didn't know what else he could do.
Gu Xi, I've made up my mind. Even if you don't love me anymore, it doesn't matter, as long as you stay by my side.
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Author's Note: This chapter has been rewritten; I've decided to stick to the original approach.
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