Chapter 88 As long as she's okay, it's because he lost her.
The Gu family was surrounded.
Within a radius of a hundred miles, everywhere one could see was heavily guarded, and from a distance, the atmosphere was chilling and menacing.
The streets and alleys of the capital were already buzzing with discussion, speculating that the Gu family must have committed some heinous crime, angered the emperor, and that the emperor wanted to exterminate the entire family. It seemed that the Gu family, which had enjoyed a century of good reputation, was about to be destroyed overnight.
The officials who had just finished the morning court session were surprised and puzzled when they learned of this. Could it be that the emperor's bestowal of titles in court today was just a test?
Indeed, a ruler's heart is hard to fathom!
However, the instigator was completely unaware and calmly gave the order. In no time, a blue cloth tent was erected in the open space a foot away from the Gu family's gate. The tent was supported by a wooden frame. Although it was not as luxurious as the palace, it was clean and tidy.
Inside the tent was a simple table, stacks of memorials, an inkstone, and a wolf-hair brush. It was obvious that Xiao Heng intended to handle state affairs here.
Zhao Fuquan looked at Xiao Heng with a hint of hesitation, but seeing that the other party didn't seem to mind at all, he only offered a few words of advice in his heart before obeying the order to arrange things properly.
Gu Xi didn't even have time for breakfast before rushing to the front gate and flung it open. Outside, a dark mass of soldiers stood, their armor obscuring the sky.
Xiao Heng, who was sitting at his desk reviewing memorials, lit up when he heard the sound. He immediately put down his pen, stood up, and strode toward her.
Gu Xi looked at the man walking towards her, both angry and frightened, and asked in a trembling voice, "What are you doing?"
Xiao Heng was taken aback, still wondering why she looked like this, but he quickly regained his smile and asked with utmost gentleness, "Gu Xi, did you come out to see me?"
Seeing the smile on his lips and his irrelevant answer, Gu Xi was so angry she couldn't speak. She calmed herself down and continued, "Why did you surround my house?"
Xiao Heng then realized what was going on and quickly explained, "I was worried about your safety since you were all alone outside the palace. I feel more at ease with them watching over you."
Then he added, "In this way, we won't be afraid of people seeing it and causing controversy." He then pointed to the memorials on the desk in the distance, "nor will it delay state affairs..." He seemed quite satisfied with his arrangement.
Looking into his earnest and sincere eyes and listening to his serious explanation, Gu Xi felt completely lost. She felt that if she listened to him any longer, she would faint from anger.
No one dares to criticize it!
Everyone in the capital is probably thinking that the Gu family is about to be wiped out!
Gu Xi finally couldn't help but shout, "I'm perfectly safe! Get them out of here right now!" Her eyes instantly reddened, and a layer of mist filled her eyes, whether from anger or grievance, it was hard to tell.
Xiao Heng panicked immediately, waved his hand, and ordered in a deep voice, "Step back!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Imperial Guards, who had been motionless, responded in unison, and the sound of their synchronized footsteps suddenly rang out, like thunder rolling across the ground. Their footsteps on the bluestone slabs made the ground tremble slightly, and the overwhelming momentum left Gu Xi stunned.
The area in front of the Gu family's house was finally calm again, except for the tent that was still eye-catching a few feet away.
Gu Xi looked at him helplessly. Did he plan to stay here from now on?
She sighed inwardly and decided to ignore him for now. She had important matters to attend to today, and his antics had delayed her.
Just as she was about to turn around, Xiao Heng suddenly grabbed her wrist. Gu Xi instinctively tried to break free, but this time he did not let go of her.
His gaze first fell on her slightly protruding belly, then fixed on her eyes, and he tentatively asked, "Gu Xi, is this...our child?"
He waited cautiously for her answer, his eyes filled with obvious anticipation.
Gu Xi lowered her eyes, concealing the expression in them, and said calmly, "No." She gently pulled her hand away from him.
As she closed the door, through the crack, she saw the light in his eyes suddenly dim, as if something had quietly shattered.
After an incense stick had burned, Gu Xi appeared in front of the Gu family gate, dressed in a moon-white dress. Her hair was neatly combed, and she looked like she was about to go out.
Before long, a carriage stopped in front of her, and Xiao Che stepped out.
Just as Gu Xi was about to get into the carriage, Xiao Heng suddenly caught up and asked, "Gu Xi, where are you going?" His expression was somewhat flustered.
Gu Xi pursed her lips and looked at him without saying a word, then turned and got into the carriage.
Xiao Che glanced at Xiao Heng indifferently and followed.
Xiao Heng stood there with his fists clenched, watching the carriage drive away.
*
The carriage stopped in front of the Mu family's gate. Today, they were sending Mu Yunqi out of the capital, and they had come to see him off.
Mu Yunqi and Yu Xinyao were waiting in front of the gate when Xiao Che helped Gu Xi down from the carriage.
Seeing the smiles naturally appear in their eyes, Gu Xi called out, "Yao Yao! Brother Mu!" She glanced behind Mu Yunqi and asked, "Did Yun Ke go to the Imperial Hospital?"
Mu Yunqi hummed in agreement and replied, "She was on duty these past two days and didn't come back last night."
Gu Xi lowered his eyes and said "Oh". So it seems that the two siblings didn't have a chance to meet during his trip back to Beijing.
Just as they were exchanging a few pleasantries and preparing to depart, a carriage stopped not far from them.
The crowd looked in the direction of the sound and saw a man in black robes getting off the carriage and walking towards them.
The man was Xiao Heng, with Zhao Fuquan following behind him.
After realizing what was happening, Gu Xi was startled and panicked. She instinctively stepped in front of Mu Yunqi and looked warily at Xiao Heng standing in front of her.
Xiao Heng glanced at Mu Yunqi, his eyes unfathomable.
Mu Yunqi met his gaze with fearlessness in his eyes, as if he had long since disregarded life and death. Even if Xiao Heng were to punish him immediately, he would not beg for mercy in the slightest.
Xiao Heng lowered his head and locked his gaze on her intently. He suddenly remembered that the man who had accompanied her yesterday was this person. She was cold and distant towards him, but she smiled brightly at the man in front of her.
He had seen that kind of smile before, when she begged him to give her a hairpin on the streets of Jiangnan, and when he said he would always love her at Weiyang Palace.
He lost her.
Gu Xi had no idea what he was thinking, only that his eyes were swirling with tension and his gaze toward Mu Yunqi was unfriendly. She spread her arms to block him and said, "You are not allowed to hurt him!"
Xiao Heng stared at her for a long time before finally humming in agreement.
Gu Xi breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, and the two stared at each other in silence for a while.
After an unknown amount of time, Gu Xi suddenly tugged at Xiao Heng's sleeve and tentatively asked, "Could you... lift the ban on him?"
The Mu siblings had always depended on each other for survival, but because of this ban, Mu Yunqi was unable to return home, and the two siblings could hardly even see each other.
Now that Yun Ke is about to get married, Mu Yunqi is unable to stay in the capital to help her with the arrangements.
He was wronged because of her, and in a way, she owes him all of this.
Xiao Heng stared at Gu Xi's slightly pale fingertips, finally landing on her trembling eyelashes. Each lash scratched into his heart, causing a sour, throbbing pain.
He cleared his throat and replied in a slightly hoarse voice, "Okay." His lips were tightly pressed together.
Gu Xi's eyes lit up upon hearing this; she hadn't expected him to agree so readily.
She turned around abruptly and found that the people who had been avoiding her earlier were also turning to look at her. They all looked surprised, and then their eyes sparkled with joy.
What Gu Xi didn't notice was that the light in Xiao Heng's eyes behind her gradually dimmed.
*
With Mu Yunqi's ban lifted, there's no need for him to rush out of Beijing today.
Everyone was delighted and decided to celebrate at Cuiyuxuan.
Gu Xi hadn't been to Cuiyu Pavilion since entering the palace, and she missed it terribly. She barely ate any breakfast this morning, and she was determined to have a hearty meal later.
Gu Xi and the others chose a window seat on the second floor of Cuiyuxuan, while Xiao Heng picked a seat next to Gu Xi.
He sat alone at his own table, creating his own little world. He exuded an aura of quiet authority, and every gesture he made was imbued with a natural air of nobility. The guests around him unconsciously lowered their breathing, and even their conversations gradually faded away.
Gu Xi looked down at him several times, opening her mouth several times as if to call him over to sit with her, but swallowed the words back down.
Yu Xinyao saw it all, but didn't expose it.
The dishes were served quickly, and Gu Xi ate in small bites. She had been starving, but for some reason, she suddenly had no appetite.
During the conversation, everyone talked about what had happened in Medicine King Valley recently.
"Brother Mu, this cup is for you! During the months in Medicine King Valley, the little girl received a lot of care from you!" Yu Xinyao raised her cup in gratitude.
Although she stayed by Gu Xi's side, she didn't understand medicine at all, unlike Mu Yunqi, who carefully considered everything from daily life to diet. Gu Xi's quick recovery was partly due to his efforts.
Mu Yunqi smiled and said, "As a doctor, this is what I should do."
He knew he was not good enough for her, and all his feelings for her were hidden in the phrase "a doctor's heart is like a parent's." Being friends with her in this way was already a blessing for him.
Xiao Heng listened silently, trying to glean from their fragmented conversation how she had spent the past three months.
When she needed care and companionship the most, the people who stayed by her side were Mu Yunqi and Xiao Che, but not him.
When everyone had almost finished eating, Yu Xinyao suddenly noticed the untouched white jade dumplings in Gu Xi's hand.
She frowned and asked in confusion, "Little girl, why aren't you eating this anymore? Wasn't it your favorite?" She had specially ordered it for her.
Gu Xi lowered her eyes and said softly, "I don't like it anymore."
Xiao Heng looked in the direction of the voice, and when he saw what they were talking about, his heart suddenly clenched.
After a satisfying meal, Xiao Che escorted Gu Xi back to the Gu residence, glanced at Xiao Heng, and then left.
Just as Gu Xi was about to step into the Gu family home, Xiao Heng suddenly hugged her tightly from behind. His warm chest pressed against her through her clothes, making her body stiffen for a moment.
Xiao Heng whispered in her ear in a low, husky voice, "It's alright."
Gu Xi was stunned for a moment, somewhat confused.
What do you mean it's okay?
“It’s okay.” He repeated.
It doesn't matter whether the child is his or not. He just wants her to be alive and well. Even if she doesn't come back to him, it doesn't matter. He just wants to see her from afar every day.
Gu Xi still didn't understand what he was talking about.
It seemed as if he wasn't speaking to her, but rather to himself.
"Gu Xi..." Xiao Heng rested his chin on her shoulder, his voice low and hoarse, "I'm sorry..."
Gu Xi froze upon hearing this, her vision instantly blurred, and tears welled up uncontrollably, falling like beads from a broken string onto his sleeve.
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Author's Note: Last-minute update! Finally finished a ranking! [laughing and crying emoji] I wrote this while slacking off at work today, I'll have to pay it back tomorrow! [laughing and crying emoji]
I revised the last paragraph; I feel it's better written this way.
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