Chapter 22 Equal Distribution of Rain and Dew Before she could figure it out, Xiao Heng suddenly stopped her…
When the Empress Dowager spoke, her eyes glanced at Consort Xue, who was seated below her, and the meaning behind her words was crystal clear.
Xiao Heng turned to face the Empress Dowager and said respectfully, "Your Majesty's teachings are correct. Your son will remember them."
When Xiao Heng turned around, he glanced at Consort Xue, his eyes holding an ambiguous meaning.
Gu Xi watched from the side and felt that the Imperial Concubine Xue's expression was getting more and more unpleasant. She guessed that the Imperial Concubine Xue was worried that Xiao Heng would think that she was instigating the Empress Dowager to embarrass him in front of everyone.
Xiao Heng seemed unwilling to dwell on the matter further, and changed the subject, saying, "Mother Empress has rested for a few days and looks to be in good spirits today. Next month is Mother Empress's birthday. How about we celebrate it in the palace this year?"
Gu Xi had once heard Hua Yue say that since Xiao Heng ascended the throne, the Empress Dowager had never celebrated her birthday in the palace, which was one of the reasons why people speculated that the Empress Dowager and the Emperor were at odds.
"Since Your Majesty is so kind, then so be it. This year, I will entrust the Imperial Concubine with the preparations for my birthday celebrations. What does Your Majesty think?"
"That's what I think too, then I'll trouble you, Xin'er," Xiao Heng said to Consort Xue, the displeasure on his face long gone.
"It is my honor to prepare for the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration. Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will do my best." Consort Xue replied excitedly, her gloom vanishing. No matter who the Emperor favored at the moment, the burden of the harem would eventually fall on her shoulders. The Emperor still valued her, and the Empress Dowager was on her side.
After the birthday banquet was finalized, Xiao Heng chatted with the Empress Dowager for a few moments before heading to court. Once Xiao Heng left, the concubines seemed somewhat distracted, and the Empress Dowager, seeing this, casually made up an excuse to send them away.
*
After that day at Cining Palace, Xiao Heng seemed to have truly adopted the Empress Dowager's suggestion, and thus bestowed favors equally upon different concubines, successively choosing their names.
That day, Zhao Fuquan came to announce after noon that the Emperor would be visiting Weiyang Palace that night.
Gu Xi was somewhat taken aback when she received the imperial decree.
She thought he would never come again.
Gu Xi's feelings were complicated at this moment. The unpleasantness of that morning was still vivid in her mind. She remembered his rage that day and the look in his eyes when he left. She was still a little afraid of him.
He's coming tonight, should she serve him in bed? The thought filled her with trepidation.
Regardless, Gu Xi still dared not be negligent.
She waited in her room all night until past midnight, but Xiao Heng was nowhere to be seen.
Unable to resist the urge to sleep, Gu Xi was about to blow out the candle by her bedside to fall asleep when Xiao Heng suddenly appeared.
"Your Majesty, I pay my respects." Gu Xi hurriedly got off the bed to bow, not even bothering to put on her shoes.
Xiao Heng stared at her feet on the ground and said impatiently, "You can't remember a single word I said!"
Gu Xi raised her head in alarm, not understanding what Xiao Heng meant by his words, and wondering what she had done to offend him again.
Before she could figure it out, Xiao Heng suddenly swept her up in his arms. "Your Majesty..." Gu Xi exclaimed in surprise, instinctively clutching Xiao Heng's clothes at the chest.
Xiao Heng glanced down at her messy hands, ignored them, and placed her directly on the couch.
Gu Xi was still in shock when she heard Xiao Heng say fiercely, "If you kneel again in the future, I will punish you by making you kneel for three full days!"
Gu Xi then understood Xiao Heng's meaning. He had indeed said before that when it was just the two of them, there was no need to bow to him.
She was still reeling from his sudden appearance and had no recollection of what he had said. Besides, he had left in a fit of anger that day, so how could she dare to be presumptuous now?
I never expected him to get angry over something like this. He's such an unpredictable man!
Gu Xi inwardly cursed Xiao Heng, but outwardly she still respectfully said, "Your Majesty, I know I was wrong, please forgive me!"
Xiao Heng snorted coldly, then picked up the cloak that Gu Xi was hanging on the rack and draped it over her shoulders. He then lifted the hem of the cloak and sat down on the couch opposite Gu Xi.
The two sat quietly; Xiao Heng remained silent, and Gu Xi dared not speak either.
"Is the injury on your hand any better?" Xiao Heng suddenly asked.
It took Gu Xi a moment to realize that he was referring to the cut on her hand from the branch that day. She hadn't expected him to still remember it.
"Yes, it's just a minor injury." Gu Xi held out her hand and looked at it; the wound had already healed.
Seeing that her wound was not serious, Xiao Heng did not ask any further questions.
Do you know how to play chess?
Gu Xi then noticed a set of chess pieces on the small table on the couch, which Xiao Heng must have placed there when he came in.
She nodded in response.
"Then play a couple of games with me," Xiao Heng said, setting up the chessboard.
"Okay." Gu Xi nodded again.
Gu Xi was quite skilled at chess, and she and Xiao Heng were evenly matched, with Xiao Heng's eyes filled with undisguised amazement. He knew she was used to pretending in front of him, but she was honest about chess and no longer hid anything from him. Thinking of this, Xiao Heng's mood instantly improved.
Little did he know that Gu Xi did this simply because she knew that chess games were only interesting when the players were evenly matched. This way, Xiao Heng would want to play a few more games with her, preferably until dawn, so that she wouldn't have to serve him in bed that night.
Before they knew it, it was midnight. Gu Xi was extremely tired and couldn't help but yawn, but she still forced herself to stay awake.
"Tired?" Xiao Heng asked, looking at Gu Xi who was yawning repeatedly.
Gu Xi's sleepiness vanished instantly upon hearing Xiao Heng's question. She shook her head vigorously, fearing that Xiao Heng would say he wanted to go to bed. Although she knew she was already his concubine and couldn't avoid serving him in bed for long, she was still unprepared at this moment.
"Let's stop here for tonight and get some rest," Xiao Heng said softly.
"I'm not sleepy! I'd like to play a few more rounds with Your Majesty!" Gu Xi said, straining her neck.
Xiao Heng put down the chess piece in his hand, stared at Gu Xi's face for a long time, and seemed to suddenly understand something.
After a long pause, Xiao Heng's voice finally rang out. He said slowly and deliberately, "I still have official business to attend to tonight at the Qianqing Palace..."
Upon hearing this, Gu Xi hurriedly replied, "Then Your Majesty, I will respectfully see you off!"
Xiao Heng stared straight at Gu Xi. When she looked up, her eyelashes trembled, and her eyes, which were looking at him, were as bright as starlight in the dark night.
Her impatient manner suggested she wanted to get rid of him. Thinking of this, Xiao Heng unconsciously twitched the corner of his mouth, then said leisurely, "So eager to get rid of me? Didn't you want to play a few more rounds?" He then made a move to start the next game.
"Your Majesty has important matters of state to attend to, and I should not delay Your Majesty..."
Xiao Heng raised his eyes and glanced at Gu Xi, watching with amusement as she spoke insincerely in front of him.
Gu Xi lowered her head guiltily under his gaze, feeling that Xiao Heng's look just now clearly saw through her little thoughts.
Xiao Heng glanced at the night outside the window; it was getting late. "Get some rest. I'll come earlier next time."
Xiao Heng left after saying a few words.
Zhao Fuquan was waiting outside the door when he saw Xiao Heng suddenly come out. He was very surprised and quickly followed him: "Your Majesty, are you not staying overnight tonight?"
"Hmm," Xiao Heng replied casually.
Zhao Fuquan was curious but dared not ask too many questions. He wondered if Consort Gu had said something to displease the Emperor and prevent him from staying overnight. However, the Emperor did not show any anger. Instead, there was a faint smile on his lips. If he had not followed the Emperor for many years, he would not have noticed it.
He found the two of them increasingly unfathomable.
Ever since the two had that big fight, the Emperor's face has been pale. In the past few days, everyone in the Qianqing Palace has been keeping a low profile, not daring to even breathe loudly. How come Gu Zhaoyi managed to coax the Emperor so well today?
After Xiao Heng left, Gu Xi quickly washed up, removed her makeup, and went to bed. Once she closed her eyes, her mind was filled with Xiao Heng's image and the words he had said before leaving.
Come earlier next time? What will she do next time? Will she be able to send him back like this?
Gu Xi tossed and turned for a long time, not even knowing when she fell asleep.
The next day, Gu Xi got up early and began preparing gifts for the Empress Dowager's birthday. Although she had no intention of flattering the Empress Dowager, the Consort had specifically instructed each palace to prepare a gift, so she naturally had to prepare one properly to avoid displeasing the Empress Dowager and bringing trouble upon herself.
"Miss, is this a gift for the Empress Dowager?" Zhu Yin asked curiously as she watched Gu Xi stuff some medicinal herbs into the embroidered pillowcase.
"Yes, these are all calming and soothing herbs that can heal the mind," Gu Xi replied, her hands still moving.
"But Miss, I heard that the gifts prepared by the Imperial Concubine are extremely valuable. Wouldn't ours be too shabby?" Zhu Yin hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping herself.
Gu Xi tidied up the pillow core and pillowcase and began to sew the edges. She said with a smile, "The Imperial Concubine is different from us. If ours is neither wrong nor outstanding, then it is already excellent."
Zhu Yin suddenly realized: "Miss, Zhu Yin understands."
"Sister Zhuyin, what do you understand? Huayue doesn't understand at all!" Huayue scratched her head, looking at everyone with a puzzled expression. With so many concubines in the palace, how could they please the Empress Dowager and the Emperor if their gifts weren't outstanding?
"You wouldn't understand even if I told you, you silly girl!" Zhu Yin tapped Hua Yue on the head.
Hua Yue touched her head, pretending to be in pain, and said to Gu Xi in a coquettish tone, "Your Majesty, look, Sister Zhuyin is bullying me again!" She then stuck her tongue out at Zhuyin.
"You, you, you! Humph! Miss won't fall for your tricks!"
After saying that, Zhu Yin was still angry and rolled up her sleeves, ready to "teach Hua Yue a lesson." The two of them ran around the yard, and the yard echoed with Zhu Yin's angry laughter and Hua Yue's triumphant laughter.
Gu Xi shook her head and said with a smile, "These two are like children who never grow up."
Cailian remained silent. She had figured it out: their mistress truly had no desire to compete for favor; she only wanted to stay in this small place, tinker with some herbs, and live a leisurely life.
She could tell that the Emperor treated her differently. Even though he was so angry that day, he still agreed to the Empress's request. Later, he even sent Chief Eunuch Zhao to find an opportunity to reconcile with the Empress. Last night, he even chose the Empress's concubine.
Judging from the Emperor's current feelings for the Empress, it will be difficult for her to maintain a peaceful life.
Although she didn't know why the Emperor hadn't stayed last night, she had a feeling that he would return soon.
As expected.
"What's making you so happy?"
Suddenly, that familiar yet cold voice came from the courtyard.
A note from the author:
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Thank you for the free ticket that fell with the wind and for the nutrient solution from Tu Jin!
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