Chapter 245 Gu Xian teaches Yongfu how to fly a kite
Three days later, at Qiyun Ridge in the west of the city.
Yongfu, carrying the exquisite birdcage, stopped on a flat grassy area halfway up the mountain.
The white-eye in the cage stood listlessly on the perch, its small black eyes always gazing at the azure sky outside the cage, occasionally letting out a few low chirps.
Since the day he brought it back from Yunshang Pavilion, Yongfu had taken good care of it for three days, but "Gupan" seemed more and more listless each day.
She recalled Gu Xian's words, "It's a pity that although it's nice in a cage, it ultimately loses its freedom," and suddenly she understood that what it longed for was the vast sky outside.
She originally intended to release the animals in the Imperial Garden, but considering that her older sister, with whom she had always been at odds, might kill Gu Pan, she decided to come to this secluded mountain herself.
She also carefully instructed her personal attendant to come here every day for the next two weeks to feed the birds millet, ensuring their safety.
Yongfu carefully opened the cage door and gently inserted his fingers.
"Gu Pan" tilted her head and looked at her, then jumped onto her fingertip.
She lifted it out of the birdcage, held it in the air, and said softly, "Fly, 'Gupan,' I know your heart. From now on, go freely to the vast sky and sea, no longer confined to this small space."
The bird paused briefly on her fingertip, as if it understood, then flapped its wings and took flight, transforming into a emerald shadow as it disappeared into the forest.
As he watched the bird fly away, Yongfu felt a pang of reluctance, but even more so, he felt joy for it.
Just then, a lazy, melodious voice rang out from behind: "Your Highness's benevolence extends even to the smallest birds, truly a blessing for all things."
Yongfu turned around in surprise. The autumn sun was shining brightly, casting a light golden glow on the figure.
Gu Xian stood leisurely a few steps away, wearing a crimson brocade robe with embroidered crabapple blossoms on the hem, which shimmered delicately in the sunlight.
The wide sleeves fluttered gently in the wind, faintly revealing a corner of the moon-white inner garment.
He did not wear a crown; his long, thick black hair was loosely half-tied up with a gold ring, on which hung two small emerald butterflies that swayed gently as he bowed slightly, lively and graceful, as if they were about to take flight into the depths of autumn at any moment.
His peach blossom eyes naturally held a smile, and his gaze gently fell upon her.
"Young Master Gu!"
Yongfu called out sweetly, lifting her skirt as she ran towards him.
However, as she got closer, she involuntarily slowed her pace.
The details that were just hidden by the splendor of the gowns are now clearly visible.
Her face was a bloodless pale, and the crimson robe, instead of making her look rosy, only made her face appear even thinner.
Although his posture remained upright, and he deliberately maintained a graceful appearance, his overly thin figure stood in the autumn wind, making his wide robes appear even more empty, as if a slightly stronger gust of wind could carry him away.
A faint, bitter medicinal scent wafted from his clothes.
He held a kite with a picture of a lone crane soaring into the clouds in his hand. The spool was held by his two loyal servants. Ah Sha squatted obediently at his feet, wagging his tail happily.
Yongfu's heart pounded, and he looked up to ask, "You... what are you doing here?"
Gu Xian smiled faintly, his gaze sweeping towards the azure sky: "The weather is so nice, I'll just fly a kite like a child to ease my mind."
His words were casual, yet they concealed a deep loneliness.
Seeing her gazing up at the kite with eyes full of curiosity and envy, he asked gently, "Would Your Highness like to give it a try?"
Yongfu nodded excitedly.
Gu Xian then patiently taught her how to use the thread and the wind.
His fingertips occasionally brushed against the back of her hand, the cool temperature of which made Yongfu blush and his heart pound like a deer.
Ah Sha excitedly circled around the two people's feet.
The autumn breeze was gentle, and the scenery was serene and beautiful.
Just as the kite reached its highest point and Yongfu's smile was at its brightest, Gu Xian suddenly let go, turned his back, and burst into a heart-wrenching cough.
He covered his mouth tightly with his hand, his thin shoulders trembling like leaves falling in the wind.
"Young Master Gu!"
Yongfu's smile froze instantly, turning into fear.
Once he caught his breath, he opened his palm, and a glaring crimson color immediately caught his eye.
Yongfu's face turned deathly pale instantly, and he stood frozen in place.
Upon seeing this, the two loyal servants' expressions changed drastically. They immediately stepped forward, half-squatted down, and steadily carried Gu Xian on their backs. They hurried but carefully made their way to the carriage parked by the mountain road.
Ah Sha sobbed anxiously, following closely at his feet.
Yongfu disregarded etiquette, lifted her skirt, and hurriedly chased after him with Yuyao and two other palace maids: "Carry Young Master Gu to my carriage! My carriage is large and has soft cushions, so the journey back will be less bumpy!"
Erzhong dared not delay, and ran towards Yongfu's carriage.
Yongfu personally lifted the carriage curtain for him, watching as Erzhong carefully placed Gu Xian on the soft cushions in the spacious carriage.
Then, she took off a jade pendant from her waist, a symbol of her status, and handed it to her trusted maid, Yu Yao: "Yu Yao, take this token and immediately drive to the palace to ask Physician Wang from the Imperial Hospital to go to the Yongjia Marquis's residence for treatment!"
Having said that, she disregarded palace rules and boarded the carriage as well.
Inside the car.
Gu Xian was too weak to lean against the cushion, her eyes closed, bloodstains still on her lips, and her face was frighteningly pale.
Yongfu sat beside him, took out her own silk handkerchief, and carefully wiped him.
Seeing the man before her, barely clinging to life, tears streamed down her face as she sobbed, "My lord Gu, what's wrong with you? Why are you so ill..."
The carriage bumped along the rugged mountain road.
Gu Xian leaned against the cushion, but out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of Yongfu sitting beside him, his almond-shaped eyes red from crying, his slender fingers clutching a silk handkerchief, carefully wiping the blood from his lips. His frightened and anxious expression, as he tried to hold back his sobs, made him look just like a frightened fawn.
A softness I'd never felt before instantly overwhelmed the pain in my body.
He took a deep breath, his thick, long eyelashes trembled, and he slowly opened his eyes to look at her. He forced a faint, cynical smile to his lips: "Your Highness, with your tearful appearance... if an uninformed person saw you, they would think that I... have bullied you."
He paused, his breathing slightly unsteady, but still continued jokingly, "This is truly... impossible to defend myself against. With my physique, I'm afraid even jumping into the Yellow River wouldn't clear my name..."
Yongfu was taken aback by his sudden joke. He paused for a moment, then realized that Yongfu was trying to comfort him. He felt a mix of sadness and warmth in his heart, and said in a tearful voice, "You...you're in this state...and you still have the mind to talk nonsense!"
Even so, seeing his forced smile, her fear inexplicably dissipated a little, and she was actually amused by him and burst into laughter through her tears.
That smile, reflecting tears, was like a crabapple blossom after the rain.
Seeing her smile, Gu Xian felt a mixture of relief and bitterness in his eyes. Finally, exhausted, he slowly closed his eyes and murmured, "It's good that you smiled... Your Highness's smile is more beautiful than your tears..."
Before he could finish speaking, he had already drifted off to sleep.
Yongfu looked at his face, which had suddenly lost all color, and the corners of his mouth that had just turned up froze instantly. His heart was gripped tightly once again.
She hurriedly urged the person outside the car, "Faster! Faster!"
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