The spring rain continued all night long and continued until early the next morning.
It rained for the next seven or eight days, on and off, and the weather was gloomy.
For the first time, Chu You experienced what it meant to have no one to turn to for help.
The Queen Mother was under house arrest, the aristocratic families refused to help him, and even his cousin Yuan Zhe was unwilling to step forward. Chu You could hardly move forward.
In the past, Chu You knew that the aristocratic families were a double-edged sword. They could be a help to him. If he couldn't suppress them, it would be like the previous dynasty, where the aristocratic families would rule over the king and monopolize power.
It is precisely because of this that Emperor Taizu weakened and suppressed the aristocratic families.
Chu You has always been confident that he can control the aristocratic families and make them work for him.
But now, he deeply realized the terribleness of this double-edged sword.
To the aristocratic families, he was nothing more than a clay Buddha with aristocratic blood. They would only worship him high above instead of treating him as a true monarch.
Chu You is now like an eagle with broken wings, helpless and can only try to get people to inquire about Gu Yunmeng's news.
However, Gu Yunmeng was imprisoned in the Imperial Prison of the Northern Pacification Office. Chu You tried every possible means but to no avail. He did not get any information about Gu Yunmeng at all.
With nowhere else to go, Chu You recalled Fang Mingfeng's words for the umpteenth time: "If you can't do it, send someone to tell me. I have a way."
This time, he hesitated.
“Boom!”
Chu You suddenly slammed his fist on the windowsill. His usually dark eyes were now a little cloudy. His once firm beliefs seemed to have been torn into pieces in just a few days.
The rain outside drifted in from the window, and the water droplets dripped onto the table, vaguely reflecting the girl's bright face.
My dear!
Chu You stretched out his hand to grab it, but grabbed a ball of air.
“Hoo—Hoo—”
The humid air he inhaled into his lungs seemed to be blocked there, making him feel unable to breathe.
The next moment, the personal eunuch walked in cautiously, swallowed his saliva, and asked, "Your Majesty, are you going to Tianhe Garden tomorrow?"
Tomorrow is National Day and the whole country is celebrating. Tomorrow morning, all civil and military officials will go to the royal palace Tianhe Garden in the suburbs of Beijing to attend a banquet and celebrate the holiday with the emperor.
Chu You, who had been sitting there for a long time, suddenly opened his eyes, shot a sinister look at the eunuch, and blurted out: "Come here, drag that person out for me and beat him up!"
The personal eunuch was frightened and fell to his knees with a thump.
As soon as he finished speaking, two guards from the palace came over, clasped their fists, accepted the order, and roughly dragged the eunuch out.
The personal eunuch trembled and begged for mercy: "Please spare my life, my lord!"
"My Lord, please spare this servant."
The eunuch's screams soon faded away, and the entire Kangwang Mansion was immersed in a depressing and heavy atmosphere, without any festive feeling of the approaching festival.
But this is not the case in other places in the capital.
As the National Day approaches, the whole capital is filled with joy, with lights and decorations everywhere, and it is as lively as the Chinese New Year.
Since the founding of the Dajing Dynasty, Emperor Taizu issued a decree that on National Day, everyone in the country, from the dignitaries to the common people, could have a day off. If they did not take a day off on that day, they would have to pay double the salary. Everyone was eagerly looking forward to the arrival of the festival.
Two big red lanterns were hung at the gate of the Gu Mansion, just like other mansions. The clan leader and several elders were welcomed early in the morning.
Because Gu Jian's family was imprisoned, everyone in the clan has been trembling with fear over the past few days.
The clan leader and several elders have come to the Gu Mansion several times, but Gu Yuan was not there every time. Gu Yuan finally came back last night, and they rushed here early in the morning to block Gu Yuan, wanting Gu Yuan to help find out what was going on in the case of Gu Jian's suspected treason.
What they were worried about was that if Gu Jian's family was really suspected of treason, it would bring disaster to the entire nine clans, and even the Gu clan would be implicated.
Gu Yuan agreed without hesitation and sent all the tribesmen away in a kind manner.
As for asking or not, no one else knows anyway.
After Gu Yuan sent his clansmen away, he immediately went to work. He was now transferred to the Jinwu Guard, and the job was not easy. He could only go back home once every two or three days.
The day before National Day, the mansion was very busy, and the clothes and jewelry ordered by Gu Yunzhen were delivered to the mansion one after another.
Sisters Gu Yunzhen and Gu Yanfei took charge and gave the servants in the mansion an extra half month's salary and an extra set of spring clothes.
This was a reward that had never been given in previous years. For this, all the servants and maids in the mansion were grateful. No one in the mansion felt any shadow of worry because of the second wife being arrested and sent to the imperial prison. They all looked forward to the National Day coming soon with great joy.
Gu Yanfei was also looking forward to it.
On the National Day, Gu Yanfei got up early, which was rare for him. He got up in high spirits after half past the hour of Mao. With the help of Juanbi, he put on a brand new green lotus-colored lapel Hu clothing and combed his hair into a double bun.
She didn't like wearing cumbersome gold and pearl ornaments, so she only wore the calla lily hairpin that Chu Yi gave her. Two lilac silk flowers adorned her temples, looking as lifelike as fresh flowers.
Gu Yanfei thought he had gotten up very early, but he was still a step slower than Gu Yunzhen.
When she arrived at the outer gate, Gu Yunzhen had already boarded the carriage and was waving at her through the window with a smile on his face.
"Big sister." Gu Yanfei stepped on the horse stool and was about to get on the carriage. At this moment, a short and fat woman ran over here panting and said excitedly: "Second Miss, the eldest prince is here."
The old woman smiled so much that her eyes narrowed into slits, and she looked quite happy and proud.
Gu Yanfei didn't know Chu Yi would come, and was stunned. He looked up and saw a handsome young man in a moon-white Hu clothing with a lapel riding a white horse appearing outside the gate. He was bathed in the bright light of the rising sun, his robe fluttering slightly in the morning breeze, and he was as handsome as a god.
The young man got off his horse, stepped over the high threshold, and walked towards her slowly.
Gu Yunzhen pursed her lips and smiled, saying with a smile: "Second sister, go ahead."
Gu Yanfei didn't hesitate at all and trotted towards Chu Yi in light steps.
"Why are you here?"
It was a very ordinary question, but it carried a hint of coquettishness that even she herself was not aware of, with a slight rise in the ending tone.
As she walked towards him with brisk steps, her bangs trembled, and her silky black hair shone with golden light in the sunlight.
Chu Yi looked at her with a smile on his face, his obsidian eyes shining brightly, more dazzling than the rising sun.
He calmly raised his hand and rubbed the top of her head, and said as a matter of course: "Of course I'm here to pick you up."
Gu Yanfei smiled sweetly, her eyes curved into crescent shapes in joy.
"Then..." She originally planned to ride a carriage with Gu Yunzhen to Tianhe Garden, but suddenly changed her mind, "I'll ride a horse with you?"
"Okay." Chu Yi smiled lightly, "I'll take you out to play later."
As soon as she said she would ride a horse, Gu Yanfei rode out of the Gu Mansion on her Ferghana horse, walking side by side with Chu Yi, while Gu Yunzhen sat in the carriage at the back.
Their convoy was not conspicuous, and including the dozen or so imperial guards who were protecting Chu Yi, there were no more than twenty people, so they did not attract much attention along the way.
A line of carriages and horses sped along the streets of the capital. When they reached the vicinity of the west gate, the number of carriages and horses on the street became increasingly dense.
The West City Gate is the only way from the capital to Tianhe Garden, so carriages from various mansions pass through here. The carriages are gorgeous and elegant, and the horses are tall and agile, attracting the attention of many passers-by.
These carriages and horses gathered outside the west city like rivers flowing into the sea, joined the emperor's ceremonial guard, and surrounded the dragon chariot, heading westwards towards Tianhe Garden in a mighty procession.
This huge convoy ran with the momentum of thousands of horses galloping and as powerful as a rainbow.
Among the young men and women accompanying the emperor today, there are many from noble and military families, and many heroic girls also chose to travel on horseback like Gu Yanfei.
Wei Jiaoniang, Lu Qin, Fan Mushuang and other girls also chose to ride horses like Gu Yanfei. They had nothing to do, so they raced horses there to see who could reach Tianhe Garden first. But while running, Wei Jiaoniang found that Gu Yanfei was missing.
Not only Gu Yanfei was missing, but another person was also missing.
"…kidnapped." Wei Jiaoniang murmured softly.
Lu Qin, who was standing next to him, didn't hear clearly and asked curiously, "What was kidnapped?"
Wei Jiaoniang smiled mysteriously, kicked the horse's belly, and rode past Lu Qin. Lu Qin became anxious, shouting "You are too cunning", and hurriedly chased after her.
Gu Yanfei, who was kidnapped, followed Chu Yi away from the large group on the official road and turned into another deserted path.
The path was just wide enough for two horses to run side by side, and the two men rode their horses leisurely.
The weather at the end of February was just right. The spring breeze was blowing in the suburbs, the grass was green, and from time to time you could see birds singing on the branches by the roadside, which was very pleasant.
This is a good weather for an outing.
"Aren't we going to Tianhe Garden?" Gu Yanfei picked a wild flower from a branch on the roadside and played with it casually while riding his horse.
She thought that when Chu Yi said he wanted to take her out to play, he was going to Tianhe Garden. Unexpectedly, a cup of tea ago, he suddenly asked her to follow him along this path.
"Let's go." Chu Yi walked in step with her, smiling slightly. The beautiful Ruifeng eyes seemed to be filled with the warmth of spring, intoxicating and intoxicating. "I'll take you to a place first."
Compared with Gu Yanfei's leisurely and carefree manner, his riding posture was so elegant, and that graceful and noble demeanor seemed to be engraved in his bones.
Gu Yanfei likes to look at Chu Yi. No matter what he does... no, even if he does nothing, he looks good.
She also liked to see him smile, and hoped that he could always smile like that when he was with her, as happy as he was at this moment.
Judging from himself, he should also like to see her smile.
"Yeah!" Gu Yanfei smiled brightly, and the bright smile couldn't help but spread from the corners of his lips and eyes.
The two men rode westward, galloping quickly on the winding and deserted path.
Gu Yanfei's horse was like a bird released from a cage, running wildly and running faster and faster...
Chu Yi's white horse was also a good horse that could travel a thousand miles a day and was never far behind others.
Chu Yi asked Gu Yanfei to dismount, and Gu Yanfei dismounted with the help of his hand.
"careful."
His hands were clean and warm, wrapping around Gu Yanfei's small hands, and the warm air ironed her palms.
The mountain road was difficult to walk on, and he reminded her to be careful with her steps from time to time.
Gu Yanfei followed him obediently. After walking for a while, he heard the faint sound of spring water.
After passing through a green bamboo forest, the two saw a stream gurgling down along the cracks in the rocks in the mountain stream.
The stream is crystal clear, gurgling and sparkling in the bright sunshine, occasionally gushing and splashing with water flowers and strings of water droplets. A few green bamboo leaves are floating in the clear stream...
“Huaihui!”
The Arabian horse following Gu Yanfei ran happily to the stream and drank water by itself.
"This spring water seems good." Gu Yanfei raised his eyebrows and took Chu Yi's hand and walked a few steps upstream. "Hongyu is very picky."
Gu Yanfei pulled Chu Yi to squat by the stream, clasped his hands together, scooped up a handful of spring water, put it to his lips and drank two sips.
The spring water is sweet and clear.
She curled her lips happily and looked at him sideways, "It's very sweet, you should try it too."
Chu Yi hummed, held her palm with his left hand from below, leaned over, and took a sip of the water from her palm.
When he came closer, Gu Yanfei could smell the incense scent on him, which was like snow falling on bamboo leaves, elegant and light.
His lips brushed against her palm carelessly, and the hot breath from his nose sprayed on her skin, itchy and warm.
"Very sweet." Chu Yi looked up at her and smiled.
His voice was gentle and a little hoarse, and it seemed to be bewitching her.
The sunlight filtered through the gaps between the bamboo leaves, casting mottled shadows on his face. The two were very close, their faces only half an foot apart. Gu Yanfei could clearly see a kind of pure joy radiating from his handsome features.
When the wind blew, a few strands of hair from his temples gently touched her ears, which felt a little itchy.
Gu Yanfei subconsciously tried to lift those naughty strands of hair, but saw him lower his head and move closer to her, and then a little closer, their noses were almost touching.
Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and she felt as if they were brushing against his eyelashes.
Boom! Her heart was beating like a drum, her eyelashes trembled again, and her eyes moved down to his lips with a drop of water on them.
The moist lips are particularly rosy in the sun, like a delicate flower watered by rain and dew.
Looks like it's very easy to be ravaged...
This thought made her heart tremble, and she almost did what she wanted, but he leaned forward a step faster, his eyes dark and hot.
For a moment, Gu Yanfei thought he would kiss her.
But he didn't.
He simply put his arms around her, his strong and powerful arms tightly wrapped around her slender waist, tightening little by little.
He didn't make any more movements, just hugged her and buried his cheek deeply in her soft and fragrant neck.
The hot breath sprayed behind her ears and on her neck.
It's terrifying and heart-pounding.
Gu Yanfei's mind went blank and his heart was beating irregularly.
"Almost there." His voice was low and dense, as if he was restraining something, and his Adam's apple rolled noticeably.
What's coming soon? Gu Yanfei wanted to ask, but he felt something soft and warm gently touching his right ear...
Then he released her and stepped back.
Gu Yanfei was still a little confused and completely forgot about the question. He covered his burning right ear blankly.
A beautiful light pink color appeared on her jade-white ears, which gradually turned red. The rouge-like blush spread from her ears all the way to her neck and cheeks, making her look as delicate and charming as a blooming peach blossom.
Chu Yi lowered his head and washed his face with the spring water, then filled a water bag with a few bags of spring water.
By the time Gu Yanfei calmed down, the water bags were already filled to the brim. Gu Yanfei was moved and felt that he seemed to have been prepared.
She grabbed his sleeve and asked, "Did you bring me here to 'play' on purpose?"
Chu Yi nodded and said, "I discovered this place by accident when I was six years old and accompanied the emperor to Tianhe Garden. Later, every year when I came to Tianhe Garden, I would come here to get some spring water to make tea."
“I haven’t been here for years.”
Nine years.
Chu Yi looked around with a bit of nostalgia. Before coming here today, he was not sure whether this mountain spring was still there.
The water on his face had not yet dried, and there were still some water droplets on his skin, eyelashes, temples, and eyebrows, which reflected crystal-like light in the sunlight.
At this moment, he was a bit unruly, which was very different from his usual elegant and restrained appearance.
Gu Yanfei looked at his handsome profile, her heart moved slightly. She pulled his sleeves tighter, then suddenly leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss on the ear.
A gentle kiss, like a feather playfully tickling the shell of his ear.
"Let's come together again next year." Gu Yanfei pinched his sleeve and shook it, watching his white jade-like earlobe becoming redder and redder without blinking.
She smiled happily, as if she had discovered some interesting little secret.
After a while, Chu Yi turned his head to look at her, his eyebrows and eyes were deep and gentle.
"good."
The word was brief and to the point, yet it held a fatal allure, as if encouraging her to be a little more unrestrained.
Gu Yanfei felt a little hot on his face and turned away, thinking: If she were a king, she would probably be a tyrant who ruined the country because of her beauty.
She scooped up a handful of water from the stream with her palm, lowered her head and drank several mouthfuls, then patted her flushed cheeks with the spring water.
He pulled out a silver pocket watch from his sleeve, opened the case, checked the time, and said, "It's almost time, we should go."
The two men took their horses and continued on their way.
Chu Yi was still the one leading the way. The two of them walked through the lush forest for another incense stick of time. Suddenly, the road ahead became clear and they saw a majestic palace standing in the northwest.
Gu Yanfei blinked again and again, and then he was sure that the two of them had arrived at Tianhe Garden.
Tianhe Garden is located in the Yanshan area in the western suburbs of the capital. It is a royal garden built by the previous dynasty. After Emperor Taizu founded the country, it was renovated and continued to be used as the royal palace of this dynasty.
Tianhe Garden covers an area of more than a thousand acres and is magnificent and grand.
After a while, the rumbling sound of horse hooves came from another direction. Gradually approaching, a dark convoy appeared in the distance at the other end of the road.
Wei Jiaoniang, Lu Qin, Lu Si, Fan Beiran and dozens of other young men and women were at the front of the convoy, riding their horses towards this side.
"I thought I was the first." Wei Jiaoniang rushed towards Gu Yanfei and said with regret, "Yanfei, how did you and the eldest prince get here so quickly? Did you take a shortcut?"
"Yes, I took a shortcut." Gu Yanfei nodded frankly, and glanced at Chu Yi beside him, remembering the way he took out his pocket watch and said "It's almost time".
Chu Yi smiled slightly, his smile was as gentle and harmless as a spring breeze.
Gu Yanfei chuckled in his heart, feeling very good, his eyes curved with smile again: This guy, he looks bright and calm on the outside, but deep down, his desire to win is too strong.
The tacit exchange of glances between the two also caught the attention of the emperor in the dragon chariot.
The emperor looked at Chu Yi and Gu Yanfei from afar, smiling from ear to ear, feeling extremely satisfied: his sons are really capable.
The emperor took out a pocket watch with a silver case, checked the time, and happily called the chief eunuch Zhao Rang. He gave him a few instructions, and Zhao Rang nodded repeatedly.
It's only noon now, and the sun is at its brightest and warmest.
The crowd's convoys stopped outside the main gate of Tianhe Garden one after another, forming a long, winding dragon.
The palace servants began to welcome the other convoys into the garden in an orderly manner. The Gu family's carriage only waited for a cup of tea before Eunuch He personally led Gu Yanfei and Gu Yunzhen into the garden.
"Miss Gu, Miss Gu, come this way." Eunuch He led the way for the two with a smile on his face.
The Tianhe Garden is beautiful in spring. The surrounding pavilions, towers, bridges, boats, rocks, ambers, etc. are exquisitely designed, grand and elegant. The blooming flowers are colorful and dazzling.
Eunuch He led them around the garden for who knows how long. Gu Yanfei hadn't remembered the way at all until a familiar female voice sounded in front of them:
"elder sister!"
Gu Yanfei looked in the direction of the voice and saw a magnificent building with flying eaves and golden roofs in front of him. In front of the magnificent palace, a little girl in pink palace dress was sitting in a wheelchair, looking at Gu Yanfei and Gu Yunzhen with a smile.
Anle waved at Gu Yanfei with a smile on her face, her smile as beautiful as a flower.
Behind her were more than twenty palace maids dressed in the same blue palace costumes.
"Anle, when did you come?" Gu Yanfei asked in surprise. She didn't see Anle's phoenix chariot today, and thought Anle didn't come.
"I came here early yesterday." An Le showed a brilliant smile, grasped Gu Yanfei's hand, and said anxiously, "Let's go in quickly, so as not to miss the auspicious time."
Auspicious time? Gu Yanfei raised his eyebrows and thought: Is there any happy event today?
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
