Committing crimes
A-Qiu watched intently, his gaze never leaving her.
Finally, Xie Lang's attention was completely drawn to the opening revealed when Consort Chen returned her sword to dodge. He gripped the "Ancestral Dragon" sword with both hands and brought it down with all his might.
A-Qiu swooped down like a great bird, bringing the "Earth Concealment" technique to its fullest potential.
A pair of delicate hands, like butterflies flitting among flowers, silently pressed onto Xie Lang's vest.
"The Ancestral Dragon" flew out of his hand and crashed heavily to the ground of the main hall. Xie Lang fell backward, landing in A Qiu's arms.
As Xie Lang fell, Consort Chen, who had just been horribly humiliated by the attack, immediately sheathed her sword and stood with her back to A Qiu. She said in a soft but firm tone, "I'll stay here to deal with things. You take His Majesty back to the Vermilion Bird Palace immediately."
A-Qiu was stunned when she heard her words.
From this, it seems that Consort Chen was certain from the beginning that she would help her.
The flaws in her swordsmanship were meant to draw Xie Lang's attention, making it easier for A Qiu to launch a sneak attack from behind.
However, Consort Chen held a high position and had many years of experience in palace politics. Why would she so easily trust a martial arts practitioner of unknown origin?
The battle that had just taken place in the Jixian Palace was earth-shattering. Even though the guards had been transferred out when Consort Chen and Xie Lang entered, they had no choice but to come back and see what had happened.
Looking out the window, A Qiu could see torches and soldiers approaching from afar across Jinming Pond.
Time was of the essence for her to ponder. She bowed and said, "As Your Majesty commands." She then bent down to pick up the "Ancestral Dragon" sword from the side and carried Xie Lang on her back.
Since the emperor has been taken away, the Ancestral Dragon Sword naturally cannot remain here.
Just then, she heard a familiar voice calmly say from behind her, "I'll do it."
A Qiu staggered, almost falling down while carrying the emperor on his back.
But a pair of hands had already steadily and powerfully taken Xie Lang from her back, subtly supporting her.
Who else but Gu Yi could be so meticulous and discreet in his actions?
Ah Qiu finally understood why Consort Chen had entrusted her with the task of escorting the Emperor so readily.
Indeed, nothing in Jianzhang Palace goes unnoticed. It's just a matter of whether someone is willing to intervene.
Consort Chen, still with her back to them, said softly, "Thank you, Junior Tutor."
A Qiu really wanted to ask Gu Yi when he arrived.
But then I thought about it and didn't dare. Otherwise, it would seem like I was blaming him for standing by and doing nothing.
After all, the people appearing tonight are all sensitive figures.
First, she stumbled upon Consort Chen guarding Xie Lang, searching for something in the back hall of Jixian Palace. Then, Zhao Lingying and Consort Chen, both former "Flying Phoenixes," got into a fight.
In Gu Yi's mind, these should all be their private matters. And Gu Yi is known for his strict separation of public and private affairs, and for never overstepping boundaries.
To her surprise, Gu Yi seemed to have guessed what she was thinking and said without turning his head, "I just arrived."
He added, "We were alerted by the sounds of fighting here."
Ah Qiu belatedly realized what was happening and exclaimed in sudden understanding, "Oh!"
In truth, Gu Yi wasn't entirely lying. His location, Jinling Terrace, was within the Chongji Hall, not far from the Jixian Hall. He certainly wouldn't be monitoring the Emperor and Consort Chen's movements day and night. Even if the Emperor were to sneak into the Jixian Hall at night, it wouldn't be his concern. The same applied to Consort Chen and Zhao Lingying.
He was an official outside the palace, and while the people in the inner palace could roam freely at night without proper regulations—the Grand Minister of Works could control them, the Consort Chen could control them, and even Zhao Lingying, the head of the female officials, could control them—it was none of his jurisdiction.
The only person he ever took charge of was A-Qiu.
Tonight, he first sensed a change in the location of the "Heart-to-Heart Flower," and then heard fighting coming from the Hall of Gathering Immortals. His first thought was that A-Qiu had wandered off again.
But now it seems that A-Qiu wasn't the only one wandering around. So I couldn't be bothered to scold her.
Inside the Vermilion Bird Palace, Gu Yi placed Xie Lang on the dragon bed and raised his hand to check his pulse.
Xie Lang appeared calm and his breathing was even, as if he had fallen into a deep sleep.
Gu Yi turned to A Qiu and asked, "Where did you hit him just now?"
For some reason, as soon as A Qiu saw Gu Yi, she felt relaxed and the pressure on her body lessened considerably. She stuck out her tongue and said, "I saw that he seemed to be sleepwalking, so I used my palm to gently vibrate his heart and brain, forcing him to lose consciousness as his nerves and will relaxed."
Seeing her playful expression, Gu Yi said irritably, "Do you know what the consequences will be if he doesn't wake up tomorrow after you slapped him like that?"
A Qiu was startled by his reminder and realized how serious the situation was. This was the emperor, and Consort Chen was a witness. If he didn't wake up, she would be firmly convicted of regicide.
But she was always quick-witted, scratching her head and saying, "Isn't there still that... Crown Prince?"
Before she could finish speaking, Gu Yi covered her lips with one hand, and she saw him staring at her with an incredulous expression.
A Qiu only came up with this answer on a whim. Originally, she hadn't thought of the Crown Prince. Recently, the news that Crown Prince Xie Tiao was going to play the zither for Miss Shangguan had been spreading like wildfire in the palace, and the Crown Prince's presence in the hearts of the people in the Music Bureau had increased considerably.
Gu Yi only intended to scare her, but he didn't expect her to have even planned for the crown prince to succeed to the throne. This treasonous remark was uttered in front of the sleeping emperor in the brightly lit Vermilion Bird Palace, and even he, who was usually unfazed by honor or disgrace, was genuinely shocked.
Seeing Gu Yi's expression, A Qiu realized she had misspoke. She pulled Gu Yi's hand down, shook it reassuringly, and said with a smile, "Your Majesty will be alright. My slap was very, very light."
Gu Yi's long, slender hand with clearly defined knuckles was held by her, but he couldn't muster any anger. He just stared at her beautiful smiling face for a long time before finally sighing, "Why did you go to the Jixian Palace again?"
A Qiu immediately said, "It wasn't my idea to run away. My wife and Instructor Xue were going to Jixian Palace in the middle of the night, and I was worried about them, so I had to come along."
She then recounted to Gu Yi the whole story of how her white silk dance dress was torn twenty years ago, which aroused Xue Hongbi's suspicion.
She knew that Gu Yi was busy and probably wouldn't be interested in such trivial matters as the rivalry between the dancers, so she kept it brief and focused on the important points. But to her surprise, Gu Yi showed no signs of impatience whatsoever.
After listening to her finish speaking, he pondered for a moment and said, "So you think it was His Majesty who destroyed the dance costume back then?"
A Qiu glanced at Xie Lang, who was sleeping peacefully on the bed, and said hesitantly, "Gu Yi, I've heard that you and His Majesty have always been inseparable, sharing both life and death. Twenty years ago, you knew him..."
She glanced at Gu Yi, then quickly changed the subject.
Judging from Gu Yi's age, twenty years ago he wouldn't have been older than Xiao Chang'an is now. Who knows where he was back then, or whether he had any connection with Xie Lang?
Gu Yi's origins have always been a secret known to no one in the palace or the martial arts world.
Gu Yi gave her a deep look and said, "Over the years, I have known what His Majesty was willing to let me know. I have never asked him about what he was unwilling to let me know."
His gaze returned to the emperor on the couch, whose face was stern and who now appeared somewhat solemn. A barely perceptible hint of emotion flickered in his voice.
"He treated me the same way."
He didn't ask about his background or social standing. He told Xie Lang everything he could, and Xie Lang chose to believe him without hesitation.
Therefore, the person most shocked by Xie Lang's actions tonight is actually Gu Yi.
He believed he understood Xie Lang better than anyone else. He hadn't inquired about anything Xie Lang hadn't mentioned to him; it was a matter of trust between friends.
Suddenly, A-Qiu remembered something and mumbled, "He mentioned a girl named A-Xiu. He said that if anyone makes A-Xiu unhappy, he will make that person unhappy for the rest of their life."
As soon as these words were spoken, A Qiu and Gu Yi's expressions suddenly became somewhat indescribable.
Ah Qiu suddenly thought of the name Ah Xiu; it wasn't the first time she had heard it tonight.
In the dormitory, I woke up in the middle of the night with a start, and as I woke from my dream, I heard the girl's voice echoing in the distance: "My name is Ah Xiu."
Life is fleeting, like a flash of lightning; joyful days are few, and sorrowful days are many. The crane, lingering and turning, exudes a graceful charm; you, my friend, sing to greet me, your heart as steadfast as ever.
Her gentle, plaintive voice still seems to echo in my ears.
Gu Yi's expression was subtle, but it was because he was looking at A Qiu.
It was also created for Xie Lang on his bed.
Sometimes you think you know someone very well, but then you realize at certain moments that you've never really known them.
He sighed again and said, "I'll take you back."
Upon hearing this, A Qiu swiftly released her grip on Gu Yi's hands and awkwardly laughed, "I... I can go back by myself."
What came to her mind was that Sun Neiren and Xue Hongbi had originally planned to come to Jixian Palace to see what was going on, but she had gotten there first. Later, she heard from Zhao Lingying that she had dismissed the two of them at Jinming Pond.
Even after Sun Neiren and Xue Hongbi return home, they probably won't be able to sleep peacefully. If Gu Yi were to escort her back at this time, he might very well run into Sun Neiren waiting for him on the water corridor walkway with a bamboo plank.
Gu Yi looked at the hand she had suddenly let go of, and wondered what he was thinking.
After a moment, he said calmly, "From the Vermilion Bird Palace to the Pear Blossom Garden, are you sure you'll go? Are you sure you have the Junior Tutor's Token on you?"
A Qiu tried his best to make his smile seem harmless: "Yes, I can walk. Go out of the Vermilion Bird Palace, turn northwest for about thirty steps, pass the Sunny Rain Pavilion, and then turn southwest for about a hundred steps. There is a Green Wave Pool. Go around the stone pavilion next to the pool and walk another one hundred and twenty steps. That is the west gate of the Pear Blossom Garden."
She took out a bronze token engraved with mountain shadows and a moon from her waist, held it up in front of Gu Yi, and said with a smile, "I brought it. You said it would allow me to return to Tangli Garden on my own without being stopped by the palace guards."
Knowing the gravity of the situation, she didn't dare to act rashly during this nighttime trip and made thorough preparations.
Gu Yi said as calmly as possible, "Since you brought the Junior Tutor's Token, do you still remember what you promised me?"
A Qiu suddenly remembered that when she received the Junior Tutor's Token from Gu Yi, she had promised him that she could carry it to travel in the palace at night without any restrictions. However, she could only use it to find Gu Yi; she couldn't use it for anything else.
His restraint on her at the time was naturally to prevent her from taking this opportunity to commit crimes in the palace.
For example, something like tonight's incident, where someone eavesdropped and then beat up the emperor.
Gu Yi was always gentle and mild-mannered in front of her. But at this moment, she found that whenever Gu Yi showed the slightest emotion, the sense of oppression he exuded was extremely strong.
His mere gaze was enough to make her heart race.
To be precise, it's a guilty conscience.
Gu Yi extended his hand to her expressionlessly: "Here you go again."
A Qiu stepped back, simultaneously tucking the Junior Tutor's Token into her bosom.
This means they refuse to pay back the money.
Gu Yi couldn't quite describe his feelings. On one hand, she cherished the Junior Tutor Token he had given her, but on the other hand, she had actually cheated on him to his face.
No one has ever dared to go back on their word to Gu Yi's face, or to break their promise.
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