Chapter 53 Title: "What do I have to like?" He said this, but the smile on his face grew deeper and deeper.
Yao Ruyi kept thinking about Cui Xiangzhu's claim that Gu Huizhou would take him out of the city. The last time the two went out was before he went to Jiangnan; Gu Huizhou had lied to him, saying they were going to practice swordsmanship, and then forced him to kill living creatures. Yao Ruyi frowned. What was the emperor planning this time…?
Anticipation and anxiety coexisted, but anticipation ultimately prevailed. After lunch, he lay in bed looking forward to dinner, and while eating, he ate quite a bit, remembering Cui Xiangzhu's words.
Yao Ruyi grinned at the emperor's silent gaze, having eaten all the food in front of him, leaving not a single grain of rice in his bowl.
She dressed herself neatly and looked at Gu Huizhou, who was still eating.
Neither of them was focused on the meal; one was eager to eat, while the other kept putting food into his mouth, his mind wandering to something else entirely.
Gu Huizhou raised an eyebrow, "Finished eating?"
Yao Ruyi nodded. "Yes, I'm done eating."
"Yes, after you've eaten, come with me out of the city."
After Gu Huizhou finished speaking, seeing that the person didn't seem surprised at all, he turned his head and smiled. His gaze swept through the window to the shadow outside, and he sneered silently. Then he picked up the sword from the shelf and said, "Let's go."
Yao Ruyi obediently followed. Even if they had to go up the mountain to practice swordsmanship today, he had no objection. He could easily deal with a few pheasants and rabbits now. He laughed and said, "Let's go."
As before, the two men rode their two fine horses along the outer road.
The evening was cool and not stuffy as summer approached. Gu Huizhou led his men out of the capital and did not stop even after reaching the outskirts of the capital. About two hours later, Yao Ruyi followed behind and tightened the reins.
It turned out to be Qinghua Mountain.
A hint of surprise flashed in Mushroom's eyes. "Your Majesty, what brings you to Qinghua Mountain?"
Upon hearing this, Gu Huizhou turned his head. Today, he was unusually dressed in a white brocade robe, his hair tied up high, revealing his exquisite and deep-set eyes. Strands of hair on both sides were swept by the wind and brushed against the man's eyebrows and eyes. Gu Huizhou ignored it, narrowed his eyes slightly, and spurred his horse to walk a few steps slowly, closing the distance between the two.
With a slight lift of his hand, he could pull the person into his arms; he reached out and touched the back of Yao Ruyi's hand.
"The 19th Party Congress has a good memory; he even remembers Qinghua Mountain."
This teasing tone made Yao Ruyi frown and roll her eyes at him. He wasn't an old man, and he had cultivated in Qinghua Mountain for a hundred years. How could he not remember? She snorted, "Always very good."
The man nodded. "That's right."
Now, the foot of Qinghua Mountain is covered with small yellow flowers. Yao Ruyi has always liked these small yellow flowers. He doesn't know what they are called, but he can see them every year at the beginning of summer. Whenever they bloom, he knows that summer is coming.
In an instant, his eyes crinkled into a smile as he took a deep breath, savoring the sweet, fresh scent of plants in the air. "Whoosh—"
He actually preferred Qinghua Mountain to the capital.
"Your Excellency, please lead the way and show me what your original home was like."
Mushroom replied, "Okay!"
Yao Ruyi rode ahead, humming, "Your Majesty must keep up."
Gu Huizhou nodded, "The 19th Party Congress can leave now."
The two set off one after the other on the mountain path. Qinghua Mountain is much higher than other mountains. At first, the terrain is gentle, and you can see many pheasants and rabbits. You can even see farmers from the surrounding villages who have fenced off their land to raise cattle, sheep and other livestock. The candles in the small wooden house next to them are out, and the people inside are already asleep.
As Yao Ruyi passed by, she turned around and waved to the man, then tapped her lips.
Gu Huizhou nodded and raised an eyebrow, telling the others to continue.
Seeing that he was sensible, Mushroom smiled and nodded in satisfaction.
The two continued their ascent, and by the time they reached the halfway point, the mountain path had become incredibly steep. Gu Huizhou found a cave, where the two tied their horses. Yao Ruyi poked her head out and looked up at the summit. "Your Majesty, we're almost there."
Gu Huizhou nodded. He hadn't realized how long the road was when he met Shiwu here earlier. He looked down at his white brocade robe. The silver-gray dragon pattern wasn't very noticeable in the moonlight, but it subtly revealed its elegance. Gu Huizhou grabbed the wrist of the person next to him. "Yes, we're almost there."
In less than half an hour, the two finally reached the top of the mountain.
Under the moonlight, the dark sky was adorned with the shadows of lush trees. The few drops of blood on the ground had long since disappeared, yet Yao Ruyi could still smell where they were.
He squatted down excitedly and pointed to a small patch of soil on the ground, "Your Majesty, I lived right here!"
The surrounding area was covered with lush flowers and plants, but this place was completely bare.
Gu Huizhou looked around, took two steps forward, and squatted down face to face with Yao Ruyi. He didn't look like a king at all; anyone who didn't know better would think he was some noble young master taking his younger brother out for a night stroll, staring intently around an open space.
"This is it?"
"Um."
Yao Ruyi reached out and poked the soil; it was still soft and loose. Every winter, the soil on the mountaintop would become hard and cold, but it would be much better in spring and summer. The rain a few days ago had moistened the soil, and now the soil on Qinghua Mountain felt exactly what he liked best.
Gu Huizhou reached out and fiddled with the hair ornament on his head, which was inlaid with a white jade gemstone, both lustrous and translucent. He wondered how the Imperial Household Department had made it look like this. He didn't often wear silver, but the silver on him made him look much younger, so much so that people would believe he hadn't yet had his coming-of-age ceremony.
Her usually aloof eyes and brows seemed to be adorned with jewels, and were made even brighter by the moonlight.
Yao Ruyi was intently gazing at the earth where she had lived for a hundred years, even thinking of taking some back with her, when she inadvertently glanced up and saw the emperor smiling alluringly.
He pursed his lips and unconsciously lowered his head. He muttered to himself, "Why dress so nicely for a night out? Especially up in the mountains, if it gets dirty, it'll take forever to wash..."
But one glance wasn't enough, so he couldn't help but look a second time.
The emperor stared at him with a smile in his eyes, and Yao Ruyi was not as lucky as he had been the first time to escape this predicament. He wanted to lower his head, but the man opposite him seemed to have chains in his eyes that held him tightly, making it impossible for him to lower his head.
They met each other's gazes silently.
Yao Ruyi decided not to hide anymore. He looked up openly and met the man's eyes.
Why are you staring at him like that? Your hand unconsciously touches the soil. Yao Ruyi tilts her head back, looking defiant.
Gu Huizhou chuckled. The silly mushroom opposite him was squatting beside his former "home," its thoughts written all over its face. It softened his heart...
I feel soft-hearted every time I see him.
With his tongue pressed against his palate, Gu Huizhou's eyes suddenly deepened. He said, "Yao Ruyi, do you think I look good?"
"nice."
The emperor smiled with satisfaction.
He then asked, "Do you like it—"
Before she could finish speaking, Yao Ruyi spoke first, the hesitation in her eyes barely concealed, a blush rising on her face, yet she still asked loudly, "Your Majesty, do you like me?"
Before Gu Huizhou could react, he finished speaking, his eyes clear as if filled with spring water, "I also like Your Majesty."
Originally, Gu Huizhou had brought people here to express their feelings, but halfway through his persuasive efforts, he was intercepted. The emperor smiled enigmatically, his smile growing increasingly gritted. He squatted down and stepped forward, the two of them squatting face to face, the reason for which was unclear.
But he just squatted down.
The sight of the person in front of him made him feel like he was about to drown.
Gu Huizhou leaned forward, his nose almost touching Yao Ruyi's, and asked, "Do you like me?"
"What do I have to like?" he said, but the smile on his face grew wider and wider.
The man felt his heart overflowing, and waited with a smile for the person opposite him to speak.
However, in the next instant, Gu Huizhou frowned, held his breath, and looked down.
This stupid mushroom...
Yao Ru was dismayed to see his white brocade robe fall to the ground. He hadn't noticed it before, but now that he saw it, he couldn't ignore it. Besides, it had rained last night, and it would get dirty if it got on the ground.
Fortunately, the flowers and plants where the emperor had just squatted were lush, which prevented the brocade robe from falling to the ground. He quickly gathered the hem of the emperor's brocade robe together and stuffed it into the gap between the emperor's abdomen and thighs.
Gu Huizhou, "..."
It looks somewhat familiar.
Also on the mountain, by the hot spring halfway up Yun Temple, this pesky mushroom did the same thing, tucking the fox fur coat into his arm.
I laughed in exasperation.
"Your Majesty is wise, strong, and knows how to govern the country..." Yao Ruyi had never spoken so eloquently to Wang Qianshan before.
"Your Majesty is still...you look good."
That hit the nail on the head for men.
Gu Huizhou laughed, no longer caring that this person kept stuffing his hem into various places.
"come over."
Yao Ruyi peeked out and saw the emperor press his lips to his ear. He couldn't help but shrink back, feeling the emperor's hot breath on his ear as if it were sweeping his whole body with a sword tassel. "Mmm—Your Majesty, please speak quickly."
Her wrist was gripped, and Yao Ruyi heard the man's breath become even softer, "Bear with it."
That's absolutely outrageous...
But with her wrist being held, Yao Ruyi, who had never had much ambition, could only underestimate the situation in private.
The heat from the breath near his ear grew increasingly intense, and he heard the emperor say, "Yao Ruyi, I like you very much."
“No,” the emperor changed his mind, “I like you very much.”
The warmth spread from his ear tips to his neck, and Yao Ruyi smiled with pursed lips. His bright eyes met the emperor's aggressive gaze, their eyes locked, neither able to look away.
"good."
Gu Huizhou pulled the person forward, and the two kissed, exchanging saliva quietly in front of the soil where Yao Ruyi had lived for a hundred years.
"Hmm—"
A drop of silvery white seeped into the soil, making Yao Ruyi's complexion appear even redder.
After a while, the white brocade robe was put down.
The two walked towards the cliff side, where the soil turned into stone. Yao Ruyi subconsciously looked at the hem of the emperor's brocade robe, which was made of fine material that wouldn't wrinkle even after being gathered together for nearly an incense stick's time.
Thinking this, Yao Ruyi looked down at herself.
"It's not bad."
Gu Huizhou held the other's hand contentedly, and the two sat leisurely on the edge of the cliff. Looking down, they saw an endless abyss, while the bright moon hung overhead. Finally, a mushroom was planted in the desolation in the emperor's heart.
He laughed; it was still a poisonous mushroom.
The man's lips curled up in a smile.
Poisonous or not, it's better to keep him trapped in a dream forever.
Gu Huizhou reached out and pulled Yao Ruyi into his arms. Yao Ruyi found a comfortable position and suddenly remembered that he had been held in the emperor's arms in the same way when he returned to the capital from Jiangnan last time.
Thinking this, Yao Ruyi couldn't help but laugh.
"Yao Ruyi, don't smile so foolishly."
He quickly stopped himself, "What's wrong with me!"
“Not stupid,” Gu Huizhou thought for a moment, “The Nineteenth Prince is incredibly intelligent, how could he be stupid?”
I always felt there was something hidden in his words...
The two sat under the moonlight for two or three hours. They returned to the capital just before the time for court.
This time was not as good as the last. Gu Huizhou, with Yao Ruyi in tow, rode his horse and squatted in a small alley, peeking out to watch the ministers dismount from their carriages outside the palace and bow to each other.
He looked at the group and couldn't help but sneer, "Why don't I sit in the carriage and stop at the palace gate? Let's hear what those ministers are saying about me behind my back."
"really?"
Yao Ruyi looked serious; he guessed that he was already thinking of getting a carriage for the emperor.
With a soft chuckle, the man, who hadn't slept all night, showed no signs of the dark circles under his eyes; the illness he'd felt a couple of days ago had completely vanished. He said quietly, "I know it even if I don't listen. I might as well go back and get rid of these people as soon as possible."
"Your Majesty, attending court is a matter of state, how can you—"
Yao Ruyi's eyes widened as he stared at the handsome face looming before him. Before he could finish speaking, his mouth was silenced. Gu Huizhou only pulled away when the man stopped talking, his tongue brushing against the corner of his lips as he clicked his tongue.
"Is this how you've been so dedicated since you received your official title at the 19th Party Congress?" he said, turning his head to lead the person toward the side door. "If you have nothing else to do, then put some effort into other matters."
His tone was teasing and amused, "It'll be a surprise for me."
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Today's portion is short [shut up]
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