Chapter 114 Female Ghost
Chu Yue's figure disappeared outside the tightly closed vermilion lacquered door of Jingsi Garden, and the sound of rain seemed to become quieter.
Guyu supported Chen He and stepped into the yard. A chilling air hit her face, making her shiver.
"Miss……"
There was a barely perceptible tremor in Guyu's voice.
"Why is this place... so cold?"
It's more than just cold, it's freezing cold, as if the chill is even in the bones.
Chu Yue had clearly asked someone to clean up the yard just now, but this chilling atmosphere seemed to have emerged from the ground and could not be dispelled.
Chen He seemed unaware of anything and walked towards the main house with steady steps.
Guyu hurriedly followed, adjusting Chen He's slightly damp skirt while lowering her voice, full of confusion and worry.
"Miss, I really don't understand."
"Your Majesty clearly had the intention to protect me that day, so why...why did you take the initiative to ask His Majesty to send you to Jingsi Garden?"
"This place makes me shudder just looking at it. It's not a place for people to live!"
Chen He paused slightly, and a faint curve appeared on his lips, as if he was smiling.
Her eyes turned to the old, pruned plum tree outside the window. Its branches were gnarled and strong, and it looked even lonelier in the drizzle.
My thoughts drifted back to the heavily guarded imperial study a few days ago.
***
"Your Majesty is wise."
Chen He knelt on the cold gold bricks, his voice calm and without ripples.
"Lu Jiuxiao's move was half within your expectations."
The emperor behind the dragon table had a bad look on his face and tapped the table lightly with his knuckles.
"As expected?" He raised an eyebrow. "You're quite patient."
Chen He lowered her eyes: "His Royal Highness the Third Prince has been confined and the wedding date has been postponed. The Empress and the Shan family will definitely not let this go."
"As the head of the Imperial Observatory and the Empress's man, Lu Jiuxiao will naturally try every possible means to find fault with the ministers and help the Third Prince and Shen Jiao regain the upper hand."
"This subject provoked the Third Prince to make him lose his composure, but also partly because he wanted to see how the Empress and Lu Jiuxiao would respond."
The emperor snorted coldly, "So, you're just waiting for them to accuse you of 'offending the Heir of God'?"
Shen He raised his head, his eyes clear and firm.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"I'm certain that Lu Jiuxiao will use the celestial phenomena to pit me against the 'Heir of God'."
"At that time, I implore Your Majesty to order that I be sent to Jingsi Garden for confinement and reflection."
Upon hearing this, the emperor's fingers that were tapping on the table suddenly stopped, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
"Jingsi Garden?"
He narrowed his eyes slightly, examining the seemingly weak, but actually very bold girl in front of him.
"Do you know where that is?"
Chen He nodded slightly: "Your Highness knows. It was once an abandoned cold palace in the previous dynasty. Later, it was slightly renovated and became a place for the royal women to reflect on their mistakes."
The emperor's tone was inquiring. "I've heard that things are often going on there, and it's not peaceful. As a girl, aren't you afraid?"
A very faint smile slowly appeared at the corner of Chen He's lips, but that smile did not reach his eyes. Instead, it revealed a bit of the vicissitudes and coldness of having experienced the vicissitudes of life.
"His Majesty."
Her voice was soft, but every word was clear.
"Compared to ghosts, I feel that the human heart is more terrifying."
The emperor looked at her deeply, as if he wanted to see through her.
The imperial study fell into silence for a moment, with only the faint chirping of cicadas coming from outside the window.
After a long time, the emperor spoke slowly in a low voice.
"Why are you so deliberate and determined to go to Jingsi Garden?"
Chen He kowtowed again, his tone respectful but tolerant of objections.
"Your Majesty, this matter concerns some of my personal affairs, and also involves an old case that may have been buried."
"I need a place where I can be undisturbed and out of sight."
"Jingsi Garden is the best choice."
She paused, a hint of earnestness in her voice.
"When the time is right, I will report everything to Your Majesty. For now, Your Majesty, please... grant me your favor this time."
The emperor pondered for a while, his eyes complicated.
"That's all."
Finally, the emperor sighed with a hint of inexplicable meaning.
"I promise you."
"But, Chen He, I hope you won't let me down."
***
As the memories faded, Chen He's gaze returned to the gloomy courtyard in front of him.
Seeing that she was silent for a long time, Guyu thought she was thinking of something sad, and her eyes turned red.
"Miss……"
Chen He turned his head, met Gu Yu's worried eyes, and smiled gently.
That smile seemed bright under the gloomy sky.
"Silly girl."
She reached out her hand and wiped away the tears that were about to fall from Guyu's eyes.
"Since I dare to come here, I must have my reasons."
Chen He didn't explain any further and pushed open the slightly worn wooden door of the main house.
The sound of "creak" was particularly harsh in the silent courtyard.
***
The night was as dark as thick ink, shrouding the entire Jingsi Garden in dead silence.
The chill during the day becomes even more severe at night. The cold seems to penetrate the bone marrow and seeps in from all directions.
Guyu wrapped himself tightly in the not-so-thick quilt, but he was still shivering from the cold, his teeth chattering uncontrollably.
"Miss...Miss..."
She huddled in the corner of the simple bed, with a barely perceptible cry in her voice, looking at a figure not far away.
"Aren't you cold?"
This damn place is even colder than an ice cellar. It’s not a place for human beings to stay!
Chen He seemed unaware of the biting cold and was still wearing the same thin plain dress she had worn during the day.
She sat in front of a dressing table that was so simple that it could almost be called shabby.
The bronze mirror on the dressing table was a little blurry, reflecting her blurry and calm profile.
On the stage, a small candle flame flickered like a firefly, gently swaying in the breeze. The dim light stretched her shadow long and cast it on the mottled wall, adding a bit of weirdness.
She held a book in her hands and read it intently and absorbedly.
The dim halo outlined her tranquil profile, and her long, curly eyelashes cast a small shadow under her eyelids. In such a gloomy environment, she exuded a strange tranquility and concentration.
Guyu felt a little relieved when he saw his young lady's calm and composed appearance, but the chill in his body remained unchanged.
"Miss," she couldn't help but murmur again, "the candlelight is too dim. It might hurt your eyes."
Besides, the flickering candlelight is... scary.
Chen He gently turned a page of the book, the sound was calm and peaceful, and it was particularly clear in the silent night.
"No problem."
“When the mind is calm, one will not notice the bad environment.”
Guyu pursed his lips, thinking that this had nothing to do with whether he was calm or not, it was just that it was really cold!
But seeing the young lady's focused look, she swallowed her words back and had to wrap herself tighter.
Just then—
“Woo… woo…”
A faint sound of a woman crying came faintly from outside the window.
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