After being sent to the cold palace, the emperor’s heart was burned into ashes CHAPTER 57.3

Part 3

Yunzhu poured a cup for herself, took a small sip, and couldn’t help laughing. “As Niangniang said, it is indeed good wine.”

Zhao Yiyi looked at her with a beaming smile. “Right? I didn’t lie to you.” Saying so, she drank another cup.

The attendant following beside her persuaded, “Lady is not good at drinking; better drink less. Shall this servant go get some pastries?”

“Wait a bit.” Zhao Yiyi shook her head with a smile, her eyes curved, her expression soft as spring water. “Haven’t had it for too long. Don’t be so stingy; let me drink a few more cups, okay?”

Since she put it this way, everyone couldn’t persuade her further, only letting her be while watching how much was added to that wine cup.

Unknown how long the Huji danced below, it seemed the person had changed. Not only the Huji changed, but the surrounding diners also changed back and forth, and footsteps outside the corridor were incessant.

Until the sky was about to darken, Zhao Yiyi finally turned her head to look out, murmuring, “Eh, it’s already this hour?”

Her tone carried a few points of regret.

Only out for a moment, yet she had to go back again.

Zhao Yiyi leaned on the armrest, her expression slightly dazed. Not long after, that Huji also left the stage.

Not many people were left in the tavern; obviously, it was about to close.

“Time to go back, Niangniang,” someone approached and said by her ear.

Zhao Yiyi nodded blankly, put down the wine cup, and got up to walk out.

She walked extremely fast. In the blink of an eye, she went downstairs, retrieved Taxue from the stable in the tavern’s backyard, and circled out of the tavern.

Pedestrians were sparse on the streets of the West Market, mostly merchants packing up to go home. Her riding speed was much faster than when she came.

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Galloping all the way out of the West Market, looking at the wide expanse outside the ward gate, she still didn’t stop, but a sense of confusion rose in her heart.

She didn’t know where to go.

Just running aimlessly like this, unknowingly, she arrived in front of the ancestral residence.

“Niangniang?”

During this period, Zhao Yiyi had already come to the ancestral residence several times, ordering people to clean it up thoroughly.

The old servant of the ancestral residence looked at her in surprise and doubt. recognizing her, he dared not block her.

Zhao Yiyi went straight to the poolside, staring at the vast pool water in a daze.

She hugged her knees and slowly squatted down, touching her somewhat hot cheeks, burying her head in her arms.

She thought that returning to Chang’an and seeing familiar things from the past would make her happy. But after returning to Chang’an and the ancestral residence, she realized she wasn’t as happy as she imagined.

Grandfather and Grandmother were gone, Mother was gone, Duanduan and the others were not in Chang’an. Old friends had all married, their statuses vastly different from before.

Until today, she vaguely understood.

Perhaps she was missing the time when she was carefree.

Hurt too badly, she wanted to curl herself up and retreat to that safe place.

Hugging her knees, Zhao Yiyi couldn’t help sobbing, mixing with the wind and the sound of pond birds skimming the water surface.

Appearing even more desolate.

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The news of the Empress missing quickly reached Qianqiu Hall.

Gu Zhen was furious and said sternly, “We ordered you to follow the Empress closely; what were you doing?!”

“Bixia, spare our lives!” A group of palace servants prostrated on the ground, their bodies trembling slightly.

Gu Zhen tried his best to suppress his anger and asked, “Where was the Empress lost?”

Yunzhu emboldened herself to reply, “Niangniang left the private room of the East Market tavern. After going down the stairs, she disappeared…”

Violent energy bred in Gu Zhen’s heart. His palms clenched into fists, veins bulging on his forehead. He endured for a long while before forcibly suppressing it.

He looked at the Prince of Yan aside: “Lead people to search for the Empress quickly.”

Prince of Yan had matters to attend to today and didn’t go out with the Empress. Unexpectedly, this happened. His heart also jumped to his throat, and he said in a deep voice, “Yes.”

Gu Zhen waited there, having no other thoughts. He leaned against the hidden pillow with eyes slightly closed, as if countless fine needles were piercing his heart.

The longer he waited, the more desperate he became.

It was all his fault. If he had sent more people, would Yiyi not be lost?

The more he thought, the more uncomfortable he felt. A mouthful of fishy sweetness almost welled up in his throat.

The sky gradually darkened. Until twilight was about to fall, Xin Cheng’an finally strode into the hall and reported, “Bixia, Niangniang is at the Zhao clan ancestral residence…”

Before his voice fell, he saw the Emperor had already rushed out.

Xin Cheng’an couldn’t help but say anxiously, “Bixia, your injury—”

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Gu Zhen galloped all the way, panting rapidly, to the Zhao clan ancestral residence.

The Zhao clan ancestral residence was located in Guangzhai Ward. Fortunately, it wasn’t too far from Shangyang Palace.

Following the Zhao family servants, he went all the way to a small courtyard—a courtyard planted full of pear trees with fallen flowers all over the ground.

The sky was gloomy, with only a few stars twinkling. The room was also gloomy, with only a bean-sized lamp flame left.

The room emitted the rich fragrance of agarwood, lingering everywhere. Gu Zhen sat down beside that lamp.

Even knowing she was sleeping on the couch in the inner room just across a screen, he dared not make a sound.

Dared not think, dared not touch.

Afraid that if he touched, he could no longer control the longing in his heart.

A small box was placed by his hand, with things piled messily inside.

They were various small flower note papers or ordinary letter papers.

Gu Zhen’s gaze turned slowly. Lowering his head to gaze for a moment, he found that what was written on the flower note papers were all letters. The handwriting was slightly childish; every letter was discussing poetry.

Every letter had a reply.

His gaze moved to the signature below. A few were names of little girls, but most of the flower note papers were signed by Lu Xianshan.

Some scrutinized the wording of poems, some wrote poems in response, and there were even a few where each wrote two lines.

Gu Zhen picked up those countless flower note papers, a smile condensing on his lips, looking down and flipping through them one by one.

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The injury on his rib suddenly started to hurt.

At the signature of the last letter, a line of small characters was added.

Journeying on and on.

After this, there were no other letters.

Unknown if that line of small characters was ignored or for other reasons.

Anger burned ragingly in his heart. Suddenly feeling his throat somewhat uncomfortable, he endured for a moment but finally couldn’t hold it back, coughing violently a few times.

Looking under that faint lamplight, instantly, a patch of bright red stained the flower note paper.

This coughing sound disturbed the person inside the screen. She turned over and asked loudly, “Who is outside?”

Without waiting for others to answer, she slipped on her embroidered shoes, got off the couch, walked around the screen, and slowly came out. Her clothes were slightly messy, and her hair was also messy, but it didn’t damage her beauty in the slightest.

“Don’t be afraid, it’s Us.” Gu Zhen looked up and laughed twice at her, his voice incredibly gentle.

Having slept, Zhao Yiyi sobered up a lot from the alcohol, but was still somewhat unclear. She asked groggily, “Why is Bixia in my bedchamber?”

Gu Zhen smiled and said warmly, “We came to see you.”

Zhao Yiyi responded. The hoarseness in his voice was too obvious; even though she wasn’t fully awake, she heard it. Being husband and wife, it wouldn’t be right not to feign concern, so she frowned and asked, “Is Bixia unwell? Do you want to summon an imperial physician to take a look?”

Gu Zhen quietly crumpled the blood-stained flower note paper into a ball and tucked it into his sleeve. Then he looked up at her and said softly, “We are fine.”

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