Part 2
First Mancao saw it and coquettishly begged her to braid one. She was in a fair mood today, so not only did she not refuse, she added some patterns to it. Then Yunzhu also shyly asked for one.
The two wore this five-colored silk thread bracelet and showed it off in the hall, making the little palace maids in the hall envious. After breakfast, they all surrounded her, begging her to braid one.
“Niangniang, you braided for Mancao and Sister Yunzhu; braid one for us too, okay?” A little palace maid in a green skirt with double bun hairstyle held her arm with both hands, pouting and shaking it gently.
Zhao Yiyi leaned on the imperial concubine couch and chuckled, “There are so many of you. If I braid it poorly later and you dislike it, what then?”
The green-skirted maid laughed, “Then Niangniang just braid for me alone, okay?”
This remark drew angry glares from everyone. “You are too bad!” They looked at Zhao Yiyi in unison, “Niangniang worries too much. As long as it’s braided by Niangniang, how could it be bad?”
A group of people surrounded her, chattering noisily for a long time, leaving Zhao Yiyi no peace.
In just that instant, she thought of Duanduan. Her heart softened, and she agreed helplessly, “Fine, bring them all here. If it looks bad later, you are not allowed to take it off.”
Everyone said they wouldn’t. The green-skirted maid said, “This five-colored silk thread is used to ward off evil spirits. If Niangniang braids it, that would be best.”
Her speed of braiding silk thread was fast. In a while, a small bracelet was worn on the green-clothed maid’s wrist.
While braiding, the side suddenly quieted down. The maids who were laughing and talking suddenly went mute, as if their mouths were covered. Before she could react, her vision darkened. Looking up, a tall figure stood before her.
Zhao Yiyi was stunned for a moment, then about to get up. “Bixia…”
Before she could put on her embroidered shoes, she was pressed back onto the couch by Gu Zhen. “Dispense with formalities.”
Gu Zhen sat down aside, holding a sky-blue glazed cup, and asked her warmly, “Have you had realgar wine today?”
Zhao Yiyi leaned her body while braiding silk thread and replied, “Not yet.”
“We haven’t either.” Gu Zhen smiled, light contained in his brow and eyes. “In that case, how about We have it with you later?”
Zhao Yiyi agreed indifferently, continuing to struggle with the silk thread.
Because the Dragon Boat Festival was approaching, she had started researching how to braid this five-colored silk thread most beautifully some time ago. She researched many different methods and gradually got addicted.
If she didn’t braid a few every day, she felt something was missing.
Therefore, the request of these little palace maids was nothing to her.
The two chatted sporadically, and Zhao Yiyi braided silk threads sporadically. Until the last one was finished, the sun hung high in the sky, and intense light poured in without reservation.
Shining on the body, it was quite hot.
Suddenly free, Zhao Yiyi rubbed her wrists slightly, leaning on the couch. Seeing Gu Zhen sitting in front of her, staring at her blankly.
She pursed her lips and couldn’t help asking, “What is wrong with Bixia?”
Gu Zhen gave her a deep look, then smiled. “The Empress even braided silk threads for the palace maids; are you stingy to braid one for Us?”
“If Bixia wants, this concubine can braid ten.” Zhao Yiyi paused for a moment, then said warmly, “Does Bixia want to wear it on the wrist?”
As he said, she even braided for the palace maids; indeed, there was no need to be stingy about one more.
It was just a matter of convenience.
But Gu Zhen shook his head, untied a white jade pendant from his waist, and handed it to her. “The string of this jade pendant is old. We have been thinking of replacing it but never had time.”
Carved on that white jade pendant was the pattern of spring birds returning to the forest.
Zhao Yiyi recognized it. This jade pendant was the birthday gift she gave him last year.
When she gave it back then, he only said warmly “Empress has worked hard” with a clear smile on his face, but turned around and put it into the storeroom.
Something she had never seen him wear, he was wearing now.
Not only was the jade pendant given by her, but the knot and tassel on this jade pendant were also hand-braided by her.
Clutching the white jade pendant, Zhao Yiyi fell silent for a time.
Gu Zhen’s heart tip trembled. Wanting to take the jade pendant back, he whispered, “It’s okay. If you have no free time, then forget it.”
Zhao Yiyi hooked the corner of her lips but didn’t give it to him, just saying indifferently, “What style does Bixia want?”
Gu Zhen’s eyes widened abruptly. His heart beat faster, as if about to jump out of his chest.
He wanted to respond with a trembling voice, but heard her say again, “Meeting an earthquake in the pagoda that day was really not good luck. Today is just right to ward off evil spirits.”
She took scissors to cut the old silk thread, took the Dragon Boat Festival five-colored silk thread, and quickly braided a new one. Tidy it up slightly, she handed it back to him. “Here.”
Looking at that new thread, a dazed look crossed Gu Zhen’s expression. He took it as if obtaining a supreme treasure, smiled, and said, “Many thanks, Yiyi.” After speaking, as if unable to wait, he hung the jade pendant at his waist.
The white jade pendant against the black robe showed two extremely distinct colors.
Zhao Yiyi didn’t answer, just looked down at her newly dyed fingertips.
It was a festival after all; she had to tidy herself up properly.
The two sat quietly like this. Unknowingly, it was noon.
Prince of Yan came over at this moment, followed by several people carrying food boxes.
Gu Zhen narrowed his eyes slightly and asked indifferently, “Carrying what?”
“Food this subject-brother just bought in the West Market.” Prince of Yan cupped his hands and smiled, then ordered people to lay out the food one by one, saying warmly, “Since Royal Brother ordered this subject-brother to celebrate the festival together, this subject-brother couldn’t come empty-handed; had to bring something.”
As the items in those food boxes were laid out, lunch and zongzi were also brought up. The aroma of food instantly filled the entire hall.
Zhao Yiyi lifted her eyelids, briefly moving her gaze from her red nails to look at the situation in the hall.
They were all things she liked to eat.
Even those few snacks from the West Market, she liked them quite a bit. She ate them often in Chang’an before, and recently wished she could soak in them.
Zhao Yiyi was still putting on her shoes. Gu Zhen went over first. She suddenly moved her gaze from the shoes. looking up, she realized Gu Zhen’s walking posture was slightly strange.
In just an instant, the Emperor had reached the table and sat down.
Without the chance to look a few more times, Zhao Yiyi lost interest.
Seeing both of them seated, she slowly shuffled over and sat in the empty seat aside. Slowly holding the chopsticks, she began to eat.
Today’s staple food was zongzi, wrapped into a small ball. Gu Zhen pulled open the silk thread, peeled the zongzi leaves, and put one in her bowl. Zhao Yiyi whispered, “Many thanks, Bixia.” Then she raised the zongzi, took a small bite, and then another bite.
The taste was the same as before.
Gu Zhen asked, “How is the taste?”
Zhao Yiyi had zongzi in her mouth. She waited for a good while until she swallowed it before glaring at him. “Wouldn’t Bixia know if you taste it yourself?”
Before she could take another bite, a eunuch suddenly rushed over and said urgently, “Bixia, urgent report from the front line! Please go to Qianqiu Hall immediately, Bixia!”
Gu Zhen stood up abruptly, comforted Zhao Yiyi with two low sentences, and was about to walk out. After just a few steps, he turned back to instruct Prince of Yan, “Come see Us after you finish lunch.”
The Emperor left, leaving only Zhao Yiyi and Prince of Yan looking at each other.
She still maintained the posture of holding the zongzi, her gaze looking at Prince of Yan also somewhat dazed.
Prince of Yan smiled slightly. “Sister-in-law, eat first.”
Zhao Yiyi nodded, lowered her head to eat on her own. After the meal was finished, Prince of Yan also left Xiangsi Hall.
“Go out for a stroll?” Zongzi were hard to digest, and today’s food suited her appetite, so Zhao Yiyi ate a couple more bites. Feeling uncomfortable in her stomach, she smiled, “I heard a few lotuses have bloomed in the Dragon Pool. Just right to take this opportunity to go look.”
On the other bank of the Dragon Pool, watching the figure walking by the pool bank, the breeze blowing up her skirt hem, Prince of Yan couldn’t help laughing.
His confidant had asked why he liked her, and since he liked her, why he never had other thoughts.
He never responded, but unconsciously remembered that late spring year, when he and Royal Brother came to Chang’an on Father Emperor’s order to investigate.
Under the pear tree that day, the girl in the red skirt was brilliant, more dazzling than the spring scenery.
He originally thought it was just a scene buried deep in memory. Unexpectedly, she also remembered that past. But in her memory, there was only Royal Brother, completely without him on the other side.
Prince of Yan clenched and unclenched his fist several times. Finally, losing strength, he walked slowly along the pool bank, feeling his heart weighed down by a thousand catties.
The urgent report from the front line was a victory report.
The army advanced irresistibly, driving straight into the Rouran Royal Court. The Rouran King fled in a hurry, forgetting even to take much wealth.
Over ten thousand beheaded, over twenty thousand captured.
Gu Zhen was overjoyed. Since it was the Dragon Boat Festival, he set up a banquet in the palace.
At the banquet, many courtiers toasted him. He didn’t decline, drinking them all, drawing sideways glances from the officials.
They never knew Bixia had such alcohol tolerance.
The banquet didn’t disperse until late at night. The aftereffect of the alcohol came up, making his brain ache a bit. Gu Zhen refused the attendants’ support, even waving them away, striding forward all the way.
His eyes reflected dense bloodshot veins, but he just walked forward regardless.
There was only one thought in his heart: he wanted to see his Yiyi.
His wound hurt a bit, his heart hurt too. Perhaps seeing his Yiyi, it wouldn’t hurt anymore.
Gu Zhen entered Xiangsi Hall all the way, stopped by a palace maid outside the bedchamber: “Bixia, Niangniang just fell asleep—”
“Get out!” Gu Zhen scolded with red eyes, ignoring the palace maid’s block, and went straight into the inner hall.
It was late at night. Zhao Yiyi naturally heard the noise outside. She sat up draped in clothes and frowned, “What happened?”
Gu Zhen rounded the screen painted with vermilion bird patterns, walked quickly to her, grasped her hand, and asked astringently, “Yiyi, We know wrong. Don’t be angry with Us anymore, okay? Okay?”
Zhao Yiyi lowered her eyes, staring at him.
Those eyes densely covered with bloodshot veins made her lose focus for a moment.
Married for three years, how could she not know his alcohol tolerance?
“Yiyi…” Seeing her silent, urgency flashed through Gu Zhen’s heart. He called out astringently and said with a trembling voice, “Let’s start over, okay?”
Seeing through his feigned madness from alcohol, Zhao Yiyi also developed some thoughts of teasing. “Hm?” She hooked her lips slightly, suddenly smiling broadly. “Then, kneel and beg me.”
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