Chapter 68: Fire part 1
On the day of departure, another fine and misty rain fell in Chang’an. As twilight approached, the city of Chang’an, shrouded in dim yellow hues, revealed a sense of quiet depth.
Zhao Yiyi specially changed into light and convenient clothes, and even her black hair was loosely tied in a ‘Morning Cloud’ bun.
She had never adapted well to riding in carriages and couldn’t stand traveling slightly longer distances. Just as she was worrying about how to handle the half-month journey ahead, Prince Yan sent a basket of tangerines over.
The tangerines in the basket were not large and were a deep green color. Zhao Yiyi was a bit surprised. She reached out to take one and was about to peel it when the servant delivering the items stopped her.
The eunuch laughed, “Niangniang, these tangerines are not yet ripe and taste unbearably sour and astringent. They were sent specifically for Niangniang to smell.”
Zhao Yiyi smiled and thanked him. She ordered people to take a few tangerines, keep the peel, roast them dry on the incense cage, then grind them into powder and mix a little into the incense.
Before Gu Zhen even entered the hall, he smelled the scent of tangerines diffusing everywhere. As soon as his long legs stepped inside, he frowned and said, “Where did tangerines come from in this season?”
“Ah Qi sent them.” Zhao Yiyi looked at the deer-head sky-blue glazed censer filled with smoke, her smile gentle. “He said they were picked from his separate estate. Last time coming to Chang’an, I felt unwell the whole way, so he brought some tangerines for me to smell and relieve it a bit.”
Gu Zhen was slightly stunned. Concealing the irritability between his brows, he repeated, “Ah Qi sent them?”
“Yes.” Zhao Yiyi nodded calmly, then asked him, “Does Bixia need some?”
Gu Zhen shook his head and refused. “No need. You are uncomfortable riding in carriages; even the short trip to the Altar of Agriculture made you feel bad twice. Keep more for yourself.”
As he spoke, he retracted the medicine bottle he was clutching in his palm back into his sleeve. His movements were stiff and slow; every inch he moved felt like cutting another inch into the wound in his heart.
“It’s getting late; is the luggage packed?” Gu Zhen asked her softly.
Zhao Yiyi nodded. “What should be packed was already moved to the carriages by the attendants ahead of time. There are just some personal effects left; this concubine will bring them myself.”
Gu Zhen nodded gently, his expression softening. He said slowly, “Let’s go.”
The two walked out of Xiangsi Hall one after the other. Outside the hall gate, Zhao Yiyi looked back at this palace hall again, a trace of daze flashing across her expression.
“What’s wrong?” Gu Zhen asked softly by her ear.
Zhao Yiyi shook her head. “Nothing.” After speaking, she turned around and walked along the long palace path with Gu Zhen.
She was wearing a dark reddish-blue collarless shirt today, with a jade chain around her waist, from which hung a fragrant sachet, jade pendants, and other items.
Staring at the thin gauze clothes on her, Gu Zhen frowned. “The weather is getting cold; wear more on the road to avoid catching a chill.”
Zhao Yiyi said okay. Just as they arrived in front of the carriage, she was helped onto the Pheasant Carriage by attendants.
After watching her board the carriage, Gu Zhen turned to leave, casually tossing an object to Wu Mao.
Seeing the ivory-white object flying toward him, Wu Mao caught it with quick eyes and hands. Upon looking closely, he couldn’t help but be stunned. “Bixia, isn’t this the pill prepared by the Imperial Physician for Niangniang to take when riding in the carriage?”
He asked tentatively, “Did Bixia forget to give it?”
Gu Zhen glanced at him and said indifferently, “No need. The Empress already has some. You keep it.”
Wu Mao was stunned.
This pill was a newly improved prescription; how could Niangniang have it?
But peering at Bixia‘s slightly cold face, he swallowed all his words and dared not ask another word.
Encountering Prince Yan riding past on the way, Wu Mao bowed.
Prince Yan looked at the medicine bottle in his hand, leaned forward slightly, and asked with a smile, “What is that in Eunuch Wu’s hand?”
Wu Mao replied, “It is a pill Bixia ordered the Imperial Physician to prepare for Empress Niangniang. Niangniang tends to feel unwell when riding in carriages; taking a pill makes it better.”
Prince Yan’s expression froze slightly. He was silent for a long while before smiling, “So it was like that. Then Eunuch Wu should… quickly send it to Royal Sister-in-law.”
“Ah Qi.”
A soft call suddenly came from the Jade Carriage nearby. The voice was slightly low and grave. Prince Yan hurriedly rode closer and asked at the carriage window, “Royal Brother, are there instructions?”
Gu Zhen pondered for a long while, suddenly opened the window, handed him a letter sealed with fire lacquer, and said in a deep voice, “You return to Luoyang one step ahead. Investigate the matter in the letter thoroughly. Find all the palace maids, midwives, and physicians present at Linchuan’s birth and interrogate them properly.” Pausing, he added, “As for the content of the letter, wait until you reach Luoyang to open it.”
Prince Yan was slightly confused in his heart but still cupped his hands and responded, “Yes.”
“Then Subject-brother…” Prince Yan said softly, “will return to the capital one step ahead?”
Gu Zhen nodded. “Go.”
Prince Yan selected a team of men and horses, traveled light, and left one step ahead.
When that column of men and horses left and the Emperor and Empress’s carriages also set off, Gu Zhen leaned back against the carriage wall somewhat dejectedly.
Ordering Gu Qi to return to the capital to investigate Linchuan’s matter was true; sending him away one step ahead was also true.
He was not a magnanimous person. That ball of fire in his chest had been burning fiercely since the day he saw Lu Xianshan, it had been ignited.
Later on, that fire didn’t extinguish but burned even hotter, searing his heart until it was boiling hot.
Only now did he understand what kind of unbearable pain Yiyi felt when she suspected him and He Er back then.
She was never a flamboyant person, and given her situation in the palace… even if she had something on her mind, she always held it in, daring not speak. Only when she was drunk and not quite sober did she dare to voice a little bit of it.
After a long time, he suddenly opened his eyes, called Wu Mao, handed out a small jar, and said indifferently, “Send this to the Empress.”
The night was blurry. Zhao Yiyi was already covered with a blanket, asleep in the carriage.
It wasn’t until the latter half of the night that she woke up leisurely. She drank two mouthfuls of tea to moisten her throat. When her mind cleared a bit, she looked at the small jar on the table and asked, “What is this?”
Yunzhu answered, “It was sent by Bixia through Eunuch Wu. This slave hasn’t opened it yet and doesn’t know what it is.”
The jar was sealed very tightly. When the two worked together to open it, a sweet and sour scent wafted out. Only then did they realize it was filled with a jar of candied olives.
“It’s olives,” Yunzhu laughed, taking one with a silver spoon and handing it to her. “Smells quite good; Niangniang taste it quickly.”
Zhao Yiyi had just woken up. Even though she drank two mouthfuls of tea, her mouth was still a bit astringent. Seeing the olives gave her an appetite. She took a small bite from the silver spoon, and a sweet and sour taste burst onto the tip of her tongue.
“Not bad,” she said. “You have two as well; eating them makes one feel comfortable.”
Yunzhu agreed, took a few more out, and placed them on a small plate, chattering, “Save them first. Eat a few every day, and by the time we reach Luoyang, they will be just about finished.”
Zhao Yiyi watched her movements with a smile, leaning against the cushioned carriage wall, a bit of tenderness flowing in her eyes.
The carriages traveled slowly all the way. When they entered the Changxia Gate of Luoyang, it was the evening of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Yunzhu lifted the curtain to look out the window. Seeing the three seal script characters for Changxia Gate written on the majestic city gate nearly ten zhang high, she couldn’t help rejoicing, “Niangniang, we’ve arrived in Luoyang!”
Zhao Yiyi was slightly dazed. She also poked her head out to look, but unlike the maid’s joy, she felt the fatigue of long carriage travel. Lowering her eyelashes slightly, she responded indifferently, “Mm.”
After entering the city, the carriage continued to roll forward but didn’t enter the palace as Zhao Yiyi expected. Instead, it wove through the bustling market wards.
When the palace attendants invited the Empress to get off, she looked around and couldn’t help asking, “Where is this?”
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