Chapter 79: False Probity
Because of the Emperor’s arrival, the area by the Hai Pool fell completely silent.
The Prince of Yan stepped forward with a smile and asked, “Why has Imperial Brother come over?”
Gu Zhen lifted his eyes to glance at him, his voice faint. “I heard from the Empress that there was Pitch-pot here, so I came to take a look.”
The crowd ceased their words and movements, bowing their bodies to the side in salute. Only after the monarch took the seat of honor and told them to rise did they dare to carefully lift their heads and cast obscure glances.
The Emperor was born handsome and magnificent. Even among this group of dashing and elegant children of noble families, he was an existence that others could not hope to match. Merely wearing an ordinary round-collar robe, he still appeared distinct from the masses.
“We were just passing by as well. It’s been a long time since I played this, and my hands were itching,” the Prince of Yan followed him to the edge of the forest, a trace of strangeness flashing across his face. Clearly, when they passed by earlier, the Emperor knew Pitch-pot was being played here. Why had it turned into ‘heard from the Empress’?
Although he thought this, he didn’t ask.
Gu Zhen tapped his knuckles lightly on the table and asked him indifferently, “Is it finished? How did you throw?”
“Not yet. The second round isn’t even over; more people joined in.” The Prince of Yan laughed in response. He looked up toward the field, a look of embarrassment suddenly appearing on his face. “Your brother… hasn’t touched this in a long time and is a bit rusty. I only landed eight out of ten arrows.”
Before his voice fell, he saw the Emperor looking at him coldly.
Gu Zhen’s expression was indifferent as he sneered, “You haven’t played Pitch-pot for a long time—have you allowed your mounted archery to go to waste as well? Then my order for you to go to the Western Suburban Camp was truly a wasted trip.”
Archery is the cornerstone of Pitch-pot. Those who can play Pitch-pot may not be able to shoot arrows, but those who have achieved something in archery will not be bad at such minor tricks like Pitch-pot.
The Prince of Yan felt a lump in his throat, seeing his expression clearly.
Although not explicitly stated, the word ‘trash’ was written clearly in those eyes.
The disdain could not be more obvious.
“It was my carelessness,” he said.
Gu Zhen maintained that cold, sunken expression and suddenly ordered, “Bring arrows.”
The Prince of Yan’s expression froze slightly, and for a moment, he was stunned.
Gradually, the entire pine forest quieted down, leaving only the rustling wind and the sound of overlapping branches trembling.
Everyone thought the Emperor had really just listened to the Empress and came to watch the excitement, not taking it seriously. But they didn’t expect the Emperor to participate personally.
“Does His Majesty wish to play Pitch-pot as well?” One person rose from the brocade cushion with a smile, bowing respectfully. “There are many people today, and we need to determine a winner, so the gameplay is more complicated than usual, and there are more rounds.”
Gu Zhen nodded slightly, his voice light. “No matter. Just follow your rules.”
The people in the field looked at each other for a moment. They all knew the reason the Emperor could be so calm was that he had the confidence. That confidence was that he was proficient in everything, whether it was mounted archery or Pitch-pot.
Watching the palace attendants bring a full bag of arrows and place them by the Emperor’s hand, then take another lacquered pot and set it more than a zhang away, the Prince of Yan felt mixed emotions.
He couldn’t help but peek at the Emperor, only to see him looking as normal, still cold and clear like jade.
Even when their eyes met, there was no change.
As if the person who said those words earlier wasn’t him.
The Prince of Yan felt stifled inside, but ultimately reminded him, “Imperial Brother, although today’s requirements are tedious, they aren’t this difficult.”
That lacquered pot was placed slightly further away than the others, and the mouth of the pot was smaller. It was originally brought up to make up the numbers because there weren’t enough pots, but the Emperor had actively selected this one.
Gu Zhen pulled a feathered arrow from the quiver and smiled faintly. “It’s fine. I dislike the trouble. Let’s just do this.”
Before everyone could react to his meaning, they saw the Emperor’s wrist move. The arrow had already left his fingertips, and with a clang, it landed steadily in the center of the lacquered pot.
Hand raised, arrow falls—all in an instant.
The end of the feathered arrow was still trembling lightly in the pot.
As he grew older, the Emperor had not played Pitch-pot in front of others for a long time. But this single throw was enough to let everyone know that the Emperor’s talent in this path had not diminished.
One, two, three…
Ten feathered arrows all entered the pot without exception. It was an undisputed ‘Full Pot’ for the round.
The Prince of Yan was still somewhat dazed. Beside him, Jiang Jiayan reacted. If they only played one round, there were at least ten people on the field who could get a Full Pot.
But His Majesty’s action undoubtedly widened the gap between him and everyone else.
Someone complimented, “Your Majesty’s skills are exquisite. It makes us feel ashamed of our unworthiness. I fear we’ll be too constrained to throw in a moment.”
Gu Zhen remained indifferent throughout, showing neither annoyance nor joy.
He had only one purpose for coming here today, and that was that jade pendant.
Yiyi didn’t know… or perhaps she knew but didn’t care… that Cloud and Crane Jade Pendant was the birthday gift he sent her this year.
When he was in Chang’an, he had specifically inquired about the jewelry shop she used to frequent and had the shop’s craftsmen custom-make it.
The second match increased to twenty arrows, but one person could be sought for assistance. The helper could throw no more than ten arrows. Most people helped each other; after all, throwing twenty arrows at once was too strenuous, and sharing the load could relieve some mental pressure.
Half the people on the field had already finished the second round. Gu Zhen sat on the side watching for a while and quickly understood it.
“Has Your Majesty decided who to invite?” Jiang Jiayan asked in a low voice from the side.
The Prince of Yan turned his head to look. Based on his understanding of his Imperial Brother, he feared he wouldn’t invite anyone at all. Even if someone rushed forward, they probably wouldn’t catch his eye.
Everyone harbored some secret expectation, their gazes toward the Emperor mixed with a bit of longing.
Just as the Prince of Yan expected, Gu Zhen simply shook his head and said indifferently, “No need. I can do it alone.”
Since the Emperor had refused, it wasn’t appropriate for everyone to say anything else. Their movements gradually slowed as they looked in the Emperor’s direction.
One, two… eighteen, nineteen.
Every arrow landed in the pot without exception. Until the Emperor picked up the last arrow, everyone’s hearts hung in suspense.
Gu Zhen’s expression concentrated slightly. He lifted his eyes to look at the colorful lacquered pot not far away, but from the corner of his eye, he saw a moon-white figure suddenly turn out from the edge of the pine forest ahead.
Her movement was graceful, her figure enchanting.
His heartbeat suddenly missed half a beat. His hand throwing the arrow forward trembled slightly. The sound of breaking air flashed by, and accompanied by a crisp sound, the arrow struck precisely on the rim of the pot.
In the next instant, it wobbled and fell into the pot.
Everyone’s suspended hearts relaxed, and their palms, which had been squeezed into a sweat, loosened slightly. Just as they were about to offer congratulations, they saw the Emperor abruptly stand up and walk toward the outside of the pine forest.
Their gazes followed, landing on the Empress walking slowly toward them.
Everyone had been holding their breath watching the Emperor earlier; no one had noticed that the Empress had arrived silently.
“The wind is strong here, why did you come over?” Gu Zhen frowned. After looking her up and down and seeing that her outer coat was thick and trimmed with fur, he relaxed.
Zhao Yiyi said, “Duan Duan insisted I come watch her play Pitch-pot.”
“Is that so?” Gu Zhen said indifferently, glancing at Zhao Duanduan.
Zhao Duanduan felt her scalp go numb from his glance. Her heart pounded, and her grip on Zhao Yiyi’s hand involuntarily tightened.
Her palm hurt from being pulled. Zhao Yiyi said annoyed, “Stop scaring her.”
A trace of a smile flashed across Gu Zhen’s face, and he said helplessly, “When did I scare her?” Saying so, he naturally took that soft, boneless slender hand and walked into the forest.
Wait, that slender hand was cold to the touch. Gu Zhen squeezed it and lowered his voice to ask, “Why didn’t you bring a hand warmer?”
“It’s just the beginning of winter; it hasn’t become that cold yet.” Zhao Yiyi tried to pull away, but found he was holding on tightly. For a moment, she couldn’t pull it back.
Feeling secretly resentful, she couldn’t help but turn to glare at him.
But Gu Zhen pretended not to see, walking straight ahead without looking sideways.
Pah! This false probity!
Zhao Yiyi cursed secretly in her heart, but her face remained impassive as she stepped forward to follow.
Seeing the most noble couple in the world arriving arm in arm, everyone stepped aside and bowed.
Gu Zhen said, “At ease,” and went to sit in his previous spot on the side.
At this moment, it was Zhao Duanduan’s turn to be troubled.
Before, there were candidates she could hesitate over. Because her skills were good, she could be picky. But after a trip to the Hanbing Hall and back, everyone had settled on their helpers. Asking around, only a few publicly recognized terrible players were left, whom no one wanted.
Zhao Duanduan estimated that even if she threw blindly herself, she would probably be better than those people throwing seriously. Asking them would be worse than forcing it herself.
Therefore, she decisively refused several people’s enthusiasm. “Forget it, I’ll look again.”
Seeing Zhao Duanduan running around the forest like a headless fly, asking everywhere and walking away disappointed, Gu Zhen was afraid she would come over to be annoying again. He glanced at Jiang Jiayan beside him and ordered, “You go help her.”
Jiang Jiayan was startled, then smiled bitterly. “Your Majesty, this subject only knows the superficial fur of Pitch-pot… from looking just now, I fear I am inferior to the Eldest Princess.”
“Then figure it out yourself.” Gu Zhen’s voice sank slightly, showing no emotion.
Jiang Jiayan, forced onto the shelf like a duck, had no choice but to bite the bullet and go.
Zhao Duanduan couldn’t find anyone and was spinning in circles with anxiety. Finally finding someone delivered to her door, she didn’t pick and choose anymore. She nodded listlessly and said softly, “Many thanks to you.”
A gust of wind passed, and pine needles fell with the wind, covering the ground with fine, fragmented leaves.
Some also fell on the table.
“Yiyi.” Gu Zhen turned his head to call her, a pair of phoenix eyes filled with smiles. “My two rounds just now were both Full Pots.”
Zhao Yiyi’s gaze moved down slightly, landing on his left hand. When he threw the arrows just now, his sleeve had shifted down slightly, and his palm faced her, allowing her to see clearly.
Guessing what he wanted to do, when it was confirmed, a great wave still rose in her heart.
Sensing her gaze, Gu Zhen’s fingertips curled slightly. He shrunk his hand back into his sleeve and said casually, “There’s still one round in a moment. Wait for me to win that jade pendant back.”
“Let me see,” she said.
He understood the abrupt sentence clearly.
Yet he pretended ignorance. “What’s wrong?”
Zhao Yiyi pointed at his left hand, her graceful eyebrows frowning slightly. She said in a deep voice, “Let me see.”
Words had reached this point, and the gesture was explicitly clear—how could he avoid it?
Hesitating for a long time, Gu Zhen lifted his left hand and placed it on the table, palm facing up, his half-lowered eyelashes trembling incessantly.
In the broad palm, near the wrist, there was a fresh, pale pink scar extending into the sleeve.
Clearly, the scab had just fallen off, and it looked somewhat hideous and terrifying.
“Don’t look.” Gu Zhen shrunk his hand back, his voice trembling when he spoke. “It’s ugly. Don’t look, okay?”
Zhao Yiyi ignored him, placing her hand directly on his to stop him from pulling back.
Her soft fingertips rested on his wrist. If it were the past, seeing Yiyi initiate contact like this, he would have been ecstatic.
But right now, Gu Zhen’s heart held only bitterness.
“Don’t despise me.” After a long time, he finally voiced the most secret worry in his heart.
He didn’t intend to demand gratitude for his favor, nor did he intend to complain to her. He just worried—would Yiyi feel disgust and aversion because of the ugly scars on his body?
He could only rejoice that the injury wasn’t on his face or some other conspicuous place.
“Was this burned in the fire?” Zhao Yiyi suddenly asked him.
Gu Zhen felt like his chest was blocked. After a long while, he nodded. “Yes…”
Seeing her looking down continuously, her almond eyes revealing no emotion, a trace of panic flashed through Gu Zhen’s heart—a panic that made him want to grasp her hand. “Yiyi, I know it’s not good to look at. I won’t let you see it in the future.”
This was what he feared most.
Fear that his Yiyi would despise it, fear she would look at it and find it ugly, find it disgusting.
“Enough.” Zhao Yiyi suddenly interrupted him, raising her hand to press her brow, her voice revealing fatigue. “The injury is here; just because Your Majesty says you won’t let me see it, does that mean I won’t see it? Besides…” She paused, then said, “I have already said that I am very grateful for Your Majesty entering the fire to save me that day.”
Gu Zhen’s voice suddenly deepened as he asked her, “Yiyi, aside from that, is there nothing else?”
Hearing what he was asking, Zhao Yiyi’s expression stagnated slightly. She paused, then shook her head. “Nothing else.”
The entanglement between the two had been bound since the day they married.
Even so, she didn’t want to be moved anymore. Just thinking about the consequences of being moved in the past, she felt only fear and grievance, unable to generate any romantic thoughts.
She didn’t dare.
Didn’t dare to be moved at will again, allowing the seed named sentiment to take root and sprout in her heart until the roots covered every part of her heart chamber. When it was later cut out, it was agonizingly painful.
The light in Gu Zhen’s eyes dimmed inch by inch until it was finally extinguished. Only then did he nod and whisper, “I understand.”
“I spoke too much. Don’t be angry,” he lowered his voice to soothe her.
Zhao Yiyi didn’t speak. She just looked up at the people in the field. Seeing Zhao Duanduan start the second round, she turned her head to look at his scar again.
“Since it just healed, why play this? What if you pulled it just now?” Zhao Yiyi scolded him coldly. Remembering he just said he wanted to win back that jade pendant, she raised an eyebrow. “It’s just a jade pendant. I only dug it out of the warehouse two days ago; it’s nothing significant.”
Just a jade pendant.
Indeed, it couldn’t be called priceless.
But…
Gu Zhen felt a slight choke in his heart, experiencing for the first time the taste of not being valued.
The thing he treasured like a gem, prepared with great effort, had actually never entered her eyes.
Even to the point that she discarded it like a worn-out shoe.
Gu Zhen asked her cautiously, “Yiyi, do you remember where that jade pendant came from?”
Zhao Yiyi shook her head. “I don’t remember. I dug it out two days ago and saw the transparency was nice. Today they happened to want to play Pitch-pot, so I untied it to be the prize.”
As she spoke, she smiled and rebuked, “You really are something too. Who can remember things used for casual rewards so clearly? And you insist on competing with others for it. If Your Majesty really likes it, I’ll give you a similar one separately in a moment.”
Gu Zhen’s thin lips pursed tightly. He removed his left hand from the table and clenched it slightly into a fist, whispering, “But that jade pendant was the birthday gift I sent you this year.”
📖 Advance Access: Complete Novel
- Option 1: Note your email on PayPal/Ko-fi.
- Option 2: Email proof to beezzzreads@gmail.com.
- Option 3: Comment below.
Recommended Reads
