Chapter 45: Teach Him part 1
The spring wind was soft, and her eyes reflected an even softer color.
Gu Zhen’s chest full of words suddenly blocked his throat; he couldn’t utter a single syllable, and his heart plummeted rapidly.
Like—he seemed to have fallen for Yiyi.
This sudden thought made him freeze completely. An emotion he had never experienced before surged up, reaching from his heart all the way to his fingertips.
Like?
It should be.
If not, why would he not want to see her suffer grievances anymore? Why, when he was so annoyed that he didn’t want to hear about her, did he eventually yield to his heart’s desire and rush to back her up?
If it wasn’t affection, how could he want to treat her better, and then even better?
If he didn’t care, how could he feel terrible when he heard her tell him to stay away?
He had been escaping for many days. By today, he could no longer continue to deceive himself.
Looking at the soft hands beneath the arrow sleeves, Gu Zhen’s vision blurred for a moment. Is it love? Married for nearly three years, he finally realized that he had fallen for the Empress.
This realization made his palm tighten abruptly, rubbing against the rough reins, stinging painfully.
When did it start? Gu Zhen stared fixedly at her hands, desperately trying to recall a thing or two, but despaired to find that he couldn’t remember his past memories with the Empress clearly.
While he was dazed, Zhao Yiyi took the opportunity to pull her hand out. Relying on memory, she spurred the horse forward, heading towards the distant mountains.
The distant mountain ranges stretched out continuously, a vast expanse of verdant green extending to where the sky met the earth. On the mountainside, a cluster of pear blossoms seemed to be waving.
Moments later, the jujube-red steed began to trot. Its steps were very steady. After adapting for a while, she lost her previous fear, and her wildly beating heart calmed down considerably.
Although the Emperor and Empress were out riding alone, given their noble status, there were inevitably a few attendants.
Prince Yan changed his outfit and rode over on a black steed. Seeing the Emperor staring blankly at the distant green mountains, he said warmly, “This subject brother thought Imperial Brother had already departed. I rushed over, but didn’t expect Imperial Brother hasn’t set off yet.” He lifted his eyes to scan the surroundings and couldn’t help smiling, “Did Imperial Sister-in-law go ahead first?”
As soon as the words fell, Gu Zhen’s face darkened further. The veins on the back of his hand holding the reins popped out. He glanced sideways at him and scolded lightly, “You talk too much.”
There was a chill in his voice that made one’s neck inexplicably cold. Prince Yan shrank his neck, daring not to speak more or ask more.
After speaking, Gu Zhen suddenly clamped the horse’s belly and galloped towards the distant stretching mountains.
This purple-maned steed had accompanied him for many years. Sensing his intent, it didn’t even need the whip to raise its four hooves and speed away, leaving only dust behind.
The mountain looked like it was right in front of them, but after Zhao Yiyi rode for a while, she clearly felt she had ridden very far, yet found the mountain’s distance seemed unchanged.
It was still that far away—too far to climb.
Having not ridden for too long, she felt tired after this stretch. The horse’s speed gradually slowed down. Finally, she pulled the reins back slightly, changing from a run to a walk.
The clothes she wore today were suitable for riding, so they were slightly form-fitting. Blown by the wind in the open fields, the clothes clung tightly to her body, outlining her figure completely.
Watching that thin figure from behind, Gu Zhen hesitated for a long time, but ultimately didn’t dare to go forward.
He knew in his heart that she probably didn’t want to see him right now.
Even if he forced his way over, he would only get her polite pretense.
She would probably be unhappy again.
The last time he took her out for a ride, she also wasn’t very good at it. Gu Zhen couldn’t remember the situation clearly anymore; he only vaguely recalled that he had been somewhat disdainful, and his tone when speaking to her had been impatient.
Something he had been dismissive of, even annoyed by back then—now, it was something he didn’t even dare to dream of.
She didn’t want him anymore.
A sourness rose in his eyes. The wind grew stronger. Gu Zhen followed neither too close nor too far. The sound of horse hooves rang out one after another, mixing with the chirping of birds in the forest, exceptionally quiet.
Zhao Yiyi knew he was not far behind, but she couldn’t be bothered to look back. She simply admired the surrounding scenery on her own, occasionally reaching out to pick a flower and pinning it by the saddle.
Walking slowly like this for a while, she felt bored again. Since she had recovered much of her riding skill, she started to gallop again. Running and running, the speed became faster and faster, and the mountain grew closer.
After the two climbed the mountain one after another, Gu Zhen was much closer to her. Seeing her staring at the cliff in a daze, he said gently, “Crossing this mountain range, one can leave Luoyang. The other side leads directly to Luoqu. If you wish, Zhen can take you by boat from Luoqu back to the city in two days.”
Zhao Yiyi turned her head to look at him, her eyes bright: “Is that so?”
Gu Zhen’s heart skipped a beat. Subconsciously wanting to grasp something, his face immediately darkened, and his eyes were tainted with a bit of gloom.
“Yiyi, don’t think wild thoughts.” Pausing, he glanced down the cliff and said indifferently, “Zhen will have someone prepare the boat tomorrow. However, if we are to take the boat, we must go around to the north side of the mountain.”
Zhao Yiyi pursed her lips, wanting to say something, but swallowed it all back.
In the past, she always wanted her husband to accompany her longer, just a little longer. But now, she felt that staying with him suddenly drained all her interest. She turned her horse’s head and said, “This consort is a bit tired. Your Majesty, please walk by yourself. This consort will take her leave first.”
That voice, soft as usual, revealed distance and estrangement, seemingly widening the gap between them invisibly.
Even knowing that the two were drifting further apart, he discovered with dismay that he seemed to have no way to salvage it. He could only watch helplessly as she moved further and further away from him.
And there was nothing he could do.
But she… she was originally his wife. They had done every intimate thing between two people. If he treated her better, if he had explained clearly when she questioned him that day, would everything be different?
She had given him countless chances, yet he had pushed them away with his own hands countless times.
Gu Zhen waited on the mountain for a long time. Only when the attendant came to report that the Empress had descended did he turn his horse and ride away.
Returning to the Altar of the First Silkworm, he handed the reins to the groom and asked indifferently, “Has Linchuan arrived?”
Wu Mao hurriedly replied, “The Grand Princess has arrived. Your Majesty rest assured, the journey was very smooth.”
Several rays of afternoon light hit his handsome face. Stepping out from the shadow of the stable, he looked like a deity. Gu Zhen glanced at Wu Mao and just scoffed lightly: “Call her to see Zhen.”
observing the flash of gloom in the Emperor’s eyes, and his seemingly unconcerned manner towards the Grand Princess, Wu Mao’s heart skipped a beat. He felt things were not quite right. Then wasn’t his sentence just now also inappropriate?
“Imperial Brother.” As soon as she was led over by the attendant, Linchuan hurriedly performed a greeting and asked with furrowed brows, “Why didn’t you wait for me and just…”
Gu Zhen turned his head to glance at her and countered, “Zhen didn’t wait for you?”
Linchuan’s heartbeat paused for a second. She was somewhat afraid of the Emperor, so she switched to a whispered complaint: “Yesterday, Mother gave instructions that for today’s Sericulture Rite, Imperial Sister-in-law should bring me along. Why did Imperial Brother not wait for me and just depart?”
“You wanted Zhen to wait for you?” Gu Zhen smiled a smile that was not a smile.
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