Chapter 22: Rumors
During the day, when she had answered her aunt, she’d said that if His Majesty favored someone for a concubine, she could not object.
But that was all just a pretext. She cared. She cared a great deal.
Her concern for these matters was as deep as her loathing for Zhao Weimin and Lady Xu.
Taking a few trembling breaths, Zhao Yiyi stepped back slightly. She lifted her delicate, charming face, as lovely as a hibiscus flower, and asked him, “But I do not understand, why did Your Majesty send so many things over today?”
Under the dim light of the setting sun, her eyes reflected a soft glow, tinged with a hint of both apprehension and expectation. His reflection was captured in her pupils, as if he was the only one in her heart, the only one she could see.
Gu Zhen suddenly found he didn’t dare to look at her any longer. “The Empress said the other day that you had given the bracelet to someone else, so Zhen thought to send you some more.”
Is that the only reason?
Zhao Yiyi’s heart skipped a beat. Forcing herself to cast aside any other thoughts, she reached out, tugged on his sleeve, and said softly, “Thank you, Your Majesty. I have seen them all, and I like them very much.”
She was lying.
She had sat listlessly in her study all afternoon. When Wu Mao had delivered the jewelry, she hadn’t even lifted the lids before having someone put them away in her dressing case.
“Mm. Zhen remembers there was a jasper hairpin that should suit you well,” Gu Zhen said in a warm voice.
Tonight, he was exceptionally gentle.
It wasn’t his usual superficial warmth, a facade that kept everyone at a distance. It was as if his cold, distant heart had truly softened a little.
But after the incident with the inlaid gold bracelet, she now felt an instinctive resistance to the hairpins and rings he sent.
Sniffling softly, Zhao Yiyi reached around him to fasten the buckle of his sash and murmured, “Let’s have supper first, Your Majesty.”
Before the evening meal, she followed her usual custom and ladled a bowl of soup for Gu Zhen. The clear broth, with all the fat skimmed from the top, shimmered in the sky-blue, wide-mouthed bowl.
Gu Zhen, however, did not start eating. He stirred the soup with his spoon, his dark, deep eyes watching the Empress beside him.
She had always been exceptionally gentle and proper, her temperament unusually compliant. Everyone in Ziwei Palace knew this.
He was vaguely aware of the Empress’s feelings for him. But being a man of cold disposition, he had always found her too dull and uninteresting. He rarely stayed the night in her palace and paid her little attention.
Even though the Empress was attentive, considerate, and deeply caring toward him, there were too many in this palace who showed him such concern—so many he couldn’t even count them. Thus, he had never taken it to heart.
“Your Majesty?” Perhaps sensing his gaze, Zhao Yiyi turned her head, a hint of confusion in her eyes.
The beautiful woman’s snowy skin and black hair, her misty almond-shaped eyes… it reminded him of their wedding day. When the Empress had lowered her ceremonial fan, she had looked at him with that same hibiscus face, full of timidity.
But recently, he had noticed that the Empress was… different. She would get upset with him, had learned to throw little tantrums, and at times, even seemed to disregard him completely.
He couldn’t decide if this change was for the better or for the worse.
“Let’s eat. The food will get cold,” Gu Zhen said calmly.
Because they hadn’t known the Emperor was coming, the evening meal at Jiaofang Palace had been prepared entirely to the Empress’s taste—a mix of sweet and sour dishes that made Gu Zhen frown.
He suddenly recalled that the meals here used to be different. “Has Jiaofang Palace changed its chefs?” he asked.
Zhao Yiyi paused, then shook her head. “Two were replaced last year, but there have been no staff changes this year.”
If the chefs hadn’t changed, then it could only mean the menu and cooking style had. So, in the past, had she specifically ordered the kitchen to cook according to his tastes?
Gu Zhen froze for a moment.
After the meal, Gu Zhen did not stay as he usually would have. Instead, he stood up and said, “Zhen still has some matters to attend to. The Empress should rest early.”
Zhao Yiyi respectfully acknowledged his words and personally saw him to Suzhang Gate, advising him gently, “Though state affairs are important, Your Majesty must also look after your health.”
Her voice was as soft as ever, making him wonder if the changes he had perceived were just his imagination, as if the Empress had never changed at all.
Twilight settled, and crimson clouds drifted like silk gauze, carrying the last embers of the sunset.
The Emperor closed his eyes to rest in the imperial palanquin. Wu Mao stood beside him with his hands lowered, not daring to utter a word.
When His Majesty had suddenly decided to visit the Empress tonight, he had thought it was because His Majesty was having second thoughts, that he might retract his recent command.
But he had clearly underestimated His Majesty’s resolve.
He should have known. Once His Majesty had made a decision, nothing could stop him, not even a mountain of knives or a sea of fire.
At this thought, Wu Mao pressed his lips together even more tightly, trying his best to fade into the background as he walked with the lightest of steps.
Unexpectedly, the Emperor tapped lightly on the side of the carriage. “For the time being,” he said calmly, “do not let the Empress know of this matter.”
The sudden sound startled Wu Mao. Once he collected himself, he quickly replied, “Yes, this slave will certainly obey.”
Inside Zichen Palace, Jiang Jiayan was already waiting. With him stood the Marquis of Hejian, who served as the Deputy Chief of the Grand Court of Revision. Like Jiang Jiayan, he was responsible for interrogating the assassins from Henei.
Over the past two days, they had finally managed to pry something from the mouths of a few of the assassins. Following the clues, their investigation had led them to the magistrate of Shanyang County.
A mere county magistrate would clearly not have such audacity. The two of them had hurried to report their findings to the Emperor.
“Shanyang County?” Gu Zhen frowned, then said suddenly, “Zhen recalls that my aunt’s eldest son is also a magistrate in Henei.”
Jiang Jiayan replied, “Indeed, Your Majesty. The eldest son of Grand Princess Rounan should be serving in the neighboring Wen County.”
Gu Zhen acknowledged this with a hum and simply instructed them to continue investigating. Then he added with a cold smile, “The situation in Henei suggests that the local gentry and officials have been colluding for a long time. If you cannot solve this within a month, then simply clean out the entire region.”
Jiang Jiayan’s expression turned grim. He knew this was an ultimatum for Henei—and its final chance.
Gu Zhen gave a few more instructions. Seeing that the two men were still standing there, he raised an eyebrow. “Is there anything else?”
The Marquis of Hejian cupped his hands. “Your Majesty, my son is to be wed at the end of the year. I had a fortune-teller divine an auspicious date, and tomorrow is a good day for the betrothal ceremony. I would like to request a day of leave.”
Marriage was a significant event. The Great Chu dynasty encouraged it, even allowing the bride and groom to wear ceremonial attire one rank above their own status, a custom known as shesheng.
Therefore, Gu Zhen granted the request without hesitation.
He then asked casually, “Which family’s young lady has he been betrothed to?”
The Marquis replied, “She is the second daughter of the Marquis of Huai’an.”
For a fleeting moment, he caught a strange, subtle expression on the Emperor’s face.
Thinking he had misspoken, he quickly added, “She is also the younger sister of Her Highness the Empress, the second young lady of the Zhao family.”
As he spoke, Gu Zhen slowly recalled the second Zhao daughter. He vaguely remembered her being very clingy with the Empress. Whenever she entered the palace, she would trail behind her, constantly calling out, “Big Sister, Big Sister.”
Not bad, he thought. Once she’s married, she probably won’t be as annoying as a buzzing bee all day long.
With this in mind, Gu Zhen nodded slightly. “Very good. Then allow Zhen to offer my congratulations in advance.”
“It’s already late afternoon, and Her Highness is still asleep?” Mancao whispered, glancing towards the inner chamber.
Yunzhu nudged her, telling her to go fetch a basin of hot water. Before she could finish her sentence, she saw the turquoise bed curtains sway gently.
A few days ago, His Majesty had summoned the imperial physician to perform a routine health check on the Empress. The physician had said Her Highness’s constitution was weak, and with the lingering chill of early spring and the drastic temperature changes between day and night, she was susceptible to catching a cold. He had advised that she should rest well and reduce her movements.
Because of this, Her Highness had been cooped up in Jiaofang Palace for days, barely stepping outside.
But after so many days of confinement, she had grown listless. Usually, even if she wasn’t making them for His Majesty, Her Highness would bake some small pastries for herself, or play the zither, or a game of chess.
As she wiped Zhao Yiyi’s face with a warm cloth, Yunzhu couldn’t help but suggest, “The spring sun is lovely today, and the birds outside are singing so cheerfully. Would Your Highness like to go for a walk?”
There had been few palace affairs to manage these past few days, and she had been working more efficiently than before, so she had some time to prepare the tuition gifts for her younger brother, Zhao Chen, to enter the Imperial Academy.
A’Chen and Duanduan were still young, and unlike her elder brother, who was the heir of the marquisate, no one in the family paid them much attention. She couldn’t help but worry more about them.
Hearing Yunzhu’s words, she glanced out the window. The willows swayed gracefully, and the peach blossoms were just beginning to unfurl. The spring scenery was indeed beautiful, calling to one’s heart.
She smiled and allowed a palace maid to drape a silk shawl over her arms. “Alright,” she said softly.
The attendants around her beamed with delight and rushed off to prepare everything.
As most of the palaces were uninhabited, the Forbidden Court felt vast and serene. Zhao Yiyi had always preferred quiet. After walking for some time, she looked up and saw that Qingyue Pavilion was not far away.
Qingyue Pavilion was the highest point in the palace. From its peak, one could overlook the entire Sea Pond and several nearby halls.
“Your Highness, shall we go up and take a look?” a young palace maid asked eagerly.
Zhao Yiyi glanced at her, nodded in agreement, and led her attendants toward the pavilion.
But before they could even begin to ascend, a hushed conversation drifted from the nearby woods. “Her Highness the Empress is truly pitiful. This time, His Majesty has shown her no mercy at all.”
“Isn’t that the truth,” said another voice, which sounded vaguely familiar. “Her father and brother have been dismissed from their posts. And while her maternal aunt wasn’t stripped of her title, most of her fief’s income was cut. Even her cousin has been arrested and is being escorted back to the capital.”
The first, slightly higher-pitched voice continued, “We haven’t seen Her Highness for days. It must be because of this. Could it be… that she’s been put under house arrest by His Majesty?”
Zhao Yiyi looked around blankly. Her expression slowly froze as a loud buzzing filled her ears, drowning out the rest of their words. But what she had already heard was enough to make her body tremble, enough to make the blood in her veins feel as if it had frozen solid.
Father and brother dismissed… Aunt’s income cut… and cousin…
In this world, there was only one person who could do all of these things at once.
No, that’s not right… It can’t be true. It definitely can’t be true.
Right! It has to be a lie. My husband… he wouldn’t do this. It’s all fake, all of it is fake…
As the thoughts raced through her mind, her neatly trimmed nails dug deep into the flesh of her palms.
Author’s Note:
Gu Zhen: Today’s food is terrible.
Yiyi: Oh. (Indifferent.jpg)
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