Chapter 26: She Was Done part 1
Gu Zhen clenched his hands into fists, asking himself again: if she doesn’t like hairpins and jewelry, then what does she like?
It was dusk, and the faintly yellow light spilled across the memorials on his desk, making the black ink look as if it had been dusted with gold powder, glowing faintly in the hall where the candles had not yet been lit.
After being prodded by the Emperor, both men looked displeased. If they hadn’t long passed the days of playing and studying together, if they weren’t keenly aware of the distinction between monarch and subject, they would have already spoken their minds.
Prince Yan tugged at the corner of his lip, then turned his head, refusing to say more. In any case, his Imperial Brother’s eyes were closed and he wasn’t paying attention.
Jiang Jiayan bowed slightly, cupping his hands again to offer his opinion. “We subjects are indeed unmarried and do not understand the minds of women well.” He paused for a moment, glanced at Gu Zhen’s expression, then continued, “In this subject’s humble opinion, Your Majesty could ask Her Highness the Empress directly. The information would be more accurate.”
Prince Yan chimed in again. “I think what Mingchen says is very reasonable. Guessing is, after all, just guessing. Even among women, there are surely differences. It would be better for Imperial Brother to ask Imperial Sister-in-law directly what she likes.”
Jiang Jiayan’s words had been a remark made in a huff, but Gu Zhen, lost in his own thoughts, didn’t catch the tone and actually considered it for a moment.
There was, indeed, some merit to what they said.
He looked up at the sky. The sun had already set, and there was still a great deal of official business left for the day. Then let’s wait for tomorrow, he thought. Tomorrow, I’ll go and ask her myself what it is she truly wants.
If her request wasn’t too outrageous, he would grant it.
After all, she was still his wife, the Empress of this Great Chu.
At this thought, he glanced sideways at Prince Yan and said coolly, “Before Imperial Father passed away, he was concerned about your marriage. You’re not young anymore. Have you given any thought to when you will wed?”
Caught off guard, Prince Yan quickly said, “Imperial Brother, I’m used to being free and unfettered on my own. Why would I want another person in my residence? This matter… let’s discuss it later, yes, later.”
Gu Zhen wasn’t truly trying to force him. It was just that as an elder brother, and being annoyed with him at the moment, he wanted to lecture him a bit. Hearing his reply, he just glared at him a few times and said flatly, “A few days ago, Mother said Linchuan wanted to go horse riding in the western suburbs and asked me to find someone to take her. Since you don’t want to get married, and you’re idle lately, you can take her.”
Prince Yan’s face changed dramatically. A hot potato had just been tossed into his hands. He said with a pained expression, “Imperial Brother, it’s not as if you don’t know my temperament. How could I possibly look after her?”
Linchuan had been spoiled rotten by the Empress Dowager. Ever since they were children, they had found her troublesome and refused to play with her. Now, saddled with this task, he was so terrified he was tempted to announce he would get married tomorrow.
“What are you afraid of?” Gu Zhen’s long fingers, which had been flipping through a memorial, paused. He offered a suggestion in a flat tone, “Mother only said to have someone accompany her. You take her out, drop her in the western suburbs, and when she’s tired of riding on her own, how could she possibly bother you? As long as it satisfies Mother, that’s all that matters.”
Prince Yan thought it over and found it made perfect sense. This way, not only could he get a day off, but he wouldn’t have to deal with Linchuan. It was an arrangement with no downsides.
He said happily, “Then this younger brother will take Linchuan to the western suburbs tomorrow!”
After they had left, Gu Zhen’s expression returned to its usual indifference.
But for some reason, he couldn’t focus on the memorials before him. He stood up and paced by the window a few times before waving Wu Mao over.
The blood-red sun slowly set, and the evening glow faded inch by inch until the last trace of light vanished. One by one, candles were lit within the hall.
The flames on the bronze, multi-branched lamp flickered, swaying with the wind.
Gu Zhen’s gaze lingered on the candlelight for a long time before he finally looked away.
“Your Majesty?” Having stood by his side for a long while, Wu Mao couldn’t help but prompt the emperor who had summoned him but then said nothing.
Gu Zhen’s expression was not good. He didn’t know how long he had been pacing. When a crescent moon hung high in the sky and the colors of the evening began to dim, he finally stopped.
He reached out and plucked an apricot blossom from the branch outside the window, his voice deep. “Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow. There are too many tomorrows. Forget it, I’ll go over tonight. It will save her from overthinking things again.”
Wu Mao was shocked. For a moment, he couldn’t figure out His Majesty’s attitude toward the Empress.
If you said he cared, his actions against the Zhao family and his reprimand of the Empress that day were all real. If you said he didn’t care at all, those occasional moments of concern were not fake either.
Wu Mao couldn’t help but sigh. Truly, the monarch’s heart was unfathomable. He then said respectfully, “This slave will prepare the palanquin at once.”
The night was deep. Zhao Yiyi was in the study, playing a game of Go with a young palace maid.
On the board, the black and white stones were evenly matched, locked in a fierce and inseparable battle.
“Your Majesty, I’ve captured two more of your stones,” the young palace maid said with a grin as she picked up the pieces.
“Mm,” Zhao Yiyi responded faintly. She held a white stone, contemplating for a long time, uncertain of where to place it. As she thought, she grew suddenly irritable.
She suddenly remembered that she had never been good at Go. It was only years ago, when she was still a maiden at home, that she had heard the Crown Prince was a brilliant player who had easily defeated all the master players in Great Chu.
Only then had she begun to practice the art of Go, studying countless game records.
She had almost forgotten that it was something she had learned specifically for him.
Looking at the board again, Zhao Yiyi suddenly lost all interest. She tossed the white stone back into the bowl and said flatly, “I’m a bit tired. We’ll play again tomorrow. I’ll count this as your win.”
The young maid received a few coins and left happily. Yunzhu, holding a brocade box, stood carefully by her side and called out softly, “Your Majesty.”
Zhao Yiyi’s hand, which was clearing the stones, paused. She turned her head. “What is it?”
Glancing around, Yunzhu lowered her voice. “Your Majesty, these jewelry pieces that His Majesty sent, would you like to take a look?”
The brocade box was made of sandalwood, its entire surface painted with gold lacquer in a phoenix pattern. A single glance was enough to tell its value. Held in Yunzhu’s hands, it looked heavy, and must have been filled with many things.
The gold lacquer on the box was a bit glaring, and it began to burn her eyes.
He was always like this. Every time he wanted to soothe her, he would send her some jewelry. So, he knew she felt wronged?
If so, why did he have to treat her with that attitude that day? Why did he have to say those things…
In the past, she would have been overjoyed to see the things he sent. Now, there was only irritation and a pounding heart. If she looked at it any longer, she was afraid she would lose control.
Zhao Yiyi lowered her lashes and turned her face away slightly. “Take it away. I don’t want to see it.”
Although she had known this would be her answer, Yunzhu couldn’t help but feel anxious. His Majesty was still willing to coax her now, to soothe her a little. If this quarrel continued, it would be Her Majesty who would suffer in the end.
Thinking of this, she set the brocade box aside, sat on a low stool beside Zhao Yiyi, and sighed softly. “Your Majesty, this slave has opened it and looked. The items inside are all rare treasures. It has been some days now. For His Majesty to send so many precious things means he intends to make peace and is waiting for Your Majesty.”
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