Chapter 35: Asking Her Reasons part 1
A-Huang.
Gu Zhen still remembered the report from the palace attendant that day. The Empress had given the small slender hound a name: its formal name was Zhao A-Huang, and its nickname was A-Huang.
When Wu Mao cast a sideways glance, he saw the Emperor’s face suddenly darken, followed by a sneer.
“She certainly picked a good name.”
There were so many things he could have said, yet in the end, he only mentioned the name.
In that single laugh, there seemed to be infinite, pent-up anger, ready to erupt at the slightest provocation.
Having served by his side for many years, Wu Mao didn’t even need to look up; simply sensing the atmosphere around him, he knew the Emperor was truly furious. The small slender hound, chosen from thousands, had been given away by Her Highness.
Even he couldn’t understand this outcome, let alone His Majesty.
The procession turned a corner and arrived near Jiaofang Palace. Gu Zhen raised his hand, signaling the attendants to stop.
Wu Mao dared not ask again if His Majesty wanted to go in and see Her Highness. He felt that going in would likely lead to another dispute. If he upset her again and made her cry, His Majesty would be troubled for some time, which wasn’t worth it.
They lingered on the palace path for a long time. It wasn’t until the sun’s shadow shifted, almost shining directly in front of them, that Gu Zhen snapped back to reality.
Just now, he had wanted to rush in and question her, but then he felt it was beneath the dignity of the Son of Heaven to make a fuss over a small dog. Besides, he had already given her the dog, and the words that she could dispose of it as she pleased had come from his own mouth.
The past few visits to Jiaofang Palace had ended unhappily, and he feared that going in this time would only result in another quarrel.
Sending the dog was meant as a gesture of goodwill to soothe her; there was no need to end up in another conflict like before.
With this thought, Gu Zhen forced down the fire in his chest and said in a deep voice, “Return to Zichen Palace.”
Wu Mao, quick-witted as ever, had sent someone to inquire early on. By the time the Emperor’s procession returned to Zichen Palace, the file on A-Huang had already been delivered.
As a slender hound raised by the royal family, A-Huang had a detailed record of its lineage and history. Since it was just born, the entire file was only a thin page. Thus, Gu Zhen saw at a glance that the Empress had ultimately gifted the puppy to the Marquis of Huai’an.
Delivered alongside it was the order the Empress had issued to the Marquis, formally stamped with the seal of the Department of Palace Services.
Whether it was the Empress or the Empress Dowager, when issuing orders, they would not use their own personal seals; the Empress used the seal of the Department of Palace Services.
The order given to the Marquis of Huai’an was a copy from the Department of Palace Services, while the one in Gu Zhen’s hand was the original draft. It had been archived in the Department, retrieved only because the Emperor had sent someone to demand it.
“She certainly is filial.” Gu Zhen snorted coldly, tossing the order aside, his brow furrowed with evident irritation.
What did he mean by sending her this puppy? Could she truly not understand?
How could he not be angry that she so lightly gave away his token of affection to someone else?
Wu Mao stepped forward to tidy up the order and the file, then whispered, “Your Majesty, slender hounds are commonly used for hunting, but Her Highness resides deep within the palace and is not skilled in such matters. perhaps she felt keeping a slender hound by her side was useless.”
Gu Zhen raised his eyes and shot him a cold glance.
Though the look was extremely cold, Wu Mao could tell the Emperor was signaling him to continue.
Wu Mao cleared his throat lightly and added, “Your Majesty, slender hounds are, after all, favored by men. This slave hears that what noble ladies like most are those Fulin dogs (Pekingese/Lap dogs).”
Gu Zhen remained silent, simply toying with a brush in his hand, his gaze fixed heavily on the desk, dark undercurrents swirling in his eyes.
“Fulin dogs?” After a long while, he asked indifferently.
Wu Mao nodded slightly. “Those Fulin dogs are quite good-looking. At the beginning of the year, the Grand Princess wanted to raise one, but the Empress Dowager disliked how much they shed, so she didn’t.”
Gu Zhen chuckled lightly, rubbing his brow as if suffering from a headache.
“Truly troublesome.”
Marquis of Hejian’s Residence, Rong’an Hall.
This hall was built by the water. Sitting inside and looking out, one could see a lotus pond. It would be most suitable for enjoying the cool air on a summer evening.
Lady Cheng, the wife of the Marquis of Hejian, held a teacup but hadn’t taken a sip for a long time, merely gazing at the lotus pond opposite and sighing.
After a while, a young girl wearing a pink jacket with a camellia pattern entered, holding a small box. She excitedly showed it to Lady Cheng, “Mother, look at the rouge I just made. Is it pretty?”
“Not bad.” Lady Cheng managed a forced compliment, then lowered her head slightly and continued to sigh.
Perplexed, the girl asked with concern, “Mother, what’s wrong?”
Lady Cheng looked around, hesitated for a moment, then signaled her youngest daughter to come closer. Only then did she say impatiently, “It’s all because of your brother’s marriage. Originally, a match with the second daughter of the Zhao family was a good one. Who knew that… just after the betrothal gifts were sent, the Marquis of Huai’an’s residence would have such trouble?”
Thinking of both the Marquis of Huai’an and his heir being dismissed from office, she felt a sense of dread. The Emperor’s crackdown on the noble families had greatly affected their Boling Cui clan as well. Her eldest son was the most outstanding of the Cui family’s current generation, practically their hope.
The family was already not what it used to be. If he had in-laws in such a state, his future path would only be more difficult.
Thinking of this, Lady Cheng felt heavy-hearted and hadn’t slept well for a long time.
Hearing this, Cui Nianhan disagreed, “If Mother is worried, why not discuss it with Father and break off the engagement with the Zhao family? Eldest Brother is so good; who in the world isn’t good enough for him?”
Lady Cheng shook her head helplessly. “That’s where I’m torn. I hinted at it to your brother the other day, and he rejected the idea very fiercely. Besides, although the Zhao family has lost power, there is still an Empress in the palace.”
“I heard the Empress dotes on this youngest sister the most.”
“So that’s what Mother is worried about.” Cui Nianhan smiled knowingly, waving her hand to dismiss the servants to guard the door.
Watching her daughter’s actions, Lady Cheng couldn’t help but feel nervous. She glanced around hurriedly before signaling her daughter to speak.
Cui Nianhan said, “Mother, when I was riding in the northern suburbs the day before yesterday, I heard Princess Linchuan mention that the Empress had angered His Majesty and has been confined to Jiaofang Palace by His Majesty, not having stepped out for a long time.”
Lady Cheng’s eyes widened slightly, clearly unaware of such inside information.
Cui Nianhan continued, “Just wait. Now the Empress Dowager favors the second daughter of the He family to be the Empress. With the cousins in mutual affection, where is there room for that one? She has no son; I’m afraid she will be deposed soon.”
Lady Cheng’s heart pounded, still somewhat skeptical.
But on second thought, her daughter had always been close to Princess Linchuan, and the Princess was the Empress Dowager’s own daughter. Her words should be reliable.
It seemed this marriage with the Zhao family needed to be reconsidered.
It rained in the evening, a drizzling spring rain falling steadily.
Zhao Yiyi had always loved the sound of rain and thunder. Listening to them at night always made her feel particularly at ease, and she slept exceptionally well.
With such rustling rain, she should have slept peacefully.
But tonight, she couldn’t sleep.
Turning over on the couch again, she vaguely heard voices from the outer room and called out, “Yunzhu?”
Yunzhu hurried in, leaning by her couch to ask, “Your Highness, did the servants wake you?”
Zhao Yiyi shook her head groggily, frowning as she asked, “What are you talking about outside? Why does it sound like someone has come?”
Turning to look outside, Yunzhu hesitated for a moment before replying, “Your Highness, His Majesty sent someone to deliver a Fulin dog. It’s frolicking outside right now.”
Just sent a slender hound, and now a Fulin dog in the blink of an eye. Is he never going to stop?
Or does he just have a problem with dogs?
Zhao Yiyi was already feeling vexed thinking of him, coupled with the annoyance of being disturbed from her sleep. Hearing this, she wrapped herself in the quilt, turned over to face the wall, and said in a muffled voice, “Send it back.”
Yunzhu was stunned at first, then called out somewhat anxiously, “Your Highness?”
Zhao Yiyi tucked herself further into the inner side of the bed, her voice more urgent, “I said send it back!”
This time, Yunzhu clearly heard the choke in her voice.
She was truly angry.
With a heavy heart, Yunzhu slowly shuffled back to the front hall. Wu Nan, who had come to deliver the Fulin dog, hadn’t left yet. Yunzhu stopped him, saying, “Eunuch Wu.”
“If Steward Yun has instructions, please speak,” Wu Nan said with a smile.
Yunzhu took a deep breath, pointing at the small dog fluttering on the ground. “Trouble the Eunuch to take this Fulin dog back.”
Wu Nan’s eyes widened, panicked for a moment. “Steward Yun, this… this Fulin dog was specially sought by His Majesty and just sent to Her Highness. How can… how can it just be sent back like this?”
By the end, he even bit his tongue, the pain making him shudder.
Part 2
Remembering Her Highness’s attitude just now, after some deliberation, Yunzhu chose a more tactful explanation. “Her Highness doesn’t much care for the appearance of this Fulin dog. Her family raised one in the past. Just now, she specifically instructed to thank His Majesty for his kindness, but she won’t be keeping the dog.”
Since letting the second Miss He in last time and getting punished, Wu Nan had been sweeping the gates at Zichen Palace for a long time.
He had finally gotten this errand with great difficulty. Who knew it was about to be botched right before his eyes?
Thinking of this, Wu Nan panicked too. “Steward Yun, Fulin dogs are hard to find, let alone one this good-looking; it’s truly one in a hundred. Why not… why not wait until Her Highness wakes up tomorrow morning and takes a look before deciding?”
Yunzhu naturally had thought the same, but she didn’t dare agree.
“If Her Highness doesn’t like Fulin dogs, no matter how she looks at it, she won’t like it,” she said.
With her being so unyielding, Wu Nan was completely out of options. Not daring to disturb the Empress’s rest, he had to lead his people and take the Fulin dog back to Zichen Palace exactly as it came.
Aside from the rain and thunder outside, the hall was quite silent. Because of the rain, there wasn’t even the sound of birds.
The conversation between the two outside drifted clearly into Zhao Yiyi’s ears.
She felt that what Yunzhu said made a lot of sense.
If she didn’t like that Fulin dog, no matter how she looked at it, she wouldn’t like it.
Just like that person didn’t like her. No matter how much she approached him, even if they were rightfully husband and wife, he wouldn’t like her.
She should have thought of it long ago, should have realized it long ago.
But she had immersed herself in her liking for him, refusing to listen to anything, unwilling to think deeply about anything.
Once she thought deeply, she would be the one hurt.
As she was thinking in a daze, Yunzhu re-entered the sleeping quarters, bowing and reporting, “Your Highness, Wu Nan has taken the Fulin dog back.”
“Mm.” Zhao Yiyi sniffled, her voice slightly hoarse. “If they send it again in the future, don’t accept it either.”
After waking up the next morning, the palace servants fetched many ancient books from the library.
When Zhao Yiyi was still a maiden, she often enjoyed reading these ancient books and had even tried to annotate them.
Later, she discovered that annotating books was not as easy as she thought; it was an extremely difficult task requiring profound knowledge. Feeling her learning was insufficient, she gradually gave up the idea.
What outsiders didn’t know was that her initial interest in ancient books stemmed from hearing that the Crown Prince was well-versed in all classics and history, and had even annotated them himself. Out of admiration for the Crown Prince, she developed an interest in ancient books and pestered her grandfather to let her study in his library.
Her grandfather couldn’t refuse her and gave her the key to the innermost room of the library. Over the years, these books had left a deep imprint on her mind.
Even if she decided not to like him anymore, she couldn’t throw away these books.
“This slave remembers that when we were in Chang’an, there was a very large study in Your Highness’s courtyard,” Mancao said with a smile as she brought in some embroidery work.
Zhao Yiyi laughed along twice. The ancestral home in Chang’an was now uninhabited and had been left empty. Her courtyard must not have been cleared out and was likely kept as it was.
She had selected some books from that room for her dowry, but most remained in the courtyard.
“Right, remember to send someone to the Palace Bureau to ask if the jewelry I ordered has been made.” Zhao Yiyi rubbed her brow and turned to instruct Mancao.
She had ordered this jewelry to add to Duanduan’s dowry when she married.
As long as Duanduan married, the affairs of the Marquis of Huai’an’s residence wouldn’t affect her. After the end of the year, the only person she would need to worry about was A-Chen.
After the rain, pear blossoms were scattered all over the ground, snow-white petals paving the green bricks, captivating the eye.
The sky had cleared. Just as Zhao Yiyi had the thought to go sit on the swing, a eunuch in green ran in and reported, “Your Highness, someone came from Zichen Palace saying His Majesty summons Your Highness to Zichen Palace regarding the matter of that Fulin dog.”
Zhao Yiyi’s motion of turning the page paused, and her face suddenly turned cold. “Go tell them I’m not feeling well, haven’t washed or dressed, and my appearance is untidy, so it’s inconvenient to see His Majesty.”
When she turned her head, the eunuch in green hadn’t left, still frozen there with a difficult expression.
“Do you not understand?” she asked indifferently.
The eunuch in green said with difficulty, “Your Highness…”
Before he finished speaking, accompanied by the sound of leather boots hitting the ground, a cold, imposing voice suddenly came: “Zhen wants to see if the Empress is truly untidy in appearance!”
In a moment, the person strode in, his body still carrying some damp moisture, his eyes and brows tinged with coldness.
Zhao Yiyi turned her head sharply to look at the eunuch in green. After staring until he buried his head deep, she felt there was no point.
They were all pitiful people; he was just acting on imperial orders. She could just transfer him away later.
Gu Zhen approached step by step, seeing a bit of panic on the Empress’s face. After a brief daze, she hurriedly got up to curtsy to him.
“Ten thousand blessings to Your Majesty.” Zhao Yiyi stood up and clasped her hands in greeting.
Today she wore a lotus-root colored tube top, covered by a green long coat embroidered with clusters of small goose-yellow flowers along the edges, looking exceptionally fresh and lovely.
Her dark hair had few decorations, just loosely tied in a slanted bun.
Indeed, she hadn’t properly dressed up.
But she was born charming and moving; even like this, she was soul-stirring enough.
After the curtsy, she said no more, just sitting quietly to the side, lowering her eyes to look at the teacup in front of her.
Gu Zhen sat down beside her and asked in a deep voice, “Did the Fulin dog Zhen sent last night fail to catch the Empress’s eye?”
“The things His Majesty sends are naturally very good.” Zhao Yiyi still lowered her head slightly, refusing to look at him, her voice a bit flat. “It is this consort’s own problem; I have no affinity with that Fulin dog.”
Still this resistant attitude.
Anger flared in his heart. Gu Zhen endured for a while before not exploding on the spot.
He didn’t want to quarrel with her, nor did he want to argue, but he ultimately couldn’t hold back and asked, “The Empress says you have no affinity with the Fulin dog, then what about that slender hound?”
Zhao Yiyi said, “Father has been dismissed by His Majesty these days and inevitably has apprehensions at home. This consort thought to send a small dog to him as a comfort.”
A flash of anger crossed Gu Zhen’s eyes, and he said coldly, “But you should know, that slender hound was a gift from Zhen to you.”
“Didn’t His Majesty say?” Zhao Yiyi looked up at him, raising an eyebrow slightly, surprised. “His Majesty said it was at this consort’s disposal; this consort could do whatever she wanted.”
Whatever name she gave it, however she placed or kept it, it was her own business.
These were indeed words he had personally spoken.
A breath was suddenly stuck in his chest, unable to go up or down, making him suddenly uncomfortable.
After staring at Zhao Yiyi for a long time, Gu Zhen asked with a cold face, “Is this how you disregard Zhen’s intentions?”
His intentions? What intentions?
Zhao Yiyi suddenly felt like laughing.
So, a person like him, an Emperor like him, the master of Great Chu, also has intentions?
He never took my intentions to heart, never cared. All my admiration, my full heart of liking, all my affection for him over these years, he threw away like worn-out shoes.
So, what does he think his intentions are worth?
“Your Majesty,” Zhao Yiyi said softly, “this consort does not quite understand what Your Majesty wants to say.”
She lowered her head slightly, a picture of extreme submissiveness, yet it was heartbreaking. “This consort is dull; please speak clearly, Your Majesty.”
The palace servants in the hall had long retreated. Suhe incense burned in the Boshan stove, wisps of smoke emerging from the holes, gathering, dispersing, and finally permeating every corner of the inner hall.
It seemed everything was tainted with the scent of Suhe incense.
Staring at her smiling face, Gu Zhen became increasingly annoyed, as if a raging fire was burning in his heart, soon to burn him to ashes.
This fire must be anger.
Gu Zhen rubbed his brow, suddenly reached out to grab Zhao Yiyi’s arm, and with a slight pull, dragged her in front of him.
He gritted his teeth, “Does the Empress truly not understand the meaning of Zhen sending these two dogs?”
Zhao Yiyi shook her head gently. “This consort truly does not understand.”
Staring at her brows and eyes for a long time, upon touching her dark and calm eyes, Gu Zhen was suddenly certain she understood everything.
She understood everything, yet pretended not to.
What meaning could he have? He just didn’t want to keep fighting with her and took the initiative to show goodwill.
But she could hold a grudge to this extent, turning a blind eye even to his proactive goodwill.
Gu Zhen lifted Zhao Yiyi’s chin, his rough thumb rubbing her cheek for a moment, then suddenly asked with a cold face, “Is the Empress’s word true?”
What does he take me for by doing this?
Zhao Yiyi’s eyes suddenly reddened. She turned her head to avoid his touch and said coldly, “Truly do not understand. His Majesty’s intentions are the Sacred Will; how would this consort, though Empress, dare to presumptuously speculate on the Sacred Will?”
Look, look! She’s even bringing up the Sacred Will, yet she says she’s not angry.
Gu Zhen suddenly pulled her into his arms. After closing his eyes in silence for a moment, he said flatly, “These two puppies were specially sought by Zhen’s orders. That A-Huang… is it called A-Huang? Its ancestors were all top-notch hunting dogs, and A-Mo by Zhen’s side is of the same lineage. Giving it to you was because I thought of how you once said A-Mo was agile and you wanted a slender hound like that too.”
Zhao Yiyi was slightly stunned.
She indeed… indeed had said she wanted a slender hound as good as His Majesty’s, so she could bring one along the next time she went hunting.
It would certainly be majestic.
She had said it, but she had left it behind after saying it, never taking it to heart.
Actually, she didn’t like slender hounds that much, nor did she envy his slender hounds and harriers accompanying him on hunts. She simply wanted to have the same things as him.
That was all.
Zhao Yiyi took a deep breath, then looked around in confusion. “Thank you for remembering, Your Majesty. But that was something I liked in the past; I don’t like it as much now.”
Sending these two little things was meant to make her happy. Gu Zhen didn’t know how things turned out like this again, so he said indifferently, “Wu Mao said noble ladies in the capital love raising Fulin dogs. Zhen thought since you didn’t like slender hounds, I had someone find a Fulin dog.”
As he spoke, his eyes darkened a bit more. “But you still don’t like it.”
Zhao Yiyi’s eyelashes trembled lightly, and she turned her head slightly, refusing to look into his eyes. Actually, she wanted to withdraw from his arms and distance herself from him, but having struggled unsuccessfully that day, she knew the disparity in strength between them.
Therefore, she didn’t bother wasting more effort.
Gu Zhen’s arm around her waist suddenly tightened. He lowered his head and asked her, “Tell me, why do you dislike the two puppies Zhen sent?”
Her heart felt heavy. Zhao Yiyi barely suppressed her emotions, looked up at him, and replied softly, “Because they were sent by Your Majesty.”
Author’s Note:
Gu Zhen: Really? I don’t believe it @
Yiyi: Believe it or not.
Gu Zhen: Yiyi must be lying to me! Just to make me sad! (Convinced)
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