After being sent to the cold palace, the emperor’s heart was burned into ashes CHAPTER 36.2

Part 2

Their current distance allowed Gu Zhen to easily detect the tremor in her voice and the despair in her eyes.

Zhao Yiyi laughed lightly. “If my natal family falls, my position naturally cannot be secure. Has Your Majesty thought of this?”

“Did you hear some rumors?” Gu Zhen frowned and asked her.

Zhao Yiyi said softly, “Why would I need rumors? Your Majesty, this consort is not a three-year-old child; how could I not understand the logic? If only that day Your Majesty had been willing to explain properly to this consort, instead of directly reprimanding, this consort would not be heartbroken to this extent.”

The hall suddenly fell silent, only the occasional chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves from outside the window could be heard.

Gu Zhen’s torch-like gaze remained fixed on her, from hair tip to eye tail, from cherry lips to lapels, inch by inch, sweeping over lightly.

Zhao Yiyi’s throat choked slightly, unable to speak.

“Never mind.” After an unknown amount of time, he suddenly said deeply, “It was Zhen who slipped up and spoke too harshly. Later, when Zhen came to see you, knowing you would plead for your brother, hearing it actually happen still made the anger rush straight up. In a moment of annoyance, I said those words.”

He chuckled lightly. “Who would have thought you also have a big temper, holding a grudge against Zhen until now just for this?”

She should have been happy, but hearing it now, there wasn’t a ripple in her heart, not even a fluctuation.

Seeing her lower her head silently, Gu Zhen lowered his head and said, “That day was Zhen’s fault. The words were heavier, the tone not very good. Later, when you argued with Zhen, I spoke even more unpleasantly. Don’t be angry anymore, hmm?”

Why is it like this?

Why is it always when she is desperate, when she wants to let go completely, when she wants to excise him from her heart, that he is willing to treat her a little better, willing to apologize to her?

“Yiyi.” Gu Zhen deepened his voice. “That day, Zhen was in a fit of anger, having just dealt with a few people before coming to Jiaofang Palace. Hearing the Empress in the inner court also speak of this matter made me even more annoyed.”

How ridiculous.

Married for over two years, for the first time in her life, she heard him call her childhood name.

These two words came out of his mouth for the first time. It had been so long, long enough that she thought her husband didn’t even know her name, when he finally called it out.

“Your Majesty, this consort is a bit tired.” Zhao Yiyi smiled, then laughed until tears came. Her nose soured sharply, and she continued, “Three feet of ice does not form in a single day.”

“Your Majesty questioned if this consort regarded your intentions. Then this consort would like to ask, married for two years, has Your Majesty ever placed this consort in your heart?”

Has he?

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Does he really not know why she is sad?

Gu Zhen still kept a cold face, but Zhao Yiyi had already pushed him away and straightened up.

“I fear Your Majesty has never kept this consort in mind, right?” She stood by the desk, looking down with a smile. “Married for so long, this consort is also tired, and I’ve grown weary of being this Empress. Your Majesty rest assured, in the future, this consort will not disturb Your Majesty again, nor try to sway Your Majesty’s decisions for my own private matters, making things difficult for Your Majesty.”

His throat tightened. Gu Zhen felt a stabbing pain in his heart, wanting to say something but finding no words.

He just felt it was somewhat absurd and ridiculous.

His Empress actually said she was tired, that being Empress was too sad.

Every single thing made him feel it was absurd.

Yet it really happened.

After a cold laugh, Gu Zhen slowly straightened his sleeves and stood up to leave.

But he stopped at the door, looking back at her. “Does the Empress truly think so?”

He was giving her one last chance.

The last time.

Just this one, unique time.

Zhao Yiyi crossed her hands and bowed slightly, saying softly, “This consort knows I am not liked by Your Majesty. In the future, I will definitely stay obediently in Jiaofang Palace and never ask for those ethereal things again, provoking Your Majesty’s displeasure.”

A piercing pain spread. Gu Zhen’s phoenix eyes darkened slightly. After staring at her for a long time, he gently twitched the corner of his lips. “Zhen understands.”

The Emperor returned to Zichen Palace, taking the Fulin dog brought earlier back with him.

His face was terrifyingly gloomy. He didn’t speak along the way, and no one dared to ask. Upon returning to Zichen Palace, he began handling government affairs, summoning several people in succession.

When the Prince of Yan entered, he saw Wu Mao circling the Fulin dog. He couldn’t help laughing and asking, “When did Imperial Brother raise such a little thing?”

Wu Mao looked at him, hurriedly put a finger to his lips, signaling him to be silent. “Your Highness, please don’t ask. This Fulin dog…” He didn’t say the reason in the end, only sighing, “This slave doesn’t know what to do with it.”

“Did Imperial Brother give instructions?” Prince of Yan asked.

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Wu Mao shook his head. “Precisely because His Majesty gave no instructions, this slave finds it difficult.”

Prince of Yan laughed. “What’s difficult about this? Isn’t there A-Mo? Raising one is raising, raising two is raising. Just keep it for now and wait until Imperial Brother asks.”

Wu Mao thought about it and felt it made sense. Just as he was about to thank him, a harsh scolding came from inside the hall: “Still not coming in? What are you standing outside for?”

Prince of Yan hurriedly straightened his sleeves and rushed in.

“This matter is complex, and many fields are occupied by powerful gentry who don’t want to pay land tax. It’s troublesome after all…”

He Minghong was just explaining the land measurement to the Emperor. Seeing Prince of Yan enter, he shut his mouth and, at the Emperor’s signal, said, “This subject retires.”

From the moment he entered the hall, he sensed the Emperor was in a bad mood today. Associating it with the affairs of the Emperor and Empress these days, he was inevitably worried, making several omissions in his report, which he only realized after the Emperor’s reminder.

Returning to the residence, it was already dusk. He didn’t go to the study to handle government affairs first, but walked along the pond for a while.

“Look! My kite is flying the highest!”

“Mine is!”

“Don’t move—hey, why did you two cut my string?”

“Haha, once yours is cut, it’s gone.”

Several figures stood by the pond bank, painted into a picture by the dim yellow light. It looked like several children of the residence playing together. Although the He parents had passed away, the brothers hadn’t divided the household. The second branch had many children; the eldest son was eighteen, the youngest only six or seven. Gathered together now, they made the entire Commandery Duke’s residence very lively.

Staring for a moment, He Minghong remembered the Emperor’s instructions that day, so he said flatly, “Go call the Eldest Miss over.”

When He Xunfang came over, she lowered her head slightly, looking dejected.

“What’s wrong?” He Minghong asked her.

He Xunfang pursed her lips, glanced in the direction just now, and said somewhat unhappily, “We were playing fine just now, but they insisted on cutting my kite string. The kite I just bought is gone.”

He Minghong chuckled. “Alright, it’s just a kite. Father will buy you a few more another day.” Scanning the arguing figures, large and small, over there, a flash of disdain crossed his eyes.

The small ones were one thing, but the big one… still playing such childish tricks, and joining in cutting his daughter’s kite string. Truly annoying.

Thinking this, his face gradually turned cold, and he said flatly, “Fang’er, do you know one should play more with smart people?”

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He Xunfang was stunned. “Father, what?”

“Nothing, just remembered your grandfather’s instructions from the past, saying that staying with stupid people for too long makes one stupid too.” He Minghong said lightly. Thinking his daughter wasn’t very smart to begin with, if she became even stupider, that would be terrible.

After thinking in his heart for a while, He Minghong said softly, “Pack your luggage tonight. Go into the palace tomorrow and stay with the Empress Dowager for a few days.”

He Xunfang didn’t react for a moment.

Didn’t Father always dislike me going to Aunt’s place? Why did he bring it up himself today?

She asked訥訥 (stammeringly), “Father, what happened?”

“Nothing, just that His Majesty asked a few times before. I happened to remember today, so I’m just reminding you.” He Minghong rubbed her head and said warmly, “It’s getting late, go back and rest quickly.”

Since the Emperor left in a huff again that day, rumors gradually spread in the palace.

Zhao Yiyi was quite content, staying in Jiaofang Palace every day, either tending to flowers and plants, organizing interesting trinkets in her storeroom, or taking out several zithers to wipe them one by one.

Although she felt happy, the people in the palace didn’t think so. Rumors even faintly spread that although the Empress hadn’t been deposed and the supplies of Jiaofang Palace remained as before, that originally solemn and noble hall had its doors tightly shut, and His Majesty hadn’t set foot there, making it no different from the Cold Palace.

When the news reached Zhao Yiyi’s ears, she just laughed twice. “That’s quite good too; I’m happy to have some peace and quiet.”

The female officials laughed along with her, but bitterness filled their hearts.

The sound of uniform footsteps came from the palace path outside. Zhao Yiyi followed the sound and looked out, her expression slightly dazed.

Yun Zhu took the opportunity to say, “This slave will go see what sound it is?”

“Don’t go.” Zhao Yiyi turned a page of her book and glanced at her. “What’s there to see? Isn’t it good to sit here and read? If not, there are still many palace affairs piled up in the study.”

Thinking of this, the female officials felt even more bitterness in their hearts.

Since that day, Her Highness had been very slack with palace affairs. Although she would still finish them one by one, it wasn’t with the diligence and care of before. Instead, she waited until she had rested enough and thought of it before looking.

Sometimes delaying until the second day.

On the palace path, the Emperor’s procession slowly passed in front of Jiaofang Palace. Gu Zhen turned his head to glance at the inner room, his large hand exerting force, suddenly gripping the armrest tight.

His route to the harem, whether to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, walk by the Hai Pool to relax, or climb Qingyue Tower to enjoy the scenery.

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None required passing Jiaofang Palace.

Yet for some reason, in these few days, he had passed by Jiaofang Palace several times, even ordering the palace servants to slow down deliberately.

Even he didn’t know what exactly he was expecting.

Author’s Note:

Gu Zhen: I apologized! Why are you still angry?

Yiyi: Can’t I be angry?

Gu Zhen: Stop being angry, okay? @

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