Part 3
Gu Zhen was almost laughed out of anger by her. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Zhen just backed you up, and this is how you treat Zhen?” Enduring again and again, he finally said, “What do you think Zhen rushed to Wanchun Palace for?”
Wasn’t it because I was afraid you were being bullied!
As soon as his voice fell, Zhao Yiyi’s eyes suddenly turned red. “Then tell me, Your Majesty, the embarrassment this consort just suffered—what was it all because of?”
Wasn’t it all because of him?
If not for the Empress Dowager wanting to stuff people into the palace, if not for that He Xunling wanting to enter his harem, how would it have come to this?
And now, he has the nerve to say it!
“If not for Your Majesty, how would this consort need Your Majesty to come specifically to back me up?” she asked with red eyes.
Harm me until I am almost punished, then run over to comfort me—this is truly too ridiculous.
Zhao Yiyi looked up at him and smiled. “Does Your Majesty not feel ashamed saying these words?”
Even though the rims of her eyes were red and contained watery mist, she still wore a smile on her face. That dimpled smile was extremely beautiful.
Suppressing the annoyance between his brows, Gu Zhen said, “Zhen did not treat you well enough in the past, but how can you blame Zhen for things Zhen never did?”
But was today’s matter completely unrelated to him?
Zhao Yiyi felt exhausted and didn’t want to argue with him about these things, feeling physically and mentally drained. As she walked, her pace gradually slowed down.
A few drops of rain drifted down, hitting her face and eyelashes. She blinked tremblingly. When she looked up, an umbrella was already held over her head.
“Why come out when your illness isn’t fully healed?” Gu Zhen scolded her coldly, displeased. “Since you knew Mother summoned you, why didn’t you come and tell Zhen, instead of waiting for A-Qi to inform Zhen?”
Zhao Yiyi’s eyelashes trembled a few times. She lifted her eyes to look at him and asked hoarsely, “Tell Your Majesty? Even if this consort told Your Majesty, what then?”
“If you don’t tell Zhen, how do you know what would happen?” Gu Zhen asked back.
His voice gradually softened, helpless. “If you refuse to tell Zhen, how can Zhen come over to back you up?”
Zhao Yiyi murmured, “Ah? Would Your Majesty come over and back me up?”
Her voice was too sorrowful, mixed with infinite brokenness, twisting his heart into a knot. Gazing quietly into her almond eyes for a long time, he asked softly, “Did Zhen not come today? If you refuse to tell Zhen, how would you know?”
Those almond eyes contained mist, and separated by the hazy rain, she appeared even more pitiful and lovable.
Zhao Yiyi tilted her head slightly, her cherry lips parting. After a long while, she suddenly burst into laughter.
Laughing and laughing, tears followed.
She said, “But for the past nearly three years, Your Majesty has never backed me up.”
Did she want it? How could she not?
As a wife, how could she not want her husband to back her up? To stand in front of her when things happened, blocking all the wind and rain.
But he never did.
He even found her too troublesome.
Over time, those desires from the past gradually faded, becoming only a shred of extravagant hope in her heart, buried deep, not daring to think about it at all.
She didn’t even dare to say a word to him.
Afraid of making him despise her even more.
How ridiculous.
For nearly three years in the past, he never backed her up, yet today he suddenly said to her: “If you refuse to tell Zhen, how can Zhen come over to back you up?”
If I told him, would he?
Zhao Yiyi continued to smile, her eyes gradually revealing mockery.
Gu Zhen was suddenly stunned, stung by the sarcasm in her eyes. The hand holding the umbrella handle gradually tightened, the force so great it almost crushed the handle.
“Zhen…”
He spoke hoarsely but couldn’t complete the sentence.
Zhao Yiyi said, “Your Majesty has never backed this consort up, nor ever cared about this consort. How can you ask such a question today?”
When she said this, her voice trembled slightly, close to choking.
“Your Majesty says, if this consort didn’t ask, how would I know. Then does Your Majesty know, this consort did ask? In the past, this consort wanted to tell Your Majesty, wanted to speak to Your Majesty about the grievances in my heart, but every time, Your Majesty frowned in displeasure, or told this consort to go back and speak later.”
Gu Zhen’s eyes darkened slightly. His Adam’s apple rolled up and down a few times, wanting to defend himself, but he couldn’t find suitable words.
“If I told Your Majesty, would Your Majesty help this consort?” she asked with a trembling voice.
The light in her eyes was completely gone, leaving only a grayish defeat, mixed with a little despair and pain. When their eyes met, it pierced his heart precisely.
“Yiyi,” he called in a low voice.
Zhao Yiyi said, “I beg Your Majesty not to call this consort that.” She said coldly, “Listening to it only makes this consort feel terrible.”
Married for nearly three years, he had always called her Crown Princess or Empress, but now that she said she didn’t like him, he called her by her childhood name.
She didn’t know who he was calling it for.
The rain wasn’t heavy, just misty. Zhao Yiyi pushed him away and drilled into the rain and mist alone.
The palace attendant hurriedly raised an umbrella and followed, calling, “Your Highness, slow down!”
On the palace path in the misty rain, Gu Zhen stood with his umbrella for a long time. The pink walls on both sides were wet with rain, showing dark traces. The tile eaves were washed clean of dirt, appearing more translucent.
The palace attendant had already caught up, holding the umbrella for her, walking forward together.
Staring at her back for a long time—he couldn’t even remember how long—he opened his mouth but couldn’t make a sound.
He had never thought about these things.
Before, he only thought the Empress was worry-free, never made mistakes, and was well-behaved and sensible. Although a bit weak, she was barely qualified to be this Empress.
But some grudges, some estrangements, had quietly formed unknowingly, turning into a sharp blade stabbing into his heart.
It turned out the Empress had long lost trust and reliance on him.
Closing his eyes, Gu Zhen ordered in a hoarse voice, “Go investigate what happened today.”
The people of Zichen Palace moved quickly, and since it was something that happened only in the past few days, the matter was presented on the imperial desk the next day.
Gu Zhen sat at the head, flipping through those few sheets of paper with a gloomy expression, scanning those names one by one, a flash of shadow in his eyes.
He was still too lenient.
To let these people be so presumptuous.
“Your Majesty.” An inner attendant quietly entered and reported, “Miss He is outside, saying she is here to apologize to Your Majesty on yesterday’s orders.”
His thoughts gradually returning, Gu Zhen looked out and sneered, “Go tell her, however she apologized to the Empress yesterday, she should apologize to Zhen the same way. Do not show partiality.”
Author’s Note:
Empress Dowager: She is your cousin, different from others!!!
Gu Zhen: Heh, all people under heaven are my children.
Finally updated!!! Today’s update! Chirp chirp chirp~ Still 30 small red envelopes~
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