Chapter 43: It is Zhen’s Fault part 1
He had initially intended just to take a look.
Calculating it, the two hadn’t had a proper conversation for many days. Whenever they spoke, it invariably ended in an argument, followed by days of silent sulking, and then another round of ceaseless commotion.
Today was a rare moment of peace.
He had planned to glance a few times and leave, but because he lingered a few breaths too long, she noticed him.
In just a moment, Zhao Yiyi, lifting the hem of her skirt, emerged from the study and bowed to greet him: “Ten thousand blessings to Your Majesty.”
She wore a sky-blue, small floral-patterned, round-collared robe today. When she slightly lowered her head, her slender, fair neck was revealed. The curve of her shoulder and neck was smooth, possessing an indescribable fragile beauty.
“No need for formalities.” Gu Zhen raised his hand, signaling her to rise. Staring at her thin clothes for a moment, he couldn’t help but frown and ask, “Why are you wearing so little?”
Zhao Yiyi did not lift her head, merely replying warmly, “I felt a bit hot when I woke up this morning, so I wore less.”
The two sat in the inner hall, momentarily speechless.
Being in her own palace, her lustrous black hair was only loosely tied in a ‘following clouds’ bun, adorned with one or two pearl hairpins.
With clouds of green hair piled high and exquisite hairpins, her hibiscus face appeared even more moving.
Gu Zhen opened his mouth but could make no sound. She too lowered her eyes and remained silent, idly toying with the tea cup. Her fingertips were dyed a crimson color, and with just a few light movements, they seemed to be teasing someone.
After a long while, Gu Zhen finally asked her softly, “Is your body feeling any better these past two days?”
Zhao Yiyi snapped back to attention, glanced at him, and then nodded: “Replying to Your Majesty, after taking medicine for a few days, I am much better. Many thanks for Your Majesty’s concern.”
Her voice still carried the huskiness of illness. Hearing her cough low a few times, Gu Zhen couldn’t help but frown, his eyes darkening slightly.
He wanted to scold her gently, but thinking of their current relationship, he ultimately held back and simply softened his voice: “Since you haven’t fully recovered, why not wear more?”
“It’s too thin,” he said.
Zhao Yiyi lowered her head slightly, withdrawing her fingertips from the tea cup. She curled them inch by inch into a fist, holding it loosely and hiding it under the table: “The imperial physicians all say I am fine. It’s just that illness retreats like reeling silk; this cough is common after a wind-cold and won’t go away so quickly. It will take some time.”
As they spoke, a palace maid served a bowl of stewed snow pear, saying softly, “Your Highness, remember to eat it while it’s hot. If it gets cold, its efficacy will be greatly reduced.”
Glancing at the little palace maid, Zhao Yiyi smiled helplessly: “Just because I ate it late once the day before yesterday, you’re still bringing it up today.”
After placing the celadon bowl, the little palace maid straightened up and said seriously, “Your Highness, this was specifically instructed by several imperial physicians. Yesterday, before Sister Yunzhu left, she also instructed this servant to watch over Your Highness and ensure you absolutely do not wait until it’s cold to eat.”
Zhao Yiyi chuckled twice, picked up the bean-green spoon, and scooped a small piece of pear flesh.
This snow pear had been frozen in the ice cellar since it was harvested last year, but it was well preserved and tasted fresh and sweet. After stewing, it was very soft and tender, mixed with the soup containing wolfberries, exceptionally sweet and beautiful.
She buried her head and ate in small bites, looking very serious. The snow pear cut into small pieces was scooped into the bean-green spoon and then sent into her sandalwood mouth.
It was clearly a very ordinary action, but done by her, it was exceptionally pleasing to the eye.
Gu Zhen just stared at her for a long time without speaking or making any movement, simply sitting aside and watching quietly.
Outside the window, spring birds chirped a few times. Zhao Yiyi’s hand holding the spoon paused, as if realizing someone was watching her, and she suddenly looked up.
Their eyes met directly.
Gu Zhen did not look away, just gazing at her quietly, his eyes full of gentleness.
He had returned to his usual gentle and jade-like appearance. The difference from before was that this gentleness seemed to reach the bottom of his eyes.
Zhao Yiyi was stunned, then chuckled lightly: “Does Your Majesty want some too?” Before he could answer, she added, “Presumably quite a lot was stewed, and the kitchen should have more. Didn’t Your Majesty say you also caught a wind-cold a few days ago? If Your Majesty wants some, this consort will have someone serve another bowl.”
When she smiled suddenly, the dimples at the corners of her lips were exceptionally enchanting.
After pondering for a long time, Gu Zhen said yes.
Zhao Yiyi then looked up and ordered the palace maid to serve another bowl.
Today, she did not argue, nor did she sulk with him as before, nor did she say those words that annoyed him. Her voice had also returned to its usual gentleness, affectionate like a spring stream.
That hibiscus face was clear and bright, and her slightly lowered eyelashes hid the expression in her eyes.
She was the same as before, but for no reason, he felt flustered.
His heart beat suddenly faster, as if something was moving away from him, and he couldn’t catch it. Suddenly, he remembered the light in her eyes extinguishing inch by inch by the window just now.
His chest felt suffocated again, breathing became extremely difficult, as if someone was holding a needle and stabbing forcefully into his heart, the fine needle tips piercing through, creating bloody holes one by one.
There was no resistance, no despair, but it made him even more uncomfortable.
The stewed snow pear was very sweet and clear. With a slight bite, the juice burst in the mouth. Gu Zhen actually didn’t like sweets much; the sweetness of ordinary fruits was his limit. However, sugar was added to this bowl of stewed pear, making it unbearable for him.
He remained silent, just eating on his own. After a moment, the sound of a spoon hitting the bowl came from his side. Raising his hand to look, he asked softly, “Finished?”
Zhao Yiyi nodded: “This consort has finished. Your Majesty, take your time.”
The soft and affectionate light of spring spilled down, shining on the sandalwood table, on the pearl hairpins in her bun, on the gold-sprinkled lotus-patterned shawl, and even more on her smooth, jade-like face.
The palace maid entered, cleared the things away, and she took a handkerchief to gently wipe the corners of her lips.
“Was the Empress practicing calligraphy just now?” Gu Zhen also put down his spoon and asked her, softening his voice.
Zhao Yiyi nodded slightly: “Replying to Your Majesty, I was practicing calligraphy.”
The wind was clear and the air bright, golden light paving the ground. Gu Zhen slowly paced over to look at the few sheets of calligraphy she hadn’t had time to put away.
Only then did he realize that the Empress wrote a good hand.
Actually, he had seen her writing long ago, but he had never paid attention to it, nor had he looked carefully.
He vaguely remembered that the calligraphy of the Marquis of Huai’an Wenxuan was rated as top-notch by contemporaries.
Right, with such a grandfather skilled in calligraphy, how could Yiyi’s writing be poor?
Regarding the Empress, the only thing he remembered was that she often made food to send to him. In summer, it was various appetizing pastries and side dishes; in winter, nourishing stewed soups, occasionally seasonal snacks.
Very much to his taste.
Zhao Yiyi followed silently by his side, watching him flip through the sheets she had practiced on the table one by one. When he reached the palace affairs piled underneath, she took the opportunity to pull one out and asked him softly: “The Six Bureaus have been busy with the Silkworm Ceremony these days. This is the list drafted by the Bureau of Rites. This consort has already annotated it. Your Majesty, does it look feasible?”
The Silkworm Ceremony had always been presided over by the Empress.
Because the ceremony was too cumbersome, like the Emperor’s plowing, it actually didn’t need to be held every year. Even when the Empress Dowager was still Empress, she hadn’t held it many times. It was only because this year was the first year of the new era that various trivial ceremonies had to be held once.
Scanning it hurriedly, Gu Zhen said: “Since it is an ancient rite, the Six Bureaus have precedents to follow, so there need not be any changes. Generally similar is enough.”
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