After being sent to the cold palace, the emperor’s heart was burned into ashes CHAPTER 54.3

Part 3

His reason was sufficient. Prince of Yan didn’t suspect anything else and nodded in agreement. “Yes. Then Royal Brother, please be extra careful on the road.”

Gu Zhen didn’t speak. His gaze glanced lightly out the window, past the ancient scholar tree, and happened to see the figure sitting by the window.

Several lamps were lit in that room, and a lampshade of twisted valerian gauze was placed by the window. The beauty’s black hair was loosely done up in a bun, and her skin, surpassing snow, appeared even more translucent under the warm lamp light.

She seemed to have just bathed. Her clothes were very thin and casual, and when blown by the evening breeze, they looked as if they would drift away with the wind.

Gu Zhen asked, “Is the Empress well on the journey? She… gets dizzy and uncomfortable if the carriage moves too fast. Is it like that this time?”

Prince of Yan replied, “Following Royal Brother’s instructions, this subject-brother did not dare to let the carriage go too fast this time, and Royal Sister-in-law has not had any symptoms of discomfort.” Pausing for a moment, he hesitated, “Yesterday, Royal Sister-in-law said she wanted to ride a horse, so this subject-brother had a gentle-tempered Ferghana horse prepared and let Royal Sister-in-law ride for a stretch.”

He thought the Emperor would be displeased.

Choosing to say it was only because the entourage was full of the Emperor’s spies. Instead of letting him find out on his own, it was better to say it proactively first.

But Gu Zhen just smiled, looking somewhat interested. “As long as she likes it. Riding in a carriage for so many days is indeed dull and boring. Let her do whatever she wants; don’t stop her, just protect her safety.”

In that smile, there was some tenderness and some bitterness.

Suppressing the longing in his heart, he turned to look out the window again.

Whether she was reading to an interesting part or the maid beside her said something funny, she suddenly turned her head and laughed.

Although separated by the branches and leaves of the ancient scholar tree and shrouded in lamp light, that soft, bright smile crashed into his heart so unguardedly.

Gu Zhen couldn’t help but think, is Yiyi happier when he is not around? Is she more free and unrestrained?

Compared to when she was by his side, the Yiyi now was more than a hundred times more vivid.

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At the thought of this possibility, his heart choked slightly, as if a large hand was squeezing his heart hard. The damage from the past cracked open again, the wound revealing fresh red flesh, making one tremble uncontrollably.

Immediately, Gu Zhen denied this thought.

How could he be without her?

The past was all his fault. As long as he made up for it properly, the rift between them could surely be filled again.

Why was there a need to separate?

And why was there a need to be like now, only able to look at her from a distance across the sky well?

That was clearly his beloved, even his wife, yet he dared not look, dared not think.

He was afraid that if he thought of her, the longing in his heart would make him unable to resist looking at her again.

If he looked, he would want to see her.

If he saw her, he would no longer be able to restrain himself.

What he didn’t say was that the reason he didn’t plan to travel with them was that Yiyi, on this journey, probably didn’t want to see him.

If she didn’t want to see him, then he wouldn’t appear.

Looking at her from a distance was enough.

As for other matters, they would wait until they reached Chang’an.

“We are tired too. You may withdraw,” Gu Zhen waved his hand, ordering Prince of Yan to retreat.

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After coming out of the Emperor’s room, Prince of Yan stood on the stairs for a long time before he managed to recover.

No wonder he received a message from Royal Brother at Mianchi that night telling him to go slower.

“Have people guard this relay station strictly.” Prince of Yan’s expression steadied as he ordered in a deep voice, “Don’t let any blind fools barge in.”

He thought for a moment and added, “Remember to steer clear of the Empress’s side.”

Not long after entering the room, hearing the noise downstairs, Zhao Yiyi couldn’t help asking, “What happened?”

Yunzhu went out to ask and reported back a moment later: “Niangniang, it seems another dignitary has entered the relay station. Just now downstairs, he spoke a few words with His Highness the Prince of Yan.”

Although she brought countless guards, she didn’t travel under the banner of the Empress. Others only thought it was the family of a high official traveling. In the past few days staying at relay stations, Prince of Yan only strictly controlled everyone’s entry and exit. Hearing that someone else entered the relay station to stay, she didn’t get suspicious.

“Then presumably, it is an old acquaintance of his.” Zhao Yiyi’s voice was warm and soft as she said a sentence, a smile on her face.

After passing Shan Prefecture, they switched to a boat and sailed upstream. The water route was much more convenient than the land route, and they could sleep directly on the boat at night without going to a relay station or inn.

The day they arrived at Chang’an City, it was also evening when the city gates were about to close.

Shangyang Palace had long been locked. Going to Shangyang Palace at night would inevitably cause a huge commotion and startle countless people. Prince of Yan pondered for a long time and changed the lodging for this night to the Wannian County Yamen.

Distinct from other places, Chang’an administered two counties, both within the city walls of Chang’an: Chang’an County in the west and Wannian County in the east. Zhao Yiyi had grown up in Wannian County when she was young.

She had even visited the Wannian County Yamen with her grandfather in her childhood.

The Magistrate of Wannian County knew early on that a dignitary was arriving. Knowing that female family members were brought along, he was shocked for a moment but, after some calculation, ordered people to arrange it properly.

The Wannian County Yamen was vast. It was not only a place for official business; the Magistrate, his family, and subordinate officials who didn’t have residences in Chang’an also lived in the Yamen.

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The room Zhao Yiyi temporarily occupied was in a courtyard in the rear residence of the Yamen.

Returning to a place she had been away from for a long time, Zhao Yiyi lay on the couch, unable to sleep until midnight.

Tossing and turning until the moon was high in the sky, she finally got up, draped a autumn-fragrance colored jacket over herself, and wandered around the government office.

The Magistrate didn’t know her specific identity, so he only ordered others not to approach her courtyard and sent people to guard it, but didn’t restrict her movement.

Therefore, Zhao Yiyi easily left the small courtyard she lived in, led a few palace servants, and walked along a path covered with peach blossoms.

Suddenly hearing the sound of a flute, she smiled at Mancao. “Someone is playing a jade flute in the night.”

Curious, they followed the sound and saw a person standing in a pavilion by the rockery. His figure was upright like a sturdy pine. He had his back to them, holding a jade flute in his hand.

Realizing it was a man, they were slightly stunned and were about to leave.

But the person had already noticed. The flute sound paused, and he turned around abruptly to look over.

“Cousin Lu?” Zhao Yiyi stood amidst the clear shadows of bamboo leaves and called out in surprise.

Although they hadn’t seen each other for a long time, she quickly recognized someone she had grown up with.

The person was obviously stunned too. Under the silvery moonlight, a look of trance appeared on his face. A moment later, he walked quickly down the pavilion and bowed to her from not far away.

He didn’t call out to her, but Zhao Yiyi knew that just this bow showed he knew her identity.

“I only knew a noble person came to the government office today, but I didn’t know it was Niangniang.” Across an arched bridge, Lu Xianshan laughed twice and spoke warmly.

Staring at his thin figure, Zhao Yiyi suddenly remembered that Lu Xianshan had been appointed as an official by the Wannian Magistrate and was now serving as the Registrar of Wannian County.

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Wannian being a capital county, even an ordinary Registrar was more important than magistrates elsewhere.

It was late at night, so Zhao Yiyi exchanged a few hurried words with him before turning to leave.

The next morning, while having breakfast, hearing Mancao say she personally made a dish of bamboo shoot and fern wontons, she ordered, “Last night I didn’t have time to say much. Cousin Lu asked about the Lu family’s recent situation in Luoyang. I haven’t had time to thank him for the gifts he sent to the family last time either. Go ask him if he has free time today.”

“Royal Sister-in-law has a cousin here?” Prince of Yan happened to hear this when he entered and couldn’t help asking.

Zhao Yiyi nodded slightly. “It is a cousin from my aunt’s maiden family. He is serving as a Registrar in Wannian County. Since you are here, could you go take a look for me?”

A nephew of her aunt’s maiden family—what kind of cousin counted as that?

While secretly wondering, Prince of Yan agreed and strode out.

Translator’s Note:

Shangyuan Festival: Also known as the Lantern Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month.
Ziwei Palace: The Imperial Palace complex in Luoyang.
Jiao Fang Palace: The Empress’s residence.
Zichen Hall: The Emperor’s main hall for handling state affairs (Purple Heaven Hall).
Tong Zhongshu Menxia Pingzhangshi: A title equivalent to a Chancellor/Prime Minister.
Pitch-pot: A traditional game that requires players to throw arrows from a set distance into a large canister.