Chapter 62: Ruru part 1
Under the winding candlelight, the moon-pearl earring by the beauty’s ear refracted fragmented light.
That light was rippling and soft, blended together with her eyes that flowed with clear brilliance. Seeing it, one unconsciously gave birth to infinite joy.
Zhao Yiyi smiled, a hint of doubt in her eyes as she tilted her head to look at him. “Then Bixia can pick them up slowly.”
Gu Zhen also smiled at her. “Alright.”
But as he smiled, he suddenly felt terrible again. He half-lowered his eyes to look at the carpet. The ground was clearly spotless, without a speck of sand, yet his eye sockets felt sour and stinging.
His picking motion paused slightly; his ten fingers slowly curled into fists, and his body began to tremble unconsciously.
The sky outside was misty, as if it were about to rain.
Zhao Yiyi sat down nearby, her elbow resting on the armrest, the back of her hand propping up her head. With a smile on her lips, she quietly watched his actions.
Seeing him freeze, she even asked with a smile, “What is wrong with Bixia?”
Gu Zhen smiled at her as if to comfort her, speaking gently, “Nothing. Wait a moment before leaving, alright?”
Zhao Yiyi pursed her lips, lowering her eyes in silence.
One hand rested on her long skirt, tracing the ‘Hundred Butterflies Flying Through Flowers’ pattern on it. Her fingertips wandered bit by bit, circling over the patterns.
Perhaps because it was about to rain, the surrounding air was stifling, and her heart felt uncomfortably stuffy as well.
The hall doors were flung wide open, offering no shelter. A gust of wind poured in from outside, blowing her dress and hair upward, flapping wildly in the wind.
Gu Zhen finished picking up the items on the ground and gathered them back together with trembling hands before lifting his eyes to look at her. “Yiyi, here. Your birthday gift.”
Zhao Yiyi raised her eyebrows slightly but did not reach out.
Seeing she didn’t take it, Gu Zhen’s brows lowered gently, carrying a sense of desolation, yet he still explained softly, “There wasn’t enough time to prepare in Chang’an. When we return to Luoyang, Zhen will prepare it properly for you, okay?”
Inside the brocade box was a full set of head ornaments.
A necklace formed of linked gold beads, inlaid with countless tiny gems. At the very bottom, two bloodstone gems guarded a large piece of mutton-fat jade.
The other two items were a pair of bracelets and earrings, as well as a mutton-fat jade pendant.
Looking closely, the bottom of that mutton-fat jade pendant seemed to be a seal.
Gu Zhen continued to look at her stubbornly, continuing, “This seal, Zhen carved it. Take a look, won’t you?”
Zhao Yiyi still didn’t move. However, this time she lifted her eyes to look at him and let out a laugh. “Many thanks for Bixia‘s good intentions.”
She thanked him, but said nothing more.
Gu Zhen’s heart trembled, and he called her name with a hoarse voice, “Yiyi, look at it, okay? Just one look. If you don’t like it, Zhen will carve another one.”
Zhao Yiyi simply lowered her lashes lightly. After a long while, she lifted her eyelids to give it a perfunctory glance and laughed softly. “Mn, many thanks, Bixia. This concubine likes it very much.” She reached out, took it, and placed it on the table beside her.
She barely looked at it before saying she liked it very much.
It remained exactly as it was; she couldn’t even be bothered to touch the lid.
A look of sorrow slowly surfaced in the depths of Gu Zhen’s eyes.
So it turned out that the indifference of the past, the willfulness of the past, all had to be repaid slowly. Things he thought didn’t matter had, one by one, embedded themselves into her heart.
After a long time, Zhao Yiyi chuckled lightly. “Today, Bixia has indeed taken trouble to hold this birthday banquet for this concubine.” She looked into the distance, her voice ethereal as light smoke. “Come to think of it, since the Coming of Age ceremony, this concubine hasn’t had a birthday banquet for a long time.”
Gu Zhen’s brow softened, and he said bitterly, “In the future, for every year’s birthday banquet, Zhen will spend it with you, okay?”
Those apricot eyes flowed, rippling with a warm, light-colored light.
Zhao Yiyi was smiling and about to speak when suddenly a white light flashed before her eyes. All the scenery outside the hall was taken in at a glance, briefly as bright as day. Following a loud BOOM, torrential rain poured down abruptly.
The thunder rumbled, mixing with the sound of rain, falling ceaselessly without any intention of stopping.
Gu Zhen’s heart startled. He tried to cover her ears but was avoided.
“Don’t be afraid, Zhen is here.” He turned his head to look over, his voice carrying a trace of difficulty.
Zhao Yiyi felt it was somewhat laughable in her heart, yet also somewhat tragic.
But at this moment, she actually couldn’t distinguish who was the more tragic one. Watching the lightning that lit up outside the window from time to time, she said indifferently, “This concubine is fine.”
Her expression was as usual, without a hint of fear. Even her cheeks were just like before, flushing red from the alcohol.
There was nothing abnormal.
It was as if this rain didn’t affect her in the slightest.
Zhao Yiyi tapped her finger on the armrest and whispered, “Bixia doesn’t know, but this concubine likes it when it rains, especially a summer rain. Once it falls, the whole weather cools down. Listening to the sound of rain outside, one can sleep more comfortably.”
Gu Zhen’s face instantly turned pale.
He recalled the rainy night two years ago.
It was also a pouring rain like this. He had rarely gone to Yiyi’s place for dinner. Just as he was about to leave, it suddenly started to rain. The rain fell continuously, and the thunder was endless.
Yiyi showed a fearful expression, gently hugging his waist, leaning into his embrace, saying she was scared, that the thunder was terrifying, begging him not to go.
He had felt irritable in his heart, dissatisfied that the Crown Princess was so timid, and disliking how clingy she was. He pushed her away mercilessly, telling her it was just rain, nothing to be afraid of.
The her of now, indeed, was not afraid anymore.
Not only was she not afraid, she had grown to like the sound of wind and rain mixed together.
Gu Zhen thought he should be happy. But no matter how hard he tried to make himself happy, he couldn’t feel even a bit of joy. Now, his Yiyi didn’t need him anymore.
He felt somewhat despairing, yet he had to admit that seemingly in places he hadn’t noticed, Yiyi had long drifted further and further away from him, relying on him less and less.
Just as he wished, Yiyi had developed a cold, hard heart.
But he regretted it.
“Yiyi.” Gu Zhen looked at her cautiously, slowed his tone, and asked softly, “Are you really not afraid? Do you feel cold? Shall Zhen get a garment for you to drape over yourself?”
Zhao Yiyi turned her head to glance at him, smiling slightly. “Many thanks, Bixia, but it is getting late; this concubine should go back. I have agreed with an old friend to gather at their home tomorrow.”
Forcing down the piercing pain in his heart, Gu Zhen smiled and said okay.
“Zhen will see you off,” he said.
As he spoke, he picked up the brocade box on the table again and held it out. “Yiyi, happy birthday.”
Staring down at the box for a long time, Zhao Yiyi didn’t know how many times her eyelids blinked before she finally took a deep breath and accepted the brocade box. “Many thanks, Bixia.”
Speaking of which, this set of jewelry was actually quite beautiful.
Gu Zhen smiled. “As long as you like it. This piece of mutton-fat jade isn’t too good. Zhen has a complete piece; I am having someone make a pair of jade bracelets for you. They should be ready in a few days.”
Zhao Yiyi pursed her lips and whispered her thanks.
She was so obedient, so soft; it made one’s heart almost soften along with her.
Gu Zhen’s gaze gradually turned tender, and he said subconsciously, “From now on, if Zhen gives a gift, it will only be for you alone. I won’t take something given to you and give a copy to anyone else again.”
A flash of daze crossed Zhao Yiyi’s face.
In a moment, she understood. He was talking about the past, the matter of the pair of gem-inlaid gold bracelets.
She hadn’t expected him to still remember.
She turned her head away slightly and said softly, “This concubine was ignorant in the past and made it difficult for Bixia; it was this concubine’s fault. Bixia rest assured, this concubine no longer cares about these things now.”
Was it that she didn’t care, or that it simply didn’t matter anymore?
Before Gu Zhen’s eyes appeared the sound of her despairing and mournful voice after getting drunk that day, whimpering and sobbing, like a wounded little beast seeking comfort from him.
But he hadn’t given comfort; he had pushed her even further away.
If Yiyi cared so much about these things, how could she not care anymore, as she claimed?
A bitter smile spilled from the corner of Gu Zhen’s lips, and he said in a muffled voice, “Don’t be angry anymore, okay?”
Zhao Yiyi stood up and walked out. Just as she reached the palace door, the sound of rain and thunder outside actually increased several times over.
The raindrops were urgent and dense. Bean-sized raindrops smashed onto the ground, splashing up massive puddles.
Even standing under the wide and broad eaves, gusts of slanting wind still wrapped raindrops and drifted in.
The sudden rain brought a chill to the face. In just an instant, the front of her robe was soaked by the rain.
Zhao Yiyi turned back two steps.
Looking at the rain flowing like a waterfall under the eaves, she gradually frowned.
Gu Zhen took a half-step forward and said softly, “The rain is so heavy, be careful not to get soaked. You might catch a cold again. Stay in Qianqiu Hall for a while and leave when the rain stops, okay?”
Zhao Yiyi was silent for a long time.
She just stood at the palace door, staring blankly at the pouring rain outside.
But she waited for a long time, and the rain showed not the slightest sign of weakening. Judging by this posture, it seemed it would rain all night.
After staring and thinking for a moment, Zhao Yiyi finally turned back.
Gu Zhen ordered someone to fetch the Weiqi (Go) set, set it up himself, and said warmly, “It is a rainy night; play a game with Zhen.”
Zhao Yiyi’s chess skills were as terrible as ever. Even when she had learned properly for a period, he hadn’t really wanted to play with her, simply because once he played with her, he inevitably had to let her win.
She knew she probably had no talent in this area, so she shook her head tactfully and whispered, “This concubine is not skilled at chess; Bixia should not make it difficult.”
Gu Zhen just smiled, sitting there with his head half-lowered, veins protruding on the back of his hand.
In the rainy night, it was indeed a bit boring. Zhao Yiyi’s head was a bit dizzy. After thinking about it, she picked up a black stone from the pot beside her.
Within moments of the game starting, she gained the upper hand.
How could Zhao Yiyi not see that Gu Zhen was letting her win? Thus, she frowned with some dissatisfaction: “Can Bixia not play properly?”
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