Chapter 65: Late Night part 1
Gu Zhen’s expression was tinged with a hint of displeasure; he was practically angered into laughter by her.
Staring into those round almond eyes for a long time, he held back his anger and asked, “Why did you go for so long? Was there something important?”
Zhao Yiyi turned her head to avoid his gaze, blinked, and thought for a moment. “Nothing important. Just asking a bit here, asking a bit there, and it got delayed until now.”
Look, what kind of talk is this!
Gu Zhen was exasperated by her. He wanted to grab her and question her thoroughly about what exactly she had asked, but in the end, he only said, “Mm, understood.”
The night wind picked up, bringing a desolate chill that made one subconsciously shiver. Seeing her thinly clad, Gu Zhen frowned slightly, took a cloak from the carriage, and draped it over her shoulders.
“Knowing it’s night, why did you unfasten your outer robe?” He scolded lightly with dissatisfaction while reaching out to tie the sash for her.
Zhao Yiyi took half a step back, snatched the sash, and tied a delicate clover knot herself. “It’s hot inside the carriage.”
Gu Zhen took the opportunity to let go, looking down at her movements.
Her slender fingers were extremely nimble. Under the dissolving moonlight, her fingertips, freshly dyed with balsam, revealed a pale pink, weaving through the sash.
Illuminated by the moonlight, Gu Zhen’s brows also filled with softness. He lowered his voice and asked her, “Have you had the evening meal?”
Zhao Yiyi’s movement of adjusting her hem paused slightly. She looked up at him hesitantly, then replied, “No.”
Gu Zhen looked at her and smiled, fine light spilling from his phoenix eyes, his voice clear and moist like a cold spring in a mountain ravine. “Zhen hasn’t eaten either.”
The two were close, and the attendants were far away.
Moonlight flowed around them; the cool light carried a layer of softness, enveloping them both.
Zhao Yiyi was slightly dazed. Her fingers toying with the sash curled slightly, then slowly lowered. She immediately heard the implication in his words.
But, what did that have to do with her?
She reached out and pushed Gu Zhen. “Bixia, move aside a little; you’re blocking the way.”
That soft hand touched and left immediately. Before Gu Zhen could react, seeing he couldn’t be pushed, she immediately put on a straight face, walked around him, and brushed past him.
The departing figure kicked up a gust of wind. As the wind drifted, the familiar scent of Styrax lingered, sweet and soft scents intertwining, causing the heart to sway gently along with it.
In just a moment, Gu Zhen came back to his senses, then followed closely behind her, step by step.
This mansion was right next to the Zhao clan ancestral residence. The two estates were adjacent. Although the doors didn’t open on the same side, they were only separated by two courtyard walls. Zhao Yiyi visited often in her childhood and was very familiar with it. After descending the steps, she turned a corner directly, turning into the alley of the ancestral residence.
Hearing the footsteps from behind, Zhao Yiyi knew he had followed. Yet she didn’t turn back, stepping on the slightly damp ground, walking forward without stopping.
“It’s getting late.” She looked up at the moonlight and said softly, “Bixia should go back to the palace.”
Gu Zhen said, “Curfew has started.”
That voice actually contained a few hints of undetectable grievance.
Zhao Yiyi’s steps paused slightly, but only for an instant, then she stepped into the mansion gate.
Gu Zhen said again, “The palace gates are also closed.”
That voice was low and deep, vastly different from his usual mellow steadiness.
Very muffled.
Listening closely, it faintly revealed a sense of panicked bewilderment.
At this point, Zhao Yiyi fully understood what he meant.
“What does it matter if they are closed? Bixia naturally has ways to make the palace gates open.” Nonchalant words flowed from her sandalwood mouth like a light cloud or mist. “My humble abode is simple; I fear Bixia won’t be accustomed to it.”
Though soft, it was also light, appearing not to take it to heart at all.
Gu Zhen’s lips moved a few times. The words he wanted to say ultimately couldn’t be spoken.
A flash of irritability passed through her heart. Zhao Yiyi gathered her outer robe and walked toward the courtyard where she had lived for ten years, following the direction where the lights were lit.
Just after walking a few yards, the footsteps behind her disappeared. She lowered her eyes and walked a few more steps, but saw that in the shadow elongated by the鮫纱 (shark silk/gauze) palace lantern under the eaves, there was only one person standing alone under the eaves.
It was her own shadow.
She turned around abruptly.
Only to see Gu Zhen stopping at the threshold, avoiding her gaze somewhat wretchedly, calling in a low voice, “Yiyi…”
Behind him, a loud “crash” suddenly sounded. In an instant, a torrential downpour poured down. Bean-sized raindrops smashed onto the ground, splashing strings of water flowers.
The rain was falling behind him. Although the eaves in front of the mansion gate were wide, with the slanting wind, the fierce rain still drifted in, crashing toward him ceaselessly.
Zhao Yiyi suppressed the annoyance between her brows, pursed her lips, and said indifferently, “What is Bixia standing there for?”
Staring at each other for a long time, Gu Zhen still looked at her like that, his expression slightly desolate.
“Come in.” She closed her eyes and turned her head, taking an umbrella from the attendant, opened it, and walked into the rain curtain.
A figure quickly caught up beside her, also holding an umbrella, knuckles gripping the umbrella ribs turning white. Turning his head to look at her, he said softly, “Zhen thought you didn’t want to let Zhen in.”
Zhao Yiyi glanced at him sideways and said indifferently, “Originally, I didn’t want to.”
Originally didn’t want to, but because of this sudden rain, she had to let him in.
Thick clouds covered the brilliant light of the stars. The candles on both sides used for lighting were also extinguished by the rain. The path underfoot gradually became unclear.
Zhao Yiyi held a lantern in her right hand. The weak candlelight couldn’t even illuminate the road ahead clearly. Suddenly stepping on something underfoot, her body lurched forward violently. After stumbling, she almost fell to the ground.
But she was supported by a broad, powerful hand.
After stabilizing her figure, Zhao Yiyi avoided him again, turning her face away slightly, thanking him somewhat unnaturally, “Many thanks, Bixia.”
“Mm.” Gu Zhen responded faintly. His voice was indifferent, sifted through the fierce rain, yet revealing a bit of ethereal quality.
Making one unable to figure him out.
But as an Emperor, his thoughts were inherently unfathomable. Zhao Yiyi had tried to figure him out for nearly three years and never thought it through. Simply, she stopped thinking, stopped guessing.
After stabilizing herself, she moved a little to the side and continued walking forward.
Summer rain originally had no trace to follow. A seemingly fierce rain, in just a moment’s time, when the two arrived in that courtyard, suddenly stopped, leaving only a few raindrops falling leisurely.
Attendants moved the incense burner cage inside. Zhao Yiyi took off the outer robe draped over her shoulders, placed it on the cage to dry, then turned to the inner room and changed into a set of clothes.
Since staying a night at the ancestral residence that day, she had ordered people to rearrange the courtyard, preparing many utensils and clothes inside for emergencies.
On the pale yellow skirt hem were large patterns of peonies. Over the camellia-patterned begonia breast-binder, she wore a thistle-pink outer jacket.
The long skirt swayed, moving lightly with the wind. Her forehead hair was wet with rain, like a hibiscus rolling with dew in the morning, body containing clear dew, still carrying fragrance.
Zhao Yiyi sat down at the table and turned to ask Mancao, “Did you order the kitchen to prepare dishes?”
Mancao replied, “Just went to inform them. It was instructed yesterday; presumably, it will be ready soon.”
Zhao Yiyi nodded slightly, cupping a cup of tea on the table in her palms. The warm touch transmitted slowly, warming her originally cold fingertips.
Seeing two faint blushes on her cheeks, Gu Zhen couldn’t help asking, “Did you drink alcohol today?”
Zhao Yiyi said, “There was a banquet today; how could I not drink?” She frowned slightly, saying somewhat unhappily, “Besides, Bixia insisted earlier that the rain was too heavy and forbade this concubine from going out, causing a half-hour delay. It was a punishment.”
The window opened a crack. Flower petals fell all over the ground outside. She turned her head to take a look and said, “The rain has stopped now. After Bixia eats, go back to the palace. There is no bedroom prepared for Bixia here.”
Gu Zhen said helplessly, “The palace gates are already locked. Unless for urgent matters, opening them will inevitably involve many issues.” He lowered his voice to coax, “Zhen came to the Empress’s residence; can’t I even have a place to shelter?”
She pouted, avoiding his gaze, whispering, “Told Bixia not to come, yet Bixia insisted on coming. Now that you can’t go back, you blame this concubine.”
Zhao Yiyi held a handkerchief in her hand, wiping her slightly damp hair sideways.
The beauty’s sideways glance made Gu Zhen subconsciously want to rub her hair, but he held back, saying warmly, “Zhen didn’t mean to blame you.”
Zhao Yiyi responded indifferently, casually pinned up her soft hair, tied it with a red ribbon, then turned to look at him. “If not for Bixia‘s arrival, this concubine was going to a shop in the ward that sells wine-preserved goose today. I even specially asked Ah Qi to check; it is open today.”
Her almond eyes blinked slowly a few times. Her skin, like congealed fat, glowed under the candlelight.
There wasn’t a single part that wasn’t beautiful.
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