Part 2
But looking at her, the scene of Prince Yan vaguely supporting her into the carriage suddenly appeared before Gu Zhen’s eyes, and the scene of Lu Xianshan walking out with her, taking turns holding a little girl.
Heart-piercing pain surged up. He had to admit he was jealous.
Jealous that she was clearly his wife, yet others could be so intimate with her. They had even experienced many things between them that he didn’t know about.
The wine-preserved goose shop only Yiyi and Gu Qi knew, the poems and letters exchanged between her and Lu Xianshan—scenes came one after another, smashing into the most hidden place in his heart.
Throbbing with pain.
Sure enough, the kitchen had been keeping the dishes warm. Not long after, they were served. Several simple yet exquisite and appetizing dishes were placed on the table by the warm firelight, very timely.
Zhao Yiyi said softly, “Let’s eat. At this hour, after eating, we should rest.”
She took a spoon to scoop soup. Side hair slipped down, swaying gently by her cheeks.
Looking at her slightly lowered brows, Gu Zhen suddenly understood why Yiyi had such a big reaction over that bracelet.
It turned out, only when one likes, will one care.
Only when one cares, will one be sad.
When not caring, not liking, who would think about these things?
Who would take it to heart?
But the him at that time didn’t understand.
Only felt Yiyi had a solitary nature and a stubborn temper.
Never thought about how painful it would be for her to suspect his intimacy with others.
Having experienced it all himself, he understood completely. Just like him—even knowing there was nothing between Yiyi and others, the jealousy burning in his heart at that moment seemed capable of burning through everything.
But it was useless.
Everything now was just thoughts in his own heart. Even if he told her, he feared it wouldn’t exchange for half a point of her emotion.
“These days, matters in the court have slowed down.” Picking up the chopsticks, Gu Zhen said warmly, “Tomorrow, Zhen will take you to the Western Suburbs to admire lotuses?”
Zhao Yiyi glanced at him, the hand holding the spoon paused, turned her head and said softly, “Where are there no lotuses? Why go to the Western Suburbs to admire them? Besides, if it rains tomorrow, we can’t go out. If it doesn’t rain, in this kind of weather, this concubine doesn’t want to go.”
Gu Zhen smiled, “It is Zhen who wants to go. Will you accompany Zhen for a trip, alright?”
Brows carrying a bit of irritability, Zhao Yiyi said perfunctorily, “We’ll see.”
Who can say for sure about tomorrow’s affairs?
After the meal, attendants prepared hot water, inviting the two to wash.
After Zhao Yiyi washed first, she changed into aqua-colored sleeping clothes. Coming out with wet hair, holding a towel in hand, she sat by the window to dry her hair.
Gu Zhen took the towel, standing behind intending to wipe it for her, but accidentally broke a few strands of hair.
The slight stinging pain on her scalp made Zhao Yiyi frown. She snatched the towel back abruptly, annoyed, “Bixia don’t move randomly.”
Gu Zhen said softly, “It was Zhen‘s clumsiness. Did I hurt you?”
Zhao Yiyi closed her eyes to wipe her wet hair, simply turning her face away, ignoring him.
When Gu Zhen came out from bathing, the dripping rain finally stopped. The dark clouds also slowly dispersed, revealing a bright moon.
Gu Zhen asked from the side, “Yiyi, where does Zhen sleep tonight?”
“Bixia can sleep wherever you want.” The mood for admiring the moon was interrupted. Zhao Yiyi was somewhat unhappy, too lazy to even look at him, replying indifferently.
Shining stars emerged from the clouds. Gu Zhen laughed, “Does Yiyi really think so?”
Sleeping wherever he wanted was naturally impossible. In the end, Zhao Yiyi still slept in the inner bedchamber. Separated by a screen, Gu Zhen slept on a low couch.
Wrapped in the quilt, Zhao Yiyi couldn’t sleep.
Just as she opened her bright almond eyes, counting the number of grapes on the bed curtains with intertwined branch and grape patterns, a soft call sounded from outside the screen, followed by a question: “Do you like the birthday gift from yesterday?”
Zhao Yiyi barely pulled back her thoughts, answering perfunctorily, “Didn’t I tell Bixia last night that this concubine likes it very much?”
Gu Zhen said, “But Zhen hasn’t seen you wear it.”
“Cherished items must be treasured and valued; how can they be worn casually?” Zhao Yiyi replied again, realizing with some astonishment that her skill in lying with eyes open was becoming more and more perfected.
Gu Zhen suddenly laughed.
With his keenness, he naturally heard the perfunctoriness in her words and knew her stalling. But he just laughed, without further words.
When a lamp in the room was blown out by the south wind, Gu Zhen suddenly asked, “Yiyi, how old is that sister of yours again?”
“Fifteen.” In the darkness, Zhao Yiyi turned over and replied, “Just had her coming-of-age ceremony. It was Bixia who asked Lady Wen to help manage it. Others say one becomes forgetful in old age; how could Bixia forget?”
Hearing Yiyi teasing him for being old, Gu Zhen just smiled slightly and said warmly, “Since Yiyi knows one becomes forgetful in old age, then presumably, you should understand the next line.”
Zhao Yiyi fell silent, turned over again, but didn’t answer him.
Old age brings forgetfulness, but never forgetfulness of mutual longing. (Lao lai duo jian wang, wei bu wang xiang si).
But between them, what was there to miss or long for? It was nothing more than one having deep-rooted affection while the other was unenlightened. When that one became enlightened, the other had already unloaded a belly full of affection and walked away.
At midnight, Gu Zhen heard rustling sounds from the inner bedroom, followed by that soft voice saying, “Mancao, want water.”
The attendants had all been sent out; how could they be called? Presumably, it was words she spoke unconsciously.
Gu Zhen got up, poured a cup of tea, walked lightly into the inner room, helped her up from the couch, and fed her water bit by bit.
She hadn’t come to her senses yet, and he fed a bit fast, inevitably choking her. She turned her head covering her lips and coughed violently a few times, eyes filled with mist, cheeks red from coughing.
Gu Zhen took a handkerchief from the bedside to wipe for her. Zhao Yiyi also took the cup to drink herself. The two didn’t say a word. The already dim bedroom was even more silent.
After drinking a few more mouthfuls, Zhao Yiyi placed the tea cup on the table, took the handkerchief over, and slowly wiped a few water drops from her front.
“Want more?” Gu Zhen asked her softly.
This was the first sentence he spoke since coming in.
Zhao Yiyi shook her head, saying hoarsely, “No need. Many thanks, Bixia.”
She was so obedient, so soft. Gu Zhen suddenly held her shoulders, kissed her forehead gently.
Zhao Yiyi turned her head to avoid it, and the kiss landed on her thick, raven hair.
Her expression remained unchanged. Raising her hand to wipe her hair, she only said, “The night is deep; Bixia should rest early.”
The next morning, the two returned to the palace separately.
Tacitly, neither mentioned the matter of last night. After meeting, they just nodded faintly, then one mounted a horse, one boarded a carriage.
After entering the Yamen Gate, they also went their separate ways.
Gu Zhen was vexed in his heart, so his speed in handling government affairs became faster.
After meeting a few important ministers, it was noon.
Wu Mao hurried in, handing over a letter and reporting, “Bixia, something happened with Second Miss Zhao in Chang’an. Niangniang is angry right now.”
“What happened?” Gu Zhen frowned slightly, not taking the letter, just looking down at Wu Mao.
His face didn’t show it, but his movements were not hesitant at all, immediately getting up and walking out.
Wu Mao followed by the side and replied, “The Cui family said the Zhao family’s marriage was fraudulent, passing off an adopted daughter as a legitimate daughter, and wants to sue the Zhao family. Niangniang is furious. This slave sees she even has the heart to tear the Cui family apart.”
Gu Zhen’s steps paused slightly. He looked back at Wu Mao and asked in a deep voice, “What is going on?”
What he wanted to ask was vastly different from what Wu Mao thought.
Wu Mao lowered his voice and said, “When the Zhao family engaged with the Cui family, they had already explained the Second Miss’s background, and the Cui family agreed. Who would have expected they would bring it up again now after breaking the engagement? That is why Niangniang is so angry.”
Gu Zhen stood there dazed for a moment, then asked again, “What did you say?”
Translator’s Note:
- Rouran/Ruru: Rouran was a nomadic confederation on the northern borders of China. “Ruru” (蠕蠕 – literally “wriggling insects”) was a derogatory pun used by Chinese dynasties to refer to them.
- Bixia/Niangniang/Zhen/Chen: Bixia (Your Majesty), Niangniang (Your Highness/Ladyship, used for the Empress), Zhen (The Royal ‘I’, used by the Emperor), Chen (This subject/minister).
- Coming-of-age ceremony: Referring to the Hair Pinning Ceremony (Ji Li) for girls at age 15.
- Wang-mao (Fraudulent Claim/Impersonation): As per the author’s note, this refers to a crime in the Tang Code regarding marriage fraud, where the status (legitimate/concubine-born) or identity of the bride/groom is misrepresented. If the woman’s family commits this, the punishment is one year of penal servitude. If the man’s family commits it, the punishment is one degree higher.
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