Chapter Sixteen: Now, We Have a Relationship

Page (1/3)

Consort Xuan returned to her chambers, staring absentmindedly at the wooden hairpin before picking up an envelope and beginning to write a letter.

“I wonder if my master has been well lately. Rong’er writes to you every year, but due to certain reasons, the letters have never been delivered. I hope you can forgive me. I do not know if you still hold resentment towards me for what happened back then. If only I had followed your advice and not entered the palace, perhaps my life would have been entirely different. The emperor before me is no longer the young man he once was. Master, I was wrong, and I wish you a long and healthy life.”

After sending the letter, Consort Xuan recalled the incident several years ago when the emperor was attacked. She had taken an arrow meant for him and fallen into the icy water, which left her with a chronic illness and unable to bear children. At that time, the emperor promised never to deceive or wrong her. Yet now, with so much hidden from her, she could no longer tell what was true. She wondered if entering the palace back then had truly been a mistake.

“Your letter, Consort Xuan. Should it be intercepted this time?” Eunuch Li presented the letter.

The emperor of Yongqing opened the letter and found it filled with disappointment and regret directed at himself. He closed his eyes briefly, then folded the letter away. “No need to intercept it. And don’t intercept any more in the future.”

Rising, the emperor walked toward Consort Xuan’s chamber in the Palace of Eternal Joy. The night air was cool and clear. She sat alone in the courtyard, dressed lightly, gazing at the moon. The emperor hurried over, removed his cloak, and draped it over her shoulders.

Feeling the warmth of the cloak, Consort Xuan turned to see the emperor clearly and slowly stood to bow. “Your Majesty.”

The emperor helped her up, but she slightly flinched and stood on her own.

“You still resent me, Rong’er,” the emperor said with unmistakable loneliness in his voice.

Consort Xuan forced a polite smile. “I dare not, Your Majesty. The night is cold. Please return to your quarters to avoid harming your health.”

“Rong’er, I fear losing you. I worry that if I come and go, you will grow attached to the outside world and leave me,” the emperor explained, holding her hand.

Her heart twisted painfully. “Your Majesty, it is not fear. You have never trusted me. History tells us emperors are cold and distant. I thought you were different, but it seems you are no better than the rest. From the start, I said I detest those who deceive me. You have repeatedly hidden the truth from me. You know how close I am to my master, yet you intercepted every letter, making me believe my master still blamed me. Do you know how guilty that made me feel?”

Eunuch Li standing nearby broke out in a cold sweat, wiping his brow.

The emperor released her hand. “Every letter you write says you want to go back to those days. How am I to believe you? Between us, who has truly deceived whom? How much sincerity have you shown me?”

A crisp slap echoed suddenly as the emperor’s head tilted to the side.

“Song Chenyuan! You have gone too far!” Consort Xuan shouted, slapping him. All the servants immediately knelt, terrified.

No one dared to breathe. Such an act could lead to beheading or worse, extermination of one’s entire clan. Consort Xuan had been far too impulsive.

Page (2/3)

The emperor knew he had spoken wrongly but, for the sake of imperial dignity, declared, “Consort Xuan, you have committed insubordination. You are to be confined to your chambers for three days and not allowed to step outside the Palace of Eternal Joy.”

After the emperor left, Consort Xuan collapsed to the ground, realizing how little she mattered in his heart.

At the general’s residence, Shen Qiuning, worried about Consort Xuan, sent someone to inquire. The news came back that she had been confined for insubordination after striking the emperor.

Shen Qiuning could hardly believe it. If Consort Xuan had not been provoked, how could she have acted so rashly? “Mingyue, prepare the horses!”

As Shen Qiuning opened the door and stepped out, a faint voice came from behind: “The palace gates are closed. You’re grasping at straws in desperation.”

Shen Qiuning turned toward the voice. “Gu Yan? How did you get in?”

“The walls of your courtyard can’t keep me out. If I want to come, I come. What, won’t you invite me in? Afraid others will say you’re meeting a man at night?” Gu Yan said coolly, with a leisurely tone.

Shen Qiuning was speechless and stepped aside to make room.

Gu Yan sat down and poured himself a cup of tea. Shen Qiuning sat opposite him. “What do you want?”

“I know you’re worried about Consort Xuan, but three days’ confinement is nothing serious. By the way, I have agreed.”

“Hm? Agreed to what?” Shen Qiuning asked, puzzled by his cryptic remark.

Gu Yan stood and whispered in her ear, “We’re allies now. We have a connection.”

With that, he left. Shen Qiuning blushed and slapped her face. “This man is truly crazy.”

Back at the Gu family residence, Gu Wenting had just returned from the campaign in Liangzhou. Seeing Gu Yan back, he said, “Boy, come drink with your old man!”

Having won the battle, Gu Wenting was in high spirits. Luckily, Gu Yan was also in a good mood and didn’t spoil his father’s fun, sitting down to drink with him.

“You handled the Yizhou matter well. That’s the spirit of a father’s son!” Gu Wenting patted Gu Yan’s shoulder.

Gu Yan looked at his father lazily. “Father, if you can’t hold your liquor, go to sleep. The emperor will summon you to the palace tomorrow.”

Page (3/3)

“You brat, always teasing your old man. Get lost, get lost, don’t be an eyesore here!” Gu Wenting chased Gu Yan with kicks but missed every time.

The next morning, Gu Yan noticed his father’s horse still in the stable. He knocked on Gu Wenting’s door and upon opening saw his father with his hat askew, hopping around putting on his shoes.

“Why didn’t you call me sooner? The emperor summoned me to the palace at the hour of Chen, and now it is almost the hour of Si,” Gu Wenting said.

Gu Yan laughed aloud. “I told you not to drink so much. Don’t you know your limits? The emperor also invited me and General Shen’s family to have lunch together. If you’re later, you can join them directly for the meal.”

Gu Wenting had no time to retort and hurriedly finished dressing to go to the palace.

“Gu Wenting, you made me wait,” the emperor said, eyeing the breathless man with quiet amusement.

Nearby, Shen Munian laughed loudly, but Cui Wanyun pinched him as a warning with her eyes. Shen Munian promptly straightened up.

“Your Majesty, forgive me. Yesterday I drank a few too many with my son and lost track of time,” Gu Wenting said, though his tone lacked any real nervousness, knowing the emperor would not mind.

“All right, rise. Since you have merits from the Liangzhou campaign, I won’t pursue it. Whatever reward you want, just report it to the Ministry of Rites,” the emperor said with a hearty laugh.

By noon, Gu Yan arrived and the group sat together. Shen Qiuning glanced around and noticed Consort Xuan was absent—still confined for two more days. She planned to visit her at the Palace of Eternal Joy later.

Gu Yan, seeing Shen Qiuning’s little scheme, knew the plan well. Since the emperor and officials were engaged in conversation and not paying attention, she found an excuse to slip away.

Just around the corner, she was startled to find Gu Yan leaning against the wall. “Are you crazy, standing here like that? You scared me.”

“I wasn’t going to find Consort Xuan. I’ll take you there,” Gu Yan said, grabbing Shen Qiuning and climbing over the palace wall.

Consort Xuan had been writing in the courtyard when suddenly two people dropped down from the wall.

“What are you two doing here? Aren’t you afraid of the emperor punishing you if he finds out?”

“I’m not afraid. I just wanted to see you,” Shen Qiuning said as she coquettishly took Consort Xuan’s hand.

Gu Yan smiled knowingly. Since they were now allies, it was better to be bound together in this game. Since she was going to be involved anyway, they might as well be connected.

Page (3/3)