Chapter 14

“Greetings to Your Majesty and Princess Han.”

A clear and gentle voice sounded from behind, like a bubbling cold spring.

The old Emperor genuinely liked him and smiled upon seeing him arrive: “No need for formalities, Xi Hui. You and Mier haven’t seen each other in many years, right?”

Yu Yunji resignedly closed her eyes. When she opened them again, her face had already put on a smile.

She was prepared to face the second biggest threat in the entire text.

But when she turned and saw the face before her clearly, she couldn’t help but freeze in place.

Familiar, too familiar, but she couldn’t immediately place where from.

Her face was indeed beautiful, with people jokingly calling her the Jade-faced Bodhisattva. But if truly discussing celestial beings, Xi Hui resembled one more than her – he was the inviolable immortal.

People are always insatiable when it comes to beautiful things. Yu Yunji couldn’t help but look a few more times.

Xi Hui’s face was distant and unapproachable. Even though he now wore a faint smile, in Yu Yunji’s eyes it still exuded coldness and killing intent.

Yu Yunji’s gaze moved downward and saw a small mole beside those thin lips. That spot was originally not noticeable, but the moment she saw it, her memory seemed to be cleared.

The smile on Yu Yunji’s face completely froze.

It turned out that while she was repeatedly talking about avoiding the plot concerning Xi Hui, the two had already met by the time she had this thought.

The mute gentleman was Xi Hui, and Xi Hui was the mute gentleman.

“Indeed, but I wonder if Princess Han still remembers Xi Hui?” Xi Hui nodded slightly, polite yet distant.

She quickly composed herself and said gently: “Of course I remember. Grand Tutor Xi’s reputation is illustrious and his knowledge profound. How could I not remember?”

She hadn’t finished reading this book and only knew the general outline, so she inevitably lacked confidence when facing Xi Hui.

She only hoped that Xi Hui would get along peacefully with her, considering how she had helped him out of a difficult situation yesterday.

“I feel most at ease entrusting Mier to your assistance,” the old Emperor looked at the two with satisfaction. “In a few days I will hold a banquet at the Hundred Herbs Pavilion. Since it’s a family banquet, there’s no need for formalities. Xi Hui should come too.”

Xi Hui grew up in the palace. The old Emperor saw him daily, indeed like family.

But one wonders how she would feel if she knew her daughter’s future death was related to Xi Hui.

Yu Yunji still had another matter on her mind. She said: “The Cloud family and Imperial Elder Sister still have a marriage agreement. Since it’s a family banquet, will they be coming?”

The old Emperor was clearly very pleased with this marriage: “The young men of the Cloud family are well-behaved. Since they’ll be family in the future, of course they should come to the family banquet. Just wait and see.”

As expected.

The Cloud family’s eldest and second sons would attend. Who knows how Gu Qi would react upon seeing them.

He was like a time bomb placed beside her. Even a small matter could set off the countdown.

If his emotions weren’t soothed in time, once he turned dark, the one harmed would be her, Yu Yunji.

It was difficult.

At this moment, the old Emperor looked at the two of them and smiled: “You two haven’t seen each other in many years. By rights, you should catch up. I still have some memorials to review. Mier, take Xi Hui out for a walk.” Xi Hui had grown up in the palace – what place didn’t he know? Yu Yunji was well aware of the old Emperor’s intentions.

Yu Yunji looked at the cold and aloof person before her. Once they left, they would part ways. Looking at the young official before her, it didn’t seem like he wanted to chat with her.

But she was mistaken.

On the imperial road, just as she was about to bid farewell to Xi Hui, she heard him say: “Thank you for helping me out of that situation yesterday. I owe Princess Han a favor.” Yu Yunji met his calm eyes: “Grand Tutor Xi is too kind. There’s no need for favors.” She had just wanted to escape the original book’s plot. How could she have other entanglements with Xi Hui? She couldn’t get away fast enough.

Xi Hui stared at the person before him.

So many people wanted a favor from him but never had the chance. Yet here she was, refusing an opportunity that came to her freely. Yu Yunji could have used this chance to pressure him.

Xi Hui fixed his gaze on her waist: “After so many years, I didn’t expect Princess Han to have changed so much…” Yu Yunji’s heart skipped half a beat, but she still said gently: “After so many years, how could one remain the same as before? No one stays unchanged.” Xi Hui nodded: “Princess speaks truly. Farewell then.”

Xi Hui didn’t say anything more. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Since that was the case, she would go back and do some psychological work with Gu Qi. As long as nothing went wrong at the family banquet and she stayed away from Xi Hui, everything would be fine.

Inside Moon Stream Pavilion, sandalwood incense curled upwards.

Wu Zhi said excitedly: “This morning’s incense burned well, shaped like a lotus flower. It’s an extremely auspicious sign. What did the Grand Tutor ask?” Xi Hui’s hand on the yellow pear wood window paused slightly. He turned to look at the incense burner.

The ashes in the incense burner were white, truly a sign of great fortune.

A cold light flashed in Xi Hui’s eyes. He only said: “Princess Han is not right.”

Yu Yunji was indeed not right. He had noticed something yesterday, so this morning he burned incense. He and Yu Yunji had grudges in childhood, so this morning he only asked if the past with Yu Yunji still counted.

The auspicious incense burning meant evil deeds no longer counted. This lotus-shaped incense was also a new beginning.

However, it’s hard to change one’s nature. If this person was Princess Han, how could it be a new beginning? Unless the problem lay with Yu Yunji herself.

At noon, Han Wang Manor became lively.

Gu Qi sat on the jade table, holding a gold-inlaid jade bottle in his hand, drinking directly from it. None of the young servants could stop him.

“It’s bad enough that you’ve confined me here. Now you won’t even let me drink when I want to. Are you trying to rebel?” Yu Yunji had just entered when she saw this scene.

He wore a thin shirt, with traces of alcohol still on his lips, sliding down his fair neck into his collar towards deeper places.

The jade bottle in Gu Qi’s hand was already empty. He impatiently shook the empty bottle and threw it towards the distance: “If you won’t let me drink, let’s see if you have the ability to catch it.” Half Moon Hall was in chaos for a moment. No one saw her enter until the jade bottle in Gu Qi’s hand was thrown towards her.

The young servants were terrified, all wanting to block it with their bodies.

The jade bottle came whistling towards her face. Yu Yunji’s heart steadied. In that split second, just as the bottle mouth was only an inch from her eyes, she raised her hand and firmly grasped the bottle handle.

“Forgive us, Your Highness!” The young servants all knelt down.

Gu Qi was clearly somewhat drunk. Seeing her enter, he finally came down from the table.

That foot wore no silk socks or shoes, with a red string hanging crookedly around the ankle. Now it was stepping towards her step by step.

The red string made that foot appear especially fair. Now, blue veins could be clearly seen on the white surface of the foot.

He seemed to not know what shame was, or perhaps he simply didn’t care. He looked at her with a smile: “Your Highness has good reflexes. This jade bottle was just a bit away from ruining Your Highness’s beautiful face…” As he spoke, Gu Qi reached out to touch her face.

Yu Yunji grasped his fair wrist: “My husband, please have some self-respect.” “Self-respect?” Gu Qi tilted his head to look at her and smiled, “Bearing the title of Han Wang’s husband, what self-respect is there left?” “You should know what words can be said and what words cannot be said,” Yu Yunji looked at him and said in a low voice.

The young servants who had been prostrate begging forgiveness were long gone. How could they dare remain to listen when the two masters were talking?

These words seemed to completely dispel his drunkenness. The debauchery of that day and his amorous dream intertwined. The smile on Gu Qi’s face froze.

His wrist felt Yu Yunji’s heat. He hadn’t noticed before, but now it felt like it was being burned.

“Let, let go of me!” His chest heaved.

With a clear ding, the jade bottle landed steadily on the table.

Yu Yunji released that slender wrist at the right moment. He retreated several steps as if avoiding heat: “Why has Princess Han come here? Could it be to laugh at me?” “Yesterday I saw your hand bleeding. Men are easily injured. I brought some scar-removing ointment for you,” she said.

Gu Qi vaguely curled his finger joints, enduring the indescribable feeling in his heart: “I don’t need your false kindness. How could a delicate young man like me use Your Highness’s scar-removing ointment?” Yu Yunji was somewhat troubled and said in a low voice: “Won’t you use it? Then in a few days at the family banquet, what if others see it?” “Family banquet,” Gu Qi’s throat bobbed up and down, his eyes suddenly brightening, “Princess Han, will she be there?”

“Imperial Elder Sister will naturally attend,” Yu Yunji said seriously. “Not just Imperial Elder Sister, the Cloud family’s eldest son will also be there. All these people will be present.” Gu Qi’s figure swayed. She hurried to support his shoulders and heard him say: “Good, I want to see just how bewitching this eldest and second son of the Cloud family is.” If not bewitching, how could they have stolen his Prince Gong’s heart.

At this moment, Gu Qi stood barefoot before her, like a small beast about to go berserk, the corners of his eyes slightly red.

Seeing him in this state, Yu Yunji also felt somewhat uncomfortable. She handed the stack of bound letter papers from her bosom to his hand.

“Don’t be sad. I’ve pasted them together for you. Be good and apply the scar-removing ointment,” she said gently.

Gu Qi held that volume of letter papers, looking at her somewhat incredulously.

How could she, how could she.

Yu Yunji clearly had no interest in him. These letter papers could put him to death. Not only did she not turn him in or take the opportunity to deal with him, she even pieced these things back together and returned them to him.

The bound volume in his arms felt like a scorching hot current, suddenly scalding open his long-dormant heart.

Why would Yu Yunji treat him this way?

No, the person before him was not Yu Yunji, but some wandering ghost from who knows where.

“I don’t need your pity. Stop pretending,” Gu Qi clutched the volume in his arms tightly, looking at her warily, as if afraid she would come to snatch it away.

Yu Yunji was helpless. She sighed: “Imperial Elder Sister doesn’t like men with scars on their bodies…” No matter how reckless and unrestrained Gu Qi was, in his heart he still prioritized Yu Zhiyuan.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, he was silent for a moment: “…I’ll apply it.”

He obediently sat down on the stool, looking up at her.

Yu Yunji sat in front of him, her fingertips touching the faintly fragrant ointment: “We agreed, don’t act rashly. There are so many eyes watching outside. We must be careful in everything. Once a mistake is made, neither of us can escape unscathed.” “You know, if Mother Emperor learns of your disloyalty, it won’t be as simple as not being able to marry Imperial Elder Sister.” Gu Qi’s lowered long lashes concealed the expression in his eyes.

He naturally knew that the current Emperor greatly valued her daughter Yu Yunji.

If she learned that not only was he not wholeheartedly serving Yu Yunji as a husband, but still thinking of Prince Gong, he feared he would no longer have the possibility of living.

No, he couldn’t die. He lived in this world for Prince Gong.

His thoughts were in turmoil when suddenly a layer of warmth covered the root of his finger, startling his loosely curled finger joints to suddenly tighten and withdraw.

“Don’t move,” Yu Yunji said softly.

Gu Qi’s heart was still unsettled: “No need for Princess Han to lower herself. I can do it myself.” But that hand gripped his wrist without room for refusal, continuing to gently apply the ointment.

Yu Yunji lowered her long lashes, carefully covering all his wounded areas with ointment. His cool fingers also became warm.

The warm afternoon sun poured down on her, making the shimmering brocade on her body like rosy clouds, as if she truly was a bodhisattva or immortal fallen from heaven.

Half Moon Hall was quiet, with only the faint sound of their breathing remaining.

Gu Qi sat on the shaded stool, looking at the woman before him glowing in the sunlight. His heart felt as if it was being lightly brushed by white feathers.