Male Lead Is Always That Heartless

Chapter 24

Zhao Wan bowed and said, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

After that, she left Xunxie Pavilion.

Gu Yi looked blearily at Xiao Yan. “Your Majesty, when will you also reward me..”

Fifty taels—this is not a small amount. Even though a palace consort doesn’t cost money to eat, clothes, and live, the monthly salary of a Noble Lady is only five taels, and at this moment, penniless Gu Yi is jealous. After leaving the palace, living as a rich woman relying solely on her monthly salary. Hopefully, when Xiao Yan dispersed the harem, he would have sympathy and give a pension —

She was indeed jealous. Xiao Yan smiled, “A mere palace maid, why do you care so much?”

Gu Yi:?

Toward evening, the rain finally stopped. Xiao Yan led the palace staff back to Xuanyu Pavilion.

Tao Jia was puzzled, “Noble Lady, why don’t you keep His Majesty for dinner?”

Of course, he couldn’t stay! Xiao Yan met Zhao Wan in a hot spring pool at night in the Wushan Palace. She didn’t know which night it was. So, of course, she couldn’t just let him stay! If the main plot of Beauty Wan were gone, she would revert to June 15th in minutes.

Gu Yi waved her hand and said, “I’ll hold my birthday banquet in three days, so it would be bad to keep him now.”

Tao Jia thought about it, nodded, and said, “Noble Lady is wise! Then, did you think of how to dress up that day? There’s a never-worn red dress among the dresses brought here. Why not pick that one?”

Gu Yi nodded, “Okay, you can arrange it.”

Tao Jia was full of fighting spirit. Let those imitators take a good look!

The night gradually deepened, and because of the heavy rain, the mountain fog gradually rose, misty as a tent, and light covered the majestic Wu Shan Palace.

The darkness of the night was getting deeper and deeper. Eunuch Gao, holding a lamp, stood in the eaves behind the Xuanyu Pavilion, watching the lonely and cold figure practicing sword in the garden.

September, counting the days, it’s almost here.

The Emperor has become less and less sleepy and couldn’t sleep.

Aih. His Majesty has been living too hard.

Handling the ministers in the courtroom decisively in the daytime, but in the night, when no others, no one could tell the heart. The world thought that the Emperor was heartless, killed his father and brother, addicted to killing, and stepped on the heads of his relatives and the bones of his soldiers to ascend the throne. But no one cared whether it was true or not. His Majesty has been disregarded since childhood, and even if he became Emperor, he might not be happy. Gao Gui could not help but feel a bit of sourness in his eyes and immediately lowered them.

Xiao Yan put away his long sword, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on his undershirt.

Gao Gui quickly stepped forward to put on the cloak for him. Seeing that he still had no tiredness on his face, he proposed, “Your Majesty, the fog in the mountains is heavy. Why don’t you go to the hot springs to dip in the pool? You might be able to sleep better later on?”

Xiao Yan thought of Gu Yi’s anxious appearance in the pool last night and couldn’t help but laugh softly, nodding.

Gao Gui immediately prepared a change of clothes and randomly ordered two palace staff to the hot spring pool.

It was a dark night like ink, and by the hot springs poolside, someone had put on a palace lantern. The fire within the lantern emitted jade-white ghostly light, and the white smoke was hazy.

Gao Gui was about to ask but was stopped by the Emperor, signaling him to be silent. At a distance, Eunuch Gao Gui took a close look at the back of the pool and observed the bun she wore.

Is it Noble Lady Gu? Is she waiting for His Majesty? Or does Noble Lady Gu love this pool so much that she comes here day and night?

Seeing the Emperor’s gentle steps toward the front, Gao Gui sensibly stopped and waved his hand to order the palace staff behind him to stop together.

Xiao Yan walked closer and saw the silhouette, who seemed not to realize anything, fiddling with the sparkling water. He laughed and said: “Gu Yi ……”
Why is there not even a palace attendant? Is she sneaking out on her own?

Zhao Wan heard the sound and immediately looked back. At first sight of the person coming, she felt a heat surging in her heart. She immediately sank low into the water. Even though a white mist covered her, she still covered her chest.

“Your Majesty, forgive me. I didn’t know that Your Majesty came here. I will go out!”

Xiao Yan frowned. It was her again.

Zhao Wan saw Xiao Yan stop a few steps from the pool, so she stepped back a bit.

“I will go out immediately. I’m sorry. I have disturbed Your Majesty.” She had already retreated to the pool’s edge as she spoke, unable to retreat more. However, she was not wearing an inch of clothing now, so what to do!

Gao Gui’s heart sank as he watched the Emperor stand a few feet from the pool’s edge. It was not Noble Lady Gu!

Sure enough, a few moments later, he saw the Emperor turn around and return expressionless. Which one of these rogues has disturbed His Majesty’s pleasure?

Gao Gui could not turn around to look closer but only hurriedly followed his footsteps. Zhao Wan saw Xiao Yan’s cold face as he turned around and left without begrudging her a single word. The heat on her face suddenly receded, and she felt the night breeze blowing and the coolness spreading from her heart.

A Yan had indeed forgotten all about her. In the end, the old days they spent together did not leave a trace in his heart.

*

On Gu Yi’s birthday, Tao Jia decorated the Xunxie Pavilion, replacing the ribbon on the bed curtain with red silk. She even gave her a silk handkerchief specially embroidered for her. On the handkerchief was embroidered a bright red “longevity” character.

Gu Yi was really touched, but Beauty Gu seemed only about 20 years old. Can she really afford this word “longevity”?

Gu Yi took the silk handkerchief and put it in her sleeve, “Thank you for your hard work!”

Tao Jia smiled, “I know you treat Tao Jia well, but even though you are good-natured, you must fight! Today, we must deter those villains who want to imitate you!”

Imitate?

Gu Yi was confused and changed the topic, “What did Eunuch Gao say to you last night?”

“Eunuch Gao said that the terrace behind Xuanyu Pavilion has been prepared. Although today should be a sunny day, they set up the cloth curtains to prevent rain, but ……” Tao Jia was silent momentarily, “Eunuch Gao said that His Majesty may come …… later, but Noble Lady, don’t be afraid, you can watch the stars and enjoy the moon while waiting for His Majesty.”

Gu Yi nodded, “Okay, there’s no harm in being late.”

The kitchen staff sent the meal into the pavilion, and Tao Jia brought a bowl of noodles. “Noble Lady, quickly taste it. This longevity noodle is specially made today.”

Gu Yi took a bite, and her lips and teeth retained their flavor.

Tao Jia immediately said, “Noble Lady, this noodle symbolizes the meaning of long life. It’s a good omen to keep eating it.”

Gu Yi lifted the chopstick and fished the noodle; the noodle was at least half a meter long.  If not for Tao Jia’s consistent loyalty, she would have suspected that this was the plot messing with her! Trying to choke her to death!

Gu Yi ate the noodles slowly and painstakingly. Outside the door, the eunuch shouted, “The Emperor rewards Noble Lady Gu with a pair of white jade mandarin ducks, begonia hairpins, and six purple flower hairpins.”

This noodle of Gu Yi’s was destined to last only briefly. She stopped the chopsticks, got up, and walked to receive the reward, kneeling down and saying, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great kindness.”

The palace staff entered the room and placed two boxes carved from pear wood on the table.

.

Tao Jia joyfully said, “His Majesty thought of Noble Lady and remembered your birthday!”

Gu Yi reached out to touch the white jade hairpin in the box. The six purple flower hairpins were only the size of a fingernail cap, and they had purple and translucent petals. It was a treasure.

“I will insert it for you, and at the evening meal, His Majesty will be happy to see it.”

Gu Yi nodded.

After returning, the Xuanyu pavilion’s staff said to Eunuch Gao, “Eunuch Gao, the errand is done. Can we report to the Emperor?” This is a rare opportunity to meet the Emperor!

Unexpectedly, Eunuch Gao Gui shook his head, “It’s unnecessary, you guys back off.”

Although reluctant, they looked at each other and could only retreat. Eunuch Gao was not stingy; he didn’t put a few palace attendants from an outer palace in the eyes. But the Emperor was not in the Xuanyu Pavilion.

*

Above Wu Mountain, the sky was clear, and daylight passed through the branches, just like the golden sword fell to the land.

Qi Zhuang looked at the Emperor, who was walking silently with his eyebrows slightly knit. He saw him move briskly toward the mountains, his leather boots stepping through the mud, wetting his dragon robe, and mottling it with stains. Behind him followed two fresh-faced guards, both guards from the outer palace.

Qi Zhuang had never seen them before coming to Wu Shan. Xiao Yan did not stop walking and left his back to the guards behind him. In the mountains, where there was no one else, only one person and one sword were behind him.

There would be no opportunity like this. The two guards looked at each other. One of them clenched his teeth, pulled out a long knife from his waist, and stabbed at Xiao Yan’s back.

Qi Zhuang shouted, “Traitor!”

Xiao Yan turned back with a flash of silver light in his hand. Blood burst out from the guard’s neck, instantly coloring half of Xiao Yan’s face red. His original cold and depressed expression seemed especially like Shura at this moment.

The other guard could only fight to the death and drew his sword, “Since I died for Prince Heng, I have no regrets.”

Xiao Yan loudly laughed, “Then you die.” He dodged to avoid the long sword, and the silver knife in his hand plunged straight into the guard’s throat.

The guard opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of blood. Like a dying fish, he took two sharp breaths and made a ‘huohuo’ sound. The two bodies fell straight to the ground like autumn leaves falling in the mud.

Qi Zhuang retrieved the long sword at his waist and knelt, saying, “Your Majesty, please forgive me for not being able to protect you.”

Xiao Yan wiped a handful of slippery blood on his face and laughed lowly, “Qi Zhuang, could it be that you don’t want to avenge Crown Prince Heng just now?”

Qi Zhuang’s chest tightened like a huge stone had fallen instantly, and a pang of hidden guilt weighed heavily on him: “I have no such intention!”

Xiao Yan pulled out a silk handkerchief from his pocket and slowly and methodically wiped half of the blood off his face. He dyed the silk handkerchief red and discarded it, throwing it down into the mud.

Qi Zhuang buried his head and saw the reddish blood on the handkerchief obscuring the original pattern of the branches.

“You get up.”

Qi Zhuang got up and saw Xiao Yan traveling towards the top of the mountain. Several dark shadows leaped out of the forest and knelt, “Your Majesty, how will you dispose of the bodies of the rebels?”

“Death by a thousand cuts.”

Qi Zhuang’s heart was shocked. Xiao Yan had prepared an ambush here long ago. If he had an evil thought just now, he would end up with a death by a thousand cuts.

The higher up the mountain, the stronger the wind.

Xiao Yan looked into the sky, floating clouds and mountains accompanying each other.

Ta Zhu once said she loved the mountain breeze, sun, and moon. But unfortunately, the palace wall was deep, so she couldn’t see them. Now that you are already back to your grassland, did you see the high sky outside the palace? The river, mountains, sun, and moon —

Qi Zhuang stood a few steps away, watching Xiao Yan stand against the wind without saying a word. In the distance, the sun was gradually setting in the sky, and a round of vermilion and gold paint seemed to seal the past.