Chapter 24 (1/2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Imprisoned Moon

Strolling around the palace, she often gets this feeling, as though all things that can be described with the word “magnificence” has all gathered here. Of grace, great elegance, air of royalty, every little gra.s.s and tree overflows with remarkability. Fiddling with the flowers whilst walking and stopping around, Gui Wan strolls through the imperial garden, three days in the palace, yet she feels as though she spent three years here, calm on the surface, but actually long sunken into loneliness inside.

These three days, there was not the slightest news of Lou Che, and within the palace, a blockade seems to have been conducted regarding such news, no one knows that the once doted Lady Consort Ying has already disappeared. What’s more laughable is, word from the imperial court has spread, rumours of Prime Minister Lou returning to his hometown for some time. Her steps coming to a stop, Gui Wan looks into the distance, her eyes regrettably catching onto the red walls, completely cut off from the outside world, her eyes turns towards another spot, abruptly finding, the red walls are everywhere, running endlessly with no gaps.

“Madam, is your body not well?” De Yu follows by her side, seeing Gui Wan stand there motionless, he worriedly asks.

“No,” Once again raising her foot, Gui Wan walks onto the tree lined path, asking without turning her head, “Is there still no news?”

“No. May Madam relax a little, no news right now is also good news, Prime Minister Lou has a solid foundation, almost half of the imperial court shares closely related power relations with Prime Minister Lou, not to mention Prime Minister Lou is also on friendly terms with each military governors, even if his majesty holds most power within the Capital, he cannot do anything with Prime Minister Lou.” His gentle voice persuading her, each sentence making fair points.

“Prime Minister Lou is on friendly terms with military governors?” Gui Wan was surprised, this is the first time she heard of this, entering deep thoughts, she says in a refres.h.i.+ngly direct manner: “De Yu gong-gong, may I trouble you with a matter, no need to search within the Capital, care to pa.s.s on a message to San Niang, full efforts on investigating for any news in Nan Jun and Luo Ling.”

Nan Jun and Luo Ling? De Yu freezes, these are the two biggest states in the southern area, there were once rumours of Prince Duan fleeing to that area, but the Emperor fears the powers of the military governors, and dares not to make a move, does this have any relations with Prime Minister Lou? Carefully thinking about it, he seems to have thought of something, raising his head, he finds that Gui Wan had wandered far off, hurriedly following after her, he lowers his head saying: “Madam, then I shall go carry out the tasks now, but Madam……”

“I’ll be continuing to stroll around for a while, you go ahead first.”

De Yu bows, slowly withdrawing away, in the eyes of outsiders, there is nothing strange about this sight, no one is aware that the deputy head eunuch who is currently on the rise in power within this palace actually stands on Madam Lou’s side of the political stance.

With no one following along by her side, her surroundings immediately felt more deserted, Gui Wan wanders aimlessly, not wanting to returning to the Empress’ Palace. The Empress’ aid this time more or less carries the flavour of a debt of grat.i.tude, if matters between two sisters are to be calculated through debt of grat.i.tude, then that would be rather dull and pointless. Lightly sounding a sigh, she turns her head to actually find herself arriving at “Cheng Kun Palace”, a faint smile floating to the surface of her face, Gui Wan steps inside.

Walking into the inner chamber, she sees the little prince being surrounded by a few palace maids and eunuchs, once that child sees Gui Wan, a joyful smile spreads, spreading out his little arms, calling out: “Aunt Wan, Aunt Wan.” The palace maids and eunuchs sees the situation and all withdraws aside.

Taking a few steps closer, the little prince had already fluttered over, one grab seizing hold of Gui Wan’s skirt, with bright rosy red cheeks, clear and moist big eyes, particularly drawing out people’s tender love. Gui Wan waves off everyone around them, until no one else were in the room with them, only then did she reach out and lift up the prince, lightly giving his cheek a little peck, a smile faintly spilling out.

This child is the current Emperor’s only prince, the Empress’ biological son. The original laws of imperial court has specified, once a prince is born, he must be separated from his mother, and every day, only two hours can be spent visiting the prince, due to missing her son, who knows how many tears the Empress has spilled. This child’s innocence is in full bloom, likeable to others, what’s even more predestined is, since the very first time he saw Gui Wan, he just loved to stick to her, Gui Wan laughingly sighs, could it be that this thing called “blood ties” truly be as miraculous as such?

After frolicking around with the little prince for a while, playing games that children plays, he suddenly speaks up: “Aunt Wan, are you not happy?” This less than four years old child, actually has unexpectedly good observation skills.

Gui Wan places him down, stroking his hair, she smiles as she says: “That’s right ah, there are far too many troubling matters.” Towards other people, she would definitely never blurt out how troubled she feels, but facing this child who does not understand worldly matters, who also has no one by his side, she can completely believe that there is no need to be vigilant.

His little head tilting to the side, putting on a thoughtful expression on his face, eyelashes fluttering down and up like a fan, acting like an adult entering deep thoughts, prompting Gui Wan to be unable to hold herself back, laughing out loud, but the little prince’s following words actually completely cut off her lively laughter: “Aunt Wan do not be troubled, wait till I become Emperor…..and I shall let Aunt Wan be wholeheartedly happy.”

Completely thunderstruck as she looks at the child before her, Gui Wan was speechless, only after a long while did she slowly speak up and gently ask: “Who was it that told you this?” Clearly a child yet to reach the tender age of four years old, how could he possibly be able to say such shocking words? Could it be that the imperial palace truly is as horrifying as such, even a child who has yet to learn to run is able to be contaminated? Once she thinks about how this child will also be stepping into officialdom in future, everyone trying to outwit one another, wave after wave of biting chills. .h.i.ts her deep down in her heart, the hand stoking his head slowly withdraws.

“It was Mother Empress who said it. In future, I will be Emperor.” Childlike speech with childlike words, within such adorable speaking tone there actually harbours future intentions.

It was the Empress? Afraid that because of Consort Yin’s pregnancy, she feels threatened, and only because of this would she speak of such matters with a child right? Gui Wan remains silent, watching the little prince bouncily expressing the Empress’ words with phrases that he is not yet familiar with, “Mother Empress said, I can do whatever I want to do……hei-hei……Aunt Wan?”

“It is not like that. The imperial throne is a mountain of blades, a sea of flames, how is it that easy?” Knitting her brows together, Gui Wan pulls a serious face as she lightly persuades, just that the child is just too young, he does not understand her words, continuing to smile joyfully.

Thoughts taking a turn, Gui Wan extends her hand, harshly pinching onto the prince’s cheek, paining him to the point that his child’s cry directly calls out, tears brewing up in his eyes, looking at Gui Wan in shock, tearfully calling out: “Hurt……wu-……”

“Becoming the Emperor, this is what it’s like, but you cannot even say it hurts, you still want to be it?” Switching to a method that he will understand, Gui Wan tirelessly, earnestly, teaches him. How much she hopes to erase the deep imprint the Empress has carved into his little heart.

Unable to refrain from whimpering out loud, the Prince became like a rattle drum, “Wu-……I don’t want to anymore……” Shaking his head side to side, with every drawing in of a breath, every weep, looking absolutely pitiful, suddenly seeing something, his mouth opens wide, the sound of his cries swallowed back into his stomach, simmering there as he dares not to move, seeming just like he has seen something terrifying.

Gui Wan immediately turns her head back, Zheng Liu is standing by the doors, a face of thoughtfulness as he stares at her and the prince, those orbs appears deep and still, a bottomless pit. Gui Wan’s heart crazily beats, soundlessly showing up like that, who knows how long he was stood there, how much he has heard?

The silent atmosphere continued on for a while, right at the moment Gui Wan hurriedly recovers her composure, when bowing in greeting, she glances at Zheng Liu, his face carries a slightly smile, filled with an air of Confucianism, the still and deep look in his...o...b.. from just now disappears without a trace. Leisurely approaching them, brus.h.i.+ng past Gui Wan’s body, his eyes set straight ahead, walking directly in front of the little prince, his big hand gently stroking the prince’s little head, tenderly saying: “What’s wrong, do you not recognise Father Emperor now?”

Because of sensing pain just now, the half hanging tears on his cheek trembles in movement, and his lips presses together, the little prince quietly says: “Father Emperor……” Within his baby-like voice and baby-like speech, there carries a seemingly aggrieved ambiguity.

“Such an intelligent child.” Zheng Liu raises his brows as he praises, retrieving his hand, his eyes sweeps around the room, finally settling on Gui Wan, “Madam Lou, long time no see.”

Every time she hears this type of speaking tone of his that sits in between being playful and being serious, Gui Wan feels a slight sense of conflict within her heart, containing a smile as she says: “Troubled your majesty with such lingering thoughts.”

“Are you still this calm till this day? Looks like Madam is also a heartless person.” Zheng Liu lowly laughs, the little prince is evidently shrinking back, yet he does not think of him as disobedient, “Prime Minister Lou’s whereabouts are unknown, Madam is taking it easy, exactly is it the heart that holds no longing, or is it being wise to protect yourself from troubles?

“Your majesty is speaking too heavily, did Husband not return to his hometown? Where has the words ‘whereabouts unknown’ come from?” Taking out the smokescreen that he had released to counter-block his questions.

Zheng Liu deep orbs stares into Gui Wan for a while, before heartily laughing out loud, “What a great mouth of eloquence……” Just when such words were being spoken, the palace maids and eunuchs outside the doors returns to the room upon hearing the sound of speaking, seeing the Emperor they were all rendered shock, kneeling down on the ground in a uniformed manner.

Gui Wan secretly sighs in relief, watching as the palace maids hurries to take care of the Prince, taking the opportunity in wanting to withdraw out of the hall, she was just about to bow in signal of her leave, when Zheng Liu suddenly speaks up: “Madam Lou, it is rare of you to have a short stay within the palace, I am missing the friends.h.i.+p shared between monarch and subject with Prime Minister Lou, why not allow me to provide great hospitality for Madam this once?”

“Your majesty is of a supremely honourable position, how could I trouble your majesty?” This demonic Emperor of deeply unfathomable thoughts, joy and anger indistinguishable, who knows what exactly he is plotting.

“Is Madam rejecting my good intentions?” Slowly taking a step out, Zheng Liu raises his voice, seeming to be rather displeased.

From her peripheral vision, Gui Wan notices that the few palace maids within the room have already turned their heads over, strangely looking over at her, knowing deep inside that if she continues to reject him it will attract criticisms, she braces herself, with the posture of a weak and fragile willow, she replies, “Gui Wan dares not, thanking your majesty’s magnificent grace.”

Expecting her to answer like such all along, Zheng Liu does not even turn his head back as he leaves the palace halls. Gui Wan takes a few steps forwards, from her ears she hears the little prince gently calling out Aunt Wan, carrying an apologetic look she glances back at him, hundreds of different feelings mixing together within her heart, in the end she turns her head, following Zheng Liu’s figure in leaving.

Outside the courtyard there is only Zheng Liu alone standing there, beside him not a single person is following by his side, Gui Wan slowly paces up to him, more or less with feelings of reluctance, her heart filled with unwillingness. Just that Zheng Liu just had to be standing sideways, without any care at all, his eyes looking into the distant, his eyes blurring into a leisurely faint colour, a look full of deep thinking, Gui Wan accompanies him, standing by his side, quietly estimating him, but does not say anything to interrupt him.

“Madam,” Zheng Liu suddenly turns his head, directly meeting Gui Wan’s eyes, the corner of his lips forming a slight curve, “Can you guess, where Prime Minister Lou is right now?”

Gui Wan receives a slight shock from his sudden turn of his head, under inferior precautions, she deeply looks into the deep and quiet area between his brows, seeing his eyes slightly flash, his mind seeming unsettled, busily s.h.i.+fting his eyes, his line of sight slightly turning away, she casts her eyes to the scenery behind Zheng Liu’s figure, “Your majesty, I am unable to answer this question.”

“Minister Lou truly is ruthless ah,” Before Zheng Liu’s figure made a move, the wind blows against his sleeves making it float up, even the hidden air of untamed nature on his body raised up three points in the wind, “In the crucial moment, to actually leave you behind also, I really cannot not admire him.”

Towards Lou Che’s destination point, she seems to have practically already gotten a vague idea, Gui Wan feels a chilly air flood into her heart, yet her mouth frankly replies: “Your majesty is worrying too much.”

Carefully looking over Gui Wan, deep down Zheng Liu could not refrain from being secretly surprised, thinking of her pinching the little prince’s cheek just before, asking that question “Becoming the Emperor, this is what it’s like, but you cannot even say it hurts, you still want to be it?” His heart throbs, the coldness in his eyes secretly gathers up, a stern look pa.s.ses by his face, and he turns around, walking ahead.

Failing to understand, Gui Wan can only helplessly follow after him, walking along the meandering gravel pathway, the air still carries a chill, under hastiness, inhaling it into the mouth, the frosty chill is like knives, she holds onto the snow fur collar, wrapping it tighter, secretly complaining about this Son of Heaven’s eccentric temperament.

Accompanying Zheng Liu strolling around the garden, in which not a single word was spoken along the way, only silently walking. This garden is originally a place of few people, thus they were met with no disruption, up until they came up to a pavilion, did Zheng Liu finally come to a stop. Gui Wan carefully looks all around, turns out it is the garden beside Chong Hua Hall, recalling the scenes that played out within this hall, her mood also feels conflicted, noticing that Zheng Liu is suddenly inside the pavilion, sitting on the stone bench, leaning back on the stone pillar, and actually have his eyes closed in resting, she was absolutely speechless, Gui Wan steps into the pavilion, not knowing whether she should speak up or not, deep down she was secretly annoyed, not knowing whether this is the Son of Heaven’s intent to purposely put her in a difficult position.

“Your majesty……” Lightly calling out, yet he actually did not show the slightest response, Gui Wan walks closer, raising her voice a little, “Your majesty……”

Zheng Liu continues to lean against the pillar with his eyes closed, turning a deaf ear, Gui Wan also could not do anything about it, even if she continues calling out to him, he would still ignore her, she could only sit on another stone bench by the stone table, enduring the chilly spring air as she waits. Fortunately, it is a flouris.h.i.+ng time of newly sprung flowers, the wind brus.h.i.+ng against her face carries a very faint fragrance of sweetness, just sitting here in company, for a long time, they spent their time each enjoying their own entertainment.

Not knowing how much time has pa.s.sed by, from afar one can see a purple shadow approaching, upon closer inspection, it is Li gong-gong, that face that usually appears very detestable to her, right now, because he is the solution to her dilemma, Gui Wan actually feels delighted, faintly smiling as she waits for him to jog up to the pavilion.

Li gong-gong upon seeing Gui Wan here, was slightly stunned, his face not looking happy, and also appears a little complex: “Your majesty……your majesty……”

Slowly opening his eyes, Zheng Liu appears to be high spirits, opening his mouth in asking: “What’s the matter?”