Chapter 42 (2/2)

The Gu Family’s answer caused him to suddenly realize that this was the Gu Family, as expected of the Gu Family.

As a wise monarch, one would hope to encounter good officials. In the past, Teacher Gu was willing to endure great pressure and report the earthquake to him for the people of the capital. Back then, he had known that the Gu Family had the people in their hearts.

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Even though Jin Yang had good composure, he couldn’t help but take a few more looks at Gu Ru Jiu after not meeting for two months. He thought he had disguised himself well, but Empress Dowager Zhou nearly couldn’t endure to look.

“Your Majesty.” After eating, Empress Dowager Zhou rubbed her forehead and said, “I am slightly tired. You take Jiu Jiu and walk around the palace. She hasn’t seen the palace for many days.” Son, this mother can only help you to here.

“Mother-Empress, please rest well. This son will take good care of Junior Sister.” Jin Yang returned a bright smile to Empress Dowager Zhou. He went forward to help her stand, and walked with her to the doorway to the inner bedroom before releasing her hand.

“Your Majesty, there is only one way to obtain someone’s true heart.” Empress Dowager Zhou looked at her child who was usually very sensible. “A true heart for a true heart.”

“Thank you, Mother-Empress. This son understands.” Jin Yang bowed to Empress Dowager Zhou.

“As long as you understand.” Empress Dowager Zhou waved her hand. “You can go.” Even though he was standing there, his heart was in the front of the hall.

Gu Ru Jiu was admiring the teacup in her hand at this time. This teacup was fine to the touch, and perfect in shape. Even the flower patterns on the surface were refined and beautiful. It could be called a work of art. The crisp green tea leaves floating in the cup looked peaceful against the white porcelain. Even before drinking the tea, it was extremely elegant.

“Jiu Jiu.” Jin Yang walked next to her, hesitated, and then sat down next to her.

“Your Majesty.” Gu Ru Jiu put down the teacup and moved to rise. Jin Yang stopped her. “We do not have to be so polite.”

It was the end of summer and the beginning of fall. The weather was slightly hot, and Gu Ru Jiu’s wide-sleeved dress was made out of silk. While Jin Yang was touching her arm through her sleeve, she could still sense the warmth in his palm.

The warmth his palm felt caused Jin Yang to quickly pull his hand back. “Apologies for the accidental offence.” But his palm felt as though it had been burned. Even though it had left her arm, it still felt extremely hot.

“No problem.” Gu Ru Jiu looked at his helplessness and smiled faintly.

“There is a bamboo forest behind Luanhe Palace. It is quiet and peaceful there. Could Junior Sister accompany me there?” Jin Yang looked at Gu Ru Jiu and worried that she would refuse his invitation.

Gu Ru Jiu looked up into his eyes, nodded and said, “Please, Your Majesty, lead the way.”

Seeing her agree to his invitation, Jin Yang was overjoyed. He ordered the palace attendants to prepare tea and pastries in the bamboo forest ahead of their arrival.

Leaving the main hall, Gu Ru Jiu saw Bai Xian and He Ming were both standing guard. She stopped and smiled at Bai Xian.

Bai Xian respectfully bowed to her, and took a step back to express respect. Ever since last year when he fell out of favour with His Majesty, his days had not been good until that day he encountered County Princess Changyan.

Not long after that day, he received His Majesty’s summons and returned to imperial service. While He Ming was still an obstruction, the days were much better than when he was snubbed by His Majesty.

In a place like the palace, if one wanted to inquire, there were no secrets. Also, Bai Xian had served His Majesty for so many years. There were people in Qiankun Palace that had been helped by Bai Xian. So after inquiring about it, he knew the truth.

After County Princess Changyan met him that day, she had said a few words with His Majesty. While she had not deliberately spoken on his behalf, His Majesty finally remembered him.

So half of his return to glory was due to County Princess Changyan.

Leaving Kangquan Palace, there were places with sunset. He Ming took the initiative and held up an umbrella for Jin Yang. Bai Xian did not bother to compete with him. He carefully opened an umbrella and walked next to Gu Ru Jiu. This way, the sun would not shine on her, and the breeze would reach her.

They passed by the fake mountain, the lotus pond, and a nine-turns bridge before finally reaching the bamboo forest. The bamboo forest was very clean, without any pests like mosquitoes. She could even see incense burners tucked away.

“This place is peaceful and calm.” Gu Ru Jiu looked around. Bai Xian put away the umbrella and moved to the side in a timely manner without even looking at He Ming next to him. He sneered inside. The other served His Majesty but could not see the emotions that His Majesty held towards County Princess Changyan. He thought to compete like this?

Even if he did nothing, He Ming would be killed by his lack of sight sooner or later.

“I know you have a hard time in the heat, so you will like this place.” Jin Yang pointed at Luanhe Palace. “When the Department of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Works were repairing this place, I had them connect this place to the palace. So one only needs to take a few steps from Luanhe Palace to come here.”

Gu Ru Jiu silently looked at the palace shining with golden light underneath the sunlight. The wind caused the bamboo leaves to rustle.

Seeing her remain silent, Jin Yang was not discouraged. He led her to the pavilion to sit down and then personally poured a cup of bamboo tea for her. “Jiu Jiu, do you understand my intentions?”

Gu Ru Jiu looked at this pair of hands that presented the teacup. Clean, white, and flawlessly beautiful.

She looked up at him and said after a moment, “Your Majesty, making me your empress is not the best choice.”

“For me, this is the best, and the only choice.” Seeing her not accept the teacup, Jin Yang did not pull back. He reached out and said with a smile, “When I first saw you, you were a half-grown little girl. Your face was white and round, and you looked like one of the attendants of a goddess.”

“Your Majesty, you judge people by their appearance?”

Jin Yang smiled and shook his head. “Back then, I thought, which family does this fortunate and adorable girl belong to? She looks so healthy, so likable.”

Gu Ru Jiu touched her face that was between a sunflower seed and a goose egg. She showed a faint smile. “I was only ten years at the time. It was normal for me to have more flesh on my face.”

So five years had passed in the blink of an eye.

“Yes, I felt you were very good.” Jin Yang’s smile remained on his face. “Later, I learned you were the daughter of Teacher Gu, and became more happy. I felt that I had a special predestined affinity with you, and wanted to spoil you like you were my younger sister. Later, you grew up, and I started to worry you would be slighted if you married into another family. I worried that other misses would bully you. I would even feel that if I did not protect you, I would not be able to eat well and sleep well. Each time I heard you go to gatherings with young masters and misses, I always thought, there are so many young masters and misses of aristocratic families in the capital. Will there be some that are not on good terms with the Gu Family that use the opportunity to bully and embarrass you?

“In the end, even I felt that my problem was not good.” When Jin Yang said this, his smile became slightly bitter. “Ever since I understood my feelings for you, I was afraid. I worried that before I proposed to you, you would marry someone else. Or that you have no feelings towards me at all, and I would do you wrong for an entire lifetime if I forcibly married you.

“I kept on worrying like this until Duke Yang’s family proposed to you.” Jin Yang stopped and looked down at Gu Ru Jiu who was looking down silently. “At that time, I felt that if you married someone else, I would want to destroy that family, and then steal you into the palace.”

When Jin Yang thought of the embarrassing and small-minded thoughts he had, his bitter expression grew. “So, I have such despicable thoughts towards you.”

Gu Ru Jiu looked at the hand that trembled holding the teacup. The green tea rippled in the cup. She slowly reached out and took the teacup. “Your Majesty, this subject is not as perfect as you imagine.” Sometimes, young love would automatically give the love a beautifying halo. But after this halo disappeared, the love would become ugly.

“I am jealous, vengeful, small-minded and ambitious.” Jin Yang smiled and looked at Gu Ru Jiu. “Jiu Jiu, could you be uglier than my inner heart?”

“Your Majesty!” Gu Ru Jiu frowned and looked at the beautiful youth in front of her. “Jealous and vengeful, small-minded and ambitious are all ordinary emotions. You are the ruler of this world. No one is greater than you.”

Jin Yang heard this and his smile grew brighter than the sun in the sky. “So, to me, whatever Jiu Jiu is like is better and more adorable than anyone else. In the world, no other woman can rival you.”

Gu Ru Jiu turned the teacup in her hand. The teacup swayed and the hot tea spilled onto the back of her hand.

A soft handkerchief covered the back of her hand. A gentle hand wiped the water away for her. “If Jiu Jiu is empress, Zhen is willing to never have a consort, in hopes of growing old with Jiu Jiu until death.”

Woosh, woosh.

The wind blew on the bamboo leaves. The bamboo shadows swayed, and a cool wind rose.

Gu Ru Jiu could hear her own voice, not loud, but carrying calmness and anticipation that surprised her.

“If Your Majesty is willing to grow old with this subject, then formally propose marriage to my family.”

When she said this, it was not so hard to accept, and there was no feeling of awkwardness.

Translator Ramblings: We are now at the proposal stage!