Chapter 1177: A special visi (1/2)

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Gu Beiyue had suddenly shown up on the 30th day of the last month of the year!

“Gu Beiyue!” Han Yunxi was both surprised and pleased. She was about to head for dinner with Long Feiye when she saw his figure standing in the distance. Gu Beiyue immediately arrived before them and did his usual greeting with cupped hands.

“Princess, Your Highness.”

Han Yunxi quickly ignored that and looked behind him doubtfully. “Where’s Gu Qishao? He didn’t come with you?”

Han Yunxi had once thought of having Long Feiye call everyone here together for a New Year’s celebration. Last year, they had spend the 30th at Three-Way Black Market in a much more lively way, although not everyone was present.[1] But in consideration of Gu Beiyue and Gu Qishao’s busy work schedules, she didn’t bring it up. She knew Gu Qishao would be the first to run over as soon as she proposed the idea.

“Where’s Gu Qishao? Is he hiding somewhere?” Han Yunxi asked thoughtlessly. She assumed the man would definitely come with Gu Beiyue and was in a great mood. “Didn’t the letter a few days ago say he was going to the deserts of Western Zhou? You guys were lying to me, weren’t you? Did he go off to buy some more snacks? Zhao mama’s already made a table full of food!”

Han Yunxi was currently standing right next to Long Feiye. If she had been directly opposit him, she would have seen his creased brows and ghastly pale complexion!

“Princess, Qishao really did head west. This subordinate just came back from a trip to the Medicine Hut and thought I’d drop by along the way. At the same time, I came to ask for a meal,” Gu Beiyue smiled.

“So it’s like that…” Han Yunxi was a little disappointed, but she quickly grinned again. Even without Gu Qishao, it was worth celebrating Gu Beiyue’s visit. “Let’s go. As it turns out, His Highness is missing a drinking companion tonight.”

Long Feiye disliked wine, but he always drank a few cups on New Year’s Eve. With Han Yunxi’s belly so swollen, she had long switched from alcohol to tea and couldn’t keep him company. The trio entered Rear Camp and Gu Beiyue shot Long Feiye a helpless look while Han Yunxi wasn’t looking. Although Long Feiye didn’t grasp all the details, his heart sank back in his chest.

At the very least, he knew that Gu Qishao was still alive!

“Is Qishao going to find the final ingredient in the west?” Han Yunxi asked as they walked. She understood his condition from all the letters, but wanted to ask Gu Beiyue in detail.

“Yes. Our recent experiments with the Blood Rattan have all been very successful. If he can find that last ingredient, there shouldn’t be any more problems!” Gu Beiyue replied.

Han Yunxi halted, then asked, “Are you sure he can find it?”

Gu Beiyue looked seriously into Han Yunxi’s eyes and said, “Since it’s Qishao on the hunt, princess needn’t worry. Last night this subordinate received news that he already found preserved specimens. He wants to stay a few more days and check if there are fresh ones around. The medicine will be more potent with fresher ingredients.”

Han Yunxi would never expect Gu Beiyue to lie to her face, or for so long. Moreover, his warm and steady gaze helped her banish any doubts. Besides Long Feiye, she trusted Gu Beiyue the most and was at ease with leaving matters to his hands!

She continued to walk while calculating to herself. “By the time he returns from the west, it should be the end of the first lunar month, right?”

“If he’s fast, he’ll make it to Medical City by then. But it’ll be harder to tell if he’s slow,” Gu Beiyue responded.

“Then I suppose I won’t be able to see him when I start my confinement period?”[2] Han Yunxi sighed as she rubbed her stomach.

“Princess can simply leave Qishao to this subordinate without worry,” Gu Beiyue soothed. While he chatted with Han Yunxi, Long Feiye remained silent. He knew that Gu Beiyue was spewing nothing but lies.

With their meal of two expanded to three, Han Yunxi stroked her stomach with a grin and said, “Next year’s New Year’s Eve dinner will include one extra little pipsqueak.”

Besides casual chatter, Gu Beiyue asked Long Feiye about various military and political affairs. The two men soon fell into a deep discussion and didn’t stop. Han Yunxi sat on the sidelines, filled with ideas of her own that she kept in check so as to not interrupt.

The saying went that winds were cold and bitter at high altitudes, just as people in high places found it hard to mark friends. Gu Beiyue was one of the rare few that Long Feiye could befriend.

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After dinner, Long Feiye continued the tradition of giving everyone red packets. All of the servants at Rare Camp received big ones. He’d also prepared one for Tang Li’s family of three, Gu Beiyue, and Gu Qishao.

Fourth Young Miss Ren and Zhao mama were eating at a separate tent, but the sound of their laughter flitted out as soon as they received their red packets. Long Feiye gave Chu Xifeng the red packets meant for Tang Li’s family so he could send it over by night messenger hawk. Gu Qishao’s share was given to Gu Beiyue.

Unexpectedly, Gu Beiyue took out two small red packets of his own after accepting his share. Although they were tiny, they were also exceptionally chic and didn’t resemble ordinary, low-quality red packets. They were small, thick purses of red silk tied with golden tassels, stuffed to the brim with silver drafts.

“Princess, Qishao knew this subordinate was passing by this way and asked me to prepare these. He says it’s a gift for the little master,” Gu Beiyue smile was tinged with sadness.

In truth, Gu Qishao was lurking right around Rear Camp. He hadn’t gone to any desert, much less Medical City. He wasn’t even passing by, but had come here for a special trip. No matter how much Gu Beiyue protested, Gu Qishao insisted on dropping by. He wanted to give the little master a red packet on the last night of the year.

He had even sewed the silk purse all by himself with needle and thread. Gu Beiyue only recently learned that Gu Qishao was a man who could sew. When he asked him how, Gu Qishao had only said he’d “learned it.”

Han Yunxi’s eyes were fixated on the little purse. She was surprised, but quickly glanced at Long Feiye with a chuckle. “You lost your chance, haha!”

This had to be the little fellow’s first ever red packet. What should be Long Feiye’s right had been stolen by Gu Qishao instead. There were many rules about gifting red packets in Cloud Realm Continent. Only those of higher standing or status had the right to give red packets. While Gu Beiyue didn’t qualify, Gu Qishao did! He wasn’t Long Feiye or Han Yunxi’s subordinate, but simply their friend.