Edited: 12.13.2023
Gu Yan sent Siwei away, took off his outerwear, and lay back on the bed with his arms around Ye Zi.
Ye Zi couldn’t calm down at this moment, and he tried to say something several times. But because he had just been punished by Gu Yan, he didn’t dare to speak so casually and could only stare at Gu Yan eagerly.
Gu Yan was helpless and laughed: “Just say what you want to say, why are you looking at me like that?”
Ye Zi pursed his lips and said softly: “I am a little worried……about the little sparrow.”
Gu Yan didn’t answer.
His palm fell on Ye Zi’s lower back and he slowly squeezed it with just the right amount of force.
Ye Zi didn’t move and carefully pulled the corner of Gu Yan’s clothes: “Zicheng, I don’t think the little sparrow is dead.”
Gu Yan paused: “Although that little sparrow is simple-minded, he is not stupid. Even though the Imperial City is dangerous, it shouldn’t be difficult for him to protect himself. What’s more, if a being that has opened up its spiritual consciousness was really executed, it’s impossible for there to be no rumors at all.”
Ye Zi nodded and quieted down again.
He was tormented too much by Gu Yan today and his whole body was full of insatiable lethargy and fatigue. His eyelids were so heavy that he couldn’t keep his eyes open and he couldn’t use any strength at all. Ye Zi yawned and was a little sleepy from Gu Yan’s strokes.
Gu Yan glanced at him and pulled over the thin quilt: “If you’re tired then sleep. Don’t force yourself to stay awake.”
Ye Zi opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but stopped himself in the end. Gu Yan brought him closer into his arms and whispered in his ear: “A Zi, I know what you want to say. Let’s go back to Chang’an in a couple of days, I’ll make the arrangements.”
Ye Zi pulled him back: “Zicheng……”
Gu Yan laughed: “What, you can’t even wait a couple of days?”
Ye Zi bit his lower lip and whispered: “You know I don’t mean that.”
They had been living here for more than a month. Gu Yan had already settled the affairs here, but he hadn’t mentioned leaving at all. He allowed the outside world to spread the news that he was terminally ill and dying soon, and sent away several of the envoys who came to invite him back to Chang’an just so that he and Ye Zi could stay here with peace of mind.
If they were to go back now, wouldn’t Gu Yan’s intention be all in vain?
And……if they go back this time, would they ever be able to leave again?
Ye Zi lowered his head and rubbed against Gu Yan’s shoulder: “I’m sorry……”
Gu Yan touched Ye Zi’s hair and sighed softly: “A Zi, why don’t you understand?”
“There’s never a need to say this to me and there’s no need to feel guilty.” Gu Yan said: “For you, I am willing to do anything. Forget just a trip back to Chang’an, even if it’s a mountain of daggers and a sea of fire, I’ll accompany you through it. But what about you?”
Gu Yan lifted Ye Zi’s face, forcing him to look directly at him: “Tell me, are you still unable to let go?”
Ye Zi’s eyes moved slightly and he hastily avoided Gu Yan’s line of sight: “That’s not……”
“Don’t lie to me.” Gu Yan used his fingertips to gently brush over his slightly red and swollen lips, whispering, “If I had known that this would be the result of you remembering everything, I would have preferred that you never remembered at all.”
Ye Zi’s heart twitched and he subconsciously apologized: “I’m sorry, I……”
“A Zi.” Gu Yan suddenly rolled over on top of him, pressing him into the soft bed. His eyes darkened slightly, and his fingers slid dangerously down to Ye Zi’s collar, “If I hear those two words from your mouth again, I will definitely punish you severely.”
Ye Zi shivered lightly: “I……”
“How should I punish you?” Gu Yan’s gaze roamed over him for a moment and slowly said, “I’ll strip you of all your clothes and tie you to the head of the bed with your legs spread apart so that you can’t even close them. Then, I’m going to find something to tie you up in front, and no matter how much you beg me I won’t untie it, so that you……”
“Z-Zicheng!” Ye Zi’s face and eyes turned a bright red and he said in urgency, “Don’t say anymore, I won’t dare to do it again……”
Having seen Gu Yan’s methods when it came to their love-making, Ye Zi now had no doubts about what he said. He swallowed, moved forward to kiss the other person’s lips, and said flatteringly: “I really don’t dare anymore, don’t do this to me. You being like this is tormenting me to death…..”
Gu Yan laughed and lowered his head to kiss him.
“If you really couldn’t handle it, you wouldn’t have gone out of your way to mess with me.” Gu Yan poked and prodded without mercy.
Ye Zi was afraid of pain but he also couldn’t resist teasing. If he went too far with him, he would cry and shout that he couldn’t do it. Gu Yan originally felt guilty and asked himself whether he had really gone too far.
But recently, he realized that this person was all bark and no bite.
Whenever they actually did it, Ye Zi lost control faster than anyone else. And with his amazing self-healing ability, he was always alive and kicking again within half a day afterward. Once the scar healed and he forgot about the pain, he would try different ways to tease and provoke Gu Yan to treat him like that again.
He liked it when Gu Yan treated him like that.
Ye Zi’s thoughts were exposed by Gu Yan and he didn’t dare to pretend anymore. He pursed his lips and said, “Then……..remember to be gentle.”
Gu Yan: “……”
Gu Yan pressed on his brow and whispered: “A Zi.”
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Ye Zi raised his eyes to look at him and answered softly: “……Here.”
Gu Yan sighed and wrapped the person into his arms: “I’m not joking with you, you’re not allowed to apologize to me again in the future, no matter what it’s because of.”
Ye Zi answered in a low voice.
Gu Yan paused and added: “You were the one who advised me to let go of myself and stop dwelling on the past. Now that I have let go, why can’t you? What’s more, it wasn’t your fault in the first place.”
Ye Zi bit his lips lightly and didn’t reply.
He naturally understood Gu Yan’s words, but it was one thing to understand and another to be able to really let go of everything.
He was sure that if Gu Yan had known the truth in his previous life, he would have hated him and never wanted to see him again.
Now that Gu Yan knows all this, does he really not care at all just like he said?
Ye Zi didn’t dare to think about this.
He couldn’t accept it if Gu Yan had a grudge against him, not even a little bit.
There was silence in the room. Gu Yan was quiet for a moment before whispering: “A Zi, I understand you still need time. Those things that happened in the past must be extremely painful for you. But it doesn’t matter, I will accompany you throughout the way, just like how you stayed with me in the past.”
“We’ve both done some things wrong in the past, you didn’t blame me and I never blamed you. Let’s both learn to put these things down and let bygones be bygones, okay?”
Ye Zi nodded: “Mnn.”
Gu Yan gently kissed him on the forehead and laughed: “Okay little fool, close your eyes and rest for a while. If you really aren’t tired, I don’t mind going for another round……”
“Don’t!” Ye Zi shrank to the side. His back was against the wall as he pitifully whimpered, “If we do it one more time, I’ll die, I’ll really die.”
Gu Yan laughed, came forward, and held the person into his arms: “Don’t worry, I won’t do anything, okay? Go to sleep.”
Two days later, the two of them got on the carriage back to Chang’an.
Gu Yan was pretending to be sick so the two of them didn’t dare to travel too fast and it ended up taking them half a month to reach Chang’an. During this time, news that Prince Rui was dying of illness in Jiangnan spread throughout the city. Knowing that Gu Yan was about to return to the capital, many people came to the city gate to welcome him.
After all, Gu Yan was now considered to be the one who was credited with managing the floods.
There was still some distance to the city gates. Ye Zi lifted the curtain and looked out before turning back: “Emperor Jinghe seems to have sent someone to pick you up, he’s quite attached to you.”
Gu Yan leaned inside the carriage and let out a bleak hum in response.
Ye Zi turned his head and looked at him before taking a box of powder on the table and touched up the color on his lips: “This should be enough. Don’t speak for a while. If someone were to peek into the carriage, at least you wouldn’t be discovered.”
Gu Yan lightly laughed: “I told you earlier, if you allowed Pei Ge to give me some medicine, it would ensure that the bystanders wouldn’t be able to notice a single thing. And then we wouldn’t have to go through all this trouble.”
“No, don’t even think about it.” Ye Zi flatly refused, “It took a lot of effort to recover your body. If you take the medicine, won’t everything be ruined? I won’t let you mess around.”
Gu Yan pursed his lips and closed his eyes: “Okay, everything will be as my beloved consort wishes. I won’t mess around.”
The carriage quickly arrived at the city gate and Emperor Jinghe had indeed sent an eunuch to pick up Gu Yan. Ye Zi got out of the carriage and greeted him perfunctorily. He also said that the Prince was not allowed to see others because of his illness and only allowed the eunuch to take a look through the curtains.
The eunuch couldn’t see anything wrong from a distance so he didn’t say anything else and escorted them back to the Prince’s manor.
Ye Zi helped Gu Yan off the carriage and slowly walked into the manor. From the time Ye Zi left the Prince Rui Manor to the time he came back, almost three months had passed. In the blink of an eye, it was already early Autumn. The Mid-Autumn Festival was in full swing in Chang’an City and the manor was also full of Autumn colors.
Great Princess Rui had been worried ever since she found out that Gu Yan was ill. Gu Yan wrote several letters to comfort her before she finally gave up the idea of visiting Jiangnan. But at this moment, when Great Princess Rui saw Gu Yan’s sick appearance, she thought that what Gu Yan said in the letter was all lies to her, and she felt angry and distressed at the same time.
Ye Zi had to appease Great Princess Rui for a while and was even held accountable for not taking good care of him before they came back.
There was a gentle breeze in the Autumn night. Ye Zi shook his head that was dizzy from being scolded, pushed the door open, and entered the room. When he looked up, he saw that the culprit had “removed” his sick look and was leaning leisurely by the bed, brewing a pot of calming flower tea.
Seeing him come back, Gu Yan waved at him: “What happened, did you get scolded by my mother?”
“What do you think?” Ye Zi walked over with a sad face, “The great princess’s mouth is getting sharper and sharper. I didn’t even have the chance to respond back at all.”
Gu Yan wrapped his arms around him and naturally kissed him: “I’m sorry.”
Ye Zi shook his head, “No need. As a parent, it’s only natural to worry about their children. This was our fault in the first place, we shouldn’t have lied to her.”
“Mnn, when this matter is over, I will personally explain the reason to her and make amends.” Gu Yan said, “What did that eunuch say to you just now, you guys were talking for very long.”
Ye Zi was silent for a moment: “He told me that in seven days, the Third Imperial Prince will marry his consort and Emperor Jinghe will issue an edict on the same day to confer him the title of Crown Prince for some luck. He told us to remember to attend the Crown Prince’s wedding banquet then.”
Gu Yan sipped his tea and faintly nodded: “We’ve come back just in time.”
“Yes.” Ye Zi was preoccupied and worried, “I found a few birds outside and asked them to help me find the little sparrow. However, it seems that they have not seen the little sparrow in a long time. I’m a little worried, Zicheng, do you think he will……”
Gu Yan rubbed Ye Zi’s hair and said comfortingly: “Don’t worry, in two days, I will take you to the palace to pay respects to Emperor Jinghe, and we can stop by to see Gu Xuan on the way. Gu Xuan will definitely know where the little sparrow is.”
“Okay.”
Ye Zi leaned in Gu Yan’s arms, his head rubbing against his shoulder. In no time, his hands began to be unruly. Gu Yan grabbed his wrist, put it to his lips, and bit it gently. Ye Zi trembled slightly but did not move away.
The corner of Gu Yan’s mouth hooked up slightly as he deliberately asked: “My beloved consort, what’s wrong?”
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Ye Zi pursed his lips and when he opened his mouth again, his voice softened: “Zicheng, I……”
He really couldn’t finish his sentence.
Since their journey, Gu Yan was worried that Ye Zi would be overwhelmed by the bumpy carriage every day so he never touched him.
When the two of them had stayed at the waterside courtyard, they were stuck together day and night. After finally having a taste of each other, how could they not have the desire?
Gu Yan didn’t seem to understand Ye Zi’s meaning at all. He even let him go, stood up, took off his robe, and hung it on the hanger with seriousness: “If there’s nothing else, then go to rest early. After rushing around for a day, you must be pretty tired.”
Ye Zi huffed and puffed: “I’m not tired, I don’t want to sleep.”
Gu Yan replied casually: “Oh, then what does my beloved consort want to do?”
“I……” After stuttering for quite some time, Ye Zi wasn’t able to say anything as his eyes turned red with anger: “Gu Zicheng, you’re doing this on purpose! “
Gu Yan ignored him. He went to extinguish the lights in the outer room, walked back to the bedside, and looked at Ye Zi with downcast eyes: “What is my beloved consort saying, how come this Prince doesn’t understand?”
In the inner room, there was only a small oil lamp left beside the bed, which made the contours on Gu Yan’s profile look even deeper.
Ye Zi felt a bit turned on by this sight of Gu Yan as he pulled him over. Gu Yan didn’t move or resist. He allowed Ye Zi to press him into the bed as he kissed him awkwardly with his head lowered.
Between the two of them, Gu Yan had always been the dominant one, but Gu Yan wasn’t moving at all now. For a moment, Ye Zi didn’t know how to continue.
He crouched over Gu Yan and tilted his head impatiently: “Zicheng, don’t bully me……”
Gu Yan stretched out his hand and rubbed Ye Zi’s face with his fingertips, and his gentle voice was a bit bewitching: “A Zi, if you want something, come and get it yourself, you can’t always rely on others.”
Ye Zi understood what Gu Yan meant and his neck turned red immediately: “I-I don’t know how to……”
Gu Yan said in a warm voice: “It’s okay if you don’t, I’ll teach you.”
The moon climbed up the branches and the manor was quiet and soundless. Only a few repressed moans could be heard from Prince Rui’s bedroom from time to time.
“Don’t……..Be gentle, there are still people in the courtyard……”
“There is no one in the courtyard tonight, I sent them away a long time ago.”
“You lied to me again……oooh, s-slow down……”
“……It is you who should slow down, why are you so anxious?”
Prince Rui returned to Chang’an and recuperated in his manor for a few days before entering the palace to meet Emperor Jinghe. Even though it wasn’t Winter yet, there was a charcoal fire burning in Emperor Jinghe’s Warmth Pavilion. He looked no better than Gu Yan, who was pretending to be sick.
When Gu Yan came in and wanted to bow, Emperor Jinghe was the first to speak, exempting him from courtesy and had someone give him a seat.
After not seeing him for several months, his voice had become hoarse and old.
Gu Yan hesitated for a moment before thanking him and sat down.
Emperor Jinghe raised his eyes and looked at the person in front of him, sighing: “Our health has been getting worse lately. We heard that you fell ill in Jiangnan and were a little worried. We are old now and We were afraid that We wouldn’t live to see you come back. “
Gu Yan coughed lightly and said in a low voice: “Your Holiness is blessed by the Heavens, don’t say these demoralizing words.”
Emperor Jinghe’s face paled as he smiled: “Xuan’er said the same thing when he came to see Us two days ago. Although you guys say that, in your hearts, you all understand that We don’t have much time left to live. We are now thinking that Xuan’er should take up this great responsibility as soon as possible so that We can also go with peace of mind.”
“Your Holiness……”
Emperor Jinghe waved his hand, interrupting him: “I heard that you saw Prince Jing in Guangling?”
Gu Yan lowered his eyes: “Yes.”
Emperor Jinghe was concerned: “How is he now? Since the last time we parted, We haven’t seen him for a long time. However, he hasn’t liked Us since he was a child, but he liked your father very much.”
Gu Yan’s eyes darkened and the hand hidden in his sleeve slowly tightened.
Emperor Jinghe’s gaze drifted far away, as if caught in the middle of memories: “We still remember when us brothers were young, Old Six loved to follow behind Eldest Imperial Brother and stuck to him every day. One day, when he was not allowed to see Eldest Imperial Brother, he would cry from the bedchamber all the way to the Crown Prince’s manor.”
“When Eldest Imperial Brother died from the epidemic, Old Six cried for several days in a row and was sick for half a month before he could get out of bed.”
When Emperor Jinghe said this, he raised his eyes and looked at Gu Yan: “You and Eldest Imperial Brother are becoming more and more similar, as if you guys were carved from the same mold. When he sees you, he probably feels some comfort in his heart. When you get better, We will call Old Six back to Chang’an so that we can get together again.”
Gu Yan responded, “Okay.”
Emperor Jinghe paused for a moment: “By the way, some things about the epidemic weren’t very clear in the report. Yan’er, tell me honestly, how exactly was the cure for the epidemic found?”
Outside the Warmth Pavilion, Ye Zi didn’t enter with Gu Yan and waited alone. He stood in place boredly and not long after, he heard a voice coming from behind him.
“Your Majesty, His Holiness is now meeting with Prince Rui, you……”
Ye Zi turned his head and saw Gu Xuan walking slowly towards him.
After not seeing each other for a few months, Gu Xuan had lost a lot of weight and his complexion didn’t look too good. There was a bit more obvious sinisterness between his eyebrows than before, which made him feel a little scary from a distance.
Gu Xuan ignored the eunuch and walked to Ye Zi’s side: “So Cousin-in-Law has returned.”
Ye Zi responded: “How is Third Imperial Majesty these days?”
Gu Xuan looked at him fixedly and after a long time, he softly said, “Good, naturally.”
The little eunuch beside Gu Xuan was so anxious that he was about to cry out: “Third Imperial Majesty, this servant already told you, His Holiness is now meeting with Prince Rui and won’t allow anyone to disturb him, you really can’t go in…….”
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Ye Zi glanced at the eunuch and said to Gu Xuan: “Since His Holiness is talking to my Prince, I’m afraid Your Majesty won’t be able to see him for a while. Since me and Your Majesty haven’t seen each other for a long time, let’s catch up on old times. If there’s nothing else, will you accompany me for a walk?”
Gu Xuan glanced at him, raised his eyes to look at the Warmth Pavilion not far away, and faintly answered: “Alright.”
After saying that, he turned around and left.
The little eunuch had a look of relief, but Ye Zi’s heart became more and more uneasy, and hurriedly followed after him.
After walking out of the palace gate, Ye Zi called to Gu Xuan: “Third Imperial Majesty, where is the little sparrow?”
Gu Xuan paused and when he spoke again, his voice was a little hoarse: “I also want to know where exactly he is……..”
Ye Zi’s heart trembled heavily as he asked: “What do you mean by that?”
Gu Xuan didn’t turn around. He clenched the hand hanging by his side tightly and said hoarsely: “It’s my fault. Mother Consort discovered the little sparrow’s existence and using my father’s name, dismissed all the staff in my palace while I was busy with my affairs. By the time I got the news and came back, the little sparrow had already disappeared. I searched everywhere but couldn’t find him…….”
His voice trembled slightly, as if he was suppressing some kind of painful emotion.
“How could……” Ye Zi was incredulous, “The little sparrow knows spells, he should be able to escape, he shouldn’t…… “
“No, he’s not dead.” Gu Xuan closed his eyes, “Mother Consort said that as long as I do what she wants, the little sparrow will not be harmed.”
Ye Zi was stunned for a moment: “The little sparrow is in the hands of……Noble Consort Yu?”
Gu Xuan turned around and calmly said: “I followed Mother Consort’s wish, brought down the Crown Prince and will marry an Imperial Consort. After I get married, Noble Consort Yu will release the little sparrow. When that day comes, please take him away.”
“If I take him away, what about you?”
“Me?” Gu Xuan snorted and looked up at the sky, “I don’t have the face to see him.”
“Birds should be flying freely outside, instead of being trapped in a deep palace for the rest of their lives.”
When Gu Yan came out of the Warmth Pavilion, Ye Zi was standing in the courtyard staring blankly. He walked over and asked: “What happened?”
Ye Zi snapped back to his senses and shook his head, leaving the palace garden with Gu Yan.
The two of them were in no hurry to leave the palace and strolled leisurely in the Imperial garden. Ye Zi remained silent. Gu Yan turned his head to look at him and asked in a low voice: “What’s wrong?”
Ye Zi said: “Just now, I met the Third Imperial Prince.”
He told Gu Yan what Gu Xuan had just told him. Gu Yan was silent for a moment and softly comforted: “At least we now know that the little sparrow is still alive. That’s enough.”
“But……” Ye Zi’s eyes dimmed down, “Is there really no other room for maneuver?”
Gu Yan didn’t answer.
His hand around Ye Zi tightened and a rare bit of hesitation appeared in his expression, as if he was deliberating on something.
“A Zi, listen to me——”
Gu Yan was about to say something to Ye Zi, when a woman’s voice suddenly came from behind the two of them: “Miss, Miss, you can’t run around here, Miss……”
Two palace maids were chasing a young girl and they were running over from a short distance away. The woman was wearing a palace dress and walking unsteadily. Her walk was not very steady, and within two steps, she was caught by the palace maidens.
The woman shook off their hands and begged: “Sisters, I’m just going to take a look. I promise I’ll come back after a peek. Just act like you haven’t seen me, okay?”
The two palace maids looked skeptical: “Miss, we can’t do that. Couples are not allowed to meet before marriage. Moreover, His Third Imperial Majesty is busy with his affairs, if you go over like this, you will disturb him.”
“That won’t happen, I just want to see him. Just one look, I definitely won’t disturb him, just let me——”
“What’s all the ruckus?” Gu Yan walked over with Ye Zi in his arms and the startled group turned their heads in unison.
The two maids said in unison: “Greetings, Your Majesty, Your Highness.”
The woman also turned her head and seeing the two, her almond eyes widened in a look of utter surprise.
Before she could open her mouth, the palace maid behind her hurriedly pulled her over and whispered: “Miss, this is Prince Rui and Princess Consort Rui, hurry and salute them.”
The woman came back to her senses and hurriedly gave a slightly awkward court ceremony to the two of them: “This commoner greets His Majesty and His Highness.”
Ye Zi turned his head to look at the woman and asked: “This is……”
A palace maid answered: “Responding to Your Highness, this is the young miss of the Jing family. She is the future Imperial Consort, who just entered the palace two days ago.”
Edited: 12.13.2023
Gu Yan sent Siwei away, took off his outerwear, and lay back on the bed with his arms around Ye Zi.
Ye Zi couldn’t calm down at this moment, and he tried to say something several times. But because he had just been punished by Gu Yan, he didn’t dare to speak so casually and could only stare at Gu Yan eagerly.
Gu Yan was helpless and laughed: “Just say what you want to say, why are you looking at me like that?”
Ye Zi pursed his lips and said softly: “I am a little worried……about the little sparrow.”
Gu Yan didn’t answer.
His palm fell on Ye Zi’s lower back and he slowly squeezed it with just the right amount of force.
Ye Zi didn’t move and carefully pulled the corner of Gu Yan’s clothes: “Zicheng, I don’t think the little sparrow is dead.”
Gu Yan paused: “Although that little sparrow is simple-minded, he is not stupid. Even though the Imperial City is dangerous, it shouldn’t be difficult for him to protect himself. What’s more, if a being that has opened up its spiritual consciousness was really executed, it’s impossible for there to be no rumors at all.”
Ye Zi nodded and quieted down again.
He was tormented too much by Gu Yan today and his whole body was full of insatiable lethargy and fatigue. His eyelids were so heavy that he couldn’t keep his eyes open and he couldn’t use any strength at all. Ye Zi yawned and was a little sleepy from Gu Yan’s strokes.
Gu Yan glanced at him and pulled over the thin quilt: “If you’re tired then sleep. Don’t force yourself to stay awake.”
Ye Zi opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but stopped himself in the end. Gu Yan brought him closer into his arms and whispered in his ear: “A Zi, I know what you want to say. Let’s go back to Chang’an in a couple of days, I’ll make the arrangements.”
Ye Zi pulled him back: “Zicheng……”
Gu Yan laughed: “What, you can’t even wait a couple of days?”
Ye Zi bit his lower lip and whispered: “You know I don’t mean that.”
They had been living here for more than a month. Gu Yan had already settled the affairs here, but he hadn’t mentioned leaving at all. He allowed the outside world to spread the news that he was terminally ill and dying soon, and sent away several of the envoys who came to invite him back to Chang’an just so that he and Ye Zi could stay here with peace of mind.
If they were to go back now, wouldn’t Gu Yan’s intention be all in vain?
And……if they go back this time, would they ever be able to leave again?
Ye Zi lowered his head and rubbed against Gu Yan’s shoulder: “I’m sorry……”
Gu Yan touched Ye Zi’s hair and sighed softly: “A Zi, why don’t you understand?”
“There’s never a need to say this to me and there’s no need to feel guilty.” Gu Yan said: “For you, I am willing to do anything. Forget just a trip back to Chang’an, even if it’s a mountain of daggers and a sea of fire, I’ll accompany you through it. But what about you?”
Gu Yan lifted Ye Zi’s face, forcing him to look directly at him: “Tell me, are you still unable to let go?”
Ye Zi’s eyes moved slightly and he hastily avoided Gu Yan’s line of sight: “That’s not……”
“Don’t lie to me.” Gu Yan used his fingertips to gently brush over his slightly red and swollen lips, whispering, “If I had known that this would be the result of you remembering everything, I would have preferred that you never remembered at all.”
Ye Zi’s heart twitched and he subconsciously apologized: “I’m sorry, I……”
“A Zi.” Gu Yan suddenly rolled over on top of him, pressing him into the soft bed. His eyes darkened slightly, and his fingers slid dangerously down to Ye Zi’s collar, “If I hear those two words from your mouth again, I will definitely punish you severely.”
Ye Zi shivered lightly: “I……”
“How should I punish you?” Gu Yan’s gaze roamed over him for a moment and slowly said, “I’ll strip you of all your clothes and tie you to the head of the bed with your legs spread apart so that you can’t even close them. Then, I’m going to find something to tie you up in front, and no matter how much you beg me I won’t untie it, so that you……”
“Z-Zicheng!” Ye Zi’s face and eyes turned a bright red and he said in urgency, “Don’t say anymore, I won’t dare to do it again……”
Having seen Gu Yan’s methods when it came to their love-making, Ye Zi now had no doubts about what he said. He swallowed, moved forward to kiss the other person’s lips, and said flatteringly: “I really don’t dare anymore, don’t do this to me. You being like this is tormenting me to death…..”
Gu Yan laughed and lowered his head to kiss him.
“If you really couldn’t handle it, you wouldn’t have gone out of your way to mess with me.” Gu Yan poked and prodded without mercy.
Ye Zi was afraid of pain but he also couldn’t resist teasing. If he went too far with him, he would cry and shout that he couldn’t do it. Gu Yan originally felt guilty and asked himself whether he had really gone too far.
But recently, he realized that this person was all bark and no bite.
Whenever they actually did it, Ye Zi lost control faster than anyone else. And with his amazing self-healing ability, he was always alive and kicking again within half a day afterward. Once the scar healed and he forgot about the pain, he would try different ways to tease and provoke Gu Yan to treat him like that again.
He liked it when Gu Yan treated him like that.
Ye Zi’s thoughts were exposed by Gu Yan and he didn’t dare to pretend anymore. He pursed his lips and said, “Then……..remember to be gentle.”
Gu Yan: “……”
Gu Yan pressed on his brow and whispered: “A Zi.”
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Ye Zi raised his eyes to look at him and answered softly: “……Here.”
Gu Yan sighed and wrapped the person into his arms: “I’m not joking with you, you’re not allowed to apologize to me again in the future, no matter what it’s because of.”
Ye Zi answered in a low voice.
Gu Yan paused and added: “You were the one who advised me to let go of myself and stop dwelling on the past. Now that I have let go, why can’t you? What’s more, it wasn’t your fault in the first place.”
Ye Zi bit his lips lightly and didn’t reply.
He naturally understood Gu Yan’s words, but it was one thing to understand and another to be able to really let go of everything.
He was sure that if Gu Yan had known the truth in his previous life, he would have hated him and never wanted to see him again.
Now that Gu Yan knows all this, does he really not care at all just like he said?
Ye Zi didn’t dare to think about this.
He couldn’t accept it if Gu Yan had a grudge against him, not even a little bit.
There was silence in the room. Gu Yan was quiet for a moment before whispering: “A Zi, I understand you still need time. Those things that happened in the past must be extremely painful for you. But it doesn’t matter, I will accompany you throughout the way, just like how you stayed with me in the past.”
“We’ve both done some things wrong in the past, you didn’t blame me and I never blamed you. Let’s both learn to put these things down and let bygones be bygones, okay?”
Ye Zi nodded: “Mnn.”
Gu Yan gently kissed him on the forehead and laughed: “Okay little fool, close your eyes and rest for a while. If you really aren’t tired, I don’t mind going for another round……”
“Don’t!” Ye Zi shrank to the side. His back was against the wall as he pitifully whimpered, “If we do it one more time, I’ll die, I’ll really die.”
Gu Yan laughed, came forward, and held the person into his arms: “Don’t worry, I won’t do anything, okay? Go to sleep.”
Two days later, the two of them got on the carriage back to Chang’an.
Gu Yan was pretending to be sick so the two of them didn’t dare to travel too fast and it ended up taking them half a month to reach Chang’an. During this time, news that Prince Rui was dying of illness in Jiangnan spread throughout the city. Knowing that Gu Yan was about to return to the capital, many people came to the city gate to welcome him.
After all, Gu Yan was now considered to be the one who was credited with managing the floods.
There was still some distance to the city gates. Ye Zi lifted the curtain and looked out before turning back: “Emperor Jinghe seems to have sent someone to pick you up, he’s quite attached to you.”
Gu Yan leaned inside the carriage and let out a bleak hum in response.
Ye Zi turned his head and looked at him before taking a box of powder on the table and touched up the color on his lips: “This should be enough. Don’t speak for a while. If someone were to peek into the carriage, at least you wouldn’t be discovered.”
Gu Yan lightly laughed: “I told you earlier, if you allowed Pei Ge to give me some medicine, it would ensure that the bystanders wouldn’t be able to notice a single thing. And then we wouldn’t have to go through all this trouble.”
“No, don’t even think about it.” Ye Zi flatly refused, “It took a lot of effort to recover your body. If you take the medicine, won’t everything be ruined? I won’t let you mess around.”
Gu Yan pursed his lips and closed his eyes: “Okay, everything will be as my beloved consort wishes. I won’t mess around.”
The carriage quickly arrived at the city gate and Emperor Jinghe had indeed sent an eunuch to pick up Gu Yan. Ye Zi got out of the carriage and greeted him perfunctorily. He also said that the Prince was not allowed to see others because of his illness and only allowed the eunuch to take a look through the curtains.
The eunuch couldn’t see anything wrong from a distance so he didn’t say anything else and escorted them back to the Prince’s manor.
Ye Zi helped Gu Yan off the carriage and slowly walked into the manor. From the time Ye Zi left the Prince Rui Manor to the time he came back, almost three months had passed. In the blink of an eye, it was already early Autumn. The Mid-Autumn Festival was in full swing in Chang’an City and the manor was also full of Autumn colors.
Great Princess Rui had been worried ever since she found out that Gu Yan was ill. Gu Yan wrote several letters to comfort her before she finally gave up the idea of visiting Jiangnan. But at this moment, when Great Princess Rui saw Gu Yan’s sick appearance, she thought that what Gu Yan said in the letter was all lies to her, and she felt angry and distressed at the same time.
Ye Zi had to appease Great Princess Rui for a while and was even held accountable for not taking good care of him before they came back.
There was a gentle breeze in the Autumn night. Ye Zi shook his head that was dizzy from being scolded, pushed the door open, and entered the room. When he looked up, he saw that the culprit had “removed” his sick look and was leaning leisurely by the bed, brewing a pot of calming flower tea.
Seeing him come back, Gu Yan waved at him: “What happened, did you get scolded by my mother?”
“What do you think?” Ye Zi walked over with a sad face, “The great princess’s mouth is getting sharper and sharper. I didn’t even have the chance to respond back at all.”
Gu Yan wrapped his arms around him and naturally kissed him: “I’m sorry.”
Ye Zi shook his head, “No need. As a parent, it’s only natural to worry about their children. This was our fault in the first place, we shouldn’t have lied to her.”
“Mnn, when this matter is over, I will personally explain the reason to her and make amends.” Gu Yan said, “What did that eunuch say to you just now, you guys were talking for very long.”
Ye Zi was silent for a moment: “He told me that in seven days, the Third Imperial Prince will marry his consort and Emperor Jinghe will issue an edict on the same day to confer him the title of Crown Prince for some luck. He told us to remember to attend the Crown Prince’s wedding banquet then.”
Gu Yan sipped his tea and faintly nodded: “We’ve come back just in time.”
“Yes.” Ye Zi was preoccupied and worried, “I found a few birds outside and asked them to help me find the little sparrow. However, it seems that they have not seen the little sparrow in a long time. I’m a little worried, Zicheng, do you think he will……”
Gu Yan rubbed Ye Zi’s hair and said comfortingly: “Don’t worry, in two days, I will take you to the palace to pay respects to Emperor Jinghe, and we can stop by to see Gu Xuan on the way. Gu Xuan will definitely know where the little sparrow is.”
“Okay.”
Ye Zi leaned in Gu Yan’s arms, his head rubbing against his shoulder. In no time, his hands began to be unruly. Gu Yan grabbed his wrist, put it to his lips, and bit it gently. Ye Zi trembled slightly but did not move away.
The corner of Gu Yan’s mouth hooked up slightly as he deliberately asked: “My beloved consort, what’s wrong?”
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Ye Zi pursed his lips and when he opened his mouth again, his voice softened: “Zicheng, I……”
He really couldn’t finish his sentence.
Since their journey, Gu Yan was worried that Ye Zi would be overwhelmed by the bumpy carriage every day so he never touched him.
When the two of them had stayed at the waterside courtyard, they were stuck together day and night. After finally having a taste of each other, how could they not have the desire?
Gu Yan didn’t seem to understand Ye Zi’s meaning at all. He even let him go, stood up, took off his robe, and hung it on the hanger with seriousness: “If there’s nothing else, then go to rest early. After rushing around for a day, you must be pretty tired.”
Ye Zi huffed and puffed: “I’m not tired, I don’t want to sleep.”
Gu Yan replied casually: “Oh, then what does my beloved consort want to do?”
“I……” After stuttering for quite some time, Ye Zi wasn’t able to say anything as his eyes turned red with anger: “Gu Zicheng, you’re doing this on purpose! “
Gu Yan ignored him. He went to extinguish the lights in the outer room, walked back to the bedside, and looked at Ye Zi with downcast eyes: “What is my beloved consort saying, how come this Prince doesn’t understand?”
In the inner room, there was only a small oil lamp left beside the bed, which made the contours on Gu Yan’s profile look even deeper.
Ye Zi felt a bit turned on by this sight of Gu Yan as he pulled him over. Gu Yan didn’t move or resist. He allowed Ye Zi to press him into the bed as he kissed him awkwardly with his head lowered.
Between the two of them, Gu Yan had always been the dominant one, but Gu Yan wasn’t moving at all now. For a moment, Ye Zi didn’t know how to continue.
He crouched over Gu Yan and tilted his head impatiently: “Zicheng, don’t bully me……”
Gu Yan stretched out his hand and rubbed Ye Zi’s face with his fingertips, and his gentle voice was a bit bewitching: “A Zi, if you want something, come and get it yourself, you can’t always rely on others.”
Ye Zi understood what Gu Yan meant and his neck turned red immediately: “I-I don’t know how to……”
Gu Yan said in a warm voice: “It’s okay if you don’t, I’ll teach you.”
The moon climbed up the branches and the manor was quiet and soundless. Only a few repressed moans could be heard from Prince Rui’s bedroom from time to time.
“Don’t……..Be gentle, there are still people in the courtyard……”
“There is no one in the courtyard tonight, I sent them away a long time ago.”
“You lied to me again……oooh, s-slow down……”
“……It is you who should slow down, why are you so anxious?”
Prince Rui returned to Chang’an and recuperated in his manor for a few days before entering the palace to meet Emperor Jinghe. Even though it wasn’t Winter yet, there was a charcoal fire burning in Emperor Jinghe’s Warmth Pavilion. He looked no better than Gu Yan, who was pretending to be sick.
When Gu Yan came in and wanted to bow, Emperor Jinghe was the first to speak, exempting him from courtesy and had someone give him a seat.
After not seeing him for several months, his voice had become hoarse and old.
Gu Yan hesitated for a moment before thanking him and sat down.
Emperor Jinghe raised his eyes and looked at the person in front of him, sighing: “Our health has been getting worse lately. We heard that you fell ill in Jiangnan and were a little worried. We are old now and We were afraid that We wouldn’t live to see you come back. “
Gu Yan coughed lightly and said in a low voice: “Your Holiness is blessed by the Heavens, don’t say these demoralizing words.”
Emperor Jinghe’s face paled as he smiled: “Xuan’er said the same thing when he came to see Us two days ago. Although you guys say that, in your hearts, you all understand that We don’t have much time left to live. We are now thinking that Xuan’er should take up this great responsibility as soon as possible so that We can also go with peace of mind.”
“Your Holiness……”
Emperor Jinghe waved his hand, interrupting him: “I heard that you saw Prince Jing in Guangling?”
Gu Yan lowered his eyes: “Yes.”
Emperor Jinghe was concerned: “How is he now? Since the last time we parted, We haven’t seen him for a long time. However, he hasn’t liked Us since he was a child, but he liked your father very much.”
Gu Yan’s eyes darkened and the hand hidden in his sleeve slowly tightened.
Emperor Jinghe’s gaze drifted far away, as if caught in the middle of memories: “We still remember when us brothers were young, Old Six loved to follow behind Eldest Imperial Brother and stuck to him every day. One day, when he was not allowed to see Eldest Imperial Brother, he would cry from the bedchamber all the way to the Crown Prince’s manor.”
“When Eldest Imperial Brother died from the epidemic, Old Six cried for several days in a row and was sick for half a month before he could get out of bed.”
When Emperor Jinghe said this, he raised his eyes and looked at Gu Yan: “You and Eldest Imperial Brother are becoming more and more similar, as if you guys were carved from the same mold. When he sees you, he probably feels some comfort in his heart. When you get better, We will call Old Six back to Chang’an so that we can get together again.”
Gu Yan responded, “Okay.”
Emperor Jinghe paused for a moment: “By the way, some things about the epidemic weren’t very clear in the report. Yan’er, tell me honestly, how exactly was the cure for the epidemic found?”
Outside the Warmth Pavilion, Ye Zi didn’t enter with Gu Yan and waited alone. He stood in place boredly and not long after, he heard a voice coming from behind him.
“Your Majesty, His Holiness is now meeting with Prince Rui, you……”
Ye Zi turned his head and saw Gu Xuan walking slowly towards him.
After not seeing each other for a few months, Gu Xuan had lost a lot of weight and his complexion didn’t look too good. There was a bit more obvious sinisterness between his eyebrows than before, which made him feel a little scary from a distance.
Gu Xuan ignored the eunuch and walked to Ye Zi’s side: “So Cousin-in-Law has returned.”
Ye Zi responded: “How is Third Imperial Majesty these days?”
Gu Xuan looked at him fixedly and after a long time, he softly said, “Good, naturally.”
The little eunuch beside Gu Xuan was so anxious that he was about to cry out: “Third Imperial Majesty, this servant already told you, His Holiness is now meeting with Prince Rui and won’t allow anyone to disturb him, you really can’t go in…….”
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Ye Zi glanced at the eunuch and said to Gu Xuan: “Since His Holiness is talking to my Prince, I’m afraid Your Majesty won’t be able to see him for a while. Since me and Your Majesty haven’t seen each other for a long time, let’s catch up on old times. If there’s nothing else, will you accompany me for a walk?”
Gu Xuan glanced at him, raised his eyes to look at the Warmth Pavilion not far away, and faintly answered: “Alright.”
After saying that, he turned around and left.
The little eunuch had a look of relief, but Ye Zi’s heart became more and more uneasy, and hurriedly followed after him.
After walking out of the palace gate, Ye Zi called to Gu Xuan: “Third Imperial Majesty, where is the little sparrow?”
Gu Xuan paused and when he spoke again, his voice was a little hoarse: “I also want to know where exactly he is……..”
Ye Zi’s heart trembled heavily as he asked: “What do you mean by that?”
Gu Xuan didn’t turn around. He clenched the hand hanging by his side tightly and said hoarsely: “It’s my fault. Mother Consort discovered the little sparrow’s existence and using my father’s name, dismissed all the staff in my palace while I was busy with my affairs. By the time I got the news and came back, the little sparrow had already disappeared. I searched everywhere but couldn’t find him…….”
His voice trembled slightly, as if he was suppressing some kind of painful emotion.
“How could……” Ye Zi was incredulous, “The little sparrow knows spells, he should be able to escape, he shouldn’t…… “
“No, he’s not dead.” Gu Xuan closed his eyes, “Mother Consort said that as long as I do what she wants, the little sparrow will not be harmed.”
Ye Zi was stunned for a moment: “The little sparrow is in the hands of……Noble Consort Yu?”
Gu Xuan turned around and calmly said: “I followed Mother Consort’s wish, brought down the Crown Prince and will marry an Imperial Consort. After I get married, Noble Consort Yu will release the little sparrow. When that day comes, please take him away.”
“If I take him away, what about you?”
“Me?” Gu Xuan snorted and looked up at the sky, “I don’t have the face to see him.”
“Birds should be flying freely outside, instead of being trapped in a deep palace for the rest of their lives.”
When Gu Yan came out of the Warmth Pavilion, Ye Zi was standing in the courtyard staring blankly. He walked over and asked: “What happened?”
Ye Zi snapped back to his senses and shook his head, leaving the palace garden with Gu Yan.
The two of them were in no hurry to leave the palace and strolled leisurely in the Imperial garden. Ye Zi remained silent. Gu Yan turned his head to look at him and asked in a low voice: “What’s wrong?”
Ye Zi said: “Just now, I met the Third Imperial Prince.”
He told Gu Yan what Gu Xuan had just told him. Gu Yan was silent for a moment and softly comforted: “At least we now know that the little sparrow is still alive. That’s enough.”
“But……” Ye Zi’s eyes dimmed down, “Is there really no other room for maneuver?”
Gu Yan didn’t answer.
His hand around Ye Zi tightened and a rare bit of hesitation appeared in his expression, as if he was deliberating on something.
“A Zi, listen to me——”
Gu Yan was about to say something to Ye Zi, when a woman’s voice suddenly came from behind the two of them: “Miss, Miss, you can’t run around here, Miss……”
Two palace maids were chasing a young girl and they were running over from a short distance away. The woman was wearing a palace dress and walking unsteadily. Her walk was not very steady, and within two steps, she was caught by the palace maidens.
The woman shook off their hands and begged: “Sisters, I’m just going to take a look. I promise I’ll come back after a peek. Just act like you haven’t seen me, okay?”
The two palace maids looked skeptical: “Miss, we can’t do that. Couples are not allowed to meet before marriage. Moreover, His Third Imperial Majesty is busy with his affairs, if you go over like this, you will disturb him.”
“That won’t happen, I just want to see him. Just one look, I definitely won’t disturb him, just let me——”
“What’s all the ruckus?” Gu Yan walked over with Ye Zi in his arms and the startled group turned their heads in unison.
The two maids said in unison: “Greetings, Your Majesty, Your Highness.”
The woman also turned her head and seeing the two, her almond eyes widened in a look of utter surprise.
Before she could open her mouth, the palace maid behind her hurriedly pulled her over and whispered: “Miss, this is Prince Rui and Princess Consort Rui, hurry and salute them.”
The woman came back to her senses and hurriedly gave a slightly awkward court ceremony to the two of them: “This commoner greets His Majesty and His Highness.”
Ye Zi turned his head to look at the woman and asked: “This is……”
A palace maid answered: “Responding to Your Highness, this is the young miss of the Jing family. She is the future Imperial Consort, who just entered the palace two days ago.”
