Male Lead Is Always That Heartless

Chapter 42

Zhao Wan’s heart was in disbelief, and her face looked at Gu Yi in astonishment. How did she know? The palace staff of the Department production indeed told her.

Lady of Fairness Gong anxiously said, “Your Majesty, the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet was months ago. How can I remember it?”

Lady of Fairness Wang couldn’t let go of such a great opportunity. With a delicate smile, she asked out loud: “Beauty Zhao, do you still remember?”

Zhao Wan bowed and slowly said, “I remember.” She saw the Emperor’s cold expression, so she dared not say anything to provoke him to be unhappy, but now that the arrow was on the string, she had to say.

Lady of Fairness Gong felt shame and anger; she clenched her fists under the skirt. Bitch!

Consort Shu laughed softly, turning her head to look at the Emperor, “Your Majesty, this Flying Dance is more wonderful than the Flying Dance at the Mid-Autumn Festival Banquet that day. What does Your Majesty think?”

Xiao Yan did not answer. He only swept his eyes over Lady of Fairness Gong before landing on Zhao Wan on the ground.

“Give paper and pen to the Lady of Fairness Gong and Beauty Zhao. The two of you will write down the form of that day’s Plum Blossom Stake Copper Flower Seal.” He also commanded, “Gao Gui, go to the Department of Production and ask the palace staff about the Plum Blossom Stake at the Mid-Autumn Festival Banquet. Take the Plum Blossom Stage’s drawing as soon as possible.”

Eunuch Gao Gui answered and left. He handled this matter, so they could not even if they wanted to do something! The plot was on track.

Gu Yi tried to minimize her presence, deliberately ignoring the spiteful gaze cast by Lady of Fairness Gong. The protagonist’s halo is invincible.

She squeezed her half-eaten orange again, but in her ear, she heard Xiao Yan slowly say, “Lady of Fairness Gu, you were so meticulous. You even know a small plum blossom pile like the back of your hand. What else can escape your eyes in this palace?”

He’s picking on me again!

Lady of Fairness Gu moved towards Xiao Yan’s upper head and hung her head, “I also heard about it by chance, Your Majesty. I am flattered!”

Xiao Yan turned his eyes away, annoyed in his heart. He did not like that Gu Yi had learned to fight like this in the harem. He also disliked the fact that Gu Yi always favored Beauty Zhao. It was as if she was always intentionally or unintentionally pushing Zhao Wan to a higher position. He could do that, but Gu Yi couldn’t.

Beauy Zhao and Lady of Fairness Gong finished writing, and the palace staff presented the written rice paper on the high platform. Xiao Yan looked at a glance. At this time, the highly fast-footed Eunuch Gao Gui also returned to the Baohua Hall.

The Department of Production was near, and although the plum blossom pile that day had been used for other purposes, the sketches remained at the bottom. In a short time, the palace staff came looking for them. Eunuch Gao Gui held the sketch scroll and walked forward briskly.

The eyes of the people in the hall followed Eunuch Gao closely. Xiao Yan took the scroll and slowly spread it out. In a cold voice, he smiled, “Bold Gong!”

Lady of Fairness Gong immediately knelt and pressed her forehead to the ground. At this point, she could no longer discern anything but beg, “Your Majesty, forgive me!”

The Baohua Hall was silent, with only the crackling of the candles making several soft sounds.

Xiao Yan’s expression under coronet-tasseled beads didn’t have much concern. He spoke like the head of the family: “Ms. Gong’s heart is not right; deduct three months’ salary and demoted to a Noble Lady.”

This punishment was not that heavy. Lady of Fairness Gong’s body shook lightly and could only bow again, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Xiao Yan turned to look at the kneeling Zhao Wan and said word by word, “Beauty Zhao has suffered. The Flying Dance that day was stunning, and today is also. I like it, and today, Beauty Zhao is promoted to a Noble lady.”

In the blink of an eye, Miss Zhao and Miss Gong, both Noble Lady, are sitting on an equal footing. Everyone present couldn’t help but be shocked. One must know that Zhao Wan was promoted from a Talent Lady to Beauty half a month ago at the Cuiwan Games. This favor came too quickly; it was the grace of heaven.

Zhao Wan’s heart beating like a drum in her chest, she bowed again and said, “Thank you for Your Majesty’s great favor.”

Lady of Fairness Gong kneeling on the ground, her heart bitter with hatred. She tugged her silk handkerchief tightly. After the rank changed, the musicians played and sang again. The singing and dancing were peaceful, as if the previous farce had passed without a trace.

Lady of Fairness Wang smiled and raised her cup in front of Gu Yi, “Come on, Sister Gu, I would like to drink with you.”

Gu Yi didn’t want to drink this cup of wine, but she could only raise her cup and clink it with her, giving a dry laugh. Why is it so hard to be a good person?

Consort Shu lowered her eyebrows, and she heard Consort De beside her say in a salty manner, “Sister Qi is so strange today that she has to stand out for Beauty Zhao!”

Qi Huo was punished, but Consort Shu today still looked undefeated.

Consort Shu pursed her lips and smiled, “What’s stand out? It’s just for fairness.”

Consort De’s heart secretly hated. She originally wanted to clean up Zhao Wan but did not expect Consort Shu to cross a foot.

Consort De had lived under Consort Shu’s shadow since childhood. Qi Shu, a famous woman in the capital, had a reputation for talent since she was young, and after reaching maturity, she became a popular candidate for the Crown Princess.

Liu Clan and Qi Clan are equally famous. The two are of similar age and family background, so the world would like to compare her to Qi Shu. They said her beauty and talent were inferior to Qi Shu’s. Everything was less than Qi Shu. But once Prince Heng died, what did she become? In the end, they’re still equal! Who’s overpowering who? And His Majesty doesn’t like her!

When Consort De thought of this, her face cleared slightly, and she turned to look at Xiao Yan. Instead, she saw his gaze rest on Zhao Wan. Vixen!

Xiao Yan sent someone to check Zhao Wan’s origin but made some unexpected gains. The identity she reported when she entered the palace as a maidservant was non-existent.

So interesting. Who protected a maid from the Laundry Department and let her enter the palace under a false name?

He shifted his gaze, and his sight subconsciously fell on Gu Yi. He saw her cheeks flushed and almond eyes sparkling with water. And on the side, Lady of Fairness Wang toasted another cup with her.

Xiao Yan’s long brows knitted slightly. Ridiculous!

At precisely midnight, snow fell from the sky. The banquet ended after the last song in the Baohua Hall was played.

Tao Jia saw Gu Yi’s eyes showing confusion. She hurriedly draped a thick cloak over her and hung a hand stove ribbon around her neck.

“Lady of Fairness, wrap yourself with the cloak and hold the hand stove. It’s snowing outside, and it’s cold. I’ll help you walk back slowly.”

Gu Yi, holding the hot stove and covered in the velvet of her cloak, sighed, “Tao Jia, you treat me the best! I’ll take you out of the palace!” Let’s be wealthy women together!

Tao Jia was stunned, “Out of the palace? You’re drunk. I don’t leave the palace. Let me take you back to Heluo Hall.”

Tao Jia assisted Gu Yi in exiting the Baohua Hall’s front corridor, passing the moon gate, and walking toward the Heluo Hall. The vermillion walls were high on both sides of the tunnel, and a layer of dense snow covered the underground bricks.

Gu Yi stepped on the snow and stomped her feet. She stopped and looked up at the sky. The white snowflakes fluttering in the sky fell, gently landing on her eyelashes and forehead, condensing into a tiny crystal water droplet after another. She couldn’t help but sigh, “It’s so beautiful ……” she laughed, “But …… it’s not as beautiful as the snow in the West Mountain…”

“Is that so?” Came Xiao Yan’s voice from behind.

Gu Yi turned around and saw Xiao Yan, dressed in a dragon robe, walking from the snow with a smile on his eyebrows.

She bowed and said, “Greetings, Your Majesty.”

Xiao Yan saw her shaky bow and reached out to help her. He looked down to see that snow already stained her brocade boots. Gu Yi felt light in her body and was picked up by Xiao Yan, heading towards the Heluo Hall.

Gu Yi felt dizzy, and it was not until she returned to the Heluo Hall that she froze and said, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Xiao Yan turned back to see that Gao Gui and Tao Jia were still standing in the hall. He waved his hand to indicate they should leave and carried Gu Yi straight into the chamber.

Gu Yi sat down on the bed and saw Xiao Yan reaching out to remove her boots and touching her frozen feet. Her eyes blinked in surprise. “Your Majesty, you can serve people?”

Xiao Yan saw that her gaze was brimming with water, her cheeks flushed, and her neck was slightly red, so she was indeed drunk. He took off his crown and sat beside Gu Yi, removing the hand stove hanging around her neck, and took off her cloak for her. Seeing she familiarly stretched her feet in snow-white stockings and landed them on the purple and gold copper stove lid, he said in amusement, “Isn’t it hot?”

Gu Yi shook her head quickly, “It’s not hot.”

When one was drunk, the senses seemed to dull a bit more.

Xiao Yan moved her feet off the stove lid and lightly scolded, “Inappropriate.”

Unexpectedly, Gu Yi snorted coldly at this moment, “Your Majesty, what are you doing here? Didn’t you remove my jade plaque?”

Xiao Yan saw her bold words and actions and felt even more amused, “I am the king. I do whatever I want and go wherever I want.”

Gu Yi blinked, thought for a moment, and then asked, “Then will I still be able to drink the calming soup in the future? Without the plaque, is it that I won’t be able to drink it?”

Xiao Yan was stunned by her words before asking, “Do you want to drink that calming soup?”

Gu Yi nodded without hesitation, “I want to drink ……” She mumbled, “I am afraid ……”

Xiao Yan frowned and said, “What are you afraid of?”

Gu Yi tilted her head, thought for a while, and laughed, “I am afraid …… that I can not be calm …….”

Xiao Yan: ……

Why is he talking earnestly with a drunken person?

Gu Yi sat next to the copper stove for a short while and felt hot all over. She moved her hand to undo her belt chest, wanting to take off the jacket. Xiao Yan’s eyes darkened slightly, and reached out to untie it for her. He quickly peeled off her jacket.

Gu Yi, however, suddenly stopped the action in her hands and pulled the neckline of the jacket tight, “What is Your Majesty doing ……I don’t know how to dance!”

Xiao Yan laughed softly and swept over her waist, letting her sit on his lap. As soon as Gu Yi sat down, she popped up as if she had been scalded. Xiao Yan pressed hard on her waist and whispered, “My darling doesn’t know how to dance …… I will teach you ……”

Gu Yi: ……

*

The dawn had not yet arrived. Gu Yi was sleeping in a daze when she felt a gust of wind passing by her ears. She squinted her eyes slightly and saw that Xiao Yan was already fully dressed. “I’m leaving…” He said.

She raised her head to look at the carved wooden window, only to see it was still dark outside. She then closed her eyes again.

When Gu Yi woke up, Tao Jia stood beside the curtain and asked, “Is Lady of Fairness awake? Let me have someone bring up the warmed tonic?”

Gu Yi was drunk last night; her head still hurt a bit, her voice was hoarse, and she said, “Uh, bring it up.”

Receiving the bowl of medicine, Gu Yi gurgled and drank the medicine, and Tao Jia rejoiced, “Your Majesty hasn’t forgotten you. That’s wonderful!”

She waited until Gu Yi finished the medicine, took the empty bowl in her hand, and said, “I passed by the door of the Department of Accounting and saw a few eunuchs waiting in front of the Imperial Court, who seemed to be receiving some traveling equipment, similar to the preparations made last time when they went to Wu Shan Palace. I guess that His Majesty is going out again?”

Is Xiao Yan going out of the palace?

Gu Yi recalled the plot and thought of the Spring Southern Inspection, but it was still winter, so perhaps the preparations had already begun.

“Don’t inquire about the imperial court. We will know when the time comes.”

Tao Jia nodded, “I understand……,” She paused and added, “By the way, when you were still sleeping peacefully, Noble Lady Zhao came to pay respect. She said that when you woke up, she would come again. Should I go and summon her?”

After the birthday feast, the plot was on track, and the female lead’s upgraded plot was online—a Talent Lady, a Beauty, and now a Noble Lady. Wait until the Spring Southern Inspection; she will cross two levels in a row and become Wan Imperial Concubine, although this ‘Wan’ title has yet to be given, and she doesn’t know whether it could be right on track when it comes.

Gu Yi thought for a while, saying, “Allow me to freshen up first, and then call her at lunchtime.”

Tao Jia froze and hesitantly said, “But it’s already Weishi (1-3 pm) ……”

Gu Yi: ……

She coughed falsely, “Help me to freshen up.”