When Xiao Yanzhou came back from the Prison Department, he saw Xie Hengwu sleeping soundly on the table in the main hall.
His steps were very light and made no sound. Perhaps there was still strong blood and chill in his body, and Xie Hengwu woke up.
Her arms were numb from the pressure, and she was still confused. Xiao Yanzhou slowly approached her in her sight, and the hem of her clothes swayed with his leg-raising movements, and then fell down smoothly against her legs.
"How did you come?"
When Xie Hengwu heard his question, he closed his eyes hard, opened them again, and barely regained consciousness.
At this moment, Xiao Yanzhou had walked to his side, leaned over to pick her up, and put her on his lap.
The close distance allowed the thick smell of blood to flow directly into Xie Hengwu's nose.
She suddenly became clear and struggled to get off him: "Where has your Majesty been? Why is there such a strong smell?"
But her struggle had another meaning in Xiao Yanzhou's eyes.
He smiled emotionlessly: "Why, do you dislike Gu?"
"No." Xie Hengwu frowned, "Your Majesty is holding me like this, and I can't see whether Your Majesty is injured."
"It's okay, this is someone else's blood." Xiao Yanzhou calmed down a bit as he spoke for her, rubbing his chin gently against her neck, and said slowly.
Because his back was to Xiao Yanzhou, Xie Hengwu never saw the triumphant smile and slightly twisted pleasure flashing in his eyes.
His chin pressed her hair, causing a tingling sensation as he rubbed it. Xie Hengwu shrank and his breathing became tight.
She probed: "Your Majesty... is that why you didn't come to Shicui Palace?"
She was a little uneasy and suspected that Xiao Yanzhou had heard something and changed her mind halfway.
Xiao Yanzhou's unexplained chuckle came from behind.
"You haven't answered yet."
"Why are you here?"
Xie Hengwu leaned back, leaned on his chest, lowered his head to look at his hands around his waist, and muttered dissatisfiedly:
"Your Majesty clearly promised to come, but I couldn't wait any longer, so I had no choice but to find him myself."
"I also brought the New Year's Eve dinner cooked in the palace kitchen, but Your Majesty has just come back now, it's getting cold..."
Xie Hengwu remembered that the palace banquet was almost over when Xiao Yanzhou came back. Later, at the New Year's Eve banquet, he went to find fault with King Qin and didn't eat anything, so he brought something.
She still sounded a little aggrieved. Xiao Yanzhou glanced at the food box placed aside and asked, "Did you do it?"
"A little bit..." Xie Hengwu's voice became softer and softer. She only knew a few snacks. When it came to cooking, she was really not good at it.
"I'm not hungry now." Xiao Yanzhou told the truth. He was still a little hungry when he came back, but after struggling with Xie Hengwu for a while, he went to find King Qin again, and he was full of anger.
He had just returned from the Prison Department, and he really had no appetite.
As soon as he finished speaking, he felt that the person in his arms was feeling a little lower again.
Like a rabbit with its ears hanging down.
He was silent and added: "...it's too late now, I can only eat a little."
Hearing this, Xie Hengwu became energetic again and was quite eager to give it a try: "Then I'll go warm up for Your Majesty."
"Can you make a fire?"
Xie Hengwu paused for a moment and said with a guilty conscience: "Yes... right?"
Xiao Yanzhou straightened up and sighed.
"...That's all, if I don't trust you, I will burn Gu's palace later."
Xie Hengwu's face heated up and he defended, "I don't know how to do that!"
Xiao Yanzhou responded with a cold scoff, put her down from his lap, got up and walked towards the kitchen.
Xie Hengwu quickly picked up the food box and followed.
The small kitchen of Zichen Palace is naturally more than three times larger than that of Shicui Palace. All kinds of utensils are extremely complete, and... they are all brand new.
Xiao Yanzhou didn't have high requirements for food, and even missed a meal when he was busy. This small kitchen is basically a decoration. The palace people clean it every day, but it has never been used.
This time it was the first time he fired.
Xie Hengwu stood aside, watching the aloof emperor pick up the firewood and throw it under the stove, igniting the fire and lighting it.
A set of movements flowed smoothly, as if they had been done countless times.
It wasn't that Xie Hengwu didn't want to help, but he was rebuked by Xiao Yanzhou after he took a few steps closer.
In the end, Xiao Yanzhou did everything himself.
Xie Hengwu watched dumbly as the hot dishes were put on the table. After the two of them had a simple meal, Xiao Yanzhou went to the bedroom to take a shower and change clothes.
When he came back, Xie Hengwu was already lying on the bed, looking at him eagerly.
Xiao Yanzhou raised his eyebrows: "Why are you looking at me like this?"
"Your Majesty knows how to do this... I thought that Your Majesty would let someone else do it."
Xiao Yanzhou's movements just now were so skillful that Xie Hengwu couldn't help but wonder what he had experienced. But of course she wouldn't ask directly, just keeping this curiosity in her heart.
"It's getting late, so I don't want to mobilize an army." Xiao Yanzhou curled his tongue and licked the sharp tips of his upper teeth. As if he remembered something, he smiled,
"You are the first to have me serve alone twice."
Xie Hengwu's face turned red.
She obviously understood what Xiao Yanzhou meant by serving him twice.
Probably because the smell of blood was washed away, Xiao Yanzhou looked much more relaxed, and since it was late at night, there was a bit of laziness on his face, which made him look particularly charming.
He sat down on the edge of the couch, and the soft bed sank.
"What do you want to know, Gu's past?"
Xie Hengwu's eyelashes trembled and he subconsciously denied: "No, I don't want to..."
"Don't want to? I see you are very excited."
Xiao Yanzhou leaned forward slightly, and gently stroked her cheek with his fingertips still filled with moisture, which was extremely gentle.
Xie Hengwu stiffened.
She stumbled and said: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, they are also unintentional."
"What are you so afraid of? I won't eat you."
Xiao Yanzhou smiled flirtatiously, but his dark eyes were dull and there was no smile at all.
Xie Hengwu couldn't see through him either.
"Your Majesty... don't you like it very much?"
She raised her hand to cover Xiao Yanzhou's palm and asked cautiously.
Xiao Yanzhou lowered his eyelashes and said in a calm voice: "It's not that I'm happy, it's just that this kind of thing feels ridiculous now that I think about it."
To him, those past were just a huge lie.
Xie Hengwu intuitively felt that this sentence was important and silently wrote it down.
She shook his hand: "So your Majesty... is not angry?"
"In your eyes, Gu is so fussy about everything?"
Xiao Yanzhou glanced at her and said displeasedly: "The people in your palace are not the only ones who know these things. If I care, there is no way you can hear it tonight."
Seeing that his tone had softened, Xie Hengwu moved into his arms.
She didn't ask him why he didn't come in when he arrived at Shicui Palace. After all, both of them knew the reason.
She was silent for a while, then suddenly sighed.
"Actually, I am a little envious of Your Majesty."
"Huh?" Xiao Yanzhou twirled her hair and played with it in his hands, raising the tail slightly.
"Your Majesty has been happy before, but I..." Xie Hengwu said this, but felt it was inappropriate, so he said, "...that's all, what do I do with you?"
But her attitude aroused Xiao Yanzhou's curiosity.
First of all, he has never heard of anyone envying him.
Secondly, he vaguely remembered that Xie Hengwu was also the daughter of a certain marquis, and her status was considered noble. Could it be that she had suffered a lot of harsh treatment in the past?
"Say it, Gu Xiang will listen."
Xiao Yanzhou said, curling up his knuckles and rubbing her chin.
Xie Hengwu didn't know where to start.
She has no memory of before entering the Marquis Mansion. What follows is endless practice.
There are various courses, such as etiquette, calligraphy and painting, and even secret arts when you get older.
During her ten years in the Hou Mansion, apart from being taken by the Hou couple for necessary social interactions, she was trapped in that small, square space of heaven and earth.
Xie Hengwu finally picked some at random and talked about them.
Xiao Yanzhou narrowed his eyes. Although he didn't know much, from what he knew, how could the noble girl's life be like this?
At least Cui Lujin's life is not like this.
"You..." Xiao Yanzhou's words twisted on his lips before he said it, "Are you really their biological daughter?"
He didn't mean to ask, but he accidentally said the right thing.
Xie Hengwu's breath was slightly suffocated, and then he said nonchalantly: "...Isn't this the case for most high-level affairs?"
"My mother is not favored, and she has no power. It is a rare blessing for me to be raised by Mrs. Hou under her knees."
Xie Hengwu's external identity is still that of a concubine. The so-called "biological mother" is the daughter of an ordinary wealthy family, so she is not eye-catching.
Xiao Yanzhou thought of the years when he was sent to the Queen for no reason.
At that time, the whole court was discussing whether the late emperor had any intention to change his throne, and the queen treated him very well in public. At that time, Xiao Yanzhou was still a powerless prince, and he could only endure silently whatever happened behind his back.
Is it really a blessing?
Xiao Yanzhou sneered.
"If it were luck, you wouldn't be here now."
"But who says it's not a blessing to meet His Majesty?"
Xie Hengwu didn't want to talk to Xiao Yanzhou, so he said something he liked to hear.
Xiao Yanzhou didn't bother to expose her flattery. These nice words coming out of her mouth really benefited him.
He chuckled: "Flattery."
Xie Hengwu nestled in his arms. He scratched his chin and made him feel sleepy. He couldn't help but yawn.
It was indeed getting late. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, we had to get up early to worship our ancestors. Even though we had all planned, we could only sleep for one or two more hours.
"Go to sleep."
Xiao Yanzhou whispered.
Looking at her peaceful face as she slept, he flexed his knuckles and gently outlined her face.
You have been given the opportunity, and since you came to the door yourself... don't think about escaping anymore.
--
Early the next morning, Xie Hengwu was pulled up by Xiao Yanzhou and sat with him on the high platform of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests.
On New Year's Day, Xiao Yanzhou still wore Xuan Yi, and the ink jade bead curtain falling from his crown half-hidden his face, making it difficult to see clearly.
There were many people kneeling under the stage, and the praisers on the side recited lengthy eulogies. After reaching the high stage, all the words became blurred, and it sounded like a buzzing sound.
Xiao Yanzhou would not listen to such meaningless words and only looked sideways at the person sitting next to him with half-closed eyes.
Xie Hengwu was wearing a large crow-green Zhai suit, with several soaring luan birds woven with gold thread on the back of the long hem.
A heavy ceremonial crown rested on her head. The pearls and jade were smooth and bright, but they could not take away the brilliance of her face.
The luxurious dress made her look even more beautiful, and when her eyelashes were half lowered, she added a bit of compassion and indifference that was both divine and demonic.
But Xiao Yanzhou knew that Xie Hengwu was actually trapped in this situation.
She was sleeping deeply when she got up this morning, and she had almost finished washing herself after being held by Xiao Yanzhou. No one who came in to serve him dared to raise his head, wishing he didn't have those eyes.
Halfway through the eulogy, winter slowly rose above. The golden light shone on the clouds, casting a dazzling warm color.
Xiao Yanzhou slowly looked away from the sky and then looked at Xie Hengwu.
The warm sun has shone on the high platform. Although it is such a cold day, the sun is not warm at all.
The bright sunlight shines on Xie Hengwu, making him look even more graceful.
Perhaps his gaze was too direct and undisguised, so Xie Hengwu raised his eyes, looked over, and smiled at him.
This smile is a bit dazzling.
Xiao Yanzhou narrowed his eyes, bit the tip of his tongue with his sharp teeth, and curled his fingers to fiddle with the jade ring at the base of his index finger.
Her warmth and moisture... seemed to still be in her fingers.
He looked away and chuckled unintelligibly.
Wanted to tear her modest dress to pieces.
