General Gu Qi narrated the story of Li Mao's murder.
After hearing the whole story, Yan Churong was silent for a while, and then slowly said: "Actually, since you decided to come to Lan Country, you should have known that this kind of thing will happen often in the future. Not only will you harm people indirectly, but you will also kill people directly. You will see people close to you fall in front of you, and people who trust you will die in front of you."
What Yan Churong said sent shivers down Gu Qi's spine.
"me..."
Yan Churong hugged Gu Qi into his arms and said, "This world is like this. You don't need to blame yourself, and you shouldn't take it personally."
Gu Qi grabbed his arm and cried happily.
When he calmed down, his whole body was exhausted.
Yan Churong wiped away the tears on Gu Qi's face with his hands: "If you want to quit, I can arrange it."
Gu Qi took a deep breath, wiped her face with her sleeve, and said with a smile, "I'm fine."
Then he took out the sachet on his body and handed it to Yan Churong: "This is for you."
Yan Churong took the sachet, put it to the tip of his nose, smelled it, and asked, "Did you buy this?"
Gu Qi nodded, pointed at the sachet and said, "The boss said there is mugwort in it. Didn't you always say you can't sleep? This has the effect of helping you sleep."
Yan Churong fiddled with the sachet in his hand and said, "There are not only mugwort, but also jasmine, polygala, cinnamon twig and white peony root."
Seeing that what he said was clear and logical, Gu Qi suddenly understood and laughed: "I actually forgot that you are a doctor yourself, so it is not a trivial matter to get a sachet."
After speaking, he stretched out his hand to take the sachet back, but Yan Churong stuffed it into his arms.
"I like it very much, thank you."
Then Yan Churong took out a small wooden box from his arms and handed it to Gu Qi.
"What's this?"
"Your gift." Yan Churong raised his eyes and motioned for Gu Qi to open it.
Opening the wooden box, there was a wooden hairpin with patterns carved on it.
Yan Churong pointed to the pattern and said, "This is Mulan, it suits you very well."
Gu Qi put the gifts away and sat for a while. Seeing that it was getting late, she had to get up and said, "I have to go back. Yuan Zhe said that the key will be handed down early today."
Yan Churong looked outside and said, "Okay."
Gu Qi took two steps forward, turned to look at Yan Churong, her nose felt sore, and she stepped forward and hugged him tightly.
"Yan Churong, will one day I be like Li Mao..."
"No!" Yan Churong interrupted Gu Qi sharply: "With me here, that day will never come to pass."
It was already dusk when we reached the palace gate.
The lights were bright, but not many people in the palace were seen moving around. After passing the Hanlin Academy, there was no hustle and bustle during the day and it seemed particularly deserted. The wind around the corner made people feel chilly. Unexpectedly, on such a lively day, no one was seen.
Gu Qi stretched out his cloak and walked quickly towards the small courtyard.
Looking forward along the gravel road, there seemed to be someone at the entrance of the small courtyard.
"Master Pei is back."
When I got closer, I saw that it was the young eunuch who had come to deliver meals before.
Gu Qi saluted and said, "Why are you here, father-in-law?"
"This servant has been waiting here for Lord Pei for a long time. His Majesty said that there will be a banquet at Qingyang Palace on New Year's Eve, and the ladies of each palace will go with the adults."
No wonder I didn't see anyone along the way. They all went to Qingyang Palace.
"Father, please wait for me. I will change my clothes and come back."
"Hurry up, sir, the banquet is about to begin."
Gu Qi ran into the small courtyard and found that the candle was still on and a note was placed on the table.
"Change into official uniform."
It seems to be left by Yuan Zhe.
Gu Qi took off his cloak, took out his official uniform from the cabinet, put it on, tidied it up and ran out.
When the little eunuch saw Gu Qi coming out, he picked up a lantern and walked forward.
Gu Qi was running out of breath, but she didn't dare to stop, so she had to speed up her pace to keep up.
When I arrived at the entrance of Qingyang Palace, I took two deep breaths, straightened my clothes, and under the guidance of the little eunuch, I found my seat and sat down quietly.
Gu Qi looked forward and saw Yuan Chengxi sitting in the main seat, with the Queen in full dress beside him.
Wei Li on the side saw Gu Qi sitting down and took a step forward to whisper something.
Yuan Chengxi glanced at Gu Qi and said, "Let's have a banquet."
Wei Li clapped his hands, and a row of musicians behind him began to play. The dancers waiting at the door entered one after another and started dancing to the music.
A gust of wind blew in and opened the gauze curtain in front. Gu Qi looked up and saw Yuan Zhe sitting on the left side of the table. Except for Zhao Yu, Zhao Dexun and Liu Jigang, the people sitting behind him did not know anyone else.
On the right side of the table are the empresses of the various palaces, all of whom are dressed up. It is not known which one is the "beloved person of Zhao" mentioned by Yuan Chengxi.
Before the curtain fell, Yuan Zhe raised his head and looked out, met Gu Qi's gaze, and smiled at her.
There were only a few people on this side of the curtain, all of whom were from the Hanlin Academy.
Suddenly aware of the movement of the people around him, Gu Qi turned his head. It turned out to be Chang Bin, talking to the person next to him.
Then the two changed seats, and Chang Bin held the wine cup and said, "Good friends."
Gu Qi smiled and raised the wine cup, making a crisp sound when they touched each other. Seeing him finish the drink in one gulp, he couldn't help but sip it lightly, so he had to swallow it in one gulp.
"Look at the dancer in the palace. She only dances a few songs back and forth. There is nothing new at all."
Gu Qi looked at the dance on the stage and said, "No, I think it looks pretty good."
Chang Bin sneered and said: "You have little knowledge. When it comes to dancing, Jinxiang Pavilion is more beautiful."
Thinking of Feng Chuxian's previous dance in Liu Mansion, it was indeed amazing. Gu Qi couldn't help but nodded: "I once had the honor to watch the Dance of the Oiran. It is indeed unique."
Chang Bin looked surprised and asked: "You have actually seen Feng Chuxian dance! That is something that is hard to find!"
Gu Qi grinned and said with a naive smile: "Zhan Guang, Zhan Guang. I'm lucky enough to have seen him once."
Chang Bin said "Oh" and stopped asking, just looking at the wine cup in front of him in a daze.
Gu Qi held her chin up and watched the dance. Occasionally, the wind blew in and lifted a corner of the curtain, and she could see the emperor's relatives drinking and drinking, and the ladies of the palace chatting and laughing, so happy.
This is fate, I feel like an outsider, quietly watching the lively scene.
When he came back to his senses, he saw that Chang Bin was in the same situation, with a look of loneliness on his face.
By the time the banquet was over, Chang Bin's cheeks turned red from drinking, and he staggered back to the Hanlin Academy.
Gu Qi sighed and walked towards the small courtyard.
"Pei Qihuan."
Yuan Zhe's voice came from behind, Gu Qi turned his head, and the little eunuch was supporting him.
Yuan Zhe waved to the little eunuch and walked towards Gu Qi alone.
Seeing that he was unsteady when walking, Gu Qi hurriedly stepped forward to support him: "Your Highness."
"Let's go back." As soon as he opened his mouth, a strong smell of alcohol hit his face.
Gu Qi frowned and walked back with Yuan Zhe.
Although there were lanterns lighting up everywhere, some paths were still dark. Fortunately, there was moonlight shining on the ground, so I could barely see the way ahead.
The burden on his body seemed to be lighter. Gu Qi turned his head and Yuan Zhe had straightened up, not drunk at all.
As if aware of Gu Qi's gaze, Yuan Zhe said: "There is no doubt that I am not drunk."
Seemingly acting again, Gu Qi said "Oh" and followed his steps forward.
Approaching the small courtyard, open fires illuminated the surrounding environment.
Yuan Zhe's steps began to falter, and he slowly approached Gu Qi.
Gu Qi lifted up most of Yuan Zhe's body, wrapped her left arm around his back, and grabbed his clothes.
Just as he was about to enter the hospital, he heard someone shouting from behind: "Master Pei."
Gu Qi stopped and dragged Yuan Zhe around. Wei Li trotted up, handed over a food box and said, "Here is the hangover soup. Give it to His Highness King Zhe to drink, so that he can sleep better at night."
"Thank you very much, Eunuch Wei."
Gu Qi took the food box, and Wei Li looked at Yuan Zhe next to him, and said with a smile: "The old slave will go back first, and Mr. Pei will rest early."
Watching Wei Li leave, Gu Qi took out his arm and bumped him with his shoulder.
Yuan Zhe straightened up again, withdrew his arm from Gu Qi's shoulders, and went straight into the house.
By the time Gu Qi entered the room with the food box, Yuan Zhe was already sitting at the table drinking tea.
"Your official uniform seems a bit big."
Gu Qi didn't reply and put the food box on the table to cover his face.
Yuan Zhe laughed and said, "But the way you look in official uniform has a unique flavor."
"Since Your Highness is not drunk, there is no need to drink this hangover soup. Just rest."
Yuanzhe opened the food box, took out the hangover soup and drank it.
"Why aren't you curious?"
After hearing his words, Gu Qi looked confused: "Should I be curious?"
Yuan Zhe choked on her words, smiled and shook his head: "You are so interesting."
Although it was New Year's Eve, Gu Qi was not very happy. I just want to get over this day quickly so that I don’t look out of place among this group of people.
Gu Qi sat on the couch and yawned, then said to Yuan Zhe: "Your Highness, please rest early."
Yuan Zhe suddenly stood up and pulled Gu Qi out.
"Your Highness, Your Highness!" Gu Qi took out his hand and stood in the courtyard.
Yuan Zhe was not angry, but put out all the lanterns in the courtyard.
The small courtyard instantly darkened, and through the moonlight, I saw his figure change from hazy to clear.
“How can we celebrate New Year’s Eve without fireworks?”
After speaking, Yuan Zhe came over. Gu Qi subconsciously wanted to take out the dagger, but suddenly remembered that he took off the dagger when changing clothes.
Then Yuan Zhe stepped forward, picked up Gu Qiheng, and jumped to the roof!
Just as Gu Qi was about to speak, he heard a "bang" in the distance and a cluster of fireworks exploded in the air.
Then the cannons thundered, and fireworks of various colors and styles bloomed in the sky, lighting up the dark night sky.
Yuan Zhe pulled Gu Qi to sit on the ridge of the roof. Gu Qi was deeply attracted by the gorgeous fireworks and smiled stupidly with his mouth open.
"Are you happy now?"
Gu Qi turned around and said, "Thank you, Your Highness."
"I want to thank you," Yuan Zhe said, looking at the fireworks in the sky: "I have never formally thanked you about Concubine Zheng."
Gu Qi looked at him, the fireworks reflected on his face. Although he was smiling, there were tears in the corners of his eyes.
"Actually, I didn't do anything."
"Pei Qihuan," he turned his head and met Gu Qi's eyes: "I know that you are homesick and it is difficult to reunite on New Year's Eve. So why am I not? You are luckier than me. At least, there are still people who care about you. .”
Is this the helplessness of the emperor's family?
The fireworks died down, and the sky returned to darkness and silence.
He turned his head, gently wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes with his thumb, stood up and said, "Okay, let's go back."
After Yuan Zhe washed himself and fell on the bed, Gu Qicai took advantage of the darkness to take off his coat, covered himself with a quilt and fell asleep.
