Male Lead Is Always That Heartless

Chapter 54

At three-quarters past Youshi (5-7 pm), the evening sun hung in the west. The guards guarding the Zhu Que Gate saw a man in a veil and a blue robe strolling. The orange sun shone obliquely, stretching his shadow and making his figure even taller and desolate. He had a flying fish totem in his chest with a terrifying aura.

The guards bowed: “Greetings, Eunuch Gao.” However, the man only silently lined through the Zhu Que Gate, mounting his horse, and moved toward the east.

When passing the city, the street was silent and cold. The black horse stopped at a tea house. Dusk had already fallen; the travelers returned home, and the tired birds returned to their nests. The tea house’s banner tilted, and the door was slightly ajar, but no guests were seen.

Yu Dai saw Xiao Yan through the door crack. He stepped forward quickly, opened the side door to welcome him, and said, “Here you are.”

Xiao Yan entered the room through the side door and closed it before removing his hat.

Yu Dai had not seen him for more than half a year, and now, at first sight, he felt that his pair of dark brown peach blossom eyes were familiar.

“Your Majesty, you seem to have lost much weight recently. Even though you are busy with your official duties, you should care for your health.”

Xiao Yan slowly side-eyed him, “General Yu has not led troops for a long time. His temperament has become more warm ……”

When Yu Dai heard the words, he was shocked. He respectfully replied, “Your Majesty ordered me to lead troops to the south. The troops are divided into four routes from the north to the Luo River. They have passed Die City. I expect that in the middle of winter, when the Luo River freezes, they will be able to reach the outside of Qingzhoufu.”

Xiao Yan faintly smiled, “Very good. General Yu has merit.”

Yu Dai secretly breathed a sigh of relief. “I have also brought a newly tamed eagle for Your Majesty on this trip to the capital. Would Your Majesty like to take a look?”

Xiao Yan nodded, and Yu Dai led him to the small courtyard behind the tea house.

A tall acacia tree stood in the courtyard, and a black-winged white-headed eagle, about half a man’s height, rested on a branch, obediently motionless. Seeing visitors, the eagle only slightly raised its head and half spread its black feathers.

Yu Dai laughed, saying, “This eagle is called Haduo and is the most loyal messenger of the grasslands.”

Xiao Yan reached out to fetch the letterbox on its eagle’s talons. Haduo’s pitch-black eagle eyes darted around but remained motionless, allowing him to remove the letterbox.

“Indeed, it is a well-tamed eagle –” Xiao Yan stroked its feather. “Uncle is so skilled.”

Hearing this ‘uncle,’ Yu Dai’s anxious heart finally settled. He laughed nervously, “A Yan, if you like it, I will send you another one another day.”

Xiao Yan loosened his hand, spreading his long eyebrows. “I want to go to the Wu Shan Palace after selecting new officials. If Uncle can send someone to go first to find out Prince Heng’s old subordinates, then my trip will be worthwhile.”

Yu Dai clasped his fists and bowed, “I received the decree.”

Xiao Yan turned around and headed towards the tea house, his footsteps suddenly pausing.

Yu Dai saw him holding his forehead with his hand, his brow furrowed, and his face turned instantly unsightly.

He hurriedly said, “Your Majesty, is your head illness acting up again?”

He reached out to support Xiao Yan, but he dodged out of the way.

Xiao Yan slowed his breathing and stood still, waiting a while before the shocking pain gradually disappeared, “It’s fine ……”

Yu Dai asked, “Has Your Majesty ever seen a doctor? If the people in the palace are useless, I’ll find someone outside for Your Majesty?”

The Emperor has had a headache for several years. At first, the attacks were rare and only once every few months. Now, it seemed that it seemed to be more severe —

Xiao Yan raised his eyes to measure Yu Dai and said, “Uncle, do not have to worry. My headache is not a big deal.”

Yu Dai would like to persuade again, but when he saw his cold expression, he could only stop for fear of overstepping.

Half past Xushi (7-9 pm), and the imperial garden lanterns began to light up.

Gu Yi, wearing a plain-colored jacket and four headpins, was carrying a white paper lantern, slowly walking toward the palace gate along the stone path. She wondered if she could meet Xiao Yan again tonight.

As Gu Yi walked, her heart beat faster and faster, pounding as if ringing in her ears. She stopped at the side of the stone path, looking at the Zhu Que Gate far away.

Later, when she sees Doggy Xiao dressed as Gao Gui, she must boldly converse with him. However, she wondered if the lantern could burn so coincidentally today. She looked at the candlestick before her eyes again. It should be — okay? If she shakes harder, the lantern will probably burn.

She couldn’t help but raise the corners of her mouth lightly, looking expectantly toward the palace gates with eyes as clear as a pool of water, bright and clear.

The moon in the sky hung high, and the clear light was getting colder. Xiao Yan, however, did not appear. Gu Yi stood until her knees were numb and walked back and forth a few steps in place. The light in her hand gradually weakened, and a few small flying insects pounced on the fire, hitting the white paper lantern and making a poof light sound.

Gu Yi turned around and carefully protected the lantern. She may not be able to wait for Xiao Yan tonight. The palace’s main hall would soon be locked, so she had to return to Xiuyi Hall. She took another look into the distance. On the narrow, dark passageway between the towering Zhu Que Gate’s walls, she could only see the shadows of the two guards.

Gu Yi looked up at the dark sky and gritted her teeth. Forget it! It seemed that she could only think of another way tomorrow!

At midnight, Xiao Yan entered the palace from the Zhu Que Gate. He turned through the stone path of the Imperial Garden without any haste and headed straight towards the Tianlu Pavilion. As he traveled to the lakeshore, a figure stood before him in the haze of lights, dressed in a blue female official’s uniform. Her back was stooped, and she seemed to be a bit old.

Xiao Yan, dressed as Gao Gui, naturally didn’t want to cause trouble. He dodged to the rockery next to the road, intending to wait for the figure to go farther and find another secluded path.

Suddenly, an extremely familiar voice rang out, “Sister Ji has been waiting for a long time. Today, I left the palace to take inventory of the medicinal materials, so I’m late.”

The Imperial Hospital’s Director Xu.

Xiao Yan stopped in his tracks and listened to a female voice. The voice softly asked, “Why did you rush to meet me tonight?”

Director Xu looked around and whispered, “I will leave the palace tonight, and I can not rest assured. In the past few years, Mr. Zhao Jie has entrusted someone to me. I hope Sister can help me to take care of her. ” He bowed for a long time.

Sister Ji quickly reached out to pull him up. “I will certainly do what I can.”

Zhao Jie.

Xiao Yan thought for a moment and remembered this person. Zhao Jie, a minister of the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince’s young master, died violently.

The person entrusted by Zhao Jie? Is it a relative? Who is the person?

Two figures walked towards the palace gate. When the surroundings returned to tranquility, Xiao Yan flashed out from behind the rockery and quickly returned to Tianlu Pavilion. He had never seen Zhao Jie when he was in the East Palace. However, he had met Zhao Jie once in Cang County when he was young.

How did Zhao Jie? Xiao Yan couldn’t help but sneer, his face as if covered with frost.

The third night drum knocked, and the summer cicadas chirped. Gu Yi lay on the wooden bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. There was still one more day to go. She hadn’t met Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan may not necessarily flip her plaque. If he didn’t come and meet Zhao Wan, would she have to start over again?

After starting over four times, Gu Yi gradually realized the truth: when it is time to strike, strike, and fight! Tomorrow, if Xiao Yan goes to the main hall of Xiuyi Hall based on the plot, even if she has to pretend to have a headache, she will trick him over!

At three-quarter past Chenshi (7-9 am), Gu Yi climbed up from the wooden bed and called Tao Jia. She handed the leg hammers, which she ordered the craftsmen to do yesterday, and instructed: “Today is the flipping day. Give this to the Eunuch Lu and Eunuch Gao. Be sure to say a few good words!”

Tao Jia didn’t take it. Instead, she asked blankly: “What do you mean? Today is not the flipping day. Why don’t you send it again on the 15th of next month?”

Gu Yi suspected she had heard it wrong, “What? It’s not flipping day? Wasn’t the fifteenth day of June the flipping day? Why not now?”

Tao Jia chuckled, “Have you forgotten? Rules say His Majesty only turns over the plaques on the fifteenth of each month, so if he says ‘go,’ you’ll have to wait until the fifteenth of the next month.”

According to the rules? What year’s rules? Her year’s rules were different from this! Is the plot messing with her again?

Gu Yi’s mouth opened wide in shock. Did Doggy Xiao — can not do it anymore?

Tao Jia saw the situation and persuaded: “Don’t be anxious, Beauty. There is always a chance next month. Do you want to get up?”

What to do? If Xiao Yan didn’t come to Xiuyi Hall today, will she be unable to see the sun tomorrow? She is too miserable!

Gu Yi nodded, “En, serve me to freshen up ……”

She had to be calm. There were still several hours left, so she had to think of a way!

Just after Weishi ( 1-3 pm) passed, dark clouds gathered, and the sky rained heavily. Eunuch Gao hurried through the rain curtain, his blue robe hem slightly splashed with mud stains. He quickly stepped into the Tianlu Pavilion and bowed: “Report to Your Majesty, I checked the records of the female officials in the female officials’ office and the various departments in the palace and found the names of several female officials recommended by Director Xu. Your Majesty, would you like to take a closer look?”

“Submit.”

Eunuch Gao held the roster and bowed. He ascended the jade steps and presented it to the Emperor.

Xiao Yan looked at the few names inside the Laundry Bureau, the Imperial Hospital, the Department of Military, etc. Moreover, all the female officials were low-ranking palace maids and surnamed Zhao.

Zhao Di, Zhao Xue, Zhao Chu, Zhao Wan. Did Xu Chong do it deliberately?

Zhao Jie and Xu Chong should be old friends, but why did he send Zhao’s relatives into the palace?

Gao Gui lowered his eyes. The corners of his eyes caught the Emperor silently pinching the roster with downcasted eyes. He thought: after the Emperor demoted Director Xu, he checked his old affairs. It seemed terrible, but the Emperor didn’t look angry. These few female officials could have a great future.

When he thought of this, he couldn’t help but tentatively ask: “Your Majesty, if you want to …… I call them to meet you?”

Xiao Yan closed the roster and threw it aside, “No need.”

Gao Gui said no more. He thought wrong again. Aye! In this whole palace, when will there be someone who the Emperor likes?

Outside the pavilion, the rain poured down and continued to fall until dusk. Gu Yi glanced out the dense rain outside the window.

It was almost time, and she couldn’t wait any longer!

“Let’s go to the Laundry Bureau!” She turned around and ordered Tao Jia.

Tao Jia frowned in disbelief, “Beauty, it’s raining so heavily. Why are you going to the Laundry Bureau? If you want to retrieve the cloth, the palace maids at the Laundry Bureau will come to your door! Why do you need to go there?”

Time was running out, and Gu Yi did not have time to explain more. She only said: “I can’t wait. Now is the right time! It’s fun to visit the garden in the rain.”

Tao Jia could only take an oil-paper umbrella, put it over Gu Yi’s head, and follow her towards the Laundry Bureau.

A flash of green light was in the sky, and a thunderbolt rolled loudly.