IRBSC 113

Chapter 113

Gu Yuanbai said, “Get in here.”

In the blink of an eye, a tall figure jumped down from the high city wall. The city guards instinctively raised their spears, then quickly glanced at Gu Yuanbai.

Gu Yuanbai rubbed his temples and instructed the guards, “Escort him to the city gate and have him enter the palace through the main entrance.”

When Xue Yuan saw the Emperor again, it was in the Xuanzheng Hall.

The Emperor had just finished his meal and was about to bathe. Seeing Xue Yuan’s arrival, he lifted his eyelids slightly before returning his gaze to the memorials on his desk.

Upon seeing Gu Yuanbai, Xue Yuan smiled and performed a proper salute. “Your Majesty, regarding the Lantern Festival, may I have your decision now?”

Before he could finish his sentence, a book came flying towards him. Xue Yuan looked up to see the Emperor’s expression unchanged as he picked up another memorial.

Xue Yuan smiled helplessly. “Your Majesty, what must I do to earn a chance?”

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Qw Zwydcyk pyke, “Wkapv, vlzz xl obu usw nyxl vs pll xl vseyu.”

Tlyakdt vbkp, Dwl Zwyd bydele vbl cssj vs Mkyd Wwpbldt yde pyke bsdlpvzu, “R blyae vbyv Zswa Yyflpvu hkpkvle vbl Ubw alpkeldnl y qlo eyup yts.”

Qw Zwydcyk bwxxle kd ynjdsozletxldv, watkdt bkx vs nsdvkdwl.

“Gqvla R blyae ycswv kv, R oldv vs vbl Ubw alpkeldnl vs vyjl y zssj,” Dwl Zwyd pyke. “R dsvknle vbyv Ykdkpvla Ubw’p qkdtlap yal pvkzz kdvynv. Rv pllxp Zswa Yyflpvu kp iwkvl qsde sq bkp bydep. Gde kdelle, obs oswzed’v nblakpb bydep vbyv nyd nalyvl pwnb rykdvkdtp qsa Zswa Yyflpvu?”

Qw Zwydcyk pweeldzu ypjle, “Ebyv ycswv vbl osseld pvyvwl usw nyahle qsa xl?”

Dwl Zwyd qyzvlale, nswtble y qlo vkxlp, yde pyke, “R’zz tkhl kv vs Zswa Yyflpvu sd vbl Nydvlad Wlpvkhyz.”

“Gdsvbla vos eyup, yde ydsvbla vos eyup. Dwl Kkwuys, kq usw esd’v jdso bso vs nyahl, fwpv pyu ps. Mblal’p ds dlle vs elzyu zkjl vbkp.” Qw Zwydcyk nwazle bkp zkrp kxrlanlrvkczu yde qkdyzzu zssjle wr yv bkx. “Gal usw altalvvkdt vbyv vbspl vos oszhlp eked’v ckvl sqq Ykdkpvla Ubw’p qkdtlap?”

Dwl Zwyd alrzkle rszkvlzu, “Ulavykdzu dsv, Zswa Yyflpvu.”

Gu Yuanbai was amused and chuckled softly. However, after a moment of laughter, he felt a weakness in his limbs and a tightness in his chest. He stopped laughing and frowned involuntarily.

Xue Yuan quickly rushed to his side, careful not to touch him. “Your Majesty?”

Gu Yuanbai gripped Xue Yuan’s arm and slowly straightened up. “Lately, I’ve been feeling weak in my limbs. In the past, even excessive laughter wouldn’t affect me, but now it does.”

A wave of panic rose in Xue Yuan’s heart, but he forced himself to remain calm. “What did the imperial physician say?”

“Fatigue,” Gu Yuanbai replied.

Xue Yuan smoothed the hair by Gu Yuanbai’s ear. Gu Yuanbai closed his eyes, feeling slightly better. “I always feel this weakness after returning from a walk in the Imperial Garden. Once I’m back in the hall, my strength returns within moments, and I feel quite energetic. The imperial physician is probably right, but I can’t just stop moving. If I remain seated all the time, wouldn’t I become even weaker?”

“Indeed,” Xue Yuan murmured in agreement, but his brow remained furrowed.

Xue Yuan had already taken over all of Tian Fusheng’s duties. The old eunuch could only observe the situation and suggest, “Your Majesty, it’s time for your bath.”

Xue Yuan suppressed his worry and blurted out, “Your Majesty, allow me to wash your hair.”

Silence fell upon the hall. Then Gu Yuanbai suddenly smiled. “Very well, you may.”

In the Quandian Hall.

Gu Yuanbai leaned back, his black hair immersed in the spring water, swaying with the ripples. Xue Yuan held the Emperor’s silky smooth hair in his hands, his eyes full of adoration. “Every strand of Your Majesty’s hair is worth a fortune to me.”

Hearing this, Gu Yuanbai pulled out a strand of hair and wrapped it around Xue Yuan’s wrist. “Then give me my fortune.”

Xue Yuan thought to himself, You heartless little thing.

He took out a jade thumb ring from his pocket and placed it on Gu Yuanbai’s thumb. “Your Majesty, this was bought with a fortune.”

He couldn’t resist adding, “Please don’t lose it this time.”

The word “lose” made Gu Yuanbai feel slightly guilty. He raised his hand to examine the ring. It looked the same as before, the green hue deep and rich. Even if it wasn’t worth a fortune, it had become extraordinary because it had traveled from the palace to the northern border and back to the Emperor’s hand again.

It had been carried by birds, seen the bottom of the Xinggong Lake, and witnessed the heavy snow covering the Great Wall in the northern border. A fortune couldn’t buy those experiences.

Gu Yuanbai, being a socially responsible young man, didn’t want to take advantage of others. He picked up another loose strand of hair and wrapped it around Xue Yuan’s other wrist. “Two strands, a reward for you.”

Xue Yuan obediently let him tie it. “Your Majesty, don’t you want to go out and see the Lantern Festival?”

Gu Yuanbai lay motionless on the tub with his eyes closed. “Tell me what’s out there.”

Xue Yuan opened his mouth, but no words came out. He had left home at a young age, and after years of campaigning, he had forgotten most of what he used to know. Last year, after the palace banquet, he had returned directly to his residence and had no idea what the bustling streets offered.

Worried that Gu Yuanbai would refuse to go out with him if he admitted his ignorance, he said vaguely, “Many things, countless things.”

Gu Yuanbai asked, “Such as?”

Xue Yuan became even more vague. “Everything.”

“I didn’t hear you,” Gu Yuanbai frowned, beckoning him closer. “Whisper it in my ear.”

Xue Yuan leaned down, about to speak, but his warm breath brushed against Gu Yuanbai’s ear. He couldn’t help but glance at the Emperor’s ear. The Emperor lay on the beauty couch, clad only in a single layer of clothing, his ear and neck clearly visible.

The single garment draped over his neck, revealing the pale, smooth skin beneath. The slight rise and fall of his chest beneath the fabric seemed to invite a closer look.

Xue Yuan forgot everything he wanted to say.

The warm, moist breath, reminiscent of the night Xue Yuan tasted Gu Yuanbai’s earlobe, caused Gu Yuanbai to subtly straighten his legs, intending to make Xue Yuan experience the same frustrating anticipation he had felt that night.

“Minister Xue,” he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. “Speak.”

“Your Majesty…” Xue Yuan opened his mouth, leaning even closer. Each word he uttered seemed to graze against the Emperor’s ear, as if with each syllable he could taste it on his lips. His voice was husky. “During the Lantern Festival, there are countless delicacies in the streets. They’ll even have the donkey meat fire you enjoyed before. We can walk from one end of the street to the other, and I’ll buy you anything you want.”

Gu Yuanbai, feeling uncomfortable from Xue Yuan’s warm breath, twitched his ear, wanting to turn his head.

Xue Yuan held his head still, chuckling softly. “Your Majesty, you’re still washing your hair.”

Gu Yuanbai turned his head back. The movement of his earlobe caught Xue Yuan’s attention, captivating him completely. Unable to resist, Xue Yuan tried to take advantage of the opportunity to “accidentally” taste it, but as he leaned in, Gu Yuanbai asked, “Finished?”

Xue Yuan froze, closed his mouth, and racked his brain for more enticements. “There are also many games and amusements. I’ve carved a wooden figure for you, and there should be sugar painting artisans at the festival.”

Gu Yuanbai closed his eyes, concealing a faint smile playing on his lips. “Sugar paintings? Are they well-made?”

Xue Yuan moved closer again, his lips brushing against the jade-like earlobe. Gu Yuanbai turned his head and said languidly, “Wash my hair.”

Xue Yuan: “…”

He took a deep breath, pulled away, and continued washing the Emperor’s now thoroughly soaked hair.

A fleeting smile crossed the Emperor’s face before quickly disappearing.

Before the Lantern Festival arrived, the tribute from Western Xia was placed in the treasury.

“Five thousand fine horses, ten thousand head of cattle and sheep, five million taels of silver, and three million bushels of grain,” the Minister of Revenue reported. “Not a single item missing.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Yuanbai pondered for a moment, then summoned the Western Xia emissaries.

A quarter of an hour later, the Second Prince of Western Xia, Li Angyi, and his delegation arrived. Gu Yuanbai finally saw the Second Prince’s face. He bore a slight resemblance to the Seventh Prince, but his eyes held a perpetual air of worry. Whenever his gaze met Gu Yuanbai’s, he would quickly look away, his expression timid, devoid of any princely demeanor.

The ministers in the hall only glanced at him briefly before turning their attention to the officials behind him. The two sides exchanged formalities, during which Gu Yuanbai remained silent, and the Second Prince also kept his head lowered, saying nothing. After the exchange concluded, urged by his officials, the Second Prince timidly spoke, “Emperor of Great Heng, can you release my Seventh Brother now?”

Gu Yuanbai looked at him and calmly said, “Bring them in.”

The Western Xia delegation, who had been confined at Mingsheng Station, were already waiting outside the hall. The guards politely escorted Li Angshun and his companions inside. Upon seeing his Seventh Brother, the Second Prince rushed forward anxiously. “Seventh Brother, how have you been these past few days?”

Li Angshun shook off his hand, his face dark. “Why did you take so long?”

After the two groups reunited, the Second Prince prepared to take his leave. Gu Yuanbai suddenly smiled and said amiably, “The Lantern Festival of our Great Heng Dynasty is just a few days away. There’s no need for you to rush back. Stay and enjoy the festivities, and I shall host a banquet for you so you can experience the customs of Great Heng.”

The Second Prince was about to speak, but Li Angshun had already agreed. He could only swallow his words and reluctantly fall silent.

The delegation bowed and departed. Gu Yuanbai watched them leave, taking a sip of warm tea. As the Western Xia emissaries were about to step out of the palace, Gu Yuanbai suddenly called out, “Li Angyi!”

Li Angyi quickly turned his head towards the Emperor, but his body remained facing forward. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Gu Yuanbai took another sip of tea. “I’m quite fond of your national fragrance.”

Li Angyi relaxed, stammering a humble reply before cautiously exiting.

Once they were gone, Gu Yuanbai lowered his gaze, using the lid of his teacup to skim off the floating tea leaves.

Li Angyi has the look of a wolf’s gaze.

A wolf’s gaze means one can look back without turning their body. Such a person is cruel and often harbors thoughts of murder and harm. 

The Second Prince of Western Xia is not a simple man.