Male Lead Is Always That Heartless

Chapter 20

I knew it! I still had to carry the banner of the plot! 

Gu Yi walked to Xiao Yan’s side, turned her head to look at Zhao Wan, and said with anxiety, “A Wan, did you hurt your foot? Are you unable to stand up?”

Doubts flickered in Xiao Yan’s eyes as he glanced at Zhao Wan, who had fallen to the ground, and finally recognized her. It was her, the palace maid in the Peach Garden that day —

He turned to look at Gu Yi again. But why did Gu Yi always care extraordinarily about this palace maid?

Zhao Wan heard Noble Lady Gu’s question and mumbled, “Replying to Noble Lady, my ankle is injured.”

She held onto the muddy ground to get up, and with a dull pain in her ankle, she stumbled helplessly back into a sitting position. “I am, indeed, can’t stand up …….”

Avoiding Xiao Yan’s scrutinizing gaze, Gu Yi lowered her head and sighed, “Your Majesty, what should we do?”

Xiao Yan’s quirkiness grew stronger in his heart as he looked at the few guards, and his gaze landed on Qi Zhuang.

Qi Zhuang understood and knelt, saying in a deep voice, “I will carry this Miss down the mountain.”

Xiao Yan nodded.

Qi Zhuang took several steps across the long steps and stopped in front of Zhao Wan, crouching down, “Miss can climb on my shoulders.”

Zhao Wan’s cheeks turned red. She climbed on Qi Zhuang’s shoulder to support her body and bowed to Xiao Yan, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Then, to Qi Zhuang, she said, “Many thanks to Chief Qi.”

Qi Zhuang recognized her as the palace maid he had seen in the hot spring pool last night. He averted his eyes and whispered, “There is no need for you to be polite.”

Zhao Wan carefully flopped onto his back. Thus, Gu Yi saw Lady of Fairness Gong riding in a sedan chair and Qi Zhuang carrying Zhao Wan on his back, heading down the mountain.

This plot — how can I describe it? It wasn’t so much of a story.

Xiao Yan saw Gu Yi looking at the line of people going down the mountain with a complicated expression and said, “Let’s go and travel up the mountain.”

Gu Yi tilted her head to see that the top of the mountain seemed a long way off and asked, “Your Majesty, are we going to climb to the top today?”

Xiao Yan: “Since we’re here, we should do so.”

Gu Yi smiled, “Your Majesty is wise!”

Fine!

Xiao Yan’s pace was fast, and Gu Yi struggled to keep up. She climbed for a while and took off her cloak. Xiao Yan turned around to see her cheeks flushed and smothered. He asked, “I heard you went to that hot spring pool in the morning?”

Gu Yi looked up to see him stopping in his tracks. His face was normal, and he didn’t even seem to be sweating.

“Replying, Your Majesty, I did go there; that pool is marvelous!” She remembered the plot again and advised, “Your Majesty should also go for a dip. It’s excellent for relieving your muscles and fatigue!”

Xiao Yan hummed. The two stood on the forest path, and the palace staff handed over water bags. Gu Yi took a sip and felt coolness in her throat. Xiao Yan saw her gasping for breath and lifted her steps upwards. An eagle cry suddenly came from the air. A black-winged, white-headed eagle soared past.

Gu Yi looked up to see it, and the black eagle swooped down, heading straight for Xiao Yan. She couldn’t help but call out, “Watch out!”

While the palace people around her did not move, she saw that the black eagle circled as it neared the ground and stopped at the branch on the tree closest to Xiao Yan. Then, Gu Yi saw the bamboo tube tied to its eagle’s talons.

Xiao Yan reached out and untied the bamboo tube, putting the letters in it into his sleeves. Gu Yi saw that the black eagle lifted its wings and flew away while Xiao Yan looked at her, seemingly waiting for her to ask a question. But Gu Yi knew not to ask what she shouldn’t. She then went back to being that dutiful girl with a fake smile.

Xiao Yan laughed softly and lifted his steps upwards. After climbing for about an hour, they ascended to Mount Wu’s top. The golden light of the midday sun spilled over the top of the mountain.

Gu Yi was sweating and feeling refreshed. She looked at the floating clouds gathering and dispersing below the mountain, the sunlight projected on the forest floor, and the deep green color. She couldn’t help but sigh, “This is the first time I’ve come to Wu Shan Palace. I didn’t expect the scenery to be as beautiful as rumors!”

Xiao Yan looked at the red-tiled roofs hidden amongst the green hills.

Wu Shan Palace. It was also his first time here. This place was once Prince Heng’s separate palace, and he was not qualified to enter it. The winner will be the king, and the loser will be a handful of dust, but what was the point of becoming the winner in the end?

Gu Yi instinctively felt the ‘keep-away-from-me’ aura from Xiao Yan and obediently closed her mouth. The accompanying guards and courtiers retreated a few paces away, and the two stood in front of the cliff, enjoying the mountain wind for a while.

Eunuch Gao Gui gave a fake cough, carrying a food box, took two steps forward, bowed, and said, “Your Majesty is tired from climbing the mountain. Would you like some refreshments?”

Gu Yi glanced approvingly at Eunuch Gao. So bold!

When Eunuch Gao Gui saw the emperor turn around and look at him, he smiled and said, “In this food box is a cinnamon cake made by Lady of Fairness Gong. Would your Majesty like to try it?”

When Gao Gui finished speaking, he looked at Gu Yi.

Gu Yi understood, “It looks delicious. Will your Majesty try it?”

Xiao Yan twisted a piece and tasted it, “Not bad.”

He turned to Gu Yi, “Noble Lady Gu, why won’t you try it?”

Gu Yi boldly reached out and took a piece, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

She really ate it. Xiao Yan was a bit unhappy to see her eating at ease, “Noble Lady Gu has no talent to offer at the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet, and when you came here, you have no value to show?”

Gu Yi swallowed the cake and realized this was the critical moment of peer competition. “I’m stupid. What Your Majesty said is true. I’ll reflect on myself. How about I accompany Your Majesty to play chess tomorrow? Make a soup? What does Your Majesty love to eat? I can learn.”

She was already slack when she asked to get off the imperial carriage in the middle of the journey, and now, with a contrasting figure like Lady of Fairness Gong, it appeared even more apparent. Moreover, Xiao Yan’s mood should not have been good recently —

Gu Yi must gain a foothold in Xiao Yan’s harem and look up to his face.

Gu Yi smiled without showing teeth and boldly said, “Why don’t I learn how to make a snack tonight?”

Xiao Yan saw her come closer, and her eyes were full of currying favor. He reached out and plucked the fallen leaves from her hair at some point, “Unmotivated.”

Gu Yi hurriedly voted, “I will remember Your Majesty’s teachings, and I will improve in the future!”

Xiao Yan sneered and walked down the mountain. “Let’s go down the mountain.”

Gu Yi and Eunuch Gao glanced at each other and immediately felt a sense of sympathy. Each read the other’s eyes. The emperor was in a bad mood.

Doggy Xiao was in a bad mood.

The descent was much faster than the ascent. In time for sunset, the group returned to the front of Xuanyu Pavilion.

Xiao Yan didn’t tell her to retire, so Gu Yi could only follow him into the Xuanyu Pavilion. At a glance, she saw the Great Tycoon on the bookshelf and said in surprise, “Your Majesty, you brought the chess games?”

Xiao Yan watched her gaze light up and proposed, “Accompany me to play a game.”

Gu Yi nodded her head, “I will follow your orders.”

Playing five-in-a-row chess with Tao Jia and losing a few rounds hurt her self-esteem, so it was better to come and slaughter newbies.

Xiao Yan held up the piece with a long shirt and a winged cicada hat, and Gu Yi held up the one with a jacket and a bun. Unexpectedly, Xiao Yan won very smoothly. In less than half an hour, Gu Yi lost without a penny.

Gu Yi: Solid!

Xiao Yan’s face cleared up a little, and he tapped the wooden plate pleasantly. “Noble Lady Gu, I apologize.”

Gu Yi realized that when Xiao Yan called her Noble Lady Gu, he was mocking her.

Childish!

Gu Yi smiled on her face. “Your Majesty has taught me.”

Xiao Yan clapped his hands, and the palace staff entered the pavilion and began to set out the meal. Gu Yi obediently got up, intending to stand to one side to serve.

Xiao Yan laughed and said, “Sit down.” You can’t serve even if you stand up, so what’s the point?

Gu Yi sat down, “Thank you, Your Majesty!”

In the Luoxia Hall, Lady of Fairness Gong did not have dinner. She had lost a face in front of the emperor today! An excellent opportunity has been spoilt!

She lay on the couch in exasperation. Chunya gently pounded her legs, “Lady of Fairness, don’t be angry. Today is an accident. His Majesty naturally won’t blame you. Your ankle has just healed. You shouldn’t …….”

Lady of Fairness Gong rolled over, “Not fighting this time? Then, when I fight? There are many people in the palace. There are still four consort on top of me. Only two of us, Noble Lady Gu and me are in this Wu Shan. My father is a fourth-ranked officer; how can he be comparable to a small Fuzhou governor? Who would have thought!”

Chunya advised again, “His Majesty didn’t say how long we’ll stay in Wu Shan. Lady of Fairness, don’t be anxious. There are still opportunities!”

Lady of Fairness Gong sighed. I hope so. She swept her eyes across the chamber and did not see Zhao Wan, so she asked: “Where is A Wan?”

Chunya: “Just now, Chief Qi sent her back to the small room at the back of the pavilion. Do you want me to call her?”

Lady of Fairness Gong shook her head, thinking that, fortunately, Zhao Wan had caught her today, “No need, she is not on duty tonight.”

In the small room at the back of the pavilion, Zhao Wan sat alone at the table, wrapping her swollen ankle in layers of white gauze, glancing at the white jade porcelain bottle left on the table, the injury medicine that Qi Zhaung had left for her just now.

Qi Zhuang, General Qi Wei’s youngest son, was the imperial army commander and formerly Prince Heng’s companion. He has grown into an introverted and silent young man.

Zhao Wan had seen him once when she was young. Unfortunately, Qi Zhuang didn’t remember her. Like A Yan, it seemed that he had forgotten entirely about her.

Zhao Wan smiled bitterly. Holding onto the wooden table, she tried to stand up slowly. She still had to be on duty tomorrow, so tonight, she might be able to bathe in the spring, which was better than the piercing cold well.

Qi Zhuang emerged from behind the Luoxia Pavilion and walked along the red wall, heading towards the premises where they were camped.

“Brother Qi Zhuang.” A female voice came from behind him.

Qi Zhuang looked back and frowned, “Tao Jia.”

Tao Jia greeted him and smiled, “Brother Qi Zhuang, it’s been long since I saw you. It seems like you’ve gotten a little darker again.”

Qi Zhuang: “It’s natural when you’re stationed outside.”

Tao Jia touched the silk handkerchief on her sleeve, “Here, I embroidered it when I was bored while riding in the carriage. I’ll give it to you.”

Qi Zhuang looked at the handkerchief embroidered with a blue lotus and turned his eyes away. “It’s a girl’s thing. I don’t want it.”

Tao Jia said in dissatisfaction, “Aren’t the things you took from me before a girl’s things? What’s the difference between them and this handkerchief?”

Qi Zhuang blushed, “I was young and ignorant in the past.”

Tao Jia stored the handkerchief, “If you don’t want it, I’ll give it to my Noble Lady!”

Qi Zhuang raised his eyes to look at her carefully. “Why do you want to follow Noble Lady Gu? Is the Garden Department not good?”

Tao Jia tilted her head and said, “What’s so good about the Garden Department? Gardening is boring! Our Noble Lady is kind-hearted and favored; that’s the best place!”

Qi Zhuang lowered his eyebrows and remained silent for a moment. “You entered the palace at eight, and now there have been ten years. Female officials will have grades, tying honor and disgrace to yourself. But following Noble Lady Gu, you will tie your honor and disgrace to others ……”

He raised his eyes to stare firmly at Tao Jia. He slowly asked again, “Tao Jia — Why do you want to follow Noble Lady Gu?”

Tao Jia heard this and slapped the silver armor on his chest in exasperation, “Why is Brother Qi being mean to me? I won’t talk to you anymore!”

She turned around and left.