Male Lead Is Always That Heartless

Chapter 5

Past midnight, Eunuch Wu, the head of the Ceremony Room, waited at the Tianlu Pavilion with jade plaques. Eunuch Gao stepped out and swept the jade plaques on the plate. At the head were the four Consorts: Duan, Jing, De, and Shu. Because there was no one in the Noble Concubine and Lady of Fairness rank, Noble Lady Gong, Noble Lady Tian, and Noble Lady Wang were next. Eunuch Gao reached out and moved the jade plaque of Noble Lady Wang to the front of Noble Lady Tian. The second row was the new Beauties. Eunuch Gao moved Beauty Gu of Xiuyi Hall’s side hall to the first place. 

“Alright, you can go in.” 

Eunuch Wu stood with lowered brows, not saying a word more, and entered the pavilion while holding the jade plaques. But in just a moment, the person retreated out. He shook his head towards Eunuch Gao. 

Sure enough, there was no flipping today. 

Eunuch Gao: “Then you can come back tomorrow.” 

The following day, although Noble Lady Wang didn’t call the two beauties to go to the hall to have breakfast, according to the rules, they still had to go to the main hall after breakfast to pay respect to the owner of the hall, Noble Lady Wang. Unfortunately, after the two beauties sat on a cold bench for an hour, the palace maid said that Noble Lady Wang didn’t feel well and won’t see them. 

Gu Yi was anxious in her heart and had wanted to exchange pleasantries with Noble Lady Wang and then think about what to do tomorrow night, but unfortunately, Noble Lady Wang did not come out to see her. 

Gu Yi walked with a heavy heart, anxiety written on her face. Returning to the hall’s west side, Gu Yi quieted her mind and meticulously reviewed the plot with her previous two experiences. The first time, she entrusted the cloth to a palace maid, so the female lead did not go to the Xiuyi Hall or see the male lead. The second time, she didn’t seize the jade pendant, so the female lead didn’t meet the male lead when she came to the Xiuyi Hall early to deliver the goods. The third time, she did not seize the jade pendant, focusing on brushing goodwill, and the female lead came to the Xiuyi Hall in advance to deliver, so she did not see the male lead. If the female lead comes to do her business as expected this time, will she have to stand in the pouring rain to see the emperor? If she sends Zhao Wan to the main hall to deliver the cloth when the emperor comes, will Zhao Wan meet him? If Zhao Wan did go in, Noble Lady Wang would probably get her killed every other day for presenting such beauty girl in front of the emperor. 

She was so troubled, ah! She didn’t have much time left. Could the emperor meet the female lead somewhere else? For example, the Imperial Garden? She remembered that the female lead had said that she liked to go there after she was off duty, and the last time, the emperor had crossed through the garden, so it wasn’t impossible even though the lake separated it. Didn’t the male and female lead often meet by chance in the book? 

Thinking of this, Gu Yi felt like she could do it again. As soon as it was dark, she returned to the path where she had besieged the female lead last time. She waited until the moon was bright, yet the female lead did not appear, leaving only silence. 

Gu Yi carried a white paper lantern to the end of the stone path toward the palace gate. How about she think of a way — to run? Her footsteps unconsciously went in the direction of the palace gate. It was impossible to run away, but — perhaps — look at the directions now and think of a way tomorrow?

At this moment, the night has slightly sunk. The guards walked in two or three, and Gu Yi dared not too close. Forget it; let’s think about it again. Getting out of the palace should be impossible at this moment. She was about to turn around when she saw a figure walking in front of the palace gate’s mezzanine, and the guards stepped out of the way. Between the painted buildings and the flying tiles was a long passageway. Gu Yi only saw this person walking silently, wearing a blue robe and a flying fish patch. This person must be the greatest Eunuch of the Great Mu Dynasty, Eunuch Gao Gui. 

Carrying a lantern, Gu Yi hid at the corner of the narrow palace road. Behind her was the stone path leading to the garden. She didn’t dare abruptly strike up a conversation with Eunuch Gao. But it was late at night, and the palace was forbidden, so she had to hurry back before it was time for palace staff to close the gate. If she didn’t talk to him now, she wouldn’t have another chance. 

I’m going to fight it out! Anyway, if I die, I’ll start over! 

Gu Yi stood still and waited in place. The visitor came closer and closer, wearing a drapery hat on his head and a black veil obscuring his face. His figure was upright, his steps were not too fast or too slow, and he had a flying fish totem on his chest, with a dragon’s eye glaring round, intimidating. 

Gu Yi was a bit abashed and took a few steps back. The dead branches on the ground stepped by her, making a crackling sound, exceptionally crisp in the terrifyingly silent night. 

Xiao Yan had just passed the corner and followed the sound, seeing a palace servant carrying a lantern at the corner of the garden. He raised his eyes and swept over her hairpin. It was not a palace servant, but he could not recall the rank. 

Gu Yi curtsied in a panic, “Greetings, Eunuch Gao.” 

From the rank, she must be a Beauty. Xiao Yan did not make a sound. He had never met this woman; probably, she was the new Beauty. But the picture book was far from the actual person; he never saw the new Beauties in the palace, and he did not know whether she was round or flat, surnamed Zhang or Wang. 

Gu Yi saw that the Eunuch Gao in front of her didn’t make a sound but stopped his steps. She bowed again and said, “I am Gu Beauty of the Xiuyi Hall.”

After waiting momentarily, she added softly, “The one who delivers the golden peanut.” 

Xiao Yan, who was well aware of Eunuch Gao’s behavior, secretly sneered after hearing this. The Gu Beauty who delivered the golden peanut. He lifted his foot and walked away. 

When he walked past Gu Yi, she immediately made another bow, “Greetings, Eunuch Gao!” 

She knelt so quickly that the lantern lifted with the wind, and the candlestick in the middle skewed, burning the foil paper covering the outside. 

“Ah …… this ……” Gu Yi feared being burned by the fire and subconsciously flung the lantern out. The fire splashed, and a star of firelight lightly touched the veil and even lit the drapery hat of the Eunuch Gao in front of her. 

Please don’t blame it on society. 

Xiao Yan sharply removed the hat, and his leather boots stepped hard on a few sparks and a rolling round lantern. The surroundings suddenly darkened. But Gu Yi could still see the face of the Eunuch Gao in front of her. In the darkness of the night, his eyes were like two flying stars, and his brows were slightly knitted at the moment, containing harshness. 

The Great Mu Dynasty’s number-one Eunuch is so handsome! This is a bit outrageous —

Gu Yi only dared to glance once at him and quickly buried her head low, “Eunuch Gao ….. I didn t mean it. Are you okay?”

Xiao Yan raised the idea of killing. The short sword in his hand had already fallen from the sleeve cuff to his palm, hidden under the robe and wide sleeves. 

Gu Yi buried her head and shivered low as she pulled out a white handkerchief from her sleeve, “Eunuch Gao, your face is full of black ash, and I can’t recognize your face. Do you want to wipe it?”

Xiao Yan thought for a split second, retrieved his short sword, lifted his foot, and walked away. 

When Gu Yi saw him walk away, her legs softened, and she squatted to the ground, her back cold and sweaty. That person was not Gao Gui. In the book, Gao Gui is a middle-aged man with a white face and small eyes.  That person was a young man with peach-blossom eyes and a scar on his forehead. There was a chapter in the book where Xiao Yan had written about killing someone in the guise of Gao Gui.  Although it wasn’t at the story’s beginning, Xiao Yan probably pretended to be Gao Gui. From this, Gu Yi guessed that that person was the heartless emperor, Xiao Yan. Gu Yi squatted for a while before catching her breath. It was better to go home and wash up. 

Early in the morning of the third day, Gu Yi got up early. The sunrise in the sky was orange and red, reflecting the sky. As usual, Gu Yi went to the Noble Lady Wang’s main hall to sit on the bench for a while and then returned to the west side of the hall, drawing forms. 

Tao Jia stood aside to grind ink, seeing Gu Yi drawing a paper of four-square grids filled with strange symbols. 

“Beauty, what is this drawing?”

Gu Yi rolled her cuffs, “A small work of randomness.” 

I’m reviewing. 

She mapped the characters, times, and places in the palace known to her over the past three days, labeling random choices and inevitable events. 

For example, on the first day: 

Tao Jia would or would not go to reward Eunuch Gao’s disciple. 

Noble Lady Wang would reward her with the cloth. 

She would meet the female lead at some point in time. 

Noble Lady Gong would appear somewhere in the garden. 

The next day: 

The female lead may or may not come to deliver the goods. 

The heroine was unlikely to pass through the garden. 

The emperor would or would not pass through the palace gate dressed as Gao Gui. 

On the third day, the emperor would pass by the lake and visit Xiuyi Hall. 

She had to find the cause-and-effect. However, she was so isolated in this small corner of Xiuyi Hall. No matter how amazing she was, she couldn’t guarantee that the male and female lead would meet.  Moreover, even if the male and female lead met, it was only an assumption whether she could survive for more than three days.

Gu Yi stared at this simplified table and felt it was too difficult. 

At the stroke of noon, Eunuch Wu, the assistant of the Ceremony Room, came to the front of the Tianlu Pavilion again with jade plaques. The emperor’s voice came from inside the pavilion, “Come in.” 

Eunuch Wu raised the tray in his hands to the top and, with small steps, steadily held the jade plaques in front of Xiao Yan. 

Xiao Yan looked at the jade plaques in the tray: Consort Duan, Jing, and De were in the first place, and Consort Shu was right behind them, as usual, with a red sign. Then there were Noble Lady Gong, Noble Lady Wang, and Noble Lady Tian. 

Xiao Yan asked, “Who was it last time?” 

Eunuch Wu: “Last time, it was Noble Lady Gong of Zhaifang Hall.” 

It’s the Wang family’s turn. Xiao Yan’s finger reached out to Noble Lady Wang of the Xiuyi Hall. 

Xiuyi Hall — 

He paused and gazed at the next row of newly appointed Beauties. Gu Beauty of Xiuyi Hall was in second place. She should have seen his face last night but pretended not to. Although somewhat stupid, it seemed to be in moderation. 

“The Gu family, it seems to be an Officer in Zhizhou?”

This — I really don’t know! Eunuch Wu immediately gazed for help at Eunuch Gao, who stood aside.

Eunuch Gao Gui: “Your Majesty has a good memory. Beauty Gu’s father is the governor of Fuzhou, from the fifth rank. He was originally the magistrate of Qingzhou and was only transferred to Fuzhou two years ago.”

Xiao Yan laughed lightly, “Is that so?” He turned the back of the jade plaque of Gu Beauty of the Xiuyi Hall to face up. 

This Gu Beauty was the first of the new beauties to have their plaques turned over. Eunuch Wu retreated with the jade plaques and immediately informed the Shangyi Bureau about the Gu Beauty of Xiu Yi Hall. 

Before the hour came, the palace maids and training Mamas of the Shang Yi Bureau streamed into the west side hall of Xiuyi Hall. Gu Yi was confused, and Tao Jia joyfully said, “Congratulations, Beauty!”

The training Mamas handed the silk scrolls in the tray to the two palace maids. Gu Yi saw one of the palace maids hold one end of the scroll, and a picture of exquisite physical health and hygiene unfolded before her eyes. After a long silence, the training Mamas smile lightly, “Beauty Gu, do you understand?”

Gu Yi opened her mouth, unable to say a single word, allowing the palace maids beside her to strip her naked and wash her several times in the tub. The flower petals piled up all over the tub, and Gu Yi sneezed from the rich floral fragrance. The emperor had flipped her off? Why? Because of last night’s encounter? Then, would the female lead be able to meet the emperor at her place? 

Tao Jia saw her out of her mind and thought she was nervous, advising, “Master, you’re the first among the newly selected beauties. Master, you will have great fortune in the future!” 

Gu Yi looked at her leaping expression and couldn’t pour cold water on her. Let’s talk about it after she survives the night. Because of being selected, Gu Yi did not eat the evening meal for fear of overeating. She was dressed in fancy clothes and had an empty stomach, only hoping that the female lead would come at the right time.