The physician’s skill was excellent; there was not a trace of suturing thread visible on the wound. The thread used was mulberry bark thread, which the human body can absorb, so there was no need for removal.
Gu Yun touched the wound; it felt slightly itchy. He knew the wound was essentially healed and could now be exposed to water, so he wrung out a handkerchief, wiped the area, and then took out scar-removing ointment and applied it over the wound.
The ointment brought a faint cooling sensation.
Gu Yun put the ointment away, dressed himself, fetched a basin of water, and casually washed his hair. When he finished, he stepped out with damp hair and a body filled with fragrance.
The moment he stepped out of the room, Zhang Zhangshe and the others pulled him into the warm pavilion. They first used several steaming hot cloth towels to forcefully dry his hair until it was nearly dry, then brought over a large bowl of brown sugar ginger tea, insisting on watching him drink it.
Gu Yun disliked brown sugar ginger tea. Pinching his nose, he drank it all down, but before he could even complain about the odd taste, Zhang Zhangshe shoved a piece of overly sweet candied fruit into his mouth, so sweet it made his head buzz.
After a while, he recovered.
He moved his lips; the strange taste of ginger tea had disappeared.
“Well, that’ll do,” Gu Yun thought, frowning slightly as he slowly finished the candied fruit and drank two bowls of hot soup. Only then did the sweetness finally dissipate.
He asked Zhang Zhangshe and the others to leave the warm pavilion, lit several lamps, and curled up on the bed, continuing to read the travelogue by the lamplight.
After finishing it, Gu Yun felt reassured.
He put on his shoes and socks, picked up the books stained with dirt, and went to the Main Library Hall (Dabentang) to see if there was any way to remove the stains. He also intended to borrow more books, as he still needed further information to consolidate his “Golden House” idea and hoped to find what he needed within them.
After sending off Princess Hanzhu and Princess Roujia for a short while, Chao Yan was caught in a torrential downpour. He finished practising his calligraphy, then trained in martial arts for a while. He carefully wrote down the recent events on paper, folded it, sealed it in an envelope, and when Zhao Xun arrived, handed it to her, asking her to deliver it to Consort Shu.
Zhao Xun said, “Understood. Her Majesty asked me to check on your injuries. She said you are not to lie, or else you will be dealt with.”
Chao Yan laughed and said, “It’s nothing serious, just a minor injury. Please thank Mother for her concern. When you return, help me take care of her. The weather is getting colder; she is in that cold temple, don’t let her catch a chill.”
Zhao Xun agreed, then added, “Her Majesty says the Emperor has gone to Cining Temple. She will keep an eye on him, so you need not worry.” She also mentioned that Miss Gu had been caught in the rain, that her task was complete, and that she would return to Cining Temple, urging him to go and check on Miss Gu.
Chao Yan already intended to do so. Before she even finished speaking, he strode off, leaving Zhao Xun stamping her feet in anger, complaining that he “forgot his sister for a beauty.”
“The daughter of a distant relative of Consort Shu can barely count as a sister, can she?”
Chao Yan was already far away and did not hear her.
For someone like Chao Yan, trained in martial arts, the long road was nothing. He arrived just outside the side hall, and before he could even step inside, he saw Gu Yun rushing out carrying several books.
The latter did not notice him and vanished from view in an instant. Zhao He also came out of the side hall shortly after, holding a borrowing slip, intending to chase after Gu Yun, when he noticed Chao Yan from the corner of his eye.
“Your Highness—”
Chao Yan raised his hand slightly, signalling him to skip the formalities and continue with his task.
Zhao He complied.
…
A few days later.
Gu Yun went to the Main Library Hall and returned all the books he had borrowed over the past few days. After confirming with the staff that the stains on the books had all been dealt with, his heart finally settled. He thought it was time to have a proper talk with Chao Yan.
Over these days, his efforts had finally paid off; he had found information to strengthen his “Golden House” idea.
Seeing his happiness, Zhao He also became cheerful and said a few flattering words.
Listening to him, Gu Yun left the Main Library Hall and headed towards the main hall of Chunhe Palace.
Chao Yan had returned from the morning court session and was changing into casual clothes, preparing to visit the site where the Ascension Pavilion was being built.
Zhao He, being a sensible man, said a few words before falling silent and following behind Gu Yun.
In late autumn, sunlight filtered through the golden leaves of the locust trees, scattering across the pathway. The surroundings were exceptionally quiet. For a brief moment, time felt as though it had dissolved like water, and Gu Yun seemed to have returned to the temple near his hometown.
In his hometown, his grandparents were still there. Both were in good health and enjoyed rural life, preferring not to move to the city. So during National Day holidays, his family would always return home to spend time with them, while at other times it depended on circumstances.
Four kilometres from his hometown stood a Ming-style temple called Yunshan Temple, filled with locust trees.
The two elders often took the bus there to burn incense, pray for blessings for the family, and volunteer.
Whenever he returned home and could not find them, he would know where they had gone.
At such times, Gu Yun would take out his carefully chosen bicycle from the warehouse, swing a long leg over it, sit on the saddle, and under blue skies and white clouds ride along the seemingly endless road, facing the cool breeze, towards Yunshan Temple to find them.
Upon arrival, he would park the bicycle, leap up the steps, enter the temple, pass through the dappled light cast by the locust trees, find the two elders in the main hall, and even offer cat treats to the large ginger cat that had followed him…
“Boom!”
Suddenly, a loud explosion rang in his mind. Before he could make sense of it, the sound vanished without a trace, replaced by a suffocating sensation…
“Miss Gu—” Zhao He’s voice pulled him back. The suffocation receded like a tide, and Gu Yun gasped for air, gradually recovering.
Had he been sleeping too little recently? In order to find what he needed, he had only been sleeping for a little over two hours a night for several consecutive days.
He closed his eyes and checked his body carefully, but found nothing wrong. It was probably just lack of sleep. He would adjust his schedule and see; if it happened again, he would need to see a doctor.
He quickly made his way to the main hall, catching sight of palace maids and eunuchs carrying red silk, decorating the buildings with festive red drapery. He was slightly puzzled but had no time to think further before running into Chao Yan, who had just changed clothes and was about to leave.
Gu Yun grabbed his arm, raised a finger, and said, “Your Highness, give me the time of one cup of tea. I need to speak with you.”
Chao Yan looked down at him for a moment and said, “Alright.” He took Gu Yun’s hand, led him into the bedroom, closed the doors and windows, and said, “Speak. It must be something important.”
Gu Yun moved his fingers; the other tightened his grip on his hand. Looking into his eyes, he said, “Your Highness, I want a sum of money and a group of people.”
Chao Yan: “Hmm?”
He smiled, pulled Gu Yun into his arms, kissed him, and kissed him so deeply that he could barely breathe, forcing him to grip his arm to steady himself, before asking, “Are you planning to rebel, or to kill me?”
