Chapter 55

 

That night, Xuyu sat alone in the room, facing a white porcelain candlestick on the table, quietly waiting for someone to return.

The second watch drum sounded, then the third watch water clock echoed, as the shadow of the moon outside the window gradually shifted. She waited until the fourth watch, and finally, she heard a noise from outside—the soft rustling of booted footsteps treading lightly on the paved path.

That person had returned.

She stood up and ran out, but stopped when she reached the gate of her courtyard.

It was really Pei Xiaoyuan who had returned. He was walking down the path leading to this side, his steps slow, as if weighed by some thoughts. The servant who had caused the trouble also followed him closely, originally shrinking his neck and not saying a word. Suddenly when he saw Xuyu running out, it was as if he finally got some help. He timidly glanced at his master who had obviously returned from a disaster, and whispered to make conversation: “Master… Young Master said you will come back tonight, and told me not to be afraid… She was right…”

Pei Xiaoyuan raised his eyes, saw the figure standing at the gate, then stopped.

Although she knew he would come back, for some reason, when she really saw this familiar figure, Xuyu still felt her eyes warm up, as if he had not returned for a long time, and she had waited for him for an eternity.

She saw him stop on the path and stop moving forward. She gathered her mind and walked towards him herself.

“You’re back?” she said, her eyes falling on his injured forehead.

He nodded and smiled at her, then, as if he noticed what she was looking at, he raised his hand, pressed his blood-stained forehead, and turned his face slightly.

“If it’s convenient for you, please wait for me for a while. Let me change my clothes and come back.

“I have something to tell you.” he said.

Xuyu knew that he always attached great importance to his appearance, and he thought that he looked very disheveled at the moment and didn’t want her to see it. She said, “Come with me. I still have the medicine you brought me last time.”

“How dare I trouble you? I will take care it myself. Please wait a moment—” He stepped back.

“Come inside!” Xuyu didn’t allow him to refuse. She interrupted him and turned away.

He paused, looking at her figure who had already entered, hesitated for a moment, and finally followed her in. When he entered the outer room, he saw her bringing a basin of water, and hurried over to take it: “I’ll do it!”

“Just sit down.” Xuyu glanced at the bed in the room and motioned for him to sit.

Pei Xiaoyuan paused, and finally, slowly sat down. He watched as she brought over the basin of water, took a clean white cloth, soaked it, wrung it out, and unfolded it. Moving closer under the light, she gently wiped away the dried blood from his forehead.

Although he had approached her several times before—whether holding her or pulling her into his arms—each time had been out of necessity, and he had always considered himself honorable and without ulterior motives. Yet tonight, something felt different.

It was she who took the initiative to move to him, leaned so close. When she raised her hand to wipe his face, he could smell a faint warm fragrance from her sleeves that seemed to carry her body temperature. The corner of her sleeves also seemed to brush against the skin on his face, which made him felt a slight itch.

He could not help but hold his breath, and with a bit of awkwardness, he raised his face back. Just as he was about to say that he would wipe it himself, he heard her say, “Sit up straight! Why are you leaning back?” He raised his eyes and saw that her gaze was fixed on his injured forehead, her brows slightly furrowed, her expression focused, and it was obvious that she was not distracted and was only wiping his face.

Pei Xiaoyuan felt secretly ashamed for a moment, calmed himself down. He dispelled the unnecessary thoughts, and sat up straight as he was told.

She cleaned his face carefully and rinsed the towel in the water. In the quiet night, accompanied by the sound of the splashing water, he suddenly heard her ask: “How did you get this injury?”

“I accidently bumped into something.” he replied.

Xuyu stopped and looked at him. He still looked calm and composed.

“I don’t believe it. How bumping into something causing such a deep cut?”

Pei Xiaoyuan shook his head: “It was really my own fault for not being careful enough.”

“You’re still covering up for him? I know, it was my father who did it! What did he do to you? Tell me now!”

At this time, Pei Xiaoyuan heard a voice near his ear: “His Majesty hit me with the hot incense burner.” When he came to his senses, he realized that it was his own voice speaking. He then noticed the look of anger mixed with heartache on her face. She climbed onto the bed, knelt beside him, and using a small medicine stick, she carefully applied some healing ointment to his wounded forehead with a gentle hand.

“Does it still hurt?” she asked softly.

“He is so mean to treat you like this! If he does this again next time, you must tell me!” She said angrily again, and the movements of applying medicine on him became increasingly gentle, as if he was some glass treasure that would shatter at the slightest touch.

It was as if a sweet spring silently flowing out from his chest, and Pei Xiaoyuan felt the faint sweetness. He no longer defended the furious emperor last night, and silently accepted the injustice she had advocated for him.

It seemed that the blow from the emperor could have been a little heavier. He could bear it.

“When it’s daybreak, remember to go to the Imperial Medical Bureau and ask the imperial physician to check you out again! If it left a scar, it won’t look good.” Finally, she finished applying the medicine for him, lowered her head to pack her things, and gave him some more instructions.

Pei Xiaoyuan still sat on the bed while looking at her busy figure, and a faint smile flashed across his eyes.

“Alright.” He responded in a low voice, and suddenly, as if he remembered something, the faint smile in his eyes was blown away like clouds by the wind, and his expression slowly turned serious. When Xuyu finished tidying up and walked back towards him, he stood up and got out of bed.

“You’re tired too, aren’t you?” Xuyu turned around and glanced at the night outside the window.

“It won’t be long before dawn. You should go get some sleep.”

“I’m fine, don’t worry.” She comforted him again. When she saw that he didn’t leave, but still stood beside her, she asked in confusion: “Do you have something else?”

Pei Xiaoyuan had already made up his mind. He looked at her, smiled and nodded: “Princess, please take a seat. His Majesty has something to tell you, and he wants me to pass it on to you.” Although he no longer called himself this minister, his tone had become respectful, no different from when he called himself this minister.

Xuyu stared at him and frowned slightly, but still did as he said, slowly walked to the bed where he had just sat, and sat down.

“What did he say?”

“His Majesty asked me to tell the princess that he knew everything a long time ago. The reason why he has not yet cleared Empress Zhaode’s name is that—”

“He has his own difficulties!” Xuyu interrupted, turning her head away. “As for his difficulties, they are his court, his imperial career, the people of the world, and his plans for future generations! That’s it, right?

“Compared to these, my mother is really not that important in the emperor’s heart. I understand.” She said in a calm and patient tone.

Pei Xiaoyuan was silent for a moment, then continued, “His Majesty said that he knows you are still unwilling to acknowledge him, and he will not force you to return to the palace to be restrained and face those people you hate and don’t want to see. You don’t like being a princess, and His Majesty won’t force you. You can continue to be a court painter, and you can remain the same as before. What His Majesty only wants is for you to not leave and stay where he can see you, then everything else is up to you.”

Xuyu was startled, then turned her head back: “Did he really say that?”

Pei Xiaoyuan nodded.

“His Majesty also said that he would definitely give an explanation to your mother and to you.” He stared at her and said this with a slightly heavier tone.

Xuyu slowly lowered her head. The light from the candlestick filled the room, quietly shrouding her lowered eyebrows and eyes covered with eyelashes.

Pei Xiaoyuan stood there for a while, until she raised her head.

“Why didn’t he tell me those things himself? Why did he ask you to tell me?” she asked softly.

Pei Xiaoyuan didn’t know how to respond to her question.

In fact, not only her, but he himself was surprised and puzzled that the emperor would tell him those secret things tonight.

He hesitated, still considering how to respond to her, and saw that she had already said, “I understand. He feels guilty and dare not face my mother.” She couldn’t help but think of the scene the night before where the emperor clearly reached out to touch her mother’s dress but finally gave up dejectedly, and sneered softly.

“Fine, let’s just watch. I’ll see what he does. If he still lies to me in the end, then don’t blame me for not being considerate of him. I’ll think of a solution myself.”

Pei Xiaoyuan immediately took a step forward, leaned towards her, and whispered to stop her: “Princess, please be careful with your words! You must be more careful with your actions! Please take care of yourself and don’t act rashly! I think His Majesty is definitely not a person who goes back on his word, so please be patient, Princess.”

Xuyu saw the concern in his eyes and smiled: “Don’t worry, I’m not a reckless person.”

He looked at her carefully, but he seemed to still be uneasy. He hesitated for a moment, and finally said to her in a lower voice: “The Liu family will pay the price in blood for their evil. I promise the princess.”

When he said this, his face was grim and his eyes were shining with a cold and clear light like a sword.

Xuyu raised her head slightly, looked at the man standing in front of her for a moment, and nodded: “Pei Er, I believe you.”

He smiled at her and said nothing more. In the deep and warm silence that followed, the faint sound of morning drums suddenly came in from outside the window.

Before they knew it, the night had passed.

Xuyu moved. He seemed to be awakened by the sudden sound of the morning drum, and looked at her suddenly: “Princess, please go to bed. I’ll go first.”

Xuyu had waited for him all night, yet at this moment, she didn’t feel the slightest bit of fatigue. Instead, she just felt a little sluggish, likely from sitting too long. She responded absentmindedly with a soft hum, raising an arm to lean sideways on the armrest of the bed, resting her cheek in her hand as she watched his figure walk away. Just as he reached the door, he suddenly stopped and slowly turned around.

“Anything else?” She didn’t move, still holding her chin, and just raised her pair of beautiful eyes full of bright light and looked at him.

He seemed not to have expected that she had changed her sitting posture. Although she was still dressed like a young man, her hair was somewhat disheveled after a night, and her clothes were casual. Under the lamplight, with her black hair and snowy cheeks, she looked lazy, with a bit of charm that came from laziness. He paused, then immediately lowered his brows.

“It’s a small matter, I just want to tell you. His Majesty’s longevity celebration is coming soon, and there will be more things to do in the office in the future. Yongning Lane is still some distance away from the palace, and it’s inconvenient to go back and forth. If it’s late in the future, I will stay in my previous residence. I inform you now just to let you know.”

She seemed a little puzzled after hearing this. She put her arms back, slowly sat up straight, and said, “Isn’t there still half a year before the longevity celebration? Why is it so urgent?”

“Besides that, there are some things happening with the Jinwu Guards.” He explained calmly.

Xuyu thought about it and felt that it made sense. If it was too late, his previous residence would be more convenient than here.

With less travel, he could get more rest. She nodded: “I understand.”

“Princess, please take a rest. I’m leaving now.”

Pei Xiaoyuan didn’t raise his eyes again. After he finished speaking, he closed the door for her and left.

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