The Night Before Leaving the Palace, Reduced to the Tyrant's Plaything - chapter 11

Early the next morning, the weather remained gloomy.

Wanyu woke up on time, her heart heavy, changed her clothes and headed to Qianqing Palace.

A thick fog had risen outside; beyond ten paces, all was a vast whiteness, leaving one feeling lost.

She stepped on the accumulated snow, walking along the narrow palace path, feeling as if the fog were a giant beast, swallowing her and the entire Forbidden City whole.

Her future seemed to be just like the road ahead, plunged into this boundless fog, elusive and unclear.

When she arrived at Qianqing Palace, Qi Rang happened to step out of the hall, preparing to attend court.

Wanyu had calmed herself along the way, knowing she could not avoid this, and resignedly stepped forward to pay her respects.

Behind her, the palace courtyard was shrouded in thick fog; above her, the palace lanterns glowed dimly. In this gloomy, dusky hour before dawn, she wore a peach-pink dress, like a branch of spring peach blossoms, standing gracefully in the severe cold, catching everyone’s eye.

“Gugu Wanyu is so beautiful!” Fuzi whispered in admiration.

Though it was a whisper, Qi Rang still heard it. With his hands behind his back, his gaze fell on Wanyu’s face, unreadable.

Her face was reddened from the cold, like the finest rouge; her jet-black hair was dusted with white frost, as if beauty had turned white overnight.

Qi Rang’s heart skipped inexplicably, as if a needle had pricked its tip.

The pain was not obvious, but it made him frown.

This girl did indeed resemble her elder sister somewhat, but her temperament was entirely different.

Her sister was the legitimate eldest daughter of a noble family, born with grace and pride, like a peony in full bloom in spring.

But she was like a wildflower found everywhere on the northern grasslands-seemingly delicate, yet possessing a tenacious vitality. Even if the ice and snow destroyed her for a time, with the first spring breeze of the next year, she would bloom across the hills once more.

“Your Majesty, it’s about time,” Sun Liangyan reminded him.

Qi Rang realized he had been distracted and cleared his throat to cover it up.

“Do your work well. Don’t slack off just because it’s the last day. If I don’t see you when I return at noon, it means you’ve neglected your duties.”

He coldly tossed out these words and left, surrounded by a crowd.

The palace attendants on duty in the hall didn’t know that Gugu Wanyu’s attire was the emperor’s order, and all looked at her with strange expressions.

“Why did she dress like that to see His Majesty?”

“Who knows? She didn’t even have to come today.”

“Maybe she can’t bear to leave and wants to use her beauty to tempt His Majesty into keeping her.”

“She’s a Mute-no matter how pretty, what use is it? His Majesty isn’t that desperate.”

“That may not be true. I heard yesterday His Majesty…”

“What are you all whispering about? Get to work!” Hu Jinzhong came over and scolded loudly.

The group immediately scattered.

Hu Jinzhong looked at Gugu Wanyu with a beaming smile. “Gugu Wanyu, dressed like this, even the fairies of the Ninth Heaven pale in comparison.”

Wanyu couldn’t stand his smile and silently headed toward the inner hall.

Several Palace Maids who were learning the rules from her followed with complicated expressions.

Which of them could stay should have been decided yesterday.

But they had waited anxiously all day; neither of the chief stewards had spoken, and there was no word from His Majesty.

Now, Gugu Wanyu, who wasn’t supposed to come, appeared at Qianqing Palace dressed like this, leaving them all puzzled.

Could it be that Gugu Wanyu truly doesn’t want to leave?

But she had always avoided His Majesty, seeming very resistant to him.

Could it be a case of playing hard to get, some game of chase with His Majesty?
If she really didn’t leave, wouldn’t all their days of learning have been for nothing?

Everyone harbored their own thoughts, and the respect they once had for Wanyu was gone.

Wanyu didn’t mind. After tidying up her sleeping quarters, she stepped out and stood under the corridor, gazing at the gray sky, unsure what to do next.

Originally, at this time, she should have been going around with the other girls who were about to leave the palace, handling the handover procedures. But now, whether she could leave at all had become uncertain.

“Wanyu, what are you daydreaming about here?” Someone came from the front hall and called out to her.

Wanyu snapped back to herself and saw that it was Su Jin, the tea-serving Palace Maid from Qianqing Palace. She gave a slight curtsy as a greeting.

“Come on, let’s go have breakfast.” Su Jin walked over and, without giving her a chance to refuse, took her arm and led her away.

Hu Jinzhong appeared out of nowhere like a watchdog: “Su Jin, His Majesty said Gugu Wanyu mustn’t slack off. Where are you taking her?”

Su Jin replied crisply, “How can eating be called slacking off? Did His Majesty say no one’s allowed to eat? Eunuch Hu, you really shouldn’t wave your chicken feather like it’s an imperial decree.”

“…” Hu Jinzhong was left speechless and had no choice but to let them pass.

Don’t be fooled by Su Jin being just a tea-serving Palace Maid-her brother was the commander of the imperial guards, so Hu Jinzhong didn’t dare provoke her easily.

The two walked along the corridor, and when no one was around, Su Jin quietly said to Wanyu, “The Seal Holder asked me to tell you, after breakfast, go handle your handover and procedures as you should. Don’t worry about not being able to leave-he has his own way.”

Wanyu’s heart leapt with joy, and the anxiety she’d carried since last night finally eased.

Ever since Xu Qingzhan founded the Eastern Depot and helped the emperor confiscate the homes of several powerful ministers, he had become even more favored by the emperor. Of every ten things he said, the emperor would listen to nine and a half.

Since he had specially asked Su Jin to deliver the message, he must be confident.

Wanyu relaxed, curtsied to Su Jin in thanks, her eyes sparkling with a bright smile.

Su Jin liked seeing her smile; when she smiled, even the gloomiest sky seemed to brighten.

“The Seal Holder has good taste. You really look beautiful in this outfit.” She helped Wanyu up and praised her sincerely.

This outfit had been given to Wanyu by Xu Qingzhan through Su Jin’s hands. It was only that day that Wanyu realized all the tea-serving Palace Maids of the emperor were Xu Qingzhan’s people.

She admired Xu Qingzhan’s abilities, but also worried that his influence was spreading too far, which might draw the emperor’s attention and bring trouble upon him.

When they met alone, she had reminded Xu Qingzhan of this.

Xu Qingzhan told her not to worry, saying he did all this to protect her, and once she left the palace safely, he would withdraw all his people from the emperor’s side, ensuring nothing would happen.

But Wanyu still couldn’t rest easy, so she gestured for Su Jin to pass on a message to Xu Qingzhan, urging him to act with utmost caution and never expose himself for her sake.

After breakfast, Wanyu found a moment to return to the duty room, picked up her palace attire and the waist token for entering and leaving Qianqing Palace, and went with several familiar Palace Maids to the Palace Administration Bureau to handle the procedures.

After running around to several places, they successfully obtained the pass for leaving the palace the next day. Seeing the words “permission to leave the palace” and the bright red seal, the girls couldn’t contain their excitement, hugging each other, laughing and jumping with joy.

Wanyu was swept up in their embrace, and for the first time in five years, she smiled so brightly that even the misty sky above seemed to clear.

Those girls didn’t have to work today, so each went off to say goodbye to their close friends.

Only Wanyu was the most unfortunate-she still had to return to Qianqing Palace to continue her duties.

Though everyone sympathized with her, none dared question the emperor’s decision. They simply urged her to be careful and promised to meet her at the palace gate early tomorrow morning.