When they entered Hanzhang Palace, where Noble Consort Yi resided, they were greeted by the sight of red plum blossoms standing proudly amidst the snow. They had just formed buds and had yet to fully bloom. Just this scene alone was enough to make Gu Ling sigh in admiration.
In Nan Hua, she had seen plum blossoms before, but those plum blossoms that had been deliberately cultivated and built made her unable to truly understand the meaning of the phrase, "The snow and the moon are the most suitable, the plum snow is all clear." Now, in this distant foreign country, she finally understood the meaning of this poem.
Thinking of this, she lost her train of thought and just stared blankly at the plum blossoms in the snow.
Huan Xuan came out of the palace and saw the woman at the door from a distance. She stood alone in the falling snow with an umbrella in hand. Her white fur Overcoat wrapped around her slender figure, as if she wanted to blend into the falling snow.
That day when they met at the foot of Green Rock Mountain, her peerless beauty hovered in Huan Xuan's mind every single day. But seeing her today, he felt that she was supposed to be this refined and elegant, not the slightest bit related to beauty.
Gu Yan stared for a long time. The palace attendant who came back to look for her couldn't help but remind her, "Madame, quickly go in. Gui Fei niangniang is waiting."
Gu Yan returned to her senses and nodded, walking forward.
Huan Xuan saw her coming and stepped forward to ask, "Princess Pingyang, do you still like this garden full of plum blossoms?"
Gu Yan heard the voice and looked up. Seeing Huan Xuan, she bowed and said, "Prince Cheng Wang, the plum blossoms are tough and resilient. Today, I am very happy to see Pingyang."
Huan Xuan raised his hand to dismiss the greeting, "Hokuin's winter days are long. Plum blossoms can be seen everywhere, but the most beautiful are those in Mufei's courtyard. If you like them, you can come often."
Gu Yan bowed her head and replied, "Thank you, Prince Cheng Wang."
Huan Xuan wanted to say something, but when he turned around, he saw that there were already servant girls at the entrance of the palace looking in their direction. He gave up, "Quickly go in. Mufei must be anxious from waiting."
Gu Yan bowed to him and retreated. Huan Xuan, on the other hand, watched her figure all the way until she reached the entrance of the hall. Only then did he turn and leave.
The stove in the main hall warmed up the room, so that it was not cold at all. Gu Yan handed the Overcoat to a palace maid at the door, then slowly walked into the main hall and bowed to the woman sitting on the main seat. "Pingyang greets Imperial Consort Niangniang. May Imperial Consort Niangniang be happy forever."
Imperial Consort Yi calmly accepted the bow on the main seat. Then she stretched out her hand and said, "Pingyang, you don't have to be so courteous. Sit down."
Gu Yan bowed and thanked her again. He sat down on the lower seat and looked up at the woman in front of him. Imperial Consort Yi's hair was tied up in a high bun. The seven tails of the Luan Phoenix Walk were vivid and lifelike against her fine black hair. She wore a dark golden silk dress with plum patterns. She lazily reclined on the soft couch. She wore a satin fox robe. Her eyebrows were slanted and her eyes were full of charm.
She also looked at Gu Yan. After a long time, she finally smiled and said in a lazy voice, "Princess Pingyang is indeed the most beautiful woman in the world."
Gu Yan hurriedly stood up and bowed. He said with a panicked expression, "Imperial Consort Niangniang is too kind to Pingyang. Imperial Consort Niangniang is the most beautiful woman in the world."
Imperial Consort Yi laughed brightly, "Pingyang really knows how to talk. Sit down. There's no need to be so flustered."
Gu Yan sat down again. Imperial Consort Yi said with a smile, "I heard General Yi say that Nan Hua is full of outstanding people and has beautiful scenery. What do you think of Dai Yin's scenery?"
Gu Yan pretended not to understand the meaning behind her words. He answered in full detail, "Dai Yin's mountains and rivers are magnificent. How can Nan Hua compare to them? Especially the plum blossoms in Imperial Consort's courtyard. They are very beautiful. Pingyang was mesmerized by them just now."
Imperial Consort Yi's expression did not change. She asked again, "Did you know that the one who originally proposed to you was Cheng Wang, Huan Xuan? You almost became my wife."
Gu Yan said, "Pingyang is not as fortunate as Imperial Consort Yi to be able to enjoy a good life with Cheng Wang."
This sentence was again obscure. Enjoy a good life? What kind of good life? Was it the present or the future? Imperial Consort Yi lowered her eyes and said, "That's not right. General Yi will not treat you unfairly. I heard that he treats you very well. In the future, Cheng Wang will also not treat him unfairly. Don't you think so?"
Gu Yan smiled and said, "Protecting the country is the General's duty. The General will definitely do his best."
Imperial Consort Yi heard this and did not know what she meant. Gu Yan held his breath and did not speak. For a moment, neither side said anything.
Imperial Consort Yi reached out to hold the teacup and took a sip. Then she personally took off the jade bracelet on her wrist and said, "This was given to me by my mother when I entered the palace. I am happy to see you today, so I bestow it to you."
Gu Yan hurriedly stood up and thanked her. He carefully accepted the bracelet before leaving.
— — —
Coming out of Hanzhang Palace, the snow was still falling. Gu Yan followed the path she came from and slowly stepped on the snow. She walked slowly with an umbrella and an Overcoat draped over her shoulders. On the way, she occasionally met palace maids who bowed to her and then hurriedly left.
As Gu Yan walked, she remembered what Yi Ling had told her. The Xiao Clan's Imperial Consort Yi was from a famous family in Hokuin. When the Emperor was born, Long Qian was already a Wangfei. Empress Min, who had already passed away, was her younger sister born of a concubine. When the Emperor met her, he did not try to stop him and made her Empress Min. The Empress's maternal relatives were also prominent for a time. However, the Empress died in childbirth when she was giving birth to the Second Prince. The Empress's faction was also suppressed by the Xiao Clan's faction.
When Long Qian was already a Wangfei, the Empress was someone else. How did she swallow this grievance?
As Gu Yan thought this, she felt some pity for the Imperial Consort Yi who was so scheming. Thinking about it again, she felt that she was laughable. Her own future was uncertain. How could she have the leisure to pity others?
When she reached the palace gates, she saw the carriage of the General's Fu in the distance. A Nuo was constantly looking around. A Nuo took the umbrella and helped her shake off one or two snowflakes that had stuck to her body. He asked: "Junzhu, where did you go?"
Gu Yan smiled and stomped her feet. She blew on her hand and said: "Just took a walk. Look at how beautiful the snow is."
A Nuo shook his head helplessly. He lifted the heavy curtain for her and said: "Junzhu, get in first. Be careful not to catch a cold."
"I'm not that delicate." Gu Yan smiled and retorted. She lowered her head and got in the carriage.
Inside the carriage, the small red clay stove was burning brightly. The warm steam hit her. She raised her head, but her smile froze at the corner of her mouth.
Yi Ling sat in the carriage. He held a small stove in his hands and looked at her calmly.
"The General is also here." Gu Yan stopped smiling.
"Is everything going well?" Yi Ling asked.
"Everything is fine."
"That's good. Do your best to act. Otherwise, it will be troublesome if that woman has her eyes on you." As he spoke, he handed the stove in his hands to Gu Yan.
Gu Yan stilled and took it. Her cold hands were wrapped in warmth. She lowered her head and made a vague sound of acknowledgment.
Yi Ling closed his eyes and leaned against the soft cushion. He did not speak.
The carriage passed through the snow, leaving behind squeaking sounds. There was only silence inside the carriage. The carriage moved slowly. Gu Yan occasionally looked up at Yi Ling. She had questions in her heart, but didn't know how to ask.
She looked at him so many times that even Yi Ling couldn't help but open his eyes and look at her. He asked: "Is something the matter?"
Gu Yan asked: "The Second Prince …" She opened her mouth but felt that it was inappropriate. She changed her words and said: "What did His Highness the Duan Of Silla promise the General?"
Yi Ling shook his head and said: "He didn't promise me anything."
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