In the blink of an eye, it was late April, and the landscape was filled with vibrant spring colors. The political situation in the court had temporarily stabilized, at least on the surface. Scholars from various regions flocked to the capital, preparing for the special imperial examination scheduled for mid-June.
Gu Jianli sat in the corner of the imperial garden, in the Willow Garden, leaning against a drooping willow tree, holding a volume of agricultural science books. The northwest region was vast, but not suitable for farming, so she had been diligently studying agricultural science books, hoping to find a solution.
As the weather warmed, the women’s clothing became lighter, shedding the bulky winter garments. Spring and summer attire always seemed to perfectly showcase the gracefulness of women. The scene of her reading under the willow was like a picture painted by a master artist.
The agricultural science books were indeed tedious. After reading for a while, Gu Jianli’s gaze fixed on a certain spot on the page, unmoving for a long time.
She was distracted again.
She thought of Ji Wujing again.
In the past two months, she had been managing state affairs with Wen Jingshan, both of them extremely busy. Meanwhile, Ji Wujing was also busy—aimlessly busy.
At the beginning of spring, seamstresses arrived at the palace to make new clothes. Unexpectedly, Ji Wujing intercepted them.
Gu Jianli thought he wanted to make new clothes since she knew he loved beautiful things. But to her astonishment, Ji Wujing wanted to learn embroidery and tailoring from the seamstresses.
The scene of a tall man holding needles and studying Su embroidery and Shu embroidery was indeed peculiar.
Naturally, this incident spread. The discussions were only in whispers; no one dared to speak openly, fearing they might anger Ji Wujing, who could use his embroidery needles as lethal weapons.
After the initial shock, Gu Jianli accepted it, knowing Ji Wujing always acted unconventionally. She thought he was just momentarily interested, but he was thoroughly engrossed, spending all his time on it day and night.
Fiddling with it during the day was one thing, but at night too…
Gu Jianli frowned.
She felt something was wrong with their relationship.
Was he angry with her? Or did he not like her as much as before?
The book in her hand fell onto the stone table. She tugged at the willow branch beside her in frustration.
“Your Highness, the sun is setting. Reading further will harm your eyes.”
Gu Jianli finally realized how late it was. She asked the palace maids to tidy up the thick stack of books and got up to return.
As she returned to her sleeping quarters, Yuanping came joyfully to report that Yansui had been found.
On the night of their escape, Gu Jianli had sent Yansui to the Western Depot to seek help from Chen He. Unexpectedly, she encountered bandits on the way but was luckily saved. Although she was rescued, she was injured and had to recover for a while before she could return to the palace to find Gu Jianli.
During her recovery, she had thought about sending a message to Gu Jianli but was worried about the message being intercepted by unscrupulous people, given Gu Jianli’s special status. So, she waited until she was fully recovered before returning herself.
Coincidentally, the person who saved her was Cheng Meiya’s cousin, who had survived smallpox and received scar-removal medicine from Gu Jianli.
That night, after washing up, Gu Jianli curled up in bed with a book, waiting silently for Ji Wujing. But she waited until midnight, and he still hadn’t returned.
“Jixia…” Gu Jianli started to speak, then realized Jixia was still in the village in the snowy mountains.
Yuan’an walked in, smiling warmly. “Your Highness misses Jixia. However, it takes a hundred days to heal bones and muscles. If Jixia’s leg hasn’t healed, it would be unsuitable for her to trek through the snowy mountains. But it’s been four months now; she should be returning soon.”
Gu Jianli nodded.
“Do you have any orders, Your Highness?” Yuan’an asked.
“Is he still at the Zhenxiu Workshop?”
“Yes. Xiao Qianzi just went there and saw the lights were still on. The National Father is still inside, busy. Xiao Qianzi asked him to rest, but he was chased out.”
Gu Jianli asked, “Did Xiao Qianzi see what he was doing?”
Yuan’an hesitated, then carefully observed Gu Jianli’s expression before saying, “It looked like he was embroidering a handkerchief.”
Gu Jianli closed the book and had Yuan’an blow out the candles. She decided to sleep and not wait for him.
Ten days later, there was considerable discontent in the court regarding Ji Wujing living in the palace.
Gu Jianli understood the ministers’ concerns, but under the current circumstances, neither she nor Ji Wujing dared leave the palace. They used the ongoing construction of the National Father’s residence as an excuse to delay.
At this point, it was also time to take action against the Western barbarians. Not only were their soldiers strong and tall, but their warriors were also exceptionally brave. After much thought, Gu Jianli decided to send Ji Wujing with Xuanjing Sect to Xiangxi to assist. This would both smooth the campaign against the West and temporarily remove Ji Wujing from the palace, silencing the ministers’ complaints.
Ji Wujing was to depart the next day, and Gu Jianli’s heart felt heavy.
Their relationship was already strained, and now another separation?
Gu Jianli put down the memorials, deciding to take action.
Wen Jingshan, who was also reviewing memorials, looked up and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Sister Jingshan, I am taking a day off. Please handle these,” Gu Jianli said hurriedly, placing the thick stack of memorials on the long table in front of Wen Jingshan. She reminded Ji Xinglou, who was reading, not to slack off, and then left in a rush.
Ji Xinglou tilted his head, watching Gu Jianli’s departing figure. “Where is she going?”
Wen Jingshan smiled gently. “Your foster father is leaving the capital tomorrow. She might be going to bid him farewell.”
Ji Xinglou turned his head, twirling a brush in his small hand, staring at Wen Jingshan.
Wen Jingshan asked in surprise, “What is it, Your Highness?”
“Take the day off tomorrow.” Ji Xinglou said. His tone was firm, almost commanding, with a faint hint of imperial authority.
Wen Jingshan was even more surprised. She put down the memorial and asked seriously, “Why do you say that, Your Highness?”
“It’s only fair if she takes today off and you take tomorrow off,” Ji Xinglou insisted.
Wen Jingshan gently shook her head, smiling. “There’s no need to talk about fairness.”
Ji Xinglou lowered his head, unhappily flipping through his book. “Not taking any time off will wear you out.”
Wen Jingshan’s hand, holding the memorial, trembled slightly. A sudden warmth filled her heart, making her want to cry. She lowered her eyes to hide the tears, then slowly smiled.
This was perfect. It couldn’t be better.
Ji Wujing was never known for his patience, but when he focused on something, his patience was astonishing. He sat in a wicker chair, comparing two embroidery patterns with great care.
The seamstresses nearby stole glances at him, quickly blushing and looking away, lowering their heads.
It turned out there was a type of person so beautiful that no matter what he did or from which angle you looked at him, he would captivate your gaze and even steal your soul.
Yuanping entered with a teapot, replacing the cold tea on the table beside Ji Wujing. “Sir, Her Highness asked you to return early today. She has something to discuss with you.”
Ji Wujing casually responded with an “Oh.”
Yuanping, worried he might forget, reminded a young eunuch to prompt Ji Wujing again later.
Today, Ji Wujing did return much earlier than usual. As soon as he stepped into the sleeping quarters, he smelled a rich fragrance. He turned his head towards the tall table where the incense burner stood. The sandalwood incense had been replaced with a rose scent.
Ji Wujing frowned and pushed open the inner door.
Through a screen painted with a landscape, he vaguely saw Gu Jianli sitting at her dressing table. As he walked around the screen, he asked, “What did you want to talk to me about? The trip to the Western barbarians…”
Ji Wujing’s words stopped abruptly as he stared in surprise at Gu Jianli’s back.
Gu Jianli gazed at her reflection in the bronze mirror, slowly lifting her eyes to see Ji Wujing standing behind her. Unfortunately, from her angle, she couldn’t see his expression, only his red clothes. She sighed softly, placed her hand on the dressing table, and slowly stood up, turning to face Ji Wujing, meeting his gaze.
“Do I look good like this?” she asked.
She was not wearing her usual Central Plains attire but a set of light purple exotic clothes.
The low-cut top hugged her soft, firm chest, the delicate beads of the neckline resting against her snow-white skin, revealing her collarbone and the enticing curves beneath the light purple fabric. The top barely reached her midriff, adorned with light tassels that brushed her slender waist. The skirt waist was low, sitting just below her waist, seemingly easy to pull off with a gentle tug. The long skirt trailed on the ground, its thin material unable to conceal her slender, fair figure. She wore a pair of beaded shoes, her small, adorable toes peeking out. Around her ankle, a loose red string with two small golden bells made a pleasant sound with her slightest movement.
Her face was bare of makeup, even her lips devoid of any color, her skin as soft as curd, pale and tender. Yet, a red mark was drawn on her forehead. Her raven hair cascaded gently over her shoulders and back.
Ji Wujing exhaled slowly, the breath he had been holding. “Beautiful. So beautiful it nearly killed your uncle.”
He walked over to her and stopped in front of her, placing his hand on her lower back and pulling her into his arms. The two of them were close together, and Gu Jianli slightly leaned back with her thin waist, slightly distancing her upper body. She gently placed one hand on Ji Wujing’s chest, looking up at Ji Wujing with a bit of nervousness.
Ji Wujing gently touched her head, realizing in a daze that in just over a year, his little Lili had unknowingly grown taller again.
“Uncle…”
Ji Wujing’s ears twitched.
It had been a long time since she called him that way.
“Uncle always lets me say nice things, but why don’t you ever say something nice to comfort me?” Gu Jianli’s voice was sweet, soft, even fragrant.
Ji Wujing felt his ears itching more and more, and the itching sensation was not only in his ears.
“What do you want to hear? Praise you as the most beautiful in the world, with a pretty face, big chest, slender waist, even a ridiculously white butt?”
Gu Jianli was briefly stunned, blinked slowly, and his long and curly eyelashes fluttered, as if soft feathers gently brushed Ji Wujing’s heart, making it unbearably itchy.
Gu Jianli pursed her lips, suppressed the thumping nervousness in her heart, raised her head again to meet Ji Wujing’s gaze. She tiptoed closer to Ji Wujing, her toes curling nervously.
Ji Wujing leaned down and kissed her luscious lips.
Gu Jianli leaned against Ji Wujing’s chest, closely attached. She could hear her heart beating rapidly against Ji Wujing’s chest.
Could he hear it too?
Gu Jianli closed her eyes, relaxed the hand on Ji Wujing’s chest, climbed up to Ji Wujing’s shoulder, and held him tightly.
After a long kiss, Ji Wujing suddenly opened his eyes, lowered his gaze, looked at Gu Jianli with closed eyes, and cleared his throat. He gently moved away, leaving her lips, leaned towards her ear, lightly nibbled her earlobe, then pinched her ear, leaned against her ear, and said in a husky and low voice, “Gu Jianli, you are openly seducing Uncle.”
Gu Jianli’s cheeks blushed slightly, three parts embarrassed in her emotions. But she did not deny it. She nodded lightly as she leaned against Ji Wujing’s chest, whispering softly, “Yes…”
Ji Wujing lowered his head to nibble on Gu Jianli’s soft, white shoulder and bite her slender collarbone. The thin, pale purple fabric fell gently to the ground.
Ji Wujing pinched Gu Jianli’s chin to lift her face, squinted his eyes, and gazed at her blushing face. His Adam’s apple rolled up and down, and he kissed her more passionately. The newly changed bed sheets were messy, and Gu Jianli let Ji Wujing have his way, faintly hearing Ji Wujing biting her neck from behind, his voice hoarse as he said, “Gu Jianli, wait for me to come back.”
Gu Jianli’s eyes showed a hint of confusion. Did her invitation fail? After the intoxicated indulgence, Gu Jianli held the sheets against her chest, feeling even more confused. He kissed her all over her body, doing what should and should not be done, the bed sheets damp, but he stopped at the last moment. Or perhaps he had made up his mind to stop from the beginning.
Gu Jianli slowly blinked, her gaze somewhat dull as she looked at the faintly swaying pale purple canopy above. She wanted to ask, but she felt her whole body go limp, unable to muster the strength to ask anymore. She lazily turned over, snuggled into Ji Wujing’s arms, clinging tightly to him, forgetting to think about anything else.
Gu Jianli quickly fell asleep in Ji Wujing’s arms, but Ji Wujing remained wide awake. He stared at the ceiling, feeling both exhausted and restless, a restlessness that made him want to lose his temper. However, Gu Jianli’s soft and fragrant breath against his chest soothed him, preventing his anger from erupting.
He turned his face to quietly gaze at Gu Jianli’s sleeping face. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, and he leaned over to lick away her fragrant sweat.
In the darkness, he silently smiled while watching her peaceful sleeping face.
The next day, Ji Wujing left the capital with Xuanjing Sect.
Early in the morning, Gu Jianli personally packed Ji Wujing’s luggage. She had a sweet and contented smile on her lips the entire time.
“So happy, huh?” Ji Wujing asked lazily, sitting beside her.
“Mm.” Gu Jianli nodded, her lips curved in a smile.
Ji Wujing chuckled, glanced at the young palace maid on the other side of the hall, and suddenly leaned close to Gu Jianli’s ear, whispering, “Enjoyed being licked so much?”
Gu Jianli froze, dropping the clothes in her hands. She shoved Ji Wujing away forcefully and glared at him.
Ji Wujing laughed.
“Pack your own things!” she snapped, turning to leave. She walked far away, but the smile on her lips never faded.