When the height of summer arrived, Xie Tao once again traveled to another dimension.
Only a little bit of the golden powder remained.
She wanted to say goodbye to Wei Bo and the others.
Perhaps she would never be able to come here again in the future.
Because Wei Jing would sneak out every night to play with the glowing toy sword, it quickly ran out of battery.
Xie Tao replaced the battery for him.
She also brought Shao Liyin a set of skincare products, which Meng Lichun had prepared for her before. Meng Lichun had bought too much, and Xie Tao couldn’t use it all.
She even bought many practical daily necessities for Wei Bo, hoping to make his old age a bit more comfortable.
On the day she arrived, she not only discovered that the author of “Unpolished Jade” had released a new book, but also heard from Wei Bo that rumors were circulating in the marketplace that the author of “Pure Jade” was none other than the current Princess Heyu—Zhao Shuwei.
When “Pure Jade” was first released, it quickly became famous.
And now, her new work “Sentence Mang” has reignited the spark of admiration and discussion among the people.
Later, someone compiled every poem she had written at the Mei Yuan Poetry Meeting into a collection, which was distributed by bookstores and circulated among the people, drawing many sighs of admiration.
Thus, Princess Heyu’s reputation for both talent and beauty spread far and wide.
Her two works were widely published and circulated to various places, even reaching Yidan Country, which is opposite to the Great Zhou Dynasty.
No one had expected that the person who could write such spirited and unrestrained works would be a woman.
Especially since she was the Princess Heyu of the Great Zhou Dynasty, who had been famous for her stunning beauty in her early years.
For a time, in the marketplace, whether men or women, anyone who had read Zhao Shuwei’s two novels, many would crowd at the door of the exclusive bookstore that published her works, sending letters and gifts, and loudly expressing their admiration for Princess Heyu.
Hearing Wei Bo recount these recent events about Princess Heyu, Xie Tao couldn’t help but marvel—it was just like the fan culture in her own dimension, where fans passionately follow their idols.
Indeed, fandom knows no boundaries, nor does it distinguish between eras.
In the afternoon, Wei Yun took Xie Tao to sit in the Songhe Tower.
The storyteller in the hall was passionately talking about Princess Heyu’s new work “Sentence Mang,” while the audience cracked sunflower seeds, snacked on pastries, and occasionally sipped tea, thoroughly engrossed.
When Xie Tao peeked through the curtains to the floor below, she even saw an uncle so engrossed that he lifted his teacup to his nose instead of his mouth, choking and sneezing violently.
Xie Tao couldn’t help but chuckle.
Sitting beside her, Wei Yun was listening to Wei Jing report on the situation in the Forbidden Palace last night, casually feeding a piece of pastry into the girl next to him.
“Keep a close eye on the Yu family, don’t let them get too carried away.”
Xie Tao, munching on the pastry, turned her head to hear Wei Yun giving a calm instruction to Wei Jing.
“Yes,” Wei Jing immediately accepted the order.
At that moment, Wei Shiyi, who was guarding outside the curtain, suddenly came in. He respectfully bowed to Wei Yun, saying, “My lord, Grand Tutor Xu invites you over for a chat.”
Xu Dian?
It had been a long time since Wei Yun had heard this name.
Wasn’t he ill?
Why is he now sitting here in the Songhe Tower?
He glanced at Xie Tao, who had crumbs around her mouth, and handed her a silk handkerchief, “I’ll be out for a moment, don’t wander off.”
Xie Tao nodded, “Okay.”
When Wei Yun walked out, Wei Jing and Wei Shiyi also followed him out.
Thus, within the curtain, only Xie Tao and Shao Liyin were left for a moment.
Xie Tao, listening to the storyteller’s voice from downstairs, did not forget to pass a piece of the tea snack from the dish beside her to Shao Liyin behind her, “Liyin, would you like some?”
“No need, my lady,” Shao Liyin shook her head.
However, Xie Tao had already seen through this sixteen-year-old girl. She was always like this, saying one thing but meaning another.
So, she placed the pastry into Shao Liyin’s hand, “You clearly want to eat it.”
Shao Liyin’s face turned a bit red, she did not rebut, only said to Xie Tao, “Thank you, my lady.”
Xie Tao smiled at her and took another sip from the tea bowl beside her.
At this moment, suddenly a woman’s voice came from outside the curtain, “Is the lady inside from the Imperial Advisor’s residence?”
This voice sounded somewhat familiar for no reason.
Shao Liyin suddenly spoke, “My lady, it’s the legitimate daughter of the Sun family.”
The legitimate daughter of the Sun family?
Xie Tao looked up at her, “The Sun Youyi from last time in the plum garden?”
Shao Liyin nodded.
At this time, the guard outside the curtain was stopping Sun Youyi from entering, so she called out again for Xie Tao, “To see Miss Xie, why is it so difficult?”
There was a bit of sarcasm in her voice.
“…”
Why is this person always so sarcastic?
Xie Tao glanced at the vague shadows outside the curtain.
“What do you want to see me for?” Xie Tao sat there, with no intention of standing up.
“I just want to talk to Miss Xie,” Sun Youyi said leisurely upon hearing her voice.
“But I don’t want to talk to you.”
Xie Tao simply started cracking sunflower seeds.
“…”
Sun Youyi did not expect her to be so direct, and was momentarily choked up, before finally saying, “Is Miss Xie still angry about the previous matter?”
She pursed her lips slightly, seeming a bit unwilling, but still said, “I happened to come across Miss Xie today, and I just wanted to apologize to you.”
If it wasn’t for her father forcing her to apologize to this cousin, Sun Youyi would not have been so humble as she was at this moment.
Xie Tao truly did not expect her to come to apologize.
“Does Miss Xie really want to talk to me like this, separated by the curtain?” At this time, Sun Youyi’s voice came again.
Before Xie Tao could say anything, footsteps were heard outside, followed by a familiar cold voice, “What is Miss Sun doing?”
“Lord Imperial Advisor…”
Xie Tao clearly heard, when Sun Youyi saw Wei Yun, her voice couldn’t help but turn a bit more sweet.
She became a bit restless.
Putting on the veil hat passed by Shao Liyin, she walked over and lifted the curtain.
Seeing her come out, Wei Yun extended his hand to Wei Jing behind him.
Wei Jing timely handed over a large package wrapped in kraft paper, “My lord.”
Wei Yun handed the package to Xie Tao, “I had Wei Jing buy this just now.”
Xie Tao took it and saw it was filled with all kinds of snacks, she looked at him with surprise.
“Let’s go in,” Wei Yun touched her head with his hand.
When had Wei Yun ever been so gentle and considerate to a woman? Seeing this scene, Sun Youyi almost thought there was something wrong with her eyes.
For a moment, she couldn’t clearly articulate whether the feeling in her heart was sourness or jealousy.
Many emotions swept over her, gradually causing her complexion to worsen.
Xie Tao, on the other hand, happily went inside with a big bag of snacks, not caring about Sun Youyi behind her.
“Sir, I just happened to see Miss Xie and thought to come over to see her and… to apologize.”
At that moment, Sun Youyi saw Xie Tao happily turn around and walk in with a bag of snacks. She barely regained her composure and then, when facing Wei Yun, her voice became even more delicate.
Imperial Advisor Wei Yun was unparalleled in talent and beauty, a fact known to all.
Even though there were rumors in the courts and among the common people accusing him of being a treacherous official, as Sun Youyi’s father, Inspector Sun, said, whether one is treacherous or loyal doesn’t matter.
What’s important is that Wei Yun now possesses overwhelming power.
Sun Youyi’s secret admiration was inevitably due to his divine presence.
But her father, Inspector Sun, agreed to her request to petition Emperor Qi He for a decree in order to forge a connection with the Imperial Advisor’s mansion, hoping to gain more influence in the court.
However, Wei Yun resisted the decree.
Leaving the Sun family with no leeway, let alone face.
But even though Inspector Sun cursed Wei Yun countless times in his heart, he still couldn’t afford to offend the Imperial Advisor on the surface.
Hence, Sun Youyi’s gesture of apology.
“What did Miss Sun do wrong?” Wei Yun asked her.
His voice was cold, betraying no emotion.
Upon hearing his question, Sun Youyi was initially startled, then replied, “Last time in the plum garden, I failed to hold the teacup steady and accidentally spilled tea on Miss Xie…”
“Is that so?” Wei Yun’s expression remained calm and detached as he glanced down at her.
For some reason, Sun Youyi couldn’t dare meet his gaze directly when facing such a look from Wei Yun.
Normally so arrogant and domineering, she could now only lower her eyes and quietly agree.
“But it seems to me that Miss Sun shows no remorse.”
Wei Yun lifted his chin slightly, “If that’s the case, why bother doing something against your heart?”
His sudden statement left Sun Youyi stunned for a moment.
Before she could say anything, Wei Yun glanced at her lightly, his expression utterly devoid of warmth, like ice that couldn’t be melted, sending a chill through anyone with just one look.
“I hope Miss Sun will no longer appear where you shouldn’t be in the future. It would be best if you also kept your mouth in check.”
Wei Yun then stared intently at her face, which he considered no different from ordinary people, “Otherwise, I don’t see any need to keep these hands of yours that can’t even hold a teacup steady.”
His voice remained even and emotionless, without any fluctuation, but when Sun Youyi heard it, her entire back went cold.
She trembled, almost daring not to meet Wei Yun’s gaze anymore.
How could Wei Yun not do such a thing?
Sun Youyi had heard rumors of his ruthless methods, but the moment she saw him at a palace banquet, she was utterly disoriented by his almost celestial appearance, and she tended to disbelieve those rumors.
But today, just hearing this light remark from Wei Yun, she couldn’t help feeling terrified.
Her lips trembled, and she couldn’t even speak.
After Wei Yun spoke, he didn’t even glance at her before lifting the curtain and walking into the tent.
Sun Youyi could barely stand, but her maid, Miao Pin, quickly reached out to support her.
Sitting inside, Xie Tao saw Wei Yun come in. She glanced again at the blurry figure of Sun Youyi leaving outside the curtain and asked him, “What did you say to her?”
She had only heard Sun Youyi’s voice, but Wei Yun’s voice was somewhat low and muffled, so Xie Tao didn’t hear it very clearly.
“Nothing much.” Wei Yun obviously had no interest in mentioning the matter.
Seeing that he didn’t seem to want to talk, Xie Tao stopped asking and buried her head in the bag to look for snacks to stuff into her mouth.
But then, Wei Yun, holding a teacup, tilted his head to look at her. Xie Tao stared back at him for a moment, then brought the preserved fruit she had taken out to his lips, “Want some?”
Wei Yun parted his thin lips and ate.
That instant, her fingers inadvertently brushed his lips, just a light, shallow touch, but it made them both look into each other’s eyes again.
At this moment, both Wei Jing and Shao Liyin felt as if they shouldn’t be here.
They first looked at the sky, then, when they turned their heads, they accidentally met each other’s gaze.
Then, Wei Jing received a roll of the eyes from Shao Liyin.
“…”
Wei Jing felt he didn’t quite understand her.
When they came out of the Songhe Tower and walked on the bustling street, Wei Yun turned his head to look at the girl walking beside him.
She was wearing a veil hat, and everything around her was separated by a layer of hazy gauze.
So he lowered his gaze for a moment, then suddenly reached out and took off the veil hat she was wearing on her head.
Xie Tao touched her head reflexively, “Wei Yun, what are you doing?”
Wei Yun simply threw the veil hat to Wei Jing behind him, only telling her, “No need to wear it anymore.”
Before, the reason Wei Yun wanted her to wear a veil hat outside was that he couldn’t go to her time and space, so he could only use gold powder to bring her here.
There were too many deceptions around him, and many unknown dangers lurking.
However, before the big event was accomplished, he couldn’t take the risk.
