Gu Hongjian didn't immediately follow to leave, but rather, she stayed within the great court for a while, but it was exactly because of this little while, that she found out that although the entire court was in chaos, but Zhao Yun Yuan didn't have any reaction at all.
It was as though his whole body had received some gigantic shock, he was frozen in place, not moving at all.
Gu Hongjian suspiciously floated by him, but found him blankly blinking; the rims of his eyes were a bit red.
Gu Hongjian: "......"
She truly totally would not have thought, that her own death, could let official Zhao, this stubborn guy to actually shed tears.
But, although Zhao Yun Yuan is a good man, but based on his behavior of criticizing herself over ever little matter, he was indeed somewhat unsatisfied with her.
Although other than participating in the imperial court, the two still had some interaction; of course, most of the time it was because Gu Hongjian had done something bad, and was being criticized by Zhao Yun Yuan, and the time afterwards when she got off scott free.
Everytime Gu Hongjian encountered this situation, she would especially like to go and find Zhao Yun Yuan, gleefully gloat him with, "Official Zhao has worked hard," as though she was purposefully trying to taunt him.
However, Zhao Yun Yuan was never moved by these display, only saying a single phrase: "Official Gu has worked even harder." and then promptly ignoring her.
Later, when Gu Hongjian moved to Zhao Hong palace, when her affair with Lin Size was pretty much known by everyone, but at the time, Gu Hongjian and Lin Size both didn't particularly care, who would have thought, that Zhao Yun Yuan, this stubborn and upright guy, would be the one to outright talk about the issue, and further blame it for being a bad influence, and in the future, when the history books are written, probably Lin Size would have to bear a sinful reputation for "playing with/making a mockery of his officials".
This statement was a bit severe, but Lin Size disinterestedly brushed it aside, and Gu Hongjian only smiled a bit without commenting more.
After court, Gu Hongjian as usual, went to annoy Zhao Yun Yuan, but this time Zhao Yun yuan actually didn't respond to her with the usual "Official Gu has worked hard," but rather with a serious tone responded, "Although you are a woman, but you have a whole depth of talent. Why did you ultimately still become this type of person."
Gu Hongjian was stunned, only after thinking it over for a while did she respond: "Everyone is their own way. You see that the emperor has become attracted to me, and is so nice to me, I've risen through the ranks and grown wealthy, and perhaps in the future I might even be able to enter the imperial harem and become a consort. Why should I reject this?"
"You... You.... Whatever!" Zhao Yun Yuan shut his lips, so angry that his whole face had grown red, and he flung his robes to leave.
After that, Zhao Yuan Yuan didn't say anything to Gu Hongjian, probably because he knew that Lin Size would protect Gu Hongjian, so even his frequency for criticizing her had slowly dropped; Gu Hongjian would occasionally look to taunt him for fun, but he would just detachedly spare her a glance, and then turn to leave without sparing a second one; it all rather made Gu Hongjian rather stifled with boredom.
However, during the fifth year of Ping Chang, the relationship between the two actually recovered somewhat.
That day was the eighteenth of the ninth month, Lin Size as usual went to the Zuo estate.
As to his annual temple offering to Zuo Ning Yan, Gu Hongjian had always been clear about it, after all, Lin Size had never hidden any of it.
And what could Gu Hongjian say, him giving homage to that idealized moonlight in his heart, she could only accept.
But ultimately, it was still very hard for Gu Hongjian to fully accept, besides, her heart still hid that secret.
Therefore she could only also leave the palace, and then go to Zui Xian tavern to get drunk.
But that day, it could only be counted as her having terrible timing, and ran into Zhao Yun Yuan.
At the time, Gu Hongjian was already drunk, and was still holding a few jugs of wine in her hands; she wobbly left Zui Xian tavern, but immediately ran into a person.
That person was Zhao Yun Yuan.
Perhaps he was taking the holiday to come out and run some errands, so Zhao Yun Yuan was dressed in some light and ordinary Changshan, not looking as formal as he usually did, but rather looked somewhat like an ordinary scholar.
After recognizing that the one that ran into him was Gu Hongjian, Zhao Yun Yuan was momentarily shocked, asking, "Gu Assistant?"
Gu Hongjian blinked a few times before responding: "Eh?"
The moment she opened her mouth, the strong scent of wine reeked out, Zhao Yun Yuan could not help but scrunch his brows, saying, "Assistant Gu, how come you came here to drink, even becoming this way?"
Gu Hongjian pulled the corner of her lips, saying, "It makes me happy~ Today there's no need to attend court, ah~"
Zhao Yun Yuan rather uninterestedly answered, "As an official of the imperial court, Assistant Gu's personal behavior is still a bit outrageous."
Gu Hongjian was already in a bad mood, and was too lazy to talk more with him, only momentarily uttering a "Heng~" before pushing him away to leave; Zhao Yun Yuan saw that her retreating form was wobbling forwards and back, and seeing that she was truly by herself, instructed one of the servants by his side to go and check on where Gu Hongjian wanted to go.
Gu Hongjian burped before responding: "Perhaps Zhao Hong palace."
Even though he already knew that Gu Hongjian actually lived in the harem, but hearing Gu Hongjian admit it so straightforwardly, Zhao Yun Yuan's expression still darkened, an expression of "ruining one's household reputation", so he took two steps forwards to criticize her, saying: "You're gonna return to the harem looking like this? If others saw this, what would they say!"
Gu Hongjian impatiently said: "I do what I want, others say what they want! It's not like others can break my legs, and I can't shut their mouths! Just! Like! This!"
Zhao Yun Yuan's face paled, "......"
A while later, he responded: "If you'd rather be this way, wouldn't it be better to just go ahead and become the emperor's consort. Isn't that what you want, and since right now the emperor is favoring you, just ask for it, perhaps the emperor will just go ahead and permit it. I'm even willing to give you my support, to write a memorandum to the emperor, informing him that this status quo is not good, and is not as good as you directly entering the harem."
Gu Hongjian coldly laughed, saying: "Who needs you to take this unnecessary step? I've followed Lin Size for more than ten years; entering the harem is only the matter of saying a single word!"
Zhao Yun Yuan was shocked.
After Gu Hongjian had said this, she was stunned momentarily, and then rather irritatedly said, "Not going to talk more with you! I'm going to return now, stop blocking my way!"
Zhao Yun Yuan answered: "A moment ago you just spoke the emperor's personal name.... and, more than ten years?!"
For a moment, Gu Hongjian's mind was muddled by the wine, and rapidly spouted out: "Official Zhao, why are you so annoying? I did call out the emperor's personal name, what about it, I've even called her Missy Lin, you want to be shocked one more time? Yes, I've known the emperor for almost twenty years now! Haven't you ever heard of the phrase, "two small without guesses"? Heard of "childhood friends"?"
Zhao Yun Yuan was even more shocked, saying, "But last time you obviously said....."
"Lied to you!" Gu Hongjian answered.
"But assistant Gu, as of now, you're only twenty five....."
"The first time I saw the emperor, I was only six." Gu Hongjian naturally answered.
Zhao Yun Yuan's eyes opened wide, no words could come out.
But he didn't ask anymore.
Zhao Yun Yuan pulled Gu Hongjian, making her wait obediently, and ordered his servants to go and hire a carriage to send Gu Hongjian back.
After that, Gu Hongjian didn't know how much Zhao Yun Yuan actually knew, how much she imagined, whatever-- his attitude towards her miraculously turned better, or at least he didn't avoid her like the plague anymore, it recovered almost to when they had first met each other, not far but not close, their principles were different, but they respected each other.
What came next was Gu Hongjian losing favor, Zhao Yun Yuan was extremely perplexed, and many times came to interrogate Gu Hongjian about what had happened, but Gu Hongjian didn't say anything, so he couldn't actually open his mouth to directly ask.
Then, Lin Size issued the edict, letting Gu Hongjian go out and pacify Hu prefecture; Zhao Yun Yuan, after court was recessed, stopped Gu Hongjian, asking her what had actually happened; Gu Hongjian calmly replied that nothing much had happened, Zhao Yun Yuan still managed to control himself, only, as if treating a man, patted Gu Hongjian's shoulder, saying, "One must take care of oneself, and return victoriously, but safely."
This patting of her shoulder was the only time the two had direct physical contact, but it was exactly because of this that Gu Hongjian would think that this guy, Zhao Yun Yuan, he's really one that directs specific incidents to only what is relevant, even though he doesn't see eye to eye with herself, and believes that she and Lin Size were messing around, but managed to keep that as its own issue, but treating his secret admiration for her as a separate issue.
But Gu Hongjian still hadn't expected that Zhao Yun Yuan would have this big of a reaction to her death.
Speaking of it all, the two had only been four years of colleagues.
To be able to exchange it for a reddening of his eyes, perhaps it was a bit worth it.
Ah, only after dying did she find out that she had someone who knew her true self that didn't see eye to eye with her, it's really a small regret.
"Living-I want to see the person, dead, I want to see the corpse; what do you mean you couldn't find it?!"
A strong ruckus caused Gu Hongjian to recover her senses, and she turned her head, only seeing Zuo Ning Hao screaming at the messenger with a face full of fury.
The messenger was scared to the point where he almost couldn't handle it, answering, "Rumors say that at the time, the situation was too chaotic; although our side prevailed at the end, but we also suffered heavy casualties, and were unable to pursue the foes. And after winning the battle, Assistant General Wang suddenly found out that Official Gu was missing, but searching everywhere, still was not found. Only a few of Official Gu's personal troops saw official Gu knocked off her horse by Bai Li Cen, and afterwards being speared to death....... the corpse, truly couldn't be found. Maybe, it was taken away by Bai Li Cen......"
Zuo Ning Hao was even more furious: "Brought away by Bai Li Cen? What do you mean, how come our side's general's corpse couldn't even be preserved?!"
Already said that at the time the situation was really chaotic, ah!
Gu Hongjian truly thought that Zuo Ning Hao was making a mountain out of a molehill.
Who knows what he's being so shocked over, why he has to make such a ruckus about seeing the person if they're still alive and the corpse if they're already dead is in itself something that is a bit fishy.
Unless Zuo Ning Hao this little slut still wants to exhume her corpse of whip it?!
Really makes her angry......
Luckily the people around still had their rationality, stopping Zuo Ning Hao with phrases like being impatient right now is useless, and that they could only wait for the assistant general to return victoriously before asking the specifics of the situation; right now this messenger wasn't even one that had been on the battlefield.
News from the battlefield was always delivered by multiple messenger posts, a task that required no sleep for multiple nights to guarantee the fastest delivery; but this time, because delivering the fast messages, it was even shorter, even if Zuo Ning Hao beat the messenger in front of him twice over, he wouldn't be able to get any more news out.
Zhao Yun Yuan melancholy looked at the enraged Zuo Ning Hao, the nervous messenger, the other officials trying to calm him, and a few of the others who obviously had their own schemes, and upon seeing Gu Hongjian had died, didn't have a shred of a reaction or even were a little bit happy, ultimately shut his eyes, and turned around, leaving by himself.
Gu Hongjian noticed this, and wanted to follow him out, but suddenly realized something.
---- Lin Size had already been sent out for a pretty long time, and had probably arrived at Zhang Gan palace, but, how come she was still here, and wasn't pulled away by Lin Size?
Could she control a greater area where she could stay now?!
**
Because of this discovery, Gu Hongxian was a little bit happy, but because she was worried about Lin Size, she still used her fastest speed to float to Zhang Gan palace.
Indeed, the inside of Zhang Gan Dian had also become an utter mess, with the imperial doctors busily scurrying about, finally arriving at a prognosis, Lin Size originally had caught a cold, and was a bit feverish, but still stubbornly pretended that nothing was wrong, afterwards, upon hearing of Gu Hongjian's death, he couldn't persevere any longer, and had fainted.
Gu Hongjian looked at Lin Size with complex emotions, lying atop the bed, his two eyes shut, with some drops of sweat upon his forehead, even though it was quickly wiped away, but it was still a testament that his condition was not good.
"Really doesn't know how to take care of himself......" Gu Hongjian sighed.
After a short while, it seemed as though Lin Size's situation had stabilized a lot more, and he had taken his medication, so the imperial physicians had pretty much been dispersed, with two waiting by the side, at the ready; Jiang Haifu was busy left and right-- Lin Size, this guy, for how many years, his personal servant girls and eunuchs, the close ones there were only Jiang Haifu and Gu Hongjian; he personally didn't like places with many people, so normally things were okay, but whenever something big happened, as long as Gu Hongjian was not around, Jiang Haifu would always be the busiest and most tired one around.
And at this time, news came from outside announcing that He Fang Ning had arrived.
Jiang Haifu was a bit uncertain, but after thinking a bit, he still let He Fang Ning in, after all he is still just a servant, and no matter what, he couldn't stop the only consort in the harem outside.
And so Gu Hongjian watched as He Fang Ning walked in with a flushed face and hurried steps; Jiang Haifu bowed to her, and she waved her hands before stating, "It's alright, quickly get up. How is the emperor now?"
Jiang Haifu answered, "He hasn't awakened yet, but it shouldn't be very serious anymore."
He Fang Ning moved over and took a look, and used her handkerchief to wipe Lin Size's sweat, sitting by the bed, watching him quietly. Her gaze was somewhat loving.
Jiang Haifu was afraid to disturb, and stood silently by the side.
He Fang Ning lightly asked, "Gu Assistant...... died?"
Jiang Hai Fu, momentarily stunned, with a voice that was not his usual, answered, "...... Yes."
It was at this moment that Gu Hongjian noticed, Jiang Haifu's eyes were also a bit red.
He Fang Ning opened and closed her lips, turning around to look at him, asking, "You cried?"
Jiang Haifu answered, "Official Gu treated this small one really well."
"She treated you well?" He Fang Ning lightly said, "How come according to what I've heard, and based on what I have seen, it seemed as though Assistant Gu only bullied you?"
Jiang Haifu answered, "Official Gu has a child's character, she has a mean face, but her heart is innocent, whenever she's nice to people, it's always secretly. She always carries an expression of bullying only for show."
"Really......" He Fang Ning lightly nodded, "I think so, too. She....... on the surface, it seems like she's difficult to approach, but you all rather seem to like her, and I on the other hand, try so hard to appease you all, but you all still don't particularly like me. You, too, Eunuch Jiang, also, Xiao Minzi, too..... and the emperor as well."
Eunuch Jiang is the other chief eunuch, Xiao Mingzi is the small eunuch by Jiang Haifu, the one who previously helped Lin Size grind ink was exactly that one; these were the servants who had the most interaction with Lin Size.
Jiang Haifu responded, "Consort is making jest, we're all servants, so there is no like or dislike towards masters."
"But you all like Gu Hongjian...... because you all don't treat her like a master, and she never treats you all like servants, right?" He Fang Ning answered.
Jiang Haifu couldn't respond.
He Fang Ning didn't pursue the matter more, only saying, "The emperor actually fainted...... in a moment, if the emperor awakens, Jiang Haifu, tell me, how should we persuade the emperor....."
Jiang Haifu said, "This small one has also been thinking....."
He Fang Ning sighed, "Nevermind, perhaps saying anything won't work."
At this time, Xiao Mingzi entered to announce something, and Jiang Haifu revealed a suspicious expression; He Fang Ning noticed this and asked, "What's the matter?"
Jiang Haifu answered, "Official Gu's old personal servant girl....."
"How about you go. I'll take care of things here by the emperor." He Fang Ning answered.
Jiang Haifu acknowledged this, and walked out; Gu Hongjian took a glance at Lin Size who was still on the bed, and decided it was still better to go out.
The moment she went out, she saw Xiang Jun bawling.
"How could official Gu have died!? Official Gu was so good...... wu wu......" Xiang Jun's eyes were already swollen, and had probably wept her whole way here, "Official Gu still knows martial arts, I know it..... wu wu, how could she die!"
Jiang Haifu, seeing her like this, the emotions he had originally suppressed suddenly burst forth, wiping his eyes with his sleeves, said, "Xiang Jun, you shouldn't be too sad......"
Xiang Jun seemed to have cried a bit till she was exhausted, sitting on the stone statue, not caring if it was proper or not, "Official Gu...... wu wu wu wu...... Official Gu......"
Seeing Xiang Jun like this, Gu Hongjian's heart was unwilling, but only heard Xiang Jun say, "If the emperor didn't send Assistant Gu to Hu prefecture, how would Assistant Gu have died......"
Jiang Haifu, who was originally wiping his tears, widened his eyes, saying, "Shh!! Don't speak rubbish!"
Xiang Jun said, "Am I speaking rubbish?! Isn't what I said the truth?! Wu wu...... After all, Official Gu is still a woman, but was actually sent to Hu Prefecture...... The emperor just wants official Gu to die!"
Now, Jiang Haifu couldn't pay attention to anything else, and only reached his hands out to cover her mouth, no longer letting her say anything else, saying, "You don't want your life anymore?! You're the only one that's sad!? You don't think the emperor's sad?!"
Xiang Jun used all her strength to hit Jiang Haifu's arm, and after difficultly breaking free, said, "Even if the emperor's sad, he deserves it, he deserves it!!!"
Jiang Haifu clenched his teeth saying, "You don't know anything, just shut your mouth! Okay, if you die, you're just a small servant girl, do you want to die?!"
Xiang Jun replied, "Dying is just dying! Whatever, anyways official Gu has already died! Having me accompany her, I wouldn't mind!"
Perhaps Jiang Haifu was angered to the point of a headache by her, saying, "Don't you know that they haven't even found official Gu's corpse right now?!"
Xiang Jun widened her eyes, her tears stopping, saying, "What do you mean? Maybe official Gu didn't die?"
Jiang Haifu answered, "It's difficult to tell..... Official Gu was knocked off the horse, and was speared, rationally she can't have made it, but if official Gu died, why did they take her corpse away?"
Xiang Jun nodded her head, "That's logical, that's logical!!!"
Jiang Haifu said, "So, stop making a ruckus for now! When official Gu returns, ironically you're the one that ends up dead!"
Xiang Jun wiped her tears, obediently nodded her head and left, leaving Jiang Haifu there, sighing.
Gu Hongjian could only smile helplessly.
Actually the words that Jiang Haifu said, on the surface they were reasonable, but in reality, there were logical gaps.
Firstly, the way Gu Hongjian pacified Hu prefecture wasn't honorable, originally Bai Li Cen already hated Gu Hong Jian, after spearing her, he would drag her corpse behind his horse, something very natural in war. Additionally, even though he lost the battle, but being able to take the head of the opposing side's head general could still be counted as a military merit, which could counterbalance the loss.
Jiang Haifu obviously knew this, but Xiang Jun doesn't know anything, so she would enthusiastically be deceived.
But..... this is still good.
Just let Xiang Jun carry her beautiful hope.
Gu Hongjian floated back inside Zhang Gan palace, where He Fang Ning was still sitting by the bedside, attentively watching him. She would occasionally tuck him into the blanket, and occasionally, wipe his sweat.
Looking at these affectionate movements, Gu Hongjian could only feel an unnatural sense of calm, and actually had a bit of comfort.
Just let it be this way.
Just let it be this way.
He Fang Ning, take good care of Lin Size, instead of that incompetent Gu Hongjian.
Be gentler and treat him more thoughtfully.
;-;
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