By the time they sat down again, Jun Heng’s expression had calmed considerably, though the look in his eyes toward Mu Wan still carried a faint, almost imperceptible chill.
Mu Wan tugged at his robe and cleared his throat. “Actually, over in Nanning—”
“What else did she say to you?” Jun Heng interrupted. Compared to the situation in Nanning, he seemed far more interested in the words Mu Wan hadn’t finished.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Mu Wan’s lips. “Your Majesty… are you angry?”
Huai’an’s eyes nearly rolled back in disbelief.
“You know perfectly well that I could never have any dealings with the Noble Consort,” Mu Wan continued unperturbed. “Or perhaps Your Majesty is so concerned that even an obviously joking remark cannot escape your notice?”
Jun Heng’s hand on the table curled slightly. “I am… curious.”
“Then why, risking offending Minister Gu, did Your Majesty bring her into the palace?” Mu Wan asked, looking at him with genuine curiosity. “Could it… be for curiosity’s sake as well?”
“You are aware that the Xie family matter is highly significant, and Gu Jiao’s position is special. Whether for the Gu family or the Xie family, this is a leverage point,” Jun Heng said quietly, turning his gaze away.
Mu Wan suddenly laughed softly. “Your Majesty, do you truly believe that?”
“Expecting harmony with the Gu family, yet presenting yourself as if seeking revenge, and ending up making yourself ill in the process,” he added with a sigh.
“Mu Wan, you—cough!” Jun Heng leaned on the table and tried to rise, but an itch in his throat got the better of him, forcing him to cough.
Huai’an quickly handed him tea, patting his back while shooting Mu Wan a disapproving glance. “General Mu, you speak too freely.”
“Huai’an, I told you long ago—you cannot indulge him in everything,” Mu Wan muttered faintly. “If he cannot let go, it is not for you to understand.”
The coughing subsided. Jun Heng accepted the tea from Huai’an, pressing it to his chest to calm the blood surging within. “Mu Wan, by what right do you speak so? You do not understand—”
“I do not understand,” Mu Wan said lazily, his tone becoming increasingly casual. “After all, it is not me who regrets a fit of temper three steps too late.”
He observed Jun Heng’s eyes flush with crimson, yet still holding onto a composed gaze. Mu Wan felt a touch of sympathy—he should have come here sooner.
When he received Jun Heng’s secret order in Linyang to pretend to chase Xie Chongyu, he already suspected something major was brewing in the imperial capital. Yet he hadn’t expected Jun Heng to act so quickly.
That was Minister Gu’s prized jewel—snatched just like that. His Majesty truly did not fear Gu Qingxing’s retaliation.
Despite his reflections, he still had to travel all this way to see what had actually happened.
…Well, he had to admit, he rather enjoyed this sort of work.
Even ignoring Jun Heng, simply for Gu Jiao… a playful glint appeared in Mu Wan’s eyes. That alone made the trip worthwhile.
“Your Majesty, since things have already come this far, why fret so much over right or wrong?”
…
“Little Jinshi, what are you thinking about?” Gu Jiao leaned against the edge of the bed, smiling gently.
Since returning, the girl had been stealing glances at her, occasionally sighing with some worry.
“Your handmaiden, nothing,” Jinshi quickly bowed her head and resumed polishing the already gleaming table.
Gu Jiao teased her on purpose: “Tell me, what kind of person do you think Mu Wan is?”
Smash—
A pale celadon dish spun once before shattering on the floor.
Jinshi froze, immediately dropping to her knees to apologize. Gu Jiao had anticipated this the moment the dish slipped and rose to support her.
“It’s alright, it’s not your fault.”
After comforting the startled girl, Gu Jiao pulled her away from the shards and settled her back in the chair.
Watching Jinshi sit stiffly, Gu Jiao recalled when she first arrived at Yulu Palace—the girl had knelt quietly among the others, sneaking glances at her.
Huai’an had allowed her to choose a few personal attendants. She had looked around and met Jinshi’s gaze, deciding without hesitation—this was the one.
Indeed, it had been a good choice. Such a pure-hearted girl brought joy simply by being there.
“How old are you now, Jinshi?” Gu Jiao asked, changing the subject.
The girl tried to respond but was pinned by Gu Jiao’s gaze: “Seven.”
“Seven…” Gu Jiao smiled, ruffling her hair. “Two years younger than me. Were you afraid?”
Jinshi shook her head quickly. “No, Your Highness is very kind. It’s just…”
“Huai’an instructed that you be well cared for, and you are the Left Prime Minister’s daughter,” Jinshi said with admiration. “I greatly respect Minister Gu.”
“Your father?” Gu Jiao understood, smiling in agreement. “Not just you—I respect him greatly too.”
“But he is him, and I am I. You need not be so careful.”
Jinshi hesitated, then whispered: “Your Highness, you are different.”
“Hmm?”
“I have never seen Huai’an show such respect to anyone besides His Majesty. Yesterday, he came specifically for you and asked you to persuade His Majesty to take medicine.”
Lowering her voice further, Jinshi added: “Normally, no one is allowed close to His Majesty.”
Gu Jiao immediately understood Jinshi’s meaning. The girl sensed that Jun Heng treated her differently, so she was cautious, not wanting to offend her in the future.
Gu Jiao laughed softly. “Then you’ve noticed that, aside from you, none of the other palace maids in Yulu Palace dare approach me?”
Jinshi blinked, then slowly nodded.
It wasn’t just closeness—of all the palace maids and eunuchs, only she had interacted with Gu Jiao. The rest remained outside, doing their own tasks quietly.
“That’s because you might soon be in danger. They fear being implicated if misfortune befalls you,” Gu Jiao said, sitting beside Jinshi with a teasing tone.
“How could that be? Your Highness is so kind—” Jinshi suddenly realized something, and her expression faltered.
“Your Highness…” her voice became tiny. “You and General Mu…”
“Sigh. Jun Heng commanded, I must comply. What does personal affection matter?” Gu Jiao covered her face and sighed.
She could hear Jinshi inhale sharply. Amusement deepened, and her body shook with restrained laughter.
She finally understood why Ning Feizhi had orchestrated that scene—it was, indeed, very entertaining.
Jinshi flusteredly stood, raising her hands to comfort Gu Jiao, unsure whether to lower them: “You… you won’t be sad, right? There will be time… and you and… will meet again.”
Gu Jiao looked up, holding Jinshi’s hands in hers, her expression sincere: “Jinshi, in Yulu Palace, no one will treat you better than I do.”
Jinshi’s hands trembled.
Gradually, Gu Jiao’s life, enriched by Jinshi’s sympathy, became more pleasant. The girl, having learned that Gu Jiao loved sweets, began preparing new treats in creative ways, leaving Gu Jiao touched.
She had already collected Young Master Ning’s Tianyu Secret Records, not because of any ulterior motive, but because she realized the palace gossip was far more entertaining than any book.
“The illegitimate son of Duke Wei!?” Gu Jiao bit into a half piece of almond pastry, eyes wide.
Jinshi nodded. “At the time, Madam Wei cried to enter the palace to see the emperor, but Duke Wei blocked her. Later, the Wei family returned with a Third Young Master.”
Gu Jiao listened intently. Though she had little interaction with him, she remembered this Third Young Master—not in a good way.
“No wonder… the Wei family said he had been sent to Chongguang Temple for cultivation, yet he still acted so arrogantly,” Gu Jiao murmured.
Illegitimate children weren’t rare, but Duke Wei, who always prided himself on integrity, causing such a scandal—truly surprising.
“I heard Madam Wei originally wanted to send him away, but with two daughters, she feared Duke Wei’s resentment. So she compromised,” Jinshi said indignantly. “Yet Duke Wei still took a concubine in the end.”
Gu Jiao swallowed her almond pastry, patting Jinshi’s shoulder in comfort. “A cold-hearted man—no need to worry about him.”
“General Mu would never be like that,” Jinshi said firmly, looking up. “He will treat Your Highness well!”
Gu Jiao: “……”
If Mu Wan knew, after only one meeting, he would become her supposed seducer—she could only imagine his reaction.
It was Duke Wei who had previously attempted to arrange a marriage between his daughter and Mu Wan.
Clearing her throat awkwardly, Gu Jiao touched her nose: “Actually… between me and Mu Wan—”
Knock, knock, knock—
A rhythmic knock at the door interrupted her. Gu Jiao rose to open it, her lips twitching at the sight of the visitor.
“Huai’an, don’t tell me His Majesty refuses the medicine again?”
Huai’an smiled faintly. “His Majesty is well. I’m here on his orders to deliver something to Your Highness.”
He raised his hands, revealing a wooden box before her.
After a nod from Huai’an, Gu Jiao lifted the lid—and inside lay a finely carved jade token, engraved with the character Jun.
Her eyes widened in surprise. “His command token?”
Though not commanding the entire army, the emperor’s token granted authority and free movement within the capital.
Huai’an nodded silently.
Gu Jiao’s thoughts stirred. “What does this mean?”
Jun Heng had once been on good terms with her, yet their recent interactions had been far from harmonious.
Moreover, if she remembered correctly, an imperial command token could serve as a pass into the palace.
“I am only here on orders; beyond that, I dare not speak,” Huai’an said, bowing slightly and raising the box higher.
Gu Jiao did not reach for it, pondering for some time before shaking her head.
“I cannot accept this gift—it is too precious…”
“Your Highness, are you truly unwilling to reconcile with His Majesty?”
This time, Gu Jiao froze.
No—Jun Heng had clearly initiated the rift, so why, from Huai’an’s words, did it sound as if she were at fault?