This was the first sentence Gu Jinheng spoke to her after regaining his ability to speak. His voice was deep and rich, slightly hoarse, yet extremely pleasant to the ear.
Pei Nai thought for a moment. He was probably asking about her view of “home,” so she replied, “In my opinion… home is a place of belonging. A place that shelters you from wind and rain, where you can let down all your defenses and feel at ease and warm.”
Gu Jinheng’s gaze grew colder, though his tone remained indifferent. “I have no home.”
Pei Nai frowned slightly, doubtful. “None? How could that be?”
Gu Jinheng fell silent. He shifted his gaze away from her, took a book from the shelf, and did not respond further.
“Isn’t the vast Duanding residence your home?” Pei Nai persisted.
Even his personal guards couldn’t help but admire her. To dare ask the Duke of Duanding so many questions in succession—this was a first for them. Fortunately, he seemed to be in a good mood today and did not take offense.
Gu Jinheng ignored her, took the book, and turned to leave amid the trembling farewells of the attendants: “Farewell, Duke of Duanding.” Pei Nai was left standing there, stunned.
His words were like a Zen koan—mysterious and unfathomable.
After he went downstairs, Yixi hurried over. She had been anxious the entire time and immediately embraced Pei Nai. “You scared me to death! You just rushed in like that—I didn’t know what to do. Did he hurt you?”
Pei Nai shook her head, still thinking about his cryptic reply.
“Did you speak to him?”
Pei Nai told her everything honestly. After listening, Yixi patted her chest in lingering fear. “Mingzhi, you’re incredibly lucky to have survived that.”
They returned to the East Auxiliary Tower. Jiang Qingyue and the others had seen Pei Nai speak with Gu Jinheng and walk away unharmed—they were already surprised.
Still, despite being astonished by her courage, they felt somewhat uneasy and chose not to ask about the details. They pretended to read, keeping their heads down.
Pei Nai and Yixi had no desire to stay with them either. They asked the attendants to return the books and left.
The banquet was still some time away, so they strolled through the vast imperial garden, then went to Huifang Hall. It was lively inside—noble ladies gathered, enjoying pastries and chatting. No one paid attention to the two young girls.
As the sun set and the sky dimmed, under the lead of Consort Yan, everyone proceeded together toward the grand Fuzhang Hall.
After entering, palace maids guided each person to their seats before withdrawing.
Night had nearly fallen. The imperial banquet was about to begin.
They were seated at round tables, nearly all filled. Unlike them, the prominent princes and ministers of Tianyao each had their own long tables placed beneath the emperor’s dragon throne, with a seat arranged beside them for their principal wives.
Pei Nai looked toward the closest seat below the throne.
As expected, Gu Jinheng had already arrived.
He had always been punctual. But…
Fragments of memory surfaced. The person she had once waited for in the desert—could it have been him?
She wasn’t certain.
The emperor had not yet arrived. The hall was noisy, filled with jeweled beauty and elegant company. Every noble had a companion beside them—except Gu Jinheng.
His seat beside him was empty—the only stillness in that place.
Suddenly, a pair of hands waved in front of her, blocking her view.
“What are you looking at so intently?”
Pei Nai looked up—and was startled.
It was Daxi An, the Qilu prince she had met days ago in the forest outside the northern gate.
He had changed into a new robe, still crimson, bright and eye-catching.
He blinked at her, smiling openly. His deep-set features made even the slightest smile appear charming and full of allure.
Pei Nai felt a jolt. Why was he here?
Then she remembered—he had come to Tianyao as an envoy and had been staying in the palace these past days. She had been so focused on seeing Gu Jinheng and Xiao Yi that she had forgotten about him.
At that moment, a sharp voice from outside the hall announced, “His Majesty has arrived!”
Pei Nai thought Xiao Yi had arrived at just the right moment. She quickly pushed Daxi An away and whispered, “Go back to your seat. The banquet is starting.”
Daxi An clicked his tongue and left reluctantly.
Before Xiao Yi entered, everyone stood and knelt, proclaiming in unison, “Long live His Majesty!”
The young emperor entered the hall with his attendants, his presence grand and imposing. He took his seat upon the dragon throne and raised a hand. “Rise.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
After everyone sat, the emperor gave his customary address—wishing for favorable weather and prosperity. Pei Nai barely listened.
Her gaze remained fixed on the figure upon the throne.
Sharp brows, bright eyes—handsome and dignified.
Her A’Yi… had grown so much.
Clad in dragon robes, he carried himself with undeniable authority.
Once, she had made a pinky promise with him. She said she would return—unchanged for a hundred years.
This was the tenth year.
She had never imagined she truly would return.
She longed to stand before him and say, “Your aunt is back.”
A hundred years… unchanged.
But she could not reveal herself—not until she uncovered the truth of ten years ago, not until she understood why she had been reborn.
All her life, she had watched those she loved die one by one. Some had said her fate was too harsh—that she brought misfortune, like a curse.
If that were true, she did not want Gu Jinheng and Xiao Yi to suffer because of her.
Now, with those she loved before her, she could not acknowledge them.
Too much stood between them.
It made her want to weep.
What she had lost was not just ten years—but an entire lifetime.
Pei Nai’s lifetime.
Soon, the banquet began. Palace attendants served exquisite dishes—delicacies from land and sea.
Dancers from the Music Bureau performed in the center.
Flowing sleeves swept like drifting snow, accompanied by masterful music.
At the sixth seat on the left beneath the throne sat a young man, carefully selecting dishes for his beautiful wife, placing them into her bowl. From time to time, he glanced at her affectionately.
Pei Nai nudged Yixi. “Who is that man at the sixth seat on the east side?”
Yixi had just taken a bite of food. After swallowing, she replied, “That’s Ji Tianming, head of the Hanlin Academy. Beside him is his wife, Lady Xi. They are deeply in love.”
“I can see that,” Pei Nai nodded.
She had asked because earlier, Gu Jinheng had looked at them for a moment.
In such a lively hall, only someone like Pei Nai—who kept watching him—would have noticed.
Now, Gu Jinheng lowered his gaze again, looking at the food before him.
After a long while, he did not pick up his chopsticks, nor did he drink wine. He only lifted a teacup, took a few sips, and set it down.
“Hey, why do you keep looking in that direction?” Yixi suddenly asked.