People generally can’t smell themselves.
So the Imperial Preceptor didn’t feel that he had any fragrance on him. Instead, he detected the typical incense of a young lady’s chamber and a faint scent of alcohol on Gu Fu.
The incense was soft, like silk winding around one’s fingers, while the alcohol scent was sharp, like the biting wind and sand of the northern frontier.
Accompanied by bold words and a deep, ambiguous voice, it indeed gave the impression of a rogue who had intruded into a young lady’s chamber. Otherwise, how could he have picked up such distinctly different scents?
Faced with Gu Fu’s rudeness, the Imperial Preceptor didn’t react with the shame and anger that Gu Fu had expected. Instead, he directly and straightforwardly revealed Gu Fu’s identity—
“Marquis Gu.”
Gu Fu was more accustomed to being called “General,” so she was momentarily stunned before she realized—the Imperial Preceptor seemed to know who she was.
But could she just admit it like that? Absolutely not.
So Gu Fu feigned ignorance: “What’s ‘Gu Hou’? Is he your lover? Does he usually come to see you? How about letting me try instead?”
The Imperial Preceptor finally got annoyed, his tone growing even colder: “Gu Fu!”
Gu Fu remained unfazed and continued to play dumb: “Who is Gu Fu? It sounds familiar. Could it be that General Gu who died in the northern frontier?”
Hearing this, the Imperial Preceptor inexplicably calmed down and called out to Gu Fu once more: “Gu Er.”
Hearing her own family ranking being called out, Gu Fu finally realized that the Imperial Preceptor truly knew her identity. He knew that General Gu of the northern frontier was not dead and that she was the second daughter of the Gu family from Quyu Alley in the capital.
This wasn’t fun anymore.
If the Imperial Preceptor didn’t know…
If the Imperial Preceptor didn’t know who she was, Gu Fu could have flirted and teased without any reservations. Once morning came and she left, the Imperial Preceptor wouldn’t be able to find her even if he tried. But things didn’t go as she wished. Gu Fu had no choice but to let go, her face showing no embarrassment from being exposed but rather a sense of regret: “You really do know, not just guessing blindly.”
The Imperial Preceptor freed himself from her grasp, straightened his disheveled clothes, and asked Gu Fu, “If I didn’t know, what were you planning to do?”
As the Imperial Preceptor posed the question, Gu Fu’s gaze fell on his hands as he tidied his clothes. Even in the dim light, she could see those slender, bamboo-like hands smoothing his collar and straightening his sleeves, each movement exceptionally graceful. If the Imperial Preceptor didn’t know who she was, she might have even touched his hands, given how rare and beautiful they were—touching them would feel like an offense.
Gu Fu returned to the table where she had placed the wine earlier and sat down, replying with righteous indignation, “What could a girl like me do to you?”
The Imperial Preceptor bent down to pick up the fallen bow and walked over to the other side of the table, sitting down properly: “It’s surprising that the Gu Hou can say such things without blushing.”
Gu Fu opened the wine jar, glancing around for a container to pour the wine into, and replied, “With so few lights here, how could anyone see if I’m blushing? Why don’t you touch my face? If it’s hot, then I’m blushing.”
The Imperial Preceptor responded, “… Do you talk to others like this?”
Unable to find a cup or bowl, Gu Fu withdrew her gaze and looked at the Imperial Preceptor: “Of course not. I just wanted to see what it would take to make you angry.”
Despite all the teasing remarks, only one managed to get a reaction; it was frustrating.
The Imperial Preceptor lowered his gaze and remained silent, likely sharing Gu Fu’s sentiment about not wanting to converse with someone they considered a fool.
Gu Fu had to take the initiative and asked him, “Do you have any bowls?”
The Imperial Preceptor replied, “No.”
Gu Fu said, “Then I’ll just drink straight from the jar. If I spill it and make a mess, don’t blame me.”
After a few moments of silence, the Imperial Preceptor ultimately chose to call someone to bring a bowl rather than kick Gu Fu out. He reasoned that the guards at the Qitian Tower wouldn’t be able to handle Gu Fu. Rather than causing a scene and letting King Ying think that anyone could breach the Qitian Tower, leading to endless trouble, it was better to tolerate Gu Fu for the time being
The Imperial Preceptor hoped that Gu Fu would get herself drunk so he could send her directly to the palace and let the emperor deal with this unruly girl.
The crisp sound of bells echoed within Qitian Tower, and soon, a young servant boy ran up from the fifth to the seventh floor.
Upon seeing someone else beside the Imperial Preceptor, the young servant was initially startled but quickly regained his composure and respectfully greeted the Imperial Preceptor.
The Imperial Preceptor merely instructed him to bring up a wine bowl.
Gu Fu impudently added, “Make that two.”
The Imperial Preceptor replied, “I’m not drinking.”
Gu Fu, resting one leg, placed her hand on the edge and said, “I’m drinking. I just love drinking from two bowls.”
The Imperial Preceptor sighed.
The young servant ultimately brought up two wine bowls and, under Gu Fu’s direction, lit several more lamps. The room immediately brightened significantly. Gu Fu filled both bowls with wine, drank from one, and placed the other in front of the Imperial Preceptor. She didn’t pressure him to drink, focusing instead on her own drinking, one bowl after another, enjoying herself thoroughly.
The Imperial Preceptor ignored her and focused on his Sunset Bow, inspecting it for any damage and replacing the bowstring. The rich scent of wine filled the room, much like Gu Fu herself, whose presence was impossible to ignore.
Since the incident at Earl Lin’an’s mansion, the Imperial Preceptor had kept tabs on Gu Fu. He knew she loved this wine but could never buy much of it, savoring it in small sips each time. He also knew that the shop selling this wine belonged to an official from the northern border who had recently returned to the capital, not just to report his duties but also to take up a new position. This official was on good terms with Gu Fu.
Originally, he had planned to remind Gu Fu, on behalf of the emperor, to resolve this issue if it was convenient. But now it seemed Gu Fu didn’t need his help. The Imperial Preceptor kept a calm exterior while secretly plotting his personal revenge meticulously.
A large jar of wine was quickly finished by Gu Fu alone. Though still wanting more, she restrained herself from going out to buy more.
She stood up, and the Imperial Preceptor thought she was finally leaving, closing his eyes and waiting for peace to return to his domain. But to his surprise, Gu Fu’s footsteps first moved away, then came back.
Next, a furry cloak was draped over him by Gu Fu. The Imperial Preceptor was slightly stunned. He opened his eyes to see that Gu Fu hadn’t been leaving; she had gone to fetch a white fox fur coat hanging on a nearby rack.
This pure white fox fur coat was a gift from the emperor at the beginning of this winter. The Imperial Preceptor hadn’t used it much, always feeling it was too white and uncomfortable to wear.
Gu Fu saw the Imperial Preceptor draped in the fox fur coat and, inexplicably, he seemed more worldly and dignified. Satisfied, she smiled and said, “The view here is nice, but it’s too high up, so it gets cold easily.”
After saying this, she turned and walked to the railing, leaping off. Anyone unaware might have thought her previous words were a final message before jumping to her death.
The soft fox fur slowly warmed to the Imperial Preceptor’s body temperature. Unlike every other night when he would gaze at the capital with his telescope, he picked up the bowl of wine Gu Fu had initially poured for him and took a sip.
The strong liquor burned his throat, and the sharp taste made him frown—he wasn’t used to this kind of drink. But soon, the warmth of the alcohol spread, and his body began to heat up.
For once, he felt a rare drowsiness and rested his head on the table, falling asleep.
When he woke, it was just in time for dawn. He stood up and walked outside, draped in the fox fur, and watched the sunrise on the first day of the new year.
At the same time, Gu Fu, who was shunned by Mu Qingyao after returning last night and had to sleep on the couch by the window, also woke up. Because she drank too much, she was restless all night, constantly waking up to use the bathroom.
After one such trip, just as she was about to lie down again, an early-rising fat pigeon flew to the windowsill and pushed open the slightly ajar window.
The cold wind, mixed with sunlight, fell on Gu Fu. She looked towards the east and sighed, “The sun of a new year…”
The fat pigeon flapped its wings, habitually landing on Gu Fu’s shoulder. However, as soon as its little claws settled on her clothes, it froze.
Gu Fu rubbed her face against the pigeon’s head. “What’s wrong?”
The pigeon remained motionless.
Puzzled, Gu Fu lifted the pigeon from her shoulder. As soon as she did, the pigeon struggled and flew out of her hand, landing on the edge of the bed, wriggling its tail as it tried to burrow into the bed curtains.
Gu Fu: “…?”
What was going on?
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