Gu Fu couldn’t hold it in any longer. She slapped the table and laughed so hard that her shoulders trembled.
Fu Yan snapped out of it and, seeing Gu Fu’s joyous laughter, felt a slight ripple in his heart.
At this moment, the secret guards also realized they had misunderstood the situation and had embarrassed the Imperial Preceptor in front of Gu Fu. They quickly retreated out the window, disappearing without a trace.
It was like a gust of wind.
Gu Fu laughed even louder.
Fu Yan raised his hand, seemingly about to cover Gu Fu’s mouth, but in the end, he changed direction and picked up a nearby teapot to pour her a cup of tea.
Gu Fu laughed until her mouth was dry. She picked up the cup and drank, but the tea had just been brewed and was scalding hot. She couldn’t swallow it nor spit it out. After much difficulty, she finally swallowed it, burning a layer of skin off her mouth in the process.
This is what they call “extreme joy begets sorrow.â
Fu Yan didn’t expect Gu Fu to be so careless. He called for a young servant to bring a bowl of crushed ice and told Gu Fu to hold it in her mouth.
In those days, ice was used in two main ways. One method was to make ice using saltpeter, and the other was to select water from clean rivers and cut large quantities of ice during the winter to store in ice cellars. In summer, the ice could be taken out for use. Ice cellars would lose more than half of the stored ice over a year, so the amount of ice cut would typically be more than double the required amount to ensure sufficient supply.
To make it convenient to use ice for cooling during the summer, there was an ice well under the Qitian Tower. Now, even though it was only March, there was still plenty of ice.
Gu Fu had been away for five years, and when she returned it was winter. Seeing the bowl of crushed ice reminded her of the ice bowls she had eaten before leaving the capital. Fine ice topped with candied beans, crushed lotus seeds, peanuts, melon seeds, and some cut fruit, all drizzled with honeyâeating a bowl in the summer was extremely refreshing.
But in this season, there weren’t even lotus seeds, as the lotus flowers hadn’t bloomed yet. Peeling fresh peanuts and melon seeds was too troublesome, so Gu Fu turned to the young servant and asked if there were any candied beans or fruits, and honey would be even better.
The young servant, having grown up in the capital, immediately knew that Gu Fu wanted an ice bowl. He promptly prepared one and brought it to her.
On the finely crushed ice, not only were there candied beans, shelled peanuts and melon seeds laid out, but also chunks of loquat. Thick honey drizzled over the top, seeping into the orange-yellow loquat flesh, infusing the tasteless ice with a delicious sweetness.
Gu Fu immediately scooped up a large spoonful to eat.
Her upbringing, mixed with five years of worldly experience, made her way of eating particularly interesting. She wouldnât open her mouth again after the food entered it until it was swallowed. This way, she wouldn’t make any ungraceful chewing noises, but she also wouldnât eat daintily, taking only small bites. This made her eating manner especially appetizing, as if she were savoring some rare delicacy instead of a simple bowl of ice.
Of course, at formal meals, Gu Fu would control her portion sizes. Even the last time she stayed at Qitian Tower and had breakfast with Fu Yan, she restrained herself, not revealing her penchant for large bites to avoid surprising the celestial being.
But after listening to Fu Yan recount his origins and witnessing the blunder of his subordinates, Gu Fu inexplicably felt much closer to him and no longer deliberately concealed her eating habits.
Unexpectedly, this change had an additional effect on Fu Yan.
Fu Yan had a period where he was so disgusted by the former emperor that he couldnât eat anything without vomiting it back up, leaving him emaciated and weak. This was why, five years ago, when Gu Fu encountered Fu Yan, who had been ambushed along with the emperor, she could easily carry him. Because Fu Yan was so light, she mistakenly thought he was a girl.
Later, his aversion to food gradually lessened, and at least he stopped vomiting everything he ate. His physique returned to a normal level, but he was still easily affected by his mood or external environment, losing his appetite.
Fu Yan had long since grown accustomed to this. However, at this moment, watching Gu Fu eat heartily, he unexpectedly felt a pang of hunger, his mouth watering. He actually craved food.
After a moment of silence, Fu Yan couldnât resist and asked the young servant to make him an ice bowl as well.
The young servant, having witnessed Gu Fuâs abilities and knowing she had helped the Imperial Preceptor restore his normal sleep schedule, now saw her also alleviating Fu Yanâs occasional aversion to food. Remembering that Fu Yan hadnât eaten dinner since returning from the palace, the young servant gathered his courage and, under Fu Yan’s gaze, asked Gu Fu, âMarquis Gu, the kitchen has made some fresh bamboo shoot and quail soup today. It goes very well with rice. If you like, I can bring you a bowl?â
Gu Fu was about to decline, as she had already eaten dinner before coming, but upon seeing the hopeful look in the young servant’s eyes, she sensed something and turned to Fu Yan, asking, âHave you eaten dinner tonight?â
Fu Yan withdrew his gaze from the young servant and replied, âNot yet.â
Gu Fu tentatively suggested, “Then… shall we eat together?”
Fu Yan, indeed feeling somewhat hungry, replied, “Alright.”
After their meal, Gu Fu practiced a tune on her new konghou, while Fu Yan continued reviewing reports. Occasionally, he would summon the young servant or the secret guards, handing them a note with instructions.
Later in the evening, Fu Yan went to his room to sleep, and Gu Fu prepared to go home. Before leaving, she asked the young servant, “Does the Imperial Preceptor often skip meals?”
The young servant guiltily glanced towards the staircase before nodding to Gu Fu, not even daring to speak.
Gu Fu found the young servant’s timid demeanor somewhat familiar.
When she got home, Gu Fu finally realized who the young servant’s timid behavior reminded her ofâit was her plump pigeon.
The little plump pigeon was always oscillating between being afraid of her and sticking close to her. At first, she thought the pigeon was like Mu Qingyao, who loved cleanliness, which was why it would cling to her after she took a bath. But later, she noticed that the pigeon’s behavior changed not only after she bathed but also after she returned from Qitian Tower. So, she thought maybe the pigeon didn’t like the incense burned at Qitian Tower.
Later on, she discovered that sometimes even after she visited Qitian Tower and sat by the incense burner for a long time, the pigeon wouldnât be afraid of her when she returned, which was very strange.
Now, thinking about the young servant, a sudden thought crossed Gu Fu’s mindâcould the plump pigeon be afraid of Fu Yan, just like the young servant?
Gu Fu just had this random thought with no basis and didn’t dwell on it.
The next evening, when she went to Qitian Tower again, Gu Fu immediately asked Fu Yan, “Have you eaten dinner?”
Fu Yan replied, “Yes.”
Gu Fu nodded and was about to pick up her sheet music when she noticed that Fu Yan wasnât reviewing reports today but practicing calligraphy. The content he was writing was strange, including phrases like “talented scholar selection,” “select the best,” “jade competition,” and “lin selection”…
Gu Fu asked, “What is all this?”
Fu Yan responded, “Titles.”
Gu Fu inquired further, “Titles for what?”
Fu Yan looked up at her and said, “Titles for selecting a husband for you.”
Gu Fu was speechless. If she had known, she wouldnât have asked.
However, since the topic had already come up, Gu Fu simply sat down and inquired about the progress.
Fu Yan’s voice was much colder than usual as he said, “There was an unexpected issue, so it can’t start for now.”
Curious, Gu Fu asked, “What kind of unexpected issue?”
Various issues.
The emperor mentioned this matter in court, but he didnât say it was to select a husband for Gu Fu or that it was to trick everyone into contributing to the treasury. He merely said that the capital was full of talented individuals and that he wanted to choose the most deserving talent based on their skills, family background, character, and appearance.
Upon hearing this, the ministers’ minds started working. Even if the selected talent couldnât enter the court as officials like those who passed the imperial examinations, just the title of “the most talented person in the capital” was enough to make them eager to participate. They began to push their sons and grandsons into this unique selection process.
However, some officials were dissatisfied. The term “talent” implied no connection to the military, so the military officials wanted martial arts to be included in the evaluation criteria.
This led to disputes in the court. Moreover, since the essence of this selection was to find a husband for Gu Fu, there were naturally restrictions on age and marital status, causing further dissatisfaction and chaos among some officials.
Therefore, in the short term, this matter couldn’t be settled.
Gu Fu thought this was excellent! The longer it was delayed, the better!
Happily, Gu Fu ran off to practice her music, while Fu Yan observed her reaction, the sharpness of his writing increasing.
After Fu Yan finished his work and went to his room to sleep, the young servant came up to tidy things. Seeing him, Gu Fu remembered her plump pigeon at home and deliberately went downstairs to knock on Fu Yan’s door.
After a while, Fu Yan opened the door and saw Gu Fu standing there. He asked, “What are you doing?”
Gu Fu raised her hand and said, “Give me your hand.”
Fu Yan, puzzled, still placed his hand in Gu Fu’s.
Gu Fuâs hand was rough, not at all like a noble lady’s hand, with calluses. However, Fu Yan felt an urge to pick up her hand, to touch and squeeze it.
Gu Fu had no idea what Fu Yan was thinking. After going home, she used the hand that hadn’t touched Fu Yan to play with her plump pigeon. The pigeon behaved normally, nuzzling Gu Fu’s palm and flying to her shoulder, rubbing its head against her ear.
Gu Fu smiled and used the other hand to touch the pigeon. The lively pigeon instantly froze like a statue.
Gu Fu hissed in surprise.
She took the pigeon off her shoulder and placed it on the table. As soon as she let go, the pigeon flew up to the beam, keeping its distance from her.
Gu Fu found this unbelievable and went to wash her hands. Then, she used her qinggong skill to jump up to the beam and catch the pigeon. The pigeon, startled, pecked at her in panic but soon calmed down, nuzzling her hand contentedly, completely different from before.
The evidence was clear, but Gu Fu found it hard to believe. Why would her pigeon be afraid of the celestial being? Determined to confirm her suspicion and not wrong her celestial being, she decided to further test it.
Gu Fu returned to the seventh floor of Qitian Tower. Not wanting to disturb the already sleeping Fu Yan, she directed her gaze to a nearby clothes rack.
There hung Fu Yan’s fox fur cloak.
âŚ
Fu Yan hadn’t dreamed for a long time.
Ever since he met Gu Fu, he had been able to sleep peacefully every night.
But tonight, he had a dream. In the dream, he felt a heavy weight on his chest. When he opened his eyes, he found someone lying on top of him. The person was inside his blanket, clothes disheveled, hands pressed against his chest, familiar eyes tinged with wetness, and slightly parted red lips letting out a low sound as if struggling to endure something.
Seeing him awake, the person called out to him, “Wang Xi…”
Fu Yan woke up abruptly, panting and with a dry mouth.
He got up and went to the table to pour himself a cup of water. The water, which had been brought before he went to bed, was still warm, indicating he hadn’t slept for long.
He didn’t go back to bed but instead put on his outer robe and decided to go upstairs to sit for a while and calm down.
Because he was skilled in qinggong, Fu Yan’s footsteps were virtually silent. However, precisely because he was only skilled in qinggong, he didn’t notice anyone upstairs until he went up and realized that Gu Fu had returned. She was sitting in his usual spot, holding his coat and lightly sniffing it.
Fu Yan was stunned, wondering if he was still dreaming.
Gu Fu noticed someone out of the corner of her eye and turned to see Fu Yan staring at her in astonishment.
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