After these words were spoken, silence fell between the two.
Yet, all three knew that once a rift formed in people’s hearts, it would only widen and eventually shatter if not mended in time.
Everyone else was waiting for a show, with no heart to enjoy the food or the singing and dancing. Gu Zhaoyan alone was eating with gusto, even applauding the dancers.
"Your Majesty, this troupe of dancers from the Office of Music is quite good."
Gu Zhaoyan turned her head to see the Emperor eating with a dull expression. She smiled and asked, "Are you still satisfied with the thirty beauties I picked out for you previously?"
"I thought Imperial Eldest Princess had forgotten about them," the Emperor hummed, setting down his chopsticks. "They are all so delicate—the moment I glare, they start to cry. When I tell them to stop, they just cry even louder. I don't understand; am I really that terrifying?"
"Is that so?"
Gu Zhaoyan feigned surprise. "But haven't you always told me you love delicate girls—charming, graceful, and soft-boned? The Imperial Household Department never makes mistakes in their selection."
"That..."
The Emperor was at a loss for words. His appetite had already been poor, and now he had no desire to eat at all.
"Is it that there is someone else in your heart?"
In her previous life, Gu Zhaoyan had always felt her younger brother was hiding someone, but until the day she died, she never knew who that person was.
"No."
This time, the Emperor answered quite crisply.
"Are you afraid that I will interfere with you again?" Gu Zhaoyan also set down her chopsticks and sighed softly. "Everything I do is for your sake. Now that you have stripped me of my official powers, even if I wanted to interfere, I couldn't. But aside from state affairs, heirs are of the utmost importance. If you refuse to consummate your marriage with the Empress, what will happen to the future of Dayan's throne..."
"Imperial Eldest Princess, can you stop nagging? I just want to eat a meal in peace—"
*Clatter.*
Suddenly, the sound of breaking porcelain echoed from outside, followed by the sharp crack of a slap and the shrill scolding of a nanny: "You lowly maid, you can't even handle such a simple task!"
Just as Gu Zhaoyan turned her head, she felt a gust of wind brush past her ear. By the time she steadied herself, she saw her brother had already rushed out. Before the eyes of everyone, he knelt down and pulled the fallen palace maid into his arms.
The scene was incredibly shocking. A profound silence descended upon the hall. As Gu Zhaoyan caught a clear view of the girl's face, her pupils constricted. It turned out the woman hidden in her brother's heart was the daughter of Lord Li—Li Yuanying.
"Are you alright?"
The Emperor looked at Li Yuanying, who was trembling in his arms with a terrified expression, his voice softening. "Don't be afraid. With me here, no one dares to hurt you."
"This servant pays respects to the Emperor."
Only upon hearing these words did Li Yuanying realize whose arms she was in. She immediately scrambled out of his embrace in a panic, prostrating herself on the ground, shivering.
A flash of heartache crossed the Emperor’s eyes, but because his Imperial Eldest Princess was still present, he couldn't be too obvious. He turned and kicked the nanny in the shoulder. "You are the one who is a lowly maid! She only dropped the plate by accident—look at what you’ve done to her!"
"This old slave deserves to die! This old slave deserves to die!"
Knocked to the ground, the nanny scrambled up and began kowtowing frantically.
"Get out and take thirty lashes. Don't let me see you again!"
Thirty lashes might cost the nanny her life, but if she grit her teeth, she might survive. She thanked him profusely and stumbled away.
"This is the first time I've ever seen the Emperor care so much for someone," Gu Zhaoyan said, turning to look at the Empress. Seeing her calm, indifferent demeanor, she suddenly felt a pang of guilt. "Empress, do you blame me for choosing you to be Empress back then?"
The Empress was stunned. She hadn't expected the Imperial Eldest Princess to ask such a thing, but since she had, she answered honestly: "At the beginning, there was certainly resentment. But later, my family was highly valued by the court because of my status. My father no longer sighs all day, my mother is happy every day, and my older brother has realized his ambitions on the battlefield. The resentment in my heart faded. Besides, the Imperial Eldest Princess treats me like a real sister. I don't have to worry about serving the Emperor; I only need to do my duty and live a life of ease."
"It is good that you think that way. However, the peaceful days you've enjoyed may soon be broken." Gu Zhaoyan pointed at the maid, who was still kneeling before the Emperor. "Do you know who she is?"
"She is?" The Empress looked puzzled. "It is also my first time seeing the Emperor care so much for a woman, let alone a palace maid."
"A year ago, the Vice Minister of Revenue, Li Su, was beheaded for corruption, bribery, and abuse of power. The entire Li family was exiled to Lingnan. Before the incident, his youngest daughter, Li Yuanying, had gone missing after an outing. She was never found, even after the Li estate was seized."
"Li Yuanying... that name..."
The Empress paused, suddenly remembering something. Her eyes filled with shock as she stared at Gu Zhaoyan.
"That's right. When I was selecting candidates for Empress, Li Yuanying was among them. Even then, I suspected her father, though I had no concrete proof. To avoid future trouble, I chose you instead." Gu Zhaoyan watched as the Emperor helped Li Yuanying to her feet, her lips curling upward. "Others may not recognize her, but I certainly do."
In her previous life, her brother must have hidden her outside the palace. Because he would leave the palace every few days, she had assumed he was merely bored and needed to clear his head, never suspecting he was meeting a lover.
"But the Li family was exiled. If she appears before the Emperor so brazenly, isn't she afraid?"
"If she were afraid, she wouldn't have entered the palace." Gu Zhaoyan sneered. She recalled that in her previous life, the Emperor had not attended the Peach Blossom Banquet, so Li Yuanying had not appeared, and she had remained in the dark.
"I understand." The Empress nodded, her expression growing firm. "If she only wants to live comfortably, I will not mind. But if she harbors other intentions, Imperial Eldest Princess, don't blame me for being ruthless."
"I would actually be grateful if you did."
Gu Zhaoyan was thankful that the Empress would take some of the fire for her; she wouldn't dream of blaming her.
"Emperor, what is going on? What happened to this maid?"
Gu Zhaoyan’s voice caused the Emperor, who had been at a loss, to instantly find his focus. He pulled Li Yuanying forward. "Imperial Eldest Princess, I would like to—"
"What would you like to say?" Gu Zhaoyan asked with a smile.
"I want her to serve me closely."
"This servant is terrified! This servant is just a low-level maid, clumsy and slow of speech..." Li Yuanying threw herself onto her knees, her delicate voice trembling with fear.
"You are the Emperor. Is it not normal for you to want a maid to serve you? Why ask me?" Gu Zhaoyan watched the Emperor with amusement, then glanced at Li Yuanying. "It’s just that she looks a bit familiar. Have I seen her somewhere before?"