LYIPhSAA (lxii)
Edited: 10.01.2023
As soon as Gu Yan said these words, Ye Zi immediately understood that he had been exposed. He was about to change back to his original form when Gu Yan took the lead and threatened him fiercely: “If you dare change back to your original form, I will make you a small cage and lock you up. Just like in the past, I will only give you water and fertilizer every day so that even if you wanted to change back, you wouldn’t be able to.”
Ye Zi shivered and looked at him in an aggrieved manner: “How could you……”
Gu Yan didn’t answer.
A small red mark quickly appeared on Ye Zi’s neck where he had been bitten. Gu Yan lowered his head and licked the small area carefully. Warm breath fell on Ye Zi’s neck as he shrank back sensitively and begged for mercy in a low voice: “Zicheng…….I was wrong.”
Gu Yan paused, let go of his hand, and brought him into his arms: “Is this the reason why you’ve been so tired these past few days and always sleepy?”
Ye Zi no longer dared to lie to him anymore and obediently nodded: “Mnn.”
Afraid that Gu Yan would be angry, Ye Zi added: “I recover quickly. As long as I have a good sleep, the missing leaf will grow back the next day. It’s no problem at all.”
Ye Zi wasn’t lying.
His recovery ability had always been very fast. In the past, he needed to return to the soil to absorb nutrients, but recently he could feel that the strength in his body was gradually increasing and he no longer relied on soil and water.
As long as he slept enough, he would no longer have any problems.
Gu Yan didn’t comment as he touched Ye Zi’s hair and sighed softly: “You fool, doesn’t it hurt when you pull out your own leaves?”
Ye Zi’s eyes flickered for a moment and he sheepishly lowered his head: “……It doesn’t hurt, it doesn’t hurt at all.”
“You’re still going to lie to me?” Gu Yan frowned slightly and prodded without mercy, “When Erbao bit you in the past, how come I didn’t hear you say it didn’t hurt?”
Ye Zi bit his lips and didn’t dare to answer again.
Gu Yan was silent for a moment: “Anyway, in the future, preparing the medicine will be left to the servants. You are not allowed to intervene anymore. Also, if I find you using this kind of injurious method to help me again……”
He reached out and pinched Ye Zi’s waist, threatening: “I guarantee you will regret it.”
Ye Zi squirmed uneasily and hurriedly changed the topic: “By the way, how do you know all this?”
Gu Yan felt angry and amused at the same time: “I brought some residue of the medicine you decocted today to Pei Ge for inspection and he said that a herb he hadn’t seen before had been added to his prescription. Since you’re the only one who handles my medicines, I can’t think of anything else except for the little immortal plant at home that could find some new and strange herbs.”
Now that Ye Zi finally had something to use against him, he twisted his head and glared at him: “You actually don’t trust me and had someone inspect the medicinal residue?”
This backhanded attack came unexpectedly and Gu Yan glanced at him: “You’ve been so sleepy these days and every time you come back after giving me medicine, you look exhausted and out of energy. Do you think I wouldn’t be able to tell? In fact, I have long had a guess and just wanted someone to prove it correct lest you refuse to admit it and claim that I have wronged you.”
Ye Zi pursed his lips and retorted in a low voice: “I’m obviously very careful……”
Gu Yan stared at him without saying anything. Ye Zi conceded and went up to curry favor with him: “Zicheng, I’m worried about you. Seeing that you’ve been in poor health, I thought I could help you a little bit. I read in the book given to me by Taoist Priest Guangxu that the stems and leaves of the immortal plant can cure all kinds of diseases and poisons.”
“……I didn’t know if I was truly that effective, but there was no harm in trying. Seeing that you are much better now, I can also rest assured. Don’t be angry, okay? I won’t dare to do it again, I promise.”
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Gu Yan’s expression eased a bit and he said softly: “You—can’t you think more about yourself?”
“In the past, if you had a small illness or injury, I would be heartbroken, let alone ask you to make medicine for me. Your stems and leaves are just like flesh and blood to human beings. Even if you can quickly heal, you will be hurt every day and I can’t bear seeing you like that.”
Gu Yan compassionately kissed Ye Zi’s eyes and said in a warm voice: “Be obedient and don’t do this kind of thing again in the future.”
Ye Zi obediently nodded and said no more.
In the next few days, as Gu Yan had said, he no longer allowed Ye Zi to intervene in the medicine preparation and even put the person under tighter security, fearing that he would come up with some crooked ideas to harm his body.
After being well taken care of by Gu Yan for a few days, Ye Zi’s spirit gradually recovered.
One morning a few days later, news came from the Duke of Protection’s residence that Commandery Princess Changning had suddenly passed away in her room last night.
When the news came, Gu Yan and Ye Zi were having lunch.
The one who came to pass the news was a small servant in the manor. He was shivering as he said everything that he knew: “The people in the Duke of Protection’s residence said that Commandery Princess Changning suddenly came to her senses last night. She had dragged General Wen Yi to talk with her for a good half of the night and it was only when they were nearing the early mornings that she said she was tired. General Wen Yi left her to rest in her room and went to ask the Imperial physician to come treat Commandery Princess Changning this morning. But…….”
“But who knew that Commandery Princess Changning still hadn’t woken up. When they asked a maid to check in on her, she……she was already gone.”
Gu Yan asked: “Did the Imperial physician check on her?”
The little attendant responded: “Yes, he did it right on the spot. Her pulse was indeed gone and she was no longer breathing. The people in the residence are saying that last night was simply because the commandery princess was having her dying flash of lucidity.”
“Got it, you may go down now.” Gu Yan looked normal as he dismissed the subordinate who came to deliver the news and turned back to look at Ye Zi, who had a look of relief in his eyes.
“That girl has finally made up her mind.” Ye Zi sighed and laughed, “Come on, this time Wen Yi will probably blame me again, saying that I caused it.”
Gu Yan served Ye Zi some food and said calmly: “To be precise, you did play a part in it.”
“Your Majesty……”
Gu Yan lowered his gaze and collected his smile: “Alright, I’ll stop with the jokes. When the Duke of Protection buries Changning’s body, we’ll find a time to speak to Wen Yi about it.”
Ye Zi nodded and added: “Have you already thought about her future plans?”
Gu Yan replied: “I’m going to find a place for her to live outside the city first. Not to mention the unstable situation outside now, it would be safer to stay in Chang’an. As for the Duke of Protection…..let’s just say we may still need her help.”
Ye Zi was stunned and asked: “You’re actually going to help Gu Xuan take down the Duke of Protection?”
Gu Yan glanced at him: “Do I look like I’m joking?”
Ye Zi was silent for a moment, then stretched out his hand to place on the back of Gu Yan’s hand: “Your Majesty, but if you do so……”
“I know what you want to say.” Gu Yan interrupted him, “You’re worried that I will be caught up in the battle for the throne and will fall into the same situation as before. But you can rest assured that this time, I already have plans in mind.”
“I’ll go out after dinner in a while.” Gu Yan said, “As a rule, the commandery princess must rest in the residence for three days before her burial. I’ve already instructed Siwei to seek out the corpse of a woman whose physical appearance and age are similar to Changning’s. Tonight, I will have someone disguise that corpse as Changning’s appearance and switch her out.”
Ye Zi gently nodded: “Since the commandery princess passed away, we will have to go and pay our respects tomorrow, right?”
Gu Yan paused for a moment: “In theory, yes. But if you don’t want to see Wen Shuhou and Wen Yi, we can also not go. Anyway, to the outside world, I am still recovering from my illness. Even if I don’t go, others won’t say much about it.”
“It’s better if we go.” Ye Zi said, “If we don’t go, the Wen family will think I have a guilty conscience.”
Gu Yan laughed: “You’re afraid that the Duke of Protection will use this to find fault with me.”
Having been seen through by him, Ye Zi laughed: “Yes, why must we hand him something he can use against us?”
Gu Yan said: “Aren’t you afraid that Wen Yi will fight with you? He grew up fighting on the battlefield and his skills are no worse than yours.”
“I’m not afraid.” Ye Zi said without thinking, “Even if I can’t win against him, I still have you by my side.”
Gu Yan arranged for someone to sneak into the Duke of Protection’s residence that night and switch out Wen Zhi’s “body.” The next day, the two changed into plain robes and got ready to go to pay their respects.
The Duke of Protection’s residence had changed from its former appearance, with white silk lanterns hung up and a sad scene that could be seen from a distance.
The Duke of the Protection, Wen Shuhou, was a veteran minister. Since many ministers in the court were his close friends, many people came to pay their respects. Ye Zi and Gu Yan followed the servants into the residence. The courtyard outside the mourning hall was full of people, but after entering the mourning hall, it became much quieter.
Commandery Princess Changning’s mourning hall was located in the front yard and Wen Shuhou wasn’t in the mourning hall. It was said that he had become bedridden on the day he learned the news because he was too sad. Inside the large hall, only Wen Yi was kneeling in front of the hall, wearing mourning clothes with a gloomy expression. Apart from being slightly tired, there was nothing unusual about his expression.
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As the two walked in and about to kneel down to offer incense, Wen Yi suddenly stood up and grabbed Ye Zi’s arm.
The subordinates guarding the mourning hall were all startled. They had the intention to stop him, but they didn’t dare to go forward easily.
Gu Yan stood in front of Ye Zi and frowned: “What is Little General Wen doing?”
Wen Yi’s eyes were bloodshot as he snorted: “You still have the nerve to come here even though you have caused my sister to perish?”
Ye Zi’s eyes narrowed.
No one would feel comfortable when a loved one passed away in front of them. Furthermore, Wen Yi’s face was haggard at the moment, his eyes were red, and he was no longer as handsome and carefree as before. He really couldn’t bring himself to blame him for slandering him again.
Ye Zi pulled Gu Yan’s sleeve from behind him and shook his head, signaling him not to worry.
Gu Yan glanced at him and retreated as instructed before Ye Zi said to Wen Yi: “Little General Wen, I know that you have misunderstandings about me and I am also very saddened by what happened to Commandery Princess Changning. Today, I just want to express my condolences and pay my respects, hoping that she will have a brighter future and will no longer be bound by the past.”
“No need to pretend to be kind here.” Wen Yi lowered his voice: “I know what you are. Don’t think that I don’t dare to touch you just because I don’t have evidence.”
Gu Yan frowned: “Wen Yi, do you really want to speak rudely in front of Changning’s spirit?”
Wen Yi’s eyes moved slightly as he closed his eyes. He released his hold on Ye Zi and returned to his original position: “Scram after paying your respects, you are not welcome here.”
Ye Zi didn’t say anything else and knelt down in front of the hall to offer incense according to etiquette.
While offering incense, Ye Zi didn’t move and cast a glance toward the coffin in front of him.
The people sent by Gu Yan did their job cleanly and had already secretly switched the real Commandery Princess Changning out long ago. Now all that was left here was the body of an unknown woman.
Even Wen Yi didn’t notice any difference.
The two of them left the Duke of Protection’s residence and took a carriage back to the manor.
The carriage was halfway along when the horse in front suddenly neighed and the carriage suddenly shook and stopped.
Gu Yan subconsciously wrapped his arm around Ye Zi and raised his voice to ask: “What’s wrong?”
The horseman’s voice trembled: “Replying to Your Majesty, it’s……it’s……”
Before he finished speaking, the curtain in front of the carriage was lifted and Wen Yi was standing in front of them with a gloomy face: “It’s me.”
☽ ⋆ℍalf 𝕄oon 𝕋ranslations⋆ ☾ 
Oho
Thank You for the new chapter (´,,•ω•,,)♡
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