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墨書 Inktalez
“Mask?”
Upon hearing that the person who saved Shangyang Princess was wearing a Mask, everyone couldn't help but feel suspicious.
Typically, unless it was a specific holiday, who would wear a Mask out in public?
Moreover, Shangyang Princess was quite thick-skinned; normally, if someone saw a man like that on the street, shouldn't they immediately be on guard?
Yet she accepted it right away and even happily ate the candied hawthorn from this suspicious person.
Ye Xiaohan couldn't help but imagine Gu Bei walking down the street with a Mask while holding candied hawthorn, and he felt a chill run down his spine.
“What kind of Mask?” Gu Bei asked sternly. A person so suspicious should definitely not be allowed near members of the royal family.
Shangyang Princess looked at Gu Bei with sorrow, still unable to shake off the terrifying fact that her savior was not him.
“It’s just the doll Mask sold on the street; many children buy them,” she pleaded. “Really, wasn’t it you who saved me?”
Gu Bei ruthlessly shattered her last glimmer of hope: “It was not me, Your Highness. You were startled today; please return to the palace early. I will send someone to escort you back.”
“I won’t go back!” Tears welled up in Shangyang Princess’s eyes. “Even if it wasn’t you this time, you saved me last time! I like you; don’t think you can drive me away.”
Gu Bei looked at Shangyang Princess with difficulty. He could not allow her to stay here any longer; if something happened, he would be held accountable. Events like today already fell under his neglect.
Scanning the area, Gu Bei fixed his gaze on Murong Jing. The only one who could persuade Shangyang Princess now was the Third Prince.
“Third Prince, I trouble you. Please persuade the princess to return to the palace early,” Gu Bei quietly sought help from Murong Jing.
Murong Jing didn’t mind much; he walked over to Shangyang Princess and pulled her away from Gu Bei.
"Let's go. If Mother Empress finds out you sneaked out today, she'll punish you by making you copy books again," Murong Jing said, pressing the Queen against Shangyang Princess. "If you keep being disobedient, I'll tell Mother Empress about today. Just imagine, if she knows you snuck out of the palace and got into this kind of trouble, do you think she'll ever let you out again?"
Shangyang Princess glared at Murong Jing. "You just like to bully me! Why is it that you can come and go as you please while I have to stay in the palace?"
"Because I can handle a few ruffians," Murong Jing replied nonchalantly, though his tone was particularly irritating, causing Shangyang Princess to clench her fists and hit him.
With one hand holding Shangyang Princess back, Murong Jing leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "I heard that Gu Bei likes girls who are obedient. If you're willful and unruly, he really won't like you."
"Really?" Shangyang Princess clearly only heard the first part. "He likes obedient girls? So if I'm obedient, he'll like me?"
Murong Jing pointed at Ye Xiaohan. "Of course it's true. Look at Boss Ye; she’s been quietly standing next to Gu Bei without causing any trouble. She's obedient, so Gu Bei likes her."
Shangyang Princess glanced between Ye Xiaohan and Gu Bei, then nodded. "Alright, I'll go back to the palace."
Hearing that Murong Jing had finally managed to coax Shangyang Princess back, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"Princess, please hurry back to the palace. I'm so scared!" A maid quickly helped Shangyang Princess and urged her to return.
Shangyang Princess reluctantly glanced at Gu Bei before turning away. "I know, I'm going now."
After finally getting this troublesome princess to leave, Gu Bei was left facing an even more serious problem: Ye Xiaohan stood still in place, staring at him after everyone else had left.
"Xiao Han." Gu Bei felt he hadn't done anything wrong but found himself unable to meet Ye Xiaohan's gaze. "We should head back too."
"Oh?" Ye Xiaohan tilted her head as she looked at Gu Bei. "Where are we going? Are we going back to the tavern together or following Shangyang Princess back to the palace?"
Gu Bei hurriedly replied, "You know very well that I have no improper thoughts about the princess! I only have feelings for you..."
"For me what?" Ye Xiaohan interjected. "Only have improper thoughts about me?"
Gu Bei seriously agreed to what sounded a bit strange, but upon reflection, it seemed reasonable: "Yes, I only have improper thoughts about you."
With that, Gu Bei looked gently at Ye Xiaohan, their gazes meeting in the air.
After a moment, Ye Xiaohan turned her head away and said, "I know, I was just asking casually."
As she spoke, she walked toward the tavern.
Gu Bei watched her retreating figure and smiled before following her, walking alongside her.
After Gu Bei returned, Ye Xiaohan did not see him for several days.
It wasn't that Gu Bei didn't want to come; he had suddenly become busy.
The emperor summoned Gu Bei.
In his study, Gu Bei was reading military texts, contemplating going to the tavern to find Ye Xiaohan for a meal afterward. Before he could finish reading, Gu Da hurriedly knocked on the door.
"What happened?" Gu Bei asked, noticing Gu Da was slightly out of breath. "Why the rush?"
Gu Da barely caught his breath and lowered his voice. "General, the emperor has summoned you!"
"Hmm?" Gu Bei found it a bit strange; it wasn't unusual for the emperor to summon him. Gu Da should have been used to it by now. The next moment, he realized, "Is it a secret order?"
Gu Da confirmed his suspicion. "Yes! He wants you to meet him immediately!"
"I understand. I'll go right away." Without even changing his clothes, Gu Bei quietly entered the palace.
A secret order meant that the emperor was privately summoning a minister. Such situations typically arose in times of urgency or serious matters when the emperor did not want more people to know.
The emperor was in trouble.
Gu Bei rushed to the palace in a very short time, where someone was already waiting for him. After receiving him, they immediately led him inside.
This time, however, it was not to the Imperial Study, but to the emperor's sleeping quarters.
Gu Bei's heart sank. The fact that the emperor summoned ministers in his sleeping quarters indicated that his health could no longer support him in a formal setting.
The leading Eunuch bowed to Gu Bei at the entrance of the sleeping quarters and gestured for him to enter. "Your Majesty is inside; General, you may go in directly."
Gu Bei thanked the Eunuch and walked inside.
Halfway through, he saw the Imperial Physician coming out. Upon seeing Gu Bei, the physician paused to bow before leaving.
Ministers were not allowed to inquire about the emperor's condition, and the Imperial Physician would not disclose such information to anyone.
As he approached the Inner Chamber, the air was thick with lingering medicinal scents.
"Your Majesty, I, Gu Bei, pay my respects," Gu Bei said as he bowed to the emperor, who was half-reclining on the bed.
"There's no need for formalities," the emperor sighed deeply. "Gu Bei, come closer."
"Yes!" Gu Bei stepped forward until he stood before the emperor.
The emperor gazed at him for a moment and remarked, "You truly resemble your father; it's as if you were carved from the same mold. Back then, he was just like you—brave and skilled in battle."
In truth, Gu Bei did not resemble the General of the Northern Defense very much; he took after his mother more. However, Madam Gu's delicate features appeared more pronounced on Gu Bei's face, adding a touch of grandeur.
Yet in terms of temperament, Gu Bei indeed leaned more towards his father; anyone who saw him would have no doubt that they were father and son.
The Emperor's sudden lament caused Gu Bei to tense up.
Having followed the General of the Northern Defense into the palace and served under the Emperor for many years, Gu Bei was well aware of the Emperor's character.
The Emperor would not easily give up unless absolutely necessary.
"Your Majesty..." Gu Bei hesitated, unsure of what to say. Based on the scene before him, he guessed that something was wrong with the Emperor's health.
However, the Emperor was still far from old and frail, and with the Imperial Physician constantly attending to him, it shouldn't have been a serious issue.
Yet, judging by the Emperor's reaction, it seemed as if a greater disaster had struck.
The Emperor looked at Gu Bei, about to speak when he suddenly broke into a fit of heart-wrenching coughs. The attending Eunuch Tang quickly stepped forward, offering a handkerchief and gently patting the Emperor's back.
After a long while, the Emperor finally stopped coughing, handing the handkerchief back to Eunuch Tang, pressing his hand against his chest as he gasped for breath. His breathing had become unstable, requiring significant effort with each inhale.
When Eunuch Tang took the handkerchief, his hand noticeably trembled, and a look of sorrow crossed his face.
Gu Bei discreetly glanced over and noticed that the handkerchief, which the Emperor had just covered his mouth with, bore faint dark red stains.
That was blood that the Emperor had just coughed up.
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