The Treacherous Concubine’s Guide To Whitewashing

Chapter 12, Pt 2 - Out of the Palace

Not seeing Yuan Luo reaching out for a long time, Gu Yi's expression was tense and the hand holding the embroidered shoe tightened. What could be this woman’s meaning? Don’t tell me you want me to put the shoe on for you?

Stuck in a stalemate, a hand stretched out and took the embroidered shoe

"Retreat." Lian Yan Qiu commanded flatly. He then bowed, knelt in front of the carriage door, raised Yuan Luo's calf, and put the embroidered shoes on for her.

"Empress, be careful." There was a smile in his tone.

Seeing that Gu Yi had already retreated to the back of the imperial guards, Yuan lowered her voice and said angrily: "Transfer him to another position. Don't let this palace see him for the time being."

Lian Yan Qiu laughed lowly: "I thought the Empress was thinking about him."

What did this damned eunuch mean? Yuan Luo turned her head and glared at him.

Lian Yan Qiu had already lowered the curtain and ordered the carriage to start.

----

Arrival at the Temple of Heaven.

It was very busy in the side chamber of the palace where the imperial bodyguards were resting. They were all removing their armor and weaponry, preparing for the special sacrificial implements that were required for the ceremony.

In a corner Gu Yi had already finished preparing himself and went out to sit on the front steps. The expression on his face was blank as if he were lost in thought. His colleagues were long accustomed to his appearance and didn’t disturb him, that is, until Cai Yun Heng walked in. Seeing Gu Yi, his eye lit up. He went over to him, patted him on the shoulder and said, "Why does the wind here blow so cold? It’s not even that windy."

Gu Yi looked up and saw the mischievous, light floating in those big eyes. He knew immediately that his next words would not be kind.

He was about to jump up and cover the boy's mouth, but he was a step late. Cai Yun Heng grinned and asked: "Be honest, according to the legend, is the three-inch golden lotus of the imperial concubine as supple as if it had no bone?"

The deliberately lowered voice couldn't be concealed from various young guards with sharp ears both inside and outside the palace hall.

Blue veins on Gu Yi's forehead suddenly appeared and without turning around, he knew that everyone in the entire hall had slowed their movements and were pricked their ears attentively. They were all young men, so naturally they were very sensitive to such seductive topics.

Gu Yi really wanted to ruthlessly beat the boy in front of him, but with the sacrificial ceremony getting ready to start he couldn't bear to make any mistakes whatsoever, let alone get involved in fights.

"A dog’s mouth can't vomit ivory." Gu Yi turned around angrily.

"Tut, you can vomit ivory if you have what it takes." Cai Yun Heng followed him, speaking carelessly.

The pair of them walked out of the palace side chamber and into the woods. Cai Yun Heng lowered his voice and said, "Honestly, I thought you would seize the opportunity to assassinate her."

"Am I that stupid?" Gu Yi turned his head.

"That being the case, if you don’t want to have acrimonious altercations, then don’t assume such an attitude around strangers which keeps them away, all right? These brothers are thinking about your frame of mind and are unlikely to argue with you, but this attitude every day, who would find it tolerable? Not to mention Commander Miao’s military management has always been rigorous."

The two of them grew up from childhood together, so Gu Yi naturally knew what he meant. Turning around, he said, "I have a sense of proper behavior, but you, since you know that Commander Miao is rigorous in ruling the army, what nonsense did you just babble in front of so many just now?  Be careful that the people of the Division of Intelligence could have heard you, or you may find yourself under a criminal charge of disrespect."

"I’m not the only one at fault. A short while ago, I heard them secretly commenting about the ways of that Empress Concubine in the palace…" Clicking his tongue, Cai Yun Heng didn’t say much more. Gu Yi had also vaguely heard about her. Besides being domineering and ruthless, Yuan Luo’s reputation in the palace was also alluring and dissolute. Every day, beautiful dancers would be called to accompany her in licentious excesses.

At present, all aristocratic families raised spoiled prostitutes in their homes. These lowly inexpensive persons could be used as one wished, either playing with them or venting their anger on them. Unlike formal wives and concubines who demanded respect and consideration, it didn’t matter if these prostitutes were killed.

Those of the upstart Han party like Gu Liang Yong, who had made their fortune in military service, had not yet developed such habits, so Gu Yi looked down on this type of extravagant behavior.

Cai Yun Heng looked at his friend’s frowning face and suddenly started to talk: "Let me ask you a question, but don’t get angry."

"What?"

"First, tell me you won’t get angry."

"Just say it already."

"If the imperial concubine fancies you, what will you do?"

Gu Yi was momentarily silent as he lacked comprehension behind the meaning of ‘fancy’. Understanding dawned and almost instantaneously he was exploded with anger. Cai Yun Heng was taken aback and took two steps backward.  Waving his hands, he said, "I didn’t say it to make you angry, I was only asking."

"Why did you ask that?" Gu Yi gritted his teeth.

"Uh, it was that kid before who was arranged for you from the hospital. He said the imperial concubine’s attention to you was somewhat particular. Also, the other morning during the imperial court, when the East China Sea king was discussing…" Cai Yun Heng’s voice became more and more quiet until he finally fell silent under Gu Yi’s ice-gold gaze.

The Han party had the backing of the former Emperor Xianniang, therefore, they had cultivated many eyes and ears in the palace over the years.

"You’re all thinking too much!" Gu Yi said fiercely.

"Just asking..." Cai Yun Heng whispered.

"If such a day comes, it will only end in death. This would not be a difficult decision," Gu Yi said coldly.

He wants to live and he wants revenge. However, if his last shred of dignity becomes trampled on the ground… it would be better to die.

"Hey, you don’t need to be so irrational. I was simply talking nonsense."

Cai Yun Heng internally whined, very worried. This was not the time to have a falling-out. Within the dynasty, the Han party was far inferior to the aristocratic families and, if internal friction didn’t stop, the party would only decline even further.

Gu Yi turned his head away and whispered, "You’re all thinking too much!"

Although he had only met the woman two or three times, Gu Yi was naturally intuitive and clever. That woman’s eyes had only ever looked... honorable and curious, yes, just curious. He could only barely describe it. It was if she was looking at a magical animal in a cage and had absolutely no lust or desire.