Cold air envelopes the inside of the carriage, Gui Wan’s expression shows fatigue, she closes her eyes, not knowing why, she does not want to face Lou Che right now.
Lou Che watches over Gui Wan attentively, seeing her fatigue, his heart was pained, this girl he has greatly cared for, doted on, and treasured, without realising, he has become accustomed to particularly like seeing her carefree smile, just now, to suddenly receive the news of her being blocked on the road, he immediately rushed here, seeing her faintly carry such troubled look, he could not help but to reach out to stroke her eyebrow, only to feel Gui Wan quiver, her head gently moving aside, and his fingers is met with nothing but air, Lou Che retrieves his hand, somewhat startled.
“Gui Wan,” Lou Che’s gentle voice lightly calls out, “What happened?”
Still keeping her eyes close, Gui Wan’s voice was clear and sweet: “Lord Husband, nothing’s happened at all, I just feel a little tired today.”
Suddenly feeling this addressment of “Lord Husband” was full of half-heartedness and sarcasm, Lou Che’s heart froze, he has not realised what he has done, to have already caused Gui Wan to hold something against him, Gui Wan was startled, opening her eyes wide, she looks into Lou Che’s eyes in shock.
Lou Che wraps his hands around Gui Wan’s rather icy ones, dumbly smiling, “The weather is so cold, yet you still keep the curtains open, is it not fine to just have them make way?” His voice carrying a thin layer of reproach.
Withdrawing her own hand, Gui Wan coldly laughs, “One side is from the Empress’ maiden family, the other side is from Consort Ying’s relatives, how could I dare to……or how could I be able to?”
Lou Che does not find her uncongenial, brushing back Gui Wan’s hair, his voice still ever so gentle: “Why could you not be able to?” Finding that Gui Wan was wearing a palace outfit, his eyebrows wrinkles, “On such freezing cold day, are you not cold?”
Gui Wan lightly moves away, leaning towards the inner side of the carriage, she does not reply.
After a moment of silence, Lou Che suddenly says: “From the south we have just received the tribute of two rare artic snow wolf skin, it is most warm for winter, how about I get someone to make an outfit for you?”
Gui Wan smiles, “Shouldn’t it be for the Empress and Consort Ying?”
Lou Che’s expression remains composed, his smile unaffected, “The Empress’ outfit is no longer needed.”
Gui Wan looks dead onto Lou Che, just like how she had seen him before, her husband’s outer appearance is as warm as jade, but inside he is actually as ice cold as frost, thinking back to the mournful scene of the Empress in the palace, her heart turns sour, asking: “The Empress’ matter, was it your doing?”
Lou Che froze, didn’t think that this question would be bluntly put out by Gui Wan, many secretly thinks this, but to dare to ask about it, there is none, thinking back to Gui Wan getting fairly close to the Empress as of late, he suddenly understands why she has been acting so uncharacteristically today, “Gui Wan, don’t get involved in politics, this involves a lot of relations inside.”
“You know the Empress is innocent,” Gui Wan says, “You know that. For Consort Ying, do you want to take this opportunity to dispose of the Empress? How could you do this? For one woman, you want to ruin the back palace?” Her words causes her chest to rise and fall, looking a little bit emotionally unstable.
“Gui Wan……” Lou Che grabs hold of her arm, “Listen to me……”
Gui Wan says nothing, indifferently waiting for his explanation, Lou Che helplessly laughs, slowly saying: “This matter is not as simple as you think it is, this matter is indirectly related to the Empress. Behind all of this, there is also the distribution of family problems involved and the power forces within the imperial court. You cannot listen to the words of the Empress.”
Hearing his words, Gui Wan’s expression is much more at ease, lightly asking: “If the Empress was to get involved in this matter, what will happen?” Without waiting for Lou Che’s reply, she speaks again, “Can you not harm the Empress? Leave her with a way out, she is after all a mother, she is the mother of the current crown prince.”