Finally spotting Lou Che, Guan Xiu Wen’s figures, the two people slowly making their way over, both faces carrying a smile, unable to distinguish whether it is real or fake, gradually closing in.
Only just stepping into the hall, Lou Che speaks with an additional apologetic tone within his usual gentle one: “Gui Wan, I need to enter the palace this once today, looks like, accompanying you to tour the mushroom garden will have to be postponed.”
Her heart receives a slight surprise, Gui Wan’s face was unchanging as she nods her head, although between them, there were actually no arrangements to go touring whatever this mushroom garden is.
Guan Xiu Wen chimes in from the side: “Teacher, there is not much time, let us quickly enter the palace.”
Lou Che walks upfront, lightly hugging Gui Wan, his body temperature lightly transmitted onto Gui Wan, lowering his head onto Gui Wan’s neck area, lightly speaking as though he’s a mosquito, he whispers into her ear: “I’m sorry, Gui Wan, wait for my return.” His voice can only be heard by the two of them, his expression hidden, not one person could see it.
Heart turning cold, with the feeling of gradually sinking, the fine tone of this light voice was actually heavier than a thousand jin[4], pressing down on Gui Wan to the point where she did not even know how to breath for a moment, lightly gritting her teeth, Gui Wan says: “This is the decision you made?” (Jīn / 斤 – a weight measurement, approximately twelve kilograms)
“No, this is the decision the heavens made.” Letting go of the person in his arms, Lou Che smiles as he speaks this, the melancholy just now seeming like a dream, turning around to head off, Guan Xiu Wen bows in signal of his leave, and then follows after.
Gui Wan coldly observes their back figures, watching them blend into the snowy scene, Lou Che actually did not turn his head back again, leaving without a look back. Her vision blurs, within her eyes only the vast whiteness and brilliant dots of red remains. The brewing tears in her eyes, were warm, were sour, also pinned with a little sadness. Opening her eyes wide, in the end, the tears did not fall.
Up until it was deep into evening hours, Lou Che had still not returned. Gui Wan felt her body grow increasingly cold the longer she sat, finally unable to withstand it, she stands up, ordering Ru Qing, Ru Ming who were serving by the sides: “Go prepare our belongings, we’re leaving this place.”
The two maids found it rather incomprehensible, but did not ask anything, immediately acting upon the orders. Having only just walked out of the hall, the old housekeeper was already running in from the courtyard in panic. The old housekeeper usually the most calm when carrying out tasks, when has he ever appeared so anxious? Gui Wan upon seeing the situation, face immediately pales. At this moment, that hoarse aged voice of panic travels in from outside: “Ma-……Madam, something bad has happened……
The two maids were stunned by the old housekeeper’s panic, standing within the courtyard, not knowing whether to enter or withdraw, receiving Gui Wan’s signal, they once again return inside the hall, the old housekeeper desperately pants, face suddenly turning pale, suddenly turning red, forcefully blurting out: “Madam, something bad-……something bad has happened, there’s……there’s imperial troops besieging the Prime Minister Estate. I heard Lord Prime Minister has ran into trouble within the palace……”
The retainers and maids within the hall also look at one another upon hearing this, panic showing, this Prime Minister Estate is the most prestigious official residence within the Capital, one shock at the Prime Minister Estate, and the entire Capital shall be shaken, the usual amount of officials visiting has already gradually decreased, didn’t think that today they would actually encounter such a situation, how could those within the Prime Minister Estate not be panic stricken?
Clearly knowing that Lou Che’s trip into the palace today will definitely be a tricky one, but she did not expect that the resulting disaster would actually hit them this fast, there is simply no time to react to such change. Gui Wan carefully looks around from the corner of her eyes, taking in everyone’s panicking state, although anxious deep down, her face has already kept all emotions in control, enforcing calmness, staring into the courtyard where darkness has concentrated.