Chapter 10: The moonlight is like frost on the ground (2)🔒

After morning court the next day, Gu Jingyuan and Long Yanzhao changed into another set of clothes and left the palace together.

On the second floor of Ming’an Pavilion by a window seat, Gu Jingyuan sat with the emperor, drinking tea.

“Do you usually come here to sit, Ah Yuan?”

The waiter set down a kettle. Dressed in plain clothes, Long Yanzhao personally poured tea for Gu Jingyuan and said with a smile, “I’ve heard you often come to teahouses with the second young master of the Yang family to listen to music and drink?”

“Your—Young Master Long has been misinformed. Second Young Master Yang and I do often go to restaurants, but we go to Yangsheng Pavilion instead. He prefers the food there.”

“Haha.” Long Yanzhao laughed heartily, “Though I haven’t met Second Young Master Yang many times, I’ve heard of him many times. He’s a sincere and trustworthy person. It’s not a bad thing for you to be friends with him.”

Gu Jingyuan smiled faintly, “Indeed.”

This place was located right in the center of the capital. Downstairs, people came and went, street vendors calling out one after another. It was lively and bustling.

Inside the building, many scholars and refined gentlemen had gathered, chatting freely and engaging in long-winded discussions.

This was a place that literati and scholars frequented.

Although the Great Yi Dynasty valued military over literature, it did not impose restrictions on speech and never limited the people’s freedom of expression.

Moreover, the imperial examinations would be held next year, and many students from other regions had come to the capital to take them. Ming’an Pavilion thus became a gathering place for scholars.

Long Yanzhao had grown up outside the palace.

At times, he missed life beyond its walls, and wanted to leave the palace and take a stroll on a whim.

But opportunities were rare; today’s outing had been planned for quite some time.

As soon as the two left the palace, they came to Ming’an Pavilion to drink tea, mainly because the emperor wanted to hear what the scholars were talking about.

“You may not know this, but that Fragrant Jade was reportedly personally selected by His Majesty from among the tribute items and given to Lord Gu.”

“I’ve heard Lord Gu is exceptionally handsome and highly learned, with outstanding talent, which is why he is so favored by the emperor. Isn’t it only natural that such a treasure be matched with him?”

These discussions had just begun when Long Yanzhao overheard them.

He hadn’t expected that the moment he left the palace, people would already be talking about the gift he had given Gu Jingyuan.

Hearing this, Long Yanzhao couldn’t help but glance at Gu Jingyuan, as if seeking credit. A rare trace of childlike pride appeared on the young emperor’s face.

But just as he was about to listen more closely, someone at a distant table laughed and said, “You must have just arrived at the capital, right? Lord Gu’s looks are indeed extraordinary, and it’s true he’s favored by the emperor, but what a pity…”

A pity?

Long Yanzhao’s brows lifted slightly, a faint sense of foreboding rising in his heart. Then another person added, “Well, after all, he’s not only a second-rank official of the court—he’s also slept on the imperial dragon bed… ah!”

The speaker suddenly let out a scream. When everyone looked over, they saw the scholar had been kicked squarely in the back by a young man dressed like a noble, sending him sprawling to the ground.

That noble youth had sharp brows and bright eyes, an imposing and extraordinary bearing. He was truly a dragon amongst men.

However, his expression was ferocious, carrying a violent edge that frightened the scholars in the building into retreating again and again.

The man who had spoken crudely earlier was now pinned under Long Yanzhao’s foot.

His narrow eyes swept across the room. Surging anger surrounded him, making him seem like a demon, fierce and cold.

“The jade treasure His Majesty bestowed upon Lord Gu was in recognition of his unmatched literary talent. During the literary contest with the Chang Kingdom, he shone brilliantly, defeating their scholars in seven consecutive rounds. Not to mention, Lord Gu became the top scholar at just seventeen. If anyone here believes they possess such ability, they’re welcome to display it in the spring examinations and distinguish themselves.”

With that, Long Yanzhao let out a cold snort. “But those who ignore others’ talent and recklessly slander them out of jealousy—how could such people ever succeed in the exams?”

The man under his boot cried out in pain, shouting that Long Yanzhao was causing trouble and injuring people, and that he would report him to the authorities.

But no one present was willing to speak up for him. Instead, everyone turned to look at the few scholars who had been making snide remarks earlier, leaving them utterly ashamed.

Long Yanzhao gave the man on the ground one last kick and said impatiently, “Scram.”

Humiliated in public, the man was unwilling to leave. He scrambled to his feet, ready to argue further when he saw several guards with blades rush out from around the teahouse. Each looked fierce and intimidating, and the one they were protecting…

…was that richly dressed young nobleman.

The scholar no longer dared to cause trouble. He could only accept his misfortune and leave with his head lowered.

Long Yanzhao had already returned to his seat.

The guards silently dispersed, but the teahouse had grown much quieter after the commotion.

Those scholars with loose lips from earlier had slipped away in embarrassment. Some others followed them out, while a few returned to their seats, unable to resist glancing toward the table where the two noble young men sat.

Gu Jingyuan remained as composed as ever. He calmly picked up the teapot and refilled Long Yanzhao’s cup.

“They were just attention-seekers making idle gossip. Why be so angry, young master?” Gu Jingyuan said with a faint smile.

Those observing the table now saw a truly peerless young man seated there—his demeanor reserved and tranquil, his appearance as flawless as polished jade; a single smile seemed worth a fortune.

“Zhen… I just couldn’t stand it. I can’t bear to hear them say such things,” Long Yanzhao said angrily, draining his cup of tea in one gulp.

Noticing someone staring at Gu Jingyuan, he shot a glare in that direction. Then he deliberately straightened his back, completely blocking Gu Jingyuan from view.

He continued angrily, “All talk and no substance. They should take a look at themselves before speaking! And they dare call themselves scholars? They’re a disgrace to the learned!”

“Young master,” Gu Jingyuan was amused by him, “mind your manners.”

Long Yanzhao looked at him, paused for a moment, and then said with a hint of guilt: “I’m the one who’s harmed you, Yaoyang. If you weren’t helping me, you wouldn’t have to endure such slander.”

No matter what the outside world believed, in truth, Gu Jingyuan was not a favored courtier who served the emperor with his looks.

The first time Long Yanzhao met Gu Jingyuan was three years ago.

After that meeting, he had merely formed a passing impression of the regent’s adopted son.

Who could have expected that the following year, this extraordinarily handsome young man would place first in the imperial examinations? With a brilliant essay that left the entire court in awe, he became the top scholar personally selected by the emperor in the Golden Hall.

At the time, Long Yanzhao hadn’t even wanted to award Gu Jingyuan the title of Zhuangyuan.

The reason was because this young man, about his own age yet humble and capable of governing, belonged to the regent’s faction.

And the regent was undoubtedly his greatest obstacle to reclaiming full power.

But what Long Yanzhao never expected was that everything Gu Jingyuan had done—his journey through the examinations, his rise to the top—was actually driven by the same goal as his own.

To help him.

To support the legitimate rule of the Great Yi Dynasty.

—On the surface, Gu Jingyuan served the regent, but the one he had truly aligned himself with was Chancellor Yang of the Right.

As for why Gu Jingyuan later ended up climbing onto the imperial bed and become, in the eyes of the outside world, a disgraced favorite…

Gu Jingyuan’s pale, slender fingers lightly tapped against the red wooden window frame beside him as he said in an easy tone: “It’s nothing more than reputation. With all the splendor of the mortal world, who will remember me after a hundred years?”

Long Yanzhao stared at him without blinking.

Gu Jingyuan’s peach-blossom eyes were turned towards the window, idly resting on the street vendors weaving through the lanes below. From the side, Long Yanzhao felt as though a galaxy shimmered within those eyes.

A sudden sense of clarity rose in his heart. Long Yanzhao shook his head and laughed, “In any case, Yaoyang has already boarded this young master’s ship.”

He leaned slightly closer to Gu Jingyuan, his gaze deep as ink, and deliberately lowered his voice: “Zhen knows anything I promise you now doesn’t count for much, but in the future, I will never fail you.”

Caught off guard by his sudden seriousness, Gu Jingyuan froze for a moment before turning his eyes back to him.

Long Yanzhao rarely saw him at a loss like this. Finding the usually composed and perceptive young man so unguarded felt refreshingly new, and he couldn’t help but curl his lips into a teasing grin. “But don’t worry, Ah Yuan. Before things are accomplished, I’ll make sure to work hard and absolutely satisfy you. Keep you comfortable and blissful every day.”

“Your Maj—” Gu Jingyuan’s eyes widened.

At first he didn’t quite catch the meaning of “work hard”, but by the end of the sentence he realized the emperor had turned indecent again.

The thin-skinned Gu Jingyuan flushed immediately. Annoyed that the emperor spoke so recklessly without regard for time or place, he shot him a glare.

But those peach-blossom eyes, tinged red at the corners… When that look landed on Long Yanzhao, it carried little reproach. Instead, it stirred a different heat down below.

Under the table, Long Yanzhao unwillingly reached out and brushed Gu Jingyuan’s leg. The teahouse wasn’t crowded, but even so, that was the most he could do.

Long Yanzhao suddenly resented himself—why did he have to tease the young man here of all places?

In the end, he was the one left suffering.

The Son of Heaven downed another cup of tea.

As his thoughts wandered, Long Yanzhao abruptly recalled the time after the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet last year, when he had gotten drunk.

It had been deep winter. All he remembered was how cold it had been that day.

When he pulled Gu Jingyuan onto the bed, Gu Jingyuan hadn’t resisted.

Afterward, Long Yanzhao had asked him if he regretted it. Gu Jingyuan, hiding under the covers, revealed a pale face. He simply shook his head and said, “This subject is willing.”

That had been their first time.

Long Yanzhao knew Gu Jingyuan had agreed because of the circumstances.

This matter had to be traced back to the regent’s jealousy of talent—

When Gu Yuanjin took Gu Jingyuan in as his adopted son, it wasn’t for his abilities, but for his appearance.

He brought Gu Jingyuan into the palace and had him pass the examinations not to cultivate his talent, but to ensure he stood out before the emperor—to plant a pair of eyes and ears by Long Yanzhao’s side.

If that “spy” could also successfully charm the emperor and turn him into a disreputable, foolish ruler, all the better.

That was the true purpose of sending Gu Jingyuan into the palace.

Later, when Long Yanzhao and Gu Jingyuan came to understand each other’s intentions, they decided to play along and stage a false play for the regent to see.

During the time they spent day and night together afterward, Long Yanzhao discussed history and governance with Gu Jingyuan constantly, truly learning a great deal from him—as if from the God of Literature (Wenquxing) himself.

Even though Gu Jingyuan was two months younger, Long Yanzhao regarded him as both teacher and friend, treating him with great respect.

Yet after two years by his side, their relationship had not progressed any further, which instead aroused suspicion in that old fox Gu Yuanjin.

At that time, Long Yanzhao only knew that Gu Jingyuan was loyal to him and protected him.

He did not yet know that, for his sake, Gu Jingyuan was willing to do anything.

…

Even later on, after it happened the first time, there came countless more.

Long Yanzhao also knew it wasn’t right.

But Gu Jingyuan was simply too intoxicating when moved by passion.

What’s more, Gu Jingyuan seemed to enjoy it too—blushing as he leaned close to him, even asking him to take him.

As for whether he liked Gu Jingyuan?

What was liking, anyway? Long Yanzhao didn’t know.

All he knew was that compared to many other things, “liking” was worth less than nothing.

If there was anything special…

Sometimes the scar along Gu Jingyuan’s brow would make him lose his composure.

Long Yanzhao suddenly snapped back to his senses, his attention drawn to a small vendor downstairs.

He said to Gu Jingyuan, “Yaoyang, wait here a moment. I’ll be right back.”

“Young Master?” Gu Jingyuan asked in surprise.

But Long Yanzhao had already slipped downstairs.

With the improper hand gone from his leg, the heat on Gu Jingyuan’s face faded slightly.

Puzzled, he looked down through the thin window paper, just in time to see Long Yanzhao stop a vendor selling candied hawthorns…

His eyelashes trembled uncontrollably, and Gu Jingyuan froze where he sat.

Before long, the Son of Heaven returned, holding a skewer of candied hawthorns, and personally placed it into his hand.

In the capital during winter, candied hawthorns were large, coated thickly in syrup—sweet and sour, and chilled to the bite.

What’s more, this one was the biggest skewer from the very top row of the vendor’s display.

Gu Jingyuan held it in a daze, not taking a bite right away.

…

This kind of thing didn’t exist in the northern lands.

He remembered that long ago, Long Yanzhao had once described the taste of candied hawthorns to someone as if presenting a treasure, and had solemnly promised to treat that person to the biggest, sweetest-and-sour candied hawthorn in the capital.

And that person, foolish as he had been, had once truly longed for it.