Chapter 318: The Emperor Passes

After seeing off Madam Cao and Cao Wanqing, Su Wan stared at the token in her palm and let out a silent sigh in her heart.

The fate of the Cao family had long been sealed.

Madam Cao and Cao Wanqing saw things clearly, which happened to align with her intentions.

This money was not something she could accept. Once the mother and daughter were safely settled, she would have to return it to them.

“Wanwan, time to eat,” Mother Gu walked in from outside, holding Gu Baozhu by the hand.

A maid followed behind, carrying a food box. She took out the dishes and placed them neatly on the table.

There was celestial fish^[1]Calestial fish is a refined dish known for its tenderness, often made by steaming fish over chicken soup to enhance the flavor., roasted chicken, walnut-stuffed grilled kidney, and a vegetarian three-delicacy dish.

“What a sumptuous meal,” Su Wan said, trying to liven up the atmosphere.

Gu Baozhu didn’t say a word. In the past, she always thought Gu Jingyun was noisy and liked to bully her—just looking at him annoyed her.

But now that he was truly gone, it felt like something inside her was missing. Nothing she did felt right anymore. Staying by her mother’s side brought back memories, and she realized that the times they got along far outnumbered the quarrels. The more she thought about it, the more lost she felt.

Mother Gu couldn’t lift her spirits either. She seemed deflated, and her voice was weak as she forced a response: “It looks quite appetizing.”

Her gaze landed on the celestial fish. Picking up a bowl, she ladled some fish and chicken soup for Su Wan. “I once learned this dish from the cook—she said it was a family secret, and the recipe is especially complicated. I tried it once, but it didn’t turn out.”

Su Wan stared at the clear, golden chicken soup. Inside floated snowy-white flakes of fish. She took the bowl with both hands, scooped up a spoonful to taste, and her eyes curved with delight. “Mmm, so fresh and sweet. How’s this dish made?”

Seeing her interest, Mother Gu perked up a little and began explaining, “The cook said to first stew a pot of native chicken broth. Then suspend a crucian carp above the pot and seal them together. Simmer the chicken soup over a low flame for one or two hours, using the steam to gently cook the fish. The fish meat then falls into the soup bit by bit, leaving only the bones behind. The flesh ends up nearly boneless—tender and full of flavor.”

“I want to learn too. Next time, let’s ask the cook how she handles the fish and chicken,” Su Wan said, noticing the slight ease in Mother Gu’s expression. She ladled a bowl of celestial fish for both Mother Gu and Gu Baozhu. “You both should try it. It’s really good.”

Mother Gu took a small sip of the soup. As she looked at the silent and withdrawn Gu Baozhu, her thoughts drifted back to when Gu Jingyun was still around—mealtimes were always filled with chatter and bickering between the two.

Clearly, Gu Jingyun had spent the better part of the past half-year away studying, and the house had only Gu Baozhu, yet the quiet then had been bearable. But now, her heart felt utterly empty. She couldn’t help but wonder: was he adjusting well now that he was back with his birth mother? Had he eaten at this hour? Was he still feeling sad?

The more she thought about it, the heavier her heart became, and the less appetite she had.

Still, Mother Gu forced herself to finish a bowl of soup.

Su Wan could tell that Mother Gu had no appetite, but she didn’t try to persuade her to eat more. After finishing her soup, she only took a few bites of the dishes before setting her chopsticks down—she couldn’t eat much either.

“Wanwan, you must be tired too. Get some rest and recover your strength. Huaizhi will surely have things to explain once he returns,” Mother Gu reminded her gently before taking Gu Baozhu with her and leaving.

Su Wan truly was exhausted. She hadn’t slept all night, and ever since she got up yesterday, it had been nonstop. Her mind was sluggish, and her body was overwhelmed with fatigue.

Gu Huaizhi was still at the palace handling matters—it was likely taking a toll on him as well.

She instructed the maid clearing the table, “There’s food prepared in the kitchen—stew a bowl of bird’s nest.”

“Yes, ma’am.” The maid tidied up the table and quietly withdrew from the room.

Su Wan, not caring that she had just finished eating, collapsed onto the bed, intending to take a nap before dealing with the many matters still awaiting her.

But just as she closed her eyes, a jolt shot through her—Su Wan suddenly sat up in shock.

“I forgot to take the medicine?”

Su Wan’s drowsiness vanished without a trace.

She had planned to go out yesterday to buy the ingredients and take a contraceptive pill, but the sudden news about Gu Jingyun had thrown everything into chaos. She had rushed into the palace to discuss the matter with the Empress, and the whole thing had slipped her mind.

She wanted to get up and prepare the medicine, but her body gave out, and she collapsed weakly back onto the bed.

It had already been almost two days—would it still be in time?

Forget it, just forget it.

Su Wan gently touched her belly. It was only once—surely she wouldn’t be so unlucky as to get pregnant from that.

Thinking back on the timing, it seemed to have been during her safe period.

Drowsy and muddled, Su Wan thought about it for a while, then drifted off into sleep.

The sky outside was dim, and Su Wan felt unbearably warm, as if she were sleeping against a furnace. She struggled a bit, but the arm wrapped around her waist only tightened. That’s when she woke up.

“Awake?”

A low, hoarse voice sounded above her head. His chin gently rubbed against her hair, and the hand at her waist moved upward, turning her around and pressing her face against his chest.

Su Wan instinctively wrapped her arms around his waist and yawned. “What’s the situation in the palace?”

“It’s going according to plan.” Gu Huaizhi lowered his head and kissed her forehead. “Jingyun is very lonely in the palace. The Empress treats him well, but they’re still strangers. He’s scared and uneasy, trying his best to adapt. Tomorrow, I’ll bring Baozhu into the palace to stay by his side. Having a good companion should help.”

“Baozhu was also feeling down today. The two of them grew up together—when one suddenly leaves, it’s hard not to feel the loss.”

Su Wan reached under the pillow and took out the token, placing it into Gu Huaizhi’s palm. “Madam Cao came to see me today, asking me to save Cao Wanqing’s life. This is most of the Cao family’s estate. She also promised that her father would help us reclaim control over Jinzhou’s military and financial forces. She didn’t ask her maternal family for help because she didn’t want them dragged into the mess.”

“There’s no use asking for help anyway. As for Jinzhou, if her father is willing to assist, it will certainly save us a lot of trouble. If you want to save her, then do it,” Gu Huaizhi said, furrowing his brow slightly, a trace of reluctance in his expression. “I might be very busy in the days ahead. If it gets too late, I’ll have to stay overnight at the palace.”

“You’ve worked hard, Husband.” Su Wan wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a kiss on the cheek. But just as she did, her chest suddenly felt a chill—his hand had slipped in and undone her inner garment. She quickly pressed his hand down. “I have something to tell you. I forgot to take the contraceptive pill yesterday. I don’t know if I’ll end up pregnant.”

Gu Huaizhi bent down and bit the back of her hand, making her giggle and pull back from the ticklish sensation. He tugged her sash loose with his teeth. “If there is one, then let’s keep it.”

“Hey, stop that—it’s already dark. Have you eaten yet?”

“I’ll eat later…”

As he spoke, his lips brushed against her neck, and his warm palm slid over her waist and belly. The sensation sent a shiver through Su Wan’s entire body. She curled up beneath him, trembling.

Seeing her soft and yielding like this, as if she were letting him do whatever he pleased, Gu Huaizhi’s Adam’s apple moved unconsciously. In his deep, dark eyes, waves of desire surged.

…

Outside the window, the night deepened, and the sound of the watchman’s gong echoed in the distance.

On the messy bed, Gu Huaizhi was repeatedly kissing her shoulder.

Smack—

Su Wan slapped his hand away and shot him a glare. “I’m hungry. I want to eat!”

“Not going to sleep anymore?” Gu Huaizhi looked at her about to explode again, his voice tinged with laughter. He didn’t tease her further. “Shall we go out to eat, or have it brought in?”

“Let’s eat outside,” Su Wan said. She wasn’t used to eating in bed. Besides… she shot another glare at Gu Huaizhi and propped herself up to sit.

Gu Huaizhi picked up her clothes and helped her dress. Just as the two were getting out of bed to head out, they suddenly heard the faint tolling of a bell.

Their expressions changed at once. They looked at each other, solemn and tense.

That bell was coming from the direction of the palace—could it mean the Emperor had passed away?!