Chapter 233: Am I Meddling?

His voice was cool, tinged with a faint hoarseness from tension.

Su Wan snapped out of her daze and quickly ran toward him, throwing herself into Gu Huaizhi’s arms. The cold bamboo fragrance on him filled her senses as she exclaimed in surprise, “Why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to take part in the Spring Examinations next year?”

Gu Huaizhi clasped her waist and lifted her slightly, pulling her even tighter into his embrace. His face remained tense as he said, “If I hadn’t come, would I find myself next year, as I prepare for the Spring Examinations, being told by the examiners that I’ve lost my wife and thus forfeited my eligibility to participate?”

He recalled the scene he had just witnessed, and a lingering fear clung to his heart. With a cold laugh, he said, “At least by coming here, I managed to grab some sesame seeds. Staying back in Great Zhou would’ve been like drawing water with a bamboo basket—completely fruitless.”

Hearing his sharp tone, Su Wan could tell he was angry, clearly blaming her for putting herself in danger and failing to protect herself.

Feeling a bit guilty, she mumbled, “He couldn’t have hurt me. I was already…”

“Was I meddling?” Gu Huaizhi raised his eyebrow.

Su Wan’s eyelids twitched as she tightened her arms around his lean waist. With a slightly ingratiating smile, she said, “You came just in time. That dagger was already at my neck. If it weren’t for you…”

“Shut up,” Gu Huaizhi interrupted, his mood clearly sour.

Su Wan awkwardly fell silent, the joy of their reunion evaporating in an instant. After a few months apart, this man had only grown fiercer.

Gu Huaizhi lowered his gaze, catching sight of her aggrieved expression. His thin lips pressed into a tight line as his eyes swept over the grand hall. The dense mist had completely dissipated, revealing everything inside.

“Today is the ceremony to appoint the Crown Princess. Are you the only one in the Imperial Ancestral Hall?”

As soon as his words fell, the civil and military officials began emerging from the secret passage, all looking pale and shaken. The earlier explosion had left them dizzy and disoriented, and they were only now beginning to recover.

The Empress Dowager and the Empress, along with their entourage, emerged from the passage. Their expressions were extremely dark and grim as they took in the scene before them. When their eyes fell on the two people embracing at the doorway, there was a hint of curiosity in their gazes.

Gu Huaizhi gave them a brief, indifferent glance before instructing Mo Yuan and Mo Chen, “Handle the aftermath.”

With that, he carried Su Wan away.

Only then did Su Wan notice the rows of archers stationed outside the hall. The men Qu Yuanxiao had brought were either dead or captured.

“Gu Huaizhi, how did you get into the palace? How did you know there would be a coup, and how did you manage to bring so many people?”

Su Wan was astonished. Gu Huaizhi was from Great Zhou, and even for a single person, entering the palace was no easy task, let alone bringing a whole group.

“My godfather sent me a message.” Gu Huaizhi had stayed at an inn outside the city last night, intending to surprise Su Wan with a visit to the city today.

However, as soon as he entered the city, he received a letter from Ji Xuan. Enclosed was an imperial token used exclusively by the Empress, granting him the authority to mobilize troops outside the royal city. Without delay, he organized his forces and entered the palace, only for Su Wan to give him a fright instead.

As soon as Su Wan heard about the letter, she immediately asked, “Did you get here so quickly because you didn’t receive my letter?”

Gu Huaizhi responded with a faint “Mm,” his tone indifferent. “Where is your palace?”

Su Wan quickly pointed the way, and Gu Huaizhi carried her straight to Yaoguang Hall.

The palace maids standing guard at the entrance were momentarily stunned when they saw the two of them together.

Su Wan suddenly remembered that Ji Xuan and Qi Min were also staying in Yaoguang Hall. She struggled to get down, saying, “Put me down now! My father also lives here.”

Gu Huaizhi ignored her completely. “Which room?”

Unable to resist, Su Wan resigned herself and pointed toward her own room, burying her face in his chest to avoid the embarrassment of running into Ji Xuan.

Gu Huaizhi kicked open the sliding door with one swift motion, entered, hooked the door shut behind him, and strode to the bed. Without hesitation, he tossed her onto it.

Su Wan was stunned from the fall, still trying to process what had happened when she realized he was pulling at her clothes.