Long Han Yuan (Extra Chapter 3)

  If he hadn't noticed Gu Qingyao, perhaps he would have tired of bullying Gu Qingyan for a while and let her off, or maybe for some reason, he would be willing to spoil her more or less.

  Unfortunately, he inadvertently saw Gu Qingyao and Liu Di's interaction, and afterwards, he unconsciously paid attention to the reports from his undercover agents about Gu Qingyao's wholehearted and gentle treatment of Liu Di.

  Especially once he saw Gu Qingyao and Sixth Brother interacting, looking at the scene of that elegant woman and Sixth Brother together, he suddenly remembered the first time he saw that woman as beautiful as a crescent moon. At first, it was just to monitor Sixth Brother's actions and simply pay attention to Gu Qingyao.

  When did things start to change? Ah, yes, it was that time when he and Sixth Brother both accompanied the Emperor on an outing, but contracted a disease outside the palace at the same time. Gu Qingyao disregarded her own life and stayed by Sixth Brother's side, vowing to live or die with him. Meanwhile, he was alone, and the people he sent to deliver messages in the capital were slow to return, and no woman was willing to come to his residence. The Emperor, in order to control the epidemic, had him and Sixth Brother stay in the same room, separated by a thin screen. He lay in bed every day, and when he occasionally woke up, he would see the blurry figures of two people on the other side of the screen. He saw Gu Qingyao feeding medicine to his Sixth Brother, carefully serving him. That was the first time he felt hatred towards Gu Qingyao. What he didn't expect was that after Gu Qingyao finished giving Sixth Brother his medicine, she would come to his bedside and serve him medicine as well, although it was just a courtesy. During those three or four days, being gently served by Gu Qingyao, sometimes strange thoughts would arise.

  A few days later, someone finally came to the mansion, and it was Gu Qingjin with a slightly pale face. At that time, his illness had also improved. The person who served him medicine every day had also changed to Gu Qingjin. However, every time he drank medicine, his gaze would unconsciously fall on the screen, staring at the figures of Liu Di and Gu Qingyao on the other side. Looking at Gu Qingjin, who was listless on one side, he suddenly understood the strange thoughts that had been in his mind for those few days. It turned out that he was thinking that if he had married Qingyao back then, it would have been better.

  As soon as this idea became clear, his heart was like a poisonous snake, and he would unconsciously compare Gu Qingjin and Gu Qingyao in his mind. Those secretly investigated reports of Gu Qingyao and Sixth Brother's interactions replayed in his mind over and over again, the more he compared, the more he felt Gu Qingyao's goodness and Gu Qingjin's wickedness.

  Looking at Gu Qingjin's exhausted, pale and listless face beside him, he couldn't help but want to ask her if she was resentful of risking her life to serve him every day. He had become indifferent to Gu Qingjin, but after recovering from his illness, his gaze began to follow Sixth Brother and Gu Qingyao involuntarily. He detested this aspect of himself, yet his eyes couldn't help but wander.

  After returning to the capital, the time he spent in illness always appeared in his mind. He began to mention to the queen in a subtle way that she had been taken care of by Sixth Princess during her illness. The queen understood what he meant and started inviting Gu Qingyao to their mansion to thank her for taking care of him back then.

  Gu Qingyao appeared at his mansion more and more often. Her relationship with his legitimate son, Long Qianyuan, became increasingly close. One time, he ran into his legitimate son, Long Qianyuan, and Gu Qingyao together. Looking at the trusting expression on Long Qianyuan's face towards Gu Qingyao, Gu Qingyao's gentle smile on her face made him feel dizzy, as if she was his woman and child.

  But unexpectedly, his eldest son Long Ganyuan suddenly fell ill. The disease was so strange that even the imperial physician did not know what it was. He and the queen were at a loss, and he also saw Gu Qingyu's fleeting strange expression beside him, but he didn't pay special attention to it. When Long Ganyuan was confused with illness, he suddenly called out Gu Qingyu's name. He immediately ordered someone to go next door to the Sixth Prince's mansion to call Gu Qingyu over.

  After Gu Qingyao arrived, she gently and carefully asked a few questions about Long Qianyuan's condition. Suddenly, she glanced at Gu Qingjin standing there, wanting to speak but hesitating. He, who had been paying attention to Gu Qingyao, naturally noticed this abnormality, as well as his queen. The queen immediately questioned Gu Qingyao, and Gu Qingyao finally looked guilty and glanced at Gu Qingjin before speaking up, saying that she had seen this kind of illness in an ancient book.

  But the sensitive he immediately discovered the loophole in Gu Qingyao's words, his gaze shot to the side of Gu Qingjin, seeing the expression in Gu Qingjin's eyes, he understood even more, and the coldness in his heart could no longer be hidden. This was the woman who had said she liked him, loved him, this woman, when his son was seriously ill, could actually stand by and do nothing, he hated her so much that he wished he could have strangled her to death earlier.

  Gu Qingjin suddenly fainted in his eyes, he was extremely disgusted in his heart and did not send anyone to see her. Later, the imperial physician followed Gu Qingyao's ancient prescription to give medicine to Di son, after taking the medicine, his Di son finally escaped the danger of life.

  At this time, Qing Yin Ge suddenly received news that Madame Jin, who was sent back, had unstoppable bleeding. He suddenly thought it would be better if Gu Qingjin died like this. In the end, Wang Fei begged him to let the imperial physician check on Gu Qingjin. The message from the imperial physician was that Gu Qingjin had a miscarriage.

  In an instant, he thought of the message that the undercover agent had sent back when he was seriously ill. Why did Gu Qingjin appear a few days late? It turned out that she had his child. His eyes became extremely cold. At that time, Gu Qingjin hesitated and didn't come because she chose to keep her child safe. She chose to protect her child between the child and him. This was the woman who claimed to like him, choosing to give up on him for the sake of her child, and choosing to stand by and watch as his legitimate son fell ill.

  Good, Gu Qingjin, you're doing great!

  "How could I let you die so easily? There are some things he doesn't understand, but didn't Gu Qingjin say she likes him, loves him? Alright, he started being nice to Gu Qingjin, nicer than before, letting her think it was because she lost the child and he felt guilty. At first, his kindness left her unmoved, but he sensitively felt that occasionally she would stare at him in a daze."

  Later on, she began to smile at him, and originally wanted to continue for a while longer, but the news of Gu Qingyao and Sixth Brother getting along harmoniously, transmitted by the secret investigator, was like a thorn piercing his heart.

  That night, he came to stay with Gu Qingjin again. The spring quilt was warm and cozy, and they were entwined together. He looked at Gu Qingjin's face, as beautiful as a lotus flower, and somehow blurted out the name that had been on his mind all along.

  He saw Gu Qingjin's shocked and disbelieving eyes, and for some reason, he suddenly didn't dare to face her again. He got up, without explaining anything, and turned to leave.

  As he walked to the doorstep, he turned his head and saw her sitting stupidly on the couch. He suddenly felt a little vengeful pleasure!

  But he did not expect that Gu Qingjin would be so resolute and have the courage to burn himself to death.

  As he watched Gu Qingjin's red clothes fluttering in the flames, he suddenly thought of many years ago, that woman who came to Banruo Temple in disarray, with a gaze that couldn't hide her fear and hesitation. Yet she smiled like peach blossoms on a branch in March, radiant and resplendent, as if about to ignite. The determined woman walking towards him.

  Suddenly a gust of cold wind blew in, he lifted his head from the desk in front of the imperial case, and what appeared before him was a memorial that had been endorsed halfway.

  He picked up his pen again. Just because he was too tired last night, he took a nap and somehow dreamed of things from many years ago. And what else did he just dream about? He clearly remembered it when he woke up from his sleep, but now no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't remember...

  Just as he was frowning and thinking, an imperial attendant walked in from outside, bowed to him and said: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Prince of Ning has died in battle at the border!"

  Upon hearing the news, his pen paused in mid-air, and a drop of ink fell onto the handwritten memorial, spreading outwards. He lifted his head, his eyes gleaming with a cold light as he stared straight at the eunuch standing before him: "What did you say?"

  The eunuch shuddered at the gaze, but still stammered and repeated what he had just said. He put down the pen in his hand. His eyes were inscrutable, and after a while, he finally spoke again: "That... Ning Wangfei?"

  The eunuch didn't seem to notice anything unusual and replied in a straightforward manner, "When the Ning Wangfei heard about Ning Wang's death at the border, she fainted on the spot."

  He furrowed his brow after hearing the eunuch's reply and said calmly to the eunuch: "You may withdraw!"

  The eunuch heard his words as a great amnesty, respectfully made a bow and then retreated.

  The entire hall was left with only him, but his mind could no longer return to the memorial on the imperial desk. It was what he had designed and sought after with all his might, yet when it was about to be obtained, he suddenly felt bewildered.

  Those years of longing, those years of secret admiration, yet at this moment, my heart is so calm, without joy or excitement.

  Seven days later, in the grand hall of the imperial study, he saw Gu Qingyao, who was wearing a white dress and still looked as elegant as she did years ago, guarding her mourning for the sixth imperial brother.

  He gazed straight at Gu Qingyao without any reserve, and the latter felt his gaze was somewhat unsettling, biting her lip tightly. Those beautiful eyes that had once been fixed on the Sixth Imperial Brother were now fixed on him, "Your Majesty... You..."

  Upon hearing Gu Qingyao's words, he slightly averted his gaze and spoke in an expressionless tone: "Nothing, I just think that Sixth Brother and Sister look a bit thinner."

  "Your Majesty, how could Shu Yuan... Qing Yao still couldn't believe it." As she spoke, her beautiful eyes welled up with tears, and the ripples of her gaze seemed to shimmer with a soft, watery light.

  He withdrew his gaze, "Six younger brothers and sisters should still be filial and obedient!"

  "Thank you, Your Majesty, but with Shu Yuan gone, I'm left all alone... I'm really very..." The beauty's tears fell, making her appear even more delicate and lovable.

  "My younger siblings needn't worry; if anything happens, you can always come to me for help."

  "Thank you, Your Majesty... I thought Your Majesty..."

  "What does he think I am?"

  "It's nothing, I've heard that Your Majesty has been busy with state affairs lately and often retires late at night. Please take care of the dragon body!" Gu Qingyao said with a thoughtful tone.

  "Six younger brothers and sisters have been busy mourning for the sixth brother, can they still spare time to care about my body?"

  Upon hearing Long Han's words, Qing Yao's face turned red. Was Long Han reminding himself that he was being overly concerned? Thinking of this, she looked at Long Han with some confusion.

  Long Han suddenly lost the thought of continuing on at this moment, he had someone send off Gu Qingyao.

  After nightfall, an imperial attendant came to report. The empress asked him which palace the emperor would rest in tonight. He had the attendant tell the empress that due to the busy government affairs these past two days, he would be staying overnight at the Imperial Study.

  After watching the eunuch leave, he suddenly didn't have the mind to review the memorial.

  A man walked and walked until he arrived at a remote place. He looked up and saw three words: Peony Garden.

  Peony, he muttered to himself these two words, as if there was someone in his life who had loved peonies dearly, but he seemed to have forgotten her name. He stepped up the stairs and gently pushed open the door, seeing the courtyard full of peonies blooming wildly. At the same time, a vivid image of a woman appeared in his mind.

  He furrowed his brow, but somehow couldn't see her face clearly. He saw her tell him that peonies were a kind of flower with great character, not yielding to power, and would rather break than bend. He saw himself listening to her words, expressionless on the surface, but secretly ridiculing her in his heart.

  In the grand view, peonies have always been a symbol of wealth and nobility, vulgar and gorgeous, how did they get tied up with dignity? He thought that woman was as vulgar and gorgeous as the flower he liked, and she seemed to understand the disdain in his eyes, so she opened her mouth and recited a poem about peonies.

  He saw her red lips opening and closing, but no sound was coming out. He furrowed his brow, unconsciously mimicking her mouth shape, "The peony in the courtyard is seductive without restraint, the lotus on the pond is clean but lacks sentiment. Only the peony is truly a national color, when it blooms, it moves the capital..." Unconsciously, he recited that poem.

  After reciting that poem, the face of the woman in his mind gradually became clearer.

  Gu Qingjin, on this night, that name suddenly emerged from the depths of his mind. Among the peonies filling the courtyard, he vaguely saw a woman in red approaching him. He couldn't help but take a step forward, but her surroundings were engulfed in flames. He wanted to move closer, yet felt trapped in place. At this moment...

  "Your Majesty, why have you come here alone?" a woman's voice said.

  "Who are you?" He heard his own voice.

  "I am the imperial appointed talented woman."

  "Licai Ren? Do you like peonies?"

  "Yes, does Your Majesty also love peonies? Peonies are indeed my..."

  "Bring in the imperial edict! The Emperor decrees that Li Zhi, who has recklessly guessed the divine will and disrespected the monarch, is to be stripped of her title and banished to the Cold Palace!" He coolly read out the imperial edict. The joyful and charming expression on the woman's face had not yet faded when suddenly, she turned as white as paper.

  After the woman was dragged away by the guards who rushed out from behind, Long Han stood alone in the courtyard filled with peonies, looking at the peonies he whispered: My soul has never entered your dreams, and after waking up there is no trace. Are you resenting me?

  A gust of night wind blows, and petals of peony flowers fall down in big clusters, the whole garden is quiet!

  "He spoke again: 'What if you hate me...' Suddenly he raised his voice and shouted to the empty courtyard: 'But I don't regret it, I didn't do anything wrong...'"

  "Yes, he didn't regret it. He had a picturesque landscape and the world in his hands. With an unwavering tone without any ripples, he firmly opened his mouth: "Yes, I, Long Han Yan, have never regretted!"

  But will we never be together in this life? If that's what you want, I'll make sure to fulfill your wish in the next life!

  In the darkness, he raised his chin, turned elegantly and walked towards the rear palace like a wild beast that swallowed people in the night...

  Thank you for the dark purple, 13633571800, perfect little fish's pink votes, thank you for the reward of peach blossom fan and anniversary cake from Yuhou Tingyuan, thank you @★精☆灵☆, starry sky twinkling, perfect little fish, ryuia, ansons, Lian Die Zixian] for the reward of peace symbol, should not have missed anyone, if missed please private me o(n_n)o~

  In addition, Long Han's side story will end here for now. The main story starts tomorrow (*^__^*) Hehe......