EHW Ch28

The next day, Gu Fangzhi went to court.

While waiting in the hall, he noticed several officials huddled together, whispering intensely about something.

Without showing any expression, Gu Fangzhi quietly moved closer and pricked up his ears.

“I heard His Majesty likes older people…”

Gu Fangzhi’s peach-blossom eyes widened slightly.

He thought of Pei Xin’s young and sharp features, he hadn’t expected the young emperor to actually like older women.

Well, that wasn’t too strange.

Before the men finished speaking, another added:

“…I heard His Majesty actually prefers men.”

Gu Fangzhi’s eyes widened again.

Oh, so Pei Xin didn’t like older sisters, but older brothers.

That… actually made sense. The brat’s temper was so bad that someone older might be able to keep him in check.

Then one of them said:

“It’s just that the person His Majesty fancies is a bit too old. Must be in his fifties, right?”

Gu Fangzhi’s eyes opened even wider.

Fifties?

So Pei Xin didn’t like an older brother—he liked a daddy?

 …Well, that wasn’t entirely unexpected either.

After all, he’d been close to the late emperor, and since the man died young, it wasn’t strange if Pei Xin had a bit of a father complex.

And honestly, daddies weren’t bad.

Older men tended to be more caring.

Another voice spoke mysteriously:

“I heard he’s seventy.”

Gu Fangzhi: “……”

So it wasn’t daddy—it was daddy’s daddy?!

Was the young emperor trying to commit elder abuse?

He decided to assign Pei Xin an extra lesson tonight to teach the boy some proper etiquette.

After eavesdropping enough, Gu Fangzhi prepared to slip away quietly.

But the group suddenly fell silent and turned toward him in unison.

Gu Fangzhi: “……”

Caught red-handed, he felt a bit awkward.

Fortunately, being a habitual save-scummer, he “saved and reloaded” perfectly—time rewound back a few minutes.

This time, Gu Fangzhi kept his distance, straightened his back, and gazed forward calmly.
Anyone looking would say, “Truly, Gentleman Gu is the picture of grace and virtue.”

***

During the court session, Gu Fangzhi glanced up at Pei Xin sitting high upon the throne, recalling the gossip from earlier.

He knew such idle talk couldn’t be taken seriously.

Besides, Pei Xin was the emperor, whether he liked men, women, or elders, no one would dare say a word.

But judging by appearances, Pei Xin didn’t seem particularly interested in romance anyway.

Gu Fangzhi gradually drifted off in thought—unaware that Pei Xin, behind the beaded curtain, was also looking at him.

Finding Gu Fangzhi in the crowd had become Pei Xin’s habit.

And once he found him, rolling his eyes at him had also become… a habit.

Pei Xin watched him coldly, face full of irritation.

It wasn’t because of last night’s near-disaster, almost taking Grand Preceptor Sun as a concubine, which would have caused chaos for generations, but simply because he hadn’t slept well.

After a long, tiring day, he had gone to bed only to fall into nightmares again.
He was used to such night terrors, his chest would feel heavy, but at least he could sleep a little.

Yet, on the night Gu Fangzhi stood watch, he had slept peacefully for two or three hours.

Now that he had something to compare it to, the rest felt unbearable.

He almost resented Yang Luhai, though he had ordered the man to tell Gu Fangzhi not to come that night, he hadn’t expected Yang Luhai to actually obey.

He also resented Gu Fangzhi a little, always lecturing him “for his own good,” but not taking the initiative to come to the palace!

Irritated beyond reason, Pei Xin waved his hand, cutting off the official below mid-report.

“Court dismissed dismissed dismissed dismissed dismissed dismissed dismissed dismissed dismissed!”

Pei Xin: “?”

Even dismissing court didn’t work?

He gave a cold snort. “That damnable Gu—”

Halfway through, he realized he’d said that out loud.

The minister speaking below froze. “…Your Majesty? What did you say?”

Pei Xin’s gaze flicked toward Gu Fangzhi.

Please, Gu Fangzhi. Just help me out here.

But Gu Fangzhi was blissfully daydreaming and didn’t catch his silent plea.

And thus, the young emperor once again learned a harsh truth. It’s better to rely on oneself; people’s hearts are cold and unreliable.

“Damn…”
Pei Xin kept a straight face. “…I mean, I wish I could kill someone every day.”

Gasps filled the hall.

Cold sweat dripped as officials exchanged glances, all silently thinking the same thing—

“He really is a tyrant!!”

Pei Xin closed his eyes in despair.

When court finally ended, Pei Xin left the hall like the wind, his back looking slightly disheveled.

To clear his mind, he went to the training grounds.

Changing into lighter clothes, he picked up his usual silver spear.

In his hands, the weapon moved like a serpent—coiling, striking, sweeping through the air with precision and speed.

By the time he’d had enough, an hour had passed.

His chest rose and fell; sweat beaded on his brow, and a few strands of hair clung to his cheek.

Seeing him stop, Yang Luhai hurried forward.
“Your Majesty, the cold wind bites. Please, protect your health.”

Pei Xin tilted his chin so Yang could fasten the cloak around him.
Once he was wrapped up snugly, Yang hesitated, then asked,

“Your Majesty, shall I summon Lord Gu to keep watch tonight?”

It wasn’t that Yang wanted to shirk his duties, but last night he’d heard Pei Xin tossing and turning for hours, then sitting up sleepless for half the night.

He had no idea what Gu Fangzhi did, but somehow the man had helped Pei Xin sleep soundly before.

Pei Xin replied almost instantly, his tone firm:

“No need.”

Yang opened his mouth to protest, but one sharp glance from Pei Xin silenced him.
He only murmured, “Then shall we return to the palace, Your Majesty? I’ll summon the bearers.”

Pei Xin nodded.

As Yang turned to leave, he sighed quietly.

He thought His Majesty was being stubborn, but Pei Xin had his own reasoning.

Gu Fangzhi’s sorcery was strong.

Facing such a man, Pei Xin had to stay vigilant. He could never allow himself to trust him completely.

He believed that firmly, until night came.

Pei Xin: “……”

He couldn’t sleep. Not at all.

There were 326 tiles in his bedchamber, and he had counted each one several times.

He even ordered Yang Luhai to fetch the imperial physician, instructing him to massage his shoulders like Gu Fangzhi had done.

But when the physician arrived, Pei Xin couldn’t bear to let anyone touch him.

“Go back,” he said flatly.

The physician blinked. “…At this hour?”

‘Was the emperor just making him come for fun?’

Then Pei Xin added, “Yang Luhai, send him the coral from the Western Regions.”

The physician: “……”

‘Well… what a coincidence. How did His Majesty know I enjoy midnight exercise?’

After the physician left, Yang Luhai cautiously suggested, “Your Majesty, perhaps… perhaps we should summon Lord Gu after all?”

As he spoke, he carefully draped one, two, three, four, five, six robes over Pei Xin’s shoulders.

Pei Xin: “……”

What’s that old man doing in the middle of the night?

He’s going to get a cold from all those layers.

Seeing Pei Xin’s expressionless face, Yang Luhai asked softly, “Your Majesty?”

Pei Xin grunted. “Have him come tomorrow instead. Gu Fangzhi’s luck has always been bad, what if he runs into some bandits, assassins, or robbers in the middle of the night?”

If that really happened, never mind Gu Fangzhi’s life or death, he would probably die from the headache of it all.

Yang Luhai didn’t know what Pei Xin was thinking, but at those words, he smiled faintly.
“Your Majesty truly cares for Lord Gu.”

Pei Xin: “……”

Well, that’s true.

No one takes better care of me than myself.

After two nearly sleepless nights, Pei Xin was utterly exhausted.

After chatting a bit more with Yang Luhai, he said, “Enough. I’m going to rest.”

Yang Luhai bowed and quietly left the inner chamber.

By evening the next day, Gu Fangzhi hurried to the imperial study after wrapping up matters in the Ministry of Rites.

 

He stood by Pei Xin’s side as the imperial tutor lectured, not really listening, just serving as elegant decoration.

When the class was finally over, Gu Fangzhi rose with the tutor to leave.

But Yang Luhai approached. “Lord Gu, please wait.”

The tutor took the hint and left first.

Gu Fangzhi asked, “Does Eunuch Yang have something for me?”

Yang Luhai smiled. “Is Lord Gu free tonight? Would you care to stay in the palace again?”

‘So he wanted him to stand night watch again?’

Gu Fangzhi glanced at Pei Xin.

The emperor sat at the desk, seemingly uninterested in the conversation, idly toying with the white jade ring on his long fingers.

The bed in the Hall of Mental Cultivation was very comfortable.

Gu Fangzhi wasn’t as reluctant as before to keep watch but Manman was still sick, often feverish at night, and since Gu Huaiyu wasn’t home, the child clung to him and refused to let go.

Unconsciously, Gu Fangzhi’s fingers twitched beneath his sleeve.

Pei Xin, who had actually been watching him from the corner of his eye the whole time, noticed the motion immediately.

He knew what that meant, those moving fingers under the sleeve were a silent refusal.

Gu Fangzhi didn’t want to keep watch for him.

That realization made Pei Xin frown slightly. His mood, which had been tolerable, dropped straight to the bottom.

But after a moment, Gu Fangzhi didn’t cast any spell.

Instead, Pei Xin heard his calm, gentle voice:

“But, Your Majesty, I have one small request. My little brother has been ill lately and burns with fever at night. He can’t be left alone. May I return to the Gu residence once Your Majesty has fallen asleep?”

Gu Fangzhi had wanted to refuse instinctively, he disliked unnecessary trouble. But Pei Xin’s sleeplessness was rather pitiful.

Still, wasn’t there anyone in the entire palace who could give a massage?

Yang Luhai naturally didn’t know how to answer that.

Both men turned to look at Pei Xin.

Pei Xin stared at Gu Fangzhi for a long moment, then suddenly let out a soft, amused “ha.”

A moment later, another “ha.”

The corners of his eyes lifted slightly, betraying a trace of amusement.

Gu Fangzhi: “?”

Why was Pei Xin… bugging out again?

He reloaded the “save.”

Pei Xin: “Ha.”

Three calm, emotionless “ha”s in a row somehow hit Gu Fangzhi’s funny bone.

He burst out laughing, shoulders shaking, and replayed the scene a few more times.

Pei Xin: “Ha.”

Pei Xin: “Ha.”

Pei Xin: “Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha.”

Pei Xin: “……”

What the hell is wrong with this man?

He glared at Gu Fangzhi, whose cheeks were already flushed from laughing so hard.

‘Fine. The old man’s happy now.’

‘I guess I’ll never smile again for the rest of my life.’