The day before his departure, the night was already deep, Gu Yun had gone to bed after he finished drinking medicine. Although Chang Geng had performed acupuncture for him earlier, it could only relieve but could not completely cure the root cause of the headache.

While he was struggling to fall asleep, someone from the palace suddenly arrived, summoning him to meet the Emperor right then in the night.

There was no telling whether it was the effect of the medicine or what, Gu Yun's eyelids suddenly twitched.

Gu Yun quickly got up to change his clothes; as he exited the room, he was surprised to find that Chang Geng stayed in the outer chamber. He wasn't sleeping either; it seemed he had just put on his outer coat, holding a small steam lamp in his hand, a half-open book was laying on his knee.

The outer chamber was usually the place for servants to rest during the night. Gu Yun was already accustomed to a simple lifestyle; there was no one staying in at night. Only the old butler would occasionally come over in the middle of the night to add some charcoal to the blazer.

"Chang Geng?" Gu Yun was surprised, "How come you are here? I thought it was Uncle Wang..."

Chang Geng: "I was waiting for you to fall asleep before leaving."

"You are a Jun Wang," Gu Yun frowned: "Lowering yourself to stay at a place for servants as such is too inappropriate."

"It is nothing more than a false title. Being a servant for yifu would be much better," Chang Geng said faintly, removing the small pot from the red-hot stove and pouring a bowl of herbal tea for Gu Yun: "Is yifu going to the palace? If you are not willing to wear a fur coat, at least drink something first to keep warm."

Gu Yun: "..."

He was flustered; even if he were to marry a wife, she would probably not be as thoughtful as Chang Geng. When these thoughts just began to manifest, he instantly slapped himself inside: Bastard, have you gone insane?

Gu Yun took the cup of herbal tea and drank it. When returning the cup, their fingers accidentally touched. Chang Geng quickly retracted his hand as if he had just been pricked by a sharp needle — then with a seemingly normal expression, he turned around and placed the pot down in its original place.

Gu Yun watched his figure from behind, his gaze slightly darkened. He thought: It can't go on like this anymore. After returning from the palace, I must talk it through with him no matter what.

Outside, the palace servants were making haste. Gu Yun could not delay any longer; he could only hurriedly follow them.

The February night air was biting, Gu Yun's dizzy head blown by the cold wind instantly became clear once again, as if he had just undergone acupuncture.