Just like that, the first three days went by. In the morning Pei Nan would come with rice porridge, go to court and then have dinner with her.
On the fourth day of court session, it ended early. Pei Nan was one of the first ones to leave. Instead of chatting after court session with the other officials like usual, he directly went home. Gu Shao had caught notice of it. Usually Gu Shao didn't have to attend court because he refused an official title. These few days had been an exception because the issues were related to the State of Lian. Gu Shao had no choice but to attend.
Seeing how fast Nan was leaving, Gu Shao quickly followed after. "Nan." He called out to the hurriedly Pei Nan. Nan turned around surprised.
"Let's have a drink. It's been a while." Gu Shao placed his hand on Pei Nan's shoulder.
"Tonight?" Pei Nan asked as if it was inconvenient.
"En."
"I'm afraid I will have to reject your offer this time." Gu Shao looked at him disappointedly. "Don't tell me you are so eager to go home; you can't even spare me an hour of your time."
"It's not that. Yu Mei sprained her ankle a few days ago. I've been helping her out." What he meant by helping was trying to make her life easier but all he did was annoy and trouble her.
"Sister-in-law is hurt? How come I was not aware of this?" Gu Shao asked worriedly. Pei Nan didn't mention it to Gu Shao because Gu Shao never cared about Yu Mei's matters in the past. He felt it was unnecessary. "Sister-in-law must be bored out of her mind. Should I come visit?" When Pei Nan heard this suggestion, he wanted to refuse right out.
"Yu Mei only hurt her ankle. Shao, you are a busy person. No need to visit. I'll tell her you send your regards to her." Pei Nan quickly shut his suggestion down. "I'll be heading out first." Pei Nan excused himself. Gu Shao watched as his older brother left hurriedly. Even if Pei Nan told him not to visit, he would still visit. This was after all Yu Mei.
Next afternoon, Gu Shao made his way over to Pei Nan's palace. As he was walking to the Southern Palace, Fei Ning happened to have caught sight of him. Thinking that he was here to visit her, she smiled from a far. She lightly lifted her skirt and sped over. She didn't get far before her feet froze on the spot. Why was he walking on the south pathway instead of the north? Wasn't he here to visit her? The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. Traces of disappointment showed clearly on her beautiful face. Surely he wasn't going to the Northern Palace, right?
At the Southern Palace was a very bored Yu Mei lying in bed. She had been instructed by Pei Nan to stay in bed but Yu Mei didn't want to. Her ankle didn't feel so bad anymore. She was sure she could walk around but Chu'mei refused to help her. She had completely agreed with Pei Nan on this one. Yu Mei was in no shape to start walking around yet.
What Chu'mei did instead was bring her medicine books like she had requested. After that, she was chased away by Yu Mei.
Yu Mei had been up for more than three hours, flipping through pages and pages of books in front of her. They were so boring her eyes started to drift. Her hands holding the book high up slowly lost grip. Just as it was about to hit her face, it was snatched. Yu Mei looked over to see who it was. The first person she thought of was Pei Nan. When she saw who it was, her lips curved into a sincere smile. It was Gu Shao. He was holding the book in one hand, examining the book. "Brother Shao," Yu Mei pushed herself into sitting position. "You like to read about medicine? Interesting." Gu Shao tossed the book onto the table on the side.
"I don't really like to read it. I was just very bored. Bored out of my mind." She complained. Gu Shao crossed his hands and shook his head. "What did you do this time to be in such a bad shape?" Yu Mei looked at him guiltily. She couldn't tell him that she was avoiding his brother. Who knows if he would tell Pei Nan. "I was taking a stroll and fell down the stairs."
"You taking a walk? I don't believe it." He teased. Knowing Yu Mei, all she did was eat and play. When did she ever like to take scenic walks? Yu Mei took offense. She thought he was implying she was lazy. Which he wasn't wrong.
"Hmph! How do you know I don't like to take walks? I'm not as lazy as you think!"
Gu Shao chuckled at her silly remark. "Okay, okay. I'm sorry I was wrong. Is that better?"
"Much better. But why are you here?" she looked up at him.
"I heard you got injured. I came to inquire what kind of trouble you caused this time." Yu Mei ignored his bantering the moment an idea popped into her mind. She lifted the blanket off and scooted over to the edge of the bed. She carefully lifted her sprained ankle and put both feet on the ground as she innocently looked up at Gu Shao. "Brother Shao~" in a cute voice voice, she called his name. Gu Shao could tell in that few seconds that nothing good was going to come out.
"Pei Nan has confined me to the this stupid bed for the last few days. I'm bored. Can you take me for a walk?" her eyes widened with hope. Surely Gu Shao wouldn't refuse her, right? He disappointed her.
"Yu Mei, you should listen to Nan. He is right, you should stay in bed." For once Gu Shao agreed with Pei Nan. He didn't want Yu Mei to inflict more injury on her already sprained ankle.
Yu Mei pouted her lips and placed both hands on the edge of the bed. "Hmph! I didn't think you were going to be like Pei Nan. Fine, I'll just walk by myself." Yu Mei attempted to get up. With both her hands, she pushed herself into a standing position. As if she knew, Gu Shao wrapped his arm around hers. A smug smile appeared on her face. "I knew Brother Shao wouldn't abandon me." She smiled brightly at him. Gu Shao was left speechless. She was too reckless. Yu Mei knew how Gu Shao was. He was not someone who would stand at the side as he watched someone struggle. Unlike someone…
"You only know how to cause trouble for others." He scolded before giving in. "Fine, I'll give in to you this one time. But you can't walk too far."
"I won't. I only want to take a walk around my courtyard."
"Fine." He held out his arm for her. "Hold onto me for support." Yu Mei nodded as she linked her hands around his arm. Step by step, the two of them made it outside. Even though Yu Mei was limping and putting as little pressure on her sprained ankle as possible. It wasn't as bad since she had Gu Shao to support her.
Yu Mei's eyes shined when her eyes met with the scenery outside. The petals on the blossom trees in her backyard had started falling of. The pink petals created a thin circular layer around the trees like a blanket.
"It's beautiful." Yu Mei couldn't help but feel excited. Gu Shao helplessly turned his face to look at the side of her face. She was happy, and somehow it made him feel happy. "Should we go over there?" he pointed to a large blossom tree not too far.
"En." Yu Mei held tightly onto his arm as they slowly made their way over.
The two of them stood under the tree. Yu Mei released her right hand and placed it straight out as she watched the pink petals fall into the palms of her hand. Gu Shao stood still as he was used as a support. He didn't mind.
Yu Mei still had her left arm locked around his right. "Wah~ It's so beautiful." She slanted her hand downwards and watched the few petals in her hand get carried away with the wind. Every movement of hers mesmerized him. Gu Shao didn't even know when his right hand had reached for the petal in her hair. Instead of just reaching for the petal, his fingers lightly skimmed her silky black hair. He didn't realize how bold he had started becoming.
Yu Mei slowly turned her head when she felt his hand on her hair. She tilted her head up and smiled. Being this close to her, Gu Shao felt strange. He awkwardly put the petal in front of her. "A petal was in your hair."
"Thank you." Yu Mei grabbed the petal, placed it in her palm and blew it.
A gust of wind blew directly there way. Gu Shao didn't hesitate to step in front of Yu Mei and shield her from the cold. His right arm wrapped around her tiny figure as Yu Mei hid inside him like a cover. Just now, he had noticed how thin her clothes were. The wind was so strong and the weather was getting cooler yet he let her go out like this. He scolded himself for being careless.
Once the strong wind disappeared, Gu Shao released her. "Let's head back."
Normally Yu Mei would have rebutted but she herself started to feel cold. Even she knew it wasn't good for her injury
.
From a far, a woman was standing stiffly, watching their every move. Her envy filled eyes never strayed from the two figures. A heated Fei Ning had been watching from a far. Who knew when she had scrunched and ripped the silk handkerchief in her hand. Only when she couldn't see the two figures anymore did she turn to leave.
When Yu Mei got back on her bed, she refused to lay back down. Gu Shao could only obey this stubborn woman in front of him. Yu Mei sat at the edge of her bed with both feet touching the ground. "Thanks for taking me on a walk. It was so refreshing to finally be able to walk again." She sincerely thanked him.
"That's what friends do for each other. No need to thank me. I'll let you get some rest. I'll come visit you again."
"Can you bring me some chicken wings next time? Pei Nan has been starving me." It was half lie, half-truth. He didn't starve her but fed her healthy food and barely any meat. For a meat lover like herself, that was the greatest torture.
Gu Shao softly chuckled at her request. "I'll remember that. Don't sit too long and get some rest."
Yu Mei waved him goodbye. Seeing him today, she felt much better.
Her good mood was quickly spoiled at the arrival of Fei Ning. Whatever she came for, Yu Mei wanted none of it.