Chapter 377

Chapter 377

A few moments later, the curtain leading to the main hall was raised again, a momo came in, and went to Empress Wei's side to whisper a few words. Empress Wei looked over Qin Jiu with a subtle look in her eyes before smiling and said, "Xiaio Jiu, the osmanthus flowers in the imperial garden are in full bloom today, go enjoy the flowers and take a break."

Qin Jiu thought Empress Wei had something urgent to deal with so she deliberately dismissed her, thus, she obediently got up and comply.

And since Du Ruo was familiar with the palace, Empress Wei didn't send someone to guide her. The master and servant went from Fengluan Palace to the Imperial Garden together.

The osmanthus garden was located in the southwest corner of the imperial garden, and before they even arrived, she could already smell the strong fragrance of the osmanthus flowers in August mixed with chrysanthemum, grass and woods as well as a faint fragrance of tea?

Sniffing her nose, Qin Jiu walked around the rockery only to see an octagonal pavilion next to the osmanthus garden in front of her. Inside the pavilion was a young man in purple robes, leisurely brewing tea with a small red clay stove next to him.

Gu Zezhi seemed to know she was coming; he raised his eyes towards her and waved. "Xiao Jiu, come here!"

The bottom of his eyes was clear, his lips, rosy and his smile was rippling.

And for a moment, Qin Jiu stare in awe as one phrase came to mind: 'Beauty deceives people!'!

She couldn't help but quicken her pace as she walked towards him, her smile radiant.

Meanwhile, Du Ruo tactfully turned around, her gaze landed on the bird in the blue sky as she thought to herself: It's spring time...no, its autumn, and its dense!

Qin Jiu at this time, sat down in the pavilion and was happily drinking the tea Gu Zezhi brewed as she looked at him up and down.

He had obviously taken a shower and changed clothes, although his dark hair was 80% dry, upon closer inspection, she could see that there was still some slight moisture between the strand. He had a purple gold crown on his bun with a small blood stone emblem in it, there was also a familiar crescent shaped sachet on his waist.

Qin Jiu's gaze rested on the sachet for a few moments before moving her gaze, unbeknownst to her, this simple action from her looked charming, especially between her brows.

His little girl has grown up! Gu Zezhi's smiling eyes swept a touch of blazing heat as he casually asked, "I brought this Tieguanyin back from Minzhou, how is it?"

Fragrance was fragrant. Qin Jiu took two sips of tea and honestly said, "It's not good."

"Cow chewing peony*." Curling his fingers, Gu Zezhi carelessly touch the tip of her nose.

(*metaphor not knowing how to appreciate, not following proper etiquette for beautiful things)

Wrinkling her nose, Qin Jiu asked. "This isn't the gift you said you brought me, is it?"

"What do you think?" Gu Zezhi raised an eyebrow.

As if hearing a foreign language, Qin Jiu just grabbed the corner of his sleeve, pulled it, and gently swayed it back and forth coquettishly.

Gu Zezhi said. "Put out your left hand."

Qin Jiu stretch out her left hand, she didn't see what he had pulled out of his sleeve and just heard a "click" sound as he put something on her wrist, which felt heavy.

When Gu Zezhi removed his hand away, Qin Jiu saw a red gold engraved bracelet on her left wrist. The bracelet was inlaid with a ring of bright rubies, each of which was the size of a bodhi.

A few wisps of sunshine slanted into the pavilion, and the large Ruby on the bracelet shone brightly in the sun, reflecting her white skin more radiant than snow.

For a moment the radiant red ruby looks like a wedding dress forming a sharp contrast with her white delicate skin.

"Do you like it?" He softly asked, stretched out his finger, and twirled the gold bracelet in satisfaction, his burning fingertips inadvertently grazing the skin on the inside of her wrist.

This bracelet really suits her as he expected.

"En!" Qin Jiu vigorously nodded as she took back her now "heavy" left hand and counted the ruby-encrusted bracelets on her wrist with interest, looking like a money-grubber.

Her golden thigh really knows her the best!

The glimmer from the ruby sprinkled on her snow-white face and reflected in her obsidian eyes making her look more dazzling like a fierce flame.

Reading Qin Jiu like the back of his hand, Gu Zezhi could only purse his lips into a smile.

While playing with her ruby bracelet, Qin Jiu casually said. "Just now, there was a girl in Fengluan Palace who said she knew you."

Gu Zezhi asked, "Who?"

Qin Jiu replied. "Miss Tang, the cousin of County Princess Duan Rou."

Of course, Gu Zezhi knew this County Princess Duan Rou, she was his own niece and the daughter of Wang Yu. The County Princess's maternal family surname was Tang, but why did the Tang family let their daughter visit the capital with County Princess Duan Rou...

As he was thinking of this, he casually picked up the teacup but in the corner of his eyes, he caught a glimpse of Qin Jiu looking at him with a smile but not a smile and a hint of unfathomable look on her face.

Gu Zezhi immediately heard alarm bells ringing in his ears as a desire to survive suddenly arouse. Shaking his head, he decisively said. "I don't know her."

Unable to hold it longer, Qin Jiu let out a "pfft" and laugh like a hibiscus coming out of water, delicate and playful.

Gu Zezhi shook his head, reached out his finger, and pinched the tip of her tiny nose, helplessly saying, "Naughty!"

Touching the tip of her poor nose, Qin Jiu felt that it must have reddened after being pinched multiple times by him now, and give him a resentful sideways glance.

Gu Zezhi's heart heat up, and his eyes became even hotter.

"Ahem..."

Not far away there was a dry cough of clearing throat, it was Du Ruo and Xiao Kouzi who were standing from the side of the rockery. The latter greeted the two people in the pavilion. "County King, Miss Qin, it's almost time for the banquet."

Gu Zezhi took the lead in getting up and stretched out his hand to Qin Jiu, who then naturally put a hand on his and stood up with his help.

It was a simple gesture of helping someone but Gu Zezhi did it with great elegance and Qin Jiu's moves were done naturally as if it was meant to be. On the contrary, Du Ruo's expression was subtle as she lost count of how many times she sighed with her Third Miss outgoing personality.

Xiao Kouzi led the way ahead, as Gu Zezhi and Qin Jiu walked side by side out of the imperial garden.

***