Moon Palace.
In front of the only completely intact side hall, osmanthus flowers formed a sea, a breathtaking sight.
Gu Jinzhi wore a Black and Yellow Emperor Robe as he stood beneath an osmanthus tree, his expression serene and faintly carrying a sense of anticipation.
By evening, he learned from his parents' casual chat that the first phase of the Western Frontier recapture operation had ended.
Furthermore, it had gone very smoothly.
This news put his mind somewhat at ease.
Yet that yearning grew like wild grass, impossible to eradicate no matter what.
Before eight o'clock in the evening by Blue Star time, he arrived early at the Moon Palace, waiting quietly amidst the flower grove.
His gaze drifted from time to time toward the silver main entrance where moonlight swirled.
He watched for a long time, but no one came.
Thinking of her erratic personality, he occasionally raised his head, looking toward the sky in the direction of the South Heaven Gate through the gaps in the layered branches and leaves of the flower grove.
Would she think I am peeking up her skirt?
This fellow... she'll probably come over and give me a beating again...
The more Gu Jinzhi thought about it, the more he felt he would likely get hit again shortly.
Yet he could not bear to lower his head, wanting only to see her at first glance.
However, time passed second by second.
He waited for a very, very long time.
Long enough for the fragrance of the osmanthus to turn bland, long enough for his shoulders to be covered in fine, scattered gold.
Gu Jinzhi pressed his lips together, growing somewhat restless.
He was a person extremely sensitive to time.
He had been standing here from eight o'clock in the evening until now,