Under the palace wall, it was pitch dark, but her eager eyes were shining brightly.
"Miss Gu Ying, is everything you said true?"
Gu Ying smiled slightly, "What good would it do me to lie to you?"
In the night, her reassuring smile finally cleared Ning Si's worries. No wonder Prince Duan, who had been quite gentle to her earlier, suddenly turned cold.
She had also heard about Prince Duan coughing blood and lying in bed seriously ill, unable to attend Eldest Prince's wedding at the Duke's residence that day. At that time, she had worriedly wanted to rush into the prince's residence to see him.
Unfortunately, Si Fu had stopped her at the gate of the prince's residence. They had also thrown out all the things she had previously given to the prince.
"Get lost. The prince doesn't want to see you anymore."
"Go find your Prince Shu."
"Don't come to Prince Duan's residence again."
That day, she had hugged those things and cried for a long time in the snow outside the prince's residence. The wind was so cold and the snow was heavy, but he never came out to see her. She really thought Prince Duan didn't want her anymore...
She rushed over and hugged Gu Ying tightly, happily crying out, "Miss Gu Ying, thank you!"
As long as there was still a place for her in Prince Duan's heart, she would stick to him like glue!
She was not afraid that he was weak, or that he might die young. If she became his wife, she would certainly take good care of his health.
It didn't matter even if he didn't become the Crown Prince.
They could ignore politics, not want wealth and glory, and just be a leisurely couple traveling around the world.
If he really died...she would cut her own throat and go with him.
Whether to the ends of the universe or the yellow springs below, she would always be with him.
Gu Ying stretched out her little hand and patted Ning Si's slightly twitching shoulders, listening to her suppressed sobs. A soft smile rose at the corner of her lips. "Miss Ning, there is one very important thing you must do as I say."
At this moment, Gu Ying had completely calmed down.
If it was really as she had expected, if Jiang Yin had also been reborn and returned...
Then she would fight with him to the end.
The first thing was that Prince Duan could not die.
Ning Si raised her head, and her distinctive black and white eyes shone brightly in the night.
"Alright, tell me!"
...
At the palace gate.
A luxurious carriage suddenly raced towards Xihua Palace.
Today there was a grand banquet in the palace, with the emperor entertaining ministers and their families. It wasn't time for the nobles to leave yet.
The guards defending the palace gates immediately stopped the carriage, stern-faced. "Who goes there!"
A little maid poked her head out of the carriage hurriedly. "Li Guard, it's...it's...Princess Yueyan wants to leave the palace."
The man called Li Guard walked up with a lantern to get a clear look at Zi Yuan's face.
Zi Yuan was Princess Yueyan’s personal maid, and the guards regularly on duty in the palace all recognized her.
Li Guard was quite familiar with Zi Yuan, only because Princess Yueyan was the emperor's only daughter. Even though she was born from the Empress's womb, the emperor still favored this innocent and lovely little princess.
Princess Yueyan often secretly snuck out of the palace to play. It was always through Li Guard that she slipped out.
Zi Yuan anxiously twisted her fingers, proficiently taking out the princess’s token and several taels of silver, placing them in Li Guard's palm. "Princess Yueyan suddenly has urgent business and wants to go to Marquis Yong’an’s estate... Li Guard, please do us a favor."
Li Guard looked puzzledly at the motionless carriage. "Is the princess inside?"
Zi Yuan swallowed nervously. "She...she is."
Zi Yuan was uncharacteristically stammering awkwardly tonight, completely lacking her usual liveliness, inevitably causing Li Guard to look a few more times.
That the carriage was stopped at the palace gate was also particularly conspicuous. At this time, all nobility were at the palace banquet, but Princess Yueyan suddenly wanted to leave the palace?
Seeing that Li Guard was still blocking the way, Princess Yueyan suddenly spoke from inside the carriage.
"Could it be that Li Guard is determined to stop Princess’s carriage tonight?"
A slender white hand slightly lifted the carriage curtain.
Catching a glimpse of that flash of yellow in the carriage, Li Guard immediately held his fists and lowered his head. "This subordinate does not dare. It is only that this subordinate is responsible for guarding the palace gates and does not dare to casually allow people to leave. If the Imperial Guards Commander finds out, I fear that my life will be over."
"What is there to fear? If something happens, Princess will bear the responsibility. My Eldest Brother wouldn’t make things difficult for me, would he?" Princess Yueyan sounded increasingly impatient. "Princess has urgent business at Marquis Yong'an's estate. Why haven't you opened the palace gates for Princess to leave yet!"
Li Guard’s brows wrinkled. Feeling that something was off, he raised his head.
Just then, Princess Yueyan angrily let the carriage curtain drop. A fluttering corner of the curtain revealed a familiar dark pattern depicting a kirin.
Li Guard’s heart stirred. He felt as if there was more than one person in that carriage...
"Why haven't you opened the gates yet?! Do you have to wait until Princess throws a tantrum before you’ll open them? Or do you require Princess to obtain an imperial decree from Father before you’ll obey?” Princess Yueyan sounded aggrieved, her voice brimming with raging anger.
Li Guard struggled for a while but could find no alternative. He could only wave to have the palace gates opened.
The carriage began to travel towards the palace exit.
Bracing himself against the raging wind and snow, another guard walked over, his neck tucked. "Brother Li, did you see that? Ever since Princess Yueyan failed to marry the Commander, her temper has grown more violent. In the future, we should keep our distance from her."
Li Guard's brow remained deeply furrowed, waves of unease churning in his heart. "Wang Er, send someone to the palace banquet to take a look."
Wang Er asked in puzzlement, “What's the matter?”
Li Guard said, “I feel something is off with Princess Yueyan.”
Wang Er said, “What could be wrong with her? Marquis Yong'an's estate is the family of Empress’s ladyship. She is merely using the excuse of going there to play. The palace banquets every year are always the same. The little princess probably prefers the festive lanterns and lights outside more."
Li Guard's face turned solemn as he clapped Wang Er heavily on the shoulder. "I told you to go, so go. Less yapping."
Cursing under his breath, Wang Er left.
But Li Guard still felt uneasy, so he dispatched two more palace guards to follow the carriage and promptly pass word back to the palace. After all, it was the little princess whom the emperor cherished. If something really happened to her outside, he would also have to take responsibility.
Moreover...that corner of clothing looked exactly the same as what he had seen Capital Commander wearing today...
...
In the vast palace banquet, countless nobles and princes toasted over brimming cups. Gorgeous scenes flashed by like a dream.
Yet no matter where Gu Ying looked, she couldn't find a trace of Eldest Prince. No one told her of Eldest Prince’s whereabouts.
Instead, some people were looking at her mockingly, handkerchiefs covering grins as they exaggeratedly cried, “Look at her! She really can't leave Eldest Prince's side for a moment. Could she be afraid that the prince doesn’t want her anymore?"
"You think marrying so highly is that easy? What sort of man is the Prince, that she dares cling to him so shamelessly?"
"Truly a shameless vixen. Just thinking every day of how to seduce men."
Huo Qiyan also looked scornfully at Gu Ying. She had said it long ago — her cousin wouldn’t like a woman like Gu Ying who could hardly step onto the public stage.
She was destined for great things, while what did Gu Ying have over her, other than better looks?
Her cousin would see her good qualities. Once she entered Duke Guo’s residence, she would fix Gu Ying for good.
Under the palace wall, it was pitch dark, but her eager eyes were shining brightly.
"Miss Gu Ying, is everything you said true?"
Gu Ying smiled slightly, "What good would it do me to lie to you?"
In the night, her reassuring smile finally cleared Ning Si's worries. No wonder Prince Duan, who had been quite gentle to her earlier, suddenly turned cold.
She had also heard about Prince Duan coughing blood and lying in bed seriously ill, unable to attend Eldest Prince's wedding at the Duke's residence that day. At that time, she had worriedly wanted to rush into the prince's residence to see him.
Unfortunately, Si Fu had stopped her at the gate of the prince's residence. They had also thrown out all the things she had previously given to the prince.
"Get lost. The prince doesn't want to see you anymore."
"Go find your Prince Shu."
"Don't come to Prince Duan's residence again."
That day, she had hugged those things and cried for a long time in the snow outside the prince's residence. The wind was so cold and the snow was heavy, but he never came out to see her. She really thought Prince Duan didn't want her anymore...
She rushed over and hugged Gu Ying tightly, happily crying out, "Miss Gu Ying, thank you!"
As long as there was still a place for her in Prince Duan's heart, she would stick to him like glue!
She was not afraid that he was weak, or that he might die young. If she became his wife, she would certainly take good care of his health.
It didn't matter even if he didn't become the Crown Prince.
They could ignore politics, not want wealth and glory, and just be a leisurely couple traveling around the world.
If he really died...she would cut her own throat and go with him.
Whether to the ends of the universe or the yellow springs below, she would always be with him.
Gu Ying stretched out her little hand and patted Ning Si's slightly twitching shoulders, listening to her suppressed sobs. A soft smile rose at the corner of her lips. "Miss Ning, there is one very important thing you must do as I say."
At this moment, Gu Ying had completely calmed down.
If it was really as she had expected, if Jiang Yin had also been reborn and returned...
Then she would fight with him to the end.
The first thing was that Prince Duan could not die.
Ning Si raised her head, and her distinctive black and white eyes shone brightly in the night.
"Alright, tell me!"
...
At the palace gate.
A luxurious carriage suddenly raced towards Xihua Palace.
Today there was a grand banquet in the palace, with the emperor entertaining ministers and their families. It wasn't time for the nobles to leave yet.
The guards defending the palace gates immediately stopped the carriage, stern-faced. "Who goes there!"
A little maid poked her head out of the carriage hurriedly. "Li Guard, it's...it's...Princess Yueyan wants to leave the palace."
The man called Li Guard walked up with a lantern to get a clear look at Zi Yuan's face.
Zi Yuan was Princess Yueyan’s personal maid, and the guards regularly on duty in the palace all recognized her.
Li Guard was quite familiar with Zi Yuan, only because Princess Yueyan was the emperor's only daughter. Even though she was born from the Empress's womb, the emperor still favored this innocent and lovely little princess.
Princess Yueyan often secretly snuck out of the palace to play. It was always through Li Guard that she slipped out.
Zi Yuan anxiously twisted her fingers, proficiently taking out the princess’s token and several taels of silver, placing them in Li Guard's palm. "Princess Yueyan suddenly has urgent business and wants to go to Marquis Yong’an’s estate... Li Guard, please do us a favor."
Li Guard looked puzzledly at the motionless carriage. "Is the princess inside?"
Zi Yuan swallowed nervously. "She...she is."
Zi Yuan was uncharacteristically stammering awkwardly tonight, completely lacking her usual liveliness, inevitably causing Li Guard to look a few more times.
That the carriage was stopped at the palace gate was also particularly conspicuous. At this time, all nobility were at the palace banquet, but Princess Yueyan suddenly wanted to leave the palace?
Seeing that Li Guard was still blocking the way, Princess Yueyan suddenly spoke from inside the carriage.
"Could it be that Li Guard is determined to stop Princess’s carriage tonight?"
A slender white hand slightly lifted the carriage curtain.
Catching a glimpse of that flash of yellow in the carriage, Li Guard immediately held his fists and lowered his head. "This subordinate does not dare. It is only that this subordinate is responsible for guarding the palace gates and does not dare to casually allow people to leave. If the Imperial Guards Commander finds out, I fear that my life will be over."
"What is there to fear? If something happens, Princess will bear the responsibility. My Eldest Brother wouldn’t make things difficult for me, would he?" Princess Yueyan sounded increasingly impatient. "Princess has urgent business at Marquis Yong'an's estate. Why haven't you opened the palace gates for Princess to leave yet!"
Li Guard’s brows wrinkled. Feeling that something was off, he raised his head.
Just then, Princess Yueyan angrily let the carriage curtain drop. A fluttering corner of the curtain revealed a familiar dark pattern depicting a kirin.
Li Guard’s heart stirred. He felt as if there was more than one person in that carriage...
"Why haven't you opened the gates yet?! Do you have to wait until Princess throws a tantrum before you’ll open them? Or do you require Princess to obtain an imperial decree from Father before you’ll obey?” Princess Yueyan sounded aggrieved, her voice brimming with raging anger.
Li Guard struggled for a while but could find no alternative. He could only wave to have the palace gates opened.
The carriage began to travel towards the palace exit.
Bracing himself against the raging wind and snow, another guard walked over, his neck tucked. "Brother Li, did you see that? Ever since Princess Yueyan failed to marry the Commander, her temper has grown more violent. In the future, we should keep our distance from her."
Li Guard's brow remained deeply furrowed, waves of unease churning in his heart. "Wang Er, send someone to the palace banquet to take a look."
Wang Er asked in puzzlement, “What's the matter?”
Li Guard said, “I feel something is off with Princess Yueyan.”
Wang Er said, “What could be wrong with her? Marquis Yong'an's estate is the family of Empress’s ladyship. She is merely using the excuse of going there to play. The palace banquets every year are always the same. The little princess probably prefers the festive lanterns and lights outside more."
Li Guard's face turned solemn as he clapped Wang Er heavily on the shoulder. "I told you to go, so go. Less yapping."
Cursing under his breath, Wang Er left.
But Li Guard still felt uneasy, so he dispatched two more palace guards to follow the carriage and promptly pass word back to the palace. After all, it was the little princess whom the emperor cherished. If something really happened to her outside, he would also have to take responsibility.
Moreover...that corner of clothing looked exactly the same as what he had seen Capital Commander wearing today...
...
In the vast palace banquet, countless nobles and princes toasted over brimming cups. Gorgeous scenes flashed by like a dream.
Yet no matter where Gu Ying looked, she couldn't find a trace of Eldest Prince. No one told her of Eldest Prince’s whereabouts.
Instead, some people were looking at her mockingly, handkerchiefs covering grins as they exaggeratedly cried, “Look at her! She really can't leave Eldest Prince's side for a moment. Could she be afraid that the prince doesn’t want her anymore?"
"You think marrying so highly is that easy? What sort of man is the Prince, that she dares cling to him so shamelessly?"
"Truly a shameless vixen. Just thinking every day of how to seduce men."
Huo Qiyan also looked scornfully at Gu Ying. She had said it long ago — her cousin wouldn’t like a woman like Gu Ying who could hardly step onto the public stage.
She was destined for great things, while what did Gu Ying have over her, other than better looks?
Her cousin would see her good qualities. Once she entered Duke Guo’s residence, she would fix Gu Ying for good.
