Chapter 685 - 647: Conspiracy (2nd Update)

Chapter 685: Chapter 647: Conspiracy (2nd Update)

Zhi Xia hesitated somewhat.

Although she was annoyed with Wan Qiu, she disliked Gu Yu just the same.

The little eunuch said, "Gugu said, if you don’t go, don’t regret it in the future."

Hearing this, Zhi Xia’s heart skipped a beat.

After thinking it over, she still decided to go.

So she stealthily followed the little eunuch, avoiding crowded places, and arrived at the West Courtyard.

Gu Yu was sitting in the side room drinking tea, with a tray on the kang table, in the tray were two sets of eunuch clothing.

Zhi Xia didn’t understand why Gu Yu called her here, she curtsied, "Gugu."

Gu Yu changed her attitude from before, smiled, and gestured for her to sit.

Zhi Xia dared not, "I’m used to standing, Gugu can just give orders if there’s anything."

Gu Yu snorted, "Born to be a servant, that’s why you’re used to standing."

These words pierced straight into Zhi Xia’s heart, she tightly pursed her lips.

"Wan Qiu has been favored, don’t you all feel anxious?"

Zhi Xia said, "There’s only one Wan Qiu, we aren’t her, how can each of us be liked by His Highness?"

Gu Yu heard a hint of sulkiness in her words, satisfactorily curling her lips, "Do you know once His Highness favors someone, the rest have to be sent away?"

"What?" Zhi Xia’s complexion changed, "Weren’t we told at least two can stay?"

"Don’t you understand His Highness’s character yet?" Gu Yu said, "You dressed so exquisitely and beautifully this morning, but he wouldn’t let you handle even dressing or grooming, clearly entranced by that cheap woman. In such a situation, how could he possibly keep two?"

"No way!" Zhi Xia insisted, "The nanny who trained us before coming said, two can stay."

Gu Yu raised her eyebrow, "Then go and ask His Highness if he’s willing to keep two."

Zhi Xia’s body trembled.

She didn’t even have the right to handle dressing and grooming, how could she ask such a question?

Seeing her lost and dejected, Gu Yu pointed to the robes on the kang table, "These two sets of clothes are prepared for you and Wan Qiu. As long as you find a way to lead her to Qingfang Palace, the rest will not require your care, just wait to be summoned to serve His Highness in bed."

Zhi Xia knew Qingfang Palace, it was an abandoned palace beside Taiye Pool, secluded and quiet, rarely visited by anyone.

She certainly wanted to seize this opportunity to serve His Highness in Chengming Hall, but she knew Gu Yu wouldn’t spare Wan Qiu.

Although she had a falling out with Wan Qiu over serving His Highness in bed, she never considered doing anything to her.

"I can’t do this." Zhi Xia’s voice trembled, "We are sisters, it was agreed when we came that we would support each other. Even if... even if she secretly served His Highness in bed and betrayed our sisterhood, I can’t betray her."

"Is that so?"

Gu Yu seemed sure that she would eventually agree, speaking unhurriedly, "Do you know how the female officials who enlightened the Prince are living now?"

Zhi Xia bit the corner of her mouth, seemingly determined to protect her last shred of integrity.

"Because of the reputation of being ’the Prince’s women,’ they can’t marry outsiders, and no one wants them in the palace. Even if they hold positions, they’re still reduced to becoming companions for eunuchs."

"Com... companions?"

Zhi Xia was utterly panicked, "No, no way."

Gu Yu smiled, "But I can see, among the four of you, though you’re the youngest, you’re the most loyal and righteous. Since you’re unwilling to betray Wan Qiu, just leave, I’ll just find someone else."

This "someone else" would naturally be one of the four, either Nian Chun or Xiu Dong.

Though they were agreed to be sisters, whenever Zhi Xia thought of those two being favored like Wan Qiu, her heart felt uneasy in various ways.

Furrowing her brow, biting her teeth, she asked, "What do you plan to do with Wan Qiu?"

"That’s none of your concern."

"Then... can you spare her life?"

"That’s none of your concern either."

Panic-stricken, Zhi Xia said, "Killing someone within the Imperial Palace, if discovered, is a capital offense."

Gu Yu cursed her as a fool in her heart, losing patience on her face, her smile disappearing entirely, "Will you agree or not? If not, leave immediately, don’t waste time bargaining here with me."

"I..." Zhi Xia was still hesitant and asked again, "If I really take her to Qingfang Palace, what if it gets found out later?"

"I’ve already told you, as long as she goes to Qingfang Palace, you won’t have to worry about the rest. Since you didn’t get involved, even if someone investigates, what can they find out?"

Zhi Xia took a deep breath, swallowed, and said, "Alright, I agree with you."

She wrapped the two sets of robes given by Gu Yu in silk cloth and took them away. After returning to her room, she quietly hid them in the wardrobe when no one was looking, then sat on the bed, pondering how to deceive Wan Qiu into going to Qingfang Palace.

——

At the same time, Song Yuanbao entered the palace. With a waist card, he passed through unimpeded and headed straight for Chengming Hall.

Eunuch Sanbao saw him and snorted arrogantly, turning his head aside.

Song Yuanbao grinned, "Is the eunuch still angry?"

"I wouldn’t dare," Eunuch Sanbao snorted again. "You are the master, and I am just a servant. How dare I be angry with you?"

"Since you know I am the master, why aren’t you letting me in quickly?" Song Yuanbao said as he pushed him aside.

Eunuch Sanbao was pushed aside but immediately stood back, spreading his arms to block in front of him, "His Highness said he doesn’t want to see you."

"Whether he sees me or not is not for you to decide."

Seeing that he refused to leave, Song Yuanbao reached out and pinched his ear, "Did you understand?"

"This servant is illiterate, doesn’t understand." Eunuch Sanbao was stubborn, with an attitude of not caring.

"Have you thought about it?" Song Yuanbao feigned a threat, "If I leave now, I won’t come back to the Eastern Palace again."

Eunuch Sanbao snorted again, "Who are you trying to scare?"

"I really am leaving."

Eunuch Sanbao rolled his eyes, "You think it was so easy to win that Hai Dongqing yesterday? Third Young Master Ye had already shot five, and for His Highness to win against him, he’d have to use special skills. What are those? His Highness got up at dawn from a young age, honing his skills little by little over ten years, just to win that one Hai Dongqing. Hmph, Young Master Song, you’re so generous, handing it over to the Beauty before it even warms in your hand. If you gave it to His Highness, and he handed it over right in front of you, what would you think?"

Feeling guilty, Song Yuanbao clasped his hands together, "I was wrong, truly wrong. I regretted it so much last night that I couldn’t sleep. Look, see my dark circles still haven’t faded."

Eunuch Sanbao refused to look, "If you sincerely want to apologize, then go retrieve that Hai Dongqing."

"Isn’t that a bit improper?" Song Yuanbao laughed dryly, "To take back something I gave to a young lady, would that even be dignified?"

"But you gave away our His Highness’s thing to someone else, isn’t that undignified?" Eunuch Sanbao grew angrier the more he spoke.

"Haven’t I already admitted my mistake? Just let me in to see His Highness, and I will explain everything in person."

"His Highness didn’t want to listen yesterday, and he definitely won’t want to today."

"You stubborn Sanbao, get out of my way!"

"I won’t, just won’t!"

Sanbao blocked the palace door. No matter where Song Yuanbao went, he blocked him, refusing to let him enter.

Just then, Zhao Xi’s voice suddenly came from behind the door, "What’s going on?"

Song Yuanbao looked up and was met with Zhao Xi’s calm and refined face, instantly breaking into a smile, "Your Highness, I’ve come to apologize."

"What are you apologizing for?" Zhao Xi seemed to entirely forget about yesterday’s happenings in the manor, gazing at him unblinkingly.

Feeling guilty, Song Yuanbao said, "That Hai Dongqing you won, I shouldn’t have impulsively given it to Miss Ye."

"It’s been given, so why talk about it now?" Zhao Xi turned his gaze away.

"Everyone makes impulsive mistakes sometimes. Shouldn’t you give me a chance to make amends? I’ve already sent someone to find another. I’ll get you a crane, a symbol of longevity—how thoughtful, right?"

Zhao Xi remained unmoved, "Are you finished?"

"I’m finished, I just... want to add a request to help me catch up on some lessons?"

"It’s New Year, who would give you lessons?" Eunuch Sanbao looked at him with hostility, "You have a beauty to keep company, so naturally, our His Highness won’t be idle either, and certainly won’t waste time with you."

"The Crown Princess Consort won’t enter the palace for another two years..." Song Yuanbao was speaking when he suddenly caught on, his eyes widened, "The courtyard still has a few others, could it be His Highness has succeeded in a trial marriage?"

Eunuch Sanbao gave him a sidelong glance, with an expression of "It’s none of your business."

Song Yuanbao automatically ignored Eunuch Sanbao, his face full of relief, "Indeed, you’ve finally come around. No wonder I felt something was different about you today." He then asked, "Who is the girl? Nian Chun, Zhi Xia, Wan Qiu, or Xiu Dong? Could it be, all four together?"

Eunuch Sanbao was almost speechless, "Nonsense, it’s only Miss Wan Qiu who is favored."

No matter who it was, Song Yuanbao was genuinely happy for Zhao Xi and cupped his hands, saying, "In that case, congratulations to Your Highness."