The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 682 - 644: Are You Troubled by Something? (First Update)
Just the thought of it had already conjured up a vision in Gu Yu’s mind of herself basking in triumph and authority. She gave a cold snort, "The Empress sent me to the Eastern Palace to take care of His Highness. Is it wrong for me to be concerned about him?"
"Of course not." Eunuch Sanbao chuckled, "You are the elder; it is only natural for you to care for the younger generation. Not only I, but even His Highness must respect and revere you. However, while it is good to be concerned, Aunt must also understand His Highness a little. He really is fatigued today; he rested as soon as he returned. If he could be seen, would I have kept Aunt waiting outside the door?"
From the time the Crown Prince refused her yesterday, Gu Yu has least wanted to hear people comment on her age, hinting at her unworthiness to be the Crown Prince’s woman.
The words of Eunuch Sanbao were undoubtedly a stab at her wound, piercing exactly where it hurt.
Gu Yu’s face turned rigid and unsightly. It took countless deep breaths for her to regain her composure.
This was only a day, just one day, and she couldn’t allow herself to lose like this!
After considering, Gu Yu said, "Miss Wan Qiu is ill, and His Highness can’t be left unattended. I’ll go to the East Courtyard to select someone steady and send them over."
Without waiting for Eunuch Sanbao to refuse, Gu Yu headed straight to the East Courtyard.
Even during the grand New Year’s festivities, Nian Chun and a few others, with nothing better to do, gathered flower petals to make lip balm and red nail polish.
When Gu Yu arrived, she saw rows of bottles and small dishes laid out on a long table.
"What are you all doing?" she asked from the doorway, glancing around.
Upon hearing the voice, Nian Chun stopped what she was doing.
Zhi Xia and Xiu Dong also turned to look.
Faced with this temperamental, domineering aunt, they were undoubtedly afraid.
"Is there something Aunt needs?" Zhi Xia, the youngest of the four, was somewhat frightened, her lips quivering.
"Where is Wan Qiu?" Gu Yu scanned the room with dissatisfaction.
"Sister Wan Qiu had something to do and went out." Nian Chun answered, "She said she’d be back soon."
"At this late hour, what could a lowly little palace maid have to do?"
Those words were unpleasant. They were palace maids, but still humans!
Although His Highness did not favor them, he never spoke of them as lowly.
What gave Gu Yu the right to speak so arrogantly?
The three sisters simultaneously frowned.
Gu Yu didn’t have any respect for these few and certainly didn’t care about their feelings.
She was someone close to the Empress. Tormenting a few young girls was merely a matter of her whims.
Thinking of this, Gu Yu coldly said, "I came to see how her illness is progressing and when she might be able to serve His Highness again."
Nian Chun replied, "Sister Wan Qiu is quite ill and likely won’t be able to serve His Highness for some time."
"Is that so?" Gu Yu laughed with an enigmatic smile, "Then, of you all, who is available?"
The three of them opened their mouths in surprise, then exchanged glances but dared not speak.
"Don’t blame me for not giving you a chance; I’ll ask one last time: who is available to serve at the Chengming Hall?"
Recalling Wan Qiu’s miserable state, they dared not utter a word.
With Gu Yu around, who would dare risk their life and venture into Chengming Hall?
"Then you will go."
Gu Yu extended her hand, pointing at Zhi Xia.
Zhi Xia’s face turned pale, "Aunt, I..."
Seeing her reaction, Gu Yu immediately frowned, "When I’m not here, you all try your hardest to climb into His Highness’s bed; now that I’m here, you all pretend to be virtuous—what are you trying to prove?"
Zhi Xia bit her lip tightly, her eyes red.
She had been scolded before, but being called a prostitute like this by Gu Yu was a first. Zhi Xia felt deeply aggrieved but dared not retort.
Her pitiful appearance made Gu Yu inwardly scoff; no wonder she had been trained, capable of acting and crying on cue—truly born to be a lowly wench.
Collecting her thoughts, Gu Yu’s face was stern and unyielding, "Enough, stop your act. Dress properly tomorrow morning and come with me to meet His Highness."
Gu Yu was quite calculating: since she couldn’t get close to His Highness herself, she would first coerce a maid who could, letting this girl mention her frequently when near His Highness. This way, it would be hard for him to forget her.
Poking a finger into one of the exquisite boxes, Gu Yu deftly grasped a bit of the translucent paste and brought it to her nose for a sniff. It carried a faint floral fragrance. She simply picked up the entire box, covering it, and smiled, "This lip balm is well made; I really like it."
Xiu Dong furrowed her brow. They had spent a whole day crafting this semi-finished product. If she took it away, wouldn’t their efforts have been in vain?
Xiu Dong, fiery-tempered and resentful of Gu Yu’s actions, clenched her fists, her face flushed with anger, ready to confront her. Nian Chun quickly stopped her, "Since Aunt likes it, let’s take it as a tribute to Aunt from us."
Gu Yu smiled, "That’s better."
Once she was far away, Xiu Dong glared at Nian Chun with gritted teeth, "Why did you stop me?"
"Never mind, it’s just a box of lip balm. Less trouble is better than more," Nian Chun sighed. "Aunt Gu Yu is now the steward of the Eastern Palace’s rear courtyard. We’ll have to make a living under her in the future. Using a box of lip balm to buy peace—why not?"
Xiu Dong remained unconvinced, giving a light snort and plopping herself onto the soft couch, "All our effort for just a belly full of anger in the end."
"Under the low eaves, one has to lower their head. We’re lucky to keep our lives under her; who dares to confront her and cause a dispute?"
After speaking, Nian Chun looked at Zhi Xia, "But her sudden decision to take Zhi Xia to see His Highness—what could she be plotting?"
Zhi Xia trembled, gripping Nian Chun tightly and bursting into tears, "Where has Sister Wan Qiu gone? Sister Nian Chun, I’m so scared."
Nian Chun gently patted her back, "Don’t be afraid, since she came openly, she won’t dare harm you. After all, we were arranged by the Empress. Even if she torments us, there should be a limit; otherwise, she’s courting death."
Zhi Xia cried, "Sister Wan Qiu did nothing, yet she was beaten like that. If I go to see His Highness, she’ll skin me alive."
Xiu Dong frowned, "Alright, quiet down. She already insisted you go, can you pretend to be sick to avoid it?"
"Pretending to be sick won’t work." Nian Chun sighed, "Sister Wan Qiu is already feigning illness. If Zhi Xia tries that too, Aunt Gu Yu will surely suspect."
Then, reassuring Zhi Xia, "Don’t overthink it, it’s just Chengming Hall. You’ve been before. Be smart, adapt if anything happens."
—
The two Second-class Palace Maids who went in to serve water knew the rules of His Highness were stringent. The entire time they avoided looking around, and after changing the bedding and delivering the water, they left.
Eunuch Sanbao was delighted, slipping inside while they retreated. Through the beaded curtain, he asked, "Your Highness hasn’t eaten much today, should I have some food sent in?"
He was thinking plenty but failed to realize how deflating such words were. Zhao Xi’s cool voice emerged from within the curtains, "Out!"
"Then, I will withdraw."
Once the room returned to silence, Wan Qiu lay next to Zhao Xi, feeling listless.
Though weary, sleep eluded her. She turned her head to see Zhao Xi’s eyes closed, his long lashes casting shadows, seemingly carrying an odd air since returning from outside the palace.
"Your Highness," Wan Qiu gently asked, "Did you encounter something troubling?"
"No," Zhao Xi exhaled slowly.
He said no, but Wan Qiu didn’t believe him. Earlier outside, his aura had been distinctly somber.
The Crown Prince, in Wan Qiu’s memory, though appearing cold and aloof, was truly the most outwardly cold but inwardly warm, elegant, and gentle.
Seeing him like today, bristled with a chilling hostility poised to harm, was her first experience since coming to the Eastern Palace.
