Chapter 473: Chapter 470: She’s Just Shameless

The changes in Ying Fuyan were immense.

His appearance and overall demeanor seemed to have transformed completely, leaving barely any traces of his past self.

Yao Ru wasn’t excited or joyous. What overflowed from her to her very core was a painful compassion.

What could someone have gone through for even their bone structure to change?

Yu Tingwan didn’t hide anything from her: "It’s not good. Even if he rests well, he doesn’t have many years left..."

Yao Ru’s face turned ashen.

Unwittingly, she tightened her grip.

The infant in her embrace had tender skin and cried out in pain.

Yet Yao Ru did not soothe him immediately.

She stood frozen in place.

Actually... she rarely cried anymore.

No one cared; if she cried too much, who would even notice? Her situation didn’t allow for weakness.

But at this moment, tears welled up in her eyes.

Yu Tingwan approached to look at the child. Though still young, his appearance...

"Looks like me."

Yao Ru’s voice was soft.

"Back then, we promised to be together always. He said they should look like me if we have children in the future."

Little did she know, they had no future.

Yu Tingwan wasn’t good at comforting, especially in an unsolvable situation.

She took out a peace charm and gently tucked it into the child’s belongings.

"Now that I’m standing here, you should know my husband and he are allied."

"I considered several options; breaking through the wall would be too obvious. Instead, why not dig a tunnel beneath your bed leading directly next door?"

"I mean no harm."

Yu Tingwan spoke deliberately, word by word.

"The future is unpredictable, so why not cherish the present?"

————

In the pavilion.

The Seventh Princess left in a hurry, not even having time to pack her things, and departed from the Second Prince Mansion.

Leaving Yang Jingshu and Gu Wu behind.

Yang Jingshu was at a loss as to how things developed this way, her mind in turmoil.

Gu Wu finished her tea and rose to her feet.

"Apologies for the intrusion today; as the Second Prince Consort is busy, I’ll take my leave first."

These words were directed at the attending old woman and Xun Zhu.

"Miss Gu."

Yang Jingshu called out to her.

"How can you just leave?"

"Not only am I leaving, but you should also go."

My elder sister was clearly coming for the Second Prince Consort, who hasn’t even shown up, suggesting there’s something to discuss.

She was perceptive enough not to let her elder sister think she was being clingy.

Gu Wu gave her a sidelong glance, speaking with little courtesy, "You’re not wanted here; why stay?"

With that, she started to leave.

Yang Jingshu clenched her hands tightly under her sleeves.

As Gu Wu walked away, a sharp look flashed in her eyes, and she quickly followed.

"These days I haven’t seen the Imperial Tutor’s Wife go out; I heard she’s been experimenting with making snacks. Never heard your mother liked cooking before, this..."

Her words were pointed.

"A true daughter is different; she is worth the effort."

She couldn’t believe that Gu Wu truly had no feelings!

When Yu Tingwan first returned to Shangjing, Gu Wu did have mixed feelings, mostly anxious and insecure.

But she was also glad Yu Tingwan had come back.

She never thought to compare, but she feared losing something.

After speaking with Gu Fuju and interacting with Yu Tingwan, she now only wanted to get close to her elder sister, whom she’d always known existed.

Gu Wu stopped in her tracks, with a faint smile.

"Sowing discord? Do you want me to team up with you to disgust my sister?"

Your brain must have been kicked by a donkey.

Gu Wu wasn’t interested in speaking with people who had biased views against her sister.

But she thought of something.

"Miss Yang, why don’t you guess why my sister wanted to come here with you."

"You don’t have any remarkable traits, and it’s doubtful you’d even connect with anyone."

Yang Jingshu’s face darkened.

What else could it be!

A string of offenses led directly to Ying Changqiao, but in the end, the blame fell entirely on her head.

It was intended for her to take the fall!

Seeing that Yang Jingshu finally understood, Gu Wu laughed, "It seems you have some use after all."

She sincerely added, "Not everyone is on my sister’s mind; you’re fortunate."

Thinking of someone?

You call scheming thinking of someone?

Yang Jingshu was almost amused by anger.

Gu Wu: "Who knows what the Holy Emperor is thinking, to betroth you to the Fourth Prince?"

"He’s truly out of luck for eight lifetimes, to end up with a self-proclaimed clever wrecker like you."

"You!"

Yang Jingshu’s expression turned grim.

"Still as sharp-tongued as ever."

A foster daughter, still dreaming of past glories?

"And you? Even with all your books and education, you’re still blind to people!"

"Yu Tingwan’s every move is lethal; it’s not just me, even the Seventh Princess can’t stand up to her. Shen Zhiyi is a fiery person, unstoppable when stirred up, yet even she doesn’t dare to raise her voice in front of her. You must be blind to think she’s meek?"

Gu Wu was resolute: "When someone is dirty, everything they see is dirty."

My sister’s gentleness is a clear fact.

Yang Jingshu: ??

"Just now, she almost pointed her finger and scolded the Seventh Princess!"

"Don’t slander."

Gu Wu: "My sister speaks softly, always fearing to frighten the Princess."

Yang Jingshu: ...

Right.

You’d rather be blind.

————

Across a wall at Jia Mansion,

Ying Fuyan and Wei Zhao, who had just left the Imperial Palace, were playing chess.

The two could clearly hear all the commotion from the pavilion.

Ying Fuyan placed a piece.

"When did she manage to bring Ying Changqiao’s child to Shangjing?"

After all, he was raised in the hometown.

Wei Zhao was indifferent, his demeanor casual: "Half a month ago."

The child had disappeared; the locals guarding him feared losing their heads, knowing the nobility above them didn’t care, so they dared not report it upward.

Ying Fuyan: ???

He was deeply moved.

"I didn’t expect my sister-in-law to be so invested in my affairs."

Wei Zhao looked at him with a complicated expression.

Ying Fuyan: "What’s wrong?"

Wei Zhao: "She heard about a noble princess secretly giving birth to a child and found it novel."

Ying Fuyan...

Wei Zhao chuckled softly, "She mischievously had Shunzi sneak in for a glimpse."

Ying Fuyan: ???

"After seeing him, she intended to send him back, but thought you might implore her, so she let a woman who had given birth in the mansion take care of him for a few days."

This game of chess was still not over.

Yu Tingwan had Tan Jiang bring her over from next door.

In her hands was a bottle of milk.

Ying Fuyan stood up, about to perform a grand gesture of thanks: "Trouble you greatly, my sister-in-law."

"Hey."

Yu Tingwan: "It’s still too early to thank me now."

"Which room are you staying in?"

Yu Tingwan was quite eloquent.

"Miss Yao finds it inconvenient to see you, so she wants to dig a tunnel from her place to yours."

Ying Fuyan’s eyes trembled.

"This..."

After he came clean with Yao Ru, he hadn’t gone to see her.

Ying Fuyan’s body wasn’t convenient, but if he wanted to, it was not impossible.

Yu Tingwan could actually guess the reason.

Not only her, but Yao Ru probably understood as well.

But Yu Tingwan pretended not to know.

"The tunnel would be dug from your side; take a look at where it would be convenient?"

Ying Fuyan was just about to say there was no need.

But on second thought, when Shangjing really falls into chaos, the Second Prince Mansion might see actual conflict.

Having a tunnel would be convenient too.

Should anything go wrong, Ah Ru could come over earlier.

Ying Fuyan became serious.

Ready to mark a spot.

Yu Tingwan waved her hand dismissively: "It’ll be in your room."

Can’t you’re hesitating; are you still a man or not!