TLDPCRM 34: Endless Favor (Patreon)

Chapter 34: Endless Favor


Gu Yunru withdrew her gaze and looked at Rongzhen beside her. "I want to go out for a bit and get some fresh air."

"I'll go with you."

"No need, I'll be fine on my own. You stay here I'll be with Qingxing." Gu Yunru raised an eyebrow at the Qingxing behind her, who was only focused on eating. Others would think she was being mistreated.

"Miss, wait for me!" Qingxing followed her out of the hall, but couldn't catch up.

"Hurry up. I've told you before to exercise more and eat less."

Gu Yunru was too tired to complain. Qingxing smiled shyly. "Miss, don't say that. I eat more so I can serve you better."

"Don't be ridiculous. Think about how I'll apologize to Shufei later at the Qianxi Palace."

"What happened, Miss? Concubine Shu has been treating you well. She even gave you loquat paste, a blessing that most people don't receive."

Gu Yunru shook her head in despair and pointed her slender jade finger at Qingxing head. This girl only knew how to eat, but had no idea what was really going on.

"Do you think Concubine Shu has good intentions?"

"What's wrong? Does Miss see something?"

  Qingxing firmly believed in the idea that Miss had opened her heavenly eyes, feeling that since returning to the Gu mansion, Miss's aura had changed as if she had been guided by a master.

  Recalling the gaze of the Concubine Shu, all emotions were hidden beneath her surface, and ordinary people would not be able to observe anything.

  This maid, Qingxing, had a relatively simple nature, which was why she couldn't see through anything.

  "Never mind, let's go to the Chuxiu Palace and take a look."

  "Okay."

  On the way, Gu Yunru always felt like someone was following her from behind, but when she stopped, that feeling suddenly disappeared.

  "What's wrong, Miss?" Qingxing looked at her own young lady with confusion, suddenly becoming suspicious and frightened.

  "Nothing, Qingxing, let's play a game. You walk in front of me in that direction, and I'll hide behind the stone over there. Don't make any noise, okay?"

  "Okay."

  Although she didn't know what her young lady's intentions were, Qingxing obediently nodded and followed through.

  Qingxing walked straight ahead after listening to Gu Yunru's words, while Gu Yunru hid behind a stone to see who was following her. The footsteps sounded very light, indicating that this person had a deep inner strength.

  "Rongzhen!"

Gu Yunru did not expect to see such a tall figure, who turned out to be Rong Zhen. Rong Zhen was also somewhat surprised. Pretending to be nonchalant, he looked forward and said, "I didn't expect you to be enjoying the moon in this courtyard as well."

Gu Yunru squinted her phoenix eyes and, under the moonlight, could see his facial expression. He had been following her all along and was now pretending to coincidentally run into her. She was certain he must feel guilty.

"Don't pretend. What are you sneaking around behind me for?"

Gu Yunru waved her sleeve irritably and ran away, staring straight into his deep eyes.

"I'm afraid you might get into trouble being alone outside," Rong Zhen said.

Gu Yunru was speechless, feeling that he had a point.

"Alright, I'm going to the Chuxiu Palace to see how Concubine Ying is doing. If you like to tag along, then come with me."

Rong Zhen had a very unwilling look on his face but, in the end, he obediently followed in her footsteps. Qingxing had been waiting by the bridge for quite some time and finally saw Miss's figure. She never expected that the prince would be following behind her.

"I pay my respects to the prince."

"No need for formalities. The Chuxiu Palace is nearby, and I'm a bit inconvenient. I'll just take a walk around the area."

Men are not allowed to wander freely inside the palace, and it seems Rong Zhen had memorized this palace rule quite firmly. Gu Yunru nodded in satisfaction and gave Qingxing a nod.

"Who are you people?"

The two palace maids guarding the entrance looked at the two of them warily. It was so late at night, and how could there be a strange woman coming near the Chuxiu Palace?

Gu Yunru walked forward, her lively eyes shining like black diamonds as she blinked at the two people. She quirked her lips and said, "I'm here to help Concubine Ying with her illness."

Hearing this, Lu Yun and Xiu Yun looked at each other.

"We don't know you. Where did you come from?" Lu Yun asked with a stern face.

"It's a misunderstanding. I came from the Qianxi Palace to see the Lady's illness."

Lu Yun heard that she came from the Qianxi Palace and frowned, scolding fiercely, "We have a court physician to take care of her. Please leave, miss."

Qingxing couldn't bear to see her mistress being treated unfairly, and with her big round eyes glaring, she walked forward and said, "Our mistress came here with good intentions to see Lady Ying, and you're treating her with such attitude. It's like the proverb 'biting the hand that feeds you'."

"Cough...cough..."

A weak cough interrupted their conversation. It was undoubtedly Concubine Ying, and Gu Yunru realized it.

"Tell Concubine Ying that someone from Qianxi Palace is here to see her."

"Let her in."

Unexpectedly, Concubine Ying's voice was so pleasant to hear. Gu Yunru looked at the two palace ladies guarding the door, lifted her head confidently, and walked in. But as she entered the room, she felt that something was off. The room was filled with a light fragrance, but it wasn't medicinal nor fruity. It was a scent that she had never smelled before.

"Cough...cough..."

The red bed curtains covered the person lying on the bed, adding to the mystery. Xiu Yun, one of the palace ladies, lifted the curtain and stepped aside to guard.

At the moment Gu Yunru saw Concubine Ying, her pupils dilated. Concubine Ying had a unique exotic appearance with thick eyebrows, big eyes, profound facial features, and a high-bridged nose. She looked like she belonged to an ethnic minority. Even lying in bed sick, she still gave people a delicate and pitiful feeling.

"I have met Concubine Ying," Gu Yunru said.

The person Gu Yunru was looking at was so stunned that they almost forgot to pay their respects. Lu Yun helped Concubine Ying sit up, and Concubine Ying, with a haggard face, looked at Gu Yunru curiously and asked, "Did Concubine Shu ask you to come?"

"Not really. Please forgive me, Your Highness. I came to see you on my own."

"You have a lot of nerve, how dare you lie to our Highness!" Lu Yun exclaimed.

"Ah, Lu Yun, please leave us," Concubine Ying said.

The attitude of the palace maid named Lu Yun suddenly diminished, and she lowered her head obediently and went out.

"Your Highness, you are so beautiful," Gu Yunru couldn't help but say. Concubine Ying was the most beautiful woman she had seen since she arrived, and even though she was ill, she still gave people a feeling of wanting to protect her.

Concubine Ying gave a bitter smile and wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief. "This is what I look like now. Are you still trying to please me?"

"Your Highness, you are mistaken. A true beauty can be unforgettable even with a plain face. Your Highness belongs to this category," Gu Yunru said.

Looking at Concubine Yingt's face, Gu Yunru understood why there were rumors in the palace that Concubine Ying was the emperor's favorite concubine.

"Your Highness, may I check your pulse?" Gu Yunru, seeing that Concubine Ying was gentle in temperament, became more talkative.