TLDPCRM 41 - Groundless Rumors (Patreon)

Chapter 41 - Groundless Rumors


Looking at Rong Zhen running away with his tail between his legs, Gu Yunru felt helpless and amused.

She was resting with her eyes closed when she heard Qingxing's anxious voice.

"What happened? Why are you in such a hurry?"

"Miss, Madam sent a message saying that the master is seriously ill."

Upon hearing this, Gu Yunru sat up straight and asked, "Is it true? What's going on?"

"I'm not sure, but the servant said so. Please hurry back and see for yourself, Miss."

Gu Yunru didn't have much affection for her so-called "father" who had taken advantage of her mother. She didn't see why she should care about him being sick. But since her stepmother had sent someone to bring the news to the palace, it would be inappropriate not to go back.

"Okay, I'll go and inform the princess first."

Before leaving, she needed to inform the princess to avoid any misunderstandings about why she had left.

Fortunately, she had the princess's token, which allowed her to enter and exit the palace freely.

With Qingxing by her side, Gu Yunru left the palace in a carriage. Along the way, she felt uneasy and had a sense of foreboding.

"What's wrong, Miss? Are you worried about the master?"

"It's not that. I just feel that something is not right. Didn't my father return home early this morning? How could he suddenly fall ill?"

"Maybe he caught a cold or something."

Gu Yunru nodded, not wanting to dwell on it for now. After some time, she realized something was off and opened the curtain to look outside. She saw that they were on a mountain road.

"Driver, what's going on? Aren't we heading to the Gu residence?"

"Qingxing also curiously looked out, and the carriage suddenly shook violently, causing both of them to roll out of the car involuntarily.

"Ow!" Gu Yunru rubbed her sore back and struggled up from the ground in embarrassment. At some point, several big men who looked like bandits had surrounded them.

The coachman was nowhere to be found, and Gu Yunru watched them warily, their faces fierce and wicked.

"Do you know who I am? Do you know who I am?" Gu Yunru thought that she could use her identity as the future princess to intimidate them. However, everyone showed a look of confusion.

"Why don't you tell us who you are?"

A bare-chested big man walked towards her, and Qingxing turned pale with fright, screaming loudly. The big man was annoyed by her ear-piercing voice and punched her in the head. Qingxing fainted immediately.

"Qingxing, stop messing around. I warn you, I am the woman of prince Zhao. If you dare to hurt me, be careful of your heads!"

Gu Yunru swallowed nervously and had to reveal her identity in the face of danger.

Several bandits looked at each other in confusion, and Gu Yunru thought they were scared, but they just laughed arrogantly.

"Rong Zhen? Haha, this guy has forced us to hide in the mountains and become bandits. Now his woman has fallen into our hands. Haha, interesting."

Gu Yunru turned pale with fright. She didn't expect that they had a deep grudge against Rong Zhen.

"What do you want to do?"

The big man slowly approached her, grabbed her collar, and squinted his small eyes, saying, "Gu Yunru, right? Okay, I can let this girl next to you go, but you have to stay in the village."

"I have no grudges with you. Why do you want to kidnap me?" Gu Yunru looked at the hatred in the big man's eyes. Did he want to hold her hostage here and force Rong Zhen to comply?

"Who told you that you are Rong Zhen's woman? Haha, take her away!"

With a command from Da Han, three to five men surrounded Gu Yunru and tied her up like a zongzi.

"Let me go, you bunch of bastards!"

Gu Yunru shouted at the top of her lungs, but no one would hear her. Qingxing had been sent back, but when she woke up, she was in prince Zhao's Mansion.

"Qingxing, you're finally awake?"

It was dark outside, and Qingyu was by Qingxing's side, wiping the cold sweat off her forehead.

"Miss... Miss is in danger!"

Qingxing suddenly remembered what had just happened, but she didn't realize it was already dark outside.

"What's wrong with your young lady?"

Qingyu asked curiously, and Rong zhen rushed in as soon as he heard the voice.

"What's going on?"

Rong zhen asked coldly.

"I went out of the palace with Miss, and then the coachman took us to a mountain road. I don't remember that road, but there were lots of trees and many bandits. They took Miss away..." As she recalled those scenes, Qingxing felt a chill run down her spine.

"What about the coachman?"

"I don't know either. He disappeared later. How could I be here?" Qingxing was extremely frustrated. Wasn't she supposed to stay with her young lady?

"It was a servant in the mansion who found you lying at the door. You've been unconscious for half a day."

"In that case, isn't my young lady in great danger?" Qingxing was panicked, her face turning pale.

Qingyu patted her back and could tell she was extremely frightened.


"The sharp edge of Rong Zhen's eyebrows seemed to exude an intimidating aura. Anyone who dared to harm him must have been tired of living.

"Where are you going, my lord?"

Without saying a word, prince Zhao strode out of the courtyard with Qingyu following closely behind.

"You don't have to come with me. Take care of Qingxing," Rong Zhen said as he touched the sword hanging from his waist and disappeared from her sight.

Back in the room, Qingyu looked at Qingxing, still looking scared, and thought that if Gu Yunru couldn't come back from such a big incident, it would be a good thing for her.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but smile. Qingxing saw the corner of her mouth lift and frowned, "What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing, Miss Qingxing. You must be hungry. I'll make you some lotus seed soup."

After suppressing her gloating expression, Qingyu turned around and headed for the small kitchen.

In the forest, Rong Zhen stood among the mountains where the bandits were hiding. A black figure appeared behind him and bowed to him.

"My lord, I've already sent someone to investigate. There are five locations in these mountains where the bandits are hiding."

Qingfeng was always efficient in his work, and he had collected the intelligence in less than half an incense stick's time.

"Take the troops and crush these mountains."

"Your Highness, is it worth it to do all this for a woman?"

Qingfeng couldn't believe that Gu Yunru had such an important place in his master's heart.

"Don't talk nonsense. My orders don't require a reason."

"Yes."

In another part of the mountain, lanterns were hung high in the village, and the sounds of drinking and gambling reached Gu Yunru's ears as she was tied to a post, unable to move. She watched as the men ate meat and drank heavily, unable to help but swallow her saliva. She hadn't eaten anything for almost half a day and was already starving.

"Boss, this woman looks quite fierce. She's interesting."

"Yeah, boss, should we blindfold her? Her eyes are making me nervous."