TLDPCRM 52: Harming Others and Oneself (Patreon)

Chapter 52: Harming Others and Oneself



"Master, that girl is talking nonsense. There's nothing wrong with the hibiscus cream," said Gu Junyao, her eyes filled with tears, determined to clear her name.

"Is that so? Then apply the remaining half bottle to your face," came the reply.

The room fell silent. Master Gu had wanted to plead for his daughter, but if she was truly guilty of what she was accused of, he couldn't wash his hands of it even if he jumped into the Yellow River.

"Master, do you really believe this girl's words?" Gu Junyao looked at Rongzhen with a face full of grievances, but he didn't even glance at her, his eyes fixed on Gu Yunru, lying on the bed.

"Hurry up and do it," he said.

Gu Junyao was startled by his tone, and shaking her head, she picked up the half-empty bottle of hibiscus cream that had fallen to the ground. Qingxing snatched the cream from her and poured it onto her hand, starting to apply it to her own face.

"This was prepared for Miss by the Second Miss. Why don't you enjoy it too, Second Miss?" Qingxing said as she spread the cream over her face. Sure enough, after less than half an hour, small bumps began to appear on her face. Gu Junyao felt itchy all over her own face, but no one in the room dared to speak up for her.

"Master, please spare Junyao..." Gu Junyao fell to the ground with a thud, and Gu's father finally realized that the Second Miss had become so heartless.

"Gu Chang'an!"

Master Gu was so frightened that he trembled as he said, "I'm here, Master."

"How should we handle this matter properly?" asked with a strong threat in Rongzhen's tone. Master Gu wiped the cold sweat on his forehead, and Gu Junyue wanted to plead for Gu Junyao, but seeing the prince's presence, she couldn't say anything.

"How could you harm your own sister like this? Here's what we'll do. Send you to Qingping Temple to reflect on your behavior!"

Master Gu didn't want to punish too harshly. Qingping Temple was days away from the capital and was a place where nuns prayed and ate vegetarian meals. There were not many nearby households, and it was desolate. If she was sent there, who knew what kind of hardship she would have to endure.

"Dad, no, when has Yao left your side? Yao doesn't want to go to such a faraway place." Gu Junyao clung to her father's legs, refusing to go.

Rongzhen knew that Master Gu was intentionally protecting them, but he couldn't be bothered to argue with them.

"I don't want to hear any more arguing," Rongzhen said impatiently.

Master Gu knew the prince was urging them, so he said kindly to Gu Junyao, "Yao, be obedient. Although Qingping Temple is in a remote area, it's better than being punished by the prince himself."

Master Gu lowered his voice, and Gu Junyue also advised, "Yes, sister, go to Qingping Temple first. You can come back soon anyway."

Gu Junyao bit her lip fiercely, almost drawing blood. She clenched her fists tightly and stared at the person lying on the bed, silently vowing that if she came back, she would make her pay.

And so, Gu Junyao was sent to Qingping Temple and could not return to the capital without an order.

Rongzhen let all the servants leave the room, and the large room was quiet.

"Cough, cough." Gu Yunru struggled to open her eyes and saw Rongzhen as soon as she did.

"You're finally awake," Rongzhen said calmly by her side.

"Prince, Yunru looks very ugly now and doesn't want others to see her," Gu Yunru turned her head away. She must look terrible.

"There's no one else here. Let me see what happened," Rongzhen showed no disgust at all.

"But Your Highness, you called me an ugly duckling last time," Gu Yunru had been keeping this grudge in her heart. Rong Zhen couldn't help but cry and laugh, as he tucked her into bed, he said, "Isn't that just going along with your wishes?"

Gu Yunru suddenly realized that he had known all along that she had used self-harm to get out of trouble last time.

"You...you knew?"

"Of course."

Gu Yunru breathed a sigh of relief, regretting that she had not tried so hard.

"But now my face is really ruined. If you despise me, just tell me now." Gu Yunru was not confident to begin with, and Rong Zhen's mouth slowly pursed into a serious expression.

"Don't worry, no matter what you look like, this prince will never abandon you."

It was impossible not to be moved by these words. Gu Yunru blinked at him.

On the other side, Madam Gu complained to her husband when she found out her daughter had been sent to the poor and destitute Qingping Temple.

"How could you send our daughter to such a place?!" Madam Gu covered her face and cried, her daughter grew up in the Gu mansion, when had she ever suffered like this?

"Don't you know, if I didn't send our daughter to Qingping Temple, the prince would likely have taken JunYao away. Who knows what kind of torture she would have suffered."

Fortunately, he reacted quickly and insisted on sending their daughter to Qingping Temple. Otherwise, the suffering she would have endured would have been even worse.

Gu Junyue comforted Madam Gu and said, "Mother, Father, there really was no other way at the time. You don't know how despicable Gu Yunru is, she even pinned everything on sister's head. sister is innocent."

"This damned Gu Yunru is JunYao's nemesis!"


Madam Gu cried and shouted, but Mr. Gu was afraid of eavesdroppers and quickly covered her mouth, saying, "Madam, please don't say anything. It's clear how much the prince cares about Yunru. He rushed over as soon as he heard any news."

Yes, the prince really cared about her. As soon as he heard any rumors, he immediately went to check on her.

Madam Gu was heartbroken, thinking about sending her daughter on her final journey, but she didn't realize that her servant had already taken Gu Junyao away.

When they arrived at Qingping Temple the next morning, Gu Junyao was exhausted from the journey and vomited until she was unconscious. Seeing the desolate place and the dilapidated gate covered in dust, she felt as if her heart had died.

Two nuns approached her with their hands together, saying, "Amitabha, you must be Second Miss Gu"

Gu Junyao only brought her personal servant Lan'er on this retreat. The carriage left her here and drove away, leaving Lan'er to carry all the luggage by herself. The prince had ordered that Gu Junyao could only bring one personal servant, and even the male servant couldn't come along.

"Yes, I am. I'm a bit tired. I wonder if you have prepared a room for us," Gu Junyao said, observing their expressions and noticing they were all suppressing laughter, with a sneering look.

"What are you laughing at? I'm here to retreat. How dare you mock me!" Gu Junyao retorted, while Lan'er walked up to them and said, "You nuns really don't know what's good for you. Is this how you treat our lady in this small and dilapidated place like Qingping Temple?"

The nuns became even more arrogant in front of the mistress and servant who had come to Qingping Temple. It seemed that anyone who came here was either a wrongdoer or a noble family member who had been expelled, and none of them had a good temper.