TLDPCRM 54: like an old friend (Patreon)

Chapter 54: like an old friend


"Now, we can only be prepared for any situation," Gu Junyue couldn't help but show a hint of an ambiguous smile, and Miaoxin furrowed her brows in confusion.

The next day, Gu Yunru entered the palace as a distinguished guest, accompanied by Rong Zhen. Although they didn't mention the wedding date, both of them were well aware of it.

Walking side by side, the other palace maids and eunuchs all bowed to them, but the two of them didn't know what to say and felt the awkward atmosphere.

"Your face has healed, it seems that those people have good medical skills," Rong Zhen looked at Gu Yunru's face with satisfaction. After several days, Gu Yunru had also experienced what it was like to be taken cared off.

"Thank you for taking care of me, otherwise, my face wouldn't have recovered so quickly," Gu Yunru thanked him.

Rong Zhen frowned slightly, not wanting her to call him "prince". They had agreed that she would call him "Ah zhao", but she had forgotten again.

"The two of you have finally come. The Emperor has been waiting in the Yangxin Hall for a long time," the little eunuch hurriedly greeted them with a flattering smile. "You both look radiant and full of energy."

Gu Yunru wondered why the Emperor had summoned them to the Yangxin Hall. It seemed that only the two of them were invited. Was there some secret that needed to be told?

Observing Rong Zhen's expression, he looked as calm and indifferent as usual, and Gu Yunru couldn't tell if he was hiding anything.

The Yangxin Hall was decorated with extreme luxury, with steps made of green jade marble and gold ring decorations on the walls that looked like dragon whiskers, inlaid with blue and white jade. The hall was solemn and intimidating.

"I roughly know what happened to you both, and I'm glad that you've come back unharmed." The Emperor turned around and looked at them with a contented smile. Gu Yunru couldn't help but marvel at the grandeur of the Yangxin Hall.



"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty," Gu Yunru replied, bowing respectfully to the Emperor. Her graceful eyes sparkled with a smile as she sat motionless on her seat.

Rongzhen coughed lightly, and Gu Yunru's heart trembled with anxiety. Was he still not feeling well? Why would he cough suddenly?

"Younger Brother, you sent so many imperial physicians out of the palace last time. Were they unable to cure you?" the Emperor asked, looking a little worried as he gazed at Rongzhen. Rongzhen didn't say much, offering only a few words of gratitude before falling silent.

On the other side, Gu Yunru felt a bit uneasy. She suddenly realized that Rongzhen had called all the imperial physicians to treat her, but he hadn't kept any decent physicians by his side.

For some reason, she felt a wave of sympathy for him.

"The envoys from the border are about to arrive at the palace to discuss the marriage proposal, but the Princess has been reveling day and night lately. She doesn't look like a proper princess at all," the Emperor continued, looking somewhat distressed. Gu Yunru was surprised to hear this and raised her eyes. She didn't expect the Princess to actually listen to her suggestion.

"The Empress Dowager is very angry about this and wants someone to go and persuade the Princess to at least show some restraint. The envoys from the border are about to arrive, and if they find out that the Princess is behaving so recklessly, who knows what the consequences will be."

The Emperor was also quite troubled by the situation with the eldest princess. Recently, she had become a completely different person, not only inviting handsome male musicians into the palace at night but also drinking and composing poetry with them.

"The princess's affairs, the emperor doesn't need to worry too much. I think the princess, being an adult, should know what she's doing," said Gu Yunru, standing up to speak for princess Ya.

The emperor's face darkened, having heard this phrase countless times, but it still couldn't change the princess's behavior.

"Brother, since you rarely come to the palace, stay a few more days with Miss Gu in the palace, and also, the empress dowager has been wanting to see you..."

The emperor brought up the empress dowager, but Rong Zhen's expression remained indifferent, as if she was an unrelated person.

Gu Yunru knew that Rong Zhen's heart must have undergone subtle changes at this moment, but he just didn't show it in front of others. The emperor hoped that their relationship could be repaired, which is why he found ways to let them spend time alone together.

"As a younger brother, there are still military affairs that I need to attend to. The incident in Sulubu has made me quite vigilant. I believe that any person with malicious intent on the border should be eliminated, and we cannot leave any potential troubles."

Looking at Rong Zhen's confident demeanor, it seemed that he had already planned an excuse in advance. He spoke with such composure that he didn't even blink.

After finishing speaking, Rong Zhen stood up to bid farewell, leaving Gu Yunru alone in the Yangxin Hall. She watched as the emperor's expression turned despondent. She then asked, "Your Majesty, do you know what happened between the Prince and the Empress Dowager?"

Seeing Rong Zhen's expression, Gu Yunru was even more certain that the Empress Dowager was the root of his worries.

"Forget it. Since you are going to marry into the Prince's residence soon, there's no need to hide this from you. The Empress Dowager has always wanted to find an opportunity to get closer to him, but she didn't expect him to avoid her. It has been seven years since she last saw him."

As the emperor spoke, his face was full of remorse and helplessness.

"So that's how it is. No wonder the Prince's reaction is not like usual."

Gu Yunru's eyebrows furrowed slightly. On the other side, Rong Zhen walked alone in the palace, without any military affairs to attend to and not knowing what to do, so he wandered around. He was just about to leave the Chuxiu Palace when he heard a laughter like silver bells.

"It's you."

Concubine Ying's eyes lit up when she saw Rong Zhen and she hurried over to him.

"Greetings, Concubine Ying," Rong Zhen bowed to her.

Concubine Ying looked better than before, with a healthy and rosy complexion. She was wearing a blue palace dress that accentuated her fair and tender skin, and her eyes were more spirited than before. She smiled and her dimples appeared, making her look even more charming. Her smile was even more unrestrained after seeing him.

"Why bother to bow to me?" Concubine Ying didn't want the two of them to appear too distant from each other, so she invited him to have a drink in the palace.

"If you don't mind, please come to the palace and have a seat. I will prepare some exquisite drinks for you."

Concubine Ying looked at him with joy, and there was even a hint of expectation in her eyes.

"No need. If others found out, it would be bad for your reputation," Rong Zhen knew how to maintain this distance, and his words were calm.

Concubine Ying's eyes dimmed instantly, and she couldn't help but say, "Do you remember a few years ago when you saved me on the border? After I entered the palace as a consort, I never saw you again."

Concubine Ying saw him like an old friend, and her heart was stirred up. She just wanted to have a small gathering with him, but she didn't expect it to become a luxury.

"Your grace is a blessing that others can't envy."