Nan Rong Qi had never expected to encounter the second young lady of the Gu family, Gu Ming Yue, here.
He watched as Gu Ming Yue clung to him tightly, refusing to let go, her expression one of considerable alarm and fear. He was slightly taken aback.
It was as if Gu Ming Yue didn't recognize him!
"Second Young Lady Gu, what is this..."
Suddenly, Gu Ming Yue's sheer veil slipped to the floor, revealing her exquisite figure.
Nan Rong Qi's body grew warm. Without finishing his sentence, he scooped her up and carried her towards the inner couch.
At this moment, Nangong Li, who had witnessed everything, quietly descended from the rooftop.
He then turned and pushed open the door to another room.
"Hey, hey, major news, Eldest Young Lady Gu! I'm truly shocked, Your Highness. Just as you predicted, Gu Ming Yue threw herself at Nan Rong Qi and successfully seduced him. They're in the thick of it right now. The scene was so stimulating, like an erotic painting."
Nangong Li sat beside Nangong Mo, shielding his face with a fan, and winked at him. "Heh heh, Ninth Imperial Uncle, do you want to hear the details of their intimate moments? I saw it all."
*Crack.*
The fan in Nangong Li's hand was suddenly split in two by Nangong Mo's fingers, the tail end falling to the ground.
A cold voice reached his ears: "Do you not want your tongue?"
Nangong Li glanced at Gu Qian Ying, who was sitting on Nangong Mo's other side, sipping tea. He immediately fell silent and quickly added, "Heh heh, I understand, I understand. With a lady present, Ninth Imperial Uncle, it's inconvenient for you to listen. Haha, I totally get it."
Upon hearing this, Gu Qian Ying cast an odd glance at Nangong Mo, then stood up. "If it's inconvenient, this humble subject will take her leave. Ninth Imperial Uncle and Third Imperial Prince, you may chat at your leisure."
"No need. I dislike listening to vulgar matters."
Nangong Mo shot Nangong Li a cold glare, signaling him to shut up.
But Nangong Li completely failed to grasp the true meaning behind Nangong Mo's words.
"It's fine, it's fine. You two are about to be married. Understanding matters of the bedroom early on is good, lest you make a fool of yourselves later, right?"
Nangong Li stood between Gu Qian Ying and Nangong Mo and launched into his lengthy discourse.
Gu Qian Ying's face turned red as she listened, feeling embarrassed and mortified.
Nangong Mo could no longer bear it and said, "Bai Qi, take this fellow away. I need quiet!"
Bai Qi appeared upon hearing the command and dragged Nangong Li out.
"What are you doing, what are you doing? Don't touch me! I'm educating them. Why are you pulling me? I haven't finished speaking yet!"
As Nangong Li was dragged away by Bai Qi, he couldn't resist adding, "Oh, Ninth Imperial Uncle, right. I forgot to tell you, just now, while I was eavesdropping, I heard that man in red say he intends to make a move on your Princess Consort, Eldest Young Lady Gu. He said he fancies your Princess Consort!"
*Slam!*
The door to the private room was shut.
Silence immediately fell within.
"He's talking nonsense. Don't listen to his ramblings. I am a gentleman."
Gu Qian Ying's unnatural expression faded. She spoke casually, "Ha, I was lost in thought just now and didn't hear anything. Ninth Imperial Uncle doesn't need to explain. Hmm, it's getting late. This humble subject has matters to attend to at home. I bid you farewell."
Gu Qian Ying curtsied to Nangong Mo and turned to leave. As she reached the doorway, her steps faltered, and she turned back, speaking at the fastest possible speed: "Ninth Imperial Uncle, your legs are inconvenient. You don't need to care too much about marital bliss. In fact, this humble subject doesn't place much importance on such matters. In the future, if I marry into your manor, we don't need to be too intimate. Respectful coexistence will suffice."
With that, Gu Qian Ying vanished.
Only Nangong Mo was left standing there, stunned into silence.
The silence, so profound that a needle drop could be heard, lasted for a considerable while.
"Someone, go inform Bai Qi to tie up the Third Imperial Prince and beat him soundly. I will bear the consequences for him!"
"Yes, Master."
The attending guard trembled and secretly broke out in a cold sweat for the Third Imperial Prince, Nangong Li.
After the guard retreated.
Nangong Mo summoned two more guards and ordered, "Investigate the identity of the man in red. Once you have the information, kill him without mercy!"
How could he let go of someone who dared to covet the woman he fancied!
As he spoke these words, a glint of killing intent flashed in Nangong Mo's eyes.
"Yes."
The guards kneeling on the ground tensed, not daring to breathe, let alone speak another word.
Meanwhile, Gu Qian Ying, after parting ways with Lu Zhu and Nangong Mo's party, first instructed Lu Zhu to quietly return to the manor and spread the word that Gu Ming Yue had appeared at Chun Xiang Pavilion.
Ever since her father had broken his leg, he had been recuperating in bed for several days. Her grandfather and elder brother were busy with military affairs. Consequently, all household matters had been fully entrusted to her mother, the First Madam.
However, it would be inappropriate for her mother to send people to search for Gu Ming Yue. Firstly, it would offend Nan Rong Qi, and secondly, Gu Ming Yue would resent her. Therefore, when she had Lu Zhu spread the news of Gu Ming Yue's presence at Chun Xiang Pavilion, she first had Hu Biao leave a letter in the room of the Third Concubine, Madam Han. The letter contained details of Gu Ming Yue's recent activities.
Previously, she did not believe that Gu Ming Yue had framed her using her mother's death. She believed this was not something Gu Ming Yue had conceived alone.
So, she had people investigate Gu Ming Yue's interactions with others during those days.
As she had expected, Madam Han, the Third Concubine, was also involved in the entire affair.
She recalled that in her previous life, Madam Han, the Third Concubine, was already a person of considerable schemes.
And in this life, to deal with her, one could not be rash; patience and planning were necessary.
Currently, in her plan, Gu Ming Yue and the scumbag Crown Prince Nan Rong Qi, that pair of dogs, were the utmost priority!
Upon learning that Gu Ming Yue was hiding at Chun Xiang Pavilion, Madam Han, the Third Concubine, disregarding the origin of the letter, hastily took five or six servants from the manor to Chun Xiang Pavilion, intending to drag Gu Ming Yue back.
However, her grand expedition ended with her being insultingly sent back by the eunuch attending Nan Rong Qi.
Nevertheless, Gu Ming Yue was brought back to the manor by Madam Han.
But Madam Han's actions brought about a series of troubles.
The news of the current Crown Prince Nan Rong Qi frequently staying overnight at the pleasure house was inevitably spread.
Afterward, the Emperor reprimanded the Crown Prince and, for disgracing the royal family, confined him to the Eastern Palace for three months.
Simultaneously, the infatuated second young lady of the Gu family, Gu Ming Yue, who had been hiding at Chun Xiang Pavilion, was unexpectedly favored by the Crown Prince. To provide an explanation to Old General Gu, the Emperor, on behalf of the Crown Prince, promised to take Gu Ming Yue, the illegitimate daughter of the Gu family, into the Eastern Palace as a concubine.
Originally, this matter was to be carried out after Nan Rong Qi's confinement, three months later. However, two months later, news came that the second illegitimate daughter of the Gu family was pregnant.
Old General Gu had no choice but to report to the Emperor early and send Gu Ming Yue into the Eastern Palace ahead of schedule.
However, a message came from the palace stating that the second young lady of the Gu family could only enter the palace after her madness had healed, as it would be bad if her madness were to act up and harm innocent people.
For this reason, Old General Gu had to find a physician for Gu Ming Yue to treat her madness.
But it was strange, when the physician examined Gu Ming Yue, he said, "To Old General Gu, the second young lady's madness has recovered on its own. However, after her recovery, she may have developed amnesia. She remembers nothing of what happened before."
Old General Gu frowned upon hearing this, saying nothing. He merely sent the physician out of the manor and then wrote a letter, instructing his subordinate to deliver it to the palace overnight.
Two days later.
An experienced governess was sent from the palace, stating that she had received an imperial decree from the Crown Prince to reside in the manor to care for the second young lady of the Gu family, Gu Ming Yue, until after Gu Ming Yue gave birth.
Originally, this governess from the palace was extremely strict with Gu Ming Yue and those around her after entering the manor. However, it was unclear how Gu Ming Yue had managed to win her over.
After a few days of interaction, the governess began to speak up for Gu Ming Yue at every turn.
One day.
Gu Qian Ying leisurely hid in her own courtyard, tending to poisonous flowers and exotic plants. Yesterday, while disguised as a man and accompanied by Lu Zhu to the market, she encountered Nangong Xuan Ning, who was also disguised as a man.
Nangong Xuan Ning was on her way to the pharmacy to select medicinal herbs for poisons, preparing for the entrance examination of the Poisonous Doctor's Sacred Hall in a few days.
When they met, Nangong Xuan Ning recognized her at a glance.
"Gu Qian Ying, what are you doing here? Are you also looking for medicinal herbs for poisons?...