"Princess Consort? Princess Consort?"
The maid Cai Xia, carrying a tray of exquisite pastries, entered the room without anyone knowing.
She called out twice, but Gu Qianying didn't hear. Seeing that her princess consort was not dressed, Cai Xia quickly put down the tray and picked up a purple outer robe to drape over Gu Qianying.
Feeling the added warmth of the robe, Gu Qianying finally came to her senses.
She didn't know what was wrong, but in her moment of daze, she had felt a sudden pang of heartache.
This feeling was fleeting and didn't linger in her heart for long, yet she could strongly feel that this heartache was unlike anything she had experienced in her past or present life.
Gu Qianying forcibly ignored the discomfort in her heart. After sitting down on the chair, she casually picked up a pastry from the table and took two bites.
However, the taste suddenly reminded her of the dishes Nan Gong Mo had personally cooked for her that day. Compared to those, the pastry in her hand instantly became unappetizing, tasting like chewing on wax.
She pushed the pastry away, a sense of annoyance growing in her heart.
"Cai Xia, do you know where Physician Du is being held?"
Despite her inner turmoil, she forced herself to calm down.
Some matters had to be handled with a clear head.
"Replying to the Princess Consort, this servant knows."
"Good. Take this Princess Consort there."
Gu Qianying stepped out of the room, and the maid Cai Xia immediately followed.
On the way, as they passed a side hall, they encountered Bai Qi.
Actually, it wasn't a chance encounter. The place she stood was the main hall of the front courtyard, the Gu Hua Hall, where Nan Gong Mo often resided. It was perfectly normal to meet Bai Qi here.
However, Bai Qi was standing outside the side hall, pacing back and forth, looking anxious but not daring to make too much noise.
This made Gu Qianying stop and look at him. "What's wrong?"
Bai Qi turned his head, and upon seeing Gu Qianying, he looked as if he had found a savior. "Princess Consort, please go in quickly and persuade His Highness!"
Gu Qianying's brows furrowed slightly. "What's wrong with him?"
"His Highness doesn't know what happened, but he's drinking and getting drunk inside."
"Drinking and getting drunk? And then what? Crying, throwing a tantrum, or hanging himself?"
Gu Qianying bypassed Bai Qi, intending to leave.
She didn't want to waste the present moment; she had many things to do right now.
Bai Qi was stunned by Gu Qianying's words, then quickly said, "Princess Consort, every word I speak is true, I would not dare to deceive you."
He figured the Princess Consort didn't believe him.
But Gu Qianying then uttered a sentence that made him doubt himself: "Mm, I understand. Since he wants to get drunk, let him drink to his heart's content. What's the harm, as long as he doesn't come looking for this Princess Consort when he's drunk."
Otherwise, she would have to coax Nan Gong Mo like she would a child.
Bai Qi was speechless, but he was also eager to say something to make Gu Qianying stay. However, he didn't know what to say, and he looked constipated.
Steward Qi, who had caught up and learned the cause of the matter, quickly followed Gu Qianying and stopped her. "Princess Consort, please don't be in a hurry to leave. His Highness is not alone in his room; Miss Lan is also inside. This old servant implores the Princess Consort to go and check on His Highness."
As he spoke, Steward Qi leaned forward and whispered, "Princess Consort, you can rest assured. When I arrived, I had already made arrangements inside and out."
With that, Steward Qi stepped aside.
Gu Qianying turned to look at him and smiled. "Steward is thoughtful."
As she turned, Gu Qianying approached Bai Qi and looked at him calmly. "How long has Lan Qing Qing been inside?"
Bai Qi was surprised that Gu Qianying would ask about Lan Qing Qing. He paused, thought for a moment, and said, "This servant estimates she has been inside for about half an incense stick's time."
"Mm. Go and find a way to capture Physician Du to watch the show."
Bai Qi was instantly dumbfounded. For a moment, he doubted if he had heard correctly or if he was hallucinating.
But Gu Qianying walked past him directly. "Hurry up, don't keep this Princess Consort waiting too long."
Slightly dazed, Steward Qi nudged Bai Qi with his elbow. "Why are you standing there like an idiot? Hurry up!"
Steward Qi's reminder instantly brought Bai Qi back to his senses.
"But Physician Du is locked in the dungeon. Without His Highness's order, how dare this subordinate release him?"
Steward Qi tapped Bai Qi on the head. "Are you stupid? It's to capture, to go and capture, not to release. Do you understand capturing?"
Bai Qi scratched his head, still not quite understanding. "But what do we need to capture him for? His Highness hasn't ordered this subordinate to do these things."
Steward Qi took a breath and exhaled, grabbed Bai Qi's ear, and roared at him, "If you want Physician Du to die, then keep standing there like an idiot! Hmph! You big idiot!"
With that, Steward Qi turned and walked out.
Bai Qi stood there, dazed. Although he still didn't understand the whole reason behind it, Physician Du had been by His Highness's side for many years, and he naturally had feelings for him. Bai Qi would not forgive Du Chun for assassinating His Highness, but he couldn't stand by and watch Du Chun die.
A moment later, Bai Qi arrived with Du Chun.
Du Chun's hands were cuffed, he was dressed in white, and his white hair cascaded down. Although imprisoned, his robes were spotless, making him not look like a prisoner. However, his delicate and handsome face had become much thinner.
He stood outside the side hall with Bai Qi.
Fearing he would ruin the Princess Consort's plan, Steward Qi returned and told Du Chun and Bai Qi not to make a sound.
Meanwhile, Cai Xia pushed open the door to the side hall. Before Gu Qianying could step inside, she saw Nan Gong Mo sitting in a wheelchair from afar, holding a wine pot, not a wine cup, drinking from the pot mouthful after mouthful. Beside him, Lan Qing Qing, dressed in a pink thin skirt with her shoulders exposed, held a handkerchief and was currently bending over to wipe away a few drops of wine that had spilled on Nan Gong Mo's clothes.
As she bent her head, her thin skirt slid down another half an inch, revealing glimpses of her skin below her shoulders, evoking imagination.
"Your Highness, Qing Qing has never seen you in such pain. Seeing you like this, Qing Qing's heart aches."
Although she made the motion of wiping him, Lan Qing Qing's jade fingers slowly moved down from his collar...
At this moment, Nan Gong Mo, drunk and groggy, seemed to see Gu Qianying. He actually giggled, "Girl, you're finally here. You don't know how long I've been waiting for you."
Unlike his usual cold demeanor, he now looked like a foolishly cute person who had finally seen the person he had been waiting for, appearing content.
He suddenly raised his hand and grabbed the wrist of the person swaying before his eyes. His smile widened. "Girl, I knew you had me in your heart, didn't you? I knew you cared about me, right?"
"Your Highness~~"
Lan Qing Qing, whose wrist was suddenly grabbed by Nan Gong Mo, spoke in a sweet and gentle tone, her eyes filled with an urgency that made her want to roll in bed with the person before her immediately.
She knew that Nan Gong Mo had her in his heart, otherwise, he wouldn't be so gentle with her. However, she disliked the way he called her "girl." But judging by Nan Gong Mo's current attitude towards her, she could only force herself to accept it with eagerness.
"Your Highness~ Qing Qing also likes you, Your Highness... Qing Qing will now serve Your Highness to rest well."
Even if they couldn't engage in marital relations, as long as she lay naked with him, she would be Nan Gong Mo's woman in name, and half the mistress of the Ninth Prince's Manor. Later, she would find an opportune moment to get rid of that wretched woman Gu Qianying, and then the position of Princess Consort of the Ninth Prince's Manor would be hers.
Her jade fingers slowly unbuttoned his robe, revealing his strong chest.
Lan Qing Qing was extremely excited.
"Slap!"
A sudden slap interrupted all of Lan Qing Qing's current fantasies and left her stunned.
"How dare you, you lowly servant! How dare you molest His Highness here? Do you truly have no desire to live!"
Cai Xia quickly walked over, raised her hand, and slapped Lan Qing Qing, then pushed her to the ground.
Lan Qing Qing was furious and wanted to retaliate on the spot, but she was kicked aside by a sudden foot.
She looked up.
Gu Qianying looked down at her with disdain and sneered mockingly, "Miss Lan, since when did you learn the tricks of seduction from the girls at the brothel?"
"Gu Qianying! It's you!"
Because her good deed was interrupted, Lan Qing Qing was enraged. When she saw that the person who had interrupted her was Gu Qianying, she glared at Gu Qianying, wishing she could cut her into a thousand pieces.
"What? Did I disturb Miss Lan's good deed?"
"Slap, slap!" Two more slaps.
Gu Qianying shook her hand that had just slapped and said calmly, "Attempting to seduce His Highness is a light offense to be slapped!"
As she spoke,
Gu Qianying did not forget to turn around and cover Nan Gong Mo's exposed chest. This action actually made the somewhat drunk Nan Gong Mo sober up a little.
"Girl, you're here?"
At this moment, he recognized her.
And at the same time, he had a vague memory of what had just happened.
"Qian Ying, this Prince and Lan Qing Qing have nothing between them. Don't misunderstand."
Nan Gong Mo, who was usually a man of few words, became quite talkative in front of Gu Qianying as he eagerly tried to explain something.
"Shut up!"
Nan Gong Mo was stunned, but then he suddenly burst into laughter. "Girl, what do you want me to do?"
It had been a long, long time since she had gotten angry with him. Seeing her angry now, she was so beautiful!
Gu Qianying coldly reprimanded Nan Gong Mo. Even Gu Qianying herself did not expect to be so bold with Nan Gong Mo. She quickly gave him a feigned smile, thinking of the absurd reason that she and Nan Gong Mo's beloved might have some similarities. "Your Highness, you've gotten drunk again. You're not being good."
With that, Gu Qianying ordered Cai Xia, "Have someone prepare some sour plum soup to help His Highness sober up."
"Yes, Princess Consort."
Cai Xia quickly acted.
"Princess Consort!" Lan Qing Qing suddenly crawled over on her knees, hugged Gu Qianying's leg, and cried out, "Princess Consort, it's all Qing Qing's fault, it has nothing to do with His Highness. Qing Qing was willing. Please believe His Highness."
As she cried, her clothes were disheveled, as if she had been violated by someone.
And her words implied that she had experienced something unspeakable with someone.
"Lan Qing Qing!"
Nan Gong Mo's face immediately turned cold. He, who had been worried that Gu Qianying might misunderstand him due to the current situation, now looked at Lan Qing Qing with murderous intent in his eyes.
However, Lan Qing Qing did not notice this look.
Gu Qianying, however, smiled at this moment. She bent down, reached out, and lifted Lan Qing Qing's chin. "Miss Lan, what is the meaning of these divisive words? Is it because you want this Princess Consort, out of consideration for the reputation of the Ninth Prince's Manor, to agree to Your Highness taking you as a concubine?"