After dealing with Taiyi Zhenren and Madam Gu, Song Chaoyu stood up.
She asked Xiao Ruizhi, "When will the Prince return?"
Xiao Ruizhi shook his head, "I don't know. He said the Princess Consort doesn't need to wait. Eat when it's time to eat, sleep when it's time to sleep!"
Since arriving in Haizhou City, Mu Changxi seemed to have become even busier.
Song Chaoyu knew that he was doing this for the people of Haizhou and for His Highness the Crown Prince.
Currently, the Crown Prince seemed to be at a disadvantage when facing Prince Ning, Mu Hansu.
Mu Changxi also wanted to establish a foothold in court affairs so that he could help the Crown Prince in the future. He did not want to be a mere idle prince favored by the Emperor; Song Chaoyu had understood this all along.
"Boom—"
Another clap of thunder. The fierce wind outside had not stopped, and the rain seemed to have intensified.
Song Chaoyu rubbed her forehead and said to Tiaohong, "Bring Zhuzhu over later. I have something I want to ask her."
Tiaohong nodded and then escorted Song Chaoyu back to her room.
Outside, a fierce storm suddenly descended.
Song Chaoyu had never seen such heavy rain in the capital. The thick dark clouds overhead seemed to be pressing down.
At this moment, Haizhou City was plunged into darkness.
The maids and servants outside had also taken shelter in their rooms, none daring to venture out into the onslaught of rain and wind.
Song Chaoyu stood up, intending to light a candle.
But she felt a figure in the corner of the room—
"Who?!"
Song Chaoyu instinctively took a step back, but the dark figure in front of her moved forward, and a cold short sword was pressed against Song Chaoyu's neck. "Princess Consort, do not be afraid. My name is Gu Rui. My father is Gu Xuezhuo."
Gu Rui?
Song Chaoyu did know that Gu Xuezhuo had children.
She just hadn't expected to see Gu Rui here.
Song Chaoyu hadn't been able to light the candle earlier, so she could only catch a glimpse of Gu Rui's appearance by the flashes of lightning outside.
Gu Rui was married and was twenty-five years old. However, she looked somewhat aged, as if she were thirty.
It was heard that she had not been living well in her husband's family because she had been childless.
Song Chaoyu and Mu Changxi both adhered to the principle of "harm does not extend to wives and children" and had not taken action against other members of the Gu family. kanδん
Unexpectedly, Gu Rui had come to her and attacked Song Chaoyu.
Although the short sword was at her neck, Song Chaoyu was not flustered. She only asked Gu Rui, "What do you want?"
"Hmph—"
Gu Rui sneered and then gestured for Song Chaoyu to move towards the window. "Your Highness the Princess Consort, why don't you come with me and find out? Don't worry, I won't let you die so easily!"
Song Chaoyu seemed to have no other choice now.
Thunder rumbled outside, and it was likely that Tiaohong and Qiuyue did not know what was happening here.
Song Chaoyu nodded, "Alright, I'll go with you."
Although she knew that Gu Rui would not treat her well, Song Chaoyu was even more aware that only by staying alive was there hope.
Gu Rui could have killed her right then and there to avenge her father.
Song Chaoyu was only worried that her situation might cause Mu Changxi to halt his plans.
She slowly moved towards the windowsill. Gu Rui's movements were agile, and she pushed open the window with a single push.
The fierce wind, carrying cold rain, instantly lashed at Song Chaoyu's face, making even her breathing feel cold and damp.
"Climb out."
Gu Rui's commanding tone displeased Song Chaoyu, but she had no choice but to comply.
Fortunately, when she was on the estate, Song Chaoyu had climbed walls and trees before. This made her climb out of the window without appearing too dishevelled.
Gu Rui, on the other hand, leaped lightly and landed steadily, clearly possessing some martial skill.
The wind and rain outside were strong, and in just a moment, Song Chaoyu was almost completely drenched.
The cold rainwater made her shiver.
Gu Rui pointed towards the back door. "Go that way. After you go out, find a dark-colored carriage parked in the corner and get in."
As she spoke, she brandished the short sword near Song Chaoyu's neck. "Don't think of escaping, or I'll make you pay!"
Song Chaoyu did as she was told and noticed that due to the strong wind and heavy rain, the servants usually stationed at the back door were nowhere to be seen, having either sought shelter or been lured away by Gu Rui earlier.
Regardless of which was the case, Song Chaoyu walked out of the back door with Gu Rui.
In the corner outside the back door, a carriage was indeed waiting.
As Song Chaoyu took two steps forward, a hand reached out from the carriage and roughly pulled her inside—
With a "bang," Song Chaoyu realized what was happening only when her head hit the inside of the carriage.
However, as soon as she settled down, the carriage began to move.
Song Chaoyu looked up at the person in front and was stunned—
There were only three people in the carriage now: herself, Gu Rui, and the one who had pulled her in.
This person looked like a man, but it sent a chill down Song Chaoyu's spine.
She recognized this "man" as Xiao Zhangzi, who served Prince Ning, Mu Hansu!
In her previous life, this Xiao Zhangzi had treated her quite harshly. He carried out all of Mu Hansu's orders, even more ruthlessly than Mu Hansu himself! If he had come here, then where was Mu Hansu?
Song Chaoyu frowned slightly and looked at Xiao Zhangzi. "You serve Prince Ning, yet you have come to Haizhou City?"
Xiao Zhangzi was taken aback, seemingly not expecting Song Chaoyu to recognize him.
"Heh—"
He sneered, "Princess Consort has a good memory indeed. You even remember a mere servant. You truly are a daughter of the Song family."
There was a hint of mockery in his words, but Song Chaoyu was unfazed. Instead, she looked at Gu Rui behind her. "I didn't expect that a daughter of the Gu family would also be colluding with Prince Ning! I wonder if your husband's family knows about this? Or perhaps this matter is related to your husband's family?"
"Hmph, don't try to provoke me with my husband's family."
Gu Rui raised her eyes and glared at Song Chaoyu. "They are not worthy of being compared to my father."
It seemed that this was merely Gu Rui's collusion with Mu Hansu, or rather, the Gu family's collusion with Mu Hansu.
Song Chaoyu listened to the sound of the heavy rain hitting the carriage and felt the carriage accelerating. She finally asked Xiao Zhangzi, "Where are you taking me? Prince Ning hasn't come to Haizhou, has he?"
"Princess Consort, do not worry. You will know when we arrive."
Xiao Zhangzi did not even lift his eyelids, appearing as if he paid no attention to Song Chaoyu at all.
She wondered if he treated Song Yanjiao the same way in Prince Ning's mansion.
If Mu Hansu had indeed come to Haizhou, then had Song Yanjiao also come?