Chapter 105

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Chapter 105: Title

Inside the inn, a woman pulled off her mask, revealing a beautiful face. Just as she was about to pour herself a glass of water, the door burst open, and a man rushed in. "Xi Lin, where have you been?"

The woman raised the cup to her lips. "I followed the master’s instructions and told that person about her current situation."

The man snatched the cup from her hand. "This is serious. How could you go into the palace alone?"

The woman sat down. "I didn’t know you would come at this time. This matter had to be done sooner or later. The Southern Emperor has been resting all day in her chambers, so I thought it was a good opportunity to go in alone."

The man’s expression was stern as he sat across from her. "What exactly did the master write in the letter?"

The woman sighed. "It didn’t say much, just that when the time was right, we should find a way to inform the one in Nanyin’s palace about her current situation. We must let her know as an outsider." She didn’t understand what Lian Rong’s purpose was. If she truly cared for that person, she should be doing everything to prevent her from knowing. Unless there was another possibility, that the master from the very beginning had been using this person. Otherwise, how could she bear to watch her loved one worry for her?

The man remained silent. Although they were both guards of Jiulong Villa, no matter what happened, they only followed orders and never asked questions. Regarding Lian Rong, their loyalty was unwavering. Even after following her for many years, they never understood her. She secretly raised a private army with immense wealth, and almost half of the court officials were her people. She never hid this from them; it was no secret in Jiulong Villa. In their eyes, such a woman possessed the aura of ruling the world, but with her intricate plans, she became even harder to fathom.

If she wanted the throne of Dongyin, she could easily have hundreds of ways to achieve it. Why risk everything?

Unless her true goal was never to take Dongyin!

Ye Chi was startled by his own thoughts. The master had painstakingly plotted for over ten years. Even now, trapped in a cage, everything was still within her control. If what she wanted was not imperial power, then she must be planning for destruction.

Before Ye Chi could finish his thoughts, the woman’s voice interrupted him. "There’s no need for us to guess the master’s intentions. She has her reasons for doing this. The one in Nanyin’s palace is probably not having a good time right now. We just need to wait for news; time is short."

*

The grand hall was very quiet; there were no palace servants inside. Only one shadow lay quietly on the couch. Even with her fingers covering her eyes, it was clear she was crying, without making any sound, just lying there in silence.

After an unknown period, the person on the couch shifted. When she finally woke up, she realized she felt cold, as if falling into an ice cellar.

Gu Hengbo did not know how she entered Qin Qixian’s palace. She calmly looked at the pale-faced woman curled up on the soft couch. It was evident that she had just fallen ill, but whether she lived or died was of no concern to Gu Hengbo.

"You know where Lian Rong is?" Gu Hengbo spoke with certainty.

Qin Qixian’s eyes, which had been closed, suddenly opened wide in disbelief. "You know?!" Someone intruded into the palace during her illness and revealed Lian Rong’s whereabouts to her?

Gu Hengbo remained silent, simply standing there.

Qin Qixian straightened up. "Yes, I know Lian Rong’s current situation. Didn’t you want to hear about her?"

Gu Hengbo fixed her gaze into her eyes, speaking clearly, "I know now."

"And what does knowing change? Everything that happened is her own fault!"

"You have a way!" Gu Hengbo replied.

Qin Qixian seemed impatient. She tried to stand but had to sit back down due to her condition. Cold sweat dripped down her face as she panted. "What do you want?"

Gu Hengbo took two steps forward, lifted her skirts, knelt down, and performed the action fluidly, her face remaining calm. "I beg you!"

Qin Qixian stood up as soon as she knelt, enduring her discomfort while holding onto the armrest. Her face was filled with shock; she had never been so stunned before.

Two proud individuals, separated by distance, even their way of asking for help is remarkably similar. If she didn’t know the reasons behind it, she would truly believe they had conspired to play a trick on her. One kneels for the other’s safety, and the other kneels for the other’s life. Does she really seem like a savior to them?

Just as Qin Qixian was about to speak, Gu Hengbo’s next action nearly caused her to lose her balance. She supported herself on the ground and heavily bowed her head to her, saying, “Please, save her!”

Qin Qixian felt as if her body had lost all strength; she wanted to sit but dared not. That’s right, she dared not sit. In all these years, nothing had ever left her so bewildered. After a long time, she finally heard her own hoarse voice say, “Get up.”

“Please, save her.”

“Get up!”

“Please, save her.”

“Gu Meisheng, how long are you going to keep this up?!” Qin Qixian almost lost her breath and started coughing as she patted her chest.

“As long as you promise me to save her, I’ll do anything you ask,” Gu Hengbo replied calmly as she remained on the ground.

Qin Qixian touched her chest and leaned against the soft couch, saying, “Which bastard told you this news? I will have his entire family executed!”

Gu Hengbo insisted, leaving no room for her to refuse. In truth, she didn’t really want to sit idle; it just wasn’t the right time yet. “I’ll do anything you ask, okay?”

“Sure, as long as I can do it.”

Qin Qixian glanced at her, “How about serving me?”

Gu Hengbo remained still and calmly replied, “Okay.”

Three days later, a few visitors arrived at Nanyin’s palace. Qin Qixian did not leave many words; she just instructed them that she might not return for quite some time, leaving the concubines and beautiful ladies looking at one another, puzzled.

Most matters in the harem were handed to Gu Hengbo, who had said nothing throughout. For Qin Qixian, there was no need for thanks, nor did she expect any.

When Qin Qixian left, Gu Hengbo showed no expression, but inside she felt gratitude. Yet when she thought of Lian Rong’s situation, all she felt was pain and anger. She couldn’t understand why things had to be this way, and she couldn’t fathom Lianyang’s role in it.

Lianyang. He was the first man to make her heart race since she came to this world. Such a quiet and beautiful person, someone who once moved her deeply.

Every time Gu Hengbo thought of this, her chest ached. If her pain for Lian Rong was love, her pain for Lianyang was pure heartbreak. What could turn a twenty-year-old boy into this?

*

When the war broke out in Dongyin, the news finally reached Gu Hengbo’s ears. She was so nervous that she couldn’t hold her chopsticks. Little Hong, who had just learned to walk, stumbled toward Gu Hengbo’s arms, giggling happily.

The palace servants nearby couldn’t help but laugh. “Your Highness, this little prince is smarter than the other children. It’s the first time I’ve seen a child learn to walk so early.”

Gu Hengbo pushed down her anxiety and lifted Little Hong onto her lap, pinching his chubby cheek and saying, “Hong’er has gotten chubby again; even your auntie can hardly hold you now.”

Little Hong didn’t seem to understand her words; he twisted around in her arms, laughing joyfully.

Gu Hengbo couldn’t help but smile as well. She used her chopsticks to pick up some easily chewable snacks and fed them to him. The little fellow smacked his lips and reached out to go outside.

Although she knew that little kids loved to run outside, Gu Hengbo felt a bit helpless. She patted his bottom and carried him outside, blocking the palace servants who tried to take him.

And just like that, Gu Hengbo took each step with Little Hong, from walking to calling her auntie, without waiting for any news about Lian Rong.