Chapter 47

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Chapter 47: Title

Gu Hengbo stumbled a bit as she hurried out of Mingluan Palace. The rain was getting heavier, followed by the deafening thunder after bright flashes of lightning. A cold wind mixed with raindrops hit Gu Hengbo, soaking her clothes completely. Her messy long hair stuck to her neck, making her look quite disheveled.

“Crown princess… crown princess, wait!”

Just as Gu Hengbo stopped, a young palace servant in a deep blue uniform ran out of the corridor with an umbrella, shielding her from the rain. “Crown princess!”

Gu Hengbo raised her hand to push the wet hair behind her ear. “Why haven’t you left yet?”

The young palace servant smiled shyly. “The crown princess didn’t tell me to leave, so I didn’t. The prince instructed me to ensure the crown princess gets to Steward Feng.”

Gu Hengbo sighed, looking at her soaked clothes, her anger fading away. “You can go back. I can manage on my own.”

The young palace servant looked puzzled. “Why did the crown princess come out so soon?”

Gu Hengbo hesitated, remembering the scene from earlier. She tightened her heart but didn’t show it on her face. “It’s nothing. The Empress isn’t well and needs to rest. I shouldn’t disturb her for too long.”

The young palace servant nodded. “That’s fine, then I’ll escort the crown princess.”

Gu Hengbo frowned. “No need, I know the way. It’s getting late; you should go back and rest.”

Seeing Gu Hengbo shivering from the cold, the young palace servant quickly moved the umbrella closer to her. “I’ll still accompany you.”

Gu Hengbo took a deep breath and turned to walk into the rain, making the young palace servant shout anxiously behind her.

“Don’t follow me!” Gu Hengbo yelled back.

The young palace servant felt a bit wronged and said softly, “Crown princess, don’t be angry. Just take this umbrella, and I’ll walk through the corridor.”

If anything happened to her, he couldn’t handle it.

Gu Hengbo walked over to take his umbrella and turned to leave. The young palace servant watched her figure fade away with a sigh. This crown princess was quite nice but had a bit of a temper. In this palace, she treated them like people, but he was still not there to serve her.

Gu Hengbo walked in the rain for a while, then stopped and turned back toward Mingluan Palace. It seemed she understood Lianyang’s purpose for marrying her.

Fortunately, she hadn’t done anything yet; she was still herself.

Lianyang came out of Yuan Hall, preparing to return to his own residence. To get to Qingchen Palace from Yuan Hall, he had to pass Mingluan Palace and unexpectedly ran into the disheveled Gu Hengbo.

Lianyang was somewhat surprised but still politely called out, “Royal aunt.”

Gu Hengbo stared at him, feeling a mix of emotions. “Can I sit with you for a bit?”

Lianyang nodded in shock.

Gu Hengbo followed Lianyang to his quiet palace, where the furnishings were simple. Gu Hengbo sat down while Lianyang personally brewed her hot tea, sitting silently across from her.

Gu Hengbo glanced at him. “I forgot to thank you for helping me when I got lost in the palace.”

Lianyang smiled faintly. “Royal aunt doesn’t need to be polite.”

Normally, Gu Hengbo would want to talk more with him, but today she didn’t have much energy. She wasn’t sure if it was because she was overthinking or because of Lian Rong’s matter. Deep down, she wasn’t worried about Lian Rong and the Empress; she was only worried about what Lian Rong would do to her after their encounter. Just thinking about Lian Rong’s gaze sent shivers down her spine—cold and sinister, as if she wanted to tear her apart with her eyes just because she interrupted them.

Holding the steaming tea, Gu Hengbo felt a heaviness in her heart, her nose tingling. She didn’t understand why she felt this way. Lian Rong had frightened her earlier, and she had never seen her like that before.

“Royal aunt, should I send someone to take you back?”

“Lianyang…”

“…”

Gu Hengbo looked at him, her eyes slowly turning red. She bit her lip, tears uncontrollably rolling down her cheeks. She closed her eyes, rested her forehead on her hand, and a low sob escaped her lips.

Lianyang was startled by her sudden situation. A look of urgency appeared on his handsome, fair face as he walked to her side and patted her shoulder, saying, "Royal aunt."

Gu Hengbo waved her hand, sniffed, and forced a smile. "I’m fine, I’m sorry to make you laugh."

Lianyang, who was not very talkative and had a gentle nature, had not thought highly of Gu Hengbo before, but seeing her like this made him feel a bit reluctant. "Is the royal aunt unwell?"

Gu Hengbo looked up at him, her eyes red. "Lianyang, I actually like you a lot, but sadly I can only call you royal nephew now."

Lianyang was a bit taken aback, and when he understood her words, a blush spread across his face.

Gu Hengbo leaned back in the chair. "Honestly, I know my father had already asked the emperor for permission. It’s not that I don’t want to marry you; you also know what I’ve been through. Marrying you would only bring you more trouble." Although she was unwilling to enter the palace, this was one reason she pointed out.

Lianyang stared at her, momentarily at a loss for words. He never expected she would speak to him like this in the name of Prince Rong’s princess. Was she really Gu Yuanqing’s daughter? Was she the Gu Meisheng whom Mother Empress described as foolish for many years and who had been wronged?

Gu Hengbo rubbed the tip of her nose and smiled. "I’m really sorry for earlier. I couldn’t hold back; I was really angry."

Lianyang helped her pour out the cold tea and brewed a cup of hot tea. "The royal aunt will catch a cold like this."

Gu Hengbo glanced at herself. "Can you lend me a horse?"

Lianyang was surprised. "Lend a horse?"

Gu Hengbo nodded. "I have some use for it. Can I stay here for one night and leave tomorrow?"

"This… doesn’t seem right," Lianyang thought to himself, feeling conflicted. Gu Hengbo’s image in his mind had completely changed.

Gu Hengbo had already made up her mind; she absolutely could not return to Prince Rong’s residence tonight. She was unsure about Lian Rong and just hoped she could stay the night with the Empress.

"Let me stay here for one night, okay? I had a fight with your royal uncle, and I don’t want to see him," Gu Hengbo had no other choice but to make excuses, anyway, things could hardly get worse. If anyone should be blamed, it was just her bad luck for running into him.

Lianyang, feeling helpless, could only let her stay.

Gu Hengbo, getting a little greedy, borrowed Lianyang’s clothes, took a comfortable bath, and ended up sleeping in the bed while Lianyang went to the study.

Gu Hengbo quickly fell asleep in bed, while Lianyang stayed awake all night. He was naturally gentle, and although he had lingering thoughts about the Empress’s situation, he couldn’t do anything without evidence. He had to bear some of the Empress’s traits, and since he rarely interacted with women, he had never encountered anyone he liked. As for Gu Meisheng, whether he wanted it or not, since it was the emperor’s decree, he had to comply. The person already promised to him had suddenly been taken away by his royal uncle. Although he said he didn’t mind, it was hard to save face; this matter made him feel humiliated. Facing a younger woman, he had to call her royal aunt, which he found quite distressing.

But now, this woman claimed she had quarreled with the royal uncle and came to him, and if it got out, the consequences would be unimaginable. Yet, seeing her looking so pitiful, he couldn’t bear to refuse her.

That night she sat in the chair, soaking wet, crying quietly and feeling wronged. He panicked and didn’t know how to comfort her, a feeling quietly spread in his chest. It wasn’t until she suggested staying the night, bathing in his tub, and wearing his clothes that he realized his heart was completely in disarray.

The next morning, Gu Hengbo rarely woke up early. Lianyang accompanied her to the palace gate.

"I really don’t know how to thank you," Gu Hengbo said, patting the saddle.

Lianyang smiled gently. "It’s nothing, no need to thank me."

Gu Hengbo looked at him in surprise. "You’re not calling me royal aunt anymore?"

Lianyang’s face turned slightly red, and he remained silent.

"Alright, thank you for taking me in last night. It’s not easy to meet someone as kind as you. I’ll treat you to a meal when I have money." It was a relief that she could still handle riding a horse.

Lianyang smiled, but the words he wanted to say remained unspoken.

By the time Gu Hengbo mounted and rode away, Lianyang was still standing there in a daze, completely forgetting to ask her why she needed to borrow a horse or where she was going.

At that moment, Prince Rong’s residence was already in an uproar; the prince and princess had not returned all night. Qian Yue waited for Gu Hengbo in the palace until dawn and saw no sign of her, and Lian Rong was also missing.

Someone shouted, "The prince is back!" The residence finally quieted down, and as everyone was about to breathe a sigh of relief, they saw only Lian Rong enter.

Qian Yue, her face unchanged, asked in a low voice, "Did the princess not return with the prince?"

Lian Rong shrugged off the heavy black qilin robe and tossed it to a nearby maid, wearing only her inner clothing as she started to walk inside. Hearing Qian Yue’s words, she frowned. "Didn’t I tell you to wait for her at the Safety Gate?"

“Qian Yue is guilty. Please punish me, Your Highness,” Qian Yue said as she knelt directly in front of Lian Rong.

Lian Rong’s expression darkened. “Did you not see her last night?”

“Yes."

Lian Rong slowly rubbed the jade ring on her right thumb, scanning the courtyard where everyone stood with a thoughtful look. She had only exchanged a few words with Duan Rulan last night before they had a conflict; she had almost lost control. However, she didn’t expect Gu Hengbo to burst in unexpectedly. Usually, she would have struck first. She indeed yelled at her, but could Gu Hengbo have run away because of that?

Run away?

Lian Rong carefully considered this word, her slender phoenix eyes narrowing slowly. “Qian Yue.”

“Yes.”

“It rained last night; she cannot have gone very far. Take people with you, use my command, and seal the city.”

However, as Lian Rong expected, Gu Hengbo had run away and had already left the royal city.

“Your Highness, the guards at the city gate said they did see someone in white riding out of the city this morning. Based on their description, it must be the crown princess,” Qian Yue reported, not understanding why Gu Hengbo would sneak away from the royal city. Wasn’t this clearly provoking Lian Rong?

“Prepare the horses; I will personally ride out of the city,” Lian Rong said, tying the belt of her robe, her face emotionless.