Chapter 63

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Chapter 63: Title

After sending off Qingfeng, Gu Hengbo entered her room and saw that flamboyant red figure, the dead person, lying on her personal concubine’s couch, smoking. She silently approached the bed, planning to take a nap.

"Come here," Lian Rong looked at her and spoke slowly.

Gu Hengbo paused her steps and walked over to stand before her, looking down from her height. "Do you need something, Your Highness?"

Lian Rong gestured to the empty space beside her. "Sit."

Gu Hengbo glanced at the red stone pipe in Lian Rong’s hand, surprised, but kept her expression neutral. It wasn’t that she was shocked by Lian Rong’s habit; it was just unusual to see a pipe here. But thinking about it, why not? If she could time travel, why couldn’t someone from ancient times smoke? Still, she wondered if there were others like her here.

Seeing Gu Hengbo standing there silently and not moving, Lian Rong casually watched her with that familiar look in her eyes.

Gu Hengbo snapped back to reality, shifted a bit, and sat down in front of Lian Rong. She said nothing about the last incident. Let Lian Rong do as she pleased. That was her own affair. When she lost interest, she would naturally let her go. Gu Hengbo decided not to provoke her again.

Lian Rong remained reclining, bringing the pipe to her lips and inhaling. She then gently blew a puff of smoke towards Gu Hengbo’s side profile.

Gu Hengbo furrowed her brows slightly and pressed her lips into a tight line, too uninterested to even give her a glance.

Lian Rong playfully tapped her chin with the pipe, her tone laced with intrigue. "Still angry?"

"I wouldn’t dare."

Lian Rong decided not to tease her further, relaxing her posture. "I heard that your brother is getting married."

"Yes."

"Is the girl from a brothel?"

You are really asking me that, aren’t you? Have you eaten too much? "Yes."

"Did Prime Minister Gu agree?"

"Yes."

Lian Rong chuckled. "I didn’t expect Prime Minister Gu to be easy to talk to. If I had known earlier, I wouldn’t have had to make such a big fuss to propose in person."

Gu Hengbo sneered inwardly, but remained silent.

Lian Rong studied her profile, expecting a reaction but feeling disappointed when she did not get one. "Once things calm down in a few days, if you want to visit your mother at the Prime Minister’s residence, just go."

Gu Hengbo could hardly tolerate Lian Rong’s hypocritical demeanor and couldn’t help but reply coldly, "Killing one’s own kind? What do you mean by things calming down? Your Highness really knows how to joke. If you don’t want me to leave the residence, just say so. I wouldn’t dare oppose your will." This person was truly shameless for even saying that to her, acting as if the situation was just a play.

Thinking about how there were bodies all over the courtyard just a few days ago, she felt an overwhelming urge to leave.

Lian Rong’s pupils suddenly constricted. She grabbed Gu Hengbo’s wrist and pulled her tightly into her arms, flipping her onto the couch. Although the concubine’s couch was well-made and could withstand a sudden impact from two people, it still let out a creaky sound.

Gu Hengbo wanted to struggle, but Lian Rong held her wrists firmly. She glared silently at the person above her, wondering why everything had to be settled this way.

"Lian Rong."

"Yes?"

"Get up."

"I told you before, as long as you can please me, I will let you go."

Gu Hengbo felt a surge of anger rising in her throat. This person did something wrong and wouldn’t even let her speak. Her gaze gradually calmed down, and she smirked, "Your Highness has quite the interest, ready to begin at any time." Saying this, she slipped out of Lian Rong’s slightly loosened grip and tugged at her clothing, leaning closer to whisper in her ear, "Are you planning to do this here?"

Lian Rong’s eyes narrowed as she looked at the pretty face so close to her. She breathed heavily and pressed her lips against Gu Hengbo’s, kissing deeply.

In no time, the two on the couch had shed their clothes and laid bare their feelings. With their increasingly heavy breaths, the room was filled with a strong scent of intimacy.

During lunch, the maids who served noticed that it was already past noon, yet Prince Rong and the crown princess had not appeared. The head maid went to check on them, but was unexpectedly stopped by Qian Yue, who emerged from nowhere.

"Prepare lunch and wait for the prince’s call. You all should return to the main hall now," Qian Yue said, her expression calm and unchanging, as always.

The maids were not foolish; they understood immediately what Qian Yue meant and backed away without a word.

Once Qian Yue saw everyone had left, she glanced at the doorframe and sighed, shaking her head. It had been too long; even if the prince wasn’t hungry, he should consider the crown princess, who was growing thinner by the day. This couldn’t go on.

*

Gu Cheng’s wedding was at the end of June, and the weather was starting to feel hotter. Gu Hengbo spent all day lazily lounging in her room. She didn’t know how Lian Rong made the room so cool, in stark contrast to the heat outside. Comfortable inside, she had no desire to step out.

She could technically skip Gu Cheng’s wedding due to her status as Prince Rong’s wife. Plus, Gu Cheng wasn’t even in the government, and now he was marrying a woman of ill repute; she truly didn’t need to show up. However, it felt wrong not to attend, especially considering their brother-sister bond. Perhaps it was because she occupied Gu Meisheng’s body that she instinctively felt the urge to get close to him.

Recently, Lian Rong had been acting quite strangely. Not only did she refuse to go out, but she kept clinging to Gu Hengbo, whether hugging or wrapping her arms around her. If Gu Hengbo stayed indoors, Lian Rong made sure she did, like a pet dog being kept. Gu Hengbo not only had to endure being held tightly but also the endless barrage of passionate kisses. She couldn’t speak; if she said more than three sentences, Lian Rong would seal her lips with hers, continuously calling out her name like a lost soul, which was utterly annoying.

Perhaps because she had given Lian Rong the cold shoulder for several days, feeling stifled, Gu Hengbo finally initiated conversation. A little playful flirting wouldn’t hurt, after all; she could sway like a reed in the wind. Indeed, Lian Rong couldn’t resist her persistence, and after thousands of sighs from Gu Hengbo, the female prince finally relented.

Gu Hengbo glanced back at Shui Yan, who looked tense and on edge, likely unused to being out and feeling curious about the world.

When Gu Hengbo left the palace and headed for Yipin Tower, Shui Yan frowned and stopped her from entering. "Are you hungry, Your Highness? The cooks at the palace are top-notch; have you changed your appetite?"

Gu Hengbo smiled slightly at Shopkeeper Liu. "Hello, Shopkeeper Liu, it’s been a while."

Shopkeeper Liu twitched his small mustache. Gu Meisheng was originally the second daughter of the Prime Minister’s residence, and now she was Prince Rong’s wife. He couldn’t be careless, so he quickly greeted her warmly, “Whatever you wish to eat, just let us know, and we will send it to your residence. Why do you need to come here?”

Gu Hengbo followed him upstairs, smiling, "Good food should be eaten fresh, especially from Yipin Tower. I want to enjoy it while I’m here." Gu Hengbo meant every word; she usually had a hearty appetite, but her recent mood had dampened it. Otherwise, she would have certainly gained more weight.

Shopkeeper Liu was pleased and led her into a large, quiet private room by the window. After closing the door, the hustle and bustle outside faded away, leaving only the occasional soft whispers from the next room.

He first had the best tea brewed and then asked Gu Hengbo if there was anything specific she wanted to eat that could be prepared just for her. Once everything was arranged, he closed the door and left.

Gu Hengbo motioned for Shui Yan to sit down. Since it was just the two of them, there was no need for too much formality. Shui Yan hesitated but eventually sat down after Gu Hengbo insisted.

As Gu Hengbo picked up her tea cup to take a sip, she accidentally spat the hot tea out instead. Noticing this, Shui Yan hurried to pat her back, thinking she had choked.

Gu Hengbo waved her hand and was about to speak when she heard a crash from the next room, the sound of porcelain shattering on the ground. Her heart skipped a beat—had she stumbled upon that scene again? This was a restaurant, not a brothel!

"First Prince, don’t be angry. I will investigate this further and let you know immediately once I have clarity on the matter."

Gu Hengbo glanced at Shui Yan, who was sitting calmly, taking tiny sips from her tea cup. She blinked; if she heard correctly, the person next door must be First Prince Lian Yue. Tsk tsk, discussing business with such a loud commotion, didn’t they fear her eavesdropping through the wall? But how could she hear so clearly?

"Shui Yan, go check the east wall for any holes or openings."