Chapter 37

Every scene she had experienced recently echoed through Gu Wan’s mind like a play.

In the peach blossom grove, Li Yueyue had taken the initiative to hold her hand, only for Gu Wan to avoid her.

Li Yueyue had taken the initiative to offer to teach her writing, but Gu Wan had driven her out of the study and even declared that she would never learn again.

Later, after finally agreeing to give her all the plum candy, in the end, Gu Wan had still gone back on her word.

One by one, each matter stabbed into her chest like a dagger, again and again, until even every breath brought waves of pain through her heart.

But Yueyue… must have been even sadder.

She had clearly been seeking protection, yet after being suspected again and again, she had refused to say anything. Then she had inexplicably been poisoned with an aphrodisiac, lost her innocence, and after gathering the courage to show goodwill, what she received in return was…

She had always been delicate. After being treated like this time and again, Gu Wan did not dare imagine how heartbroken she must have been these past days.

Gu Wan lowered her head helplessly, as if confessing all the “evil deeds” she had committed toward her during this time.

When Shen Rong turned back, she saw that Gu Wan, who had been perfectly fine just now, now had a changed expression. She looked restless and uneasy.

Oh? She had not known General Gu also had moments of such nervousness. Was it because she had heard about Shen Rong’s condition?

Since her older cousin cared for her this much, the matters afterward would likely become even easier.

When they went downstairs, Shen Rong took the initiative to ask Gu Wan, “Is Older Cousin feeling unwell? Why not let Physician Wu examine Older Cousin as well while we’re here?”

Gu Wan came back to herself. “I am fine. Thank you for your concern, Madam.”

In the medical hall, she could not call her Your Ladyship, so she could only address her as Madam.

Shen Rong sent her maid to hand the prescription to the pharmacy to have the medicine prepared.

The maid handed the prescription over the counter. The person preparing medicine said there were several patients ahead of them still waiting and asked them to wait a while, roughly half an hour, before coming back to collect it.

Shen Rong took the initiative to suggest, “They all say Furong City is named after its flowers. In high summer, the sight of lotus flowers blooming across the waterways around the city is extremely beautiful. Why don’t Older Cousin accompany me to take a look while we have this free time?”

Half an hour…

At this moment, Gu Wan’s heart was already flying home like an arrow, but she also could not leave Shen Rong here alone. She could only agree.

The two arrived by the river. The water murmured, and a stone bridge stood over the winding bend. On the expanse of green lotus leaves, several white lotus flowers were dotted here and there. Some had already fully bloomed, their petals spreading outward in all directions, while the lotus seedpod at the center showed a tender pale yellow.

Of course, summer had only just begun, so many buds were still shy and hesitant, unwilling to fully reveal their beauty.

Shen Rong praised, “They say many scholars and poets come to Furong City every summer to escape the heat and admire the lotuses. This garden full of lotus fragrance truly is beautiful.”

These words were a bit overly flattering. Gu Wan remembered that there was also a lotus pond in the imperial city. At the beginning of Great Zhou’s founding, the founding emperor had specially ordered it built, intending it as a reminder of the noble quality of remaining unstained despite rising from mud.

“Your Ladyship jests. The lotuses carefully cultivated in the palace flower rooms must also have a unique charm,” Gu Wan said after a moment of thought.

Shen Rong looked back. “Older Cousin does not know this. For the sake of viewing, the palace lotus pond is clear to the bottom, and His Majesty ordered that no mud be seen. Once separated from the thing that lets them live and settle, no matter how beautiful they are, they cannot survive long.”

The waterways of Furong City were different. The mud at the bottom of the river seemed filthy, yet it constantly provided the best nourishment for these lotus flowers.

There was something behind Shen Rong’s words. Gu Wan could hear it. But at this moment, her mind was a mess, and she did not have the energy to carefully grasp Shen Rong’s hidden meaning. She simply went straight to the point.

“I hope Your Ladyship will speak plainly.”

Shen Rong sighed. “Since Older Cousin is being so distant ​Read on BaiLianTales​with me, then I will tell Older Cousin a secret no one else knows.”

“Actually, I was never pregnant.”

When Gu Wan lifted her eyes, shock that could not be hidden filled them. It was not that she was surprised whether Shen Rong had been pregnant or not, but that Shen Rong had actually told her this matter so directly.

It was equivalent to handing her own weak point directly into Gu Wan’s hands. As long as Gu Wan became unhappy, she could end Shen Rong at any time. But Shen Rong naturally also knew that Gu Wan would not expose her. Once guilt fell, it would implicate the whole family. Gu Wan would not push her uncle into the fire pit as well.

“What? Is Older Cousin very surprised?”

“I only do not know why Your Ladyship would suddenly…” mention this matter today.

Shen Rong slowly walked onto the stone bridge and stood at its highest point, gazing into the distance. “Because I hope Older Cousin can know that my days in the palace are not easy. Even though I never miscarried, my body has still ended up in this state. And even though the person who harmed me has suffered retribution, I can no longer return to how I was before.”

Yes, Shen Rong had indeed never miscarried. But she had originally also been a young lady pampered in the women’s quarters. Even if she did not have Gu Wan’s vigor to carry a spear onto the battlefield, her body had still been healthy.

It was not as if Gu Wan had not heard Physician Wu’s words earlier. Even without a miscarriage, her body was already this sickly. One could imagine what kind of life she had been living in that man-eating imperial harem.

“Older Cousin, do you know that within those vermilion palace walls, every brick is built from white bones, and the roads are paved with blood? Perhaps Older Cousin disdains the methods I used against Concubine Jing, but think carefully. In such a vast imperial palace, why did I target her alone?”

Regarding Concubine Jing, Gu Wan could only say that kindness and resentment had balanced each other out. If Concubine unauthorized copy Jing had not harbored evil intentions and acted against Shen Rong, Shen Rong would not have had the chance to bring down the entire Zheng family. It was simply that one side had lost by a single move, and the victor became king.

“Back then, I had no intention of entering the palace, but once the imperial decree came down, I had no choice but to obey. In that square patch of sky, I was all alone and did not know a single person. Concubine Jing showed kindness to me, and I thought it was goodwill. Who would have thought that inside the sachet she gave me, there was poison that damaged a woman’s foundation? So regardless of whether I miscarried or not, my body will find it difficult to conceive again. Every day, I also have no choice but to use extremely strong incense to cover the scent on my body.”

These words were true. Ever since her body had been damaged, the delicate fragrance of a young woman had been replaced by a faint, ever-present smell of blood. Even Shen Rong herself felt disgusted when she smelled it.

She spoke with genuine feeling. Every word seemed to bleed. Crystal tears filled her eyes, all the grievances of a young woman.

She looked somewhat like she had when she was little, acting spoiled and complaining to her older cousin.

Gu Wan opened her mouth, but in the end, she could only comfort her faintly. “Your Ladyship should not worry too much. Did that physician not say just now that as long as you nurse your body well, there will still be a chance?”

Shen Rong pressed the handkerchief against the tears at the corners of her eyes. “I can wait, but His Majesty is already advanced in years. Even if I recover fully, I do not know whether, by then, there will still be time.”

The moment Shen Rong finished speaking, she realized that these words could be considered greatly treasonous. She quickly covered her face with the silk handkerchief and stopped herself from saying more.

These words could not have been clearer. Shen Rong had not come simply to seek Gu Wan’s pity this time.

Gu Wan raised both arms in a formal salute. “Your Ladyship may speak directly.”

Only then did Shen Rong wipe away the [read the original at bailiantales.com]tear tracks and restrain the grief on her face. She asked, “I wonder if Older Cousin still remembers that His Majesty once had a seventh prince?”

The seventh prince had originally been born to the Imperial Noble Consort. Three years ago, he had died in a great fire, and even his body had never been found. After that, the Imperial Noble Consort, grieving the loss of her son, fell ill and passed away not long after.

Afterward, the empress, fearing the emperor would be saddened, ordered that no one in the palace was allowed to mention the seventh prince again.

“Some time ago, I accidentally encountered the wet nurse who used to serve beside the seventh prince. She is now confused and deranged, locked in the cold palace. But she kept muttering about the seventh prince, and in her words, she also mentioned that great fire.”

Shen Rong described what had happened that day in detail to Gu Wan. That day, she had originally gone to admire flowers. Who knew that a madwoman would run out from one of the palace buildings, saying that the seventh prince had suddenly developed a high fever. While sending someone to summon an imperial physician, she herself had gone to report to the Imperial Noble Consort. But by the time the Imperial Noble Consort and she rushed over, the entire palace hall had already fallen into a sea of fire.

Although the woman’s clothes were filthy, she spoke with absolute certainty, saying that since no bones had been found, the seventh prince must not have been inside the hall at the time. It was only that back then, the entire palace had searched for a long time but had never found any trace of him.

The woman had wanted to grab Shen Rong’s clothes. Fortunately, the palace servants stopped her. But she refused to give up and kept shouting for Shen Rong to save the seventh prince.

Yet when Shen Rong later went to the cold palace again, she received news that the woman had suddenly died. It was said that she had mistakenly eaten rat poison. Blood had poured from all seven orifices, and her death had been miserable.

“Older Cousin, I know my fortune is thin, and I cannot continue His Majesty’s bloodline. But the seventh prince is His Majesty’s own flesh and blood. If I can find him for the emperor, then it would not count as failing the imperial grace.”

The Gu family was most loyal to the current emperor. Rather than tell anyone else about this matter, it was better to hand it to Gu Wan. She would certainly spare no effort to investigate it thoroughly.

The crown prince was weak in character and unfit for great responsibility. The third prince had been feared by His Majesty for many years. If the seventh prince truly was still alive, perhaps he would be entrusted with important use. At ​unauthorized copy​that time, as the meritorious person who found an imperial heir, even if Shen Rong had never given birth, her future prospects would be limitless.

Gu Wan thought for a moment. “How much credibility can the words of a madwoman have?”

She had not said she would participate, but she had not completely denied it either. Shen Rong knew that what she had said just now was already like a tiny seed planted in Gu Wan’s mind.

“Whether it is true or false, I only hope Older Cousin can pay some attention to it. After all, he is His Majesty’s child. I dare not treat it lightly.”

Since she had put it this way, Gu Wan no longer had a reason to refuse. She raised both arms in a salute. “This general understands.”

With her plan completed, Shen Rong stood with Gu Wan on the bridge for a while longer. Estimating that the time was about right, she took the initiative to suggest going back.

On the other side, ever since Gu Wan left, the utterly exhausted Shang Rongyue had sunk into deep sleep. Only when the sun was setting did the dry itch in her throat pull her from her dreams.

Perhaps it was because she had eaten too much candy, but her mouth felt dry and parched.

In her muddled state, she murmured from the bed that she wanted water. Who knew that not long after, a cool teacup would be brought to her lips.

Opening her eyes, she saw that it was Shen Sanniang, supporting her body and wanting to feed her water.

She thought she was dreaming, until the faintly bitter tea moistened her [stolen content]lips. Shang Rongyue’s eyes instantly cleared.

What was going on? Was Shen Sanniang serving her today?

Usually, it was already impressive if she rewarded her with a candy after medicine. Yet now, the other woman’s movements were gentle. She first carefully let Shang Rongyue taste a little and asked whether the temperature was all right before slowly lifting the cup.

Shang Rongyue could not help frowning.

“Is the temperature unsuitable?” Seeing the other woman’s expression, Gu Wan thought the tea was too hot. But she had clearly tested it herself first, and the temperature was just right.

However, Yueyue’s body was delicate. Besides, she had stood for so long at the Star-Gazing Tower yesterday, so it was understandable if her throat was sensitive.

“Should I have someone prepare a new pot?”

“No need…” Shang Rongyue was very unused to this sudden gentleness. She quickly took the teacup herself and drank bit by bit.

Seeing that the other woman was avoiding her, Gu Wan was not upset. It was normal for Shang Rongyue to be wary, given how excessive she had been before. In addition, today, Gu Wan had deliberately let her see those prisoners. Their clothes had been ragged, and they had worn shackles. As a pampered young lady from the inner chambers, how could Shang Rongyue have seen such a scene before?

It was reasonable for her to be afraid.

“Why did you come back so early today?” After drinking all ​unauthorized copy​the tea in the cup, Shang Rongyue returned the cup and asked.

During this period, Shen Sanniang had returned later and later each day. Several times, she had come back under the stars and moon, and by the time she entered, Shang Rongyue was already curled up on the bed. It was only because she did not dare sleep alone that she had forced herself to wait for her.

As Gu Wan drew closer, Shang Rongyue’s nose moved slightly, as if she again smelled that sharp fragrance. Only this time, the scent was much fainter.

She knew it. When something was abnormal, there must be something strange behind it. Every time this bandit leader treated her well, it was because she had done something guilty. See? Who knew what she had done behind Shang Rongyue’s back today.

Her gaze moved downward, and Shang Rongyue saw that the bite mark she had deliberately left on the other woman’s finger joint had already disappeared.

Tsk. What a pity!

She actually wanted to see what the lofty and untouchable Shen Sanniang would look like if someone discovered that her finger had been bitten.

Shang Rongyue gathered the quilt around herself and quietly moved her body slightly toward Shen Sanniang’s other side. “Why did your female cousin let you go so quickly today?”

That tiny movement fell entirely into Gu Wan’s eyes. She did not answer Shang Rongyue’s question. Instead, she directly slipped her arm beneath the quilt, hooked it around Shang Rongyue’s waist, and pulled her over.

“Why are you staring at my hand again?”