Chapter 10

Yu Yunji woke up after a restless sleep, her mind preoccupied with concerns.

Afraid of waking Gu Qi, who was sleeping on the other side of the bed, Yu Yunji carefully got up and left the bed without calling for servants.

She didn’t notice that Gu Qi, who was sleeping close to the inner side, had opened his eyes at some point, already fully awake.

Yu Yunji picked up her multi-layered dress and frowned. She ended up undressing and dressing again in front of the mirror, unaware that her actions were being observed by the person behind her, who was coldly smirking at her early in the morning.

The carriage was prepared early. Recalling the events of the past few days, she planned to discuss the matter thoroughly with Gu Qi again.

“Your Highness, Xiangzhai Pavilion has prepared the Eight Treasures Sticky Rice Duck. Why does Your Highness still want to go there personally?” Ruo Shui asked, puzzled.

Their usually late-rising princess was actually going to Xiangzhai Pavilion herself today. How strange.

Yu Yunji leaned back in the carriage for a short rest: “It’s good to take a stroll as well.”

She was feeling extremely troubled. Initially, she had tried her best to avoid the plot where Gu Qi would be punished, but in the end, they still ended up arguing. Moreover, yesterday when she tried hard to clear things up, Gu Qi suddenly seemed to go mad as if triggered by something.

Yu Yunji felt that something was off, as if an invisible hand was blocking her, pushing her towards the inevitable plot.

Now, the only way she could think of to turn things around was to appease Gu Qi, avoid provoking the beauties from the original book, and definitely stay away from the Palace Minister Xi in the palace, best not to become enemies with him.

In the book, Palace Minister Xi Hui had many mysterious aspects and was the only male official in the Youzhou Dynasty. The original owner of this body, known for her fickleness, had somehow provoked him, naturally leading to no good outcome. It seemed that the original owner’s misfortunes began after coming into contact with Xi Hui.

If she couldn’t handle it, she would just avoid it.

As long as she didn’t provoke Xi Hui, she could avoid major life-and-death situations, and the minor details could be dealt with later.

When she said she wanted to take a stroll, she really did. Ruo Shui guided her around the capital city, allowing her to familiarize herself with the locations of several important characters’ mansions mentioned in the book.

It wasn’t until the afternoon that she brought up getting the Eight Treasures Sticky Rice Duck.

She hadn’t left early this morning specifically to get the Eight Treasures Sticky Rice Duck for Gu Qi, but to familiarize herself with the layout of the capital city, to help her integrate more quickly.

Nevertheless, even standing here now, she still felt like an outsider among these people.

“Your Highness, we’ve arrived.”

The setting sun shone softly on her profile through a corner of the gauze curtain blown open by the wind. Yu Yunji opened her eyes in response.

Ruo Shui waved the token in her arms at the window, signaling to the owner: “From the Hanwang Mansion.” As Yu Yunji was surveying her surroundings, before she could think further, she heard the voices of several women behind her.

“My, even with a veil, it can’t hide the young man’s beauty…” “Whose son are you? Come back to my mansion today, I’ll ensure you wealth and glory.” Several women surrounded the young man in the middle. His veil reached his waist, making it impossible to see his current expression clearly, but his general outline was visible enough to know he was a handsome young man.

The women’s words became increasingly inappropriate, drawing sidelong glances from the vendors, but no one stepped forward to stop it.

The young man seemed startled but hadn’t uttered a word to beg for mercy from start to finish. Perhaps he was mute.

Thinking of this, Yu Yunji frowned slightly: “Stop.”

The women turned back to look at her impatiently. Perhaps because the original owner had never been to such a place, despite her notorious reputation, few people knew her appearance.

“You’re meddling in our lady’s affairs, think you’re something special because you have a bit of money at home?” The youngest woman, like a peacock with its tail spread, looked her up and down, saying disdainfully.

Yu Yunji said coldly: “Doing such things right under the Emperor’s nose, do you have any respect for the law?”

“Our lady does as she pleases. In this capital, I’m the most refined lady apart from Hanwang,” the lead woman raised her chin at her, speaking contemptuously.

Everyone knew how unrestrained Hanwang was, yet these people called it refinement, treating it as something admirable.

Seeing the situation, Ruo Shui stepped forward to stand beside her.

Ruo Shui was an agile woman, and with her long sword, she looked quite intimidating, causing the young women in front to step back.

“You, you’re not going to use force, are you?”

“Murder! The ruffian lady is committing murder!”

These young women weren’t very old, and probably didn’t dare to provoke too much, otherwise, their family heads and masters wouldn’t let them off easily.

The lead woman still had some spirit: “You think you’re some great noble family? You’re not even as good as Hanwang!”

Yu Yunji, afraid of frightening the mute young man, didn’t want to argue with them anymore. She nodded and said: “Alright, thank you all for your praise of this princess. Now, step away from the young man, he’s one of mine.”

The young women looked at each other, no one moving for a moment.

Ruo Shui spoke up timely: “Defying the princess’s orders, how many layers of skin do you have to be flayed?”

Ruo Shui was wearing the clothes of the Hanwang Mansion today, with the insignia on her shoulder displaying her identity. At her mention of this, the women finally noticed that insignia.

Now they no longer cared about any young man, all concerned about their own lives, and immediately scattered in fright.

The mute young man still stood in place, not moving.

At this moment, a servant in plain clothes came running from behind the mute young man. He was panting heavily, and seeing his young master unharmed, he bowed to her: “Thank you, miss, for your help. May I ask your name?”

Not daring to reveal that name that could frighten children into crying, Yu Yunji said: “Yun Fu.”

The young mute man in front of her seemed to have lost all reaction to the outside world. Even when someone came to his side, he didn’t turn to look.

Yu Yunji felt sorry for him and asked gently: “Were you scared?”

Her voice was extremely pleasant, becoming as warm as spring water when gentle, making one feel a warmth rising in their heart.

The mute young man froze for a long while before slightly shaking his head.

She understood, he really was a little mute. She thought to express some concern: “Where do you live? It’s dangerous to be alone. Do you want me to take you home?”

The little mute slowly shook his head. Yu Yunji found it strange, could he have been scared silly?

As the two looked at each other, a gust of wind blew, lifting the semi-transparent thin gauze layer by layer, revealing half of his face for an instant.

The breeze seemed unsatisfied, wanting to lift the mute young man’s veil completely.

The mute young man seemed to suddenly realize, hurriedly lowering his head to smooth down the unruly white gauze in front of him. He gave her a graceful bow before leaving.

The wind brought her a faint scent of agarwood.

Just now, she had only seen slightly reddened lips, a slightly pointed chin, and a small mole under the lip.

It felt somewhat familiar, even with just half a face, it was very familiar.

Yu Yunji watched his retreating figure, lost in thought.

—

“What exactly is in there?” Jiao Lang pursed his rouge-red lips.

The servant knelt on the ground, his face filled with terror as he said: “Young master, it’s truly a big matter. The things in that box are no small matter.”

Jiao Lang looked at him impatiently: “What was written on it?”

The servant trembled, not responding for a moment. Jiao Lang angrily stood up and kicked towards his shoulder.

“You useless thing, failing in your task. Be careful, or this husband will sell off your old mother and old man!”

“Young master, have mercy!” The young servant hurriedly begged for forgiveness, pulling out a stack of slightly yellowed paper from his bosom, “The, the things are all here…”

Jiao Lang’s face lit up with joy as he snatched the stack of paper, but he used too much force. With a ripping sound, several fragile yellow papers were instantly torn in half.

He clenched the thin yellow papers in his hand, as if what he held was not yellow paper, but Gu Qi’s life.

“Good, very good,” Jiao Lang was overjoyed, “I want to see how he can turn this around now that the evidence is irrefutable!”

Half Moon Hall.

Yu Yunji walked in carrying an exquisite sandalwood food box, only to see that the window inside was open, and Gu Qi was sitting by the window combing his long hair.

He liked gold, jade, and vibrant colors, yet these colors didn’t appear vulgar on him at all.

Delicate gold hairpins held back a few strands of his smooth hair at the temples, while the gold and jeweled ornaments on top of his head made him look especially magnificent and dignified.

The vermilion robe embroidered with gold was painted with ink-colored bamboo, the bamboo leaves seeming to move with the wind as he moved, coming to life on him.

Yu Yunji composed herself and handed the food box to the servant beside him: “The Eight Treasures Duck you love.”

“What exactly does Princess Hanwang intend to do? We agreed earlier that after the separation, we would not interfere with each other. You gave me one story before, and now you’re spreading such rumors in the capital?” Gu Qi looked up and spoke to her sarcastically. Yu Yunji was bewildered: “What?”

“Those rumors in the capital, they’re about to reach the ears of Prince Gong!”

“Rumors?” Yu Yunji was startled, and asked amusingly, “What could they be spreading that makes you so angry?”

She spoke gently, trying to smooth things over with Gu Qi, hoping to calm his emotions.

This demeanor of hers, in Gu Qi’s eyes, was an admission of what he had just mentioned.

Gu Qi gave a cold laugh: “People outside are saying that Princess Hanwang is henpecked, but deeply in love with her husband, and has since become chaste, no longer seeking out other flowers. But while mountains and rivers may change, one’s nature is hard to alter. What is the purpose of Your Highness doing this?”

Yu Yunji had no reaction to what he said earlier, but when he uttered the phrase about nature being hard to change, she couldn’t help but turn her head and cough a few times.

“Well, as you said, after all, it’s just a rumor. Since it’s a rumor, how can it be easily believed?” She defended dryly.

Gu Qi clearly wasn’t going to let it go so easily, that beautiful face of his smiling yet not smiling.

Before his sarcastic words could leave his mouth, Yu Yunji said: “Rest assured about this matter. It definitely won’t affect your marriage to my elder sister. After all, we are still family, and family doesn’t make things difficult for family.” She moved the Eight Treasures Duck that Han Yu had just set out in front of him like a treasure: “Look, your favorite.”

Gu Qi’s expression was strange: “Since when did I ever love eating these?”

Yu Yunji was stunned, instinctively looking towards Han Yu beside him.

Han Yu lowered his head and said: “Your Highness, the master doesn’t particularly favor Eight Treasures Duck.”

Something seemed to flash through her mind for an instant, and Yu Yunji grabbed onto that fleeting thing.

So, in the original book, it was the original owner’s sister, her current elder sister, Yu Zhiyuan, who loved eating Eight Treasures Duck, and Gu Qi only liked it by association, nothing more.

“I thought since elder sister loves it, you might enjoy eating it too,” Yu Yunji said after a moment of silence.

“…I do like it.” Gu Qi picked up a piece and placed it in the small dish in front of him, “I do indeed love Eight Treasures Duck.”

She had just mentioned it casually, and Gu Qi had made Eight Treasures Duck his own preference as if it were true.

It’s clear that he truly loves the female lead, to such an extent.

Thinking of this, Yu Yunji suddenly said: “Oh right, we need to make plans early. I just heard that elder sister’s wedding has been moved up.”

Yu Zhiyuan was originally scheduled to get engaged later, but for some reason, the wedding was to be brought forward to the near future.

The silver chopsticks Gu Qi was holding paused in mid-air, and he sneered: “Does Princess Hanwang truly just know about this, or is she harboring other thoughts, unwilling to inform…”

“Your Highness, this slave has urgent matters and requests to see Your Highness! Please, Male Empress, allow this slave to see the Princess!”

“The Princess is dining with the Male Empress, how dare you barge in.”

The voice from outside was familiar, none other than Jiao Lang from last night. Yu Yunji, hearing there were urgent matters, said: “Ruo Shui, let him in.”