Chapter 11
Yuexi Pavilion.
Yu Zhiyuan looked at the person holding the white chess piece before her and said, “What does the teacher think?”
The man before her wore a light-colored robe, sitting upright at the desk. His hair was not tied up, with smooth black locks falling on his shoulders, looking like an immortal descending to the mortal world, gazing at people with compassion.
“I’m sorry, but I cannot answer the question of Your Highness the Respectful Princess,” he said softly.
Yu Zhiyuan was not in a hurry. She curved her lips into a smile, “I admire the teacher’s talent and ability, so I’m discussing these things with you. It’s a mutually beneficial matter, why not do it?”
The man lifted his thin eyelids, “My knowledge is shallow, I cannot do such things. The night is deep, and the air is damp. I won’t keep Your Highness any longer.”
Even being dismissed like this, Yu Zhiyuan was not annoyed at all. She still smiled lightly, “Teacher can think about it for a few days before answering. Then this student will take her leave first.”
The night wind made the candlelight flicker restlessly.
“This… Grand Tutor, please reconsider. If you really agree to Her Highness the Respectful Princess’s request, when the fight for the heir to the throne happens in the future, it might damage your influence…” The young servant was a bit anxious. “Please protect yourself. This is also the wish of the old Grand Tutor.”
“Tell me, can there really be any sisterly affection between imperial sisters?” Xi Hui asked lightly, as if he wasn’t very interested, just mentioning it casually.
Wu Zhi was troubled: “Grand Tutor, I shouldn’t say much…”
“Hmm, what can’t you say?” Xi Hui twirled the white jade chess piece in his hand.
Wu Zhi said, “I actually think that between imperial sisters, there’s no real sisterly affection. It’s all about sisters fighting each other, struggling for the throne until they’re bloodied.”
Wu Zhi was still a young man, and young men of this age are most curious about everything. Xi Hui didn’t restrain him, letting him speak his mind.
“So you think it’s better for me not to participate in this struggle, right?”
Wu Zhi immediately said, “Of course. If the old Grand Tutor were still alive, he naturally wouldn’t want you to get involved in factional struggles. I also think that nothing is better than keeping oneself out of trouble…”
Xi Hui neither agreed nor disagreed: “That also depends on whose side one stands on.”
Click, his slender fingertips released, and the white chess piece entered the game.
—
At that time, in the Half Moon Hall.
Jiao Lang came twisting and turning pitifully, kneeling before her and saying, “Your Highness, this slave is wholeheartedly devoted to Your Highness. However, unexpectedly, the Prince Consort brother has done such a shameful thing, disgracing Your Highness’s face. That’s why this slave came immediately to see Your Highness for guidance…”
Yu Yunji glanced at Gu Qi beside her, seeing him looking at Jiao Lang with disgust, her heart tightened slightly.
It was a crucial moment for the bestowed marriage. She only wished for Gu Qi to be well and not go mad at the slightest provocation.
“What happened?” Yu Yunji asked.
Jiao Lang seemed to find it difficult to speak, “The Prince Consort, although he is now Your Highness’s official husband, still has another woman in his heart. He has done something disgraceful and despicable. He… he has secretly kept a woman’s belongings.”
As soon as he said this, Gu Qi’s expression immediately changed slightly, narrowing his eyes to look at Jiao Lang on the ground.
Jiao Lang knew of his madness and didn’t dare to meet his gaze, shrinking back and saying, “Your Highness, every word this slave says is true.”
Yu Yunji glanced at Gu Qi and asked, resting her chin on her hand, “Everything needs evidence. How can we just listen to one person’s words? Do you know the punishment for slandering the Prince Consort?”
“This slave knows Your Highness won’t easily believe, ” Jiao Lang sobbed, taking out a stack of torn yellow paper from his bosom, “These… were all accidentally discovered by this slave…”
Before Yu Yunji could speak, Gu Qi suddenly stood up and violently slapped Jiao Lang.
The crisp sound echoed in the room. Jiao Lang didn’t expect him to hit him in front of Yu Yunji and was stunned on the spot.
Men’s skin is delicate, and in no time, a handprint appeared on one side of Jiao Lang’s face.
“Who allowed you to touch these things?” Gu Qi’s chest heaved, his phoenix eyes seeping with coldness. He tightly grasped Jiao Lang’s collar, lifting him up, “I’m asking you, who allowed you to touch these things without permission?”
Jiao Lang’s face turned red from being choked, crying and begging, “Please, Your Highness, please… help this slave…”
The stack of papers scattered on the ground. Yu Yunji didn’t understand why he reacted so strongly at first, but after seeing clearly, her eyes widened slightly.
The papers were full of heartfelt words, similar to little notes written to a beloved girl during school days, but about three fingers thick.
If it were the original host, his life would probably be in danger now.
“Damn it, how dare you, who allowed you to defile Your Highness’s things!” He shook Jiao Lang violently, almost hysterically.
Seeing him lose control, Yu Yunji quickly went forward to embrace him, “Gu Qi, calm down.”
Gu Qi angrily said, “Calm down, how can I calm down? Yu Yunji, your vile servant deserves to die just like you!”
Why, why does he have to take care of everything for Gu Shanlai? Even though he was about to marry the Respectful Princess he had admired, in the end, he was replaced by the feared demon. If it weren’t for Yu Yunji, if it weren’t for these evil people, he would now be the Respectful Prince Consort.
The scattered papers on the ground were his years of feelings for the Respectful Princess, now being used by others to humiliate him.
He hated, he hated so much that he wanted to tear apart this vile servant right now!
Blood trickled down from Gu Qi’s tightly clenched fingertips, but he seemed to feel no pain at all. He just glared fiercely at the trembling person before him, wishing he could take his life right away.
His chest heaved rapidly. He had used too much force earlier, and several bloody scratches appeared on Jiao Lang’s face. On that tender cheek, where was the charm from before?
Not enough, he only felt it wasn’t enough. This utterly disgusting person should be torn to pieces!
“Guards, drag this vile servant down and beat him to death!”
Two strong women stepped forward upon hearing this. Yu Yunji quickly said, “His crime doesn’t warrant death…”
“Doesn’t warrant death?” Gu Qi laughed in extreme anger, “Stealing the master’s things, being disrespectful as a servant, making false accusations disregarding the law, which one doesn’t deserve death?”
“Ah, could it be that Her Highness the Fragrant Princess has taken pity upon seeing this pretty face?” Gu Qi looked at the cowering person on the ground and chuckled, “It’s truly pitiful, but it’s a shame about this face.” The smile on his face suddenly disappeared, and he said coldly, “Take this servant who doesn’t know his place away and beat him to death.”
“I’d like to see who dares to move!” Yu Yunji coldly said to the two women at the door.
“I am the Fragrant Prince Consort, all matters in the back palace are under my management,” Gu Qi angrily pinched his soft palm, “Today, I insist on his death.”
Yu Yunji immediately darkened her face: “Confine the Prince Consort and Jiao Lang in their own courtyard. They are not allowed to leave without permission.”
After all, she wasn’t raised in ancient times. Having been influenced by modern thinking for over a decade, how could she watch such a thing happen?
No matter how wrong Jiao Lang was, she couldn’t let Gu Qi order him to be beaten to death. After all, it was a living, breathing life.
She couldn’t let Gu Qi continue like this, otherwise, her reputation for cruelty might never be cleared.
Gu Qi looked at her in disbelief: “Yu Yunji!”
The two women didn’t hesitate, nor did they dare to listen further. They closed the door for the two and then escorted the sobbing Jiao Lang to a separate courtyard.
“Gu Qi, you can’t act recklessly.” Yu Yunji’s gentle expression faded a bit, and that clear and cool face also carried a cold look. “We agreed, you would be a good Prince Consort. As long as you don’t cause trouble, you will still be the Respectful Prince Consort.”
“He’s already stepped on my head, and you want me to swallow this anger?” Gu Qi said angrily.
Yu Yunji said, “You just want to marry into the Respectful Princess’s mansion. We can coexist peacefully, but no matter how badly Jiao Lang behaves, he is still a member of the household. You can’t kill him at will.”
Kill at will, what a fine phrase, ‘kill at will’.
Gu Qi’s lower lip had turned white from being bitten. Clearly, others were at fault, why should he have to endure this humiliation? It’s all because of these damned people, they owe him!
The Yu Yunji before him had a serious face that brooked no argument, as if she would do something to him if he dared to order someone’s death today.
“Hahaha,” he lowered his head and laughed sardonically. When he raised his eyes again, his face was full of disdain, “Yu Yunji, don’t act like you understand me. What right do you have to understand me? You don’t understand, you don’t understand anything!” He tightly grasped Yu Yunji, but saw her walking towards him step by step, inevitably closing the distance between them.
The faint, unknown fragrance came closer and closer, but he unconsciously leaned back a bit, instinctively avoiding the pressure she brought.
Clink, it was the crisp sound of jade pendants colliding.
“Gu Qi, mind your status,” she said softly, but with an imposing air without anger, “This is my Fragrant Princess’s mansion, not the Respectful Princess’s mansion.”
“…What makes you think you can do it,” Gu Qi took a deep breath and faced her, “With your current reputation, can you just go and snatch someone to be your new husband?”
Yu Yunji said, “You don’t need to ask too much. Just stay in the mansion and behave yourself.”
The tassels at their waists had somehow become entangled due to their movements.
For a moment, both were silent. After a while, Gu Qi suddenly curved his lips into a smile and said, “I always feel that you’re not the same Fragrant Princess as before…”
