Capítulo 912: Chapter 727: Prince Bao Attacks
In a remote corner of the rear garden, Gu Changsheng and his entourage gathered here.
The old eunuch Han Shan was sweating profusely, pacing in circles.
“Don’t worry, think carefully.” Gu Changsheng was not anxious. Although she was entrusted by the evildoer, and originally didn’t like Emperor Zhoulin, upon reflection, although Emperor Zhoulin was stubbornly adhering to his emperor’s way, he had never actually harmed her.
Recalling those years in Liuzhou, she was merely a Medicine Lady. Just a mere assassin sent by Prince Liang could have forced her into a dangerous situation. And Emperor Zhoulin only issued a few decrees; if he truly wanted her dead, she would have hardly survived until now.
Moreover, whether Emperor Zhoulin compromised or grudgingly accepted her betrothal ceremony with the evildoer, he at least preserved her dignity.
She and Emperor Zhoulin actually had no deep hatred. If one carefully traced back, it was only the calculation of the Wife of the Former Crown Prince back then, and her grandfather Gu Chengyi in Liuzhou City refused to come to the Capital City, which brought about the disaster of death. But now, as the Southern Emperor, she deeply understood the difficulties faced by the emperor.
Royal power should not be desecrated, even if she didn’t take it seriously, there were still court officials watching.
“This old servant can’t think of it, I just can’t think of it…” While Gu Changsheng wasn’t anxious, Han Shan was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.
Gu Changsheng felt helpless. If even Han Shan, who had served beside the old Emperor for decades, couldn’t think of it, then no one else would know. Could it really be that she had to hypnotize the old Emperor to uncover his heart’s knot?
Hypnotizing was not difficult, but one wrong move could easily cause someone to become mentally disturbed. Unless absolutely necessary, Gu Changsheng didn’t want to use it.
“He’s just a eunuch, what use is it to ask him?”
Just as Gu Changsheng and Han Shan were frowning in distress, a somewhat frivolous voice sounded nearby. Zhou Zongbao appeared, dressed flamboyantly like the son of a wealthy family, and walked out, parting the flower tree before him.
“This old servant greets His Highness Prince Bao, wishing His Highness Prince Bao eternal life.” Recognizing Zhou Zongbao, Han Shan immediately bowed respectfully, albeit with a slightly awkward face. Was it wrong for him to be a eunuch having been lost and brought into the palace from a young age?
“Uncle Han, there’s no need for such formality.” Zhou Zongbao nonchalantly waved his hand, remembering that Han Shan was related to his Xiao Qiu, “In front of the Young Master, there aren’t so many rules.”
Han Shan promptly rose from the ground.
“Hehe! Mother Tigress, it’s been a long time. Your outfit is even more eye-catching than the Young Master.” Zhou Zongbao grinned cheekily at Gu Changsheng, his eyes full of admiration for her attire.
“Impertinent.” Behind Gu Changsheng, Hongfu Su snapped coldly upon hearing the term.
Calling her Majesty a Mother Tigress, does he have a death wish?
“Stand down!” Gu Changsheng’s reprimand was even more authoritative than Hongfu Su’s.
Hongfu Su withdrew with a rather embarrassed expression.
“Hetian, this is not the time to fool around. The old man’s heart’s knot?” Gu Changsheng looked at Zhou Zongbao in his Little Overlord Hetian outfit, a hint of delight in her eyes. She hadn’t expected to encounter Zhou Zongbao in the palace. After she sent troops to the Southern Border, Zhou Zongbao was left in Liuzhou City to keep watch. It had been years, and it truly had been a long time since they last met.
“Du Ruo.”
Upon hearing the words, Zhou Zongbao composed himself and solemnly uttered two words.
Du Ruo.
At these two simple words, Han Shan’s old body stiffened.
This was a taboo in the palace, so long-forsaken that he had nearly forgotten.
“Du Ruo? Who is that?” Gu Changsheng furrowed her brow. This name, it seemed, she had never heard before.
Zhou Zongbao smiled at this, “The late Former Noble Consort Du Ruo, birth mother of the Former Crown Prince, grandmother of Little Wood, beloved consort of the Imperial Brother.”
Hearing this, Gu Changsheng was momentarily stunned, disbelief flashing across her face.
“Heh, can’t imagine it, can you? The Imperial Brother is intent on grooming Little Wood into a cold-hearted and unfeeling qualified emperor. And he himself believes he is capable; he can sacrifice a child for the continuity of the Great Zhou Empire, he can balance the harem with three thousand beauties against the court. But he, himself, cannot truly be cold-hearted and unfeeling!” Zhou Zongbao’s lips curled into a bitter smile, a hint of sarcasm embedded within his words. “Even though Uncle Han has watched over him for decades, after all, he’s just a palace attendant. You couldn’t even believe it, could you? A man like him, with unshakable faith in imperial power, is a sentimental man, dedicating his life to loving just one woman, only to bring upon himself the three sufferings of life: the pain of parting, the longing that cannot be fulfilled, and the love that has already been lost. Du Ruo is his heart’s knot!”
As for Zhou Zongbao himself, born into glory and pampered, having ascended to the throne after offering sacrifices, passed the throne to Zhoulin because of his affection for Zhou Mu, for one, but more importantly, because he felt that Emperor Zhoulin was perhaps the solitary man in this deep palace who had not yet been completely blinded by power.
At the very least, he had loved a woman, deeply so, and in the end, regretted not making the right choices!
Upon hearing this, Gu Changsheng was rather disconcerted, and, having discovered the cause, she twitched her lips, heading towards her imperial carriage.
Emperor Zhoulin was a love-stricken man? Emperor Zhoulin equals a love-stricken man? Damn!
This could not possibly equate at all, right?
“Hey! Mother Tigress, what’s with the expression on your face?” Zhou Zongbao, seeing Gu Changsheng like this, promptly followed her, discontented.
“A look of disbelief.” Gu Changsheng answered bluntly, woodenly climbing onto the imperial carriage and settling down.
“Everything the Young Master says is true.” Seeing this, Zhou Zongbao swiftly climbed up onto the imperial carriage, using his hands and feet. Luckily, the carriage was spacious enough, and Zhou Zongbao sat cross-legged, facing Gu Changsheng.
Seeing this, Hongfu Su opened her mouth, wanting to intervene.
“Still want to be scolded?” Han Shan tugged at her clothes, pouting at Zhou Zongbao on the imperial carriage, “This person, Prince Bao, is the great-uncle of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mu, and the one who raised His Royal Highness.”
Just about to ask who this person was, Hongfu Su was left dumbfounded upon hearing this.
So young, the great-uncle of the Imperial Prince? And also the one who raised the Imperial Prince?
Heavens! Hongfu Su felt a bit confused!
The Imperial Prince is a dragon among men, how could the person who raised him be such… such a playboy second-generation heir?
“You guessed right, Prince Bao is ignorant and unskilled, loves beauty to the extreme, known as the Little Overlord Hetian in the Capital City, forcibly takes women from the people, brawls and fights, from the imperial court to the streets, no one can rival…” Han Shan explained, as Hongfu Su’s expression was too obvious to ignore, but he didn’t finish his sentence. This person, just this person, is entangled with his precious niece Han Qiu in an unclear mess!
This really worries people!
Hongfu Su immediately fell silent, thinking that although the Imperial Prince was a bit cold, it was truly remarkable that he turned out the way he did compared to the one who raised him, Prince Bao…
“Mother Tigress, don’t you disbelieve me, Young Master is telling the truth, the unreliable brother of the Crown Princess Mu got acquainted with Du Ruo in the Itinerant World and finally lured her into the palace. You’ve probably heard a little about the palace’s intrigues, right? How could someone from the Itinerant World handle it? At first, the brother of the Crown Princess Mu could take care of her a bit, but later, one careless slip and he lost her. Now, isn’t it a heart-knot? There’s no remorse medicine sold in the world… Hey! Mother Tigress, are you even listening to what I’m saying, Young Master?”
Zhou Zongbao sat cross-legged in front of Gu Changsheng, as if opening a chatterbox.
The imperial carriage, carried by eighteen female officials, was very stable. Gu Changsheng, like an old monk in meditation, let Zhou Zongbao ramble on.
Seeing that Gu Changsheng wasn’t buying it, Zhou Zongbao couldn’t help feeling a bit embarrassed, hatefully grabbing a snack from the small couch nearby and popping it into his mouth.
“Wow! Xiao Leizi’s craftsmanship! This is definitely Xiao Leizi’s craftsmanship, way better than the palace’s snacks.”
“Wow! Premium oolong tea! Mother Tigress, being the Southern Emperor is different, you used to enjoy, but now it’s even more luxurious!”
“…”
In the blink of an eye, the entire imperial carriage was filled with Zhou Zongbao’s exclamations. The dignified Prince Bao of Great Zhou, as if discovering a new continent, was bumping around the carriage in a very unsightly way.
Causing Gu Changsheng’s mouth to twitch.
Really losing face! Truly losing face!
She doesn’t know this guy!
“Hetian…” Gu Changsheng looked helplessly at Zhou Zongbao, reminiscent of Old Granny Lau, and spoke.
“Hm? Mother Tigress, could you give this Amethyst Glazed Cup to Young Master?” Zhou Zongbao licked his face with a shameless smile, asking flatteringly.
“… Fine.” Gu Changsheng choked for a long time before finally spitting out a word.
She initially wanted to say, apparently, their Zhou Imperial Clan produced sentimental types, Emperor Zhoulin was infatuated with Du Ruo, Zhou Zongbao was besotted with Han Qiu, Zhou Mu with her. But now, looking at Zhou Zongbao in front of her, she truly couldn’t say it.
No matter how she racked her brains, she really couldn’t think of any redeeming quality that Zhou Zongbao had!
Entrusting her outstanding Han Qiu to such a useless second-generation heir, is that really correct? She needed to think it over carefully.
Zhou Zongbao was completely unaware that his path to pursuing his wife had hit yet another snag. He was utterly delighted with the treasure he had obtained, almost rolling around in the carriage holding an Amethyst Glazed Cup.
“Hetian, do you know where those two old playboys, Thirteenth Lady Du, are?” Gu Changsheng thought for a moment and then voiced her question.
“Don’t know, even Little Wood probably wouldn’t know; those two are always elusive.” Zhou Zongbao, continuing his treasure hunt, replied, “Why? Are you trying to find relatives for your Flower Peacock?”
“…” Gu Changsheng’s mouth twitched. In her family Flower Peacock’s context, those two from Thirteenth Lady Du are taboo, absolutely taboo. Mentioning them would certainly cause a big reaction and implicate her and the evildoer as pond fish victims.
“However, Young Master thinks, your wedding, those two will definitely return to the Capital to attend.”
Gu Changsheng felt reassured upon hearing this.
Those two delightful old treasures, the biological parents of Flower Peacock, the maternal grandmother of the evildoer… and even the sister of Du Ruo, who is close to Emperor Zhoulin…
This heart-knot, there’s no reason it can’t be untied.
Emperor Zhoulin feels guilty in his heart, while Thirteenth Lady Du, in her heart, must harbor resentment, right?
Gu Changsheng thought it over anew and felt an intense headache again. Damn, none of them are easy to get along with!
Gu Changsheng returned to the Heavenly Palace, but on the other side, Yuan Bao, who was following the Heavenly Palace Maid to find people, failed in his search!
Following the address given by the vendor selling clay dolls, Wang Man, they found Wang Man’s simple home in West County Alley, but it was a futile effort. They learned from the neighbors that Wang Man’s wife and children had gone to do laundry for a wealthy family…