Capítulo 916: Chapter 730: Yuan Bao’s Master
“What are you talking about? My mother she…” Xiao Leizi, having never seen such a scenario, was immediately frightened.
Encountering someone who looked very much like oneself was already frightening enough, but for this person to keep talking about her mother as some Grand Princess, that was even more terrifying!
Even though Xiao Leizi had become quite brave after following Gu Changsheng these past few years, this sudden variable really frightened her.
“Liyang, could you be mistaken? Xiao Leizi’s father was a cook…” Gu Changsheng sniffed and muttered.
If she remembered correctly, it was when Xiao Leizi sold herself to bury her father that she picked her up, right?
The evildoer was there at the time too…
“Impossible! The imperial aunt was a fierce woman, deeply in love with Du Mingli, she could never have married anyone else!” Commandery Princess Liyang spoke without hesitation, pointing at Xiao Leizi with certainty, “Her, it must be because of her! The imperial aunt, as the Grand Princess, was entangled with Du Mingli for many years, eventually losing heart because Du Mingli took a noble concubine and gave birth to two sons. The imperial court marriage alliance was originally agreed upon by the imperial aunt, but she faked her death and left just before the marriage, it must be because of her!”
Xiao Leizi retreated step by step with Commandery Princess Liyang’s words, her face pale, she suddenly recalled, her mother seemed to have never shared a room with her father…
“Is there a mistake?” Gu Changsheng heard and was instantly stunned.
Could it be that not only does Xiao Leizi’s mother have significant status, but her father also isn’t a cook?
“There’s no need to doubt, when the imperial aunt left, she was already pregnant, Xiao Leizi’s biological father is Du Mingli, not that cook!”
Zhou Mu entered the main hall with a pair of elegantly dressed men and women, his voice calm.
“You know? You knew all along?” Gu Changsheng looked at the purple-gold figure approaching her, blinking her eyes, and spoke.
“Yes, I knew.” Zhou Mu ascended the high steps, embraced the dumbfounded woman and sat down, gently rubbed her head, and laughed softly, “When I first met Xiao Leizi, she was sallow and thin, you couldn’t see what she looked like at all. But later, as you raised her, she became more and more plump and round, showing some resemblance to the former imperial aunt.”
Is he praising her for raising pigs well? Others might have just been alright, but her family’s Xiao Leizi, who considers being fat beautiful, really did see herself as a pig!
Apparently, she’s been quite successful, as the current Xiao Leizi looks quite wealthy, clearly coming from a distinguished family.
“Not only do I know, but I’m sure Du Chenzhi also has his own doubts.” Zhou Mu smiled and spoke softly, “It is said that in Du Mingli’s study, there is a portrait of the imperial aunt hanging; their mother and daughter are so much alike, recognizing them should not be difficult.”
Gu Changsheng heard this and shook her head silently.
The Imperial Family, such chaos!
“Then my father?” Xiao Leizi turned her head in disbelief, her mother is a princess, then who is her father? Who was her former father?
Zhou Mu heard this and turned to look at Xiao Leizi, with a rare touch of warmth in his gaze, “Your father was actually an eunuch in charge of picking vegetables in the Imperial Kitchen, he was favored by the imperial aunt…”
Xiao Leizi heard this and her body wobbled slightly.
The news of this day was too much of a blow for her.
“Imperial Sister! Imperial Sister! Brother always said, you would never die, with that rebellious nature of yours, how could you possibly die! You really escaped!”
While Gu Changsheng and the others were discussing, a drama of a sibling reunion was being performed in the hall.
“Who is that person?” Gu Changsheng was stunned by the resounding cries that broke through the roof, it’s been so long, except for her family, no one dared to speak loudly in front of her, and now, she encountered someone so fearless, didn’t they see her family’s female officials sharpening their knives?
“Haha… you should ask Yuan Bao about this, he is quite familiar with the person.” Zhou Mu chuckled lightly, evidently in a good mood.
Gu Changsheng turned her gaze to the side, fixing it upon Yuan Bao, who stood there with a face full of bitterness and deep hatred.
Yuan Bao was inwardly sweating, he could almost cough up blood, really!
What’s the meaning of his master’s words? What exactly do they imply? Why does he feel a thick malice approaching?
Not speaking, won’t speak even if he’s dead, even if his lady stares holes into him, he won’t talk!
“Today, someone brought their family to seek me out through the backdoor…” Zhou Mu leaned against Gu Changsheng’s Dragon and Phoenix Grand Chair, cast a glance at Yuan Bao, his tone playful.
Gu Changsheng was taken aback by his seductive posture, astonishing, oh Heavenly Emperor’s Father, her family’s evildoer’s facial expression pack has grown more and more varied lately, completely unlike the poker-faced cold visage evildoer she knew!
And who is he trying to seduce with such a provocative posture?
Gu Changsheng suddenly raised her hand and slapped her own cheek. Damn it, she is a person with great integrity! There’s no way she’d drool over a handsome guy!
“Backdoor access? Someone came to you for that?” Gu Changsheng fake-coughed twice, refusing to look at the evildoer occupying her chair. She shifted aside from his embrace, changing the subject.
“Yes, backdoor access. They want to get into your Heavenly Palace through me to mooch a meal.” Zhou Mu nodded, speaking extremely seriously.
“Pfft!”
Upon hearing this, Gu Changsheng spewed immediately.
The nearby female officials attending them couldn’t help but be caught between laughter and tears.
Mooch a meal at the Heavenly Palace? Who would be so bold? Who has such a big face?
“Evildoer, are you sure you’re not joking?” Gu Changsheng adjusted her expression and looked amusingly at the man lying slanted on her chair. Mooch a meal? It’s already bad enough that he often brings Yuan Bao to freeload. And yet, he took on someone else’s backdoor request to freeload here? They’re really underestimating her palace’s provisions!
“There! Isn’t it right there!” Zhou Mu raised an eyebrow, speaking to the man on the platform, seemingly on the verge of tears about being lovesick for his sister. “Prince Hui’s legitimate son, Commandery Prince Zhou Rong, he’s the one who sought me out to sneak in for a meal here…”
“Pfft!” Upon hearing this, Gu Changsheng spewed again and looked at the man close at hand with uncertain bewilderment. She opened her mouth naively, “Your Zhou Imperial Clan can’t even feed its offspring?”
Are they really this poor? As far as she remembers, she never extorted Great Zhou…
“Cough cough…” Zhou Mu covered his mouth and coughed, “I just thought, since Yuan Bao can mooch food here all day, it wouldn’t be nice to shut out Yuan Bao’s master at the door, right?”
Master?
Upon hearing this, Gu Changsheng’s mouth fell open in disbelief, turning her head dumbly towards her household’s Xiao Er Que, Yuan Bao, “What does the master teach?”
Yuan Bao choked upon hearing this, his head almost buried in his chest, knowing there was no getting away this time. He resigned himself to speaking, “Eating.”
Just that one word instantly sent Gu Changsheng into a fit of laughter.
Joke!
This is the funniest joke she’s heard in days!
Eating, being a physiological need, requires a master? Yuan Bao’s choice of mastership is truly unique.
Even Xiao Leizi, bewildered by her own background, was amused by Yuan Bao. She always had the best relationship with this foodie who appreciated her culinary skills.
Seeing Xiao Leizi’s smile return, Gu Changsheng felt her heart ease. Background or not, for an ordinary person, it must be hard to adapt quickly, of course. But her Xiao Leizi has never been alone, no matter who she is, she’s family, right?
“This is no joke. Yuan Bao’s insatiable appetite isn’t without cause. In his childhood, he followed me closely, living with me in Hetian Palace. Conveniently neighbor to the Former Empress Duanrong and the Imperial Sister Liyang loved listening to talks with my imperial aunt together. Meanwhile, my close little eunuch was lured away by the notoriously gluttonous Zhou Rong. Over time, Zhou Rong never pulled his hand back from stealing from the Imperial Kitchen and Shengqin Office without bringing Yuan Bao along. As a result, he became this little foodie. Thinking back, during that period, Yuan Bao probably lived even more comfortably than I did…” Zhou Mu’s words carried an increasingly wider smile on his lips.
The emotionless Imperial Family, that sliver of familial affection in childhood, was his last memory of the Deep Palace.
“Zhou Mu, you better speak with conscience!”
Just as Zhou Mu was talking, Zhou Rong, abandoning his sister, ran up the steps, pointing at Zhou Mu’s nose in indignation, “You’re making it sound like I treated you poorly. When didn’t I share my stolen food with you as a child? It’s just that you always acted all old-fashioned, disdainful of the food I brought. Over time, I got tired of throwing warm feelings at your cold shoulder. Now you’re implying it’s my fault. Are you trying to deny it?”
“I wouldn’t dare.” Zhou Mu chuckled softly.
“That’s more like it, that’s more like it.” Zhou Rong patted his belly with relief upon hearing this.
Yet, Gu Changsheng was already dumbfounded by the man in front of her. If nothing goes wrong, this is Prince Hui’s son, Zhou Rong. But a Commandery Prince, Zhou Rong, good-looking with the Zhou Imperial Clan’s fine features, where did he get these habits of patting his belly and carrying the smell of a cook from?
Moreover, he dared to scowl and shout at Zhou Mu!
Except for Zhou Zongbao, he is the second person Gu Changsheng has seen who dares to treat her evildoer this way. Isn’t he gutsy?
The gaze from Gu Changsheng was so evident that it finally reminded Zhou Rong of his purpose. He changed his manner with remarkable speed, instantly putting on a bootlicker’s face. He bent and clasped his hands towards Gu Changsheng, bowing repetitively, “I’m guessing you are the Southern Emperor, right? Dear sister-in-law, you are truly striking in beauty, a sight for sore eyes, looking majestic as if destined to be an emperor, so commanding…”
Striking in beauty, she could take it as a compliment, albeit reluctantly accepting it. But commanding?
Gu Changsheng’s mouth twitched slightly. Damn it, Zhou Rong, are you sure you used the right adjective?