Chapter 188: Chapter 188 Prince Longevity (18)
 

Chuzheng returned the note to the box with an expressionless face, “Lv Zhu.”

“Miss?”

“Go to the Juyuan Pavilion to prepare some food, and also pick out a few garments from the Embroidered Brocade Pavilion to send to the palace.”

“Miss…” Lv Zhu hesitated, “Do you like Prince Six?”

Didn’t the young lady used to like Young Master Ye?

How come…

Well, the young lady has changed so much recently, she sometimes wonders if her mistress is possessed.

“No.”

“Then why are you so good to Prince Six?”

Chuzheng’s heart was filled with an ancient sorrow, yet her tone remained very serious, “To be a good person, now go.”

–

Yan Gui sent over food every day.

Each time, he included a note, nothing strange, just simple greetings like those between friends.

Chuzheng never replied.

She just had Lv Zhu prepare other things and send them back to him.

The Good Person Card requires reciprocation when you receive gifts!

—Do you like the food I made?

Chuzheng looked at today’s note, her expression slightly stern.

Did he make all this himself?

Thus, the next day, two little eunuchs appeared silently in the Wanfu Palace, forbidden to let Yan Gui touch anything.

“Prince, don’t you think Miss Cheng is being too bold?”

She commands the people of the Imperial Palace.

The young man carefully wiped the white porcelain bowl in his hand, and upon hearing this, he slightly raised his eyes, “She is just wealthy.”

The eunuchs in the palace are greedy for money, and he lives on the outskirts, where it’s desolate and barren.

Previously, Prince Rong used to come and trouble him, but lately, after being put under house arrest, no one comes here for ten days or half a month.

As long as these people are all bribed well, even if Wanfu Palace were to change its appearance, it is likely no one would notice.

“How wealthy exactly is the Prince Cheng Residence?”

“When Father Emperor was alive, he granted Prince Cheng quite a few treasures,” the young man said, then lowered his head to continue wiping the white porcelain bowl.

“But…” Doesn’t the Prince Cheng Residence have a Princess Consort? How can they allow Miss Cheng to do as she pleases?

Xiao Guizi thought of the previous image of his prince being held and his expression grew more worried, “What does Miss Cheng want to do?”

The young man put down the cloth and placed the white porcelain bowl on the table.

“I want to know that too.” What she wants to do with me.

Sending so many things here, yet not replying to a single word of his.

“This servant is worried about Miss Cheng’s impure motives.”

“It doesn’t matter, I don’t have anything.”

The young man spoke softly, his voice touching.

“…”

You, sir!!

If you didn’t live in the palace, those who eye you would probably line up from the Imperial Palace to outside the city!

Xiao Guizi sighed and reached for the white porcelain bowl.

But the young man pressed down his hand, “Leave it here.”

Xiao Guizi looked at the bowl, not quite understanding his prince’s actions.

Ever since the last time he took his medicine, the prince told him to leave the bowl here. Is there something precious about it?

–

In early April.

Every year at this time, Your Majesty would go to Qi Mountain to pray for blessings.

Chuzheng, the ‘leftover’ of the Prince Cheng Residence, should have been unnoticed by Your Majesty’s discernment, yet for some reason, her name was still included.

The palaces on Qi Mountain were sprawling and majestic.

Various flowers blossomed, perfuming the air with fragrance, delighting the soul.

The environment of the palaces was good, but actually, it was not as nice as the Imperial City.

When Chuzheng alighted from her carriage, she happened to run into Yan Gui. Separated by two carriages, their gazes met across the open air.

The sky darkened, the orange twilight of evening surrounded the young man, casting his figure into a hazy silhouette.

Yan Gui’s gaze was serene.

Like a character living in someone else’s painting.

He was the first to lower his gaze, quietly following Xiao Guizi into the palaces.

The palace attendants bustled about, moving the nobles’ luggage inside.

Chuzheng didn’t bring many things, so Lv Zhu managed to move everything by herself. Once everyone settled down, the temporary palace gradually became quiet.

Tired from the journey, the Emperor wasn’t in the mood for anything else and ordered everyone to have a good rest.

The prayer ceremony still required preparations, so this good rest meant two days.

The Emperor had also brought Cheng Xiao. Chuzheng hadn’t encountered her, but she heard quite a few rumors.

It was no secret the Emperor favored her greatly nowadays.

“Miss Cheng, you have a disaster awaiting you today.”

Suddenly, a slightly familiar voice resonated by Chuzheng’s ear.

She glanced sideways and saw the Little Eunuch looking at her with a sigh.

The Little Eunuch had delicate features; it was none other than the Little Taoist Priest!

How did he infiltrate this place!!

Did he castrate himself?

Just as Chuzheng was about to ask what disaster the fraudster meant, there were noises outside, and the Little Taoist Priest immediately lowered his head and eyes, carrying something as he left.

A Palace Attendant came in.

“Miss Cheng, His Majesty requests your presence.”

The damn Emperor wants to see me?

Why does he want to see me?

Is this the disaster the fraudster mentioned?

To kill the Emperor?

Chuzheng wasn’t scared at all and even felt slightly eager as she followed the Palace Attendant.

But what Chuzheng hadn’t expected was that the person waiting for her wasn’t the Emperor but Cheng Xiao.

“Sister.” Cheng Xiao sat gracefully at a low table, seemingly just out of bed, exuding a lazy and enchanting charm.

Chuzheng surveyed her surroundings.

Now that I’m here,

why not take out this damn thing!

Can’t be at a loss!

A smile crossed Cheng Xiao’s lovely face: “Sister, take a seat.”

“Do you need something?”

“Can’t I seek out my sister if I don’t have business?” Cheng Xiao propped her chin, blinking gently, coquettish and playful: “Does my sister really not want to see me?”

“Good that you know.”

“…” Cheng Xiao maintained her smile: “It’s been so long since we last met, sister, and you’ve become increasingly impressive. Speaking of which, I should thank you. If not for you, where would I be today?”

Cheng Xiao emphasized the words ‘thank you’ with particular force.

“You’re welcome.” Chuzheng replied seriously.

“…”

Cheng Xiao giggled lightly, picked up the scissors from the table, and walked towards Chuzheng.

“Sister, do you know why I despise you so much?” Cheng Xiao fiddled with the scissors in her hand.

“When we were little, you were clever and talented, the legitimate daughter of the Prince’s Mansion; everything I did, I had to look up to you.”

“Father always took pride in you, no matter how hard I tried, even after my mother became the Princess Consort, his favorite daughter was still you.”

Cheng Xiao tilted her head: “Why, do you think?”

Chuzheng’s face was cold: “You should ask Prince Cheng.”

How would I know, I’m not Prince Cheng.

Cheng Xiao covered her mouth and giggled: “Sister, mother said you are possessed, I think you truly are, not even calling father anymore…”

Cheng Xiao suddenly raised the scissors in her hand and stabbed toward herself.

Blood flowed from Cheng Xiao’s arm and dripped onto the ground.

Chuzheng: “…”

Is this the disaster that the Little Taoist Priest mentioned?

Cheng Xiao looked as if she couldn’t feel the pain, still wearing a smile: “Sister, do you think you might die here today?”

Cheng Xiao had been planning this from the moment she knew they would be going to Qi Mountain.

In the palace, as long as Chuzheng didn’t enter, she could not reach her.

That’s why this time she made sure she came along too.

With how much His Majesty cares for her now, if she injured herself, even if it wouldn’t cost Chuzheng her life, she could still vent her anger thoroughly.

She wasn’t afraid of pain.

Compared to the hate and pain in her heart, what was this wound?

If not for her, why would I have entered the palace, why would I have become what I am now, the one who should have entered the palace was her!!

It was her, Cheng Chuzheng!

It was she who ruined me!

Ruined me and Ye Yang…