“Recommend the host focus on Gu Lian Zhang as the primary target. His possibility is ten times that of Wei Shu,” the voice added.
Ruan Ning: …
0.1% versus 0.01%, how dare you say “ten times”?
“Your Highness, Qingqing Palace has arranged for you to attend to the sick,” Xiu Xin said.
Ruan Ning stood up reluctantly. She had just arrived in the morning and was not close to noon, and now she had to go again. She was still waiting to eat.
Just as she entered the back hall of Qingqing Palace and hadn’t sat down, a voice outside announced: “The Crown Prince has arrived!”
Wei Shu quickly walked in, softly laughing, “My beloved concubine, we meet again.”
Just before lunch, Prince Jin came to Chuxiu Palace, and the mother and son exchanged information. They discovered that Wei Shu and Ruan Ning were both in Qingqing Palace last night and today. Consort De raised an eyebrow: “What a shameless pair! They must be doing something inappropriate. Let’s catch them in the act!”
Prince Jin was more cautious and advised: “Forget it.”
Father’s health is poor, and the Crown Prince controls everything. Why provoke him?”
“My son, have you forgotten that your father said he would depose him and make you the Crown Prince?” Consort De whispered.
Prince Jin’s expression turned gloomy. The Emperor favored him over Wei Shu, but Wei Shu, born to the Empress as the eldest son, naturally became Crown Prince. The Emperor had spoken of deposing Wei Shu for Prince Jin, but then fell ill, leaving Jin disappointed.
“My son, as long as your father regains consciousness, you’ll have your chance. What fear should you have of the Crown Prince? Once your father wakes, he won’t be a concern,” Consort De urged. “If it emerges that the Crown Prince is having an affair with his concubine mother while pretending to care for the sick, he’ll be ruined! Wait here; I’ll check.”
Consort De rushed over and confirmed her suspicions. She pointed at Ruan Ning, saying, “How shameless! The Emperor is bedridden, and you’re seducing men!”
“Has Consort De gone mad? Spouting such nonsense,” Wei Shu replied darkly, summoning the chief eunuch of the Qingqing Palace. “Escort Consort De back to her palace.”
With the Emperor unlikely to wake and the Crown Prince set to rule, the chief eunuch had no choice but to comply.
He pushed Consort De out, infuriating her to the point of cursing the “dog slaves.”
Wei Shu’s expression was terrible. This Consort De had always been disrespectful, relying on Prince Jin’s favor, and showed no remorse. He turned to Ruan Ning and softly said, “My beloved consort has suffered. I will give you an explanation.”
Ruan Ning said nothing—she just hoped he would stop with these threesome arrangements.
In Chuxiu Palace, Prince Jin received the news, his face dark. Wei Shu was clearly overstepping, thinking he would soon inherit the throne. They had been enemies for years; if Wei Shu became Emperor, death awaited them. They might as well take a desperate gamble.
When Consort De returned, Prince Jin was about to leave. He whispered, “Collaborate with Gu Lianchang.”
For chief eunuchs, “A new emperor means new officials” was especially true, and those replaced often met tragic ends. Gu Lianchang and Wei Shu had always been superficially friendly but were inwardly at odds. If negotiations went well, Gu Lianchang would likely side with them.
The system did not respond immediately, and Ruan Ning waited for the result. She noticed the system’s attitude towards her was improving.
Especially after the second-level relationship, it felt like a nagging mother-in-law, closely monitoring every step of her task completion. She suspected that the system, aside from tracking her rewards, also benefited from her task completion. Initially, the system was indifferent, but after she became the first to survive a tough test, it grew enthusiastic about her progress.
To successfully complete the task, she needed the system’s assistance.
“Jiaojiao, helping me is helping yourself,” Ruan Ning urged.
The standard female voice finally responded: “I won’t spoil the plot, but the host can recall what Gu Lianchang values most during these meetings. The answer is there.”
Ruan Ning sighed, wondering how she was supposed to guess.
At least the system would no longer deduct her rewards for wanting to spoil the plot, she thought.
Before Ruan Ning could consider a way to contact Gu Lianchang, he entered her chamber alone, dismissing the palace maids and eunuchs with a simple command. The door closed silently behind them, and Ruan Ning focused on Gu Lianchang, trying to discern his primary concern.
But he quickly walked to her, pinching her chin again.
“Someone told me today that they want you dead,” he said, his fingers smooth against her skin. “What do you say?”
What beautiful skin, Gu Lianchang thought, regretting its fate.
Ruan Ning did not want to die. She contemplated teasing him; it could save her life. Though he was cold and intimidating, it was still better than being with Wei Shu, who always loomed as a threat.
Ruan Ning steeled herself. The worst that could happen was being kicked away.
She held the hand pinching her chin, her phoenix eyes angled at him, her voice hoarse: “Supervisor, save me.”
She realized how abnormal he was—like a mobile freezer, devoid of emotions. She tried to pull her hand back, but he gripped her forearm, preventing her escape. His thumb rested on her dark blue vein, seeming to feel her pulse. His nails were neatly trimmed; his long fingers and distinct knuckles were exactly her type.
Gu Lianchang’s hand rested on Ruan Ning’s forearm, gently caressing her delicate skin. His expressionless face revealed a hint of satisfaction, making her feel slightly ticklish. Ruan Ning laughed and pressed his hand softly, saying, “Don’t, it tickles.”
Surprised by her reaction, Gu Lianchang let her go and said flatly, “If you don’t want to die too quickly, there might be a way.”
“What do I need to do?” Ruan Ning asked, glancing at her arm with faint fingerprints, noting how easily it marked.
“Strip and let me see. If I’m satisfied, I’ll tell you,” Gu Lianchang replied without any emotional fluctuation.
Ruan Ning thought, You’re a eunuch; even if you look, you can’t do anything. But she remained silent, unsure of how to respond.
Gu Lianchang observed her, noting that her lack of fear was strange. Realizing he had stayed too long, he turned to leave, saying, “Let me know when you’ve decided.”
Ruan Ning pondered, sometimes thinking being seen by a eunuch wasn’t a big deal since he wasn’t a man, and at other times, worrying about losing everything in the process.
She had always been indecisive, and after pondering for over two hours, she still couldn’t make up her mind.
As the sky darkened, a eunuch from Qingqing Palace came with the same message: summon the Imperial Consort to attend to the sick.
Undoubtedly Wei Shu’s idea. Ruan Ning felt disgusted but had no choice. Wei Shu held her hand, about to sit her down, when another eunuch announced: “Your Highness, the Crown Princess has arrived!”
The Crown Princess? Ruan Ning was stunned, realizing that Wei Shu must be married, something she had overlooked.
She quickly withdrew her hand. Wei Shu whispered: “Don’t worry, the Crown Princess is gentle and magnanimous. It doesn’t matter even if she sees us.”
Ruan Ning: …
Your Highness, you’ve watched too few palace intrigue dramas. Usually, the one who seems silent and tolerant is the most dangerous!
To dampen her enthusiasm, Ruan Ning hurriedly said: “Gu Lianchang also said…”
“Shut up, I said everything is up to me.” Wei Shu pressed her into the chair with annoyance, “My beloved concubine, do you like it on the chair?”
Author’s note: Do you like it? Haha haha
Chapter 82: The Chamberlain and the Empress Dowager
