Gu Lianchang was equally surprised and annoyed. Born into a noble family, he had experienced romantic interactions before becoming a eunuch, altering his mindset. He was dazed—how could he tease her?
Even though she was stunning, his interest was solely in her skin, and he planned to take her life after satisfying his desires. How could he flirt with her?
Feeling angry, he pushed her away, opened the door, and quickly disappeared outside.
Ruan Ning was bewildered. What was that about? She hadn’t provoked him. This moody eunuch was truly difficult to serve.
Gu Lianchang’s people settled in the western wing of the Yikun Palace, leaving the eastern wing for him. The news spread quickly through the inner palace. The Consort was both angry and afraid, smashing another vase.
The Prince of Jin found the eighth prince, Wei Ying, catching snails in the imperial garden. The eight-year-old fifth prince seemed naive compared to other royal children. When asked about how he discovered the imperial edict, he recounted with childlike innocence: “…I remembered Father Emperor sometimes kept candy in his drawer, so I wanted to check. Unexpectedly, I pulled out an imperial edict. Second Brother, why are you asking? Many people asked me today.”
Wei Ying’s mother was a palace maid who died during childbirth, and nobody paid him much attention, not even the Prince of Jin. He felt the boy’s story was believable and casually asked, “Fifth Brother, would you want the Imperial Consort to be our mother?”
“Who cares, whoever becomes empress is the same.”
This isn’t something I can decide,” Wei Ying exclaimed, “What a big snail!”
Jin Wang laughed, thinking it foolish to ask him anything. Just then, a palace maid from the Storage Virtue Palace hurriedly whispered about De Fei’s failed poisoning and Gu Lianchang’s move into the Yikun Palace. Jin Wang was startled; his mother was always so impatient, and he wondered what to do now.
In the Eastern Palace, Wei Shu sat holding his forehead, pondering who wanted to support Yu Fei as empress. Gu Lianchang had previously caused trouble, and Wei Shu thought it was aimed at him, but now Gu Lianchang had exposed De Fei, which seemed to target Jin Wang. What was his real intention?
Qin Zhi suddenly said, “Your Highness, have you noticed that Gu Lianchang’s actions seem related to Yu Fei?” Wei Shu quickly ran through the events and was equally shocked.
Could this eunuch have designs on Yu Fei? He quickly dismissed the thought; a eunuch interested in a woman seemed unlikely. If he wanted to possess her, he would make her completely helpless, rather than pushing her to become empress.
“It’s probably just a coincidence. His target is still me and Jin Wang,” Wei Shu said.
“Probably because both I and Jin Wang have some connection to Yu Fei, he dragged her into this.” Qin Zhi pondered and said, “I feel it’s not that simple. Would Your Highness consider meeting Gu Lianchang? If we could join forces, it would be foolproof.” “No meeting!” Wei Shu’s face darkened. “That eunuch has never regarded me seriously. I can achieve my wishes without him!” Qin Zhi had secretly decided to meet Gu Lianchang. The Crown Prince was foolish and arrogant, but she couldn’t ignore the situation. Without his support, it would be hard to secure the throne. To establish her future position as empress, she must find a way to win him over. Moreover, she had never been alone with him and was curious about the experience. Late at night, Jin Wang paced in his room, anxiously awaiting news. After a while, a confidant knocked and entered, reporting: “Zhang Jing says the Yikun Palace is a residence for concubines, and Supervisor Gu cannot meet Your Highness there. Please be patient for a few days; he will find an opportunity to speak with you.” Jin Wang was stunned. He won’t meet me? He had hoped to use this meeting to probe into Yu Fei’s situation! “Go find Zhang Jing again,” Jin Wang urgently ordered.
“Tell him I have an urgent matter and must see the Supervisor in these two days.”
After the confidant left, Jin Wang wondered if Gu Lianchang’s companion had followed him to the Yikun Palace, meaning both beauties were now there. A hint of heat rose in him at the thought. Jin Wang took a deep breath, contemplating how, as emperor, he could freely enter any palace and claim all women. The imperial throne held great allure.
Stepping into the room, it was pitch black. She softly called out, “Supervisor,” but received no response. Gathering her courage, she felt her way inside. The bed curtains were half-drawn, the gilded phoenix-shaped hooks glimmering faintly. Ruan Ning leaned towards the bed, when suddenly her waist was encircled. The figure behind the curtains pulled her close, enveloping her in warmth.
Chapter 88: The Imperial Supervisor and the Empress Dowager
In the dark bedroom, Gu Lianchang had been waiting for her, unsure if she would come — the first time he hesitated. Today, he had inadvertently flirted with her, leaving him angry with both himself and her.
He missed her and longed to caress her skin, wanting to see her roll her eyes and curse him while coaxing him with her words. However, he hesitated to seek her out after their quarrel, fearing it would give her an excuse to act spoiled. Yet, he had moved to live in Yikun Palace for her.
As he opened the east wing door quietly, every rustle made him hope it was her, but it never was, leading to his frustration. She had proposed their trade, and he had planned her path, yet she seemed disinterested.
When she arrived, he intended to teach her a lesson. She feared pain, and he wanted to mark her skin to remind her he was her master. But she still hadn’t come. Gu Lianchang wondered if he should find her, pretending to be angry to settle accounts. She was too naive to see through his act.
Just then, he heard familiar footsteps approaching the courtyard gate. A soft voice called, “Supervisor.” She was here! Gu Lianchang nearly sat up to greet her but restrained himself, lying still until she slipped into the curtains and touched his chest with her delicate hand.
Gu Lianchang sighed silently.
Even the unintentional touch through his clothes made his heart surge. In the darkness, he found her tiny waist, pulling her into his embrace. Ruan Ning let out a soft cry as she fell onto him.
Taking advantage of the night’s cover, Gu Lianchang loosened his collar, exposing skin to press against her neck. He was like a person parched for days finally finding a spring, unable to suppress a low moan.
Ruan Ning’s focus was on her seduction plan, unaware of Gu Lianchang’s unusual state. She embraced his neck, called “Supervisor,” kissed his lips, and reached to undress him.
When she discovered he was fully dressed, Ruan Ning smiled triumphantly—he was indeed waiting for her. She whispered in his ear, “Supervisor, have you been waiting for me?”
Ignoring her pain, she crawled over, hugged him, and kissed him wildly, incoherently saying, “I really didn’t mean it, there was no other intention.”
Gu Lianchang did not speak. He quickly tore off her clothes. Ruan Ning thought wildly that perhaps showing her body might help him calm down.
However, that was not the case. Gu Lianchang quickly stripped her bare but did not light a candle, not intending to look at her. His voice was bone-chillingly cold: “Ruan Ning, you may have forgotten, but I will not. I want you to suffer the humiliation you once inflicted on me. I want you to die miserably in the future, with no one knowing or caring.”
Humiliation? When had she humiliated him? No, it was the original owner!
Ruan Ning lunged to hug him, trying to maximize skin contact to evoke his pity. But Gu Lianchang could no longer feel her skin; he was only thinking about the humiliation she had caused him.
