Gu Qingtong initially wanted to pull away, but his fingertips were warm, and the pressure was soft and comfortable. Since he was eager to serve her, she didn’t refuse.
Jiang Shangheng massaged her hand, applied some ointment, and then said he would send her back.
When Gu Qingtong returned to the Huahao Yueyuan Pavilion, she didn’t hear anything unusual. Lüguo saw her return and simply let out a sigh of relief.
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Knowing she hadn’t eaten lunch and was starving, she brought out some food.
“Master,” Luo Xue had just returned from her studies and came over to greet her when she saw her eating.
Gu Qingtong instructed Lüguo to serve her some pastries, then took Luo Xue’s hand and asked about her day.
“Master Li Le and Master Yan are doing well. But I heard Yu Qing Gongzi was injured, and I didn’t get a chance to see him. What a pity.”
“Yu Qing Gongzi was injured?” Gu Qingtong was shocked.
“Yes, I heard he was performing in the palace and didn’t perform well, so the Emperor beat him.” Luo Xue’s tone was somewhat indignant. “I’ve seen Yu Qing Gongzi’s performances. It must be that the Emperor was in a bad mood and took it out on him.”
After hearing this, Gu Qingtong immediately had a servant prepare a carriage to go to the Jinyun Opera Troupe.
When Yu Qing Gongzi heard she had arrived, he tried to get up despite his injuries. Fortunately, Gu Qingtong supported him: “Master, be careful.”
“You’re calling me master again,” Yu Qing Gongzi complained weakly.
Gu Qingtong helped him lie down properly: “Master, why did the Emperor beat you? Wasn’t it the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet yesterday?”
“It was just because Consort Xin spoke a few extra words to me.”
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“The Emperor is not a magnanimous man and immediately felt he couldn’t tolerate it, so he beat me.”
“Does he suspect something between you and Consort Xin? How unreasonable.”
“Consort Xin cannot have any men within three zhang of her. This is a rule he set.” Yu Qing Gongzi gave a bitter smile. “But yesterday I was caught in someone’s scheme and was discovered, so I was beaten. Fortunately, the Crown Prince interceded, or I might have lost my life.”
“The young Crown Prince is indeed kind.”
“Although the Crown Prince is only twelve, Consort Xin has educated him extremely well. He is modest, polite, righteous, and benevolent.”
“Master, you should take care of yourself first instead of talking about others.”
“Others? How is the Crown Prince an outsider?” Yu Qing Gongzi frowned and couldn’t help but cough. “The Crown Prince is righteous and is the hope of our Yuan Dynasty.”
Gu Qingtong didn’t understand why he suddenly became angry and could only pat his back to soothe him: “Alright, I’ll listen to you, but don’t neglect your own health.”
Yu Qing Gongzi nodded and lay quietly, but extended a finger to hook her pinky: “Tong’er, you called me master again.”
“But I still have to go back and report to Ruan Niang.”
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Gu Qingtong was afraid of being seen through by Jiang Shangheng again, and in front of the familiar Yuqing Gongzi, she was careful not to show any uncertainty. If she had known he would keep her behind, she wouldn’t have come to fulfill her master-disciple duties.
Yuqing Gongzi saw her silence and took it as tacit agreement. He ordered servants to set up low couches and fox fur in the garden, preparing to appreciate the flowers at night.
Gu Qingtong looked around and was relieved that the flower-viewing area was spacious, so she wasn’t worried about gossip. She sat with him in the garden, drinking a little wine and eating some small dishes. The atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant, but Gu Qingtong was still preoccupied.
“Tong’er, what’s wrong?” Yuqing Gongzi asked, revealing a bright smile in the moonlight.
Gu Qingtong stared at him blankly for a moment, idly turning her cup: “Since you’ve had people following me, you naturally know that I went out with Young Master Jiang. You know about our matter, right?”
Yuqing Gongzi knew about her relationship with Jiang Shangheng, but Jiang Shangheng had managed to shake off his and Han Ruan’s people, so they hadn’t heard a thing.
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Gu Qingtong noticed his silence and tapped a butterfly orchid’s small bud: “Yuqing Gege, what are you thinking?”
“Jiang Shangheng is far more capable than he appears. He actually managed to shake off the people I and your adoptive father sent.”
“Ah?” Gu Qingtong thought Jiang Shangheng had just sent a carriage to the suburbs, wondering how he had shaken off his followers.
“The people I sent were knocked unconscious halfway. So I only know you went out of the city with him, but nothing else.”
“Oh.” Yuqing Gongzi didn’t know about her and Jiang Shangheng’s affair, so Gu Qingtong didn’t want to elaborate and continued drinking.
“Don’t drink so much.” Seeing her enjoying the fruit wine like tea, Yuqing Gongzi took the cup from her hand. However, Gu Qingtong had already fallen asleep due to the alcohol.
Yuqing Gongzi caressed her cheek, sighed helplessly, and gently kissed her forehead, murmuring: “Tong’er, my Tong’er…”
Han Yuran, the Young Master of Yu Qing, and Jiang Shangheng were definitely part of the Crown Prince’s faction. The Rui Prince was eyeing the throne, so he sought her out.
But the gap in their social status was already laid bare before her, and she didn’t know what exactly the Rui Prince saw in her. Was it to threaten the Consort Xin? To win over Han Yuran and Jiang Shangheng?
It seemed plausible, but it was just her speculation without any real evidence.
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However, she knew one thing: her half-brother from the same mother was dangerous, and by extension, Consort Xin was also in danger. Han Yuran, the Young Master of Yu Qing, and Jiang Shangheng would likely have unstable days ahead. But once a person becomes entangled with the imperial court, how could there be any peace?
Gu Qingtong sat in the room for a long time, asking Green Fruit if Han Yuran had returned. She replied that he had not, but the matter at Zhiwei Pavilion had been suppressed, with few people discussing it.
“Tong’er,” Gu Qingtong’s thoughts were still chaotic when Ji Chen softly called her name and entered the courtyard.
“Orange?”
Ji Chen sent Green Fruit and Mang Xiang away, then whispered in her ear: “Tong’er, I heard you met Consort Xin at the Prince’s residence yesterday?”
“Yes.”
“My poor Tong’er.” Ji Chen hugged her, wiping tears from the corners of her eyes.
It seemed everyone around her thought she was pitiful and suffering, but Gu Qingtong herself was more confused about the current situation. She thought Ji Chen probably knew more than she did, but she couldn’t say much. This hesitation was not her usual style, but for now, she could only pretend.
Ji Chen saw her silence and thought she was deeply distressed, stroking her cheeks: “Tong’er, don’t be sad. Without parents or brothers, you still have me.”
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Hearing this, Gu Qingtong’s heart warmed, filled with emotion, and she held her hand: “Orange, having a friend like you is enough in this lifetime.”
“Tong’er, we grew up together. Lord Xiang was such an upright person, yet he was harmed by a muddle-headed emperor on trumped-up charges. Wait and see, that old emperor will surely be punished by heaven and avenge you.”
