Chapter 105: Thieves Don"t Show Affection Without Reason
Inside Flowerburst Palace (绽花殿), Consort Hua looked at Imperial Physician Zheng standing before her and smiled. "Since Consort Zhao is ill, then you should take good care of her sickness. His Majesty has yet to visit Morning Skies Palace, a clear sign of his lingering temper."
Imperial Physician Zheng hastened to reply, "This official understands esteemed consort"s words."
Consort Hua waved a hand to dismiss him. As he left with bowed head, the momo by Consort Hua"s side murmured, "Esteemed consort, will His Majesty blame us if something really does happen to Consort Zhao?"
Consort Hua smiled carelessly. "How could a simple illness be pinned on someone else?"
The momo replied, "But Consort Zhao"s illness appeared too suddenly."
"She"s always been the one ruining others, it"s about time she got a taste of her own medicine," Consort Hua looked quite cathartic, even energetic. No matter who did the deed, she could only thank them privately in her heart.
Seeing her mistress so happy, the momo smiled as well, then added, "Who knows which person Consort Zhao offended this time?"
"Good times don"t last long, just as flowers don"t bloom forever," Consort Hua replied. "It"s about time for Zhao Yingshan to learn her place after being favored by His Majesty for so long."
The momo gave Consort Hua a hot cup of tea and muttered, "This servant will go inquire for news at the Imperial Physician Courtyard. Will esteemed consort go rest?"
Consort Hua turned to look at her dressing table before she said, "Open my personal coffers and find a few uncommonly good items. Tomorrow, you"ll deliver them to the eldest princess."
The momo gave a start. "Then what should this servant tell Her Royal Highness?"
"Nothing at all," Consort Hua replied. "Just have Her Royal Highness accept them."
The momo accepted the orders and withdrew. Consort Hua was left standing alone by the lattice window. When she thought over the people Consort Zhao had offended recently, no one came to mind except for Princess Linglong. She looked at the gardens outside and recalled the princess when Empress Jiang was still alive before shaking her head. I never expected all of us palace women could misjudge someone too. That harmless-looking Yu Linglong was actually a wolf all along.
—
Jadeite was currently standing in the main hall of the Imperial Physician Courtyard after rambling off a whole bunch of words. However, the imperial physician before her only glanced at her briefly before remaining silent.
"What do you mean by this?!" Jadeite demanded anxiously.
The imperial physician drawled, "His Excellency Imperial Physician Zheng has yet to return."
"W-what?!" Jadeite couldn"t believe her ears.
The imperial physician actually turned around to head inside, giving her no more chances to talk.
Ever since serving at Consort Zhao"s side, Jadeite had never been given such a cold shoulder. In an instant, she was left helpless and confused.
—
Back at the Big Bowl Restaurant, Yu Xiaoxiao polished off the last bit of onion in her bowl before looking up to see that everyone else was staring at her. Jing Mo had witnessed Yu Xiaoxiao"s eating prowess before, so he wasn"t as shocked as Xianzong. The emperor saw that she had finally stopped stuffing her face and asked in a low voice, "Are you full?"
Yu Xiaoxiao nodded. She could technically keep eating, but it was pointless when everyone else had stopped.
Xianzong exhaled. He was truly worried that his daughter would eat herself to death, ah.
"Let"s go," Yu Xiaoxiao told Gu Xinglang.
Gu Xinglang replied in the affirmative.
Xiao Zhuang and Xiao Wei carried Gu Xinglang to his sling chair and prepared to leave the room. Yu Xiaoxiao told Jing Mo, "Thank you. Another day Little Gu and I will take you out to eat."
"What about me?" Zuo You b.u.t.t in. "I"ve asked the princess out to a meal too, ah."
Zuo You"s three retainers were too embarra.s.sed to lift their heads. He"s just short of wagging a tail and begging to be favored. Is this man really our master?
Yu Xiaoxiao looked at Zuo You. Whatever his image was supposed to be was no concern to the eldest princess"s eyes. She only felt that asking anyone out to eat must mean a lot of money. Money meant grain, and when it came to spending that, Yu Xiaoxiao felt her heart and body ache at the thought.
Seeing her silence, Gu Xinglang told Zuo You, "When the time comes, I"ll have someone from the estate invite you, grand marshal. I hope grand marshal won"t mind."
Zuo You pursed his lips. In his eyes, Gu Xinglang was even more of an eyesore now than during his general days.
"Let"s go home," Yu Xiaoxiao told her shadow guards.
Xianzong saw that his daughter and son-in-law were leaving and rose to his feet. "You two are leaving just like that?"
"Do you still want to eat?" Yu Xiaoxiao asked.
"I, Zhen," Xianzong stumbled. "You brought Zhen out of the palace and now you"re just going to go?"
Yu Xiaoxiao felt that this fatuous emperor really was an unreasonable man. It"s not like he doesn"t know the way back. Does this wretch want me to escort him home?
Gu Xinglang saw Yu Xiaoxiao knitting her brows and quickly squeezed her hand so she would keep silent. "Your Majesty, this subject and the princess will escort you home."
Xianzong only kept his eyes on Yu Xiaoxiao. He didn"t care a whit about Gu Xinglang"s filial obedience. Yu Xiaoxiao sighed and said, "Fine, I"ll send you home." So speaking, she walked in front of Xianzong.
"Zhen doesn"t want to jump off the building!" Xianzong exclaimed when he saw her hand drawing closer.
"Pfft!" One of Jing Mo"s men couldn"t take it and spat out a mouthful of tea.
Yu Xiaoxiao withdrew her hand and said, "Little Gu can"t walk yet, so why would we jump off the building? If it worsens his injury, who will take responsibility?"
Xianzong ma.s.saged his chest and felt truly stifled. This d.a.m.ned girl only thinks about that Gu fellow. She doesn"t care a whit about this old man!
"Do you have other business?" Yu Xiaoxiao asked when Xianzong didn"t budge.
"Hmph!" Xianzong snorted coldly before taking a step forward. He wanted to go home! Right now!
Yu Xiaoxiao saw him leave in a huff and wondered, "What"s wrong with him now?"
"….." said Gu Xinglang.
Xiao Wei shot a look at Xiao Zhuang before the two picked up Gu Xinglang and headed out of the rooms. They"d better hurry up before the princess caused another row with her words.
Zuo You watched Yu Xiaoxiao until she was gone before muttering to himself, "What"s so great about Gu Xinglang?"
Jing Mo pushed his wine cup aside and murmured, "Then what"s so great about Princess Linglong?"
Zuo You glared at him. "Just what are you planning? Thieves don"t show affection without reason. What are you going to do?"
"Get the bill," Jing Mo told his retainer while ignoring Zuo You. In response, Zuo You slammed the table and jumped out of the window.
Jing Mo looked out after him, the smile deepening on his face. The Gu Clan"s been restored to their ranks. Is Fengtian"s rule poised to change? Moreover, the treacherous official has lost power and influence while the loyal one sees the sun again.
"Interesting," Jing Mo murmured to himself, then ordered a subordinate, "Go investigate just what Her Royal Highness Princess Linglong was up to tonight."