Chapter 438: Elopement (2)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
What did Chu Yi want Empress Dowager Yuan to know that only she could know?
The internal court had already changed before Empress Dowager Yuan knew.
After Jin An left the south study, he immediately summoned two little eunuchs and gave them instructions.
The two eunuchs from the Ceremony Director listened to his instructions and returned to Shou’an Palace.
Because Empress Dowager Yuan was under house arrest, even the people from the Shou’an Palace were forbidden to enter and leave. They were trapped in the Shou’an Palace. These two servants were usually in charge of guarding the entrance of the Shou’an Palace and were quite familiar with the people from the Shou’an Palace.
These two people were also smart. Taking advantage of the next time the palace maids from Shou’an Palace came to bribe them, they secretly added fuel to the fire and leaked this matter.
That afternoon, Kang w.a.n.g, Chu You, brought Gu Yunrong to Shou’an Palace.
The mother and son hadn’t seen each other for more than 20 days since the banquet. Chu You wanted to have a good chat with Empress Dowager Yuan, but unexpectedly, the first thing she said was:
“Ah You, you’re too impulsive. A marriage to the State of Yue is beneficial to you!”
Empress Dowager Yuan controlled her temper and advised her son kindly, “Ah You, listen to my advice. The previous dynasty’s Emperor Guanglie was only able to turn the tide because he married the princess of Xirong and had the help of Xirong. Otherwise, the previous dynasty would have been exhausted a hundred years ago. In order to achieve great things, you must make some sacrifices!”
“Besides, if you don’t marry the State of Yue’s Princess, Chu Yi will marry her. Are you going to watch helplessly as Chu Yi takes the throne in the future?”
Empress Dowager Yuan didn’t give Chu You a chance to speak at all. After speaking confidently, her sharp and domineering gaze turned to Gu Yunrong, whose expression was stiff. She only said calmly, “Rong’er, you’re a good girl. You only have Ah You in your heart. You’re willing to make a little sacrifice for him, right?”
“…” Gu Yunrong pursed her cherry lips and looked deeply at Empress Dowager Yuan.
How could she not understand what Empress Dowager Yuan meant? In the previous dynasty, Emperor Guanglie originally had the original wife, the Shi family. However, in order to help Emperor Guanglie obtain the support of the Xirong people, she didn’t hesitate to abdicate and be demoted to a concubine.
Gu Yunrong left without saying a word.
Her unhappiness was obvious.
Early this morning, Kang w.a.n.g personally came to the reed alley to look for her and said that he wanted to bring her to the palace, so she followed him.
Although the Empress Dowager was a little sn.o.bbish, she was Kang w.a.n.g’s biological mother after all. If their relationship wasn’t good, the most difficult person was Kang w.a.n.g.
For the sake of Kang w.a.n.g’s feelings for her, she had specially prepared a small double-sided embroidered screen and personally made desserts to make the Empress Dowager happy when she entered the palace this time.
She was sincere, but she didn’t expect the Empress Dowager to splash a bucket of ice water on her the moment they met.
Gu Yunrong didn’t want to say anything hurtful, and she also felt that she and Empress Dowager Yuan didn’t get along well. Hence, she left Shou’an Palace without looking back.
“Rong’er!”
Chu You could no longer care about Empress Dowager Yuan and hurriedly chased after her. He heard Empress Dowager Yuan’s exasperated voice coming from behind, repeatedly calling out, “Ah You.”
However, Chu You didn’t seem to hear her. He was only focused on chasing after Gu Yunrong.
Gu Yunrong walked faster and faster. When she walked out of the Shou’an Palace, she grabbed her skirt and jogged. She just wanted to leave the deep palace.
Behind him, Chu You’s footsteps were getting closer and closer. Accompanied by his anxious shouts, Gu Yunrong didn’t stop, not even when beads of sweat had long appeared on her forehead.
Her beautiful face looked a little disheveled.
She jogged from the inner court to the outer court. After pa.s.sing through the Zhaode Gate, the tall Wumen City Building appeared in front.
70 to 80 feet away, a familiar tall figure entered her vision. The young man was tall and slender, and his crimson official robe made him look high-spirited. He was talking to a young man in his twenties in a blue python robe. The two of them were chatting and laughing, and they were abnormally familiar with each other.
It was Gu Yuan and Fan Beiran!
Gu Yunrong slowed down and looked at the two people in front of her in a daze.
Gu Yuan had his back to Gu Yunrong and didn’t notice her at all. He casually threw an oil paper bag to Fan Beiran. “Peanuts with salt and pepper to fill your stomach first.”
Fan Beiran happily took out a salt and pepper peanut from the oil paper bag and threw it into his mouth. He bit into it.
“Lanshan Pavilion?” Fan Beiran could tell immediately.
Fan Beiran’s tongue had always been sharp, so Gu Yuan wasn’t surprised.. He nodded with a smile and asked, “Ah Ran, who did you hire to make the furniture for your Fifth Sister’s Duobao Pavilion, Luohan bed, and rack bed? Are you going to Yangzhou to buy the wood?”