Chapter 347

After arriving at Ruyi Alley, she went to find Yu Gu for tea, then sent a message to Zhao Hui on behalf of Yu Gu.

Yu Gu was still quite nice to her, she didn't stop her from entering the yard when she arrived unexpectedly. Not only did she take her pulse to check her health, but also asked about the Crown Prince's condition.

Gu Ying only said, "The Crown Prince is healthy, thank you for your concern."

Yu Gu put away her pulse pillow and lowered her eyes. Her entire face was still hidden behind her veil. Her face was disfigured so one couldn't tell if she was beautiful or ugly, but her eyes were extremely attractive. Even the corners of her eyes were like a phoenix spreading its wings, making one gasp in admiration.

Gu Ying felt her eyes looked familiar, as if she had seen them somewhere before.

"Madam, has the Crown Prince been taking any medication recently?"

"No, the Crown Prince rarely takes medicine. The weather has been good recently and he has had no major issues."

"I wonder if the Crown Prince has been sleeping peacefully at night?"

She was prying into the bedroom now. Gu Ying pursed her lips and still said, "Peaceful enough."

Gu Ying answered whatever Yu Gu asked, like it was just a casual inquiry, but she could sense that Yu Gu's concern for the Crown Prince exceeded a doctor's limits for a patient.

If not for their age difference, she would have suspected that Yu Gu had feelings for the Crown Prince. However, Yu Gu's eyes were cold and clear, showing no signs of romance between them. Having lived two lifetimes, Gu Ying was quite discerning when it came to people. This Yu Gu was clearly no ordinary village woman with some medical skills. Just her eyes alone showed that she was no common woman.

After talking about the Crown Prince, conversation between the two of them lessened considerably.

Gu Ying glanced inside the room. Yu Gu said lightly, "Xu is not here today, there's no need to keep looking." Gu Ying smiled awkwardly. "Auntie, don't blame me. I harbor no ill intentions toward Miss Shen."

"I know clearly what Madam feels toward Xu."

Gu Ying was baffled. What did she know clearly?

What had Shen Ruxu told Yu Gu about what happened at the Yueyang camp?

Judging from Yu Gu's expression, she clearly disliked her, and there was an inexplicable look of disgust in her eyes. It seemed that Shen Ruxu hadn't told Yu Gu the truth at all, she had just exaggerated about being forced to marry at the camp. Shen Ruxu was Yu Gu's adopted daughter, so of course she would stand up for her.

But...

Yu Gu calmly put the medicine box away and tidied up the tea set in the yard. Stars were scattered across the silver river in the sky, adding to the tranquility of this small courtyard.

Gu Ying's mood stirred restlessly as she watched Yu Gu busying about. She suddenly spoke up, "Auntie, do you know...On the way to Yueyang to find the Crown Prince, I almost lost my child."

Yu Gu's figure stiffened. She slowly turned around with a complex expression, staring at Gu Ying's stomach.

Gu Ying pulled up the corners of her lips in an innocent smile. "Knowing I was pregnant, Miss Shen still lied to me, nearly causing me to miscarry while trying to save her. Later, she even wanted to harm Yin Lan to kill my child. If I had not struck first, I fear my child, myself and Yin Lan would no longer be alive now."

Yu Gu looked incredulous, a teacup falling from her hand and landing on the ground with a thud.

"Auntie, my child is also the Crown Prince's child."

"You are also very fond of him, aren't you?"

Yu Gu was struck speechless, staring intently at Gu Ying's smiling lips, her eyes slightly red.

Seeing Yu Gu's flustered reaction, Gu Ying thought that she had probably guessed something.

...

In the evening, Ruyi Alley was still very lively with the sound of carriages and horses coming and going.

As night fell, the houses in this large residential area gradually quieted down.

Bianjing had a curfew and commoners rarely went out at night. If the patrolling city guards saw thoughtless commoners, they would shoot them dead.

As an Imperial Reader of the Hanlin Academy, Yuan Xing certainly knew about this rule.

But when he saw the contents of the note sent by the Chengs, he still couldn't help changing his clothes and sneaking out in the dark.

He was extremely familiar with Bianjing's terrain, not to mention Ruyi Alley where she used to live.

Yuan Xing pulled his black cloak tightly around him as he walked over, his mind gradually filled with memories of that stormy rainy night...

He was staying at his distant relative Yuan's place next to the Chengs' residence. His elder cousin had generously lent him the house to live in while he was in the capital for the imperial examinations.

At that time, he didn't know that a fallen noble lady lived next door, who spent her days immersed in books.

It was only that night later on, when thunder roared loudly and torrential rain poured down relentlessly.

The young lady knocked on his door in a red embroidered dress, drenched from head to toe, crying and telling him that she was afraid of the thunder. In the rainy night, holding up a swaying lantern, he sank into her misty, infatuated eyes.

He didn't know how he brought her into the room, or how they ended up in bed together.

He only remembered that night of passion that completely wiped out over a decade of reading sage books.

That tender cry of "Yuan Lang" pulled him out of his recollections of the past.

Yuan Xing stopped in front of that old courtyard, the night was deep and serene in his dark eyes.

Coming tonight was probably a mistake. He knew that there was absolutely no possibility between him and that woman, but there was still a shred of hope in his heart to see her one last time.

He thought that just seeing her again would be good. There would still be decades more to live.

As long as he could watch her from afar, he could still endure.

As for the child she mentioned in her letter, he didn't even dare think about it.

Yuan Xing sighed softly and pushed open the dilapidated yard gate.

Thick cobwebs covered the gate frame and weeds grew wildly in the yard. The flowers and trees were withered, it was a scene of utter ruin.

However, as soon as he stepped into the yard, he saw a dim bean oil lamp burning in the room.

A graceful figure stood by the broken Eight Immortals table, the light and shadow accentuating her rich, dignified cheeks.

Yuan Xing froze in disbelief at the sight of the woman turning around.

"You--"

"You--"

They spoke in unison, then stopped abruptly.

Lady Cheng pursed her lips and shot Yuan Xing a disgusted look. "Why did you ask me to come here so late? I already told you, that night was just an accident. It would be best if you never look for me again for the rest of your life. Why won't you listen? Why do you insist on staying in Bianjing to deliberately offend my eyes?"

Yuan Xing was confused. What was going on? Wasn't it her who asked him to come?

He opened his mouth to speak but Lady Cheng marched up to him angrily. She slapped him hard across the face with a loud crack.

"Yuan Xing, don't even think about it!"

Lady Cheng's face was filled with anger as she glared at him resentfully. Just thinking that he had come to compete with her for the child made her see red.

The slap left Yuan Xing dumbfounded as he clutched his handsome face, even more puzzled. "Lady Zhao, just what are you talking about? It was clearly you who wanted to discuss the child and asked me to meet here. That child...is actually..."