Zhang Zhangshe looked at the person reflected in the mirror and could not help but exclaim in admiration. No wonder His Highness doted on Miss Gu so much. Even she, as a woman, found herself captivated by Miss Gu and inclined to indulge him in every possible way.
She opened the jewellery box. Gold and silver ornaments lay inside, elegant and understated. She asked Gu Yun which pieces she wished to wear, but Gu Yun did not want to wear any of them. He was thinking more of how to pack them up and put them in his own pocket.
Forcing himself to look away, he selected two floral-patterned twisted gold bangles and stacked them on his right wrist, refusing to add anything further.
Zhang Zhangshe, Zhang Qing, said that as a person of His Highness the Crown Prince, this was far too plain, and urged him to pick a few more. Gu Yun refused to wear anything more; it was heavy and cumbersome. Taking advantage of the moment when the other woman was drinking tea to moisten her throat, he lifted his skirt, dodged the palace maids, and ran off in a flash.
Only then did Zhang Zhangshe notice and immediately led people after him. “Miss Gu, wait!”
Gu Yun covered his ears and ran into the main hall.
After washing and tidying up outside the warm pavilion, Chao Yan was sitting at a table in the main hall reading. Zhang Zhangshe and the others did not dare disturb the Crown Prince and could only give up.
Gu Yun smiled, eyes curved, and waved at them. “Go back, go back. I will tell His Highness. It is fine.”
“What do you mean, fine?” Chao Yan heard the commotion, lifted his eyelids, and looked over.
Gu Yun immediately dropped his chatter and bowed. “Your Highness.”
Chao Yan’s gaze swept over him in a subtle, unreadable way. He put down his book. “Are you hungry?”
Gu Yun walked over and sat beside him, nodding slightly. “But it is not because of that.”
Chao Yan closed the book and ordered someone to serve the meal. “Then what is it?”
Gu Yun raised his hand and shook the floral-patterned twisted gold bangles on his wrist. The two bangles struck each other with a clear, ringing sound. “Do they look good?”
Chao Yan said, “Bring them closer. I cannot see clearly.”
Gu Yun leaned in towards him. “Look—!”
Chao Yan pulled him into his arms, tilted his chin up, and kissed his lips lightly. “They look good.”
Gu Yun: “……” Madman.
He glared at him, but Chao Yan only smiled, patting his back. “Alright, I know you were asking about the bangles. They look good too. What about it?”
Only then did Gu Yun calm down. Sitting on the Crown Prince’s lap, he toyed with the bangles. “Can I just wear these two gold bangles?”
Chao Yan gave a soft “mm”. “Yes. Is it because you do not like the other styles? I will have someone bring a new batch.”
Gu Yun said, “It is not the style. I just do not like wearing too many things.”
Chao Yan nodded. “I see. Alright, I will remember that.”
Gu Yun studied his expression and, seeing no sign of anger, continued, “Actually, there is something else. Your Highness, I want to bathe myself, like I dress myself. I am not used to being served in such private matters.”
Chao Yan replied, “Everything is something you get used to gradually.”
Gu Yun puffed out his cheeks. “Did Your Highness not say that once I entered the Eastern Palace I could do whatever I wanted? A gentleman’s word is his bond.”
Chao Yan leaned back in his chair and narrowed his eyes. “I am a scoundrel.”
Gu Yun stared at him, left and right, unable to tell whether he was serious or joking. He hooked an arm around his neck and leaned in to whisper, “Husband, I know you are teasing me.”
Chao Yan said, “How would I know?”
Gu Yun kissed his cheek. “Your Highness.”
Chao Yan said, “Let me think about it.”
Gu Yun wanted to bite him. This pretentious man. Just as he leaned in for another kiss, Chao Yan laughed. “Stop thinking bad of me in your head. Do whatever you want. If I do not allow it, someone will remind you.”
Gu Yun was wary. “Who?” Could it be hidden guards? Would that mean his every move was being watched by this damned Crown Prince?
Chao Yan tapped his own face.
Gu Yun looked him over. “You?”
Chao Yan said, “Wipe the lip rouge off my face. Do not keep them waiting too long.”
“Them?” Gu Yun turned and looked towards the door. Zhao He stood there, behind him a group of palace maids carrying food trays, all of them keeping their heads lowered.
Gu Yun was certain they had arrived just in time to witness the two of them being affectionate. Heat rushed through him from head to toe; his face and ears flushed a deep red, even more intense than the rouge he had ultimately decided not to wear.
He tried to slip down, but Chao Yan held him back. “Lip rouge.”
Gu Yun wiped it carelessly with his sleeve. “Done!”
Chao Yan smiled, kissed his forehead, then released him and tapped the table to signal the meal to be served. Gu Yun sat down, feeling as though he had been thoroughly steamed through. Only after a long moment did he look at the table.
There were drinks, staple dishes, porridges and soups, meat and vegetable side dishes, pastries and cakes, and large dishes, all neatly arranged and stretching across the entire four-person table.
Gu Yun froze, thinking: how extravagant. Is this how the royal household lives?
He washed his hands, drank tea, and began eating. Each dish was tasted only once before he was full. He rinsed his mouth with tea, then watched as Chao Yan checked over gifts before accompanying him to Cining Temple.
In the carriage, perhaps because he had eaten too much, the swaying made his stomach uncomfortable. He sat in a corner, pressing his hand to his abdomen.
Chao Yan, seated at the small table handling Eastern Palace affairs, noticed from the corner of his eye. He poured a cup of warm water for him, had him sit beside him and lean against him, and began massaging his stomach.
Gu Yun considered it. Since there was free labour, he might as well use it. So he complied.
Chao Yan’s hands were large and strong, clearly those of a martial artist. The massage felt very comfortable.
Gu Yun felt much better. He tugged at his sleeve and thanked him softly.
Without looking up, Chao Yan said, “I do not want verbal thanks.”
Gu Yun muttered under his breath, “Do you want a thank you that could topple the world?”
“What did you say?” Chao Yan asked. Gu Yun had spoken too softly. He quickly shook his head. “Nothing.”
“Really nothing?”
Knowing he could not escape, Gu Yun brought up the question that had been troubling him: “Your Highness, you are lying to me. You have regained your memories.”
Chao Yan smiled. “What makes you think that?”
Gu Yun said quietly, “You are thriving in the Eastern Palace, the Emperor did nothing to you, and you returned safely. Now you are going to see your mother and still handling Eastern Palace affairs.”
Chao Yan looked at him in mild confusion. “Can none of this be done without regaining memories?”
Gu Yun: “How could it?”
Chao Yan said, “I have trusted subordinates. As long as they believe I am the Crown Prince, they will help me regardless. We rise and fall together. A-Yun, do you not understand?”
Gu Yun choked.
Chao Yan continued, “What reason would I have to deceive you? What do you have worth deceiving you for?”
Gu Yun looked down at himself. True enough, what was there to deceive him about? He was so poor he could not even afford his own clothes. No, wait, maybe it was his looks… but even so, there was no need for such deception.
Still, he remained unconvinced that the other had not regained his memories.
Chao Yan pulled him into his arms. “Enough. Stop overthinking. When I go to see Mother later, if anything goes wrong, you will help me cover it.”
“Me? Cover for you?” Gu Yun pointed at himself in disbelief.
“Can you not?” Chao Yan asked.
Gu Yun felt as though his head might be at risk. Moments ago, he had doubted it; now he was almost entirely convinced. He stared at him, opened his mouth, but said nothing.
Chao Yan smiled. “Whether you help or not is up to you. We are all on the same rope; we die together.”
Gu Yun: “……” You are the real Crown Prince. You will not die. I am the one in trouble.
Then, without warning, two small bottles fell into his hands.
Chao Yan said, “Payment. Want it?”
“What is it?”
“Something good. Worth a fortune.”
Gu Yun silently tucked the bottles into his sleeve.
“They have a limited shelf life. Use them quickly. Do not waste them.”
“Alright.”
When they arrived at Ci’an Temple and alighted from the carriage, Gu Yun deliberately avoided Chao Yan and the attendants and took out the two bottles.
They were identical, made of jade with a soft greenish hue, sealed with pale yellow corks and wax at the seams. On each bottle, gold and silver inlay formed intertwined rose branches.
Gu Yun: “……”
He grabbed Chao Yan. “What is this?”
Chao Yan replied, “Rose dew. Can be used internally or externally.”
Gu Yun: “……”
He very much wanted to smash them on Chao Yan’s head, but remembering their value, he restrained himself.
Forget trying to profit off this. He would find a place to sell it. Even half price would make him rich.
He was about to become a little rich man. So he thought happily, until the next moment his mood collapsed.
He saw the Emperor.
