To get back to the Eastern Palace as quickly as possible, Gu Yun did not take a carriage; he chose to ride a horse.
On his way to the capital, under the guidance of Chao Yan, he had learned to ride. However, his posture was not fully correct, and combined with his delicate skin, riding caused chafing on the inner thighs, so he had not ridden again since then.
But circumstances were different now—he needed to return to the Eastern Palace as fast as possible.
Gu Yun arrived at the Eastern Palace. Li Lan escorted him through a side gate back into the side hall of Chunhe Palace. He had just changed his clothes when a loud voice rang out.
“A eunuch like you dares to stop this Princess!”
Princess Hanzhu kicked aside Zhao He, who was kneeling on the ground, and strode toward the inner palace.
“I want to see whether she’s really inside copying Buddhist scriptures for blessings for the Crown Prince.”
The journey from the outskirts workshop back to the Eastern Palace would take at least half an hour even at full speed. Zhao He had used the excuse that Gu Yun was copying scriptures for blessings to block Princess Hanzhu’s summons.
At first, the excuse worked. But then the princess’s steward, eager to show off, claimed he was deliberately stalling so Gu Yun could rush back.
Hearing this, Princess Hanzhu insisted she would not disturb him. She would only look from outside… and personally came in.
Zhao He panicked and tried to stop her again, but she no longer listened.
He stood up again after being knocked down, just as the steward ordered the servants, “Cover this eunuch’s mouth. Don’t let him upset Her Highness.”
Zhao He slapped the servant’s hand away and stared at the steward with a chilling gaze: It’s one thing for the princess to call me a eunuch. What are you to say it too?
The steward felt a sudden chill but quickly became angry and was about to speak further.
At that moment, the palace doors opened.
A woman in plain blue robes, without makeup, stepped out surrounded by palace maids. Her slightly messy hair made her identity clear at once: the Crown Prince’s secondary consort, Lady Gu.
Princess Hanzhu stopped and glanced at her casually. “You’re finally done preparing?”
Gu Yun bowed. While doing so, he assessed her. She was an older, well-maintained noblewoman with sharp features and an overbearing aura. Not someone easy to deal with.
He lowered his gaze respectfully. “Knowing Your Highness was coming, I did not dare delay and hurried to finish. I have already completed my task. May I ask what Your Highness requires?”
Princess Hanzhu entered and sat in the main seat. “I heard you were not in the Eastern Palace these past two days. The Crown Prince is busy outside. Do not break the rules.”
Gu Yun was startled and immediately knelt. “Your Highness, I have been ill in bed these past two days and did not leave the palace. I have been copying scriptures for many days and became unwell. Physician Zhang can confirm this.”
Physician Zhang, responsible for the health of the Eastern Palace, was aligned with Chao Yan. Before leaving, Gu Yun had already arranged for him to provide false testimony.
Gu Yun continued, “May I ask who informed Your Highness that I was not here?”
Princess Hanzhu snorted. “That is none of your concern.” She gestured for him to pour tea.
Gu Yun complied, handed the tea forward, and waited.
She did not take it. Still bent over, Gu Yun’s arm began to ache.
Princess Hanzhu said coldly, “As a secondary consort, you are supposed to serve the Crown Prince. How can you be so delicate?”
Gu Yun thought: Serve him? Are you out of your mind?
But outwardly, he remained respectful.
Satisfied, she continued, “The Crown Prince has no heir yet. You must not obstruct him from taking other women. Any children born will belong to the future Crown Princess. Yours included.”
“Yes,” Gu Yun replied.
She then mentioned inviting him to meet Princess Roujia, insisting he must attend.
Gu Yun hesitated only slightly before agreeing: “It is my honour.”
Only after she left did he notice his hand was scalded red by spilled tea.
Zhang Zhangshe hurried over and applied medicine, muttering angrily about the princess’s intentions. She was clearly trying to pressure Gu Yun so her own daughter could rise.
Gu Yun was stunned. “Rise?”
Zhang Zhangshe explained that Princess Hanzhu intended for Princess Roujia to become Crown Princess.
Gu Yun was even more shocked. “Thirteen years old?”
In this world, it was normal.
Later, Gu Yun checked on Zhao He, who insisted he was fine.
After dismissing others, Gu Yun returned to his room. Once alone, he treated his inner thigh injuries, then paused and turned to look at his backside. It hurt as well.
He cursed Princess Hanzhu inwardly and applied medicine there too.
At that moment, the door was kicked open. Chao Yan walked in with a dark expression.
Gu Yun froze. He quickly pulled his clothes together. “Your Highness… do you need something?”
Chao Yan walked over, took the medicine. “Lie down. You didn’t apply it properly.”
Gu Yun refused, tightening his robe. “Your Highness, the princess came because she heard I was not in the palace.”
Chao Yan replied calmly, “I know. I rushed back after hearing it. I thought you were leaving.”
Gu Yun said coldly, “Even if I leave, people will still bully me.”
Chao Yan nodded slightly.
Gu Yun gritted his teeth. Then he asked for compensation for Zhao He. Chao Yan casually said he would reward him with ginseng.
Gu Yun stared at him.
Chao Yan asked, “Don’t you want me to help apply the medicine?”
Gu Yun muttered, “Did Your Highness forget something?”
Chao Yan paused. “I will find the one who leaked the information.”
Then he added, “Put on your shoes. It’s cold.”
Gu Yun: “…”
He silently cursed him in his heart, then climbed onto the bed and wrapped himself tightly. Just then, Chao Yan sat beside him and asked gently, “So… what do you want?”
His hand lightly touched Gu Yun’s cheek. The words were soft, almost intimate.
Gu Yun’s face grew hot. He pulled the blanket over himself.
Chao Yan tugged it down. “You’ll suffocate.”
“It’s not stuffy,” Gu Yun muttered, pulling it back.
After a brief struggle, Chao Yan finally let go.
Silence returned.
When Gu Yun peeked out again, he saw Chao Yan sitting at the bedside, carefully folding the clothes he had just taken off. His movements were neat, almost meticulous.
Gu Yun froze.
Chao Yan looked at him with a calm, gentle gaze.
He asked again, softly: “Have you decided what you want?”
