Chapter 22: The Depth is Unfathomable, My Loyalty Remains True

  Gu Yunxi looked at the chaotic scene on that side, and seeing the palace maid in front of her, she felt a strong sense of elegance, with eyebrows and eyes that were somewhat similar to hers. Her heart calmed down, and after changing into the palace maid's white wind hat and robe, she took another look at Ya Bin and her son from afar before quietly retreating from the doorway.

  Along the way, there were guards and palace maids, each with a suspicious look on their faces. The princess's humiliation was a royal scandal, and it was unknown what kind of name the Crown Prince's tutor had used to gather so many people. Along the way, the Crown Prince's East Palace guard had already begun to patrol and search in small parts. She looked around, feeling only that the wound on her arm hurt badly.

  "Halt!"

  A stern shout came from behind her, and Gu Yunxi's footsteps quickened. Her identity was the greatest burden; if she were discovered, this matter would inevitably be linked to the De Wang Fu. Emperor Yan Gong Sun Lie was notoriously suspicious, and she had heard rumors about it long ago. Even if it could be proven that the De Wang Fu was being framed, there might not be a winner in this affair.

  "Halt!"

  When the second stern shout came over, Gu Yunxi only felt a chill on her neck, and a sword with a piercing cold intent was already placed on her throat. The person behind her slowly turned to face her, "Let you stand still, didn't you hear? Which palace are you from, where did the bloody smell on your body come from?"

  A cool feeling arose, Gu Yunxi lowered her head with slightly clenched fists, while the person in front of her seemed impatient, a sword flower was about to lift her wind hat, Gu Yunxi's face changed subtly, in a flash of lightning.

  "What brings you here—"

  A cold and detached sentence fell, the sword flower in mid-air paused for a moment, the man in front sheathed his sword and turned around, looking at the newcomer with a slight bow, "Your Highness Chu!"

  Gu Yunxi's heart skipped a beat, it was him—

  Wan Xi Chen tightened the fox fur cloak on his body, and his eyes dimly swept over Yun Xi's body. He coughed lightly twice, and his face turned even paler, "Come here."

  Two words fell heavily, and Gu Yunxi felt an even greater chill on her body. She took a few steps forward, heading straight for Wan Qiu Chen, but just as she had taken only two steps, the sword that had been put down was raised again.

  "Hold on." Li's distant gaze was deep and profound as he looked at Wan Qiuchen, "Who is this?"

  Wan Xi's eyes were calm and tranquil, but his words carried an overbearing tone, "Does Commander Li need to control even the maids in my household?"

  Li Yuan's sword tip moved slightly, but he didn't put it down. "Li Yuan doesn't dare to, but the Duke of Guo just ordered that since Princess Jingci was attacked in this courtyard, we must thoroughly investigate. Your Highness clearly came from outside, while this young lady came out from inside. Li Yuan only wants to know what she went in for and why her body has a bloody smell?"

  Gu Yunxi's palms were slightly sweaty, and Wan Qishan's gaze swept over her body, his mouth curled up, and he actually smiled softly. The smile was as warm and gentle as a clear breeze in March, Gu Yunxi raised her eyes slightly, feeling that such a smile shouldn't appear on the face of someone as gloomy and profound as him.

  A faint smile flashed, and Wan Xi's gaze fell lightly on Gu Yunxi. He said, "General Li's eyes are indeed sharp, but if the arrival of a woman like Huishui makes him so vigilant that every rustling leaf sounds like an alarm, wouldn't it tarnish General Li's reputation for wisdom?"

  “……”

  Li Yuan's sword seemed to tremble for a moment, his eyes hesitated and swept over Gu Yunxi, and the man who was as heroic and hard as him actually blushed slightly at the earlobe.

  "This——"

  Wan Xi Zhen seemed to have not seen the distress of this big man, and his hand slowly rose from within the black cloak, "Come over..."

  This was his second call to her, and Sen Han's voice had a hint of warmth in it. Gu Yunxi took a slow step forward, then walked towards Wan Qi Chen with a calm gait. His large hand, with slender fingers, lifted up in the cold wind, and Gu Yunxi slightly lowered her head, obediently placing her small hand in his.

  As soon as he took hold of it, the chill was piercing to the bone. Gu Yunxi's already stiff body trembled slightly, and Wan Qiuchen nodded slightly towards Li Yuan before leading Gu Yunxi out. The two figures, one black and one white, stood out distinctly against the moonlit palace lanterns. Li Yuan narrowed his eyes as he watched the retreating figure, his grip on the sword in his hand not relaxing for a moment.

  Feeling the gaze behind her, Gu Yunxi's hand exerted a slight force, and Wan Qi's eyebrows moved slightly as he spoke in a cold tone, "I told you earlier that the plum blossoms in this water pavilion have already bloomed. If you're not feeling well, why must you run around everywhere?"

  The tone of Gujing's voice contained a hint of shallow pity, the flame in Li's eyes dimmed slightly, and he shook his head slightly. Rumors had circulated that this Chu prince had been bedridden for years, avoiding women, but unexpectedly fell in love with a maid in his own mansion. He sheathed the cold sword in his hand, smoothed out the wrinkles on his black robe, and walked away in another direction.

  As the footsteps faded into the distance, Gu Yunxi's tense body relaxed slightly, and Wan Qiwen withdrew his hand without leaving any trace, re-tucking it under his cloak, his face expressionless.

  Gu Yun Xi's mind was in a mess, she had never thought that Wan Qi Chen would actually save him. The two of them walked silently one after the other until they exited the Water Pavilion's gate. Gu Yun Xi still calmly followed behind Wan Qi Chen, and with the cover of her wind hat, people on the road all took her to be Wan Qi Chen's servant girl.

  Wan Xi Chen walked out of the water pavilion and did not return to the Crown Prince's banquet. The distant sound of palace music continued, but his footsteps went straight to the east palace side door. At this moment, in front of the palace gate, apart from the blue guard team of the Crown Prince's mansion, there was another team mixed among them. Because of the Crown Prince's grand wedding, the Imperial City Patrol Camp also joined the patrol of the East Palace. At this moment, the number of soldiers at the side door was several times more than in the evening. Gu Yun Xi lowered his eyes and said that the King's method was indeed not small.

  Wan Xi Zheng Liang took out the token from his body, and all the way unimpeded came out of the East Palace. On the palace road, a dark-colored luxurious carriage was quietly parked, seemingly having waited for a long time.

  Mu Feng saw Wan Xi Chen and Gu Yun Xue come out together, his eyes flickered slightly, "Master."

  "Return to the mansion."

  Wan Xi Zhen stepped down from the carriage with two characters "矮" (short) on his body, while Gu Yun Xue was standing in front of the carriage, somewhat hesitant.

  "Get on the bus."

  The two words "Dan Dan" fell to the ground, Gu Yun Xi's eyebrows furrowed and she stepped into the carriage. The interior was exquisitely decorated with luxurious furnishings, a warm stove burning softly, emitting gentle heat. Wan Qi Zhen closed his eyes and leaned against the wall of the carriage, looking extremely exhausted.

  Gu Yunxi sat down beside him, her eyes scanning his refined yet pale face. Her gaze turned cold as she said, "Everyone knows that you, Chu Gongzi, are always by the Crown Prince's side, but what they don't know is that your true loyalty lies with De Wang Gongzi. Chu Gongzi, do you think Yunxi is right?"

  Gu Yunxi sat down beside him, her eyes scanning his refined yet pale face. Her gaze turned cold as she said, "Everyone knows that you, Chu Gongzi, are always by the Crown Prince's side, but what they don't know is that your true loyalty lies with De Wang Gongzi. Chu Gongzi, do you think Yunxi is right?"

  Wan Xi Zhen's closed eyes suddenly opened, and his intimidating gaze fell on Gu Yun Xue. His thin lips pursed slightly as he said calmly, "Miss Gu is indeed clever."

  Gu Yun Xi's eyebrows rose, and the heart that had been hanging in suspense finally put down, while on this side, Wan Qi Chen's eyes closed again. Gu Yun Xi quietly waited for him to say something else, but Wan Qi Chen seemed to have fallen asleep, his breathing long and even, with no other reaction.

  The long palace road was extremely quiet, and Gu Yunxi's thoughts were turning a hundred times in the clear sound of the carriage wheels. After a long time, she spoke again, "I suppose the matter of Princess Jingci must have been manipulated by Chu Gongzi. But since Chu Gongzi is serving De Wang, why didn't he inform De Wang earlier so that he could be prepared?"

  Wan Xi Zhen's eyebrows slightly furrowed, and when he opened his eyes, he leaned over to lift the curtain of the carriage. Unbeknownst to them, their carriage had already arrived at the palace gates, where another carriage was trying to enter at that very moment.