novelraw Chapter 423 - 318: Entering the Palace
Chapter 423 - 318: Entering the Palace
After Song Zhi gave the order, the imperial guard released the officials who were initially held inside the Marquis Mansion.
However, the matter of Gu Chengye and Gu Changting being detained in the palace by the Emperor and the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion being surrounded by the imperial guard could not be concealed from anyone. As those officials left, the news quickly spread throughout the entire Capital City like fermentation.
Even though it was curfew time and there were no civilians on the streets, the imperial eunuch at the front still felt many pairs of eyes were staring in shock at Gu Lan and their group entering the palace.
The Imperial Eunuch suppressed his unease and couldn’t help but complain to a colleague beside him, "You and I are acting on the Emperor’s decree. Look at these meddling commoners secretly watching, one might think we’re persecuting the loyal officers. Since when did Young Master Gu become so loved by the people?"
"Who knows? Ever since the Young Master returned to the capital after his victory, he no longer carries the notorious reputation of a playboy but has become a pillar of Dayan."
"Sigh, I really don’t know what His Majesty is trying to do. Why the need to surround the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion with troops for no reason."
"Isn’t this forcing them to rebel..."
"You two should talk less; daring to privately discuss His Majesty, do you think you’re not dying fast enough?"
A red-robed eunuch sternly interrupted their discussion, unable to stop the thoughts of the Capital City’s citizens.
Whether Prince Xiang truly plotted treason to harm the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, the people couldn’t perceive;
But they could all see that on Old Madam Gu’s birthday, the imperial guard surrounded the mansion and ruined the banquet.
The claims of baseless accusations against the Pingnan Marquis Mansion from ten years ago had become more popular among the public these past two years, especially after the activity of the Pingnan Army at the Southern Border, with many secretly believing the Pingnan Marquis Mansion was wronged.
And now, could it be that the tragedy of the Pingnan Marquis Mansion would replay at the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion...
Gu Lan lazily followed behind two Imperial Eunuchs, trailed by a team of twenty or thirty imperial guards. At the very front were four red-robed eunuchs, with two Imperial Eunuchs for decrees on either side at the front.
Among them, the four red-robed eunuchs exuded a potent vigor of blood and energy. Gu Lan could sense that these were all experts with blood on their hands, likely from the Inner Supervision.
Song Zhi did not follow; he abided by the Holy Decree to "protect" Dingyuan Marquis Mansion and was likely going to stay at the mansion.
"Little eunuch, don’t you know the story of Pingnan General taking the enemy general’s head amid tens of thousands of troops, since you only have so few people following me?"
Gu Lan deliberately tilted her head and whispered under her breath to the imperial eunuch beside her.
"The servant... spare me, Young Master; I am just a eunuch... merely following orders." The eunuch servant was so frightened that he trembled all over, his words stuttering.
Gu Lan had no doubt that if she whispered a few more words, he would thoroughly be scared into wetting his pants.
"Tsk, boring," Gu Lan smirked disdainfully.
"Young Master Gu is indeed confident, but this is the Capital City, the Imperial Palace, not a place for you to act recklessly. Besides... are you not concerned about the lives of Second Young Master Gu and your brother if you dare to resist?"
A somber voice rang out with a tone laced with sarcasm.
Gu Lan squinted, noticing that one of the four red-robed eunuchs had walked up beside her.
This red-robed little eunuch displayed a pale, jade-like complexion, with red lips and white teeth, a graceful appearance, eyes outlined with a cerulean blue akin to colored ink, and delicate features with underlying mockery in the tone.
Gu Lan felt a stirring in her heart, believing he seemed familiar.
The decree-issuing eunuch on the side, seeing the red-robed little eunuch approach, quickly moved forward as if granted amnesty, unwilling to stay close to Gu Lan any longer.
Gu Lan coldly chuckled, unhiddenly eager with her nefarious intent: "The Emperor uses my uncle and Gu Changting to threaten me; indeed, I dare not act rashly. But do you think if I kill you now... would the Emperor turn against the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion for you?"
"How dare you!" The red-robed little eunuch’s expression changed, a silver flash gleaming from his sleeve.
Another red-robed eunuch immediately held him back: "Lin He, do not act impulsively; he’s the person His Majesty desires."
Gu Lan’s lips curled with a smile, confirming he was indeed Lin He, the one Crow Building placed inside the Inner Supervision.
Lin He seemed to be persuaded by his companion, turning away to spit, before retracting his flying knife, staying close guard over Gu Lan without taking a step away.
They passed through the Qianqing Gate, entering the Imperial Palace Garden, when suddenly a small figure darted out from a narrow path beside the Imperial Garden, like a small firecracker, accidentally bumping into Lin He.
"Ouch—" Lin He took a step back.
On the other side, a fluffy white shadow flashed by.
"Who goes there!"
A group of Palace Attendants immediately surrounded the person, realizing that the one who collided was merely a girl around eight or nine years old.
"Who are you to behave so boldly inside the palace?" The eunuch who had previously held Lin He unsheathed a short blade, face pale, interrogating coldly.
The young girl appeared unlike a typical Yan person, dressed in oversized red robes, with peculiar curly hair covering her fair little face, trembling all over.
Upon hearing the questioning, she timidly raised her head, her large moist eyes red like a rabbit’s.
"I, my name is Meiduo..." Meiduo wiped her tears, kneeling and moving forward, instinctively clutching the hem of Gu Lan’s clothing, pleading for forgiveness, "I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t do it on purpose, I just... there was a little raccoon..."
"Sir, there indeed was a white raccoon just now," said one of the imperial guards.
Gu Lan squatted down, prying Meiduo’s hand away from her clothing, finger by finger, and said indifferently, "Don’t touch this Princely Heir."
The Imperial Eunuch stared at Meiduo’s attire and said:
"I remember now; she’s from the group of Qiangrong people residing in the West Hall. This little girl should be Marquis Zhongcheng’s youngest daughter, usually without supervision. Perhaps she’ll be granted the title of County Princess in the future."
"Then let her go; His Majesty is waiting for us," Lin He said indifferently.
"Mm, Miss Meiduo, be careful. Do not play here in the future," the leading red-robed eunuch bent down and lifted Meiduo’s delicate, white chin, his voice bleak and cold, akin to a slithering snake.
Gu Lan lowered her eyes, her gaze landing on that pale hand of the red-robed eunuch, with a fleeting murderous intent flashing in her eyes.
"I understand, thank you, thank you."
Tears flowed from Meiduo’s eyes like a string of pearls, kneeling to express immense gratitude, her cheeks flushed.
Her fearful, trembling appearance made the leading eunuch involuntarily swallow, his heart swelling with satisfaction.
The daughter of Marquis Zhongcheng and future County Princess kowtowing before them wagging her tail, this feeling... was indeed delightful.
As they watched the group gradually move further away, a pair of bright ruby-like eyes revealed themselves from the gaps in her curly hair, emitting a chilling radiance.
Meiduo’s loose red robe concealed her slender arms, her small hands tightly gripping the Crow Order that Gu Lan had stealthily given her.
Meiduo didn’t know what Gu Lan gave her, but she knew it must be something important. Her mentor, after entering the palace, might be searched, so this item was entrusted to her for safekeeping!