The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 677 - 639: Hitting a Soft Wall (Second Update)

Chapter 677: Chapter 639: Hitting a Soft Wall (Second Update)

She has always been straightforward, unable to keep words to herself, and immediately asked, "Does Your Highness think I’m not qualified to remain in the Eastern Palace?"

Eunuch Sanbao’s mouth twitched violently upon hearing this.

He’s seen shameless people before, but never someone this shameless.

Wasn’t His Highness’s meaning clear enough? He has always treated her as an elder, and what younger person would harbor such filthy thoughts towards an elder, especially the nation’s Crown Prince?

Could it be that Gu Yu has read too many unofficial histories and wants to emulate a certain Imperial Concubine from the previous dynasty in a misguided romance beyond age?

Just the thought made Eunuch Sanbao’s back shiver with disgust.

How had he never realized Gu Yu was so capable of causing trouble and being repulsive?

Zhao Xi was not intimidated by Gu Yu’s aggressive manner. He spoke slowly, "Gugu stayed by Mother Empress’s side the year she entered the palace. From the moment of my birth, I’ve been raised by my aunts. Mother Empress once said, Aunt Gu Yu and Aunt Jingzhe treated me as their own son and asked that I treat both aunts well after. This time, Mother Empress appointed you here in the Eastern Palace. I’m pleased, and if Aunt does not mind, you may direct and assign the servants of the Eastern Palace."

Upon hearing this, Gu Yu’s face became extremely colorful, as if it had transformed into a dye house, a mix of green and pale.

The Crown Prince hadn’t uttered a single word of rejection, yet he elevated her status so much, lifting her to the position of an elder.

If she dared mention anything about serving in bed, wouldn’t that make her appear shameless, faceless as if disrespecting humanity?

Throughout the years spent beside Empress Qi, Gu Yu had dealt with all sorts of seductive women and experienced numerous plots and schemes, but never had she faced soft refusals.

Encountering it for the first time, and it was from the young master, her emotions were a mix of sour and bitter, indescribably complex.

Eunuch Sanbao was adept at reading expressions. Hearing Zhao Xi’s tone, he called in Mr. Mu and asked him to notify all palace attendants and eunuchs to come hear Aunt Gu Yu’s instructions.

This affirmed Gu Yu’s position in managing affairs in the Eastern Palace for His Highness.

"Your Highness, I..."

Gu Yu still wanted to struggle a bit more.

She thought he might prefer mature seductive types over fresh and innocent ones, qualities she believed she possessed, yet why couldn’t he understand her intentions?

"If Aunt feels uncomfortable staying in the Eastern Palace, I’ll have someone send you back. You’re ultimately an elder of Mother Empress’s, and I cannot mistreat you."

Each word subtly reminded Gu Yu of her age, as if stabbing her in the heart with a knife.

Gu Yu had always been used to flaunting in front of others, but this was the first time she felt speechless, a sense of restless frustration akin to being half-dead from anger, unable to show any of it before the master.

"I am accustomed to staying," Gu Yu squeezed this sentence through her teeth.

Even if she isn’t accustomed, she’d better get accustomed. At her age, what good man could she find after leaving the palace? The Crown Prince was her last chance; she had to find a way to seize it, only by soaring high could she become a phoenix.

Zhao Xi nodded, "Then, Aunt should go and rest now."

Gu Yu had no choice but to retreat.

Once she was gone, Zhao Xi instructed Mr. Mu to send soup over, and then ordered Eunuch Sanbao to remove the incense. It took a while for him to regain his composure.

Eunuch Sanbao looked at him with concern.

His master never liked incense; too much of it made him uncomfortable. His room was always kept simple with none of the extravagant items. But Gu Yu, that old woman, truly considered herself the master upon arrival, casually adding things to His Highness’s room. Today it’s furnishings; another day she’ll certainly try to embed herself.

Thinking of these things, Eunuch Sanbao was indignant and said, "Your Highness, why didn’t you declare it explicitly earlier? Your meals are always regulated. You dislike the gamy smell of lamb; even if it’s anything but lamb in the stew, if it exceeds the regulation, you wouldn’t take a bite. Her actions violated your major taboo."

Zhao Xi replied, "Aunt Gu Yu is an elder of Mother Empress. She’s new here, and even if there are manners not up to par, I must afford her some politeness and not compare faults."

"That is Your Highness’s magnanimity."

"Serve the meal, and bring Miss Wan Qiu along," Zhao Xi ordered.

Eunuch Sanbao responded affirmatively, left Chengming Hall, notified the little eunuch outside to serve the meal, and proceeded to the East Courtyard.

Upon arrival, he found Miss Wan Qiu’s door closed, with Nian Chun and a few others inside drawing embroidery patterns. Seeing him, they all stood up and saluted, "Eunuch Sanbao."

Eunuch Sanbao glanced around, four people were missing one, and the missing person was Wan Qiu. He pinched his throat and asked, "Where has Miss Wan Qiu gone?"

Upon hearing this, the three people’s eyes flickered.

Wan Qiu was beaten so badly, naturally, she couldn’t come out to meet anyone. She had already discussed with them not to let anyone know and let His Highness find out.

Zhi Xia then lied directly, "Probably because she served His Highness too late last night, and had to get up early today. Sister Wan Qiu is feeling unwell and is lying in the room now. Why, is there something important His Highness needs her for?"

Eunuch Sanbao nodded, "His Highness is having a meal, and I came to find her to serve the dishes."

Zhi Xia laughed and said, "Just afraid His Highness would not be happy, otherwise we few sisters could also serve the dishes."

Eunuch Sanbao snorted lightly, "If His Highness were willing for you few to go, would I need to come looking for her after asking several times?"

Zhi Xia was stifled and then said aggrievedly, "Look at what the eunuch said, it’s like we few aren’t willing to devote ourselves to His Highness. We want to, but His Highness simply doesn’t give us the chance. What can we do?"

"Then how come it’s only Wan Qiu who gets the chance?" Eunuch Sanbao drawled, "It’s because you all are useless."

Zhi Xia stuck out her tongue and dared not bicker with him further.

Although Eunuch Sanbao was about the same age as His Highness, he was a trusted eunuch beside His Highness, and they didn’t want trouble to come from their mouths and dig a hole to bury themselves.

"Since Miss Wan Qiu is unwell, then I will go back." After saying this, Eunuch Sanbao swung his horsetail whisk and returned to Chengming Hall.

At that time, several little eunuchs already set up the meal on Zhao Xi’s table.

Eunuch Sanbao glanced over it roughly; it was the usual arrangement, not too much or too little, just the right amount to finish.

Placing the horsetail whisk on a small table, Eunuch Sanbao stepped forward and used the public chopsticks to taste the dishes for Zhao Xi.

To prevent someone from harming the master, this procedure was essential in the palace.

Zhao Xi was a person disciplined to a frightening degree, never speaking more than a word during meals; thus the hall was very quiet during dining.

After finishing the lunch, when the servants came in to clean up, Zhao Xi rinsed his mouth and washed his hands before asking Eunuch Sanbao, "Where is Wan Qiu?"

"This servant just went to the East Courtyard. Zhi Xia and the others said that Miss Wan Qiu is not feeling well and can’t come to accompany His Highness for lunch."

Upon hearing him use the word "accompany," Zhao Xi raised his eyes slightly.

Eunuch Sanbao quickly smiled apologetically, "This servant misspoke, punishable by a beating, it should be serving His Highness for dining."

Wan Qiu slept late last night, so it’s inevitable she’s unwell today; Zhao Xi didn’t think of it elsewhere.

Taking a walk outside to aid digestion, he returned and picked up a book to read.

Meanwhile, on the side of the East Courtyard, after Eunuch Sanbao left, Wan Qiu’s door slowly opened.

Zhi Xia was the first to sneak in, and seeing Wan Qiu’s swollen cheeks, she immediately frowned and said, "They’re all sent by the Empress, yet she relies on her position as aunt to humiliate and abuse Sister in every way possible. What will we do if this continues?"

Nian Chun proposed, "Shall we try to inform the Empress?"

"Don’t waste your effort." Xiu Dong sneered, "What’s our status compared to theirs? The Empress can’t just dispose of the Chief Palace Maid who has served her for years because of us few. Wan Qiu will suffer from this big loss, and she must be careful in the future."

Nian Chun nodded in agreement, "Yes, she has now become the steward of the Eastern Palace’s backyard. Until the Crown Princess Consort gets married, we’ll be tortured by her; who knows how difficult the days ahead will be."

Wan Qiu sat in front of the mirror and carefully applied medicine to her face. Listening to their chatter, she shook her head helplessly, "Alright, you all, stop gossiping behind people’s backs. Be careful of walls that have ears and invite trouble, His Highness dislikes servants gathering to gossip."

Hearing Wan Qiu mention His Highness, the three immediately fell silent, after a while, Zhi Xia looked at Wan Qiu curiously

They were sent specifically to serve overnight, Wan Qiu’s face immediately flushed, "What nonsense are you saying? If I had really succeeded in serving overnight, would I have been slapped twice today?"

The three laughed and covered their mouths, "Look at her, still shy!"

Indeed, if Wan Qiu had succeeded in serving overnight, His Highness wouldn’t treat her as a servant even if he couldn’t immediately grant her status. She would have two maids serving her. Yet during the day, Wan Qiu not only wasn’t served but went to serve and got slapped twice, indicating she didn’t succeed in serving overnight.

Wan Qiu looked at the three, her face reddening, "Out, out, all of you. You come to my place only to inquire about His Highness, a bunch of shameless little hoofs."