CH 43

Chapter 43: Returning to the capital in advance

Princess Ping Hu walked in alone. Seeing that Gu Yu Qi had woken up, she said a few words of comfort, then pulled Liang-shi aside.

Gu Yu Qi had just woken up from a coma and was weak and weary. Imperial Physician Ning ordered someone to feed her some medicinal soup. Gu Yu Qi still felt a little dizzy. This poison was really evil. When she was in a coma, she could clearly perceive everything that was happening outside. Now that she was awake, she became sluggish.

“Madam Gu, this time it was this princess’ palace that was wrong.” Princess Ping Hu lowered her body and whispered to Liang-shi, “Yu Qi, this child, has suffered. Don’t worry. This princess will definitely investigate the matter and give you an explanation.” After she spoke, she took Liang-shi’s hand. Liang Huai Yu’s hand was icy cold. The nervousness just now had caused her to almost lose her soul.

How much effort had she used to keep herself from losing control?

Gu Yu Qi was everything to her now. When Gu Yu Qi did not wake up just now, she could not think clearly. Now that she thought about it, she was sweating cold from fear. If by any chance Gu Yu Qi experienced some unexpected misfortune, what would she do in the future?!!!

In her heart, she felt great resentment and anger. Her good daughter had been called here and within a few hours, had fallen unconscious and almost lost her life. No mother would leave this matter at that so easily, but now Princess Ping Hu had lowered her posture first and there was nothing she could say.

Liang Huai Yu took a deep breath and tried hard to suppress the anger that surged up in her heart. She spoke with lowered eyebrows, “The decision for everything is up to Your Highness the Princess.”

Seeing Liang Huai Yu say this, Princess Ping Hu relaxed slightly. Originally, betting on a noble girl had already been a disregard for the other party’s dignity. It was fine that they did not know, and if they did know, then it was fine if nothing happened. This accident really could not be justified.

Fortunately, it had been a false alarm and she had woken up, all the toxins emptied from resting. It was just that Miss Gu would probably miss the Winter Hunting Festival from lying down this time.

“Leave everything up to this princess.” Princess Ping Hu smiled gently at Liang-shi and said, “Don’t worry. Bring Miss Gu back to the capital first. As for the others, this princess will have an explanation. Imperial Physician Ning will accompany you back to the capital to take care of Yu Qi’s safety at any time. This princess will also send an escort.”

“Since the Princess has made arrangements, then this minister’s wife will listen to Your Highness,” Liang Huai Yu was not someone who had no opinions, but the princess’ move was very clear. She wanted to send the mother and daughter back to the capital and minimise the spreading of this matter on the hunting grounds. The princess was a member of the imperial family. Now that she had made it clear, Liang Huai Yu would not be able to do anything even if she stood up to her now.

It was better to go back to the capital now. Since Princess Ping Hu had assured her that there would be an explanation, then she should trust her first.

Her daughter had suffered and of course it could not have been in vain. Princess Ping Hu had this in hand. If her explanation was not to her satisfaction, then it would not be too late to revolt later.

Besides, now was not the time to say otherwise. Imperial Physician Ning was a former doctor of the Imperial Institute of Medicine and had excellent medical skills but had now resigned. Others could not invite him even if they wanted to. If Princess Ping Hu could send him out, then it would be giving them face as big as the sky. Gu Yu Qi’s body was important. Who knew if the tranquilising flower poison would have any effects in the future. Of course, it was necessary to return to the capital as soon as possible to clear it up completely.

In Liang-shi’s view, nothing was as important as Gu Yu Qi’s life.

When Imperial Physician Ning helped Gu Yu Qi detoxify, Princess Ping Hu had already arranged everything. Even the carriage was ready. She also sent someone to tell Gu Huai Zhong, but she did not say anything else, just that Gu Yu Qi’s fever had flared up again so she had fainted on the hunting ground. She had reported this matter to the emperor and His Majesty had especially said to let Gu Yu Qi go back to the capital and recover.

Gu Yu Qi and Liang-shi had stayed in the small tent so they could not have known what was happening outside.

She did not even know that because of this accidental coma, her reputation became even more famous.

Just after she had been carried by a few palace maids into the carriage prepared by the Princess’ residence and had embarked on the journey back to the capital with Liang-shi, the story about Gu Yu Qi’s early return to the capital had spread wildy around the whole hunting camp.

According to the past, there had been precedents for noble women or noble girls to return to the capital early due to physical reasons, but those times had not caused an uproar like Gu Yu Qi this time.

His Majesty had personally given her permission to return to the capital, what face! Not only was His Majesty giving face, Princess Ping Gu was giving even more face, sending Gu Yu Qi in her own carriage.

The carriage was completely black with the golden badge of Princess Ping Hu’s residence on it. It was so gorgeous that it left people speechless.

Princess Ping Hu not only used her carriage to send Gu Yu Qi off, but she also sent her own bodyguards to escort her. What an honour this was! What kind of person could be so favoured by the Imperial Princess Ping Hu? In addition, the Imperial Princess Ping Hu had also given Gu Yu Qi a jade pendant that would allow her to enter and leave the Imperial Princess’ palace at will. Hence, the nobles looked at Gu Huai Zhong differently now.

This was the indication that Princess Ping Hu wanted to gain a relationship with the Ding Yuan Marquis’ family through marriage.

Princess Ping Hu had no sons, so were her heirs not the princes? It was heard that when Gu Yu Qi fell into a coma, she had been hunting with Princesses Jing Cheng, Yun Xi, Yun He, and Jia Xi. To be able to hunt together with the princesses, this was what many noble girls dreamt of. Usually, it was possible to meet one or two of the daughters of the imperial family, but who could have the privilege to race bridle to bridle with them? This drove up Gu Yu Qi’s worth instantly.

There were also rumours that when Gu Yu Qi fainted, His Highness Yun Ke, the seventh prince, had personally carried her out of the forest!

This was even more incredible! Everyone speculated that Gu Yu Qi was probably going to become the concubine of the seventh prince.

Yun Yi could not help frowning when he heard these rumours, “Aunt has such a gossipy person! Seventh Brother, go and investigate to see who spread the news. This kind of thing is not good for Miss Gu’s reputation. If this prince finds out who it was, this prince will definitely not spare him!”

Yun Ke frowned and said lightly, “How does Fifth Brother want Younger Brother to investigate? In any case, they are all our Imperial Aunt’s people. What will Fifth Brother do after taking them? Do you not know Imperial Aunt’s temper? It’s likely that we won’t have to do it. She herself will deal with the servants who spread rumours. It’s better not to make waves now.”

After Yun Yi listened to Yun Ke’s words, he dropped it. It was just that he felt very uncomfortable. He could not help but look deeply at Yun Ke, “Seventh Brother, my Consort Mother mentioned something to me.”

“Fifth Brother, go ahead,” Yun Ke maintained a calm and subdued state of mind.

“After the new year, Consort Mother will speak to Father the Emperor and give you the young miss of the Mu Rong family,” Yun Yi said. “Consort Mother said that the young miss of the Mu Rong family is gentle and dignified, and a good person.”

“Yes. It’s all up to Mother Consort,” Yun Ke sneered in his heart, but his face was still cold and unwavering; even his voice did not waver at all. “The choice made by Consort Mother must be good for Younger Brother.”

“Yes it is!” Yun Yi saw that Yun Ke did not resist at all. On the contrary, he was calm. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If he had any thoughts about Gu Yu Qi, it was likely that he would not be as calm as he was now and would have some reactions more or less. Moreover, seeing him always so submissive, Yun Yi felt a little sorry for Yun Ke.

The young miss of the Mu Rong family, whom he had seen before, was indeed gentle and dignified, too dignified. With her normal appearance, she would not attract attention even when thrown onto the street. For a person like Yun Ke who was carved from jade and ice, the match with the young miss of the Mu Rong family was really wronging him a bit. He had also heard that this young miss of the Mu Rong family had always been in bad health. Since she was a child, she had lived on medicines. It was likely that after getting married, it was a big question whether she could leave an heir for Yun Ke or not.

As a member of the imperial family, love could be temporarily abandoned, but offspring was an issue that could not be ignored.

Perhaps his consort mother had done this on purpose. If Yun Ke had no children, then he would assist him more wholeheartedly.

Yun Yi raised a hand and patted Yun Ke on the shoulder, “You’ll always be my good younger brother.”

Too bad you are not my good elder brother. Although Yun Ke had a slight smile on his face, his heart was cold. Even though he knew that his marriage was not far away, Yun Yi had not told him around this time during his previous life. Instead, he had told him about it on the way back to the palace after the Winter Hunting Festival that the Virtuous Consort wanted him to marry the young miss of the Mu Rong family as his main concubine. This was the best for him and for Yun Yi. That is, they would win over Minister Mu Rong and open the door of the Ministry of War for Yun Yi.

They were the ones who only asked him to do this and that! They never asked him if he really wanted to do it.

From childhood to adulthood, everything good belonged to Yun Yi. His existence was just to pave the way for Yun Yi, even his marriage!

Gu Yu Qi arrived at the capital safely under the escort of Princess Ping Hu’s personal guards from her residence. As soon as she entered the residence, Liu-shi received the news and rushed over in a hurry.

“Oh, what’s the matter with the eldest daughter?” She entered Gu Yu Qi’s room in surprise. “Greetings, Madam.”

Liang-shi frowned slightly, “It’s just a cold.” She was too lazy to even say a word to this woman so she just answered indifferently.

“Is it? Then she should rest well.” Liu-shi lifted her hand that was painted bright red and was about to touch Gu Yu Qi’s forehead when she was blocked by Liang-shi.

She smiled, “Madam, this woman just wanted to see if the eldest daughter has a fever now.” She had a flattering smile on her face, but at the bottom of her heart she cursed Liang-shi inside and out repeatedly, “By the way, daring to ask Madam, how are the eldest son and second daughter?”

“They are fine, naturally. The Marquis is looking after them personally,” Liang-shi said. How long was this woman going to stay here?

Gu Yu Qi fell asleep after taking the medicine, so naturally she did not know that Liu-shi was here.

Although the peacebloom toxin had been dealt with, the remaining toxins had not been eliminated. According to Imperial Physician Ning’s words, it was necessary to take the medicine for five consecutive days and soak in a medicinal bath to completely remove the peacebloom toxin.

On the way back, Gu Yu Qi had still been affected by the residual toxins so she had not been awake for long every day, always in a state of deep sleep.

“If the Marquis is looking after them in person, then of course there would be no problem.” Liu-shi said with a cheerful countenance. She did not know what happened to Gu Yu Qi outside. Seeing that Gu Yu Qi and Liang Huai Yu had returned to the residence early, she thought that Gu Yu Qi and Liang Huai Yu was just one being sick, one being despised by the Marquis, so they first snuck back to the residence gloomily.

It did not need mentioning just how proud she felt in her heart!

So what if she was the main wife? So what if she could go to the Winter Hunting Festival? She had been sent back in advance all the same. It could be seen how much the Marquis hated the mother and daughter. On the contrary, her two children had stayed and were being looked after by the Marquis personally. That was an honourable thing. Gu Yu Qi, that little wench, did the Marquis take care of her personally for even half a minute?

As long as she managed well and pleased the Marquis a lot, then thought of a way to get rid of this Liang Huai Yu, sooner or later, the position of the main madam of the Marquis’ residence would be hers.

Let Liang Huai Yu be proud now. Whoever had the last laugh was the real winner!

Liu-shi was living in her fantasies and wanted to laugh heartily. She got tired of being in Gu Yu Qi’s Dan Xia courtyard after a while, so she got up and left proudly.