Gu Ran’s gaze drifted into the distance. Although the main building didn’t actually offer a view of the estate gates, she felt as if she could see Gu Yao standing there shivering.
“Has she been coming here often lately?”
Gu Ran asked lightly. Xiao Ya, standing beside her, was momentarily taken aback. In the past, whenever Miss Gu Yao appeared, she would immediately be invited inside. But now, why wasn’t Miss Gu saying anything about letting her in?
Though puzzled, Xiao Ya didn’t question further, strictly adhering to her duties as a Tan Palace housekeeper as she replied earnestly.
“Yes, Miss Gu Yao has been coming almost daily these past few days. However, Sir was concerned she might disturb your recovery and didn’t allow her inside.”
After speaking, Xiao Ya thought for a moment and decided to put in a good word for her employer.
“Miss Gu, Sir only has your health in mind. When you had that persistent high fever days ago and remained delirious, Doctor Li repeatedly emphasized that no one should disturb your rest.”
Truthfully, almost no one at Tan Palace welcomed Gu Yao’s visits. Nearly every time she came, Miss Gu would create some disturbance, finding new ways to torment their Sir.
After explaining, Xiao Ya watched Gu Ran with worried eyes, fearing the young mistress might blame their Sir again.
To her surprise, Gu Ran merely smiled faintly and responded.
“Since Brother Jue has declared I need quiet recovery time, why haven’t you asked Gu Yao to leave? I’m not fully recovered yet either.”
Xiao Ya stared blankly, expecting an outburst of anger but receiving none. What was happening? Had Miss Gu been possessed?
No, probably just post-fever side effects – her brain must have been affected by the high temperature, changing her temperament.
Still, this version of Miss Gu seemed rather endearing, with a much-improved temper.
As Xiao Ya prepared to quietly withdraw, Gu Ran called her back.
“Have some people move Brother Jue’s clothes back in.”
Gu Ran thought of the wardrobe she had taken over and spoke up.
The first step to being with Brother Jue was sharing a bed from now on. Yes, sleeping in Brother Jue’s embrace last night felt so secure and comforting.
Xiao Ya stood completely stunned, rooted to the spot and doubting her hearing.
Gu Ran, still reminiscing about last night’s warm embrace, didn’t notice Xiao Ya’s expression as she suddenly spoke again.
“Never mind, is Brother Jue at Elegant Garden? I’ll go find him myself.”
Gu Ran’s reasoning was simple – since she was the one who drove him out, she should personally bring him back. That would show sufficient sincerity.
With that, Gu Ran stood up and headed for the door. Xiao Ya finally snapped out of her daze and, seeing Gu Ran’s light clothing, immediately grabbed a thick down jacket from the wardrobe and hurried after her.
“Miss Gu, slow down! It’s cold outside – put this on before going out. We can’t have you catching a chill.”
Gu Ran took the down jacket and put it on. Seeing Xiao Ya preparing to follow, she said.
“No need to accompany me. Isn’t my cousin still waiting outside? Have someone send her away quickly. If she freezes out there, my uncle would come after me with murderous intent.”
Remembering how her dear uncle had shown his true colors in her previous life after she’d lost all usefulness – actually trying to deliver her to the bed of a man old enough to be her grandfather for some business deal. Fortunately, the poison in her system hadn’t reached her heart meridians yet, allowing her to escape that filthy place with all her strength.
Thinking of that toxin, a cold glint flashed once more in Gu Ran’s eyes before she hurriedly left the main building and headed toward Elegant Garden.
This was Gu Ran’s first time stepping into any part of Tan Palace other than the main building.
Tan Palace was vast, composed of six detached Western-style villas with private courtyards, along with a helipad, a horse ranch, and a training ground nearly half the size of a soccer field.
Just walking from the main building to Elegant Garden took over ten minutes without stopping. If one were to stroll leisurely and admire the scenery in each courtyard, an hour wouldn’t be enough to see everything.
It was truly cold outside today. After walking just a short distance, Gu Ran already felt the biting chill, and she grew concerned about her current physical condition.
Having been in Nan City for two months, how had she become such a frail, delicate creature, almost unable to carry anything on her shoulders or lift anything with her hands? Now, even a walk of a few hundred meters left her slightly breathless.
Upon entering Elegant Garden, Gu Ran didn’t rush to find Fu Sijue. Instead, she sat down in the entryway to catch her breath.
While resting, she took the opportunity to look around at Elegant Garden’s layout.
The first floor’s arrangement was similar to that of the main building, but unlike the main building where only ordinary maids and servants were present, this place was filled with bodyguards in uniform suits. Moreover, hidden in places Gu Ran couldn’t see were Shadow Guards.
Gu Ran wasn’t surprised. When Fu Sijue first brought her to Tan Palace, she had noticed countless Shadow Guards lurking about. Otherwise, with her skills at the time, she wouldn’t have failed to escape despite multiple attempts.
As for what happened later… alas, even the best can stumble. A master of poison like her had actually fallen victim to poisoning—a colorless, odorless toxin with a long incubation period.
In her previous life at this point, Gu Ran hadn’t realized it, assuming Fu Sijue had tampered with her food. She never specifically examined her own body.
Now, reborn, she clearly knew that those people had started planning long ago. So, just moments ago, she had taken her own pulse to check.
She had to admit, the opponent must also be a master of poison. At the very least, Gu Ran still didn’t know when she had been poisoned, and this kind of toxin was virtually undetectable under normal circumstances.
If not for Gu Ran’s exceptional medical skills, even seasoned traditional Chinese medicine practitioners with decades of experience might not have detected any abnormality.
Pulling her thoughts back, Gu Ran began moving further into the villa. But as soon as she reached the living room, several bodyguards blocked her path.
“Miss Gu, we apologize, but unauthorized personnel are not allowed here.”
The lead bodyguard’s attitude was relatively polite, but his words were rather unpleasant to hear.
If this were the old Gu Ran, she would have likely started causing a scene immediately. But now, Gu Ran remained calm, her gaze fixed on the staircase leading to the second floor as she spoke slowly.
“Why don’t you first ask your master whether I’m allowed to enter or not?”
Her attitude was so amiable that everyone was stunned. The bodyguards had prepared themselves for a storm, but this was unexpected.
The lead bodyguard remained professional, regaining his composure after a brief moment of surprise.
“Miss Gu, then please—”
“Step aside.”
A man’s voice came from not far away as Dan Zuo emerged from a study nearby.
After witnessing the scene in the dining room this morning, Dan Zuo had gradually come to accept this changed version of Gu Ran.
“Miss Gu, Milord is upstairs in a video conference. Do you wish to see him now?”
Compared to the hostility others showed toward Gu Ran, Dan Zuo’s attitude was considerably more amiable.
Having just been sternly lectured by Milord, he had come to understand the situation clearly.
Their Milord was completely captivated by this woman for life. Since Milord had chosen her, as long as she was willing to stay faithfully with their Milord, he could accept her as the mistress of this manor.