Gu Zhancheng was currently wrapping up an investigation into corrupt officials.
He had been especially busy lately and had worked in the study until deep into the night yesterday handling official business.
Even while eating breakfast, he still remembered to summon Steward Qin to ask about Zhu Xinyan’s situation.
Steward Qin answered honestly,
“Nothing major happened, though yesterday Consort Qiao deliberately tried to make trouble for Concubine Zhu. Fortunately, Concubine Zhu was clever and avoided being hit. Later, she got lost and wandered into the front courtyard, so this old servant had someone escort her back.”
The moment he finished speaking, Steward Qin clearly saw Gu Zhancheng’s expression darken.
Even while this busy, he still kept Zhu Xinyan in mind.
It was obvious the prince truly cared this time.
Sure enough, before finishing breakfast, Gu Zhancheng set down his chopsticks.
“Come with me to Qingfu Pavilion.”
The moment he stepped through the courtyard gates of Qingfu Pavilion, he happened to run into Zhu Xinyan seeing Concubine Wei off.
Though both women belonged to him, and Concubine Wei was even standing closer, Gu Zhancheng’s eyes and heart were entirely fixed on Zhu Xinyan.
Her graceful figure was wrapped in a rose-red gauze outer robe with matching inner garments beneath.
The vivid color made her already beautiful face appear even more radiant, adding an unconscious hint of seduction.
Furong had always preferred plain-colored clothing.
He had never seen such flamboyant colors worn on her before.
So for a moment, Gu Zhancheng was genuinely stunned by how dazzling she looked.
Perhaps because he stared too intently, he was half a beat late in hearing the two women greet him.
That small delay hurt Concubine Wei even more deeply.
She hated herself for not leaving earlier.
Now she only felt humiliated.
It looked as though she had deliberately lingered here to seek favor and make herself look pathetic.
So after greeting him, she hurriedly departed.
When she reached the corner, she still paused hopefully and glanced back once.
But Gu Zhancheng never even turned his head.
He simply entered together with Zhu Xinyan.
Her entire body felt as though it had fallen into an icy abyss, every limb freezing cold.
Tilting her head upward slightly, she bit her lip hard to stop her tears from falling.
Forget it.
At least she still had her son to rely on.
As long as he grew up promising, what did these grievances matter?
Once inside, Gu Zhancheng’s gaze first landed on the gifts displayed across the table.
He glanced at them casually and asked,
“All sent by the Princess Consort?”
Seeing Gu Zhancheng’s cold demeanor, Zhu Xinyan recalled his crazed behavior from the previous night and still felt lingering fear.
She was honestly a little intimidated by him now.
So she behaved especially properly and answered obediently,
“Yes. Concubine Wei also brought some gifts.”
Gu Zhancheng nodded and sat in the round-backed chair.
“They look decent enough. The Princess Consort was thoughtful.”
Not a single word about Concubine Wei.
It was as if he had not even seen her just moments ago.
Zhu Xinyan found this strange.
Maybe the two of them had some unresolved conflict?
Or perhaps Gu Zhancheng was simply a scumbag — once a woman bore his children, he tossed her aside and ignored her.
But then she quickly reconsidered.
That was their private business. Why was she stressing herself out over it?
She immediately pulled her thoughts back and asked,
“My lord, have you eaten breakfast yet?”
Gu Zhancheng originally intended to say yes.
But seeing Zhu Xinyan’s loose hair, he guessed she had only recently woken up and suddenly wanted to eat breakfast together with her.
So he changed his answer.
“No.”
“Perfect. I haven’t eaten either.”
Qingfu Pavilion had its own private kitchen, and the breakfast dishes had been kept warm over low heat.
So once the order was given, food was immediately brought in and filled an entire table.
Because the prince was present, Zhu Xinyan initially restrained her eating habits somewhat.
But as she ate, the food became too delicious.
Before long, she completely lost control and reverted to her foodie nature.
Watching Zhu Xinyan devour food voraciously, Gu Zhancheng was utterly stunned.
Did this woman not chew her food?
Without even pausing for breath, she swallowed three large meat buns in succession.
And that tiny cherry-like mouth — how did it suddenly become so enormous once she started eating?
The longer he stared, the more improper thoughts arose in his heart.
He began feeling restless.
Gu Zhancheng took a deep breath, turned his head away, and forcibly regained control.
Seeing him stop eating and turn aside, Zhu Xinyan asked with concern,
“My lord, aren’t you eating? Does the food not suit your taste?”
It suited his taste very well.
But it was daytime, and he absolutely could not “take a bite.”
Suppressing himself, Gu Zhancheng coldly replied,
“I’ve always eaten little.”
To avoid losing control again, he forcibly changed the subject.
“I heard you got lost yesterday?”
Zhu Xinyan wiped the grease from her lips with a handkerchief and answered properly,
“Yes. After paying respects at the front courtyard, I couldn’t remember the way back.”
“Mm. I’m often away from the manor and can’t always protect you. Among the people Steward Qin selected is one named Ruixue. She knows some martial arts. Keep her by your side.”
Though he didn’t explain everything directly, Zhu Xinyan understood immediately.
He had heard about Consort Qiao bullying her yesterday.
As the prince, he could not openly involve himself in disputes between women fighting for favor, so instead he secretly arranged for someone skilled in combat to protect her.
Unexpectedly, beneath Gu Zhancheng’s icy exterior was a surprisingly warm and helpful heart.
Though Zhu Xinyan knew that heart truly belonged to Furong, she was still benefiting from her predecessor’s legacy.
And she knew very well how to behave appropriately.
Immediately, she rose and curtsied deeply.
“Thank you for Your Lordship’s concern.”
As she moved, her gauze robe slipped slightly, exposing a stretch of pale white shoulder.
Gu Zhancheng’s breathing stalled.
You little temptress. You really know how to seduce people.
Once I have time, I’ll definitely deal with you properly.
Afraid that the next second he might do something improper — something wildly inappropriate for broad daylight — he abruptly stood and left behind a single sentence.
“I’m leaving for another province on official business. I won’t return for three days. Take care of yourself.”
He didn’t say “return to the manor.”
He used the word “home.”
Once again, those words were meant for Furong.
Playing her role as a proper substitute, Zhu Xinyan blinked and obediently replied,
“This concubine will take good care of herself. My lord may travel without worry. Safe journey.”
After seeing Gu Zhancheng off, she had Qiao’er summon Ruixue inside.
She had only been in the manor for two and a half days, so she still hadn’t recognized all the servants in Qingfu Pavilion.
But she had a particularly deep impression of this Ruixue.
Not because the woman had performed any heroic deeds worthy of praise.
Quite the opposite.
There were simply too many people complaining about her.
When Steward Liu assigned her to water flowers, over half the flowers died within half a day.
Later she was sent to help in the kitchen.
Not only did she smash bowls and chopsticks, she even accidentally set the cook’s hair on fire.
If delicate tasks didn’t work, then surely rough labor would.
She was strong and excellent at chopping firewood.
Unfortunately, once she got into the rhythm, she accidentally chopped down the old boxwood tree in the courtyard as well.
The tree had stood for over a century and was believed to bring fortune and protect the residence.
Even when Gu Zhancheng originally built Qingfu Pavilion, he had refused to relocate it.
Yet in the end, it suffered a tragic fate at her hands.
Seeing the disaster she caused, Steward Liu immediately locked her in the woodshed to await punishment from the masters.
So now, when Ruixue was brought before Zhu Xinyan, she stood there stiff-necked and stubborn.
Inwardly, she thought:
If they punish me over one lousy tree, then this master isn’t worth protecting anyway.
Worst comes to worst, I’ll just return to doing odd jobs in the front courtyard or get sold out of the manor. I could still carve out my own path.
Looking at Ruixue’s expression — the kind that seemed to say the world owed her eight hundred strings of coins — Zhu Xinyan finally understood.
Steward Qin was clearly a wise man, so why would he assign such a walking disaster here?
Turns out she was actually a hidden master whose talents were simply being used incorrectly.
Zhu Xinyan’s first impression of her was surprisingly good.
Straight to the point, she said,
“I heard from His Lordship that you know martial arts. From now on, stay by my side.”