Soon, Uncle Fu returned with the message.
As he entered, he raised his hand to touch his face. The red mark from the slap had faded somewhat, leaving only a trace of warmth in his skin.
Gu Moran immediately sat up straighter.
"Perfect timing. Go to the Azure Wolf Courtyard and tell them that I have important business to attend to tonight, and we'll meet another day."
Uncle Fu did not respond immediately.
He glanced at the rain outside, then at the small copper bell beside Gu Moran's hand.
"It would be better if Your Highness went to speak in person."
Gu Moran looked at him.
Do you think I can get out if I go there now?
Uncle Fu's lips twitched.
Gu Moran rubbed his temples and said in a low voice, "Didn't they say that you only become like a wolf or tiger and can suck up dirt when you're in your thirties or forties?"
Uncle Fu paused for a moment.
"What?"
Gu Moran picked up his teacup.
"It's nothing, I was just praising the people of the Northern Territory for their good health."
By the window, Shen Ling'er was tightening the straps of her medicine box when she heard this and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Su Yao lowered her head to straighten her cuffs, pressing her fingertips against the edge of her sleeves twice, her ears turning slightly red.
Uncle Fu nodded very seriously.
"This old servant understands."
Gu Moran looked up.
"What do you understand?"
Uncle Fu said, "This old servant will take care of it immediately."
Gu Moran put down his teacup.
"Remember to bring meat."
Uncle Fu asked, "Roasted lamb leg?"
Gu Moran thought for a moment.
One isn't enough.
Uncle Fu asked, "Two?"
Gu Moran looked towards the door.
The rain was pattering softly, and a gust of wind blew under the eaves, causing the lamplight to sway.
"Two first, so as not to make me seem too insecure."
Shen Ling'er carried the medicine box out, her smile still lingering.
" Sister Su, let's go."
Su Yao picked up the sachet box and coughed lightly as she stood up.
"Um."
Gu Moran watched the two walk to the door one after the other, and tapped his fingers twice on the edge of the table.
"Etc."
Shen Ling'er turned around.
"What's wrong now?"
Gu Moran walked up to her, his gaze falling on the straps of the medicine box.
The buckle was a bit old, with frayed edges, but she fastened it very tightly.
"Don't confront them head-on."
Shen Ling'er looked at him.
"Afraid I'll get poisoned?"
Gu Moran said, "I was afraid you'd be stubborn."
Shen Ling'er's eyes curved into a smile.
"Rest assured, my husband, I will cherish my life after we are married."
She turned her head to look at Su Yao again.
" Sister Su also cherishes it."
Su Yao tucked the sachet box into her sleeve.
I'll keep an eye on her.
Gu Moran nodded.
"Then I'm half relieved."
Shen Ling'er asked, "What about the other half?"
Gu Moran, "I'm afraid the two of you will team up to sideline me."
Su Yao looked at him, her lips moving very slightly.
"Then you need to work even harder."
Shen Ling'er smiled as she carried the box out the door, her shoes kicking a small, damp leaf as they crossed the threshold.
She kicked the leaf to the pillar, where it spun halfway around and stuck to the blue brick.
Gu Moran looked at it for a while, and inexplicably felt that this Prince's mansion was now like this leaf.
Blown around by the wind, you have to pretend you're steady.
An hour later, Uncle Fu entered the study again.
This time he walked faster than before, and his sleeves were damp with rain.
"Your Highness, a letter has arrived from the south of the city."
Gu Moran took the secret letter, unfolded it, and read it. His brows furrowed.
The letter was very short.
Ye Qingyun missed the martial arts competition yesterday, and the numbness in his left arm worsened. Shuhe went to the pharmacy to buy muscle-relaxing medicine, which was seen by Chu Tianxing.
The second prince delivered the medicine, Ye Qingyun, suffering from illness, reluctantly accepted it.
Gu Moran stared at the line of text for a moment.
"Did Chu Tianxing see Shuhe buying medicine?"
Uncle Fu said, " Zhao Si's men said that Physician Chu was buying steamed buns in front of the pharmacy at the time."
Gu Moran closed his eyes briefly.
This legendary doctor who descended the mountain seems to stumble upon plot points wherever he goes.
"Is he being a chatterbox again?"
Uncle Fu said, " Chu Tianxing asked Shuhe, 'Your young master isn't crippled yet?'"
Gu Moran smiled.
"Very good, very Chu Tianxing."
Uncle Fu added a sentence.
Shuhe didn't reply. He bought the medicine and ran, but slipped and fell at the alley entrance.
Gu Moran looked at the small map in the direction of Shun'an Lane.
Ye Qingyun has a strong sense of self-respect.
Chu Tianxing has a sharp tongue.
If these two collide twice more, the south side of the city will be turned into a vegetable market.
"Tell Zhao Si to keep a close eye on them."
"Yes."
Uncle Fu did not leave.
Gu Moran up.
Is there anything else?
Uncle Fu lowered his voice.
"This old servant still wishes to remind Your Highness that the one delivering the medicine to the Hanzhang Hall is a trusted confidant of Eunuch Zhang."
Rainwater dripped from the eaves of the window, falling into the stone jar with a soft, persistent sound.
" Eunuch Zhang?"
Uncle Fu said, "Yes."
Gu Moran back in her chair.
He is my mother's confidant.
Uncle Fu said, "That's what everyone in the palace says."
Gu Moran looked out the window.
In my memory, Eunuch Zhang always had a stooped back and a smile on his face. Every time I saw him, it was as if I had seen some lost treasure that I had found again.
When he was a child, he broke his knee, and Eunuch Zhang was even more anxious than Noble Consort Chen.
He was reprimanded by the emperor, Eunuch Zhang would stand outside the palace all night so that the honey water he brought the next day would be at the perfect temperature.
Gu Moran used to think that this was just an old servant's loyalty.
Now that I think about it, there's something wrong with that person's gaze.
They're so close.
" Uncle Fu, what was Eunuch Zhang's name before he entered the palace?"
Uncle Fu lowered his head.
"This old servant does not know."
Gu Moran looked at him.
"You really don't know?"
Uncle Fu did not answer.
Gu Moran, "Can you not investigate the people around my mother?"
Uncle Fu tucked his hands into his sleeves and rubbed his thumbs together inside the cuffs.
"Your Highness, some people who enter the palace pay money to use false names and identities."
Gu Moran remained silent.
Uncle Fu continued, "There are also some people whose old names you can't call out even if you know them."
The study fell silent.
Gu Moran went over those words in her mind.
You can't call him by his old name.
This is no ordinary old friend.
Just then, the system panel suddenly popped up.
[Keyword detected: Eunuch Zhang's former name.]
[Host's unusual background flag indicates a slight response.]
[Related entities: Noble Consort Chen, Eunuch Zhang, old case.]
[Insufficient permissions to expand.]
[Hint: This clue may reveal information about the host's origins.]
Gu Moran's eyelids twitched.
life experience?
An absurd idea popped into his head.
No way.
Mother Consort.
Don't scare me.
Am I not the emperor's son?
No wonder I was torn apart by five horses in the finale!
The moment the thought crossed her mind, Gu Moran fell silent.
He picked up the teacup, then put it down again.
I suddenly feel like cursing the system.
You either need to explain yourself clearly, or you should keep quiet. What the hell do you mean by only saying half of it?
Ptooey! Ptooey! Ptooey!
I don't care about any of that, from now on I'll be the emperor!
Uncle Fu, seeing his expression change repeatedly, asked in a low voice:
Your Highness?
Gu Moran waved his hand.
"Fine."
Batuer's loud voice came from outside the door.
"Is Your Highness there? The princess sent me to ask why you didn't come to our courtyard and even sent us a leg of lamb. Are you afraid?"
Gu Moran raised his hand and rubbed his brow bone.
Uncle Fu lowered his head and took half a step back.
"Looks like we don't have enough roasted lamb legs."
Batuer shouted again.
"The princess said that if you don't go soon, she'll sleep in the study tonight!"
Gu Moran rubbed his forehead.
If Murong Xue really comes into the study with a knife, no one will have a peaceful night.
He looked at Uncle Fu.
"Add another leg of lamb."
Uncle Fu asked:
What if that's still not enough?
Gu Moran picked up the small copper bell from his sleeve.
But not tonight.
Shen Ling'er and Su Yao were disposing of medicine in Clear Frost Courtyard. Coupled with her inexplicable background, she feared that any slight disturbance could be fatal.
He paused for a moment, then looked up.
"Then tell her."
"Once I'm done with my work tonight, I'll personally go to the Azure Wolf Courtyard to accompany my wife in arranging flowers and playing with jade."