The hall was so quiet that you could hear the soft clatter of teacups.
Liu Ruyan raised her eyes.
"Your Highness?"
Gu Moli smiled.
" Sister-in-law Liu has a kind face; Moli felt a sense of familiarity upon seeing her."
Liu Ruyan took the mirror.
"I am of humble birth and dare not presume to be acquainted with the princess."
Gu Moli's smile remained unchanged.
"My sister-in-law is now my brother's woman, how can you speak so disrespectfully?"
Gu Moran looked at Gu Moli's hand pressed against the web of her thumb and forefinger.
He stepped forward half a step, blocking their view.
" Li'er, you've been standing for too long, come into the hall for some tea."
Gu Moli turned to look at him.
"Why are you in such a hurry, brother?"
Gu Moran and said, "I was afraid you'd catch a cold."
Gu Moli said softly, "Brother still has the thought of worrying about me catching a cold."
She lowered her hand and followed him into the hall.
As soon as Gu Moran stepped across the threshold, the system panel popped up.
[Emotional fluctuations detected in Gu Moli.]
[Related Person: Liu Ruyan ]
[Keywords: Her eyebrows and eyes resembled mine, therefore she was able to marry into a better family.]
[Risk level upgraded.]
Gu Moran's brow twitched. Did this girl think I married Liu Ruyan because they looked alike?
Please, you were only fourteen when your father sent you out of the palace. How was I supposed to know you'd grown up so much and look so much like Liu Ruyan!
Besides, Liu Ruyan is the female lead in the original book, while you are the villainous supporting character...
[A recap of the original novel: Gu Moli had long been secretly instigating and assisting the host in seizing the throne.]
[Original ending: In the midst of the siege by the Son of Destiny, Gu Moli calmly faced death alongside her host.]
[Note: This character's obsession is unusually strong; please handle this with caution.]
Gu Moran gasped.
No wonder this favored prince was able to have his property confiscated and be torn apart by five horses.
It turns out it wasn't just the twelve Son of Destiny made the difference!
My dear sister, no matter how clever you are, can you outwit fate?
When the tea was served, Gu Moli smelled it first, then gave the Sixth Hospital a sweet smile.
"The white plum blossoms of Clear Frost Courtyard, the medicinal fragrance of Green Vine Courtyard, the horse sweat of Azure Wolf Courtyard, the metallic scent of Iron Plum Courtyard, the paper and ink of Tranquil Ink Courtyard, and the osmanthus blossoms of Misty Waters Courtyard."
She looked up at Gu Moran, her smile harmless.
"Brother, this Prince's mansion is much more lively than Ganye Temple."
Gu Moran gripped the cup lid, cursing Uncle Fu in her mind.
She's figured out exactly what the Sixth Hospital is all about.
Su Yao put down her teacup.
"The princess has a good memory."
Gu Moli looked at her.
" Sister-in-law Su is truly wonderful. Born into Chancellor's Residence, she is renowned throughout the capital for her talent, yet she still tolerates my brother's absurd behavior."
Su Yao's expression remained unchanged.
"Princess, you are joking. This marriage is bestowed by imperial decree; there's no question of forb
Gu Moli nodded.
"Indeed, my sister-in-law is aloof and unapproachable; even her use of the word 'tolerance' is done with utmost decorum."
Shen Ling'er smiled, holding the teacup.
"The princess really knows how to compliment people."
Gu Moli turned to her.
"Sister-in-law Shen is even more interesting; she hides the medicine in her sleeve and her smile in her demeanor."
Shen Ling'er blinked.
"The princess can smell it?"
Gu Moli said, "I can't smell it, but I guess my brother has been drinking a lot of bitter medicine lately."
Shen Ling'er's smile grew even sweeter.
"Would the princess like to try it too? My calming incense is highly praised by everyone who has used it."
Gu Moli gently shook her head.
I slept well.
She looked at Gu Moran and added a sentence.
"As long as my brother is well, Moli can sleep well."
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Murong Xue put down her teacup.
Why do you keep staring at him?
Gu Moli looked at her.
"Sister- Murong speaks frankly, Moli likes that."
Murong Xue said, "Oh."
Gu Moli continued to smile.
"That's how knives are on the grasslands; you only feel safe when they're out in the open."
Murong Xue tapped her fingers on the scabbard.
Gu Moran coughed immediately.
" Xue'er, have some tea."
Murong Xue looked at him and frowned.
Gu Moran lowered his voice.
"Smile more, or you'll scare my sister back to Ganye Temple."
Gu Moli heard this and laughed out loud.
"My brother knows how to sweet-talk people now."
Lin Qingdai coldly replied.
"He's really good at sweet-talking; that's why he married six."
Gu Moli turned to look at her.
"Sister-in-law Lin has a steady hand and a steady heart; no wonder my brother dares to entrust his back to you."
Lin Qingdai stared at her.
Who told you he turned his back to me?
Gu Moli placed the teacup back on the table.
"Everyone in the capital says that Sister-in-law Lin practices martial arts every day."
Zitang muttered softly from behind.
Who's so gossipy?
"The princess has too many ears, be careful she doesn't make noise."
Gu Moli said softly, "Don't worry, sister-in-law, I'll cut off the mouth that's been smacked."
She spoke sweetly.
The sweetness was so great that all the ladies in the hall understood.
Xie Wanqing spoke at the opportune moment.
"The princess has been staying in the temple for a long time; she must cherish peace and quiet. These are bookmarks and scriptures I prepared for her."
Gu Moli accepted Xie Wanqing's gift, her expression softening.
Sister-in-law Xie is too kind-hearted.
Xie Wanqing said softly, "Being kind-hearted isn't always a good thing."
Gu Moli looked at her.
"But there always needs to be a kind-hearted person by my brother's side."
Xie Wanqing's fingers tightened inside her sleeve, but her face remained impeccably polite.
When it was Liu Ruyan's turn, Gu Moli didn't rush to speak.
She pushed the pine soot ink in front of Liu Ruyan.
Can Sister-in-law Liu write?
Liu Ruyan looked at the ink box that the princess's maid handed her again.
"I know a little."
Gu Moli said, "That's good."
She tapped her fingertips lightly.
"I've heard that people at the Flower-Between Pavilion love to give gold and jade as gifts, but I refuse to give them. Since you've brought your sister-in-law back to the Prince's Mansion, you probably don't want her to be measured by gold and jade anymore."
Liu Ruyan lowered her eyes.
"The princess knows a lot."
Gu Moli looked at her face.
"I understand, brother."
As these four words were spoken, the lid of the cup in Gu Moran's hand touched the rim of the cup, making a clear sound.
Shen Ling'er glanced at him.
Su Yao glanced at him as well.
Gu Moran placed the cup lid firmly.
" Li'er, the tea is cold."
Gu Moli turned to him and obediently picked up her cup.
"Does my brother not like me talking about this?"
Gu Moran smiled and leaned back in his chair.
"I just don't like how you portray my brother as some kind of saint."
Gu Moli took a sip of tea.
"My brother has never been a saint."
She looked at him.
"My brother used to be the most mischievous."
Gu Moran felt a gentle knock on his heart from an old memory.
The eight-year-old boy handed his jade pendant to his younger sister, saying she could play with it.
He looked away.
"I can play now too."
Shen Ling'er added insult to injury from the sidelines.
"Indeed, especially at night, they played so much that even the Sixth Hospital couldn't sleep well."
Lin Qingdai snorted coldly.
"Shut up."
Murong Xue watched the spectacle.
"The backyard of the Central Plains is more beautiful than the stage."
Su Yao said calmly, "Princess, have you come today to see your sister-in-law or your brother?"
Gu Moli replied with a smile.
"Watch them all."
She put down her teacup and stood up.
" Moli heard that her brother has a large collection of books in his study and would like to take a look."
All six ladies looked at Gu Moran at the same time.
A fine layer of sweat broke out on Gu Moran's back.
The study contained a map of the southern part of the city, the regulations for the free clinic, and clues about Ye Qingyun and Chu Tianxing.
Let her go in and see, in case she gets agitated and starts plotting her succession again!
This is definitely not a good opportunity, sister!
Not letting her in would seem more like a guilty conscience.
Gu Moran stood up and gave Uncle Fu a wink.
"Let's go then, I'll show you around."
Shen Ling'er also stood up.
I'll go too.
Gu Moli turned to look at her.
"Is Sister-in-law Shen so worried because she's afraid I'll steal my brother's book?"
Shen Ling'er smiled and replied in her heart.
I'm afraid you'll steal my brother's man.
Gu Moli's eyes curved into a smile.
"Don't worry, Sister-in-law Shen."
" Li'er just hasn't seen her brother in so long and wants to see what he's been reading lately."
Gu Moran quickly spoke up.
"Let's go, let's go."
He led the princess on a leisurely stroll around for a while.
The study door opened, and the smell of paper and ink wafted out.
Gu Moran entered the room first, her gaze sweeping across the table.
Uncle Fu has already packed everything up.
She's quite sensible.
Gu Moli walked to the desk, her fingertips tracing the edge of the table.
"My brother can write so many words now."
Gu Moran leaned against the bookshelf.
"I'm bored, so I'll practice my calligraphy."
Gu Moli picked up a Strategies for Governing the State from the table and saw that it was filled with annotations.
She didn't flip through it for long, only reading two lines before putting it down.
"My brother lied to me."
Gu Moran smiled.
What have I lied to you about?
Gu Moli turned around, pressing her left thumb against the old scar on her hand.
"You used to get sleepy after reading just three pages."
Gu Moran shrugged.
Marriage makes people mature.
Gu Moli took two steps closer.
He took the old jade pendant from his clothes and placed it on the desk.
The jade pendant touched the table with a very soft sound.
"Does my brother still remember?"
Gu Moran looked at the jade pendant.
Old memories churned in my mind.
The little girl sat on the veranda, holding a jade pendant in her palm, her eyes shining with a smile.
Gu Moran out and picked up the jade pendant.
"Remember."
Gu Moli looked at his hand.
My older brother gave it to me when I was eight.
Gu Moran laughed angrily, "Just a plaything, why keep Li'er?"
Gu Moli looked up.
I've been with them for eight years.
Shen Ling'er stood by the door outside the study, not going in.
Gu Moli took another step forward.
"Brother, are you really still my brother?"