Male Lead Is Always That Heartless

Chapter 44

When news of accompanying the Emperor on the southern tour came, Zaiwei Hall was shrouded in sadness.

Noble Lady Gong, who had fallen from a Lady of Fairness to a Noble Lady overnight yesterday, hated Zhao Wan in her heart. Now that she heard that Zhao Wan was accompanying the Emperor, her mood was like falling into a hot frying pan, with sparks flying and crackling!

She was so aggrieved!

Seeing that she was so angry that her face was pale, Chunya hurriedly handed her a cup of fruit tea, “Master, don’t be angry. Have a cup of tea to moisten your throat.”

Noble Lady Gong drank a mouthful of hot tea. In the end, her heart was difficult to calm! “Follow me to Luoying Hall to visit Consort De.”

Last night, she could see that Consort De disliked Zhao Wan. There might be a turnaround in this southern tour.

In the Luoying Hall, when Consort De heard about the list of companions for the southern tour, she dropped two porcelain lamps in a row. The palace maids did not dare to breathe loudly.

“Heluo Hall……” She initially thought that the Emperor was just not into romance and was concerned about the status of the Liu family, so she often comforted herself that he had her in his heart, but now it seemed that he genuinely didn’t like her.

Consort De angrily threw things. One could hear gold and jade crashing sounds from the corridor outside the Luoying Hall.

Chunya whispered to Noble Lady Gong: “Noble Lady, Consort seems to be losing her temper …….”

It’s good for her to lose her temper —

Noble Lady Gong slightly hooked the corner of her mouth. Consort De was different from them. What Consort De was jealous of was never power.

Noble Lady Gong stood in the corridor and waited long before seeing a pink-clothed palace maid exiting the Luoying Hall, “Consort asked you to enter the hall.”

Noble Lady Gong straightened her dress and slowly walked in.

“Greetings to Consort.”

When Consort De saw the visitor and thought Heluo Hall had also defeated her, she asked coldly, “Noble Lady Gong, why do you have the leisure to come to Luoying Hall today?”

Listening to her mocking words, Noble Lady Gong answered without hesitation, “I have sinned. I should have often come to Luoying Hall to visit you.”

Consort De snorted coldly and did not answer.

Noble Lady Gong added, “His Majesty’s southern tour is imminent. I’ve come to share my worries with you.”

Consort De slightly wrinkled her willowy eyebrows. “You come to share your worries with me? …… You hardly protect yourself, so how can you talk about sharing your worries with me? What a joke!”

Noble Lady Gong wasn’t annoyed when she heard this and slowly said, “I would like to serve you, and only hope that you’ll allow me.”

Consort De sized up Noble Lady Gong. Does she want to avenge last night? She’s willing to serve her because she wants to avenge the shame?

Consort De laughed softly, “What you want to do, I don’t want to know, but if you do what I want, I naturally bless you.”

Noble Lady Gong’s heart slightly fixed, bowing, “In that case, I will leave.”

Consort De nodded. Let her be!

The sky darkened, the winter day was frosty and cold, and crumbs of snow filled the air.

Xiu He held an oil paper umbrella and walked behind Zhao Wan, advising, “Walk slower. The stone road is very slippery on snowy days. Be more careful.”

Zhao Wan didn’t stop her footsteps. She had to get to the Imperial Hospital as soon as possible before the medical officer was off duty. The vermillion lacquer gate of the Imperial Hospital was faintly visible as she traveled.

Xiu He widened her eyes and saw a person walking in the darkness of the lantern. She can’t help but call out, “Sister Tao Jia.”

Zhao Wan fixed her eyes on the person who came out from the gate of the Imperial Hospital, and it was indeed Lady of Fairness Gu’s Tao Jia.

Tao Jia put her hands into the sleeves of her wide robe, bowing and saying, “Greetings to Noble Lady Zhao.”

Zhao Wan: “Get up.” She also asked, “Why did you come to the Imperial Hospital? Is Lady of Fairness Gu’s wound hurt?”

Tao Jia shook her head: “Please, don’t be anxious. Lady of Fairness’s wound is good. I came here to take some sleeping herbs. We’ll take the boat on the southern tour, and I fear Lady of Fairness won’t get a good night’s sleep.”

Zhao Wan nodded, “I see.”

Tao Jia bowed and smiled lightly, saying, “I will leave so as not to delay your errand.”

Zhao Wan stood still and watched Tao Jia walk away before she stepped into the Imperial Hospital.

In the courtyard, two green-clothed female medical officers, collecting the medicinal herbs spread out in the daytime, raised their eyes and saw Zhao Wan. They immediately paid their respects: “Greetings. What are your orders?”

Zhao Wan asked, “Is the Imperial Hospital’s Dr. Xu in the courtyard?”

The two female medical officers looked at each other in silence for half a moment before one replied, “Noble Lady may not know that a few months ago, Mr. Zhong sent Dr. Xu to the Medicine Bureau outside the palace. Why are you looking for him?”

Zhao Wan’s heart skipped a beat, and her worries grew, “Do you know why Dr. Xu was sent to the Medicine Bureau?”

In unison, the two female medical officers shook their heads and said, “I don’t know the specific reason. Dr. Xu has been in the hospital for many years, so maybe he’s just looking for a quiet place.”

Zhao Wan reluctantly smiled, “I understand. Thank you for telling me.” After saying that, she left the Imperial Hospital.

Xiu He held her umbrella and followed behind her, wondering, “Are you looking for Dr. Xu to get medicine? Or do you want to see a doctor? Can’t you find another doctor?”

Zhao Wan thought momentarily and said, “Dr. Xu has given me a prescription before, and it is just a coincidence that I am here today to ask about it, so I will come to find someone else some other time.”

Xiu He nodded and asked, “How about I’ll go there tomorrow? And like sister Tao Jia, I’ll get some sleeping medicine so you can use it when you go south.”

Zhao Wan absentmindedly hummed.

One Master and one servant headed toward the Heluo Hall.

The palace was shrouded in darkness, and the snow particles flying in the air were getting denser and denser. Xiu He only heard the wind behind her. She turned and saw a black shadow flashing at the end of the pitch-black stone path. She instantly remembered Lady of Fairness Gu’s assassination in the Imperial Garden and said in shock: “Noble Lady, I seem to see someone following us!”

Zhao Wan looked behind. At the end of the light, the rockery and stone carvings were in shadow, and she could not see anything. She couldn’t help but urge Xiu He, “Walk faster! Go forward.”

The two’s pace became increasingly urgent. The stone road was covered with frost and snow, and when they turned a corner, Zhao Wan’s feet slipped violently, and she flopped forward. Suddenly, she fell into a generous embrace. Her forehead rested against the armor on the person’s chest, which was ice-cold. When she looked up, it was Qi Zhuang.

Qi Zhuang held her arms and reached out to help her up, “Noble Lady, are you alright?”

Zhao Wan raised her eyes to look at him, only to see his face was respectful. “Thank you, Chief Qi. It was my carelessness just now.”

Xiu He, however, said anxiously, “Chief Qi, it seems like someone is following us behind!”

Qi Zhuang frowned and said to the guards behind him, “You guys go check it out quickly!” The two guards with swords headed towards the front road.

Zhao Wan lowered her heart, “Many thanks to Chief Qi.”

Qi Zhuang was about to walk when he heard her ask, “On this trip to the south, will Chief Qi also go?”

Qi Zhuang was stunned momentarily and truthfully replied, “I will.” After saying this, he cupped his fists and left.

Zhao Wan looked back at his back and saw him walk away before turning her eyes back, “Let’s return to the hall faster.”

Half a month passed, and Heluo Hall tidied up its luggage without any waves, preparing to head south. On the day of departure, the snow that had been falling off and on for several days stopped.

After the snow cleared, a round of warm, red sun lifted the clouds. Gu Yi once again got on the carriage. When she got on the carriage, she heard that the first stop on their southern tour was Fuzhou.

Fuzhou? Is it the Fuzhou she knew? The Fuzhou where the Gu family lived? Is the risk of being exposed just minutes away?

Gu Yi’s surprised lips opened slightly, and her whole person froze.

Tao Jia smiled and continued: “Eunuch Gao also said that no one ever has this honor of returning home to visit relatives. You have been in the capital for quite some time. It is indeed a great honor for you to return home this time. I heard the express horse went to Fuzhou and reported to Lord Gu early. Lord Gu and Madam Gu must be happy to see you. Do you have other brothers and sisters? I think they will be very happy, too!”

This kind of death question had no details in the book, so Gu Yi dared not answer casually. She tried her best to maintain a series of expressions of shock, bewilderment, and delight.

Tao Jia said, “You must be overjoyed in her heart, too!”

Gu Yi laughed, “Exactly!” Someone save the child!

Fortunately, this trip to Fuzhou was not short; it would require half a month of carriage travel. Before arriving in Fuzhou, she had to do her homework. She thought about the entire southern tour team, and the only two people who knew much about the Gu family were Xiao Yan and Eunuch Gao. Xiao Yan has always been suspicious; his doubts were as many as his hair while his heart was as deep as the sea; she was afraid of losing more than she gained. The one she could try was only Eunuch Gao.

Gu Yi thought of this and fixed her heart a little.

During this expedition, the convoy dressed as a merchant caravan. Xiao Yan called Young Master Huang. She and Zhao Wan, one Mrs. Yi and one Mrs. Wan.

The caravan stopped at the first station to the south and reorganized. After freshening up, Gu Yi changed into a green jacket and purple skirt. Instead of wearing the cumbersome palace hair ornaments, she only wore a single bun. She anxiously went to find Eunuch Gao first.

Eunuch Gao also changed into a green robe that housekeepers usually wear and found a few pamphlets from somewhere, sitting in the room and pretending to count the boxes and cages. But in fact, these trifles didn’t need him at all. However, Gu Yi felt that Eunuch Gao was entirely devoted to his profession and was worthy of being the No. 1 eunuch in the Great Mu Dynasty!

She stood at the door of the room, gave a fake cough, and called out, “Steward Gao.”

Gao Gui heard the sound, and his eyes lit up. He looked up to see the visitor and smiled, “Mrs. Yi.”

Gu Yi entered the room and sat, “I came here to ask Steward Gao what the rules are after arriving in Fuzhou and what the arrangements are for the people who are hosting this trip.”

Gao Gui glanced at Gu Yi approvingly and secretly said in his heart: Worthy of being Lady of Fairness Gu, she’s already into the act. What a talent!

“Mrs. Yi, there is no need to worry. On this trip to Fuzhou, the person who entertained our Young Master, although his family is poor, also knows the rules. Never dare to slow down our Young Master.”

Nonsense! Who would dare to slow when working with your head in your pocket?

Gu Yi deliberated momentarily and then asked, “We have a large number of people in this group, along with servants and attendants, so has the family that is entertaining us vacated their home?”

Gao Gui secretly smiled; this was a way to inquire about the family’s business: “This Fuzhou family has a residence to receive Young Master. It’s enough for the two ladies. The servants will randomly find a nearby yard to live in. The family in charge has a master and a wife. Their eldest daughter is not at home, and their youngest son is studying. How can they don’t have a place to receive us?”

Sure enough, there is a younger brother. Although she doesn’t know his name, when she calls him ‘brother,’ he wouldn’t dare not to respond!

Gu Yi was afraid of revealing her cloven foot, so she didn’t dare ask too much at once. She intended to take things slowly, so she said approvingly, “Steward Gao is so thorough.”

Gao Gui laughed.