Zhu Wen had been personally following Zheng Congyuan for a week. After the last assassination attempt, even though the investigation of the incident was almost complete, Zhu Wen remained concerned about the security at the Crown Prince’s Mansion. He scrutinized everyone’s identity, and specifically who would know about the times and places Zheng Congyuan would appear—even treating Qi Jin and Qi Yu equally.
Steward Hu personally took a number of people out, ostensibly to manage the estate and shops owned by the Crown Prince, but more importantly, to assist in Zhu Wen’s investigation.
Qi Zhu had just arrived at the front courtyard when he encountered Qi Jin, who had just come out from the study room.
They needed someone to find the Crown Prince, preferably to inform him about the people the Empress sent over today, and also that the Commandery Princess was at the Crown Prince’s Mansion.
Qi Jin hesitated. Are you capable of handling things on your own in the study room?
Qi Zhu gritted his teeth. There was no time to ponder on that. With Qi Ling and Qi Yu by the Crown Prince’s side, the message would surely get through.
Qi Jin nodded and directly led a fast horse out of the mansion.
Qi Zhu’s heart was uneasy. He constantly felt that something would go wrong, even more worried that the Empress might have discovered something. That day, under such urgent circumstances, they believed they had been meticulous in their actions, but a lie was a lie, and they could not predict the acuity of Nanny Qi and the Empress. Perhaps she had no suspicions at the time but might feel something was amiss upon reflection afterward.
The Crown Prince was seriously ill. They had the great merit of caring for the Crown Prince, so their exhaustion justified a rest, as they had reported back.
Qi Zhu told himself not to panic. It was possible that the Empress was simply concerned that there weren’t enough people attending to the Crown Prince, or that she didn’t trust those who were.
As Qi Zhu was walking back, his entire body stiffened, and he watched helplessly as a figure walked towards the door of the study room. Even if he flew over, he wouldn’t be able to stop the other’s steps from entering the study.
That female servant, wasn’t she the one that Nanny Qi had just brought over?
At once, Qi Zhu dashed to the study room recklessly, his mind a blank void. But ultimately, he was a few steps too late. The female servant had already stepped into the study room, and Qi Zhu’s throat was like it was stuffed with cotton, unable to make a sound.
Gu Meng stepped into the Crown Prince’s Study Room with confidence and determination, firm in her belief that despite another servant receiving favor, it couldn’t compare to her insights from inside the palace.
However, what she saw surprised her. The first thing that caught her eye was a female servant standing casually beside the desk, clothed in emerald smoke color. She held a palace fan in her hand, slightly bent over, chasing the tiny mosquitos fluttering beside the desk, swiftly slapping at them.
"Snap—" The crisp, clear sound broke the silence. It appeared she missed, and the emerald smoke color-clad woman pouted.
Suddenly, Gu Meng’s attention was captured by another figure, a woman sitting in the master’s seat by the study desk, completely still and yet drawing all her attention effortlessly. Viewed from Gu Meng’s angle, she could only see the woman’s profile, the soft light making even the fuzz on her face shine. The woman sat casually, her silk brocade robe of jade whirl color spread out carelessly, small pearl beads the size of grains of rice on her sleeves giving off a bewitching sense of nobility.
Gu Meng was taken aback by an indescribable surprise and an unsettling feeling, as if the owner of this place should be that woman sitting in the master’s position, as if everything here belonged to her. Yet, this was the Crown Prince’s Study Room.
Gu Meng suddenly realized this was the Crown Prince’s Study Room. Even if another was favored, no one should sit in front of the Crown Prince’s desk, let alone...
Qi Zhu stopped dead in his tracks outside the door to the study room. His mind was blank, no, not entirely blank, just that dealing with the Empress’s people was very troublesome.
Fu Dong, after turning a page for her own Commandery Princess, was the first to notice the servant who had suddenly entered. She was surprised to see a stranger.
"Who are you?" Fu Dong spoke before Qi Zhu had the chance, looking at Gu Meng with questioning eyes.
Gu Meng was snapped back to consciousness and in an instant, she sorted through some matters. The degree of favor this woman enjoyed had tangibly manifested before her eyes, bringing with it resentment and jealousy. Why should she?
Just because she occupied the light of a position in the Crown Prince’s Mansion that didn’t include the main mistress?
Why her?
"Is this sister a female servant in the Crown Prince’s inner court? I am a palace maid sent by the Empress to serve in His Highness’s study room," Gu Meng quickly regained her composure, her heart pounding, knowing she couldn’t lose her momentum during their first confrontation—she was the one with the right to stand in that study room.
Fu Dong’s hand stiffened, and she immediately looked to Zheng Nianru.
Zheng Nianru acted as if she hadn’t heard, such minor exposures barely made her heartbeat quicken, considering the many situations she had already faced.
Qi Zhu had already stepped forward.
"Aunt, this is the Crown Prince’s Study Room. Without the Crown Prince’s orders, you may not enter," Qi Zhu immediately said, determined not to let the woman go. Even if one didn’t recognize the Commandery Princess, they were still someone who had seen her true face.
Although Qi Zhu did not understand what went wrong that allowed Gu Meng to barge into the study, the circumstance demanded she be removed, and then they would wait for the Crown Prince’s return to deal with it.
Gu Meng didn’t move, her gaze falling on Zheng Nianru.
We are both servants, so why is she here? Moreover, why is she sitting in the Crown Prince’s main seat? No wonder the Empress sent them hastily to the Crown Prince’s Mansion; clearly, the situation here was beyond what the Empress could tolerate.
"Brother Qi Zhu, I am a servant directly under the Empress, and with her decree, I naturally have the right to enter and serve in this study room. Furthermore, this study room is a crucial area of the Crown Prince’s Mansion, and people from the inner court should not come here," Gu Meng firmly established her position in the study room, speaking lucidly, trying to assert her authority from the onset.
Anyone with some sense would know they were the Empress’s people.
Zheng Nianru suddenly looked up at Qi Zhu. What’s the use in keeping such a person? Do you want to ruin your master, the Crown Prince?
Qi Zhu’s body tensed up, and as if having received a command, he moved forward, his hand striking swiftly, fiercely, and precisely at the woman’s neck. In the next moment, before Gu Meng could even speak, she collapsed.
"Take her away, and let your master clean up when he returns," Zheng Nianru stood up, no longer in the mood to stay and read any longer.
Qi Zhu wanted to stop Zheng Nianru but didn’t dare. The Commandery Princess was angry because this was someone sent by the Empress?
Why would the Empress care to send someone so thoroughly?
And for the Empress to send these two people, anyone who isn’t a fool would guess their purpose. No matter what the Empress had discovered or whether she wanted to send two people to serve the Crown Prince, in the eyes of the Commandery Princess, it was a grave offense.
Which of the study room’s female servants from the past can still remain in the study room today?
After much difficulty to reach this point, things were finally going well now.
Qi Zhu couldn’t afford to think any further, hastily escorting the woman out, leaving how to deal with her up to the Crown Prince upon his return.