Gu Dao and Xi Feng shuddered, feeling like they could just die then and there. Was there still ti to jump into a well and end it now? Tomorrow’s duties were surely sothing they couldn’t handle.
"Princely Heir, must we really do it?" Gu Dao genuinely felt he could die right this mont.
"Gu Dao, currently, there are only you two reliable people left by my side..." Zong Yunqian imdiately said with deep emotion, clutching Gu Dao’s arm and refusing to let go.
Gu Dao suddenly felt how unlucky he was to have such a master. While other servants enjoyed the good life following their masters, why were they so cursed?
"Princely Heir—" Please don’t make it difficult for us, Xi Feng also stepped back. He was no fool; he wanted to live. No, he didn’t want to live, he too wished to die right now.
"Gu Dao, Xi Feng, you two are now my only support." Zong Yunqian said with a face full of deep feelings.
"Princely Heir." Gu Dao knew this was a trap, but as it was a trap set by his own Princely Heir, he had no choice but to jump in. How many tis haven’t they been through this already?
"Princely Heir, why don’t we slip back to Qiandao Temple?" Xi Feng thought for a mont, considering that punishnt bearable.
Zong Yunqian nodded.
"Yes, once the matter is resolved, we will go to Qiandao Temple." They likely wouldn’t be able to return to either the Imperial City or the Northwest Border.
"Princely Heir..." Gu Dao felt a cold sweat on his back, sure it wasn’t going to be anything good.
"You two go down and get so good sleep, we will talk tomorrow," Zong Yunqian moved slightly, his back hurting terribly. Although the wound had been treated and was just a flesh injury, it looked quite frightening.
Gu Dao and Xi Feng lost all desire to sleep but dared not disturb their Princely Heir’s rest. After a worried glance at the Princely Heir lying on the bed, Xi Feng looked anxiously at Gu Dao: Shall I stay, and you go rest a bit?
Gu Dao gave Xi Feng a glance.
What’s there to stay for? All go sleep; who knows if we will even be alive tomorrow? We might as well get so good rest.
Xi Feng obediently followed Gu Dao out.
The next morning, Zong Yunqian was already neatly dressed, even more ticulously than usual, donning the rarely worn Purple Jade Crown, a look so fresh and handso that Gu Dao and Xi Feng questioned if what the Princely Heir said to them the day before was an illusion.
This appearance didn’t look like soone headed to do sothing dreadful.
Gu Dao remained silent, feeling disheartened. There were still guards at the gate of the courtyard, making it impossible for the Princely Heir to leave dressed like that.
But Zong Yunqian walked towards the gate as usual. The two guards left by Old Lady Zong glanced at each other, ready to stop him, but Zong Yunqian spoke first.
"Uncle Jin, Uncle Yin, I wish to see my grandmother." Both guards were taken aback, exchanging glances. Seeing the Princely Heir like this, they figured he had co to his senses and was going to apologize to the Old Madam.
The Old Madam’s orders were to not allow the Princely Heir to step out of the courtyard, but if the Princely Heir wished to see the Old Madam, they couldn’t stop him. And considering the Old Madam’s usual indulgence towards the Princely Heir, how could they truly confine him?
"Princely Heir, we’re not overstepping, but please go quickly and offer a proper apology to the Old Madam. Once it’s done, all will be well again. What’s there that can’t be resolved gradually?" The two guards were old-tirs of the house; Zong Yunqian was soone they had seen grow up. Since he had been punished the day before, they were definitely feeling sympathy.
"Uncle Jin, Uncle Yin, you’re right, Yunqian has thought it through and prepared to apologize to grandmother early this morning," Zong Yunqian said, looking dejected, which made the two even more sympathetic. They waved their hands, wanting to accompany him personally, yet felt there was no need to follow so closely.
"Now that the Princely Heir speaks so, we are reassured. How about this, we’ll go ahead and break the ice, get the maids around the Old Ladies to warm the Old Madam’s heart, and you can enter afterward?"
"Thank you both, uncles." Zong Yunqian wore no sign of happiness on his face. Gu Dao and Xi Feng following him were surprised, but dared not show it, and just followed with a bow.
Was it that easy to co out?
But isn’t the Princely Heir going to leave?
Seeing Zong Yunqian continuing towards the Old Madam’s courtyard, Gu Dao was sowhat astonished, but also held a sliver of hope. Perhaps the Princely Heir was indeed going to apologize. After all, he had always been understanding and obedient, and perhaps he had co to realize sothing overnight.
After all, the Commandery Princess’s status was sothing they had heard with their own ears, and by the Siyan Lake that day, Gu Dao had felt the Commandery Princess was unreliable. Furthermore, the Eldest Madam had revealed to the Princely Heir the mother’s identity of the Commandery Princess, which, coming from the Eldest Madam, would certainly not be re rumors.
Having walked so distance, Uncle Jin and Uncle Yin hiding in the dark finally breathed a sigh of relief. If the Princely Heir wasn’t heading to the Old Madam’s courtyard, where else could he be going? So the two rushed ahead quickly to scout the situation.
Gu Dao and Xi Feng grew more puzzled as they walked, nearly convinced that their Princely Heir had a truly awakened conscience, and had thought through his pain to apologize, when Zong Yunqian suddenly made a turn before entering the Old Madam’s courtyard and went straight into the inner chamber of the West Wing Room on the Old Madam’s west side.
Gu Dao and Xi Feng paused, reasoning that it made sense for the Princely Heir to survey the situation from here first.
Inside the West Wing Room at the mont was bustling with activity, as several Steward Nannies from the Old Madam’s courtyard were busy organizing gifts. The table was already piled with prepared presents, and the gift list had been swiftly drawn up.
"Princely Heir?"
"Princely Heir—" The Housekeeper Nannies were startled to see Zong Yunqian and quickly bowed in respect.
"Don’t mind , nannies, I just wanted to see how the preparations were going," Zong Yunqian said as he circled the table. The few silk satin boxes on the table, though not many, were obviously very valuable at a glance, items the Old Madam would not easily part with.
"Princely Heir, have you seen the Old Madam?" One of the Steward Nannies ca forward when she saw him perusing the gift list. "The Old Madam added a few rare treasures overnight, which have all been written down."
"Then I will personally take them to grandmother," Zong Yunqian said, pocketing the gift list, and then called for Gu Dao and Xi Feng.
Gu Dao and Xi Feng hesitated but moved forward to pick up the gifts on the table. The Steward Nanny paused, feeling this was sowhat improper, as they had just prepared to deliver them to the Old Madam themselves.
"The nannies know how angry grandmother was yesterday. As her grandson, I must show so consideration, don’t you agree?" Zong Yunqian said sweetly, his natural charm making the Steward Nannies nod in agreent.
"Besides, the nannies have labored through the night over my affairs, so what’s it for a junior to run errands for you?" Zong Yunqian continued, moving the Housekeeper Nannies to near tears. Look at how the Princely Heir they had watched grow up could be so obedient. It must have been the rush from the Eldest Madam’s scolding yesterday that made him speak rashly in anger.
"You nannies should rest now, Gu Dao and Xi Feng can handle things here."
"This is more like it, Princely Heir. You should enter through the inner courtyard. The Old Madam has been up since early morning, she’s currently dressing. You keep the Old Madam company during breakfast, flatter her a little, she’s always adored you since you were young," the Steward Nanny said tearfully, seeing no reason to disagree.
Zong Yunqian led his people out of the West Wing Room and took a secluded path straight out of the Old Madam’s courtyard.
Gu Dao and Xi Feng, feeling stifled, looked at their own Princely Heir walking ahead, recalling the words he had spoken the night before, and holding the gifts in their hands, they realized just how naive they had been.
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