Chapter 6
On the way to the villa.
Gu Yanling grabbed Chang Feng's arm and said, "Brother Chang Feng, for the sake of our brotherhood, can you please let me go? I beg you."
Chang Feng sighed softly, "Yuanbao, I can't make the decision on this matter."
Gu Yanling's tone was even more pitiful: "So you're just going to watch me die? You don't even consider me a brother."
That wouldn't mean he would go to his death. If he pleaded with His Highness, the most likely outcome would be that he would be kicked out of the mansion. Looking at the bag he was carrying, it was obvious that he didn't want to stay in the mansion any longer.
Chang Feng couldn't help but wonder: "Why do you have to climb over the wall so late at night?"
Even if he doesn't want to serve the young master anymore, there's no need to rush to find another job. After all, he is still working as a helper in the mansion.
Gu Yanling still said: "My father is seriously ill, I am anxious to go back to see him."
Chang Feng could see that he was not telling the truth, so he could not help but say helplessly: "Yuan Bao, you still have to tell the truth when you come to the young master."
"As long as you don't do anything else, the young master won't do anything to you."
Upon hearing this, Gu Yanling grabbed Chang Feng's arm with force, which was a subconscious action when feeling guilty.
Chang Feng's expression immediately turned serious: "What else did you do? Don't hide it from me, otherwise I can't plead for you."
Gu Yanling swallowed the words back. Chang Feng had been treating him well these past few days, and Gu Yanling had always been clear about grudges and didn't want to get him involved. Besides, the scent of the sachet hadn't changed, it was just more powder. If he hadn't checked, he wouldn't have noticed it so quickly. He quickly shook his head, "No, nothing, I didn't do anything."
Chang Feng: “…”
Gu Yanling held her bag, a heroic expression on her face. It was no big deal! When the enemy comes, we will fight him. When the water comes, we will block it with earth!
Chang Feng wanted to say something, but the group had already arrived at the gate of the villa.
Only Chang Feng and Gu Yanling went in and waited in the front hall. His Royal Highness was still bathing. Chang Feng asked worriedly, "Tell me the truth, what are you hiding?"
The theft did not happen, and Chang Feng also believed that Gu Yanling was not that kind of person. As for assassination, that was even more impossible. After all, Gu Yanling was weak and didn't know the identity of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Chang Feng really couldn't understand what else Gu Yanling could do. Why did she escape in the middle of the night out of such a guilty conscience?
Gu Yanling: "Really, no, I didn't do anything."
Chang Feng realized that he couldn't get anything out of him, so he just said, "Don't play tricks in front of the young master. Tell the truth."
Gu Yanling pretended not to hear.
After waiting for about a quarter of an hour, Xiao Xinghan finally came over. He was only wearing a black pajamas, with his dark hair scattered behind him. Compared with the dignified and noble appearance during the day, he looked more casual.
Just now, a young eunuch went to describe the general situation to Eunuch Li, and Li Youfu reported the matter to His Highness. He couldn't help but wonder what this kid was doing in the middle of the night.
After Xiao Xinghan sat down, his eyes fell on Gu Yanling. He saw that he was tense and not as relaxed as before. "What's going on?"
Before Chang Feng could speak, Gu Yanling spoke first, "My father suddenly became seriously ill, and I was anxious to go back to see him. The side door was locked, so I had to climb over the wall."
"I hope that Master will let me go for my filial piety."
Xiao Xinghan didn't say anything, but picked up the tea beside him.
Li Youfu scolded him: "Since you have entered the mansion, you must abide by the rules. Even if you are filial, you can't climb over the wall in the middle of the night."
Seeing his attitude, Gu Yanling was even more certain that he didn't know about the sachet. She was overjoyed and just wanted to quickly get over it: "I was indeed wrong in this matter. I was also extremely anxious. Considering that this is my first offense and out of filial piety, please forgive me this time."
Xiao Xinghan noticed the look in his eyes and looked at Chang Feng: "What do you think about this?"
Chang Feng couldn't lie to His Highness. He knew His Highness wouldn't believe Gu Yanling's words, so he said, "There must be something else."
Gu Yanling's eyes widened: "Brother Chang Feng! Why are you——"
Chang Feng said sternly: "Yuanbao, you must be honest in front of the young master. Don't even think about lying. You can't fool the young master."
Gu Yanling pursed her lips and said nothing, obviously annoyed by Chang Feng's behavior.
Li Youfu began to interrogate: "What's in the bundle?"
After hearing what he said, Gu Yanling hugged the bundle in her arms and said, "These are all my own things."
Li Youfu ordered the eunuch waiting nearby, "Open it and take a look."
Gu Yanling dodged them and said, "Brother Chang Feng just opened it. These are all my own things. If you don't believe me, ask him."
"They are indeed his things." After Chang Feng finished speaking, he looked at Gu Yanling and explained to him, "Yuanbao, he is just doing a routine inspection. Open it and let him see."
Gu Yanling didn't want to listen to him, but when the time came, she could only put the bundle on the table beside her and open it: "I already said it's mine!"
Li Youfu walked over, looked through it, picked up the bottle and shook it: "What's in it?"
Gu Yanling: "Some medicine for headaches. My father is seriously ill, so I took it back to give to him."
Li Youfu opened the bottles and jars and asked, "This ingot of silver isn't yours, is it?"
Chang Feng: "I gave it to him two days ago."
Li Youfu didn't say anything, and Gu Yanling thought the crisis was over. Before she could breathe a sigh of relief, she saw two more people rushing over from outside.
The imperial physician who had already rested rushed over. Gu Yanling saw Li Youfu handing over the sachet he had given her tonight, and instantly guessed that the two of them must be doctors. She could no longer let go of her worries.
Sure enough, I heard——
"Reporting to the young master, there is an extra powdered herb in this sachet. Smelling it for a long time will cause loss of appetite and unbearable itching at night."
When Gu Yanling first sent the snacks and sachets, Li Youfu mentioned this matter. He didn't think much about it at the time. It was only when His Royal Highness the Crown Prince heard that Gu Yanling was caught climbing over the wall at night that he asked him to call the imperial physician to check the sachets.
Li Youfu hadn't expected him to be so audacious. He felt a chill running down his spine. If he hadn't checked today, the consequences would have been disastrous. This was also his negligence. "Who gave you the courage to murder the young master?"
Gu Yanling scoffed. How could this be considered murder? The scent of the sachet only lasted for half a month, and as time went on, it became weaker and weaker, and the efficacy would be greatly reduced. At most, it would cause discomfort for a few days! He just wanted to teach her a lesson!
He is not a fool, how could he not know that plotting to murder an imperial official is a serious crime?
Gu Yanling refused to admit it: "I don't know what you are talking about. The sachet I gave you is obviously good."
Li Youfu cursed angrily, "Could it be that you still have mixed feelings... Did I wrongly accuse you? You looked absent-minded when serving the young master dinner tonight. So you have ulterior motives! Tell me who ordered you to harm the young master!"
Gu Yanling: "I was serving the young master all afternoon, and because I didn't eat much at lunch, I was too hungry, which caused me to be in a trance, okay? I don't know what you are talking about."
Li Youfu: "You are so sharp-tongued and ignorant. It seems that you will never admit it unless I teach you a lesson."
"Is there any law left? You are trying to force a confession by torturing me!" Gu Yanling was afraid that he was really going to carry out lynching, so she quickly hid beside Chang Feng. She even forgot that she was still angry with Chang Feng. He was the closest to Chang Feng in this room, and subconsciously sought shelter from him.
Seeing that he was extremely scared, Chang Feng let him hide behind him. He was shocked that he would do such a rebellious thing, but when he heard Li Youfu say that he was absent-minded when serving the young master dinner in the evening and had ulterior motives, he thought carefully and understood why Gu Yanling did this.
Your Highness is of noble status and cannot afford to make mistakes. This matter can be big or small, and it is not without a solution. Everything depends on how Your Highness handles it.
Li Youfu saw that he was still hiding behind Chang Feng. Just as he was about to have someone take him down, Chang Feng raised his hand to protect him. He looked at the Crown Prince who had remained silent, bowed and reported, "Master, there is a reason for this."
Gu Yanling poked her head out: "What's the reason? There's no reason, I'm just wronged!"
Chang Feng said in a serious tone: "Yuanbao."
Gu Yanling: “…”
Xiao Xinghan sat aside as if watching a play, taking a sip of tea: "What's the reason?"
Chang Feng pulled Gu Yanling to his side and said, "Yuanbao is eager to please the young master and has told me many times that he wants to serve him. After serving the young master dinner tonight, I noticed that he looked strange, so I asked him the reason—"
Seeing that he had guessed it, Gu Yanling subconsciously pulled his arm to stop him. Chang Feng patted the back of his hand soothingly and continued, "He said to me, 'I just think the young master is extravagant. He was the only one having dinner, but he actually asked the kitchen to prepare such a large table. He didn't eat much, so such a table of food is wasted!'"
Xiao Xinghan placed the teacup on the table slowly. Gu Yanling forced herself to look at him calmly. "What are you looking at me for? Did I say anything wrong? You have a huge appetite, yet you're so extravagant with just one dinner. You have a big appetite, it would be fine if you could finish it all, but you only took a few bites of each dish. It's truly extravagant! Do you know how many people can't afford to eat?"
Chang Feng: "Don't be so rude to the young master."
Gu Yanling snorted coldly, and Chang Feng continued: "Perhaps this is the reason why he was so bold as to do such a mistake. I hope that Master will be lenient with his punishment."
Xiao Xinghan seemed to have guessed the reason long ago. His expression remained unchanged from beginning to end, making it impossible to figure out his thoughts. Finally, he said, "Everyone go down."
"You stay."
Gu Yanling thought he had escaped, but he was ordered to stay. He immediately held Chang Feng and refused to let go. Chang Feng nodded at him. Just based on what he said just now, "Do you know how many people can't afford to eat?", it was obvious that he had a kind heart. His Highness was not a cruel person and would never make things difficult for him.
Now there were only the two of them left in the front hall.
Gu Yanling was on guard: "What do you want? Besides, you're fine, aren't you? I just wanted to teach you a lesson. If I really wanted to harm you, I could have just poisoned you."
"Teach me a lesson." Xiao Xinghan pondered these words, and his expression finally changed a little.
Seeing Xiao Xinghan suddenly stand up and walk towards her, Gu Yanling took a big step back in fear, taking a defensive stance, her tone indescribably nervous: "You, don't come over here, I'm not afraid to tell you, I've practiced this too!"
Xiao Xinghan: "Aren't you going to teach me a lesson? Why are you so nervous?"
Gu Yanling was in a ferocious state, but before Xiao Xinghan even approached her, she was already frightened by his aura. She sat down on the ground with a droopy face and began to beg for mercy: "Wuwuwu, I was wrong. Please be magnanimous and don't bother with me."
Xiao Xinghan stopped in front of him and glared down at him condescendingly: "You're just bluffing, but you're actually weak."
Gu Yanling felt that this was a true man who could bend and stretch. A gentleman's revenge is never too late. As long as the green mountains remain, there will be no shortage of firewood. After all, this was the other party's territory! This was a wise move for him!
Seeing that he no longer talked back, Xiao Xinghan lowered his head and sat on the ground like a quail. He no longer looked at him, but casually rummaged through the things in his bag.
When Gu Yanling heard the noise, she raised her head and glanced at him, but unfortunately she was caught red-handed. She quickly withdrew her gaze guiltily, not really understanding what he meant.
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