He wanted to enter the palace; he wanted not only to kill Shen Tunan, but also to gain power.
He wanted this haughty, pampered young lady in front of him to fawn over him, just like she had done to the Crown Prince that day.
Having figured it out, Gu Yuanbai gently stroked Lin Han'er's face with his fingertips.
Gu Yuanbai's gaze, complex yet aggressive, sent chills down the spine of the usually carefree Lin Han'er.
"What do you want to do! Let go of me right now, or I'll call for help!"
As soon as Lin Han'er finished speaking, she realized that everyone had been sent away and that only the two of them were left in the courtyard. She couldn't help but tremble.
Seeing Lin Han'er's frightened expression, Gu Yuanbai felt extremely pleased.
Under Lin Han'er's murderous gaze, Gu Yuanbai slowly and deliberately removed the jade pendant from her waist.
After carefully placing his belongings on his person in front of Lin Han'er, Gu Yuanbai whispered "Goodbye, Miss" in her ear and then swaggered out of the room.
Lin Han'er, inside the room, watched Gu Yuanbai's departing figure. How dare a mere servant treat her so disrespectfully...
Lin Han'er was both ashamed and angry, and smashed a room full of porcelain.
"Master, Gu Yuanbai requests an audience," Shen Shi, who was in the study, said after Qing Yu came in to report.
"Let him in." Shen Shi continued writing without looking up.
As Qingyu walked out, footsteps sounded again a moment later. "This subordinate greets the Fifth Prince," came Gu Yuanbai's voice.
Facing Gu Yuanbai kneeling in respect, Shen Shi did not immediately tell him to stand up, but asked in a calm tone, "Have you figured it out?"
"I am willing to serve the Fifth Prince with utmost loyalty." Gu Yuanbai, eager to make his mark, immediately replied respectfully.
He is indeed a pragmatic person, Shen Shi thought to himself.
"I know your intentions." After saying this, Shen Shi beckoned to Gu Yuanbai, who was kneeling on the ground. "Take a look at my calligraphy. What do you think?"
Shen Shi wrote in cursive script. Gu Yuanbai knew almost nothing about calligraphy and couldn't distinguish between good and bad.
But when facing his master, he still praised him, saying, "The Fifth Prince is exceptionally talented."
Shen Shi laughed out loud after hearing this. In fact, he only had a superficial understanding of calligraphy, so it was no wonder he couldn't write well.
But since Gu Yuanbai praised him, Shen Shi rewarded him with the calligraphy he had just written.
During the four or five days she was away from the palace, Empress Wang sent people several times to ask when she would return.
Now that the matter was settled, early the next morning, Shen Shi led a large group of people back to the palace.
Upon returning to Guangyang Palace, after arranging accommodations for Gu Yuanbai, Shen Shi immediately set off for Yanxi Palace to have lunch with Empress Wang.
"Mother, do you like it?" Shen Shi took out the rouge he had bought outside and gave it to Empress Wang.
A small box of rouge, though nothing rare or expensive, represented her son's affection for her.
"I like it. Shi'er is so thoughtful. I'll like anything you give me." Empress Wang took it and touched it affectionately.
Seeing his mother's happy smile, Shen Shi also felt that the rouge was a really good buy.
The mother and son had lunch together.
Knowing that Shen Shi was coming, Empress Wang specially instructed the kitchen to prepare several of his favorite dishes.
While enjoying the imperial chef's cooking, Shen Shi couldn't help but exclaim: "Even if there are a hundred things that are not to my liking in the palace, there are so many delicious things to eat!"
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