"It's really interesting!" Gu Yanfei sighed faintly, his smile deepened, his eyes seemed to be teasing, sighing, and insightful, "It's a waste that you didn't go out today."
After saying this, she leaned lazily against the carriage and ignored Gu Yunmeng.
The carriage became quiet again, with only the sound of wheels outside and the noise on the street echoing in the ears.
Neither of them spoke anymore.
Gu Yun'er's slender fingers clenched the handkerchief in her hand and she quietly looked at Gu Yanfei who was leaning on the carriage with his eyes closed to rest.
Gu Yanfei had her black hair tied up in a simple bun. She wore a snow-blue jacket with dark patterns, and a five-panel moonlit skirt in elegant colors. There was only a jade plum blossom hairpin and a camellia silk flower in her hair, and a pair of plum blossom pendants on her ears.
Apart from this, there was no other jewelry on her body, giving her an elegant look like the pure moonlight.
Obviously, she grew up in the countryside of Huaibei, but to Gu Yunmeng, she didn't look like that at all.
She has an elegant demeanor, is refreshingly free and easy, without any trace of vulgarity.
She was straightforward, neither humble nor arrogant, and her speech and behavior were unrestrained. She had her own style, and she was graceful even when interacting with noble ladies like Wei Jiaoniang.
Gu Yanfei doesn't look like an ordinary country girl at all.
She hid it too deeply!
Gu Yun'er stared at Gu Yanfei, slowly rolling the handkerchief between her fingers, circle after circle, her thoughts turning and her eyes moving along with it.
Ever since her life story came to light, Gu Yunyan has always felt that she owed Gu Yanfei.
Even though the old lady told her again and again that it was not her fault, Gu Yunyan always felt guilty when she thought about how she had lived a life of luxury in the Marquis' Mansion for the past ten years while Gu Yanfei had suffered in Huaibei. That was why she tried her best to make it up to Gu Yanfei.
But now, Gu Yunmeng realized that she was wrong.
Gu Yanfei had lived a pretty good life in the past fourteen years, which is why she has developed her current unruly personality.
But she insisted on pretending that she owed her something.
Her scheming should not be underestimated.
Gu Yun'er's eyes narrowed slightly, with a thoughtful gleam in them, but it soon disappeared and he returned to his calm.
Gu Yanfei's long eyelashes moved, and he suddenly opened his eyes to meet Gu Yun'er's scrutinizing gaze. His eyes were half open and half closed, and he curled his lips into a smile.
This smile is lazy and unrestrained, casual and comfortable, and elegant beyond description.
Gu Yunyan also pursed her lips and smiled. The pair of small dimples on her cheeks deepened a little, and her heart was as clear as water.
She knew she was wrong.
She shouldn't have preconceived ideas, and she shouldn't be unguarded. She should always be on guard against others.
The carriage was quiet, peaceful and tranquil, yet there seemed to be some undercurrent surging.
The carriage of the marquis's mansion moved forward smoothly, turning several corners in the streets of the capital. After driving for nearly an incense stick of time, a maid's respectful voice was heard outside, saying that they had arrived at the palace.
With this shout, the speed of the carriage gradually slowed down, and finally stopped next to the horse stele in front of the palace gate.
Wang, Gu Yanfei and Gu Yunmeng got off the carriage one after another.
The sky outside became even gloomier, with layers of dark clouds hanging over the palace gate.
The three palace gates in front were wide open, and the high city platform rose like a mountain, with double eaves flying, yellow tiles and red walls, which was majestic.
The female members of the royal family entered the palace through the Xihua Gate. There was a solemn and majestic atmosphere in front of the palace gate. On both sides stood a row of imperial guards wearing bronze helmets and iron armor. They all had stern faces, giving off an aura that said no strangers allowed.
A teenage eunuch in blue clothes and two palace maids were already waiting outside Xihua Gate. They came up with a smile and greeted Wang and her entourage.
"Madam Hou, Miss Gu San, we are waiting for you here on the orders of the Empress Dowager. Please come this way." The young eunuch walked past Gu Yanfei, politely extended his hand as a gesture of invitation, and walked in front to lead the way for them.
Given the door lintel of Marquis Dingyuan's Mansion, it was of course impossible for them to ride in a sedan chair. They had to walk all the way from the palace gate to Shou'an Palace. They also couldn't go through the main gate in the middle, but had to enter the palace through the side door.
After walking a few steps, sporadic snowflakes began to float in the sky.
The young eunuch was quick-witted and took the tung oil umbrella from the palace maid and said to Gu Yunyan with a smile, "Miss Gu San, it's snowing, be careful not to catch a cold."
He was very attentive and personally held an umbrella for Gu Yunmeng.
"Miss Gu San, I have a hand warmer here." Another palace maid handed Gu Yun'er a small hand warmer with a smile on her face.
Wang was the wife of the Marquis, and even though the Dingyuan Marquisate was not as prosperous as it was in the past, she still had three to five opportunities to enter the palace each year. On weekdays, these palace maids were arrogant and indifferent, which was a world of difference from today.
"Thank you for your help." Wang said to the palace maids with a smile on her face, then turned around and said to Gu Yunmeng meaningfully, "Sister Meng, you must remember the Queen Mother's grace."
Wang didn't mention Prince Kang at all, but everyone knew that the people in Shou'an Palace treated Gu Yunmeng differently because of Prince Kang.
"My daughter understands." Gu Yun'er nodded with a smile, her eyes sparkling with bright light, and she looked like a little girl who wanted to say something but hesitated.
She put the small flower basket-shaped hand warmer into her sleeve and glanced at Gu Yanfei calmly from the corner of her eye, trying to see if there was any envy or embarrassment in Gu Yanfei's eyes.
However, she was met with a pair of almond-shaped eyes as clear as water.
Gu Yanfei was still the casual and comfortable Gu Yanfei, glancing at the people and things around him calmly.
Her eyes were casual and relaxed, and she stood there calmly. She was neither trying to be calm nor looking away, nor was she showing any envy.
It seemed as if the magnificent buildings before her were as common to her as a leaf she saw while walking on the road.
There is a kind of indifference that treats the world as nothing.
After passing through the side door of Xihua Gate, I saw several palace servants carrying a sedan chair and walking towards me at the front of the palace road, with brisk steps.
The little eunuch who was holding an umbrella for Gu Yunyan's eyes lit up, and smiled until his eyes narrowed. He excitedly raised his voice and said, "Miss Gu San, this must be the sedan chair that the prince arranged for you. The prince is really a caring person."
Empress Dowager Yuan did not arrange a sedan chair for Gu Yunmeng, so this sedan chair was obviously arranged by Prince Kang.
The young eunuch exchanged glances with the two palace maids, and their expressions towards Gu Yunmeng became more respectful and earnest.
Gu Yun'er thought so too. Her cheeks flushed and the corners of her rosy lips curled up slightly. Her heart felt as sweet as if it were filled with honey.
"Your Highness is very thoughtful and considerate." Wang said happily, feeling proud and proud.
Everyone surrounded Gu Yunmeng like stars surrounding the moon, leaving Gu Yanfei aside.
However, when the sedan chair reached Gu Yunyan, it did not stop, but passed by her like a gust of wind.
Wang frowned slightly and was about to speak when she saw the sedan chair being carried to Gu Yanfei.
A middle-aged eunuch with a fair face and no beard bowed to Gu Yanfei with a smile, and said respectfully in a shrill voice: "Second Miss Gu, please get on the sedan chair. It's snowing today and the ground is slippery. It's not easy to walk."
After putting down the sedan chair, the palace maids who were carrying it also saluted Gu Yanfei in unison.
"..." Gu Yanfei blinked with a puzzled look on his face.
Everyone else present was staring at this scene in amazement and was speechless for a moment.
A strong, biting cold wind blew by, and the tung oil umbrella was blown by the wind and snow, making a rustling sound and almost flew out of the young eunuch's hand.
The young eunuch quickly grasped the umbrella handle and looked at the middle-aged eunuch with a strange look.
Wang almost thought that these palace maids had mistaken the Second Miss Gu for the Third Miss Gu, and she was hesitant to speak.
Even Gu Yunmeng's expression changed slightly at this moment, his cheeks flushed, and emotions of embarrassment, shock, and awkwardness flashed through his mind, but he immediately returned to normal.
In just a few words, the snow fell heavier and heavier, and snowflakes hit the curtain of the sedan chair, making a rustling sound.
Although Gu Yanfei didn't feel tired from walking, she didn't like her shoes getting wet by the snow.
"Thank you, eunuch." Gu Yanfei thanked him generously, without asking any more questions and without refusing. Under the complicated gazes of everyone, he directly sat on the sedan chair.
This is a sedan chair for one person, and obviously there is no room for anyone else.
Wang had also recovered from her initial shock and her face had calmed down a lot. She politely asked the eunuch holding the umbrella to lead the way so as not to keep the Empress Dowager waiting for too long.
She was filled with doubt and uncertainty, and couldn't help wondering: Who arranged the sedan chair for Gu Yanfei? This is the imperial palace.
The group walked towards Shou'an Palace.
Wang and Gu Yunyan walked in front, and the sedan chair that Gu Yanfei was riding in lagged behind them by ten feet, following behind them not too far away.
Wang almost used up all her strength not to look back, maintaining her elegance as a marquis's wife. She walked through the palace gates and palace roads in the wind and snow, and finally arrived at Shou'an Palace.
Gu Yanfei's sedan chair also stopped at the gate of Shou'an Palace with them.
The palace maids at the gate of Shou'an Palace all cast their eyes on the sedan chair, and each of them could not hide their shock. The same question came to their mind: Who is this girl? As soon as Wang and her group arrived, the head maid of Shou'an Palace personally led people to greet them.
The head maid had been in the palace for many years, so she naturally knew the wives of the noble families, and also knew Gu Yunyan. She smiled and bowed to the two of them briefly, "Madam Hou, Miss Gu San, please come in."
"And this girl, please too."
The maid in charge looked past Wang and towards the girl who had just stepped off the sedan chair at the back. She smiled just the right way and wondered about her identity:
Since this girl was brought by the wife of Marquis Dingyuan, she is most likely a girl from the Gu family. But how could she come here in a sedan chair? (End of this chapter)
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