Gu Ye Feng followed Gu Qian Ying back to the palace.
On the way, Gu Qian Ying did not tell Gu Ye Feng about her encounter with that man.
She only said that after the man took her away, he had intended to silence her, but she woke up midway.
After a fight, the man fled.
She then returned, and on the way back, she bought a pitiful maid.
In truth, Gu Ye Feng did not fully believe Gu Qian Ying's words.
The white figure that appeared last night possessed profound internal energy.
It was likely that even he and Du Chun were no match for that person.
Furthermore, if that person wanted to silence her, why would he abduct her? He could have killed her on the spot.
Gu Ye Feng knew his young lady's temperament very well.
If she was unwilling to speak the truth, no amount of pressure would make her reveal it.
Conversely, if she was willing to speak, they would know even without asking.
It was precisely because he understood his sister's temperament that Gu Ye Feng did not ask many questions along the way.
Fortunately, his sister had returned safely, and nothing else mattered.
Gu Qian Ying returned to the palace unharmed and brought back a pitiful maid.
News of this reached Ouyang Qing Lin of the State Preceptor's Mansion, Meng Qing Hua and Nangong Li of the Poisonous Doctor's Pavilion, Yan Kuan, the eldest son of the Yan family, and Physician Du Chun, who was busy at the Imperial Academy in the palace.
At this, these individuals finally felt at ease.
Among them, Ouyang Qing Lin and Du Chun were eager to go to the inner palace to catch a glimpse of Gu Qian Ying.
However, they had no reason to enter the Jiao Fang Hall.
Yan Kuan, the eldest son of the Yan family, was not qualified to go to the palace alone.
These three communicated through letters, wanting to know if Gu Qian Ying was truly unharmed.
Thus, on this day, Gu Qian Ying received three letters.
Each letter was blank white paper, without any writing. Even Nangong Qi, who was monitoring the Jiao Fang Hall, was puzzled but could only pretend to ignore it. After all, the three letters were just blank paper.
Perhaps it was a farce by some bored individuals.
However, he did not know that after being soaked in saltwater, the three letters would reveal the black characters written on the white paper.
Each letter contained words of concern and worry.
Gu Qian Ying smoothed them out and replied to each one.
She understood that Du Chun and the others genuinely cared about her.
Regardless of the nature of their feelings, she had indeed received this concern.
And when she replied, she did so with utmost sincerity.
After sending out the three letters.
Gu Qian Xue sat in her chambers, lost in thought.
The hazy memories of last night were vivid.
What did that damned man look like?
What was his name?
Gu Qian Ying knew nothing about him.
She turned her head to look at the potted rose.
It seemed that only it could help her now.
"Miss, is the Cao Ni Die you brought back truly a woman from a poor family?"
Lu Zhu entered with a small plate of crystal cakes to serve her.
Gu Qian Ying withdrew her thoughts and looked at her, "What is it?"
Lu Zhu replied truthfully, "Your Highness, didn't you ask her to wash clothes? But she ruined several of your dresses."
"That's not all. The strangest thing is, this person doesn't even know what a broom is! Nor can she tidy a room. Such a woman doesn't seem like she's from a poor family, but rather like a pampered young lady accustomed to being served."
Hearing this.
Gu Qian Ying's lips curved into a smile.
As expected, her guess was correct.
The woman who suddenly appeared was not a poor woman who couldn't afford to bury her husband.
But what was her purpose? She had not yet figured it out.
However, with the person right under her nose, no matter what tricks she tried to play, she would be watching.
"Since she doesn't know how to do it, let her learn. I never keep idlers here."
Some people, when pushed, would eventually reveal their flaws.
"Yes, Your Highness, this servant understands."
After receiving the order, Lu Zhu left.
A moment later.
The servant's quarters.
Seeing the mountain of dirty clothes, the Evil King felt a headache coming on.
"Hey! Newcomer, what are you staring at? Hurry up and get to work! The Imperial Noble Consort said if you don't finish, you won't get any food!"
A palace maid in a pink dress stood beside him, hands on her hips, glaring at the Evil King.
She was a second-class palace maid by the Imperial Noble Consort's side. Sister Lu Zhu had said that if she worked diligently and well, she could be promoted to a first-class palace maid.
Currently, everyone in the palace said that the Imperial Noble Consort was highly favored by the Emperor because she had lost the imperial heir. Some even said that the Imperial Noble Consort might replace the Empress.
She had to cling tightly to such a powerful figure.
The Evil King was furious with the palace maid who had been nagging him all morning.
If he hadn't wanted to stay by the purple-robed woman's side to absorb her spiritual energy, he wouldn't have endured this nagging.
"I'm talking to you, why aren't you working faster? Are you deaf?"
The little pink palace maid, seeing the Evil King's delay in working, walked over and grabbed his ear with one hand, intending to use force.
The Evil King could no longer tolerate it.
As he turned his head, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
"You're really asking for death!"
He raised his hand and struck the pink-clad woman's heavenly spirit gate, shattering it.
The pink-clad woman fell to the ground, dead, without even a chance to scream.
At this moment, two palace maids passed by the servant's quarters and saw the blood-splattered corpse lying at the Evil King's feet.
They screamed in terror.
The Evil King frowned. With a raise of his arm, a ball of black mist emerged from his palm. As the black mist dissipated, his normal arms suddenly stretched out, and he grabbed one of the palace maids in each hand.
The two palace maids gasped for breath, fear overwhelming them.
One of them even wet herself.
"Two elder sisters, would you kindly wash clothes for me?"
Beneath his dark eyes was a power that could captivate the heart.
In a moment.
All the clothes in the servant's quarters were washed clean by the two palace maids.
The Evil King merely lay there leisurely, sleeping.
The pink-clad palace maid who had fallen dead earlier had already turned into a pool of blood under his evil aura, leaving not even a bone behind.
That pool of blood had also been cleaned up by the two palace maids.
Lu Zhu, who had been hiding in the corner, saw this scene clearly.
Fearing discovery, Lu Zhu took another furtive glance and then hurried away.
Jiao Fang Hall, inner chamber.
"Oh? So, this person is truly not simple?"
After hearing Lu Zhu's description, Gu Qian Ying got out of bed barefoot and walked to the window, opening it.
The wind outside was a bit strong. She reached out as if trying to grasp the wind, clenching her fist.
Feeling the scent of osmanthus in the air, facing the wind.
Gu Qian Ying frowned and withdrew her hand.
"Lu Zhu, chop down all the osmanthus trees in the courtyard."
She was allergic to osmanthus.
Only her closest family members and a few people like Nangong Mo remembered.
"Yes, Your Highness, I will chop them all down now!"
Lu Zhu took a sword and went out.
The few osmanthus trees were chopped down by Lu Zhu in no time.
Although the roots remained, the trees, cut in half, had lost their osmanthus fragrance and could not survive.
"Cao Ni Die, do not move for now. He is still useful."
"Yes, Your Highness." Lu Zhu was very obedient.