Chapter 14: A Dilemma

“Go ahead,” Wu Huanmei yawned, her eyes displeased. “Go and check again which little vixen Father spent the night with. Bring me some nourishing soup tomorrow.”

“Yes, Madam.” Zhao, the old nanny, retreated.

…

When Gu Yunlan returned to her room after washing up, Mu Chenye was still awake.

“Why aren’t you asleep yet?” Gu Yunlan reached out and pinched his face.

“Waiting for wife.” Mu Chenye rubbed his face against her palm.

“I told you to sleep first before I left. You’re still injured, you need to rest well.” Gu Yunlan took off her shoes and socks and sat on the bed.

“Can’t sleep without wife.” Mu Chenye whined.

Gu Yunlan chuckled: “You slept by yourself for the past twenty years. Why can’t you sleep without me now?”

“It’s different.” Mu Chenye saw that Gu Yunlan didn’t seem to care, so he emphasized again: “It’s different.”

“Okay, okay, it’s different.” Gu Yunlan lay down and patted her pillow: “Come to bed, little fool.”

“I’m not a little fool.” Mu Chenye puffed out his cheeks, a little unhappy, but he still obediently lay down: “Wife sleep.”

“Hmm, I’m going to sleep too.” Gu Yunlan leaned against Mu Chenye, gently resting her head on his shoulder.

She slept soundly all night.

Gu Yunlan slept soundly, but as the sky began to lighten, she heard noisy sounds from outside.

She frowned slightly, rubbed her eyes, and asked: “Isn’t Father on leave today? What’s all the noise about?”

A maid replied: “Reporting to the eldest miss, it’s the Third Prince who has come to visit Master.”

The Third Prince?

Gu Yunlan frowned.

In the original owner’s memory, the Third Prince did have a good relationship with the Gu family. He was gentle and kind, and he was always polite. Once, the original owner fainted from hunger in front of him, and he had someone give her some snacks.

So the original owner had a very good impression of the Third Prince.

But the current Gu Yunlan was not the naive original owner. If the Third Prince was really as good as the original owner remembered, he wouldn’t have a good relationship with Gu Xiude, such a hypocrite.

Although Gu Xiude’s official position wasn’t high, he was just a Minister of Revenue, but his father-in-law was the Minister of Revenue, a first-rank official. Wu Huanmei had been desperate to marry Gu Xiude back then. Anyone with eyes could see that if you could win over Gu Xiude, you would have won over the Minister of Revenue.

The Ministry of Revenue was a lucrative position, and it was one of the most important departments in the six ministries.

The Third Prince must have ambitions to have a good relationship with Gu Xiude.

But… why did the Third Prince come today?

Mu Chenye was also woken up by the noise. Hearing that the Third Prince had come to visit, he hid his understanding, then hugged Gu Yunlan: “Wife, hungry.”

Gu Yunlan rubbed his head: “Okay, I’ll have the small kitchen make you some food. I’ll go make your medicine first. I’ll keep it warm on the stove. You can eat it after you finish your meal.”

“Hmm, wife is so good～” Mu Chenye smiled with his eyes closed: “Is the Third Prince going to marry that bad woman?”

“Bad woman?” Gu Yunlan realized: “Are you talking about Gu Jiaojiao?”

Mu Chenye nodded.

“Why do you think so?” Gu Yunlan was curious: “The Third Prince never comes to the inner courtyard. What does he have to do with Gu Jiaojiao?”

Mu Chenye pouted: “But Father said that a weasel paying a New Year’s call to a chicken has no good intentions. He looks like a weasel, with shifty eyes. He must want to eat the chicken! Don’t you think he wants to eat the bad woman?”

Gu Yunlan chuckled: “Oh, our little fool can use idioms and proverbs now. You’re really a smart little fool.”

“I’m not a little fool.” Mu Chenye emphasized again.

Gu Yunlan rubbed his head again: “Yes, yes, yes…”

Wait!

Gu Yunlan’s mind flashed.

If the Third Prince didn’t come to the inner courtyard, how did he see the original owner faint and give her snacks?

The saying that the Third Prince didn’t come to the inner courtyard was a common belief. After all, the Third Prince was a virtuous gentleman. Even when visiting officials, he would never break the rules and go to the inner courtyard, which was full of women.

Could it be… that the little fool was right, the Third Prince wanted to… with Gu Jiaojiao?

Thinking about this, Gu Yunlan became excited.

A secret affair, that was a major crime! Even if Gu Xiude knew and tacitly approved, it would be a major scandal for Gu Xiude and Gu Jiaojiao.

She was the most vengeful person. Gu Jiaojiao and Gu Xiude had bullied her the most. How could she miss the chance to see this pair of scumbag father and daughter laugh?

“Husband, I’ll go out for a bit. Someone will bring you breakfast later. Don’t wait for me, eat first.” Gu Yunlan quickly washed up, changed clothes, and strode out.

“Okay～” Looking at his wife’s dashing figure, Mu Chenye’s eyes were filled with smiles.

He knew that his smart wife would understand his hint. It was worth his effort to have the fox bring the Third Prince, Murong Jinyu, over.

He could tell that his wife would definitely think of it too.

Today was the second day of Gu Jiaojiao’s test with Dugu Yue. If Gu Jiaojiao didn’t complete the task of picking a hundred pounds of manure today, she wouldn’t pass Dugu Yue’s test and would lose the chance to become his disciple.

Although even if she completed it, Dugu Yue wouldn’t accept her, Gu Jiaojiao didn’t know that!

Without becoming the Divine Physician’s disciple, with only the status of the daughter of a Minister of Revenue, Gu Jiaojiao could only become the Third Prince’s concubine, not even qualified to be a side consort. So, Gu Jiaojiao would do her best to complete the task, even if it meant risking her life.

But Murong Jinyu had arrived, and he would definitely stay for half a day.

They had already secretly been in contact. If Gu Jiaojiao met Murong Jinyu, she wouldn’t be able to complete the manure picking task. If she didn’t see Murong Jinyu, she would lose the chance to get close to him.

You should know that to avoid suspicion, Murong Jinyu could only come once a month at most. Plus, Murong Jinyu wasn’t as easygoing as he seemed. If Gu Jiaojiao didn’t see him, Murong Jinyu wouldn’t let her off easily.

No matter what she chose, Gu Jiaojiao wouldn’t be able to win.

Mu Chenye tapped his fingers on the table, a smile on his face.

He would make everyone who bullied his wife pay the price.

“Master.”

The fox flipped in.

“How is it?” Mu Chenye’s face was calm.

“As you expected, the second master and the fourth master have been restless since Master left the residence. The fourth master’s previous mess was cleaned up by the second master. Should we expose it?” The fox was excited:

Mu Chenye raised an eyebrow: “Before we go back, find out who the servants in the courtyard belong to, arrange for a martial arts maid to replace one who protects Lan’er. Find a way to tell Lan’er about this.”

“Why?” The fox didn’t understand: “We can clearly handle it…”

“Stupid.” The silver wolf on the beam rolled his eyes: “The second and fourth brothers bullied the madam so much before. The young master wants the madam to take revenge herself!”

“Oh～” The fox looked ambiguous: “The young master really loves the madam.”

“Of course.” Mu Chenye said matter-of-factly: “Alright, she’s gone to deal with Gu Jiaojiao. You go follow her and make sure she doesn’t suffer any losses.”

“Yes.” The fox flipped out.

…

Although Gu Jiaojiao knew that Murong Jinyu had arrived, she didn’t really want to see him.

Yesterday, she had only managed to pick forty pounds of manure after working until midnight. If she worked hard today, she could complete the test. But if she saw Murong Jinyu, they would spend half a day together, and not only would she waste half a day, but she wouldn’t have the strength to pick manure after Murong Jinyu left.

But if she didn’t see him, Murong Jinyu would definitely be angry.

Gu Jiaojiao was caught in a dilemma.

“Miss, Cui’er is similar in size to you. Why don’t you let Cui’er pretend to be sick and lie in bed, and talk to the Third Prince through the gauze curtain?” Hong’er, who was serving her, suggested.

“Will that work?” Gu Jiaojiao hesitated.

Hong’er smiled: “Cui’er is your personal maid, and she knows the Third Prince’s preferences and your habits. As long as you see him from a distance, it won’t delay your business and won’t anger the Third Prince. It’s the best of both worlds.”

Seeing that Gu Jiaojiao hadn’t made up her mind yet, Hong’er reminded her: “Compared to a moment of pleasure, Miss must prefer the position of the Third Prince’s wife, right?”

Hearing Hong’er say this, Gu Jiaojiao finally made up her mind: “You’re right. Cui’er, put on my clothes and lie down. Remember, what you should say and what you shouldn’t say.”

Cui’er bowed: “Yes, Miss, I will be careful.”

Gu Jiaojiao nodded in satisfaction, had Hong’er comb her hair into a neat bun, and then went back to picking manure.

As she turned around, Hong’er had a meaningful smile on her face.