Chapter 17: Swallowing One’s Teeth

Mu Kangsheng was not afraid at all: “Threatening is not the word. I’m simply reporting the truth. Your Highness, if you want to force me to lie to the emperor, it’s impossible!”

Bold!

Gu Yunlan’s eyes were filled with admiration.

He was her father-in-law after all!

Although she didn’t know what gave Mu Kangsheng such confidence to be so firm, Gu Yunlan knew that he was never a man of empty words. The stone in her heart settled.

Murong Jinyu frowned.

This Mu Kangsheng was a loyal minister, trusted by the emperor. It wouldn’t be easy to move him. Threats wouldn’t work.

Murong Jinyu immediately changed his expression, putting on a warm smile: “Minister Mu, what are you saying? Your character is the most upright and noble, I know that. But this is just a family matter. You’re not a censor. Why bother? Why don’t you be more accommodating?”

“I remember your late wife’s brother works in the Ministry of Works. There’s a vacant position for a Minister of Revenue there. What do you think…”

“My wife’s brother’s affairs are none of your concern, Your Highness.” Mu Kangsheng’s face changed slightly.

Damn iron bean!

Murong Jinyu cursed inwardly.

Murong Jinyu smiled: “Yes, yes. It’s just that I didn’t intentionally come to the backyard today. I got lost and wandered in. Cui’er served Minister Gu and me in the study a few times before. I developed feelings for Cui’er. Today, I accidentally wandered into the backyard and saw my beloved. I couldn’t help myself.”

Hearing Murong Jinyu say this, Gu Jiaojiao’s silver teeth almost shattered.

Feelings? Beloved? Who? That b*tch, Cui’er?

Impossible!

She wanted to go crazy, she wanted to roar, but Gu Xiude’s threatening gaze kept her silent.

This moment was enough for her to calm down.

She was arrogant, but she wasn’t stupid. Now, this old man, Mu Kangsheng, was clearly trying to support Gu Yunlan and throw dirt on her, the Third Prince, and her father. How could she possibly hand over the evidence to Gu Yunlan?

Seeing that Gu Jiaojiao didn’t say anything, Murong Jinyu was a little more satisfied. He gave Gu Jiaojiao a reassuring look, then continued to say to Mu Kangsheng: “Minister Mu knows that I’ve always been virtuous. There aren’t many women in my palace, and I’ve never had any scandals in the backyard. Now, I’m at the age where I need a woman by my side. It’s not too much to take a concubine into the palace, is it?”

Gu Yunlan snorted with laughter: “Your Highness’s mouth is really clever. You can even make the dead seem alive. Let’s assume, as Your Highness said, that you have feelings for Cui’er. What about my sister?”

She looked at Gu Jiaojiao with a sideways glance: “She looks like she’s caught you in the act. It makes people think that she’s the one who should be having an affair with Your Highness.”

Murong Jinyu gave Gu Xiude a look, and Gu Xiude immediately understood. He got up to pull Gu Jiaojiao… but he couldn’t move her.

Actually, he didn’t really want to touch her.

Gu Jiaojiao was covered in stench, and she was standing in an unknown yellow substance. It made people want to vomit just looking at her. Even though she was his most beloved daughter, Gu Xiude didn’t want to touch her.

He whispered: “Control your mouth. If you ruin the Third Prince’s reputation, don’t even think about entering the Third Prince’s palace!”

Gu Jiaojiao forced a smile: “Sister, what are you talking about? My sister is just surprised that there is such a frivolous maid in my courtyard.”

She gritted her teeth and glared coldly at Cui’er: “Cui’er, you too. If you had confessed your feelings for the Third Prince earlier, how could I, your mistress, be so unreasonable as to agree?”

Cui’er immediately knelt down and took the opportunity: “Please, Master, Miss, grant me permission.”

Her heart was filled with excitement.

A concubine!

That was much better than the concubine’s maid she had imagined!

Concubine’s maids and ordinary maids were actually not much different. They just got more monthly allowance, and they still served people. But a concubine was like half a real mistress. She could have her own courtyard and maids!

Although she knew that Murong Jinyu had many concubine’s maids, Murong Jinyu valued his reputation, and there weren’t many women with names in his palace. To be a concubine with a title, that was already beyond 80% of the women in the Third Prince’s palace!

Although this would offend Gu Jiaojiao, she had already slept with the Third Prince. If she stayed in the Gu residence, she would probably be dead. It was better to go to the Third Prince’s palace and try her luck. If she gave birth to the Third Prince’s eldest son…

Cui’er felt that her future was bright.

“Fine, I’ll grant you permission. Hong’er, go get Cui’er’s indenture.” Gu Jiaojiao’s smile was malicious.

Hong’er went to get the indenture and gave it to Murong Jinyu.

“Your Highness, Cui’er has been serving me since she was a child. I’m a little reluctant to let her go. I want to prepare some dowry for her. How about Your Highness coming to take her to the palace in three days?” Gu Jiaojiao’s smile was malicious.

“Okay.” Murong Jinyu nodded, looking at Mu Kangsheng: “Minister Mu, do you have anything else?”

Mu Kangsheng wasn’t stupid either. Seeing that the parties involved were all accepting the situation, he decided to stop there: “Your Highness is joking. How could I, a minister, interfere with such a family matter as taking a concubine?”

Seeing that Mu Kangsheng wasn’t going to pursue the matter, Murong Jinyu breathed a sigh of relief and put on a sincere smile: “Minister Mu, if you have nothing else to do, why don’t you come to the study and play chess with me? I haven’t had the pleasure of playing against Minister Mu’s chess skills for a long time.”

“Please.” Mu Kangsheng also smiled.

Gu Xiude led the two of them away. The men in the courtyard were gone, and Gu Jiaojiao immediately turned around and slapped Cui’er across the face: “You b*tch! Is this how you serve me? You dare to steal my people. You’re really bold!”

Cui’er knelt down: “Miss, please calm down. It was His Highness who took the initiative. I dared not disobey.”

“Are you saying that His Highness fell for your ugly face?” Gu Jiaojiao pinched Cui’er’s chin, squeezing her face until it was distorted.

“Miss, I found this under your bed.” Hong’er came out with the sachet, but Gu Yunlan snatched it away.

Gu Yunlan sniffed it lightly, a playful smile on her face: “Oh, sister, you’re quite the player. This is an aphrodisiac.”

Gu Jiaojiao snatched it back and looked at her warily: “None of your business. Get out of my courtyard, or I’ll have your aunt come and wash my feet for me tonight!”

Gu Yunlan snorted with disdain: “As if I want to stay in your stinky courtyard. It’s really disgusting.”

Gu Jiaojiao looked smug: “I’m telling you, I’m about to complete the Divine Physician’s test. You’ve been running around causing trouble these past two days, you definitely don’t have time to complete the test.”

“The Divine Physician’s disciple will only be me. This time, I’m going to win. You just wait!” Gu Jiaojiao was confident.

“Good luck.” Gu Yunlan left Gu Jiaojiao’s courtyard with a mysterious smile.

Her goal had been achieved, and she didn’t want to be in this stinky place anymore. It was almost time for the little fool to take his medicine. She had to go back and make the medicine after taking a bath.

But when Gu Yunlan returned to the courtyard, she was shocked by what she saw, and cold sweat broke out all over her body.

“Don’t move!” Her voice trembled.