The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 674 - 636: Switching Someone Out (First Update)

Chapter 674: Chapter 636: Switching Someone Out (First Update)

When Eunuch Sanbao returned, he ran into Wan Qiu in the corridor. Wan Qiu was holding a tray, which contained the ceremonial attire Zhao Xi would wear at the family banquet that night.

Empress Qi had arranged four maidservants to spend the night in the Eastern Palace: Nian Chun, Zhi Xia, Wan Qiu, and Xiu Dong. However, until now, only Wan Qiu had been able to enter the inner hall to keep watch overnight, which made her somewhat special in the eyes of Eunuch Sanbao.

Seeing Eunuch Sanbao, Wan Qiu stopped and asked him, "I heard someone came from Kunning Palace, isn’t it inconvenient for His Highness at the moment?"

Eunuch Sanbao said, "It’s Aunt Gu Yu who came and she’s already been settled. His Highness should be free."

Wan Qiu nodded and took two steps forward.

Eunuch Sanbao suddenly called out to her.

Wan Qiu turned her head, "What’s the matter?"

Eunuch Sanbao blushed before forcing out a sentence, "Well... You’ve been keeping watch in the inner hall for so long, hasn’t His Highness asked you to spend the night with him?"

Perhaps it was the first time hearing such explicit words from Eunuch Sanbao, Wan Qiu’s face turned red, and she retorted, "What nonsense are you talking?"

Eunuch Sanbao hurriedly said, "I’m not talking nonsense. You and Zhi Xia were all arranged by the Empress to spend the night with His Highness, yet nothing has happened until now, and I’m getting anxious!"

Wan Qiu blushed and stomped her foot, saying, "His Highness isn’t anxious, yet you, a little eunuch, are getting worked up? His Highness is just sixteen this year; he needs to mature a bit more to have such thoughts. What are you worried about?"

"Oh dear, it’s not me who’s worried. It’s the Empress who’s anxious." Eunuch Sanbao pointed to the West Courtyard, "Haven’t you thought about why the Empress suddenly arranged her Chief Palace Maid to come over?"

Wan Qiu was taken aback, "Why?"

"Isn’t it because you all are useless?" Eunuch Sanbao looked at her as if reproaching her for failing to meet expectations, "The Empress probably thinks the aunt is older and more open-minded, so she wants her to enlighten His Highness."

Wan Qiu was completely stunned. Aunt Gu Yu is quite old, yet she’s here to give His Highness sexual enlightenment?

As she was pondering this, she heard Eunuch Sanbao sighing, "I originally thought you were the only one who could get close to His Highness, with the best chance, but it turned out to be a wasted effort. After tonight, it’s likely that all of you will be dismissed."

A person like Gu Yu, once she truly becomes the Crown Prince’s woman, it’s highly unlikely she’d tolerate these maidservants staying around. She would definitely find excuses to drive them away.

Wan Qiu’s expression changed slightly, "Eunuch Sanbao, what do you think I should do?"

"How would I know what to do?" Eunuch Sanbao gave her a look suggesting she should fend for herself, and walked away, swinging the horsetail whisk.

Wan Qiu watched Eunuch Sanbao’s departing figure and sighed. She understood he cared about them, but Gu Yu was the Empress’s capable Chief Palace Maid, and had been sent by the Empress to enlighten His Highness. None of the four could say no to that.

Clearing her thoughts, Wan Qiu carried the tray to the bedchamber to help the Crown Prince change clothes.

Standing in front of the dressing table, Zhao Xi looked at the person inside and suddenly asked, "How long have you been following me?"

Wan Qiu replied, "Returning to Your Highness, almost a year now."

Zhao Xi nodded and said nothing more.

Wan Qiu stepped in front of him to straighten his collar and sleeves, ensuring everything was perfect before letting him leave.

The daytime banquet invited court officials, while the evening family banquet was for the Imperial Family.

After the feast and fireworks display, and returning to the Eastern Palace, it was already the latter half of the night.

When Zhao Xi entered the bedchamber, he found a long box with a brocade rooster pattern atop the Flat Head Case.

He called Mr. Mu over and asked who sent it.

Mr. Mu, who had been guarding the Eastern Palace and hadn’t attended the banquet, replied, "It was sent by Aunt Gu Yu. She said His Highness should take a good look at what’s inside."

Zhao Xi casually opened the box and found some thread-bound books inside.

He thought they might be rare or unique manuscripts, but upon flipping through them, he saw that the contents were not text but unfamiliar illustrations. The illustrations depicted men and women in various poses, yet all openly displayed, causing Zhao Xi’s brows to furrow deeply.

His jade-like cheeks felt hot. Without looking back at Mr. Mu, he ordered him to withdraw, and added, "Go summon Aunt Gu Yu, saying I invite her for a drink."

Ever since Gu Yu set foot in the Eastern Palace, it was known throughout the upper and lower ranks why she was here. When Mr. Mu heard that His Highness wanted to summon her, he sighed inwardly and left the bedchamber, heading straight to the West Courtyard.

The layout of the Eastern Palace was vast, with Zhao Xi residing at Chengming Hall. The bright space had a door, with side chambers and inner rooms having bay windows. There were three rooms on each side hall, five in the rear main hall, and similarly, three accompanying rooms. Wan Qiu and the others were maidservants, not allowed to reside in side halls or the main hall. For convenience in summoning, Empress Qi arranged for two courtyard areas next to the side hall for the four maidservants to live.

Nian Chun and Xiu Dong lived in the East Courtyard, while Wan Qiu and Zhi Xia were in the West Courtyard.

Now that Gu Yu arrived, the West Courtyard was designated for her alone, forcing Wan Qiu and Zhi Xia to move to the East Courtyard to squeeze in with Nian Chun and Xiu Dong.

When Mr. Mu arrived at the West Courtyard, the light in Gu Yu’s room was still on.

He gently knocked on the door from the outside.

Inside the room, Gu Yu was sitting in front of the dressing table, not to remove makeup, but to apply it.

Knowing the Crown Prince would certainly summon her tonight, she deliberately dressed in a treasured floral damask robe, applied exquisite makeup, and painted her lips a vivid red.

Upon hearing a knock at the door, Gu Yu smiled at the person in the copper mirror, then slowly got up to open the door.

Seeing that Mr. Mu was standing outside, Gu Yu asked, "So late, is there anything, sir?"

Seeing her dressed up, Mr. Mu immediately lowered his head, "The Crown Prince said that aunt couldn’t attend the banquet earlier, so now he makes up for it and invites you for a drink."

Gu Yu was delighted, "I understand, I’ll be there right away."

After speaking, she turned back into the room, put on a cloak, held a hand warmer, and then followed Mr. Mu to Chengming Hall.

Zhao Xi had already prepared fine wine and a few small dishes. He was sitting on the sandalwood inlaid lacquered screen-style couch, with a huanghuali entwined lotus pattern square table in front of him. Also, there was a similar square table below, with warmed wine and a few delicate dishes on it.

Seeing Gu Yu coming in, Zhao Xi motioned for her to sit.

Gu Yu thanked him, took off her cloak, placed the hand warmer aside, and then sat at the table.

Mr. Mu helped her hang the cloak on the standing clothes rack, then sensibly retreated.

Once the hall door was closed, Gu Yu looked at Zhao Xi and intentionally asked, "It’s so late, why hasn’t Your Highness rested?"

"Aunt hasn’t rested either?" Zhao Xi said, pouring himself a cup of wine and toasting her from a distance, "I couldn’t take you to the banquet before, now I toast you a cup as an apology."

"I can’t, I can’t." Gu Yu quickly said, "I’m just a servant, Your Highness praises me too much."

"Throughout history, the master is honored and the servant is esteemed too. You are the Empress’s person, diligently serving the Empress all these years, reaching an age without leaving the palace, staying, such loyalty is worth my toast."

Seeing the Crown Prince drink it all at once, Gu Yu quickly filled her own cup, raised her neck, and drank every drop.

Zhao Xi raised his hand and poured a second cup.

As Gu Yu picked up the wine pot, she suddenly felt dizzy, massaged her temples, puzzled about when her tolerance had become so poor, then closed her eyes and fainted.

Seeing this, Zhao Xi slowly lowered the wine cup he had just raised and called out towards the outside, "Someone!"

The door creaked open, and two robust maidservants came in.

They stepped forward and bowed together, "Your Highness."

Zhao Xi pointed with his chin at Gu Yu, who was slumped over the square table, "Aunt is drunk, take her back to rest."

"Yes." After responding, they lifted Gu Yu from either side and quickly left Chengming Hall.

Mr. Mu, fearing any bumps in the dark, came forward with a lantern to guide them.

Eunuch Sanbao seized the chance to slip in, "Your Highness, it’s late, shouldn’t you rest?"

Zhao Xi picked up the wine cup again, sipped leisurely, and finally said, "Summon Wan Qiu."

Sanbao knew that Gu Yu certainly hadn’t spent the night. Upon hearing the summons for Wan Qiu, his eyes brightened, and his voice was full of energy, "This servant will go now."

The master wasn’t sleeping, so the servants naturally had to stay up too. Wan Qiu was doing embroidery work under the lamp, occasionally yawning, barely keeping her spirits up, fearing that Chengming Hall would call for servants.

The door was knocked upon.

Wan Qiu quickly put down the embroidery frame and got up to open the door.

When she saw it was Eunuch Sanbao, Wan Qiu asked, "Is there any command from His Highness?"

Eunuch Sanbao warned her, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, grasp it well, or tomorrow morning all of you will be chased out."

Wan Qiu was stunned on the spot.

Not waiting for her to ask a word, Eunuch Sanbao pushed her out, "Don’t linger, or in a moment His Highness loses interest, and I’ve worried for nothing."

Chased by him towards Chengming Hall, Wan Qiu’s heart raced wildly, almost as if it would leap out.

When she arrived, the two dining tables were already cleared, Zhao Xi was half-lying, still dressed, on the inner hall’s Kui-patterned couch, seemingly somewhat drunk.

Wan Qiu walked in cautiously.

Zhao Xi, with keen hearing, opened his eyes and saw her standing motionless at the screen, said, "Why are you standing? Come over and help me undress."