Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 486 - 322 Hua Lian’s Background

Lu Chen rolled his eyes, "I just said, these are transcriptions I had made, and there’s another one with Xi Yan. It’s a rule of Tianxiang Pavilion to keep a couple of them, right? I’ve already spoken with Gu Chengyu; I’ll invite him to your mansion to help with the composition when he’s free, and the actors you’ve taken care of can be put to good use."

Prince Jing plays the qin himself, so he rarely needs those actors. These people were given by the Eldest Prince, and Prince Jing finds them noisy, never truly listening to their performances.

"Really? That’s wonderful. You must ask him when he’s available so I can arrange an introduction." Prince Jing was overjoyed, having long admired Gu Chengyu’s talent yet never managed to meet him.

After half an hour, Lu Chen noticed Prince Jing engrossed in the music and had to rise and take his leave.

Lu Chen left Prince Jing Mansion and sat in the carriage, lifting the curtain to look at the courtyard behind him. He pondered for a while before letting the curtain fall again.

After Lu Chen departed for half an hour, Prince Jing placed the lyric down on the table. He stood up, paced a few steps in the study, then glanced at the lyric again, a smile curling his lips. This Gu Chengyu was rather interesting.

Regarding the previous matter, could Hu Maoqing truly contend with the Eldest Prince? If he could, he wouldn’t always be led by the nose by the Eldest Prince. This fraud case seems to involve many people, everyone wanting to be the sparrow, yet ultimately, a mere house sparrow blindsided them.

It’s said Gu Chengyu encountered River Bandits on a ship bound for Jingyuan Prefecture a few years ago, and coincidentally, Hu Maoshen was aboard that ship...

He then sat down at the desk, scribbling a few words, "Come!"

A Hidden Guard appeared silently in the study, "Your Highness!"

"Investigate this individual and transcribe a copy of his yearly exam papers for me."

Gu Chengyu had lunch at Zhu Mansion and then returned to his mansion.

Lichun had entered Gu Chengyu’s room to serve; seeing Gu Chengyu arrive, she quickly greeted him with a bow.

"My lord!" Her delicate face was lowered, filled with tension, yet she felt fortunate to serve her master.

For slaves like her, if not serving closely with the master, there would never be a day of prominence. She thought she’d spend her life in the mansion doing menial tasks, unexpectedly chosen by her master to manage the courtyard.

"Hmm! Do not be reserved. From now on, you will handle the house’s trivial matters. Ming Mo needs to travel outside for me, so he won’t be able to manage the house. If you find yourself too busy, pick two more maidens to help you; handle this as you see fit, and report any upgrades to Mrs. Liang."

Gu Chengyu disliked handling trivial affairs and assigned Lichun the responsibility because she frequently appeared before him, being one of the few he could name. Moreover, she had proven herself quite adept last time at the estate. After observing her calm demeanor, he thought she was suited for the task, hence promoted her to a higher rank.

"Yes! I will not disappoint your expectations!"

Lichun was elated, granted significant authority by her master. Though she had to listen to Mrs. Liang in any event, with the vast responsibilities Mrs. Liang managed, being promoted just beneath her positioned Lichun conveniently, inciting excitement.

"Go and call Miss Hua Lian." Gu Chengyu entered the study and suddenly thought of Hua Lian.

"Yes!"

She had already seen Hua Lian. According to Ming Yan, her master redeemed Hua Lian from Tianxiang Pavilion, uncertain on how to treat Hua Lian. Perhaps her master intended to make Hua Lian a concubine; otherwise, why redeem her, hinting at an emerging mistress in the mansion.

Lichun, though troubled within, briskly headed to Hua Lian’s temporary courtyard.

"Mr. Gu!" Hua Lian followed Lichun, anxiously entering the study, not daring to raise her head, recalling last night’s incident with profound embarrassment.

That morning, as she woke, the effect of the aphrodisiac had subsided, surprised to find Miss Xi Yan in her room. Reflecting on last night, acknowledging that Gu Chengyu had never touched her, she realized, despite being drugged, she was clear-minded, lacking control over herself!

She held a selfish desire, believing if she consummated with Mr. Gu, he wouldn’t abandon her. His actions redeeming her suggested he was someone she could entrust her life with—yet, unfortunately, he found no favor in her.

Hua Lian was still deeply melancholic but resolved to find a way to remain by Gu Chengyu’s side, unwilling to leave. Freed from the brothel yet lonely with nowhere to go; moreover, her deep-rooted affections rendered leaving Gu impossible.

Her heart steeled with determination at this thought.

"Miss Hua Lian, your body..." Gu Chengyu snapped back to reality, realizing the improper nature of his inquiry!

"Ahem! Miss Hua Lian, what are your plans for the future? Where are you from? Do you wish to find your family?" Gu Chengyu intended to seek her family, somewhat better than a lone woman living independently, but if they had sold her, he could not return Hua Lian to them.

If she was sold once, she could be sold again. Heartless enough to sell her into a brothel meant undoubtedly harboring ill intentions still.

Upon hearing Gu Chengyu’s question, Hua Lian was saddened.

"I do not know where home is, only recalling as a child being abducted from the lantern festival with my family. I was taken to Tianxiang Pavilion when I was just four, memories of the past eluding me."

Hua Lian was sold into the brothel by child traffickers, having minimal impressions of her family, gradually fading amid time.

Gu Chengyu found the situation troublesome; without a clue, finding Hua Lian’s family equated searching for a needle in a haystack.

"Can you recall anything else? Was your home in the north or south? How many people were there? Do you remember the name of the village or town you lived in?"

Hua Lian raised her head, attempting to recall, ultimately shaking her head helplessly, "I don’t know, only remembering Yingnan Mansion, always lingering in thought, unsure why this is remembered. My family included parents, grandparents, seemingly a brother—beyond that, not much."

Gu Chengyu pondered briefly; with just these clues, where could he search? Yingnan Mansion was vast, with countless counties, towns, villages below.

"Did your family live in a village or a street? Can you recall any of that?" Gu Chengyu assumed the distinction might be unclear between town or county names but believed she might remember if she dwelled in a farmhouse.

"It seems living in a courtyard, where stepping outside led to purchasing Osmanthus cake." Hua Lian stole a glance at Gu Chengyu, fearing returning home would provoke disdain from her family, knowing her past as a brothel courtesan.

Gu Chengyu rubbed his temples; such scant clues led nowhere. He chose to abandon the search.

"What do you intend to do from now on? I can give you some Silver, enabling you to find a secluded place to live quietly."

Upon hearing this, Hua Lian’s eyes welled with tears, and she fell knelt on the ground with a thud.