Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 513 - 349: The Beauty Trap

Lu Chen’s heart sank to the bottom; he had known Prince Jing for so many years. Previously, he thought he understood Prince Jing well, but now he felt increasingly unable to see through him. No matter what Prince Jing wanted to do, there was only so much he could help with.

Over time, someone’s true nature is revealed. How could he know nothing about Prince Jing’s character and plans? No matter how one conceals or disguises, there are always traces to be found.

"Don’t make it too obvious; Gu Chengyu is not easy to handle," Lu Chen looked at Prince Jing’s weary face, and in the end, his heart softened.

Prince Jing smiled; even if Lu Chen knew he had ulterior motives towards Gu Chengyu, he didn’t care. Lu Chen would eventually understand what kind of person he was; six years of friendship was not easy to abandon.

It wouldn’t be long before everything would be laid bare. If Lu Chen could stand by his side, it would give him more of an edge.

Gu Chengyu looked ahead at the blooming crabapple and iris flowers under the sun, their colors vibrant and radiant. Butterflies danced among them, and it was indeed a time of splendid spring, perfect for flower-viewing and outings.

His thoughts inadvertently drifted again. It was a pity that the Imperial Examination was approaching; otherwise, taking his second sister’s family on an outing would not waste such splendid time. Gu Chengyu gazed on, lost in thought.

"Oh dear!" Suddenly, a delicate female voice startled Gu Chengyu back to his senses.

Gu Chengyu looked in the direction the voice came from and found a woman crouching on the ground, seemingly having twisted her ankle, unable to stand.

Gu Chengyu looked at the direction she came from, likely from the garden, yet he hadn’t seen her earlier. A basket at her feet was filled with flower petals, presumably freshly picked. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

The woman kept her head down, so he couldn’t see her face. However, what caught his attention was her attire: she wore mourning clothes. Yes, it was mourning attire, indicating she was in a period of mourning, likely for a recently deceased elder.

Seeing she could not stand and appeared in pain, Gu Chengyu looked towards the nearby eunuch who had been standing at a distance, intending for him to help. But as he turned, he realized the eunuch had disappeared, leaving only the two of them there.

Gu Chengyu frowned; the situation was somewhat inappropriate. With only the two of them there, it might invite gossip. Gu Chengyu suddenly felt this was a scheme. Rising from the pavilion, he planned to return the way he came.

At this moment, the woman seemed to see Gu Chengyu and hastily called out, "Sir! I’ve twisted my ankle; please, could you call someone to assist me?"

Gu Chengyu intended to ignore it and leave directly. But hearing her speak, he turned to see her looking up at him.

The ancient saying goes that a woman looks even more charming in mourning clothes, and it was indeed true. This young woman, in her early youth, had eyebrows resembling green feathers and eyes like autumn waters, glistening with unshed tears. Her skin was like white snow, and her waist as slender as tied silk; her figure looked even more delicate and lovely under the white mourning dress.

The woman lightly bit her lips, looking at Gu Chengyu with hopeful eyes. Such a delicate beauty, few men would refuse the request of a beauty.

From a hidden corner, the eunuch closely watched every move of the two. Even the Prince had to nod in praise of Miss Xi’s appearance; there was no fear that Gu Chengyu’s heart would not be moved.

This was the Prince Jing Mansion. Could a woman in mourning wander freely? Even if connected with Prince Jing, she could not roam around the mansion. Her behavior suggested intrigue, which Gu Chengyu himself could hardly believe.

Regardless of whether there was a plot, Gu Chengyu was not interested. He glanced at the woman and promptly walked away.

By the time Gu Chengyu had left the pavilion and walked a considerable distance, the woman finally reacted.

She had not expected him to simply turn and leave without any hesitation, causing her to doubt her usually advantageous looks for the first time. She touched her fair and supple face, finding it still as fresh; her puzzlement grew.

It wasn’t just her; even the eunuch hiding in the shadows was shocked, having not expected Mr. Gu to leave so decisively with no reluctance. Being a eunuch, he still found Miss Xi extremely beautiful, not knowing what Mr. Gu was thinking.

He quickly straightened his robe and emerged from the shadows, pursuing in the direction Gu Chengyu had gone.

As Xi’er watched him walk away, she could only stand up. Looking at her ankle, there was indeed some swelling. Wishing not to arouse Gu Chengyu’s suspicion, she had truly twisted her ankle, though it wasn’t that severe. She could still walk with some effort.

She coldly snorted inside, wondering what kind of person this was. Though this youth’s appearance was comparable to Wei Jie’s, his demeanor was so cold, not at all resembling the image the Prince had described.

Without calling for assistance, she picked up the flower basket from the ground and hobbled towards a small courtyard in the opposite direction.

Just as Gu Chengyu was about to reach Prince Jing’s study, he heard footsteps catching up behind him. Without turning around, he knew who it was.

"Mr. Gu, why did you leave so quickly? I only went to relieve myself briefly with a stomach ache, and when I returned, you were gone. It almost scared me to death,"

The eunuch hurriedly caught up with Gu Chengyu, wiping sweat from his forehead, explaining with a flattering smile.

Gu Chengyu paused, glanced at the eunuch, and then smiled, saying: "It was my fault then for troubling you. The Prince should have recovered by now, right? So, I should also take my leave."

Prince Jing leaving him here probably harbored some secret intentions, like the beauty trap earlier...

Upon hearing this, the eunuch halted, then said as usual, "Please wait a moment, sir. I will report to the Chief."

Not having completed the task given by the Prince left the eunuch somewhat anxious inside.

Gu Chengyu wasn’t kept waiting long before Xiao Chengzi personally came out to welcome him.

"Sir! The Prince invites you in,"

Gu Chengyu nodded, thanked him, and followed Xiao Chengzi into the study.

"Sorry for any neglect today, Mr. Gu. I hope you don’t mind," Prince Jing apologized as soon as Gu Chengyu entered.

Seeing that Gu Chengyu was not flustered, Prince Jing knew the plan hadn’t worked. He wasn’t disappointed, as if Gu Chengyu could be easily ensnared, there wouldn’t be a need for such schemes. A man who loved beauty was easy to manipulate but also prone to making mistakes because of it.

Lu Chen, sitting by the table sipping tea, did not intervene, nor did he look at Gu Chengyu.

"You are too kind, Prince. Naturally, you need more rest if you are unwell," Gu Chengyu had no wish to get too closely involved with these two, feeling somewhat troubled by why so many had their eyes on him.

"Prince, the Eldest Prince has arrived!" An eunuch’s voice suddenly announced from outside, interrupting what Gu Chengyu was about to say.