FBC – Chapter 347 The Prince’s New Concubine

At dinner, Mu Junyan had not yet returned to the residence.

Instead, Dong Mo came to report briefly that his lord would be back later.

Gu Hua returned to the main courtyard, just about to bathe, when Dong Qing came rushing over.

Leaning close, she whispered, “There’s news from the kitchen—Yin Tao tampered with the ingredients while making the desserts.”

Gu Hua’s brow twitched. “Understood.”

She had expected Yin Tao to make a move, but Mu Junyan was unwilling to fall for it.

All day, she had been trying to think of a reason to separate Yin Tao and Yi Yun, while keeping the Empress’s spies from suspecting anything, so that they could continue their plan.

Before she could figure it out, Dong Mo came again, reporting that the lord had gone to the study and would return after finishing his official work.

Gu Hua had wanted to stand and see if she should prepare food for him, but suddenly, an inexplicable feeling made her pause. She restrained herself and waited.

Sure enough, an hour later, a servant from Mu Junyan’s side came running over, her face dark with worry.

Calmly, Gu Hua listened as the girl reported that Yin Tao had brought desserts to the prince, and half an hour later still hadn’t come out.

Then the prince emerged, ordering someone to carry away a disheveled and dizzy Yin Tao.

“Where’s the prince?”

“He went to the old madam’s courtyard.”

Gu Hua sighed inwardly.

Her efforts last night hadn’t been in vain. Mu Junyan must have felt disgusted, too.

Yet he still acted according to plan.

Suppressing the corner of her mouth, she stood and instructed Yun’er, “Let’s go to the kitchen and make some light dishes the prince likes.”

By the time she carried the food box to the old madam’s courtyard, a heated argument had already broken out inside, and the food box was thrown out.

Then the princess left in a rush with red-rimmed eyes, and the prince spent the night in the side room of the study for the first time.

He had the study thoroughly cleaned that night—presumably because he was furious at Yin Tao for scheming against him.

After all, the prince and princess shared a harmonious relationship, deeply affectionate, something everyone had witnessed.

The news quickly spread throughout the residence, though most did not believe it.

The prince had always been pure and aloof, never indulgent in women.

Except for the princess, he had never looked at any other woman.

It had to be some trick by Yin Tao, some shameful scheme.

But it seemed the matter was done.

Soon, the old madam personally ordered Yin Tao to be promoted to concubine, giving her a separate courtyard to live in. This confirmed everyone’s suspicions.

Dazed, Yin Tao was carried into a small independent courtyard in the rear.

Yi Yun did not know about the concubine promotion, nor what had happened, and hurriedly stopped the maid who was helping Yin Tao pack.

“What happened?”

The maid, face cold, spoke sarcastically: “Miss Yin Tao is lucky—she’s been used by the lord. Now the old madam has promoted her to concubine and even given her an independent courtyard. We’re just escorting her to enjoy her good fortune.”

Yi Yun froze for a moment. “What about the princess? Does she know?”

The maid yanked her hand away, glaring angrily. “You two foxes just want to harm the princess, don’t you? Our princess is fine! No need for you to worry.”

The group left in a rush, leaving Yi Yun stunned in the courtyard.

Right—Yin Tao had been permitted by the princess to make desserts that day, and she had been very diligent these past few days, going to the kitchen after every dinner to make sweets, supposedly for the princess to taste.

That day at the bookstore, she had asked the shopkeeper for something—could she have used some trick?

As Yi Yun hesitated over whether to ask the princess for clarification, she suddenly noticed someone sneaking a peek, half their head visible.

“Who’s there?”

Yi Yun jumped.

Their small courtyard was a secluded northwest corner; during the day, only servants came to clean and deliver food, and there were no other attendants.

At night, it was even darker, with no shadows in sight.

The short courtyard walls even lacked lanterns, giving a chilling feeling.

So she and Yin Tao always closed the courtyard gates at night and dared not go out.

Just now, the group had left in a rush, and Yi Yun had not closed the gate.

She nervously glanced at the dog-beating stick resting against the wall.

“Yi Yun, it’s me.”

It was a girl’s voice.

As she entered the courtyard and closed the gate, the dim light revealed a girl in rough cloth robes.

She was not a servant of the residence.

“Who are you?”

The girl approached mysteriously, grabbing her and heading into the room. Yi Yun wanted to scream but saw the girl touch the wooden hairpin in her own hair and point to Yi Yun’s hair.

Yi Yun then noticed that her wooden hairpin was identical to the token given by the Empress and immediately understood who she was.

They entered Yi Yun’s room.

The girl smiled. “It was hard to see you. Last time I received the token, I left a note for you in the residence, arranging to meet the next evening. Who knew the young master found out? I thought everything was discovered. Luckily, nothing happened. Today I got another chance to enter the residence and deliver flowers. And coincidentally, there was a big commotion inside, so I seized the opportunity to come.”

Yi Yun feigned delight. “You’re from the Empress?”

“Yes. The shopkeeper said you wanted to find a place to communicate inside the residence. Follow me.”

With that, she led Yi Yun outside, along the west wall in the dark for about fifteen minutes, stopping at a pear tree.

“There’s a hole here. Just put the wooden hairpin in.”

The girl pointed to her own hairpin. “This one is identical to yours. Later, we can exchange them in the hole.”

Yi Yun reached out. The wall hole was about the width of three fingers, enough for two hairpins.

“Alright.”

The girl glanced around. “The residence is more strictly guarded now; I can’t come freely anymore. From now on, we’ll use this method to communicate.”

Yi Yun nodded.

The girl suddenly smiled. “I didn’t expect that courtesan had some ability and actually got the prince. But the shopkeeper warned me: don’t tell her about this place. That courtesan is lowborn and ambitious; she might betray you.”

Yi Yun nodded.

She was a little scared, hoping the girl would leave quickly—if anyone saw them, how could the act continue?

Luckily, the girl was also somewhat fearful and left hurriedly.

Yi Yun quickly returned to her courtyard.

Soon after, Yun’er arrived.

“The princess is calling you.”

Yi Yun’s heart jumped.

When she saw the princess, she was wearing a loose pink robe, leisurely reading a book.

Hearing Yi Yun’s footsteps, she put the book down and waved with a smile.

Yi Yun finally relaxed—Yin Tao had failed.

Yi Yun bowed. “Your Highness, Princess.”

“Sit, I have good news for you.”

Yi Yun’s eyes lit up. “Father… has been rescued?”

Gu Hua smiled. “Yes. In a couple of days, he’ll arrive in Juzhou. I was worried about arranging your meeting without alerting Yin Tao, but she acted first.”

Yi Yun suddenly remembered this and quickly asked, “She didn’t succeed, right? It’s all my fault. I noticed her moves but didn’t report them in time.”

“It’s fine. We had someone watching her every move.”

Yi Yun sighed in relief. “I really was worried.”

Gu Hua’s tone shifted. “Someone came to see you just now?”

Yi Yun’s heart jumped, then she calmed. “Yes, just now. The flower vendor from before indicated a place for passing messages. She also wore an identical hairpin.”

Gu Hua glanced at her hairpin. “Let me see.”

Yi Yun removed it and handed it over.

Gu Hua looked, then handed it to Su’er. “Take this to the prince, have someone draw it, and make the patrols and city guards watch closely. If anyone carries this hairpin, keep an eye on them.”

Su’er took it and hurried to Mu Junyan.

Gu Hua nodded at Yun’er, who went inside and soon returned with two new sets of clothes and a wooden box.

“When your father arrives in Juzhou, dress properly so you don’t worry him.”

Yi Yun’s eyes filled with tears. She took them, bowed, and choked back sobs to thank Gu Hua.

“It’s not easy being a woman in this world. Cherish the opportunities you get.”

Tears in her eyes, Yi Yun nodded. “I can distinguish right from wrong. My father is an upright official; otherwise, we wouldn’t have been wronged like this.”

Gu Hua nodded. “We know.”

A glimmer shone in Yi Yun’s tearful eyes—so the prince and princess knew her father was a good man?

“Your household registration should be with the Empress. Before you meet your father, I will give you the registration proving you are a law-abiding citizen.”

Yi Yun’s heart leapt. “A law-abiding citizen? Princess, you mean I can become a commoner again?”

Once a criminal servant entered the Music Bureau, there was no way out—even if a noble took interest, they could only be a household courtesan.

Yi Yun had been terrified, worried her father would think she was tainted.

“Of course. Your father is upright, so you are not a criminal servant. You don’t want your father to worry, right? After this is over, if you wish to stay in Juzhou, I will arrange a residence for you. If you wish to return home, I will arrange that too. Perhaps the prince has plans as well.”

“Princess, you are our savior!”

Yi Yun could no longer hold back and knelt, crying on the ground.

Gu Hua felt a pang in her heart.

She understood the suffering of women with no way out.

Just like when she had struggled to break free from Mu An, rushing into the storm, despairing but fighting, and suddenly saw a beam of light—Mu Junyan had given her hope at her most helpless moment.

She wanted to be a beacon of hope for others, too.

This world should not be so unjust.

Yun’er helped Yi Yun up, who was sobbing and gasping for breath.