FBC – Chapter 353 Dead

Back in her own courtyard, the maid who had reported to Gu Hua returned.

“Concubine, the Princess says that once the flower gardener leaves the mansion, you may go see Lord Du.”

“All right.”

Du Yun’s heart leapt with joy. She looked at the two exquisite pastries, reluctant to eat them, thinking she would give them to her father later.

…

The bookstore owner looked at Yiyun’s note and listened to all the details. His face darkened.

The note read: Yin Tao betrays her master.

“I wondered why someone has been tailing us the past couple of days. Turns out that wretched Yin Tao betrayed her master! Does she think being a lowly concubine will let her soar to greatness? Mu Junyan never cared for beauty—how could he suddenly fall for her? Obviously, she was just used as bait. How foolish!”

The female flower gardener widened her eyes in shock. “We’ve been discovered?”

“They probably don’t have proof. But Yiyun’s information isn’t necessarily reliable. Mu Junyan suddenly likes women? Besides, what woman does he want that he doesn’t already have? Would he really want a spy assigned by the Empress as a pillow companion?”

The flower farmer thought for a moment. “From what we saw today, they did fight. Yin Tao betrayed her master. She tried to grab the wooden hairpin, and Yiyun defended it with her life. If the secret of the hairpin is discovered, we’re all doomed.”

The bookstore owner frowned. “We need to find a way into the mansion to investigate. Why did Mu Junyan suddenly take in Yiyun?”

In fact, they didn’t even need to investigate. Gossip was already circulating throughout Juzhou City.

It also explained why Mu Junyan took in the two beauties all at once.

The gossip said that the Emperor had gifted two beauties: one charming, skilled in singing and dancing; the other graceful, skilled in calligraphy and painting.

Both were exceptional in appearance, but the Princess never allowed them to meet the Prince, keeping them locked in a remote courtyard, fearing that while she was pregnant, the Prince would grow lonely and favor them, splitting his affection.

The two young ladies behaved properly, and gradually, the Princess relaxed her vigilance.

Then the clever Yin Tao found an opportunity to send pastries to Prince Yong. She poisoned the pastries, and the Prince, unwittingly, consumed them. Feeling guilty toward the Princess, he didn’t tell her, and the Grand Madam arranged for Yin Tao to be elevated to concubine.

When the Princess found out, she and the Prince had a huge quarrel.

Then they entered their first cold war. During this time, the Prince took people to Yongzhou, rescuing a few wronged officials and bringing them back to Juzhou.

Coincidentally, among them was Lord Du, one of the two beauties’ father, Yiyun’s own father.

The Prince valued Lord Du greatly. He was said to be a water management genius and had been governor of Gongzhou.

Gongzhou was currently facing flooding, and the Prince wanted Lord Du to handle it.

When arranging the father-daughter reunion, the Prince saw the proper, noble Yiyun for the first time. Captivated by her aristocratic aura, he favored her that very night.

Naturally, the Princess and the Prince had another huge fight, and the Prince went to the military camp overnight.

The Princess was heartbroken, crying all night.

Knowing she was pregnant and unable to bind the Prince’s heart, she reluctantly restored Yiyun’s proper status and elevated her to a noble concubine to please him.

The Prince likely truly liked Yiyun and immediately planned to take Lord Du and Yiyun back to their hometown in Gongzhou, claiming it was to seek justice for them.

Rumors of how Lord Du and his daughter had fallen on hard times spread vividly.

Gongzhou was just a state away from Juzhou—not too far. A governor committing a serious crime and being exiled was major news, and some knew the inside story. With fact and fiction mixed, it was easy to believe.

The bookstore owner listened as the waiter recounted the gossip in full.

Lord Du’s family situation had already been formally written to Du Yun by order of the Empress.

Also, among Juzhou’s informants, only he knew the truth. At most, others knew Yiyun came from the Imperial Entertainment Bureau.

After thinking carefully, the bookstore owner said, “The Du family matter is real. Prince Yong may not truly like Yiyun; he could just be using her father. Mu Junyan wants to win over the governors of various states. Prince Yong needs to recruit the Du family, use his water management skills in Gongzhou, and win the hearts of the people.

However, the Du family is guilty. The previous governor, Jiang Qifu, was on the current king’s side. Even if we punish them, what more can we do? Could we possibly remove Jiang Qifu and reinstate the Du family as governor? Unless Prince Yong really intends to secure the charge of rebellion.”

The waiter and flower gardener nodded in agreement.

“Du Yun is clever. She once begged the Empress to save her father. She uses her true identity to put on a show, making it more convincing.”

The bookstore owner understood, and immediately began writing down everything that happened in Juzhou, sending it to Bianjing via expedited courier.

At the end, he handed a package to the flower gardener.

“Yin Tao is no longer needed.”

“Yes.”

He added, “Use her to create some trouble for the Prince’s mansion. Don’t waste this foolish woman.”

“Understood.”

…

July 23.

Today was Mu Junyan’s birthday.

Before dawn, he left the city with Lord Du and Du Yun, heading to Gongzhou.

“Your Highness, look at the city wall,” Chiyan suddenly called.

Mu Junyan turned and reined in his horse, circling to look.

His eyes turned red as he stared at countless orange-red sky lanterns rising above Juzhou City.

The fiery lanterns illuminated the city walls brightly.

They slowly ascended, forming the emblem of the Mu family army.

This was Hua’er celebrating his birthday.

Gu Hua, heavily pregnant, longed to go up to the city wall to send her wishes, but restrained herself.

Suddenly, Dong Qing hurried over.

“Princess, something bad happened.”

“What is it?”

Zhou Zilan glared at her. “Explain calmly, don’t scare the Princess.”

Dong Qing quickly controlled her anxious expression. “Yin Tao is dead.”

“What?”

Gu Hua, shocked, tried to stand, but stumbled. Zhou Zilan’s quick reflexes caught her.

Dong Qing turned pale and hurriedly instructed Sui’er, “Go fetch Doctor Shen immediately.”

Sui’er sprinted off.

Gu Hua muttered, “It’s okay.”

Zhou Zilan gently patted her back. “Even if it’s ‘okay,’ someone must watch over you. You nearly scared us to death.”

Ignoring herself, Gu Hua asked, “What happened? Is someone handling it?”

Dong Qing nodded. “Dong Mo is there. It looks like poisoning. They’ve already sent for Doctor Shen.”

“Send Shen Li. She specializes in poisons.”

Gu Hua grabbed Zhou Zilan. “Let’s go see.”

Zhou Zilan refused. “You can’t. You’re pregnant. This bloodshed isn’t suitable for you. I’ll go.”

She gave strict orders to Yun’er: “Watch the Princess. If she leaves the room even half a step, you’re done serving her.”

Gu Hua: “…Who’s the master here?”

Sigh.

Still, she didn’t want to endanger the child and waited.

Within half an hour, Zhou Zilan and Shen Li arrived.

Gu Hua anxiously asked, “How is she?”

Shen Li: “Poisoned.”

Zhou Zilan’s face was stern. “The mansion’s control has been tight lately. How did she get poisoned? Dong Cui has been watching her, and no one approached her.”

Gu Hua frowned. “She was a gift from the Emperor. If she dies mysteriously inside the mansion, do you think someone would use it as an excuse to stir trouble?”

Shen Li suddenly stood and walked out. “I’ll check the poison source.”

Gu Hua and Zhou Zilan sat in silence, deep in thought.

Dong Mo had already sealed off the news. Only a few trusted people in the mansion knew of the incident.

Soon, Shen Li returned.

“Found it!”

He carried a handkerchief-wrapped object, which, when unwrapped, revealed a wooden hairpin identical to the one Du Yun wore.