Shen Munian looked up at her.
Gu Ying's face was calm as she smiled faintly, "Did Shen Captain look closely at the temple entrance earlier?"
Shen Munian's face was expressionless as he replied plainly, "I saw clearly."
Gu Ying "Mm"-ed and said, "That's good then."
With that, she went inside, and as she walked, she secretly calculated when the drug Concubine Wan had slipped her would take effect.
Yanzhi was tidying up inside, making the bed and organizing things. Seeing her mistress and Yin Lan return, she perked up the corners of her lips, "It looks like we'll be staying here another day or two, Mistress. I've sorted out the luggage and changed the bedding."
Gu Ying smiled appreciatively at Yanzhi, instructing her, "Yin Lan, go prepare a meal, I'm hungry. This afternoon, I need to get a good sleep."
Yin Lan was exasperated. "Mistress, is that tea really alright?"
Gu Ying blinked. "Even if something happens, it won't happen now. We need to eat first to have the energy to handle anything else."
Yin Lan was still anxious and tense.
Yanzhi nudged her and chuckled, "Sister Yin Lan, don't worry, our mistress has things figured out."
Yin Lan pressed her lips together. She was just worrying too much out of concern.
She knew their mistress had come here with a purpose, but when she was standing guard outside Concubine Wan's meditation room and heard her being forced to drink that cup of flower tea, her heart had clenched with worry.
It was very likely Concubine Wan's intention was to deliberately make the mistress lose her innocence here at Qingyun Temple...
And their mistress was pregnant as well...
What a beastly, less than dog-like creature Concubine Wan was!
If her aunt knew about this, she would surely flay Concubine Wan!
Yin Lan grew angrier the more she thought about it.
The mistress had really drunk that whole cup of tea... There was no telling when the drugs would kick in, or if it would affect the little prince in her womb...
She bit her lip, her mood solemn as she went to fetch food from the main kitchen.
Gu Ying stayed inside her residence the entire afternoon without coming out.
As dusk fell, she still did not emerge or even send anyone out for the evening meal.
The young Mrs. Zhang and Mrs. Li came together to chat with her, but she used the excuse of feeling unwell to decline seeing them. It was Yin Lan who stopped them at the door.
Leaving Gu Ying's residence, Little Mrs. Zhang covered her mouth and laughed. "It looks like Her Majesty's medicine worked!"
Mrs. Li snorted. "I suppose so. Did you see how dark that head maid's face looked? No idea when Prince Shu will arrive, but there's a great beauty waiting for him to enjoy in that room."
Lady Zhang said, "I heard he's already on the way here."
Mrs. Li knitted her brows. "Can His Highness really leave the palace without anyone noticing?"
As they walked towards the exit, Lady Zhang explained, "No one will realize it. His Highness accompanied the Emperor to the Imperial Ancestral Temple first, then pleaded ill health as an excuse to come here. Even if the Emperor finds out, he'll just say he came to accompany Her Majesty. His Highness and Her Majesty share a deep mother-son bond. The Emperor won't say anything."
Mrs. Li looked askance at her. "Well, aren't you well-informed."
Lady Zhang didn't respond. The corners of her lips turned up as she pointed at Gu Ying's residence, her eyes swiveling around. "That child in her belly—"
A faint, mocking smile spread across Mrs. Li's lips. "Once His Highness arrives, I'm afraid that child will be gone."
Just like how he had been so affectionate and sweet with me, but after two or three times, lost all interest.
Men are inherently contemptible like that, incapable of loving one woman for long.
What feelings could Prince Zhao possibly have for Gu Ying?
If Gu Ying became his woman tonight, I fear Prince Zhao would discard her soon after, finding her filthy and disgusting.
Mrs. Zhang scoffed. Recalling the vile tactics Prince Shu used on women in secret, her eyes filled with pity and disdain.
"Alright, alright, let's go see Her Majesty first."
The conversation Lady Zhang and Mrs Li had made Yin Lan, who was hiding nearby, break out in cold sweat.
Her heart pounded loudly. She had never felt so panicked before. As she walked back, her complexion was ghastly pale and her limbs felt soft and weak. She almost couldn't stand up straight.
Pushing open the door and entering, she saw her mistress curled up on the bed, unconscious and burning with fever. Yanzhi stood anxiously by the bedside, her little face scrunched up worriedly.
Seeing Yin Lan return, Yanzhi stammered out jerkily, "Sister Yin Lan... The mistress is unwell... It seems that tea from this afternoon really did have something wrong with it."
"As if it could be fine!" Yin Lan bit her lip. Her premonition had been right!
Yanzhi was at a complete loss standing there by the bedside. "Sister Yin Lan, what should we do?"
Yin Lan rushed over in three quick steps, touching Gu Ying's forehead. "She's burning up... It must be the drug taking effect."
Yanzhi was extremely alarmed, her little face turning ghastly white in an instant. "I wanted to go find a doctor, but the people standing guard outside wouldn't let me leave..."
"Don't panic." Yin Lan took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She couldn't lose her head, or Yanzhi would become even more bewildered. "I'll go plead with Concubine Wan right now. She can't just let the daughter-in-law of the Zhenguo Duke Manor die here at Qingyun Temple!"
Yin Lan was always more quick-witted than Yanzhi. Having her take charge helped settle Yanzhi's heart.
Gu Ying blearily opened her eyes in distress, clenching her elegant brows. Her cheeks were drenched in sweat. "Yin Lan..."
Her voice was hoarse as she softly called out.
Yin Lan immediately turned around, tightly grasping Gu Ying's hand. Her tone was grave, "Mistress, Concubine Wan designed a trap for us. Prince Shu will arrive soon..." Arriving to...
Such vile matters were too unspeakable for Yin Lan to elaborate on. "...Mistress, can you still get up? With Yanzhi and I assisting you, and Master Shen's help protecting you, we will definitely find a way to escape with you."
Gu Ying's lips were pallid. She slowly shook her head. "I have no strength left in my body now... I cannot walk anymore... The prince and His Majesty are on their way to Qingyun Temple. You and Yanzhi should split up, one of you go plead with Concubine Wan, the other think of a way to get word out to the prince and his men..."
After saying all this, she had nearly spent the last of her energy.
Gasping for breath, she leaned heavily into her pillow. Her complexion like icy jade took on a faint crimson flush. Her petite face was so red it resembled a winter plum blossom. In the dim candlelight, her countenance brimmed with allure and passion.
One look and anyone could tell this was no ordinary drug. If Prince Shu arrived and saw the mistress in this state... How could she possibly survive?!
