lcionline Chapter 354 Zheng State Envoy
Chapter 354 Zheng State Envoy
“Du Ruoling, I’ve said it before,” he said, each word clear and distinct, “it’s completely over between us.”
"The end?" Du Ruoling's voice suddenly rose, her eyes flashing with hurt and disbelief. "Last night we..."
“Last night was a mistake,” Gu Chengan said coldly, avoiding her gaze as he fastened his belt. “It was because I drank too much, and it was also because of you…”
He didn't finish his sentence, but the accusation in his words was obvious.
Du Ruoling's face turned pale instantly. She took a step back, her body trembling slightly.
Stung by the indifference in his eyes, a strong sense of resentment and humiliation welled up in her heart.
Why? Why did he still push her away even after she had set aside her pride and used underhanded tactics?
"Gu Cheng'an!" She gritted her teeth, her voice suddenly becoming sharp.
"Don't forget, I'm no longer that powerless maid! I'm a princess personally appointed by the late emperor!"
She stepped forward with a resolute determination, as if she had nothing to lose.
"You slept with the princess, don't you have to take responsibility?"
Gu Cheng'an stopped moving completely. He slowly turned around, his face expressionless, only a deathly indifference.
"Take responsibility?" He seemed to have heard a joke, a mocking smile curving his lips.
“If I were to take this matter to the Emperor,” Du Ruoling looked at him, a threatening glint in her eyes, “do you think you’d still be alive?”
"Given the current state of the Gu family, do you think the new emperor will protect you, or will he use you as a scapegoat to appease me, a princess who has rendered meritorious service?"
Gu Chengan watched her quietly, seeing the anger, grievance, and threat intertwined on her face, and the last bit of warmth in his heart completely dissipated.
He suddenly felt both ridiculous and pathetic.
“My life,” he said calmly, even with a hint of indifference, “you can take it anytime you want.”
After saying that, he stopped looking at her, straightened the last wrinkle in his robe, and walked straight towards the door.
"Gu Cheng'an!" Du Ruoling cried out shrilly behind him.
Without stopping, he pushed open the door and walked out without looking back.
The door closed gently behind him, separating the two worlds.
Du Ruoling stood frozen in place, staring at the tightly closed door, as if all the strength in her body had been drained away.
Tears finally broke free and silently streamed down her cheeks.
She didn't understand, she really didn't understand.
“Cheng’an…”
She collapsed to the ground, her voice choked with sobs, filled with endless grievances.
"I only made a mistake once... just once... why... why can't I have another chance?"
In the empty room, only her suppressed sobs echoed repeatedly, with no one answering.
The day after tomorrow will be the wedding day of Chu Yueshu and Ying Qing.
The entire Chu family compound was brightly decorated and filled with joy, a stark contrast to the gloom in some corners.
In the courtyard, servants hurried along, carrying red silk decorations for the occasion, their faces beaming with genuine smiles.
Chu Ruohan, her belly already showing, was directing her maid to place a pot of blooming peonies in a more prominent position.
Chu Yueshu, with her sharp eyes, quickly went to meet her and carefully helped her up.
"Sister, please sit down and rest. Let them do these small things."
Without saying a word, she pressed Chu Ruohan down onto a stone bench.
Chu's mother also rushed over upon hearing the commotion, and scolded, "Yue Shu is right, your body is getting heavier and heavier, be careful not to upset the baby. Everything at home is almost ready, you don't need to worry about it."
Chu Ruohan felt the movements of the fetus in her womb, a gentle smile on her face.
"I just came back to visit and share in Yue Shu's joy. It's boring to stay cooped up in the mansion all day."
Chu Yueshu glanced around the courtyard, a hint of doubt in her eyes.
"By the way, where's your brother-in-law? Why didn't he come back with you?"
Chu's mother chimed in, "Yes, how could he let you go out alone with your pregnant belly?"
Chu Ruohan smiled helplessly and explained, "Today, the envoys from Zheng arrived in the capital, and His Majesty ordered him to personally go to the city gate to greet them. He couldn't get away."
"An envoy from Zheng?" Chu Yueshu's eyes lit up. "Could it be..."
Chu's mother also looked at Chu Ruohan, and the same thought arose in her mind: "Could it be that Yun-ge'er has arrived?"
Chu Ruohan shook her head slightly, her tone tinged with uncertainty: "I don't think so..."
“Yun’er is still too young to take on the important task of an envoy. He is most likely a high-ranking official from the Zheng Kingdom.”
Even so, a hint of longing lingered deep in her eyes.
At the same time, outside the majestic city gates of the capital, a line of elite honor guards slowly came to a stop.
With flags fluttering and armor gleaming, it was the envoys from the State of Zheng.
The curtain of a luxurious carriage in the middle of the procession was suddenly lifted, and a small, exquisitely beautiful figure nimbly jumped down.
He was wearing an exquisite brocade robe and was about five or six years old.
The little guy immediately spotted Gu Junze, who was standing not far away, dressed in official robes and exuding a cool and aloof air.
"Dad—!" A clear and loud child's voice broke the slightly serious atmosphere.
He took short strides and ran towards Gu Junze.
Gu Junze was exchanging information with officials from the Ministry of Rites when he heard the call. He turned around abruptly, his eyes flashing with extreme astonishment.
When they finally saw the small figure rushing towards them, all their composure vanished instantly.
He strode forward, bent down and caught the little guy who jumped into his arms, then lifted him high, his strong arms supporting him steadily.
"Yun-ge'er?"
Gu Junze's voice was filled with disbelief and surprise, "How could it be you?"
The little guy was lifted high, giggling, his little hands tightly wrapped around Gu Junze's neck, complaining in a childish voice.
"You and Mother won't go to Zheng to find Yun'er. Yun'er misses you so much in the palace! So I begged my brother, and he couldn't refuse me, so he let me come with the envoys!"
His big, round eyes looked around, but he couldn't find that familiar figure, so he immediately pouted.
"Father, where is Mother? Why didn't she come to pick me up? Doesn't she miss Yun'er?"
Gu Junze's heart softened. He put his son down, squatted down to look him in the eye, and spoke gently.
"Your mother was busy with your aunt's wedding at the Chu family. She had no idea that the envoy from Zheng would be my precious son."
"Then let's hurry and go find Mommy!" The little guy excitedly tugged at Gu Junze's sleeve, wishing he could fly to Chu Ruohan immediately.
“Your Highness,” Zheng Guo’s guard reminded him, “according to etiquette, we must first enter the palace to pay our respects to His Majesty the Emperor of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.”
"Oh……"
Upon hearing this, Yun-ge'er's eyes, which had just been shining brightly, instantly dimmed, and his little head drooped.
Gu Junze found it somewhat amusing to look at his son's expression.
He gently stroked Yun'er's soft hair and said in a low voice, "My dear Yun'er, let's go to the palace to take care of business first. When we get back tonight, we'll give your mother an even bigger surprise, okay?"
Yun-ge nodded vigorously: "Mmm..."