Cefei's Rise to Prominence Record - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Zhou Yun returned to the Chuxiu Palace when the night was dark.

Noble Consort Zhen specifically instructed people to use her own ceremonial sedan to carry Zhou Yun back, as soon as the sedan left, Fu Ling walked in with an unpleasant expression, whispering something into Noble Consort Zhen’s ear.

Suddenly, Noble Consort Zhen’s eyebrows slightly furrowed, she hesitated for a long time, before slowly shaking her head.

Zhou Yun didn’t know what had happened in the Jujiao Palace, when she returned to the Chuxiu Palace, she saw the little palace maid who usually served her anxiously waiting at the palace gate.

She was a bit puzzled, “Why are you waiting here?”

The little palace maid hurried over when she saw her, “Little master Zhou, you’re finally back! Please go in and take a look, Little master Gu has had an accident!”

Zhou Yun’s face suddenly changed, ignoring the injury on her foot, she immediately pushed open the door and went in.

The commotion in the courtyard suddenly stopped, everyone turned to look at the door, a few people’s faces changed slightly, Gu Yan was surrounded in the middle, when she saw her, her eyes lit up slightly, and then dimmed again.

Zhou Yun looked at the scene in front of her, and for a moment, she was almost so angry that she lost her composure.

She didn’t expect that after just going out for a while, something would happen.

Zhou Yun looked up and saw that the door to her room was wide open, her bed was in disarray, if it was just this, considering the draft period, she might not be so angry.

However, the situation was more than just that.

However, Zhou Yun looked at Gu Yan, and called out in confusion, “Elder Sister Gu?”

Gu Yan forced a smile on her lips, and then subtly shook her head at her.

Indicating that she shouldn’t interfere in this matter.

Zhou Yun pretended not to see it, the little palace maid had already told her roughly what had happened, Zhang Huashang lost a jade bracelet, and it was eventually found on Elder Sister Gu.

Some people said that they saw Elder Sister Gu pick up the jade bracelet from her bed.

But Elder Sister Gu denied it vehemently.

Regarding this, Zhou Yun naturally believed those people.

Otherwise, why would her bed be in disarray?

Moreover, as the legitimate granddaughter of the Duke’s mansion, Gu Yan had seen many good things, would she covet Zhang’s broken jade bracelet?

If this goes on, Elder Sister Gu will definitely be sent out of the palace with the crime of theft.

Not being selected is one thing, but if Elder Sister Gu is labeled as a thief in the palace, her whole life will be ruined.

Just then, Zhou Yun heard Zhang Huashang say slowly, “If this jade bracelet was mine, and Miss Gu likes it, I wouldn’t mind giving it to Miss Gu, but this was just awarded by the Empress a few days ago, I’m not in a position to make decisions about it.”

The tone was neither fast nor slow.

Zhou Yun pursed her lips tightly, once it involved the several masters in the palace, this matter naturally couldn’t be resolved easily.

“Elder Sister Gu wouldn’t covet your bracelet, do you think the National Duke’s mansion is some kind of worthless place?”

When she heard the words “National Duke’s mansion”, Zhang Huashang’s eyes flashed slightly, and then she shook her head and said, “Miss Zhou, don’t try to use the National Duke’s mansion to pressure me, I don’t want to make things difficult for Miss Gu, but the jade bracelet was found on Miss Gu, there are witnesses and evidence, Miss Zhou’s words are a bit too overbearing.”

As soon as she finished speaking, someone interjected, “The National Duke’s mansion is indeed rich and noble, but…”

Before the words were finished, the person covered her mouth, and a hint of disdain flashed across her eyes.

These words were like a sharp blade, directly stabbing Gu Yan’s heart, and it was fatal.

In an instant, her face lost all color, her body trembled slightly, and she turned her head away, unable to bear the humiliation.

At that moment, Zhou Yun felt heartbroken for her, since two years ago, after Gu Yan’s parents passed away, and Second Master Gu became the heir, Gu Yan’s situation in the mansion and in the capital had taken a turn for the worse.

The people who used to show respect to Gu Yan could now freely belittle her with their words.

Two years ago, Elder Sister Gu protected her in every way, now she couldn’t bear to see Elder Sister Gu being wronged, she glared at the person who spoke:

“Master Gu and his Wife died for the country, and she’s the only daughter they left behind, how could you bully her like this? If I see the Emperor tomorrow in my aunt’s palace, I’ll definitely report Miss Yang’s words to the Emperor!”

Yang Yun’s face turned slightly pale, and she quickly bowed to Zhou Yun, “What did Elder Sister Zhou mean? I respect Master Gu in my heart, how could I bully Miss Gu? Elder Sister Zhou must have misunderstood.”

Although she said this, she secretly resented Zhou Yun for relying on her power to bully others.

In the past, she relied on Gu Yan’s power, and now that she’s in the palace, she relies on her aunt being the Noble Consort, and she’s unreasonable everywhere.

Zhou Yun supported Gu Yan, and suddenly felt the fine sweat on her palm, her eyes were slightly moist, she knew that even if she mentioned her aunt, she couldn’t help Elder Sister Gu today.

Zhang Huashang’s words about the witnesses and evidence, she couldn’t refute, and if she said more, she would probably be accused of relying on her power to bully others.

She tightened her grip on Gu Yan’s hand, urging her, “Elder Sister Gu, say something, what’s going on?”

Zhang Huashang smiled gently, obviously waiting for Gu Yan to speak.

However, Gu Yan just gave Zhang Huashang a cold look, and refused to speak.

——

In the room, Gu Yan was packing her bags, Zhou Yun stood at the door, watching her motionless, her face turned pale and cold.

After a long time, she said, “Elder Sister Gu, why didn’t you say a word just now?”

Gu Yan guessed what she was thinking with just one glance, and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

Since the changes in her family, she had experienced the fickleness of human relationships in a short period of time, and only the person in front of her still treated her as before.

She couldn’t help but comfort her in a low voice, “Yun’er, don’t think too much, it’s better this way, I’m not suitable for the Imperial family.”

When she said this, Gu Yan’s eyes flashed slightly, and she didn’t continue, entering the palace draft was never her wish, during the initial selection, she was extremely low-key, but she still passed.

Her parents had given their all for the country, and the royal family wouldn’t mistreat her, even for the sake of reputation, which was why her grandmother had her enter the palace for draft.

Hearing this, Zhou Yun bit her lip, and lowered her voice, “How can it be the same?”

She knew that Elder Sister Gu didn’t want to enter the palace for selection, but being eliminated in the final selection and being sent out of the palace with a bad reputation, how could these two things be the same?

Thinking this, she was about to stand up and go out, Gu Yan guessed what she was going to do, and immediately grabbed her, “Yun’er!”

“This selection is hosted by the Empress, and Zhang Huashang is the Empress’s niece, don’t make things difficult for Noble Consort because of me.”

Zhou Yun was anxious and spoke recklessly, “What about you? How can I be at ease with you being eliminated like this?”

Gu Yan didn’t answer this question, but tightened her grip on her hand, and instructed her word by word, “Zhang Huashang and Zhuang Yisui have always been at odds with you, after I’m gone, you must be careful around them.”

Finally, she emphasized, “Yun’er, aren’t you listening to me?”

Zhou Yun’s eyes turned red, when her father returned to the capital to resume his post, she followed him, if it wasn’t for Gu Yan, who was the daughter of the heir of the National Duke’s mansion at that time, protecting her everywhere, she wouldn’t have had peace back then.

Outside, the momo urged her, a person who made a mistake didn’t even have the qualifications to spend the night in the palace.

Zhou Yun wanted to follow, but was blocked by the momo, “It’s late at night, Little master Zhou, please stay.”

Gu Yan was accompanied by only one package and one palace maid, who led the way.

Zhou Yun’s fingers gripping the door frame turned white, she gritted her teeth hard to restrain her impulse.

In the courtyard, Zhang Huashang stood far away in the long corridor, Yang Yun smiled lightly behind her, “These two are indeed close like sisters.”

After speaking, she furrowed her brow and added, “It’s just a pity…”

Pity what?
Zhang Huashang knew in her heart.

Today’s incident wasn’t targeting Gu Yan, but Zhou Yun was always so lucky, why did so many people help her?

Good luck that made people jealous.

She casually glanced at Zhou Yun, but happened to meet Zhou Yun’s gaze, making Zhang Huashang’s heart skip a beat.

Apart from Zhou Yun having a good aunt, Zhang Huashang didn’t think much of Zhou Yun, thinking she was too showy, and her personality wasn’t very likable.

But, thinking of Zhou Yun’s gaze just now, Zhang Huashang’s eyes lingered slightly, and she furrowed her brow uneasily.

——
In the Jujiao Palace, Noble Consort Zhen leaned on the soft couch, Fu Ling lifted the bead curtain and walked in.

“Miss Gu has left the palace.”

The hall was silent, and the palace maids were all quiet as if they were frozen.

After a long time, Noble Consort Zhen closed her eyes and said slowly, “You see, people forget as time passes, the memorial tablet had just been placed in the Gu family’s ancestral hall for a short time, and now the only daughter is being bullied by others.”

“I’m not sure if it’s worth it.”

Fu Ling didn’t respond, whether it was worth it or not, no one could measure, she just said, “The Miss must be extremely sad.”

The Miss and Miss Gu were always close, and now Miss Gu was sent out of the palace because of her, not to mention sadness, just the self-blame would be enough to make the miss uncomfortable.

The hall’s windows weren’t closed tightly, a gust of cold wind blew in, Noble Consort Zhen suddenly coughed violently, her body trembled slightly, her face turned an unusual shade of red, and she finally fell onto the soft couch.

Fu Ling was scared and her face turned deathly pale.

Noble Consort Zhen just laughed softly, “This Palace body is getting old, it’s clear that it’s no longer useful.”

“Even if I’m sorry to that Miss Gu, This Palace still have to pave the way for Yun’er.”

She had a cold glint in her eyes, “The rest, forget about it.”

Gu Yan was now in a difficult situation, but her status was already high, and the Emperor would definitely not mistreat Gu Yan, given the contributions of the Gu family.

If she entered the final selection, she would definitely surpass the other ladies.

After a while, Noble Consort Zhen pushed away Fu Ling’s hand that was supporting her, “Miss Gu is leaving the palace due to illness, send someone to escort her back to her mansion, don’t be negligent.”

No matter what, leaving the palace due to illness was much better than being expelled from the palace with a bad reputation.

Fu Ling was a bit surprised, but also felt it was expected, she retreated silently and passed on the Noble Consort’s instructions.