RPAGF Chapter 73 Seeing how good other men's women are, especially during arguments.
Chapter 73 Seeing how good other men's women are, especially during arguments.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a wonderful day for family reunion. The Empress Dowager has also returned from Wuyi Mountain. The Emperor ordered that officials of the fifth rank and above bring their families to the palace for a lively celebration.
Chu Ruohan sat quietly in front of her dressing table, her thoughts drifting back to the scene of her first visit to the palace.
The Empress Dowager's cold and warning tone still echoed clearly in her ears, making her feel resistant to entering the palace from the bottom of her heart.
However, as the Crown Prince's wife, attending the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet at the palace was an inescapable rule.
Meanwhile, a completely different scene unfolded in Gu Cheng'an's courtyard.
Ever since his outburst at Hongmeng Academy, Gu Cheng'an has ignored Du Ruoling, as if she had become invisible.
In her opinion, it was Lin Xingyao and Chu Ruohan, those two "bitches," who stole Gu Cheng'an's heart.
In order to save Gu Cheng'an on this special day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Du Ruoling specially made fresh meat mooncakes herself.
In this era, people only know about sweet mooncakes; the taste of savory mooncakes is novel and unfamiliar.
She eagerly anticipated Gu Cheng'an's surprised expression after tasting it, hoping that this opportunity would allow the two to reconcile and rekindle their past sweetness.
However, when she learned that Gu Cheng'an was going to enter the palace with Lin Xingyao, all her hopes were instantly shattered.
Mid-Autumn Festival is a day for family reunion, but Gu Cheng'an is going to the palace to reunite with another woman.
The thought that Lin Xingyao was Gu Cheng'an's nominal wife made her feel incredibly bitter...
It overwhelmed her like a tidal wave.
Seeing Gu Cheng'an preparing to leave, Du Ruoling could no longer contain her anger and grievances. She rushed forward and opened her arms to block his way.
"You're not allowed to go!" Du Ruoling's face was full of anger, her voice trembling slightly and filled with a resolute determination.
Gu Cheng'an was startled by the sudden obstruction, and a hint of impatience and anger immediately appeared on his face: "Du Ruoling, what are you doing? Don't cause trouble here!"
Du Ruoling seemed not to hear, tears welling up in her eyes and sliding down her cheeks: "Why are you always so heartless? I have given so much for you, but you only have eyes for other people."
"It's Mid-Autumn Festival today, can't you stay and keep me company?"
Gu Cheng'an frowned, a hint of annoyance flashing in his eyes. He sighed helplessly, "Going to the palace today is a preordained event. I will come back to be with you as soon as possible."
Du Ruoling sensed the perfunctory tone in his words; indeed, when a man no longer loves you, he'll find you annoying.
"I put a lot of effort into making these mooncakes, hoping to celebrate the festival with you..."
Gu Cheng'an glanced down at the mooncake in her hand, his eyes showing a slight emotion, but he quickly regained his composure.
"But what has happened today cannot be changed. Father is still waiting, my dear."
After saying that, he ignored Du Ruoling's attempts to stop him, walked straight past her, and headed for the door.
Du Ruoling stood there blankly, watching his figure recede into the distance. The mooncake in her hand fell to the ground, and her heart seemed to shatter into countless pieces.
She chased after him and saw Lin Xingyao standing beside him, the warm sun shining on them, like a perfect couple.
Since becoming pregnant, Lin Xingyao has kept to herself and stayed in her own courtyard to rest and prepare for childbirth, isolating herself from the disturbances of the outside world.
The resentment in Du Ruoling's heart grew wildly like weeds.
She stood in the corner, her eyes fixed on Lin Xingyao's slightly protruding belly, her gaze seemingly able to penetrate her clothes, as if she wanted to poke two holes in it to vent her hatred.
Du Ruoling rushed forward like a madwoman, her hair disheveled as she ran, but Lin Xingyao's head maidservant quickly stopped her.
"Lin Xingyao, you bitch!" Du Ruoling roared, pointing her finger at Lin Xingyao, "It's all because of you that Gu Cheng'an is so heartless to me!"
Her voice was sharp and shrill, drawing the attention of the servants around her.
Lin Xingyao was startled by the sudden attack and instinctively took a step back, a look of fear on her face.
She clutched her abdomen tightly, staring at Du Ruoling with a dark expression and surging anger in her eyes.
"Insubordination, she should be..."
Before she could finish speaking, Gu Cheng'an rushed forward and slapped Du Ruoling across the face. "Are you crazy?"
His voice was full of rebuke, but his hands, hanging down in his sleeves, trembled slightly.
Was I too strong? Her face was red and swollen.
If he didn't slap her, Lin Xingyao probably wouldn't let it go.
The same leverage cannot be used to threaten someone once, and it cannot be used to threaten them a second time...
Du Ruoling was stunned by the slap. The burning pain on her cheek brought her back to her senses, and her eyes were filled with disbelief and grievance.
"I'm insane! I gave you everything, and this is how you treat me! You two scoundrels, I won't let you get away with this!"
As she spoke, she stretched out her hands and waved them, trying to hit Gu Cheng'an, completely losing her temper.
Gu Cheng'an hugged Du Ruoling tightly, stopping her crazy actions.
He leaned close to her ear and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "I was wrong. I'll come back and let you punish me, okay?"
At this moment, the steward of the Marquis's mansion rushed over. Seeing the chaotic scene, he hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Second Young Master, today is the day to enter the palace. Don't be late. The Marquis is waiting!"
Du Ruoling didn't listen to him at all; she continued to cry and fuss, immersed in her own pain and anger.
Gu Cheng'an sighed helplessly, feeling a little regretful, but he was now in a bind and could only grit his teeth and continue to scold: "Hurry up and go back to your courtyard. Without my permission, you are not allowed to step out of the door even once."
Gu Cheng'an waved his hand, and two old women came forward, supporting Du Ruoling as they walked back.
She kept muttering, "Why, why did this happen..."
Only after Du Ruoling's struggling figure disappeared into the distance did Gu Cheng'an turn around, his eyes full of apology as he looked at Lin Xingyao.
"Are you alright? Don't take it to heart. It's my fault for not keeping a close eye on her."
Lin Xingyao gave him a cold look. "If there's a next time, I'll make her disappear without a trace."
Upon hearing Lin Xingyao's cold words, Gu Cheng'an knew that she was not just saying it for show.
He frowned slightly, a hint of annoyance in his eyes. "I will definitely keep her in check, and there will be no next time."
After saying that, he left directly.
Lin Xingyao gave a soft snort, reached out and stroked her slightly protruding belly, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in her eyes.
As Gu Cheng'an approached the gate of the mansion, he glanced up and saw Chu Ruohan boarding the carriage. He paused instinctively.
She felt inexplicably irritated. If he hadn't faked his death back then, she would be his wife now.
Then none of these messy things would happen.
The moment the thought popped into his head, Gu Cheng'an was startled. How could he suddenly have such an absurd idea?
Chu Ruohan is now his elder brother's wife. He rarely sees her. He has only delivered medicine to Hongmeng Academy twice, and other than that, they have no other interaction.
Gu Cheng'an shook his head, clearly flustered and confused by Du Ruoling's outburst earlier.
In addition, there was Lin Xingyao, who was eyeing him covetously, by his side.
This caused him to lose his composure for a moment and have these inappropriate thoughts.
He took a deep breath, then strode towards his carriage, wondering how he could appease Ling'er tonight and calm her down...