Chapter 175 Someone Always Has to Make the First Move

Wu Miaofu frowned and said, "I know it is a restricted area, but the mistress of the State Duke's Manor is my aunt. You all know this, so please let me in!"

"No one from outside the State Duke's Manor is allowed to enter or exit at will."

The guards' attitude was extremely stern, which made Wu Miaofu even more panicked. The overwhelming sense of helplessness caused her to bite her lower lip fiercely. Her gaze fell upon the tightly closed grand gates, and she took a few steps back.

Liu'er looked worried and asked, "Miss, what should we do?"

They could not enter the State Duke's Manor, and the guards' unyielding attitude could only mean that the order had been given by Shen Yi or Madam Shen.

She turned around and said, "Let's go back first."

Ever since they moved out of the State Duke's Manor, all the servants who used to wait on them were gone. Now, there were only Liu'er and a young page who had accompanied Wu Shaozhong from Yunzhou left in her courtyard. With manpower running short, they had to handle many things themselves, which was why Wu Shaozhong was out and not in their small courtyard today.

Wu Miaofu pressed her lips together and continued, "I wonder if my father would be allowed in."

She had still harbored a sliver of hope, thinking that since Madam Shen had given them silver notes, she had not been completely heartless. However, what had just happened made her heart instantly turn cold.

Liu'er hesitated and said, "If even Master cannot get in..."

Then they would truly be at their wit's end.

Given their status, it was impossible for them to see the Second Prince in the palace. Besides, Madam Shen had clearly stated before that she would send her into the palace, yet there had been no news at all for so long, and she had no way to bring it up.

Nor was there anywhere she could voice her grievances.

She stayed in the courtyard every day, not daring to step outside. Ever since that incident occurred and she left the State Duke's Manor, she had not once crossed the threshold of the courtyard.

Whenever she went out, she could hear people talking about this matter everywhere. They said all sorts of things, mostly hurling abuses at her.

Vixen, shameless, bitch, and so on.

They said she had been driven out of the State Duke's Manor, and asked how someone like her could possibly enter the palace.

Various malicious voices rose and fell. Although she usually pretended to pay no attention to these noises, a deep resentment had accumulated in her heart, pushing her to the verge of a breakdown.

Coupled with the fact that the Second Prince seemed to have forgotten her, her anxiety grew more and more acute, which was why she had lost control and come to the State Duke's Manor today.

Liu'er bit her lip and followed closely behind Wu Miaofu, her eyes filled with worry.

Now, lacking the protection of the State Duke's Manor, they were like duckweed drifting in the capital, utterly devoid of support. The capital felt as though it could devour people alive, transforming Wu Miaofu—who had arrived here full of starlight in her eyes—into a numb puppet.

She used to yearn for the bustling capital, but after staying here for too long, she no longer wanted to remain.

She wanted to return to Yunzhou. Although it lacked the massive population and bustling prosperity of the capital, she simply wanted to go back.

However, Wu Miaofu was unwilling.

They had discussed this several times before, but she had never relented.

Liu'er let out a soft sigh, her face full of sorrow.

What would become of them in the future?

***

Before setting off for the imperial hunt, Shen Nianyun heard that Wu Shaozhong had gone to see Madam Shen to ask when Wu Miaofu would be able to enter the palace.

Hearing this, she asked curiously, "What did Mother say?"

Gu Shiyan replied leisurely, "Didn't Madam promise before that the very last thing she would do for Wu Miaofu was to help her enter the palace? Presumably, Wu Miaofu should be entering the palace very soon."

She smiled with a hint of mockery, "She is truly desperate to cling to the Second Prince. Yet she chose the wrong person from the very beginning. Surely she doesn't still think that entering the palace will bring her back from the dead? The Second Prince won't be able to stay in the palace for much longer."

Shen Nianyun thought to herself: *That idiom is actually rather fitting.*

Moreover, it was indeed true that Gu Shengyu wouldn't be able to stay in the palace for much longer. Once Xiao Yan was installed as the Crown Prince, Gu Shengyu could not possibly remain in the palace. The Emperor might bestow upon him a fief and make him an idle prince without any real power.

Compared to his ending of death in the original book, this was already much better.

That assumed, of course, that he didn't court his own destruction.

Gu Shiyan stood up and said, "Enough of that, we should get going."

She sighed, "I never liked the imperial hunt in the past, finding it boring. I didn't expect that even after getting married, I still wouldn't be able to escape it and would still have to attend."

Shen Nianyun was amused by her complaining and chuckled, "First Sister-in-law could fake an illness."

"Better not," Gu Shiyan said helplessly. "If my mother-in-law finds out, she will definitely worry. What if she sends for an imperial physician and I get exposed? That would be too awkward."

It wasn't worth the trouble.

However, she didn't mention the main reason.

She was afraid that if she claimed to feel unwell, others might mistakenly think she was pregnant. Since she and Shen Sinian had yet to consummate their marriage, that would make things even more awkward for both of them.

Shen Sinian was a decent person. Although neither of them had romantic feelings for each other, he was gentle, courteous, and treated her very well. The atmosphere in the State Duke's Manor also made her feel quite comfortable, so continuing to live here like this wouldn't be bad at all.

To avoid such an awkward scenario, she had better just go.

This year's imperial hunt was no different from previous ones, yet it also felt as though everything had changed. The Emperor did not come this year, nor did Shen Yi, so the Empress came to preside over the event. Shen Sinian and Gu Shiyan went together to pay their respects to the Empress, while Shen Jinyu had run off somewhere unknown, leaving only Gao Xueluo to accompany Shen Nianyun.

Gao Xueluo let out a soft sigh and said, "How time flies. Another year has passed."

A few days ago, she heard that Hou Lan had hosted a grand wedding for the Fifth Prince and Meng Chuyue, which showed how much importance was placed on Meng Chuyue. Hou Lan's letters had also been delivered to the capital recently, stating in them that she was doing well and telling everyone not to worry.

Shen Nianyun sat on a stone chair outside the tent, resting her chin in her hands. "Indeed."

She had been here for more than two years now, and had even attended the imperial hunt three times. A lot of things had happened over these past two years, but what made her the happiest was that everyone in the State Duke's Manor was safe and sound.

She paused slightly, turned her head, and said teasingly, "So, when are you and Liu Yuli planning to set your wedding date?"

Gao Xueluo's face flushed red, and her expression instantly became unnatural. "Who knows? I haven't thought that far ahead yet. Besides, I never said I was going to marry him."

True, she had never said it out loud, but her words and actions had long since given it away.

Shen Nianyun smiled and said, "Liu Yuli is a fine man, so stop hesitating."

Gao Xueluo lowered her gaze, and after a moment, stealthily sidled closer to Shen Nianyun. "How do you think I should hint to him and my father that I want to get married?"

She muttered under her breath, "Is he a blockhead? Only someone as patient as me would be willing to wait for him."

Having been unceremoniously fed a mouthful of romantic devotion, Shen Nianyun thought: *...*

She said helplessly, "I have no idea either. Why don't you just come right out and say it? Someone has to take the initiative."

"I certainly won't!" Gao Xueluo retorted. "How can a young lady like me take the initiative?"