newbobooks Chapter 373 He's really lived a long time; he's seen all sorts of strange and unusual peop
Chapter 373 He's really lived a long time; he's seen all sorts of strange and unusual peop
She knew Du Ruoling's personality too well; she was arrogant and domineering, and had never been so humble before.
Judging from their behavior today, they must be up to some wicked scheme again.
But then again, given Du Ruoling's unusual thought process, whether I directly refused or indirectly rejected her, she would probably find a way to use it against me.
If a scene breaks out on the spot, it will be the General's Mansion that suffers the embarrassment.
You really do encounter all sorts of strange and unusual people and things when you live a long life.
Chu Ruohan felt helpless, but she could only maintain a calm expression and gestured to Yuling: "Since it is the princess's kind intention, please accept it."
Yuling stepped forward and took the snack box.
Chu Ruohan picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and waited for Du Ruoling to explain her purpose.
However, Du Ruoling acted as if she had only come to "visit" and "apologize".
After accepting the snacks, she remained seated, showing no intention of leaving. Instead, she continued to chat idly, making small talk.
Chu Ruohan listened patiently for a few minutes, but her head started to ache even more.
She took a deep breath, put down her teacup, looked at Du Ruoling, and decided to act decisively.
"Do you want to go see Gu Cheng'an?"
Upon hearing Chu Ruohan's words, Du Ruoling paused slightly in her seated posture.
She looked up at Chu Ruohan, a fleeting look of surprise flashing across her eyes, which was quickly replaced by a deliberately composed calm.
Go see Gu Cheng'an?
That was, of course, her ultimate goal.
I just didn't expect that it would be Chu Ruohan who brought it up first.
That's good, it saves her the trouble of making excuses herself.
Du Ruoling sneered inwardly, but on her face, she showed just the right amount of hesitation and embarrassment.
She frowned slightly, as if she were thinking seriously, and after a moment she spoke with some uncertainty.
"Is this... convenient? I'm afraid it will disturb Cheng'an's recovery."
She deliberately exuded a sense of familiarity, yet also a hint of cautious probing.
Chu Ruohan found it amusing; this woman's ability to change her expression was becoming increasingly sophisticated.
"Your Highness is too kind." Chu Ruohan's tone was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger. "Gu Cheng'an's injuries are no longer serious, he just needs to rest. Since Your Highness has come, it is only natural to visit him."
She passed the message in a lukewarm manner, neither extending a warm invitation nor deliberately stopping the conversation.
This is exactly the stepping stone that Du Ruoling wanted.
She stood up, straightened her skirt, and wore a slightly forced smile.
“Since the general’s wife says so, then I shall go and see. But… what if he doesn’t want to see me…”
She didn't finish her sentence, but her hesitant expression carried a hint of pitifulness.
Chu Ruohan did not respond, but simply picked up her teacup and gestured to Yuling.
“Send the princess there.”
"Thank you for your trouble." Du Ruoling nodded slightly, no longer looking at Chu Ruohan, and turned to follow Yuling outside.
Leaving the side hall and walking along the corridor leading to Gu Cheng'an's courtyard, Du Ruoling's gentleness and hesitation vanished instantly, replaced by a cold calculation.
Gu's mother's words echoed in his ears once again.
"Play hard to get...provoke him...make him feel threatened..."
We can't keep pestering them like before.
She took a deep breath, adjusted her pace and expression, and tried to make herself look less anxious and humble than before.
Soon, Gu Cheng'an's tightly closed door came into view.
Two unfamiliar guards stood at the entrance, their expressions solemn.
Yu Ling stepped forward, about to report.
"Wait," Du Ruoling called out to stop her.
Yu Ling and the guards both looked at her with some confusion.
Du Ruoling took two steps forward and stopped a few steps away from the door.
She didn't try to push the door open or shout as usual, but calmly addressed the two guards in a clear, cold voice, with the poise befitting a princess.
"Please inform her that Princess Anping has come to visit the Second Young Master."
Her gaze did not fall on the closed door, but on a peony in the courtyard.
It seemed that the flowers were more interesting to her than the people inside the door.
"If the Second Young Master is resting or unable to receive guests, there is no need to disturb him. I can come another day."
After saying that, she stood there quietly admiring the peony in full bloom, without making any further movements or saying anything.
The guards exchanged glances, somewhat unsure of what the princess was up to today.
One of them did as instructed, turned around and knocked on the door, and whispered, "Second Young Master, Princess Anping has arrived and said she wants to visit you. She said that if it is inconvenient for you, she will come another day."
The room was completely silent.
After a moment, Gu Cheng'an's slightly hoarse voice, tinged with obvious impatience, rang out: "I won't see her! Let her go!"
An expected answer.
Normally, upon hearing these words, Du Ruoling would definitely lose control, either crying and making a scene or trying to force her way in.
But today, she merely turned her head slightly, listening to the guard relay Gu Cheng'an's words.
"Princess, the second young master..." the guard said hesitantly.
Du Ruoling, however, seemed unaffected. She turned around, her face even bearing a faint, almost imperceptible smile.
"I understand." She nodded, her tone unusually calm. "Since it's inconvenient for the Second Young Master, then I won't bother you any longer."
She didn't even glance at the closed door again, as if the resolute voice from before wasn't directed at her.
"Thank you all for your trouble." She nodded slightly to the guards and Yu Ling, then turned around, lifted her skirt neatly, and walked back the way she came.
That figure was upright, composed, and even carried a touch of nonchalance that he hadn't shown before.
The guards at the gate and Yu Ling were both stunned.
Leaving now?
She didn't cry or make a fuss, and didn't even utter a single complaint?
Is this still the same Princess Anping who cried and begged at the door yesterday, only to have the second young master throw medicine all over her and leave in a sorry state?
Inside the room, Gu Cheng'an listened to the footsteps fading away outside and frowned slightly.
They left so easily?
That's not like her at all.
A flicker of doubt crossed his mind, but it was quickly replaced by irritation.
It's good that they left; it saves me from all this trouble.
He turned over, trying to close his eyes and rest, but Du Ruoling's calm tone from earlier kept replaying in his mind.
Something seems... off.