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Long Yi's actions successfully shocked everyone.
No one expected Long Yi to act so abnormally. Princess Xinyang asked him to give the box to the Crown Princess, but instead of giving it to her, he handed it over to a stranger.
The impatient attitude he displayed seemed as if he despised the Crown Princess.
Although Long Yi didn't think so, others couldn’t help but think that way. The Crown Princess might not have come from a high background, but through years of relentless effort, she had earned a respected position that commanded the admiration of many.
She wasn’t only the virtuous wife of the Crown Prince but also a strategist of the East Palace. Her status was crucial, and it had been a long time since she had been treated this way.
Her face was burning, and the word "embarrassed" couldn't begin to describe what she felt.
Gu Jiao, who was blocked by Long Yi, was no less surprised than the Crown Princess.
How could she run into this Dragon Shadow Guard even in the palace?
What kind of ill-fated relationship was this?
Gu Jiao deeply resented being forcefully handed the box. She wondered if this guy had brought a whole box full of charcoal pencils just to tease her.
Could she refuse?
Gu Jiao promptly took a big step back and tossed the box back at him!
She didn't want it!
The Crown Princess was on the verge of passing out!
The thing she could never even think of, this girl actually refused it!
It wasn't that the Crown Princess coveted a Thousand-Year-Old Lingzhi; what she wanted was Princess Xinyang's heartfelt gesture. Unexpectedly, someone didn't take it seriously!
The Crown Princess's expression became even more difficult to maintain.
Princess Xinyang glanced in the direction of Long Yi and Gu Jiao, pondered for a moment, and said to Yu Jin, "It's been several years since I returned to the capital, and there are quite a few new faces in the palace. Yu Jin, go and invite her over."
"Yes." Yu Jin slightly bowed and walked down the steps.
Gu Jiao caught a glimpse of her.
Yu Jin was different from most court ladies in the palace. Her temperament was ingrained in her bones. Today, she wasn't wearing a veil, which diminished some of the mysterious beauty she had but added a touch of a court lady’s dignified grace.
She stood before Gu Jiao, smiling slightly as she politely said, "Young miss, my Princess requests your presence."
My princess?
If this lady claimed to be a princess herself, Gu Jiao wouldn't doubt it. Could such an extraordinary person really be just a court lady serving a certain princess?
Come to think of it, Gu Jiao hadn't seen any imperial princesses. They were all married and no longer resided in the imperial palace.
She didn't know which princess the lady referred to.
Gu Jiao walked with her towards the pavilion.
Once again, Long Yi handed her the box by grasping her hand and forcing her to hold onto the box.
Yu Jin looked at the two of them.
Gu Jiao wore an innocent expression. She truly didn’t mean this to happen.
Yu Jin smiled, seemingly unconcerned, and gestured to the steps, "Young miss, please."
Gu Jiao ascended the steps and entered the pavilion.
The Crown Princess was there as well.
However, Gu Jiao didn't pay any attention to her at all. From the moment she stepped into the pavilion, her gaze was captivated by Princess Xinyang within.
She wore a plain white fitted silk dress with a semi-transparent golden chiffon outer garment, exuding elegance, grandeur, and a unique charm.
Her attire wasn't ostentatious, but rather, it seemed as if she had the bearing of a phoenix, emanating an inherent noble air.
No wonder a lady like that would willingly bend her knee and be her servant.
This princess truly deserved it.
Gu Jiao was stunned by the other party’s beauty.
But at the same time, she felt a slight sense of familiarity, as if she had seen this face somewhere before.
It wasn’t surprising that Gu Jiao failed to remember at the moment. After all, in that residence on Zhuque Street, she only saw half of the other party’s pale face and it was only for a very short moment.
Today, Princess Xinyang appeared in magnificent attire with exquisite makeup, showing no signs of illness.
The Crown Princess introduced, "Young Miss Gu, this is Princess Xinyang."
Princess… Xin...Yang?
Gu Jiao's eyes widened in surprise.
The Crown Princess continued, "Princess Xinyang, this is Young Miss Gu, daughter of the Marquis Ding'an Estate."
"It's been a few years, and you've changed quite a bit in appearance." Princess Xinyang said. She had seen Gu Jinyu before, but they weren't acquainted.
The Crown Princess carefully explained, "This is the eldest daughter of Marquis Ding'an Estate. She grew up among the common people and only recently returned to the capital. Gu Jinyu is the second young miss of Marquis Ding'an Estate."
Princess Xinyang wasn't interested in other people's private matters. She just wanted to see who caught Long Yi's interest.
She looked at Gu Jiao and asked, "Has Long Yi met you before?"
Long Yi?
That Dragon Shadow Guard was named Long Yi?
She couldn't even name herself "Dragon Soaring the Sky"(Long Aotian) in the underground arena, claiming it would offend the Emperor. Yet this guy could just be called Long Yi.(Dragon One)
It must be awesome to have a powerful backer!
"I haven't met him." Gu Jiao said calmly. She couldn't reveal her involvement in the underground arena. After all, she was still waiting to reap benefits from the Crown Prince.
Besides, the Dragon Shadow Guards didn’t speak. It was impossible for him to expose her on the spot.
Princess Xinyang's gaze stayed fixed on Long Yi's face. Naturally, she wouldn't believe everything Gu Jiao said. She wanted to hear Long Yi's response.
But she also understood that Long Yi wouldn't communicate with her.
The Dragon Shadow Guards were the most trusted dark guards of their masters. They knew all their master's secrets. If they fell into the wrong hands, the consequences would be dire.
Therefore, to prevent any potential problems, the late Emperor trained the Dragon Shadow Guards to be silent and uncommunicative tools.
However, Princess Xinyang didn't think that Long Yi had ever met the daughter of Marquis Ding'an Estate. Long Yi had always stayed by her side, and the only time he went out was to escort Yu Jin to the underground arena to buy medicine.
A prestigious young lady from a noble family wouldn't go to such a place.
Then, Long Yi simply didn't want to give it to the Crown Princess, but he couldn't just not give the token of gratitude. Therefore, he randomly handed it to a passerby?
Princess Xinyang couldn't figure it out. She wasn't bold enough to consider the possibility of Long Yi allowing a complete stranger into her room to treat her and change her medicine.
Gu Jiao placed the brocade box back on the table.
Princess Xinyang stopped her and said, "Since Long Yi intended to give it to you, then you should accept it."
But she didn't want to accept it. What if she accepted it and he forced her to empty the box of charcoal pencils?
"Well... Thank you."
She would accept it for now and then throw it away later. There was no way she would let him force her to break these charcoal pencils again!
"I shall take my leave. You two can continue your conversation." Gu Jiao wanted to make a quick exit to prevent this guy named Long Yi from catching up and forcing her to break these charcoal pencils!
Gu Jiao came to the palace to get things, but now she couldn’t bother to do so. She turned around and quickly headed out of the palace!
She swiftly boarded a carriage, intending to see just how many charcoal pencils that guy had prepared for her. But when she opened the box, she found a top-quality Thousand-Year-Old Lingzhi inside.
She had never seen such a good Lingzhi in her two lifetimes.
Gu Jiao was bewildered.Raz P.'s Thoughts
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