eurekapd Chapter 543: Facing Difficulties Without Fear
Chapter 543: Facing Difficulties Without Fear
Upon seeing this, the palace maids all stopped in their tracks, their faces showing concern.
"Young lady, what's wrong?" one of the palace maids asked.
Fang Xiaoxiao frowned and pretended to be weak, saying, "I...I suddenly have a stomachache. Is there a latrine nearby?" The palace maids pointed in the direction, and Fang Xiaoxiao quickly thanked them, clutching her stomach as she hurried away, secretly relieved that she had gotten away with it.
"That was close, we almost got exposed. Looks like we need to be more careful."
Having finally shaken off the palace maids, Fang Xiaoxiao quickened her pace.
When she finally saw the walls of the East Palace, a surge of joy welled up in her heart. "We're almost there, Pei Yan. I'll be able to see you soon and get everything sorted out."
However, before she could rejoice for long, she heard a shout. It turned out that a troop of cavalry was entering through the palace gate next to her, the sound of their hooves shaking the ground.
Fang Xiaoxiao quickly hid in the shadows and watched the cavalry march past in a grand procession.
"With so many people, if they find out, I won't be able to explain myself." She hid in the shadows, not daring to breathe, until the cavalrymen completely disappeared from sight.
After the cavalrymen had passed, Fang Xiaoxiao emerged from the shadows and headed towards the entrance of the East Palace.
At this time, there didn't seem to be many people in the East Palace. Fang Xiaoxiao smoothly passed through the courtyards and headed towards Pei Yan's bedroom.
Just as she was about to reach her bedchamber, she suddenly heard footsteps.
She was startled. "Why are there guards again? Has someone discovered me?" She quickly hid behind a pillar.
Several guards were patrolling by. Fang Xiaoxiao held her breath and waited until they were far away before cautiously peeking out. She patted her chest, secretly glad that she had reacted quickly.
She then continued walking towards the bedchamber, her nervousness and anticipation growing stronger.
"Pei Yan, I want to see what you're really thinking," she thought to herself, quickening her pace.
Finally, she arrived at the door of the bedchamber. After hesitating for a moment, she reached out and pushed the door open...
Fang Xiaoxiao pushed open the door to the bedroom, but the room was empty; there was no sign of Pei Yan.
Her heart sank, she bit her lip, turned around and went out the door again.
Inside the Eastern Palace, she wandered around like a headless fly, her steps hurried and her eyes filled with anxiety.
"Pei Yan, where are you?" she kept repeating to herself.
Every time she passed a room, she would peek inside, but all she saw were empty rooms or unfamiliar faces.
At this moment, the Eastern Palace felt like a giant maze, trapping her inside, leaving her with no way out. Beads of sweat gradually appeared on her forehead, and her breathing became rapid.
"Why can't I find him? Is he not in the East Palace?" A sense of despair welled up in her heart, and her steps slowed down.
Just when she was about to give up, a palace maid walked towards her.
Fang Xiao's eyes lit up, and she quickly stepped forward, grabbed the maid's sleeve, and asked eagerly, "Excuse me, where is His Highness the Crown Prince?"
The palace maid was startled and looked her up and down. When she saw the token in the maid's hand, she gave a slight curtsy and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince is in the back garden."
Fang Xiao was overjoyed and quickly let go of the palace maid's sleeve, running towards the back garden.
All the way there, her heart was filled with anticipation, imagining the scene when she saw Pei Yan. Perhaps he would be surprised, perhaps he would be happy, or perhaps...
Finally, she arrived at the back garden.
The garden was full of beautiful flowers, but Fang Xiaoxiao had no heart to appreciate it.
Her eyes searched the garden anxiously, and finally, she saw that familiar figure.
Pei Yan was standing by the lake with his back to her, his posture upright.
Fang Xiaoxiao's lips curled up slightly. Just as she was about to call out to him, she saw a figure walk out from beside Pei Yan.
That was Mu Wanyun, the daughter of the Duke of Qing. She was wearing a gorgeous pink silk dress, a gold hairpin in her hair, and her makeup was exquisite.
When Mu Wanyun saw Fang Xiaoxiao, a hint of disdain flashed in her eyes, and a mocking smile curled at the corner of her mouth.
She slowly walked up to Fang Xiaoxiao, scrutinizing her from head to toe as if examining a lowly object, her eyes filled with undisguised contempt and disgust.
"Oh ho, who do we have here? Isn't this the arrogant Miss Fang? She's really persistent. Even at this point, she still has the nerve to brazenly come to the East Palace."
Mu Wanyun's voice was sharp and piercing, like the hooting of a night owl, every word carrying deep malice, "What, do you think that with the pitiful favor His Highness the Crown Prince once gave you, you can run rampant in this Eastern Palace? How utterly laughable."
She paused, crossed her arms, her eyes full of mocking laughter, and continued, "Don't you even look at yourself? You come from a humble background and have a lowly status. You're nothing but a woman who can't be presented to the world. How dare you talk about love with His Highness the Crown Prince?"
His Highness the Crown Prince was just having a whim, trying to amuse himself with you. Do you really think you're something special?
Fang Xiaoxiao's lips trembled slightly as she tried to retort, but Mu Wanyun interrupted her.
"Now that His Highness the Crown Prince is about to marry me, I am the future mistress of this Eastern Palace and the rightful Crown Princess."
You're nothing but a pathetic abandoned wretch, still clinging on here. It's shameful. Don't you know your place? Do you really think you can fight me?
Mu Wanyun sneered contemptuously, her eyes full of smugness. "If you know what's good for you, get out of here and don't get in my way, or you'll sully this place of the Eastern Palace."
Mu Wanyun's words were like sharp daggers, piercing Fang Xiaoxiao's heart. Her body trembled slightly, her face turned as pale as paper, and her lips were bloodless.
She never expected that after going through so much trouble to find Pei Yan, she would not be greeted by Pei Yan's smiling face, but by Mu Wanyun's vicious, aggressive, and cold mockery.
At this moment, Pei Yan slowly turned around and saw Fang Xiaoxiao. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly returned to his indifference.
Looking into Pei Yan's eyes, Fang Xiaoxiao's last glimmer of hope was completely shattered.
Looking at Pei Yan's indifferent eyes, Fang Xiaoxiao's last glimmer of hope vanished completely.
The sweetness and warmth of the past seemed to have never existed. At this moment, Pei Yan was like a stranger, making her feel extremely unfamiliar and heartbroken.
Since that was the case, she had no more reservations.
Faced with Mu Wanyun's vicious insults and mockery, Fang Xiaoxiao slightly raised her chin, a sharp eagle-like light flashing in her eyes, and coldly spoke, her voice as cold as ice: "Miss Mu, you keep saying that I am lowly, but who is really lowly?"
Your sycophantic, bullying attitude is truly disgusting. Do you think that by relying on the Duke of Qing's power and currying favor with the Crown Prince, you can rise to the top and become superior to others?
Don't be naive! Know that the cheapest things in this world are relationships built on self-interest. How is your behavior any different from that of a sycophant who "drives a carriage without a whip—only flattering the horse"?