Liu Ruyan paused in her steps.
After much thought, she turned around.
Frowning, she asked, "How can you help me?"
Ruan Jiu didn't answer. Instead, she poured a cup of tea and pushed the teacup forward.
Liu Ruyan sat down again but didn't pick up the teacup.
She still looked on guard.
Ruan Jiu smiled and said, "As far as I know, Prime Minister Gu hasn't visited your chamber for a long time, has he?"
Hearing this, a flash of hatred passed through Liu Ruyan's eyes.
Since that little bitch entered the mansion, the prime minister had rarely doted on her.
Even when he came to her chamber, that little bitch would find ways to call the prime minister away.
She was once the famous courtesan in the capital, yet she couldn't hold onto a man!
This feeling was even more disgusting than eating shit.
Ruan Jiu continued, "As long as you trust me, I can not only help you regain Prime Minister Gu's favor but also help you bring down Concubine Wen."
Seeing Liu Ruyan's hesitant expression, Ruan Jiu added, "Concubine Wen is now pregnant. If you don't seize this opportunity, you may soon have no place in the prime minister's mansion."
Hearing this, Liu Ruyan couldn't help clenching her fists.
The servants in the prime minister's mansion were all snobbish.
She had no family support. If she lost the prime minister's heart, she would find it difficult to move forward in the mansion.
Those concubines she had offended when she was in favor might even sell her to a brothel.
At this moment, Liu Ruyan's heart wavered.
But...
Frowning, she asked, "But why do you want to help me?"
"You know that the relationship between the Shen family and the prime minister's mansion is not good. But Prime Minister Gu has great power. Our Shen family also wants to have a confidant in the prime minister's mansion.
In case there are any misunderstandings between the Shen family and Prime Minister Gu in the future, there will be someone to put in a good word for us beside the prime minister.
Rather than saying I'm helping you, it's better to say I'm seeking a way out for the Shen family."
Liu Ruyan's eyebrows gradually relaxed.
So that's the case.
Finally, she let down her guard and looked at Ruan Jiu expectantly. "Then tell me quickly what I should do."
Ruan Jiu waved to Liu Ruyan. "Come closer and I'll tell you slowly."
Liu Ruyan leaned forward.
After hearing Ruan Jiu's plan, the light in her eyes grew brighter.
After she finished speaking, Ruan Jiu took out a black box and placed it in front of Liu Ruyan. "Then I'll be waiting for good news from Concubine Liu."
Then, Liu Ruyan picked up the teacup on the table. "Thank you, Miss Ruan."
The two teacups clinked, making a crisp sound.
It was as if this deal had been finalized.
-
After returning to the prime minister's mansion, Liu Ruyan did as Ruan Jiu had said.
She changed into a thin white feather - yarn dress and waited on the path that Gu Kexing must pass on his way back to the study.
In the moonlight, Liu Ruyan danced lightly.
Her sleeves swept across the flowerbed beside her, and countless fireflies flew into the sky.
At this moment, Liu Ruyan was like a fairy, which made Gu Kexing stare in a daze.
He couldn't help walking forward to take a closer look at this fairy.
Then, an alluring fragrance wafted into Gu Kexing's nose.
When he saw the fairy's face clearly, Gu Kexing felt a heat rising in his body, and the lust in his eyes could no longer be suppressed.
He walked straight forward, picked up Liu Ruyan in his arms, and walked into the chamber.
For the next few days, Gu Kexing stayed in Liu Ruyan's chamber.
He enjoyed the soft embrace every night.
But this made Wen Xi grind her teeth in hatred.
She had finally got out of prison. Now that she was pregnant, she couldn't let Gu Kexing's heart be stolen by Liu Ruyan at this time.
One day.
As soon as Gu Kexing returned to the mansion, he went directly to Liu Ruyan's chamber.
He didn't know why, but these days he couldn't stop thinking about Liu Ruyan.
He wished he could show his prowess every day.
However, this made him feel as if he had regained the wild energy of his youth.
After a passionate encounter, Liu Ruyan lay on Gu Kexing's chest.
In a coquettish voice, she said, "My lord, my birthday is coming soon. Could my lord hold a birthday banquet for me?"
Gu Kexing thought for a while and replied, "Since you want it, then do as you wish."
"I was thinking that there was some unpleasantness between my lord and the Shen family a few days ago. Why not take this opportunity to invite the female members of the Shen family to the banquet to ease the relationship with the Shen family."
Hearing this, Gu Kexing frowned tightly.
This was indeed a good excuse to show goodwill to the Shen family.
However, if this was the case, Wen Xi's identity could no longer be hidden.
Seeing Gu Kexing's hesitation, Liu Ruyan quickly said, "My lord can also use this banquet to test the attitude of the Shen family.
If the Shen family also intends to make friends with my lord, with the help of the Shen family, my lord will surely rise to great heights in the court in the future."
A flash of light appeared in Gu Kexing's eyes.
This was a good idea.
If the Shen family didn't know what was good for them, then there was no need to keep them.
As for Wen Xi's identity, since he had the ability to keep Wen Xi in the mansion, he wasn't afraid of the Shen family finding out.
Gu Kexing grabbed Liu Ruyan's slender waist. "You are really my understanding flower."
Liu Ruyan blushed and smiled shyly.
Just then, there was a sudden and urgent knock on the door.
His mood was interrupted, and Gu Kexing angrily roared, "What is it?"
"My lord, Concubine Wen said her stomach hurts and asked you to go to her chamber quickly."
Hearing this, all the lust in Gu Kexing's eyes disappeared.
He had gone to so much trouble to rescue her from prison for the sake of the child in her womb.
There mustn't be any mistakes!
So, he immediately got up.
Liu Ruyan wasn't angry. She gently helped Gu Kexing get dressed.
This made Gu Kexing feel a bit ashamed.
"I'll come to see you tomorrow."
"My lord, I understand. Now that there are few heirs in the prime minister's mansion, the child in Concubine Wen's womb is the most important. My lord should spend more time with Concubine Wen." Liu Ruyan said softly.
Then, Liu Ruyan took out a sachet. "This is a sachet I made for my lord with my own hands. When I'm not by my lord's side to serve, let this sachet accompany my lord for me."
Gu Kexing looked at Liu Ruyan.
Why hadn't he noticed before that Liu Ruyan was so gentle and sensible?
So, he took the sachet and tied it to his waist.
After Gu Kexing left, Liu Ruyan sat in front of the bronze mirror.
The maid Xiaolan helped her comb her soft black hair.
"I don't think Concubine Wen really has a stomachache. She just deliberately called the prime minister away from your chamber!" Xiaolan said indignantly on Liu Ruyan's behalf.
Liu Ruyan smiled faintly.
Xiaolan continued to mutter, "You should have asked the prime minister to stay, miss. Now that the prime minister has gone to her chamber, who knows when he'll remember you."
"Let the prime minister stay with her for a few more days."
After saying that, Liu Ruyan thought for a while and then said, "Xiaolan, later you secretly throw away all that ylang - ylang incense."
Xiaolan exclaimed, "Throw it all away?"
Although she didn't know where Concubine Liu got this ylang - ylang incense, it was thanks to this incense that she had been favored by the prime minister every night.
She had just managed to win back the prime minister's heart. Why throw it away?
Liu Ruyan nodded with a smile.
"But..."
Xiaolan wanted to persuade her, but was interrupted by Liu Ruyan.
"Do as I say."
Ruan Jiu had told her that relying on aphrodisiac incense to gain favor was not a long - term solution.
Once Gu Kexing's body developed a resistance to the ylang - ylang incense, she would never have another chance.
Liu Ruyan looked at herself in the bronze mirror.
Her slender fingers gently touched her willow - leaf eyebrows.
The corners of her lips curled up.
"Wen Xi, let's see how long you can be so smug."