Chapter 307: Only Seen Two or Three Times

Gu Fei shook her head. "No need to change. This is perfectly fine."

Lan Zhi didn’t understand Gu Fei’s reasoning, but since she said so, she obediently got into the carriage.

Inside the carriage, Lan Zhi was frantic with anxiety, clinging to Gu Fei like a startled bird.

An hour later, the carriage arrived at the Prince Qi Mansion. It entered through a side gate and stopped at the second gate.

As they stepped out of the carriage, two matrons came from the second gate and led them toward the main courtyard.

Upon reaching the main courtyard, a maid went inside to announce their arrival. Afterward, two other maids led them in.

The moment they stepped inside, before Gu Fei and Lan Zhi could get a clear look at the furnishings, a matron snapped, "Why are you not kneeling before the Princess Consort?"

Gu Fei and Lan Zhi had no choice but to kneel.

Then, a calm, unhurried voice drifted down from the head of the room. "Raise your heads. Let me see you—"

Gu Fei and Lan Zhi looked up simultaneously.

Holding a teacup, Princess Qi’s gaze immediately landed on Gu Fei’s face.

’What an absolute beauty.’

’She looked young and was rather slight of frame, but her beauty was unlike any I have ever seen.’

’I have always prided myself on my looks, but compared to her, even my younger self pales in comparison.’

Princess Qi’s gaze lingered on Gu Fei’s face for a long moment before shifting to Lan Zhi.

’She’s also a beauty.’

’Just dressed in rags, like some country girl.’

Princess Qi asked impassively, "Which of you is Miss Gu? And which is Lan Zhi?"

Gu Fei bowed her head. "I am Gu Fei."

Lan Zhi also bowed her head. "I am Mu Lanzhi."

Princess Qi’s brow twitched slightly. ’I had assumed the stunning one was Lan Zhi. I didn’t expect it to be the other girl.’

"Tell me, how did you come to know the Young Master Heir? And did he truly pay for Lan Zhi’s release?"

Princess Qi had not bid them rise, so Gu Fei dared not stand. She answered from her kneeling position, "To answer the Princess Consort."

"I met the Young Master Heir in West Qin County."

"My father and I went to the Imperial Music Bureau that day, hoping to secure Lan Zhi’s release. But to our surprise, a servant at the entrance beat my father and me. The Young Master Heir was just leaving at that moment. He stopped the servant and saved us."

"So I pleaded with the Young Master Heir to secure Miss Lan Zhi’s release for me. The Young Master Heir, being chivalrous and eager to help those in need, sent Brother Stone to arrange it."

Princess Qi, seated in the place of honor, waited a moment. When Gu Fei fell silent, she spoke again. "If you are from West Qin County, how is it that you have come to Ping’an City?"

Gu Fei replied, "There was a severe drought in my home region, and the harvests failed completely. Left with no choice, my family fled the famine and eventually settled here in Ping’an City."

A slight sneer touched Princess Qi’s lips. ’She must have come here deliberately for Yu’er.’

’When fleeing a famine, you can go anywhere. Why, of all places, did she have to come to Ping’an City?’

"Recently, I opened an inn on Furong Street and happened to encounter the Young Master Heir on the street. Grateful for his kindness and with no other way to repay him, I invited him to my inn for a meal."

"In truth, I have only met the Young Master Heir two or three times. We have had no other interactions."

She paused before adding, "My maid, Lan Zhi, has never even exchanged a single word with the Young Master Heir."

With her eight years of memories from the Marquis Mansion, Gu Fei knew perfectly well that matriarchs like this hated nothing more than maids who tried to seduce their sons.

’That must be why she and Lan Zhi were summoned today—the Princess Consort is afraid we’ve seduced the Young Master Heir.’

Princess Qi scoffed lightly. "So, you’re saying my Yu’er was simply being kind and helping you out? Then why are there such rumors flying about outside?"