Chapter 272 opened a door, allowing for more deliveries.

Su Wuli listened to his words but did not respond.

He continued, "I was thinking that the Prince's mansion was short-handed, so I brought this to serve the Prince tea and water."

That's what they say, but everyone knows that's not what they mean.

Su Wuli glanced at the woman subconsciously; she was beautiful with striking features.

He then looked away and said directly, "The prince is not in the manor."

Upon hearing this, Gu Mingyuan looked around and indeed did not see Yu Chen anywhere.

His gaze lingered on Su Wuli's face for two seconds, as if trying to read something from her expression.

But Su Wuli's face remained expressionless at this moment.

Gu Mingyuan smiled and said, "What bad luck. I guess I'll have to come another day."

He turned to leave.

The woman quickly followed in his footsteps.

Gu Mingyuan took two steps and then stopped, turning back to look at Su Wuli with a smile.

"If Miss Su finds it suitable, she can keep it by her side to serve her."

Su Wuli looked at the other person, whose smile was obvious but did not reach their eyes.

His gaze shifted from Gu Mingyuan's face to the woman, and then back to Gu Mingyuan's face.

"No need, thank you."

After saying that, she turned and left.

Chuhe and Qiaosheng followed behind, their pace much faster than when they arrived.

Gu Mingyuan was still standing in the same spot, sunlight shining through the pillars, hiding half of his face in shadow.

The smile faded on the other half of his face, but the corners of his mouth were still slightly upturned.

He smiled as he watched Su Wuli's figure disappear through the corridor and turn the moon gate.

He then turned around and saw the woman he had brought was still standing behind him with her head down.

A hint of smugness flashed in his eyes.

This woman was someone he had specifically chosen; although she was far less attractive than the previous one.

But they share a similar temperament.

Once a man makes a mistake, he'll keep tearing it open.

I knew from the last time I saw that tooth mark on his chin that the prince wasn't indifferent to women, he just hadn't met the right one.

Now that we've encountered this opportunity, the door has been opened.

If we widen this opening a little more, things will be much easier from here on out.

He beckoned to the woman, who walked over with her head down and stood in front of him.

She called out "cousin" in a soft, gentle voice.

Gu Mingyuan responded and was about to speak.

But then they suddenly saw Yu Chen walking in through the main gate.

Gu Mingyuan's eyes lit up; this was just the right time.

Heaven is on his side.

Yu Chen saw the person standing in the front hall, but his face remained expressionless.

Her gaze swept over Gu Mingyuan, and she noticed that he was not alone.

The woman looked up and her eyes lit up the moment she saw Yu Chen.

Her lips parted slightly and then closed again, and her eyelashes trembled several times as she lowered her head.

His fingers were clenched tightly inside his sleeve, until his knuckles turned white.

Gu Mingyuan didn't rush to introduce himself.

As Yu Chen approached, he immediately put on a prepared smile and greeted him with a bow.

They exchanged polite greetings about a few mundane official matters in the court.

The two walked forward, one in front of the other.

Gu Mingyuan always lagged behind Yu Chen by half a step, and all he talked about were trivial matters.

Yu Chen strode forward, while Gu Mingyuan's pace slowed by half a beat.

The woman was following behind with her head down, twisting a handkerchief in her hand.

The sunlight shone down, outlining her silhouette with a soft edge.

Yu Chen did not stop as he passed by her, and went in to sit down directly.

Gu Mingyuan followed from behind, his gaze falling on the woman.

As if just noticing her, he exclaimed, "Cousin?"

He exclaimed in surprise, then turned to Yu Chen.

With a hint of apology on his face, he said, "Your Highness, please forgive me. This is my distant cousin, Shen Yi'er. Her family has suffered a misfortune and she is temporarily staying at my residence. I brought her out today to relax."

Yu Chen parted his lips indifferently, "Has Lord Gu taken his leisurely stroll to my residence?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Mingyuan's smile froze. "Your subject dares not."

Yu Chen glanced at him but didn't say anything.

Gu Mingyuan continued.

"I heard a while ago that a young lady was staying at Your Highness's residence. I thought she was about the same age as my cousin and Miss Su, but I never expected..."

He paused deliberately, a hint of difficulty on his face.

Upon hearing this, Yu Chen's gaze fell on Shen Yi'er, and his brows furrowed.

His tone turned colder. "You've seen him?"

Gu Mingyuan looked somewhat apologetic.

"Miss Su was probably a little shy. She left before she could even say a word to my cousin. My cousin, on the other hand, really liked Miss Su and kept saying she wanted to chat with her."

Yu Chen lowered his eyes slightly, his hand resting on the armrest of the chair, his fingertips gently rubbing it.

Gu Mingyuan stole a glance and felt a glimmer of hope.

If it were before, and someone were brought directly to the mansion, Yu Chen wouldn't say a word and would simply have them thrown out.

It seems she really likes this type.

His confidence immediately surged, and he continued.

My cousin is quiet and doesn't bother people.

Upon hearing the voice, Shen Yi'er slowly raised her head and secretly glanced at the man in the main seat.

She glanced at him and then lowered her head as if she were shy.

"Cousin, come and greet the Prince." Gu Mingyuan spoke up at the right time.

Upon hearing this, Shen Yi'er immediately held her breath and stepped forward with her wildly beating heart.

She crouched down to pay her respects, her movements very light, the hem of her skirt brushing the ground without making a sound.

Gu Mingyuan turned to her and said, "Alright, go wait outside first."

Stop when the time is right; don't go too far.

"Yes," Shen Yi'er replied weakly, and took a step to leave.

The handkerchief in her hand suddenly slipped from her grasp, and she quickly bent down to catch it.

The handkerchief was very light, and because of her movement, it floated upwards and forwards.

Shen Yi'er stepped forward and grabbed the handkerchief, but her fingertips touched the hem of the man's outer robe sitting in the main seat.

She recoiled as if she had been burned.

He lowered his head and stepped back, then quickly left the front hall.

Gu Mingyuan watched her figure disappear before turning back.

"My cousin has had a hard life. Her parents died early, and she lived with relatives. This made her very timid. She doesn't dare to say much, and if you tell her to go east, she won't go west. She's good at needlework and brews tea well, but she just can't use the new tea sets in your house—"

He observed Yu Chen's expression as he spoke.

A hint of coldness flashed across Yu Chen's face, and Gu Mingyuan swallowed back what he was about to say.

He changed his words, saying, "I have spoken out of turn, Your Highness, please forgive me."

Despite his expression, Gu Mingyuan did not think that this was a bad thing.

This King Yama has always had such a cold face, never easily letting anyone glimpse his true emotions.

As long as Yu Chen glances at her, his gift is complete.

Gu Mingyuan wasn't in a hurry. The door had already been opened, and what he needed to do was not to stuff women into the palace.

It was to get Yu Chen used to having women around him.

If this doesn't look right, then let's try another one.

If they don't accept it this time, then we'll just send it a few more times.

There will always be a time when you find the right opportunity.

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