Chapter 787: Unexpected Exposure

Zu'an was speechless. He thought, "Empress Sister, you could also be a bit more manipulative and alluring; I'd like that too." Unfortunately, he would never dare to say such words to her, otherwise, his life might truly be in danger.

Coming back to his senses, his gaze towards Bi Linglong became somewhat playful. This woman was rather interesting.

"Why are you staring at me like that? Do I have something on my face?" Bi Linglong asked, instinctively touching her cheek as she felt his gaze.

Zu'an smiled and replied, "Yes, your face has flowers on it, more beautiful than all the peach blossoms in the sky."

Bi Linglong never expected such direct and ardent praise from him and was flustered for a moment. "You're too bold. I've already emphasized to you that just because *that* happened, you shouldn't think you can have any improper thoughts about me..." As she spoke, she felt it sounded too stiff. The man now held immense value worthy of her investment, so she quickly explained, "Mainly, if such words were overheard by a third party, it would cause great trouble not only for you but for me as well. So don't blame me for being upset."

Zu'an chuckled wryly. "You've misunderstood. I was simply sincerely praising your beauty, with no other intentions." This woman was quite duplicitous; she said she was angry, yet he didn't receive any anger points from her in his system.

Bi Linglong's cheeks were faintly flushed. "That's good then."

A silence fell between them again, but her heart couldn't settle. Why was this man no longer calling her "Crown Princess," but instead using "you" and "I"? Should she be a bit colder and distance herself from him? Yet, his performance on the academy's back mountain proved he was no ordinary person. If she couldn't win him over and befriend him while he was at a low point, the effort might be less effective in the future. But surely she couldn't resort to a honey trap, could she?

Bi Linglong had never been so conflicted. She was, in fact, a born politician. Despite her young age, her ability to suppress and win over her subordinates over the years was exceptionally skillful. Yet, these tactics always seemed insufficient when dealing with Zu'an. Ultimately, it was that incident that prevented her from facing him with a normal mindset.

The two walked side-by-side along the tree-lined path, their shoulders brushing faintly a few times. Bi Linglong couldn't help but recall how Zu'an had held her when she was completely undressed; her skin almost took on the color of peach blossoms.

"Crown Princess!" The voice of her maid, Rong Mo, came from not far away. Bi Linglong let out a sigh of relief. At the same time, the bashfulness on her face instantly vanished, replaced by the solemn elegance of the Crown Princess she usually displayed.

"Oh, Master Zu?" Seeing Zu'an beside her, Rong Mo couldn't help but look surprised.

Bi Linglong said, "I happened to run into Master Zu in the back mountain just now, and we're heading back together."

Rong Mo didn't press further. "Yes!" she replied, simultaneously lifting the carriage curtain for Bi Linglong.

Bi Linglong bent down to enter the carriage. She had originally intended to invite Zu'an in, as a sign of favor, but quickly realized that doing so would easily invite gossip. So she changed her words: "Master Zu is injured, so please sit at the front of the carriage. You can drive for me."

The eunuchs and guards around them all glanced sideways, each casting an envious look at Zu'an.

Zu'an, however, gave a wry smile. High-ranking individuals in this era often used personal tasks like having subordinates drive carriages or stand guard while they used the latrine, to show intimacy and win loyalty. But to him, it's simply being a coachman, and it was hard to feel grateful for that. Of course, he also understood Bi Linglong's good intentions and wouldn't mistake her actions as an insult.

Driving it is, then. It's better than walking. Hmm, one day I'll openly sit inside the carriage with her.

He then jumped onto the front of the carriage, took a small whip, and gave the horse a sharp crack on its flank. The horse whinnied in pain and galloped off at full speed.

Seeing this, the other guards and eunuchs rushed to chase after them. "Master Zu, slow down, slow down!"

Inside the carriage, Bi Linglong also stumbled. The carriage she usually rode in was always steady; she had never experienced such a wild ride.

Rong Mo, beside her, gripped the window frame tightly, complaining, "Crown Princess, look how improper this fellow is. Who drives a carriage like this?"

Bi Linglong brushed away her disheveled hair with a hand, a faint smile playing on her lips. "On the contrary, I find ordinary rides a bit boring. This is quite interesting."

Rong Mo's mouth hung open wide as she stared at her mistress in shock, feeling that she had changed a great deal.

Feeling that they had left the guards behind, Bi Linglong lifted the carriage curtain. The strong wind that met her made her dark hair dance. "Master Zu, you are injured. Let's take you home to rest."

Rong Mo was startled and quickly tried to dissuade her. "Crown Princess, please reconsider. There's no precedent for you personally escorting a subject home. If word gets out, there will be no end to gossip, especially since the two of you just... " She didn't dare to finish her sentence, but her meaning was clear.

Bi Linglong frowned slightly, knowing that Rong Mo's words were not without reason. The two of them had just been involved in such a scandal. Although the storm had passed, her timely efforts to win Zu'an over could be explained as a clear conscience. But if she was too enthusiastic, it might very well backfire.

Just as she was in a dilemma, Zu'an said with a smile, "If the Crown Princess personally escorts me home, it would be 'killing me with kindness.' In just a few days, I'd be torn apart by jealous people. How about I escort the Crown Princess back to the palace instead?"

Bi Linglong secretly breathed a sigh of relief. This fellow was indeed very considerate. "Mm, that's good too. We can also make a quick stop at the Imperial Hospital to get some medicinal herbs for Master Zu to recover from his injuries."

Zu'an had originally intended to refuse, but then he suddenly thought that he would need a large quantity of medicinal herbs for his upcoming alchemy, many of which were not easy to obtain. It would be good to find some at the Imperial Hospital.

All the way to the palace, Bi Linglong personally led Zu'an to the Imperial Hospital. Ma An, the chief physician of the Imperial Hospital, rushed out upon hearing the news. "Your humble servant greets the Crown Princess."

Bi Linglong nodded slightly in response. "Chief Ma, you may dispense with the formalities. I came today to look for some healing medicines."

"What kind of medicine does the Crown Princess desire?" Ma An asked.

"I need..." Bi Linglong opened her mouth but suddenly paused, then looked inquiringly at Zu'an.

Zu'an replied, "I need Sky Crane Ganoderma, Red Star Jade, and Purple Cloud Spirit Flower. Do you have them here?" These were all essential ingredients for refining the Primal Gathering Pill, and relatively rare and precious.

A hint of suspicion arose in Ma An's heart. These medicinal herbs were not for healing; they seemed more like ingredients for refining breakthrough pills for cultivators. However, he didn't say this in front of the Crown Princess. "We have Sky Crane Ganoderma and Red Star Jade, but not Purple Cloud Spirit Flower."

Bi Linglong hummed in affirmation. "Then prepare some for me. I'll take them."

"Yes," Ma An respectfully replied. He quickly went to prepare the requested herbs and then eagerly handed them to her.

"Thank you, Chief Ma." Bi Linglong did not take them herself but had Rong Mo, who was nearby, hold them. Then she turned and left with her retinue.

After leaving the Imperial Hospital, Bi Linglong took the Sky Crane Ganoderma and Red Star Jade from Rong Mo and handed them to Zu'an. "Master Zu, please go back and rest well to recover from your injuries. Don't exert yourself by running around."

"Thank you, Crown Princess." Zu'an felt a warmth in his heart. Although this woman had many tricks up her sleeve, she was genuinely good to him.

At this moment, in a distant pavilion of the Imperial Hospital, a pair of jealous eyes hid behind a window.

"How could I, the esteemed chief physician of the Imperial Hospital, be less important than a young lad?" It wasn't that he harbored any romantic thoughts about the Crown Princess; it was simply that he respectfully handed the items to her, only for her to casually have a maid take them, and then personally hand them over to another man, which made him very displeased.

"It seems that rumor in the palace last time might indeed be true," Ma An muttered to himself. "Then why is Zu'an fine? Couldn't even the Embroidered Uniform Guard investigate it?"

"Wait, I remember the Crown Princess also came to ask for medicine to heal the soul for Gold Medallion Eleven last time, and this time she asked for other precious herbs for Zu'an. How similar these two instances are! No wonder the Embroidered Uniform Guard couldn't find anything. If Zu'an is Gold Medallion Eleven, then everything makes sense!"