The Treacherous Concubine’s Guide To Whitewashing

Chapter 16, Pt 1 - Shortcuts

The two looked at each other for a moment. Making sure that she was no longer screeching, Gu Yi released her.

Yuan Luo saw the visible teeth marks on his fingers with traces of blood in the indentations and was somewhat embarrassed by her actions.

Yuan Luo broke the strange silence which had fallen between them. "Why are you here?"

Gu Yi looked at her sharply. "Do you know me?"

He didn’t recognize her! Weren’t the eyes of the male protagonist from the original story supposed to be so lightning sharp as to see even the finest of details? Perhaps her appearance had simply changed too much. After all, imperial concubines were all golden hairpins and magnificent clothing with conspicuous amounts of makeup. Now that she was impersonating Li Jie Yu, her face was presented without obvious artifice and was covered in various scars.

Secretly delighted, Yuan Luo suppressed those thoughts and nodded, feigning tranquility. "I had heard that young General Gu was assigned to the imperial guard and the first time I saw you was from a distance when I went out previously. I merely didn’t expect to see you here." She answered vaguely, but Gu Yi automatically assumed the course of events. The disposal of Gu's family was a major event in the imperial court and for someone of the palace to know the circumstances was quite normal.

Gu Yi replied solemnly, "I apologize. The young lady must be startled."

It really was quite frightening!

Yuan Luo had at last made sure that Yuxiu Palace wasn’t haunted. While a part of her was relieved, a ball of fire broke out in her heart when she considered her previous gaffe.

You really don’t know how to mind your own business. Why is he burning ritual paper here in the middle of the night? Is an imperial guard’s job so leisurely?

Yuan Luo was very annoyed, but she dared not say anything out of the fear of revealing herself.

In silence, Gu Yi glanced at Yuan Luo again. In the light of the fire, he could see her face clearly. Yuan Luo’s appearance, while somewhat familiar, left a deep impression of a strong, beautiful complexion, yet somehow more exquisite. It was unfortunate that the scars and dark spots diminished her overall presence to by 20-30%.

Startled by the apprehensive look in his eyes, Yuan Luo involuntarily took a step back.

"Wait a minute..." Gu Yi's reminder was a little too late. Yuan Luo stepped on the small basket.

The ritual money was spilled on the ground and a sudden gust of wind scattered it in all directions.

Depressed, Gu Yi stepped forward and leaned over to pick up the paper.

Yuan Luo hesitated for only a moment before she followed him and bent to retrieve some also.

A pile of paper money was formed to the side of the small basket and she discovered belatedly that there were several small cakes in the bottom of the basket.

Was this for a memorial service offering? His preparation was indeed thorough, only… "You actually burned paper money in the palace. This is a serious crime!" Yuan Luo reminded him.

The imperial palace had always forbidden memorial services held within its walls, because it was suspected that they were cursing the nobles instead. Also, the memorial service Gu Yi held would have been for no one other than Gu Liang Yong who had already been convicted of a crime. This would only add to that crime.

Gu Yi looked at her. His glance had slightly chilled.

An unexpected gust of wind caused Yuan Luo to shiver uncontrollably.

Suddenly she realized that there was something more terrifying than encountering a ghost.

There were only the two of them alone in this huge palace. Li Jie Yu had long ago fallen out of favor. If she were to silently die some day in the palace, no would would suspect a thing.

On the other side of this undergrowth was Hanyue Lake. If Li Jie Yu accidentally fell into the lake while walking on the road...

She wasn’t maliciously making idle conjecture against the male lead. In the original book, the male protagonist’s way of doing anything was full of hostility and darkness. Once he had lead an entire group of soldiers into a trap for bullying him. Another time, he had personally tortured and killed one unfortunate person who had mistakenly thought he was a beautiful woman and had tried to violate him. His methods against his enemies were even more vicious and he had killed countless of those. His fame in the borderland battlefield had spread far and wide.

Yuan Luo’s blood rand cold and she stealthily took two steps backward.

Directly in front of her, Gu Yi tossed more ritual money into the fire. Suddenly he looked at her. "The young lady is going to report me?"

"No, I’m not, I won’t! Don’t talk nonsense!" Yuan Luo shook her head at one.

"Then I ask the young lady to stay for now," Gu Yi said courteously, but there was a chill to his words that refused her to disobeyed them.

The circumstances were stronger than a person’s effort. For the sake of personal safety, Yuan Luo had no choice but to stop moving. She stood by the undergrowth and watched Gu Yi silently send sheets of paper money into the fire. The flames immediately rose up and the bright blaze was reflected on his face, making the outline of his handsomeness more and more profound.

The redness of his eyes reminded her of the ghost sounds she had heard before.

This guy hadn’t been secretly crying, right?

Yuan Luo’s heart was slightly moved and in order to dissolve the stiff atmosphere said, "Actually, you don't have to take risks like this. Regardless of whether you use this method or not, as long as you sincerely desire to pass your intention to your loved ones, what does that compare with these objects? Perhaps crying would transmit to that world more easily for close relatives."

She had wanted to express kindness, but the effect was not well received.

"I didn't cry." The boy's cold tone expressed his rejection of the chicken soup for the soul.

Yuan Luo: … This brat was very disagreeable. She had just chosen the wrong route.

After Gu Yi had finally burned all the ritual money in the basket, he stood up and took two steps toward Yuan Luo.

Yuan Luo suddenly became nervous. She had made the decision to yell if he was intent on committing a crime.

Unexpectedly, Gu Yi knelt down on one knee in front of her.

"Gu Yi, this humble officer, pays respect to Concubine Jie Yu. Please forgive me for this offense."

The East China Sea king had sent a beauty into the Emperor’s palace who from birth looked strikingly similar to Yuan Luo. Her disfigurement by the imperial concubine had also been discussed to some extent in the guard camp for quite some time.

Yuan Luo breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately he wasn’t going to kill her. "Imperial Guard Gu, please get up. I'm the one who forgot my manners."

She continued, "Considering Imperial Guard Gu’s family matter, I also deeply sympathize, but in the future, please remember at all costs to be more cautious and do not disturb other people."

Gu Yi lowered his head and grunted in assent. Even though he was quite depressed, he had thought that the remote nearby palace was where no one lived. Who knew that this person, Ji Yue, was actually residing there.

Yuan Luo turned to leave.