What Bad Intentions can the Yandere Crown Prince have?

Chapter 451 - 446: Master Tao’s Innate Goodness—Tao Gu Extra (Part 12)

When he saw the owner of the calling card, Tao Fen felt slightly uneasy: "What guidance does Fifth Miss Gu have for me?"Gu Qinglan also seemed a bit uneasy, slightly lowering her head as she said, "Master Tao’s kind intentions have all been conveyed by the Crown Princess Consort—"

"She didn’t say...anything else, did she?"

Gu Qinglan was taken aback: "Say what?"

Tao Fen touched his burning ears and shook his head: "Nothing..." It’s good that no extra details were added.

Gu Qinglan didn’t say anything further, performed a decorous curtsy, and said, "Indeed there have been some changes recently, but all is well, thank you for your concern, Master Tao, I’m very grateful, your intentions, I feel undeserving to accept, just—" She glanced at him lightly, her voice also softened, "This is enough, please don’t send anything more..."

For a moment, Tao Fen couldn’t describe what he felt.

A little sour, a little ticklish.

The instant he heard her say "don’t send anymore," he felt an overwhelming urge to send seventy or eighty more gifts.

This girl, isn’t she a bit too endearing?

Miss Gu hadn’t finished speaking: "Such lavish gifts without reason may cause misunderstandings, I certainly know Master Tao is kind and chivalrous—"

Suddenly, Tao Fen frowned.

Many people had called him a good person, even Fifth Miss Gu had said it a few times.

But why did it sound so unpleasant this time?

How was he kind and chivalrous?

...

Tao Fen had always been an open-minded person from a young age, rarely quarreling or contending with others.

This time, he also didn’t know why, but a certain indescribable temper was stirred within him.

The less he was allowed to give, the more he wanted to give.

In the morning, as he was about to send the Crown Prince off to war, he suddenly saw the chrysanthemums blooming like snow in the courtyard, and wanted to send them;

In the evening, while helping the Crown Princess Consort tidy up the Wenren Bookstore, he accidentally found a few books, and wanted to send them;

Amidst the snow and frost, he had narrowly rescued Miss Tang from being kidnapped; even as he entered the city still somewhat shaken, he unintentionally glimpsed a curled up tabby on the roadside, and couldn’t resist picking it up, thinking she might like it once it was well cared for.

He thought about it this way, but didn’t actually send anything.

After all, the young lady had already said not to send anything—

Recalling Gu Qinglan’s refusal that day, Tao Fen still felt a bit wistful, and after rubbing the well-nourished tabby a couple of times, he donned his cloak and headed out for court.

The weather in the Capital City had changed not long ago.

A new emperor had ascended the throne, and as a member of the Eastern Palace, Tao Fen was now basking in success.

Thus, when his colleagues hesitated and shied away from handling matters in the Imperial Palace, Tao Fen claimed the task without any hesitation.

Leaving the Imperial City, as he walked from west to east towards the palace gate, he happened to see a Palace Maid leading someone approaching from the opposite direction.

Tao Fen glanced behind the Palace Maid and stopped in his tracks.

The broad cloak covered that person’s entire body, only revealing a small face.

The moment he saw that face, a fountain of joy welled up from the depths of his heart, and he instinctively touched the register he had intended to deliver to the palace.

So it seems, doing good deeds indeed brings good outcomes!

If he hadn’t taken on this task, it would have been someone else meeting Fifth Miss Gu now!

But this joy dissipated as the Palace Maid and Gu Qinglan gradually approached.

She was much thinner, her eyes misty, like a night-time lake shrouded in fog.

She saw Tao Fen too.

Hesitating for a moment, a breeze seemed to pass through her eyes, dispersing the fog and stirring faint ripples.

Suddenly, Tao Fen felt like ripples were forming in his own heart as well.

After Gu Qinglan nodded to him in acknowledgment, she left.

Tao Fen stood there for a while longer, flashing through many scenes in his mind.

At one moment, it was the ripples in her eyes just now, then the slightly red circles under her eyes occasionally seen at the Gu Mansion, and then her always volatile demeanor before...

After thinking for a long time, he suddenly sighed.

Still feeling sad!

What should he do?

...

Snow capped the steps, and plum blossoms reflected off the trees.

Crouching low, Tao Fen hid himself before tossing the tabby in his arms toward the gracefully approaching smoky purple hem of a skirt not far away.

The gray-white little creature sprung out playfully, causing a burst of exclamations.

But soon, the fright turned into delight: "It’s a tabby!"

"So cute!"

"Little one, where did you come from?"

"The snow just fell, aren’t you cold?"

"..."

Tao Fen listened carefully, but didn’t hear Gu Qinglan’s voice.

Finally, a maid asked, "Fifth Miss, this tabby is so pitifully cute, why not take it home to raise?"

"Looking at its clean fur, perhaps it has an owner." Gu Qinglan said.

Tao Fen was taken aback, feeling regretful.

He should have dusted the tabby before going out.

But doing so would dirty her clothes...

As he was regretting, another shout rang out from beyond the flowering tree.

What happened?

Tao Fen quickly looked through the branches and shadows, only to hear a "meow," followed by a small gray shadow darting towards him.

Hurriedly, Tao Fen opened his arms to catch it, and when he looked up, he saw the purple-robed girl gazing at him across the flowering tree, her eyes filled with surprise.

"So this tabby indeed has an owner!" a maid smiled.

Tao Fen touched the tabby’s fur, awkwardly smiled: "It does have an owner, but the owner is usually busy and doesn’t have much time to care for it..."

It was a very obvious hint.

The ripples appeared in her eyes once more, and after hesitating for a moment, she somewhat uncertainly asked: "Are you looking to give it away for adoption?"

For some reason, Tao Fen’s face felt a bit hot: "If someone is willing to take care of it..."

The red plum reflected a slight blush on her pale cheek: "Why don’t...you give it to me?"

Tao Fen’s eyes lit up, and he immediately took a couple of steps forward.

Just as a maid was about to step forward to take the tabby, she heard Gu Qinglan say: "I’ll do it."

She walked forward slowly, the pendants on her hairpins trembling lightly, as she extended her hands towards him.

Her palms were pristine and delicate, as beautiful as flower petals, her fingers slightly curled, shy and endearing.

Tao Fen was momentarily dazed, then hurriedly handed the tabby over.

As they exchanged, her soft sleeve brushed across the back of his hand.

Previously, when he saved her on the polo field, he almost held her entirely in his arms, yet the feeling left no impression back then; it was only now that Tao Fen felt like he was truly close to her.

So close that his entire body was uneasy.

Finally, the tabby was in her arms, and she stepped back half a step.

"Thank you." She said softly, lowering her head.

Tao Fen’s heart soared.

Oh, she knew, she knew he had deliberately sent it to her!

But then, she quietly added, "You really...are a very good person..."

Tao Fen: Pft!