Speaking of this, Gu Changsheng raised an eyebrow at Yuan Bao and continued to ask, "But can you tell me, as the Chief Eunuch beside Zhou Mu, you were thriving like a fish in water in my Heavenly Palace, so how did you end up in such a miserable state here in the North, looking more downtrodden than ever? Did Empress Dowager Xiao mistreat you, not even giving you travel expenses when you left?"

Thinking of this, Gu Changsheng couldn’t help but furrow her brows.

Something’s not right. Empress Dowager Xiao is a person who has seen the world, how could she be petty about travel expenses with Yuan Bao? Even though Empress Dowager Xiao temporarily took charge of the Heavenly Palace and wasn’t as free with her actions, considering Yuan Bao had been beside our evildoer for so long, that glutton must have saved a lot of fortune, it makes no sense for him to leave in such a disheveled state.

Gu Changsheng wouldn’t even mention it but once she did, Yuan Bao’s cat-like face drooped instantly, looking as if he was about to cry.

However, Diao Chan, who had just been suppressed by Yuan Bao, suddenly found it amusing, couldn’t help stepping forward and said with schadenfreude, "Master, you are unaware that Eunuch Yuan Bao is still better. You didn’t see His Highness Prince Bao, who went to Young Master’s place to find Han Qiu; now that was truly a sorry sight!"

"Oh?" Gu Changsheng raised an eyebrow at the words.

His Highness Prince Bao?

Zhou Zongbao, that Little Overlord Hetian?

"Are you sure Hetian is worse off than Yuan Bao?" Gu Changsheng asked skeptically, finding it hard to believe.

Diao Chan nodded immediately, "I am sure, Master. When I led them in just now, I clearly saw that His Highness Prince Bao was still wearing bruises, it seems he’s faced a lot of hardship along the way!"

"Ha!" Upon hearing this, Gu Changsheng instantly became interested, beckoning to Yuan Bao, and asked curiously, "Come on, Yuan Bao, tell me, did you guys run into robbers or bandits along the way?"

Even Gu Changsheng couldn’t help feeling a bit gleeful seeing her pampered Yuan Bao looking so disheveled.

Especially after hearing from Diao Chan that Zhou Zongbao, the Little Overlord Hetian, was even worse off than Yuan Bao, Gu Changsheng’s mood became slightly joyful!

Who is Zhou Zongbao? To think about it, he’s our evildoer’s young grandfather, oh what a coincidence, isn’t he just two generations above me in rank?

However, Gu Changsheng would absolutely not call him by rank because he’s such a spoiled, frivolous person, really quite punchable!

Therefore, hearing Zhou Zongbao come to misfortune, Gu Changsheng here, was indeed quite happy, indulging in the spectacle!

"Lady Changsheng..." Yuan Bao, upon hearing his lady speak, almost burst into tears, his cat-like face puffing up, speaking mournfully, "Lady Changsheng, can’t Yuan Bao have met both robbers and bandits?"

"Uh..." Gu Changsheng was taken aback at these words, involuntarily twitching her mouth corner, and then couldn’t help nodding, swallowed, and said, "Well, actually, that’s possible..."

Meeting both robbers and bandits?

Yuan Bao, just how eventful was his journey!

"Lady Changsheng, you don’t know how unlucky Yuan Bao was, it’s like even drinking cold water clogs his teeth!" Yuan Bao recalled the journey’s tragedies, sobbing terribly, "Yuan Bao and His Highness Prince Bao had just left the Capital City, barely a few miles, and at the Liaodong and Great Zhou border, they encountered horse bandits, several carriages of clothing and food were robbed clean! Even the horses were stolen, and that’s not all, considering that was the border area, a no man’s land, isn’t it? But Yuan Bao then entered Liaodong, fell into a Black Shop, and got robbed again! Now, all the valuable items on him were gone, completely looted, Yuan Bao and His Highness Prince Bao were truly wearing their underpants, you say go back to the Capital City, either way, there’s no money, continue north, either way, still no money, we just had to manage journeying like this..."

Listening to Yuan Bao’s words, Gu Changsheng couldn’t help but marvel, "Yuan Bao, oh Yuan Bao, hear my one advice, next time you go out, do not be with Hetian, with his ostentatious nature, he attracts resentment wherever he goes, if I were a robber, I would target him, definitely oily and rich, who else but this foolish one would actually go on the road with him, it’s like a moving pot of gold, if not robbing you, who do they rob?"

Gu Changsheng spread her hands at Yuan Bao, indicating she already knew why Yuan Bao was so miserable!

As for Zhou Zongbao, with that pampered ostentatious self, the thought of him traveling in a carriage adorned with gold and jewels not tempting thieves would be odd!

No foolish act, no downfall, no wonder Zhou Zongbao was even worse off than Yuan Bao, just two words: deserved!

"Lady Changsheng..." Upon hearing his lady’s words, Yuan Bao almost burst into tears, but ultimately couldn’t help but say indignantly, "Lady Changsheng, Yuan Bao acknowledges being robbed by horse bandits at the border, but being robbed by a Black Shop in Liaodong just doesn’t sit right. Lady Changsheng, please write a letter to Empress Dowager Xiao, so that she can clean up those Black Shops in Liaodong, otherwise, Yuan Bao wouldn’t dare travel again!"

"Poor thing, your request is approved, except Empress Dowager Xiao is enormously busy, whether she’d take time to handle us is another matter!" Gu Changsheng looking at Yuan Bao’s sorrowful face, nodded, responding sympathetically.

"Lady Changsheng, if it’s you, Empress Dowager Xiao would definitely listen!" But Yuan Bao, with a face of bitter melancholy, said clenching his fists.

"Great! Then I will write a letter to Dowager Empress Xiao to seek justice for you!" Gu Changsheng nodded.

Meanwhile, Xiao Cui came in carrying a basin of clear water.

Upon seeing Xiao Cui, Yuan Bao felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity and eagerly approached, stretching out his two dark paws trying to reach into the basin, and said with an expression full of gratitude, "Xiao Cui is still the most considerate. I’ll give you some delicious treats later. Hurry, let me wash my hands!"

Just as Yuan Bao was feeling moved, Xiao Cui deftly stepped aside with the basin and said in a reproachful tone, "Who said this was prepared for you? If you want to wash your hands, find water elsewhere. I’m not here to serve you!"

Yuan Bao’s hands were still in mid-air, his face yet to lose the expression of gratitude, and upon hearing this, his mouth twitched...

Then... 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Then he watched in disbelief as Xiao Cui carried the basin of water to Gu Changsheng, curtseyed respectfully, and said, "My lady, I’ve fetched the water from the sweet spring, please go help the Son-in-law cleanse himself!"

"Mm!" Upon hearing this, Gu Changsheng nodded, took the basin, and headed toward the inner chamber.

Driven by curiosity, Yuan Bao blinked inexplicably and quietly followed Gu Changsheng into the inner chamber...

As the curtains in the inner chamber were opened, Yuan Bao saw his master lying on the bed. A faint red ominous aura lingered over him, looking somewhat frightening...

Lady Changsheng was sitting sideways on the edge of the bed, delicately dipping a brocade handkerchief in the water and carefully wiping the master’s face...

The meticulousness in her actions was beyond words!

Seeing this, Yuan Bao immediately smiled. This was the scene he loved to see the most!

He loved seeing his Lady so fond of his master!

"Hehe, look at our lady, how good she is to our master!" Yuan Bao proudly pointed at Gu Changsheng, who was gently wiping the master’s face.

Diao Chan couldn’t help but roll her eyes at Yuan Bao’s words and chose not to comment.

"Get out! Haven’t you seen enough? Don’t you dare not retreat with me! Can’t you see that the lady is cleansing our master? Aren’t you afraid of growing a sty from seeing too much?" Yuan Bao, content after a few glances, began shooing Diao Chan and Xiao Cui away.

Diao Chan and Xiao Cui, unwilling to let Yuan Bao’s pitch-black paws touch them, had no choice but to be shooed out of the inner chamber, walking out of the guest room...

Outside the guest room, Yuan Bao still had a face full of satisfaction and comfort.

Diao Chan, unable to bear Yuan Bao’s expression, couldn’t help but glance inside the guest room and said to Yuan Bao, "I say, Yuan Bao, the master is just lying there. Shouldn’t you ask what’s going on with him? At least show some concern!"

"Huh? What’s wrong with the master?" Yuan Bao, slow to realize, blinked wide-eyed and immediately asked.

Diao Chan, seeing his naïve expression, helplessly rubbed her forehead and said, "His soul is eternally lost, he’s fallen into madness!"

"His soul is eternally lost, and he’s fallen into madness?" Yuan Bao repeated, blinking his big eyes.

Just when Diao Chan thought Yuan Bao would panic and cry, he simply repeated the words and then, as if nothing happened, waved his hand and said, "Madness, so what? Nothing to worry about, almost scared me!"

"Yuan Bao!" Diao Chan exclaimed upon hearing this, poking Yuan Bao’s black forehead with anger and said, "Do you even know what madness means? How can you act so nonchalant?"

"Yes, I know!" Yuan Bao blinked innocently.

"If you know, why are you so indifferent, Yuan Bao? You’ve changed, you don’t care about our master as much as you used to. In the past, you’d have been jumping with anxiety, never this calm..." Shaking her head, Diao Chan looked at Yuan Bao with a face full of melancholy.