Chapter 327 Proposal (Two Updates)

Gu Changqing returned to the Marquis of Ding'an's residence.

Gu Chengfeng and Gu Chenglin went to the back mountain to pick fruit, while he went straight back to his room.

He sat down on the edge of the bed.

With no outsiders around, a hint of expression finally appeared on his perpetually icy face. He frowned and unbuttoned his shirt.

His neck, shoulders, and even the backs of his hands and wrists were covered with shocking scratches, some of which had bled. The dried blood had stuck to his clothes, and when he peeled it off, he gasped in pain.

"Oh dear! Your Highness!"

The servant carried in clothes that had just been taken down from the clothesline and immediately noticed the scratches all over Gu Changqing's neck. He was startled and asked, "Which little brat did this!"

Gu Changqing's eyes turned cold, and she quickly pulled her clothes up: "Can't you knock before coming in?"

The servant said sheepishly, "I didn't know you were back! I was just tidying up the house when I went out to collect some clothes. Who would have thought you'd be back so soon... By the way, what happened to your injuries, Your Highness? Which girl did that to you? Was it from outside the manor or from ours?"

He dared not call her "little hussy" again.

"None of your business." Gu Changqing stood up calmly and hung the sword at his waist on the rack.

"Oh." The servant came to the bedside, folded the clothes one by one, and put the ones that didn't need to be folded into the cabinet and hung them up.

"Why a woman?" Gu Changqing suddenly asked.

The servant said, "Is that even a question? It looks like someone's scratched it. What man keeps his fingernails long?"

Gu Changqing's eyes flickered: "Don't talk nonsense."

The servant muttered, "If the young master forbids me from speaking, then I won't speak."

Gu Changqing stood in front of the sword rack, the scratches on his body throbbing with a dull pain. Unlike the sharp and direct pain from sword or knife wounds, this pain was strange and unfamiliar.

The image of her taking effect in the carriage flashed through Gu Changqing's mind, and she closed her eyes.

The servant's eyes flickered, and he asked cautiously, "But Your Highness, how did you suddenly come to your senses?"

Gu Changqing asked, puzzled, "What? How did you suddenly come to your senses?"

The servant chuckled awkwardly, "To be honest, Your Highness, you haven't been interested in women these past few years. There isn't even a maid in your courtyard, and you're unwilling to discuss marriage. We servants... are all guessing... whether Your Highness prefers men?"

Gu Changqing's face darkened: "Get out!"

The servant trembled and left dejectedly.

Then he went to inform the old Marquis and Madam Gu that their young master had become enlightened and had been with a woman!

After several hours of treatment, Prince An's condition finally stabilized during the night.

After watching him drink the medicine, the physician withdrew.

Grand Tutor Zhuang arrived at Prince An's room. His expression was not good, and neither of them spoke. The atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

Grand Tutor Zhuang said, "I'll ask you one last time, did you really do it?"

Prince An said, "It's me. No matter how many times my grandfather asks, it's always the same answer."

Grand Tutor Zhuang was extremely disappointed in his grandson, who was his most valued descendant. He placed his hopes for the prosperity of the Zhuang family for the next hundred years on him, but the grandson ruined his future and made such a mistake.

He suppressed his anger and said in a deep voice, "The girl you harassed today is not some random girl from a humble family on the street, someone you can't easily dismiss with a sum of money or a bit of power. She is the daughter of the Marquis of Ding'an. Even if she was an adopted daughter switched at birth, she is still listed in the family genealogy and registered in the clan. Not to mention that the old Marquis of Ding'an and Gu Changqing are both highly regarded by His Majesty. You can't deny this debt. You have to give her a proper status."

Prince An lay weakly on the bed, his heart filled with despair, and said, "I will follow my grandfather's arrangements."

Since it's not her anyway, what difference does it make whether I marry Miss Yuan or Miss Gu?

The following day, Grand Tutor Zhuang sent a steward from the Zhuang family to the Marquis of Ding'an's residence to explain the purpose of their visit to the old Marquis and Madam Gu.

“My master said he is willing to allow the Prince to take Miss Gu as a concubine.”

Upon hearing this, Old Madam Gu was pleased. The status of the Marquis of Ding'an's family in the capital meant that they were fortunate to be able to form a marriage alliance with the Zhuang family. Even if she were to become a concubine, it would not be an insult to Gu Jinyu.

The old Marquis's face darkened: "Is this the explanation your Zhuang family gave to the Marquis of Ding'an's mansion! Hmph, you think you can bully and slaughter the Marquis of Ding'an's mansion just because it no longer has the Gu family army and military power!"

The steward smiled faintly: "What are you saying, Lord Marquis Gu? The Grand Tutor has no intention of belittling the Marquis of Ding'an's residence. It's just that the news has already spread throughout the capital that this Miss Gu is not the biological child of Lord Marquis Gu and his wife; she was switched at birth and raised in the Marquis's residence. Forgive my bluntness, but my young master is a Prince personally appointed by His Majesty. He served as a hostage in Chen for ten years in place of the Crown Prince, rendering great service to Zhao. How could his principal wife be a mere peasant girl from the countryside? Not to mention, not long ago, Miss Gu caused a terrible disaster. I heard that Miss Gu first claimed credit for the bellows, then stole credit for the mortar, and privately modified the bellows, harming countless craftsmen in the Ministry of Works and causing enormous losses to the Ministry. To put it bluntly, Miss Gu and the heir of the Marquis of Ding'an are not related by blood. So, would the old Marquis be willing to let the heir marry a woman of Miss Gu's character as his principal wife?"

"How could that wretched girl be worthy of Changqing!" Old Madam Gu couldn't hold back any longer and blurted out.

She had barely finished speaking when she received a cold look from the old Marquis.

She realized she had said the wrong thing, her eyes flashed, and she picked up her teacup to drink.

Knowing he had won the case, the steward said no more. He cupped his hands meaningfully and said, "If the old Marquis and the old lady have no objection to this marriage, then I will go back to report to the Grand Tutor."

Madam Gu opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say something, but was silenced instantly by a cold glare from the old Marquis.

The butler swaggered away triumphantly.

In truth, I was still quite unhappy. A concubine? Does that infamous woman, Gu Jinyu, even deserve to be one?

She got off too easily!

"Master..." Madam Gu realized that she had misspoke and caused them to lose the situation, so she didn't dare to complain. She just said, "Actually, Jin Yu is a kind-hearted child. Although she has made many mistakes, she has reformed herself. She even went to Ciyouzhuang a while ago. With you and Consort Shu supporting her, I think that even if she becomes a concubine, the Ciyouzhuang family will not mistreat her."

The old marquis, however, could not accept the title of concubine.

He never thought of using his own child to marry into a higher social class, but he had a principle: a daughter who valued family would rather marry a commoner than become a concubine in a wealthy family.

The title of "concubine" sounds more prestigious than "concubine," but it is not the same as the title of wife.

The old Marquis went to Gu Jinyu's courtyard.

Gu Jinyu was resting quietly in her room, her face pale and her expression haggard.

The old marquis asked her, "Let me ask you this: if I could suppress this matter, would you be willing to marry someone else?"

Gu Jinyu knelt before the old Marquis, her eyes red-rimmed, and said, "Jinyu has already had intimate relations with the Prince, how can I have the face to marry someone else? If the Zhuang family doesn't acknowledge me, Jinyu will simply go to a nunnery, shave her head, and become a nun..."

The old marquis frowned and sighed.

Even if he doesn't love her, he won't let anyone trample on the dignity of the Marquis's mansion.

Besides, to put it bluntly, this is the Zhuang family's fault. They bullied people and didn't want to take responsibility. Instead, they forced the Gu family's daughter into a nunnery. That's not how things work.

The old Marquis immediately entered the palace, only to be told that the emperor had left the palace, taking Eunuch He with him.

"When will His Majesty return?" the old Marquis asked Eunuch Wei at the main gate of the palace.

Eunuch Wei said, "This servant is also unsure. Does the old Marquis have something urgent to discuss with His Majesty?"

The situation was urgent. The old Marquis was worried that Grand Tutor Zhuang might inform Empress Dowager Zhuang in advance and have her issue an imperial edict to appoint Gu Jinyu as a concubine. If that happened, it would be too late.

The old lord said, "It is indeed an urgent matter."

"Ah..." Eunuch Wei pondered for a moment and said, "I cannot disclose His Majesty's whereabouts. If the old Marquis trusts me, I am willing to go and convey the message on his behalf."

That's the only way.

The old Marquis cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Wei."

An hour later, a carriage stopped outside the temple.

Eunuch Wei stepped down from the carriage.

The emperor was feeding Consort Jing medicine in her meditation room.

Consort Jing sat on the edge of the bed, covered with a thin blanket.

“I can do it myself,” she said. “It’s nothing serious, just a cold. Why did Your Majesty have to come?”

The emperor frowned and said, "If I hadn't arranged for people to protect my mother in secret, I wouldn't have known that she was ill. My mother has always been the one to fool me, keeping everything from me."

Consort Jing smiled calmly and said, "People always have some minor ailments as they get older. How can they be the same as when they were young? Your Majesty is the ruler of a country and has countless affairs to attend to every day. There is no need to make a fuss over such a trivial matter."

The emperor snorted: "Who said that? I see that the Empress Dowager is in very good health! She's even three times healthier than before!"

Consort Jing was slightly taken aback, clearly not expecting the Emperor to suddenly bring up the Empress Dowager.

She smiled and said, "It is a blessing for the Zhao Kingdom that the Empress Dowager is in good health. His Majesty has worked tirelessly day and night to govern the country in recent years, and the Empress Dowager has also shared a lot of the burden with him."

The emperor snorted, "Mother, you don't need to speak up for her."

Consort Jing smiled and said, "I'm not speaking up for her. I entered the palace with her and have known her for so many years. How could I not know her personality? She has a sharp tongue and is assertive and unforgiving. Her heart is with His Majesty."

The emperor said coldly, "If she were truly on my side, she should relinquish the reins of government and live out her days in peace and tranquility at Renshou Palace."

"Alright, alright, I won't say anymore, the medicine's gone cold." Consort Jing picked up the bowl of medicine and began to drink it.

The Emperor quietly watched over her, when suddenly his gaze fell on the wooden hairpin on Consort Jing's head. He frowned slightly and said, "Although Consort Jing practices vegetarianism and chants Buddhist scriptures, her life is too austere. She doesn't even have a decent hairpin. Unlike the Empress Dowager, who wears a high crown and wide belt, adorned with pearls and jade, living a life of extreme luxury!"

Consort Jing opened her mouth, but hesitated to speak.

She continued taking her medicine.

The emperor glanced at the bare table and asked Cai, the old woman serving him, "Isn't there any candied fruit in the room?"

Granny Cai chuckled awkwardly, "The Imperial Concubine doesn't eat this."

The Emperor sneered, "My mother is just too good at enduring hardship. There are at least eight out of ten kinds of candied fruit in Renshou Palace!"

Consort Jing's eyelashes trembled slightly. She finished her medicine in one gulp, handed the empty bowl to Granny Cai, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and said with an amused expression, "His Majesty has been mentioning the Empress Dowager all day."

The emperor choked on his words: "Do I have one?"

"Hmm." Consort Jing smiled and looked at him.

The emperor snorted, "That's because she went too far. I'm so angry I have a headache. I just hope to strip her of her real power as soon as possible, so I can bring my mother back to the palace in peace."

"You," Consort Jing shook her head helplessly.

"Your Majesty, Eunuch Wei has arrived," the young eunuch announced as he entered the room.

The emperor asked, "What brings him here?"

Consort Jing said, "Let's go and see; it must be something important."

The emperor returned after a quarter of an hour, looking somewhat grave.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong?" Consort Jing asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.

The Emperor had always been very open and honest with Consort Jing. He sighed and said, "Gu Chao came to ask for an imperial decree to arrange a marriage between his granddaughter and Prince An."

Consort Jing was slightly taken aback: "The old Marquis of Ding'an? How could he be related to the Zhuang family by marriage?"

The two families are loyal to different camps, and while they may not be irreconcilable enemies, marriage is certainly not their first choice.

The Emperor said helplessly, "Prince An has been disrespectful to Miss Gu, and he is unwilling to grant her the position of principal wife, treating her only as a concubine. Gu Chao is not a person who pursues fame and fortune, nor does he curry favor with the powerful, but he cannot swallow this insult and feels that the Zhuang family has gone too far and has not shown any remorse whatsoever."

After a long silence, Consort Jing said, "I've heard of Prince An, but I never expected him to do something like this."

The emperor said, "To be honest, I was also quite surprised."

Consort Jing glanced at his expression and asked, "Does His Majesty not agree to this marriage?"

The Emperor nodded: "To be honest, Mother Consort, I do have some hesitation."

Consort Jing said gently, "Is Your Majesty worried that the situation will be unfavorable to Your Majesty after the two families become related by marriage?"

The Emperor shook his head: "No, Gu Chao is not that kind of person. Besides, Gu Jinyu is not Gu Chao's biological granddaughter; she is just a peasant girl who was switched at birth." The Emperor was absolutely certain that the old Marquis would not change his stance for her sake.

Consort Jing thought for a moment and then asked, "Then, is His Majesty worried that the Empress Dowager will not agree?"

Upon hearing the Empress Dowager's words, the Emperor's expression turned colder: "The Empress Dowager is unaware of this matter, and I have no intention of seeking her opinion."

Once you ask, there's no room for negotiation. Either don't do it at all, or if you do, seize the initiative.

"Then what exactly is Your Majesty worried about?" Consort Jing asked.

The emperor hesitated for a moment, but still said, "This woman has caused trouble before, and her reputation is not good." Most importantly, she stole the credit from the little divine doctor, which the emperor could not tolerate, so he was not very willing to promote Gu Jinyu.

Consort Jing didn't ask what specific trouble she had caused. She paused, then asked with a smile, "Has she changed?"

The emperor hummed in agreement: "I have heard that he has reformed himself and even went to the orphanage without telling his family. He has been taking care of the children there diligently and has even fainted from exhaustion."

Consort Jing smiled gently: "Your Majesty, it is a great virtue to admit one's mistakes and correct them. Moreover, the old Marquis of Ding'an has made great contributions and has even disbanded the Gu family army for Your Majesty's sake, bearing the infamy. If Your Majesty cannot even grant him this small request, it would be too disheartening for the old Marquis."

After careful consideration, the emperor realized that the old marquis had never asked him for anything, and it was rather unkind of him to refuse him after he finally asked.

Consort Jing added, "Speaking of which, the old Marquis once saved my life."

"Is this really true?" The Emperor looked at Consort Jing in astonishment.

Consort Jing lowered her head and smiled self-deprecatingly: "That happened before I entered the palace. I went to the temple to burn incense and encountered bandits on my way back. Fortunately, the old Marquis came to my aid and drove the bandits away. Otherwise, I might have already lost my life in the wilderness."

The emperor said in a daze, "I have never heard my mother mention it before."

Consort Jing smiled and looked at him: "At that time, I had already been selected as a concubine and was not allowed to leave the mansion without permission. I ran away secretly, which was also due to my youthful mischief."

The emperor suddenly realized: "I see." He pondered for a moment and said, "I will give the old marquis's request a careful consideration."

"Yes." Consort Jing nodded with a smile.

After the Emperor spoke with Consort Jing for a while, Eunuch He entered and urged, "Your Majesty, it's time to return to the palace."

Consort Jing looked at the darkening sky, a hint of reluctance flashing in her eyes. She patted the Emperor's hand and said, "Your Majesty, let's return to the palace."

The emperor sighed and said to Eunuch He, "Where is the peace charm I asked you to get?"

Eunuch He hurriedly took out a brocade box from his sleeve, opened it, and handed it to the emperor: "I've got it! It was blessed by Abbot Liaoyuan!"

Consort Jing looked at the amulet that seemed to radiate endless Buddhist energy: "This is..."

"Oh," the emperor said, "for the Empress Dowager."

Consort Jing was slightly taken aback.

Eunuch Wei laughed and said, "The Empress Dowager stayed up all night taking care of His Majesty a few days ago and fell ill from exhaustion."

Consort Jing smiled and said, "It's rare that you and your son have put aside your past grievances."

The Emperor looked at Consort Jing and said, “My mother is my mother. She is merely the Empress Dowager. This amulet is a gift from the emperor to the Empress Dowager, not from a son to his mother. Besides, my whereabouts cannot be hidden from her. Rather than letting her cause trouble for my mother, I would rather tell her that I came specifically to ask for the amulet for her and to visit my mother as well.”

Consort Jing smiled helplessly: "The Empress Dowager won't do anything to me, Your Majesty is overthinking it."

The big update will be released in the first half of next month, yes, soon.

(End of this chapter)