"Princess Fuyun".

Qin Ke'er was momentarily stunned by Ling Ku's actions. Just then, Sun Shu's maidservant miraculously returned to Sun Shu's side.

“Princess, I have inquired and found out that he is the eldest son of Minister Ma. I heard that he will be taking the imperial examination in a few years. He is handsome and refined, and is a perfect match for Princess Fuyun…”

"Cough cough..." Sun Shu almost choked on her own saliva, feeling a little breathless under Ling Ku's stare. "Um, I suddenly feel like going out for a walk. General Ling Ku, what brings you here?"

"Princess Fuyun".

Ling Ku called Qin Ke'er's name again, his face already showing signs of slight intoxication, but those who knew Ling Ku couldn't help but twitch their lips.

Could this little bit of alcohol really get Ling Ku drunk?

This is even harder to believe than the sun rising in the west.

So, they all watched in tacit agreement as Ling Ku began to "act".

"What exactly do you want to say to me?" Qin Ke'er frowned. Was this person deliberately trying to embarrass her today?

"If the princess wishes to choose a husband today, would she choose me?"

Upon hearing this, even Gu Qingyan nearly popped his eyes out. No, what did Ling Ku, this roughneck, mean by professing his love for Qin Ke'er in such a setting?

"Ling Ku, this kind of joke is not funny at all."

Qin Ke'er's face turned completely cold. From the beginning, she was deeply in love with Ling Ku, but after being rejected by him, she always knew that Ling Ku might not really not have feelings for her. Yet, she... was still sad for so long.

Ultimately, being rejected is never a pleasant experience.

“I’m not joking, Princess Fuyun. I, Ling Ku, am willing to swear here that if you are willing to marry me, I will only have you as my wife for the rest of my life. I will not take any concubines and I only wish to grow old with you.”

A spring breeze blew into the hall, clearly carrying Ling Ku's words to everyone's ears.

In today's Chongqing, it is still perfectly normal for men to have multiple wives and concubines. It is extremely rare for someone like Ling Ku to be willing to swear that he will only have Qin Ke'er for the rest of his life.

"You told me before to have some self-respect."

Qin Ke'er's eyes were already a little red, and her hands were clenched into fists.

"I was cowardly back then. I was worried that I wasn't good enough for the princess." Ling Ku was genuinely worried that Qin Ke'er would actually choose a husband at today's full moon banquet, so he desperately tried to express his feelings, "I'm much older than the princess, and I've been away fighting for many years. I was worried..."

"So you're not worried anymore?"

Qin Ke'er suddenly stood up. "General Ling Ku, what I, Qin Ke'er, want is not a love that comes after careful consideration."

No, I am not.

Ling Ku explained somewhat helplessly, "My refusal was well thought out; today I can no longer suppress my true feelings."

Qin Ke'er stared at Ling Ku for a long time.

"Was the oath you just swore true?"

"Absolutely true."

Just as Qin Ke'er's expression visibly softened, Qin Zheng jumped up from his chair. "General Lingku, today is His Highness Prince Chen's full moon celebration. Let's celebrate His Highness's full moon celebration instead."

Gu Qingyan chuckled upon hearing this. Oh ho, so Ling Ku wasn't chosen by this "brother-in-law" who was much younger than him.

“My elder brother is right. Let’s celebrate His Highness Prince Chen’s full moon celebration first.”

After hearing Qin Ke'er's words, Ling Ku looked helplessly in the direction of Wei Ruo. Seeing Wei Ruo's gaze, Ling Ku lowered his head and returned to his seat.

With the singing and dancing performances, the atmosphere became lively again.

......

"Ke'er almost agreed just now."

Sun Shu leaned closer to Qin Ke'er and whispered, "Sister, aren't you going to keep General Ling Ku in suspense a little?"

Pei Zhi also quietly moved over. Ever since Pei Zhi was adopted as General Bai's goddaughter, her personality has become much more cheerful.

"Yes, Ke'er, didn't you cry a lot when General Ling Ku rejected you last time? Are you going to agree after he said a few words to you just now?"

Sun Shu and Pei Zhi exchanged a glance, tacitly agreeing to sabotage Ling Ku.

Qin Ke'er's eyes showed confusion upon hearing this. "What if he changes his mind if I don't agree? He's very timid."

Ling Ku? Timid?

Sun Shu and Pei Zhi both twitched their lips. How could Ling Ku, with his burly appearance, be associated with the word "cowardly"?

"If feedback can be given so easily, then the oath we just made is obviously meaningless."

Qin Ke'er nodded upon hearing this, "You're right, I should test him again."

Kui Ruo had been observing the situation with the female guest. Seeing this, she lowered her eyes, fearing that Ling Ku would still have to suffer some hardship.

"I was wondering why you seemed to have finally seen the light, it turns out it was Prime Minister Kui who was giving you pointers." Chang Qing winked at Ling Ku, "Congratulations, you're about to win the heart of your beauty."

Ling Ku was still in a daze when he slowly nodded.

Will Princess Fuyun agree?

......

As the sun set, the group left the palace. Gu Qingchen was taken away by her wet nurse early in the morning to be put to sleep and fed. In the evening, a family banquet was held at Zhaoning Palace.

"General Ling Ku has truly impressed me today," Bai Qian said with a smile. "His straightforward declaration of his feelings has really worked; at least Ke'er can't choose a husband today."

"I don't think Qin Zheng is willing, and Qin Ke'er hasn't really agreed either. Ling Ku will probably have to suffer a bit more." Gu Qingyan's words were filled with concern for Ling Ku, but the smile on his face betrayed his true thoughts.

"I also think Lingku needs to suffer a bit. Things that are too easily obtained are not easily cherished." Jiang Yu picked up a piece of green vegetable with her chopsticks. "I want to go out of the palace for a few days in a few days. As for Lingku and Ke'er, let's talk about it when I get back."

Thud—

Gu Qingyan dropped his chopsticks to the ground. "Mother, what do you mean by going out of the palace to play?"

“Your mother has been in Zhaoning Palace for a month. Now that she has finally finished her postpartum confinement, I’m taking her out for some fresh air,” Gu Lin said.

Gu Qingyan immediately became unhappy, "Then what about A-Chen?"

“Ah Chen has a wet nurse and you, his brother who’s inseparable from him, so what’s there to worry about?” Gu Lin said bluntly. “Besides, it’s not like your mother and I aren’t coming back. We’ll be back in four or five days at most.”

"Uncle!" Gu Qingyan looked to Jiang He for help.

But this time, Jiang He also lowered his head and pretended not to hear anything.

Gu Qingyan tried to calm his breathing. Who would understand? His younger brother was only a month old, and his parents were already leaving the two brothers behind to go on a trip.

“If Ayan is unable to handle it, his elder brother and sister-in-law can also enter the palace to help take care of Achen.”

Jiang Yu smiled and made a final decision.