40 Possessiveness
◎Let him belong to him only◎
"good."
As soon as Gu Ningxi finished speaking, he heard His Royal Highness Prince Zhao agree to this matter straightforwardly.
She felt relieved and a smile appeared on her face.
"Thank you, Your Highness!" She bowed deeply, her gratitude evident in words.
"You're welcome." Lu Jing coughed lightly and put his fist to his lips.
His Highness Prince Zhao always kept his word, and Gu Ningxi trusted him very much. She had originally thought of taking her leave and resuming the discussion when His Highness Prince Zhao was free.
However, Lu Jing said, "This matter should be discussed sooner rather than later. I will discuss it with Yan Ming tomorrow."
He motioned for Gu Ningxi to sit down again and began to interrogate her, "When did Yan Ming tell you about this?"
"Just yesterday." Gu Ningxi answered without hesitation. Since His Royal Highness Prince Zhao was so concerned, half of the matter was done.
She briefly described the situation in Wangyun Tower: "I haven't told my family yet, but I'm grateful for Your Highness's help."
After learning the news yesterday, he is thinking of rejecting the marriage today. It seems that Yuan Le really has no feelings for the girl from the Qin family.
Lu Jing was very satisfied with this conclusion. He said deliberately, "But this marriage is a perfect match. Why don't you like it?"
Yan Ming had supported the Qin family, and the Duke of Qi's mansion's status in Kyoto had greatly improved. Qin Ying was also the Duke of Qi's eldest daughter, so few would refuse to marry into the Qin family.
Gu Ningxi also knew that she needed a decent reason, otherwise His Royal Highness Prince Zhao would not be able to refuse on her behalf.
She told him everything, "It's not that Miss Qin is bad, it's just that I really have no interest in her and don't want to delay her."
"So, what kind of person do you like?"
Gu Ningxi raised her eyes and met the gaze of His Royal Highness Prince Zhao, and a sense of foreboding flashed through her mind.
Your Highness Prince Zhao... wouldn't you be intending to act as a matchmaker for her?
"I, I haven't made up my mind yet." Gu Ningxi hurriedly listed reasons one after another. "Besides, I haven't even come of age yet, so I'm not in a rush to find a husband. Besides, I want to be like Your Highness, establishing a career first, then starting a family."
The implication was that Prince Zhao himself was unmarried, and she was willing to follow His Highness Prince Zhao's example.
The smile in Lu Jing's eyes grew wider, but his expression remained calm.
Gu Ningxi deliberately changed the topic and asked tactfully, "What kind of person does Your Highness like?"
The two looked at each other, and Lu Jing's eyes were filled with the appearance of the person in front of him.
"Like you," he said, pausing for a long moment before continuing, "I haven't thought about it yet."
The topic was overshadowed, and Lu Jing's tone was reassuring: "Leave this matter to me, you don't need to worry anymore."
A smile flickered in Gu Ningxi's bright eyes. His Royal Highness Prince Zhao was both a good friend and the lord of the Qin Crown Prince. Having him as a middleman was better than her rejecting the Qin Crown Prince directly.
"Thank you, Your Highness. I will take my leave."
Gu Ningxi no longer disturbed Prince Zhao from governing the country, and his steps were obviously much lighter when he left.
Lord Gu said goodbye, and Sun Jing went into the study to put away the teacups.
Lu Jing flipped open a document and instructed, "Tomorrow, please invite Yan Ming to Prince Zhao's mansion for a chat."
Originally, he had some free time today, but this made Yuan Le and him seem a little too anxious.
"yes."
Sun Jing agreed and looked at the expression of His Royal Highness Prince Zhao, feeling very curious.
He didn't know what Lord Gu said to His Royal Highness Prince Zhao. He hadn't seen His Royal Highness in such a good mood in the past few days.
Strange, really strange.
…
Within a day, His Royal Highness Prince Zhao had arranged everything.
In the palace study, the tea had just cooled down to about 40%.
Qin Yu understood what Lord Gu meant from His Royal Highness Prince Zhao's words and pondered for a moment.
Lu Jing continued, "Yuan Le has already said that it's not that the Qin family girl is bad, but that there is a lack of fate between the two of them."
In fact, Qin Yu had already discerned something the day before in Wangyun Tower. Lord Gu had no interest in his younger sister, and the reason he'd always cared for her was not only because of their former friendship, but also because Lord Gu was a kind person. He had no special feelings for her, and this was simply her wishful thinking.
Marriage cannot be forced. Lu Jing said, "Yuan Le also has good intentions. Marrying into the Duke of Qi's mansion will benefit him, but he doesn't want the Qin family girl to be involved in the disputes of the Marquis' mansion."
Lu Jing handed a letter to Qin Yu. He had already ordered people to investigate the past affair between Yuan Le and the daughter of Nan'an Marquis thoroughly.
After reading it, Qin Yu realized that it was no wonder that his mother was so anxious about this matter. There were quite a few girls who wanted to marry into the Marquis Xuanping's Mansion.
After weighing the pros and cons, it is indeed difficult to get along with the people in the rear quarters of Marquis Xuanping's mansion.
Qin Yu was also hesitant about this marriage. She originally thought that if Lord Gu truly loved her sister, then her efforts would be worth it, and he would also help them after the marriage.
But since Lord Gu politely declined the matter, and marriage is a matter of mutual consent, Qin Yu would not mind it too much.
Lu Jing said, "Except Yuan Le, if you have any family in the capital that you like, I will help them."
"I thank you, Your Highness, for your concern."
Qin Yu felt a little guilty. It was originally a private matter between the two houses, but he dragged His Highness into it and had to negotiate for them.
Fortunately, the matter came to an end. Qin Yu looked at His Royal Highness Prince Zhao, who was calmly sipping his tea, and couldn't help but think of some other insignificant details. Especially when he saw His Royal Highness Prince Zhao's posture when he spoke, it was a little... a little?
Qin Yu really couldn't describe it, but when the four words "the style of the main wife" came to his mind, he laughed and felt that he really should read more books in his spare time.
He lowered his head to drink tea, thinking about how to explain to his sister and mother when he returned.
…
After Sun Jing sent away the prince of Qi, he prepared the carriage according to the instructions of His Royal Highness King Zhao.
Lu Jingxin changed into a bamboo green brocade robe with gold weaving, remembering that Yuan Le should be on duty in Huiwen Hall today.
Now that the matter has been settled, he told Yuan Le as soon as possible to save Yuan Le from worrying about the marriage.
Lu Jing was very satisfied with the reason for the meeting and ordered the carriage to set off.
Huiwen Hall was two streets away from the Imperial Examination Hall. When the head academician in the hall received the news that His Royal Highness Prince Zhao was coming, he hurriedly brought people out to greet him.
Although Huiwen Hall was a girls' school established by the imperial decree of Empress Yao, it was located outside the palace and was later under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Rites.
There is nothing surprising about the Minister of the Chancellery visiting Huiwen Hall.
Lu Jing did not need a large group of people to accompany him. He just needed to walk around Huiwen Hall and order the officials in the hall to do their duties.
Huiwen Hall is exquisitely constructed. Although it is not as grand as the Imperial Examination Hall, the layout of its several buildings is elegant, and every building and beam is finely crafted.
Lu Jing was led by the academician. Huiwen Hall was originally a courtyard with three entrances. Later, as more and more girls from aristocratic families enrolled in the school, a courtyard next to it was expanded.
Lu Jing paused for a moment. The carvings on the beams were extremely colorful, and perfectly matched the academic style of Huiwen Hall. He casually asked and learned that the official in charge of the expansion of Huiwen Hall was Yuan Le, who had been in the Ministry of Works for only a year.
He smiled. No wonder it felt familiar.
The corridors are winding and a few yellow leaves dot the paths, creating a unique scenery on a sunny day in early autumn.
"Your Highness, the painting studio is in front. Master Gu Yuanle will be teaching in the afternoon."
"Okay, you can leave now."
Lu Jing walked through the moon-shaped door alone and stood in the corridor following the sound.
The four bright windows in the studio were open, and Lu Jing's eyes were attracted by the elegant young man in front of the podium.
He was dressed in a cyan official uniform, his face was as handsome as a jade, and his figure was slender and upright. His expression was focused, his tone was patient and warm, and it felt like a spring breeze. His every move exuded confidence and composure, an indescribable pleasure to watch.
Lu Jing didn't say anything, just quietly looked at the person who was concentrating on painting.
His hands were long and beautiful, as carefully carved as jade.
The vast and profound landscape slowly unfolded on the scroll. After demonstrating one section, he stepped down from the podium.
As he walked, Lu Jing discovered that there were twenty or thirty girls sitting neatly in the studio.
The red and green rings and pendants jingle, and the colorful brocade skirts are bright, just like the colorful flowers in spring, with the fragrance of hair and clothes.
They took turns holding the drawing paper and asked Master Gu to give them guidance.
He smiled gently, took his paintbrush, and responded without hesitation.
The young girls gathered around Master Gu, all with the same admiration on their faces.
The breeze blew the painting paper, and a girl in the studio noticed a figure standing outside the window.
Word spread from one person to three, from three to ten, and when a noble lady recognized that the person was His Royal Highness Prince Zhao, everyone in the hall put down their brushes and greeted him with repeated greetings.
"Your Highness." Gu Ningxi had not expected to meet His Royal Highness Prince Zhao here, and hurried out of the painting studio.
"It's been done. Just ask Sun Jing."
Lu Jing no longer looked at him, turned around and strode away, leaving only the words "The King still has things to do."
Gu Ningxi was puzzled and asked the steward Sun who arrived shortly afterwards. Only then did he learn that His Highness had come to the Huiwen Hall today to observe the situation. His Highness had hurried into the palace, presumably because His Majesty had urgently summoned him.
Gu Ningxi had no doubts and breathed a sigh of relief knowing that her marriage with the Duke of Qi had been properly resolved.
She planned to visit him another day to personally thank His Royal Highness Prince Zhao.
After this episode, Gu Ningxi returned to the studio to continue teaching.
The hall soon returned to normal.
…
A chess game was set up in the imperial study, and Emperor Mingde temporarily put all government affairs aside.
He placed a black piece and looked at the silent Qi'an opposite him for the third time.
The child came to the palace to pay his respects in the afternoon without saying a word. Emperor Mingde was surprised and guessed that he must have encountered some difficulties.
The emperor dismissed his attendants and kept the man in under the pretext of a game of chess. The back and forth of the chess game served as a good opportunity to slowly open up.
Emperor Mingde looked across at the man sitting across from him, lost in thought. Qi'an had grown up, now living in a separate palace, no longer following him around like he had in his youth. But when Qi'an encountered difficulties outside, the first person he thought of and the one he trusted most was still him, his father.
Emperor Mingde was extremely pleased and secretly happy.
As for Qi'an's predicament, Emperor Mingde did not think of anything else except the setback in love.
The autumn sky was vast and the pleasant weather could not dispel the depression in Lu Jing's heart.
What does it matter after settling Qin Ying? Yuan Le has countless beautiful women around him, and sooner or later he will meet the one he likes.
They all had opportunities, but he didn't even have the qualifications to express his feelings openly.
The bright sunlight poured into the studio. At that moment, he looked at him and saw his gentle smile to others. He wanted to grab his delicate wrist and bring him back, so that he would belong to him alone.
So gloomy, so dark.
He knew it was wrong, and he couldn't accept that he had such dark thoughts about his best friend.
He looked at Yuan Le, who was unaware and still trusted him, and did not dare to stay for a moment longer, for fear that he might do something.
Throughout the entire game of chess, both father and son were absent-minded.
Emperor Mingde took in his son's expression and sighed inwardly. Qi'an had all the noble ladies in the capital ready to choose from, so why did he choose to only favor a married woman?
It also made me toss and turn, with no one to vent my pain.
Emperor Mingde couldn't help but analyze for his son. Qi'an had no status and if he wanted to be the latecomer, he would always suffer a loss if he competed with the main wife.
After pondering this for a while, the emperor also began to feel puzzled. His Qi'an was good in every way. In terms of family background and status, he was the Zhao Wang, who was superior to everyone in the Jin Dynasty. In terms of appearance, Qi'an had inherited the advantages of both him and Yiwen. In terms of civil and military achievements, it goes without saying that the Zhao Wang was a well-known king. Who in the world did not know him?
Why is it that the girl opposite me remains unmoved and refuses to...change her mind?
【Author’s words】
Xiao Lu is not a shady kid~ hehehehe
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