50 Hearts (Please don’t skip this!)
◎ "Wait for me here."◎
In the imperial study, Gu Ningxi and Minister Li exchanged greetings as per protocol.
The drawings of Renzhi Palace were presented. This place was originally a temporary palace of the previous generation and covered a large area.
When Your Majesty first ascended the throne, you advocated frugality and were unwilling to engage in large-scale construction. You only ordered the Ministry of Works to repair and expand the palace and named it "Renzhi Palace".
Gu Ningxi stood two steps behind and to the right of Minister Li, listening to him reply to His Majesty first.
She had just been promoted and felt lucky to have a steady and reliable superior to guide her.
When it was his turn to be responsible for the part of the work, Gu Ningxi reported in an orderly manner according to the documents prepared in advance, his voice fluent.
Minister Li nodded secretly in his heart, thinking that the boy is teachable.
His Majesty was temporarily satisfied with the current construction of Renzhi Palace and praised it a few words.
After reporting the official business, Gu Ningxi was about to leave with Minister Li, but she never expected that His Majesty would keep her alone for a moment longer.
Minister Li took his leave first, and His Majesty offered him a seat. Gu Ningxi sat down on the chair in the imperial study with some uneasiness.
Seeing the young master of the Gu family looking anxious, Emperor Mingde gently put away his teacup and said, "I'm just chatting with you. Don't be alarmed." He smiled and said, "By the way, Mr. Gu was the third place winner in the imperial examination, chosen by me?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful for your grace."
The young man in front of him was about the same age as Qi'an. Emperor Mingde vaguely remembered that they often played together when they were young.
Meeting the Emperor alone, Gu Ningxi's heart was inevitably on edge. However, as His Majesty had said, it was indeed just idle chatter, like his questions about her feelings about serving in the court and how the children of aristocratic families viewed the imperial examinations.
Gu Ningxi answered carefully, and his answers were all flawless, with occasional words of his own thoughts.
She wondered when it would be appropriate for her to take her leave, but His Majesty still seemed interested in talking.
Speaking of the Wanshou Palace Banquet, where all the ministers shared in the emperor's grace, Emperor Mingde recalled something: "During that banquet that day, you met King Zhao by the Penglai Pond?"
Gu Ningxi nodded: "Your Majesty, that is indeed the case."
Emperor Mingde sat up slightly and asked, "Have you seen him with anyone?"
Without time to ponder the emperor's intention, Gu Ningxi answered without hesitation, "It was too dark. I have never seen it. Your Majesty, please forgive me."
Emperor Mingde pondered, and the guards at Penglai Pond echoed the same sentiment. They only saw Prince Zhao and Doctor Gu returning to Zhaoming Palace together, and the two occasionally exchanged words.
Emperor Mingde asked, "What did you say?"
The conversation that night flooded back into her mind, and Gu Ningxi was torn. She thought about it over and over again, but there wasn't a single word she could say that was appropriate in front of His Majesty.
Gu Ningxi quickly thought of a solution and pretended to be reminiscing. He said with a stiff upper lip, "Your Highness... was talking to me about the golden ruyi of the willow archery skill."
Her story flowed more and more fluently. "The daughter of the Marquis of Nan'an won first place, and His Highness praised her for her military bearing. Meanwhile, the children of other aristocratic families in Kyoto still need to improve their riding and archery skills, and I am quite impressed."
Emperor Mingde carefully examined Gu Ningxi's expression and asked, "Is that all you said?"
Gu Ningxi didn't dare to make up any more stories: "Yes, Your Highness and I don't talk much."
She wanted to stand up and leave at the right time. She finally found an opportunity to speak, but she didn't expect that Li, the chief steward of Taiji Palace, came back and reported: "Your Majesty, Prince Zhao has come to pay his respects to you."
"Let him in."
"Your Majesty, may I take my leave first?"
"Go." Emperor Mingde said lightly.
Gu Ningxi left the imperial study and met His Royal Highness Prince Zhao on the steps and paid his respects.
She wanted to go back to the Ministry of Works first, but His Royal Highness Prince Zhao said, "Wait for me here."
"Yes." Gu Ningxi was confused.
It didn't take much time to pay respects, and Lu Jing originally wanted to sit for a while and then leave.
But the emperor asked, "Why were you away for so long at the Wanshou Palace banquet the other day?"
"It's a bit stuffy in the palace, I'm going to Penglai Pond to get some fresh air."
Emperor Mingde asked with profound meaning: "Aren't you going to meet someone you've made an appointment with?"
"No, I only met Yuan Le and exchanged a few words."
"Oh, what did you talk about?"
The topic stopped here, and Lu Jing's eyes flickered slightly.
There is not a single word worth mentioning in that conversation.
…
The sky was clear and azure. After leaving the imperial study, Lu Jing and Gu Ningxi returned to the Secretariat together.
It is not far from here to the Six Ministries, and there is no need to take a sedan chair.
The two of them walked together, with their attendants following from a distance behind. Gu Ningxi thought that he had to find some topics to talk about.
They chatted casually and unknowingly talked about the conversation they had just had in the imperial study.
Gu Ningxi said, "Your Majesty also asked me what I said to Your Highness that night."
Fortunately, she reacted quickly, otherwise she really doesn't know how it would have ended.
Lu Jing paused: "...My father also asked me the same question."
The two of them stared at each other for two or three breaths.
"How did you answer?"
"How did His Highness answer?"
The two men's questions rang out at the same time, and they all faced the charge of deceiving the emperor.
After a moment, Gu Ningxi breathed a sigh of relief: "It's okay, it's okay."
Cold sweat had already broken out on her palms. It was a pity that she worked diligently in the Ministry of Industry, but she was almost exposed in front of her eyes for telling a small, harmless lie.
It can be seen that people still cannot do bad things.
His Royal Highness Prince Zhao also mentioned Jin Ruyi in his reply, saying that the children of aristocratic families are often lazy and not good at riding and shooting.
The two of them had similar ideas, so there were no flaws.
It was a coincidence, as both of them shared the same thought. The northern border crisis hadn't been resolved, and the Turks were still eyeing them covetously. How could the young sons of aristocratic families indulge in pleasure and not inherit their fathers' ambition to conquer the battlefield?
At least he got through it without any danger. Fortunately, he was not there in person, otherwise Gu Ningxi would be still scared.
The Ministry of Works' duty room was already in sight, so Lu Jing changed the subject: "When will the job be dismissed?"
"I don't have much to do today. I have an appointment at 5 pm."
Lu Jing, who was about to invite him to dinner, said: "..."
He asked, "Who did you meet?"
"Master of the Golden Ruyi," Gu Ningxi replied, remembering the misunderstanding Prince Zhao had had with her that night, "I will return the jade intact to Zhao."
Gu Ningxi was not happy with Ruyi as he had gotten into so much trouble because of it.
Lu Jing said cheerfully, "Maybe the wrong person sent Ruyi." He smiled and said, "We should do this sooner rather than later."
"I think so too."
As the sun set, Lu Jingfang finished reading two official documents in the central duty room of the Ministry of Chancellery.
The imperial court's Shangshuling nominally commanded the six ministries, but in reality, the real power was still in the hands of the left and right Pushe. He participated in government affairs for only half a year, and the Shangshuling title in his hands was mostly an empty one.
Lu Jing put down his pen and said, "Go and ask the two adults to come over."
Now that I have some free time, it's time to clean up some people and things.
"Yes, Your Highness."
…
As dusk fell, many people from the six ministries had already left their shifts and returned home. Gu Ningxi, in particular, had an appointment tonight and, having dealt with some important matters, left early.
"Your Highness," Sun Jing said with a smile beside Prince Zhao's carriage, "Are you going back to the palace?"
Lu Jing didn't answer: "Have you found out?"
"Your Highness, Lord Gu and Miss Luo have an appointment at Wangyun Tower."
It happened to be his territory, so Lu Jing said, "Let's go."
His Highness did not say it explicitly, but Sun Jing tasted it again and again, implying that he had to go out to Wangyun Tower.
The private rooms in Wangyun Tower were also specially arranged.
Lu Jing had no hobby of eavesdropping, but the girl from the Luo family was a daughter of a general and had good skills, which he could see at a glance on the polo field that day.
Yuan Le was just a scholar, so weak that he couldn't even shoot an arrow at a target.
If he went to the banquet alone and something happened that made him feel emotional, he was really worried that Yuan Le would be the one who suffered.
…
After sitting down in the private room, Gu Ningxi deliberately chose Wangyun Tower.
This place is neither too far nor too close to the Nan'an Marquis' Mansion and the Xuanping Marquis' Mansion. Because it is the private property of His Royal Highness Prince Zhao, it has always been strictly managed and there are fewer outsiders.
Luo Yun arrived at the appointment as scheduled and said, "It's my turn to invite Master Gu."
The dishes had not yet been served in the private room, and there were some things Gu Ningxi wanted to clarify first.
She pushed out a brocade box and said, "I'll return this to Miss Luo."
The golden ruyi in the box was precious and dazzling, but Luo Yun stubbornly refused to take it: "Master Gu, please don't misunderstand me. I only..."
"I know."
Although the other party answered like this, Luo Yun still felt that an explanation was needed: "The golden ruyi represents a good marriage. Lord Gu can use it to ask His Majesty to grant us a marriage. I..."
Gu Ningxi nodded: "I know everything."
When Luo Yun met the warm and tolerant gaze of the person in front of him, he knew at that moment that the other person saw through everything.
The private room was quiet for a while, and Gu Ningxi calmly made tea.
Luo Yun mustered up the courage to ask, "How did Lord Gu see through it?"
Gu Ningxi poured a cup of tea. "The young lady of the Luo family is determined to inherit her father's legacy, and she wields the silver spear to perfection. She wants to achieve great things, reclaim the northern border, and bring honor to her family. How could such a brilliant girl be trapped by mere love?" She smiled. "You don't want to marry the legitimate son of the Duke of Ning, do you?"
Luo Yun nodded silently. No one had ever told her this except Lord Gu.
She is the only daughter of her parents and is very popular in the eyes of Kyoto people.
Many noble families wanted to marry her, all because they valued her status as the legitimate daughter of a marquis and the generous dowry she would bring.
After marrying her, she is always expected to take charge of the household chores and raise children.
What they wanted was the legitimate daughter of Marquis Nan'an, not her, Luo Yun.
She could have refused many marriages, but the Ningguo Duke's Mansion was a royal family, and it was the Ningguo Duke who came personally to propose marriage, so it was difficult for the Marquis' Mansion to refuse.
Her father was in a difficult situation and stood in front of her to block it.
"Master Gu, I'm so sorry," Luo Yun stood up, "I... really couldn't think of any other way."
She was too desperate and blurted out this bad idea in front of the two governments, and it was impossible to take back the damage.
"It's okay." Gu Ningxi's tone remained gentle as she poured tea for Luo Yun.
She had no intention of blaming him from the beginning to the end, and Luo Yun felt more and more guilty: "Since Lord Gu knew that I was being used, why was he still willing to help me?"
At that time, she pushed Lord Gu to the forefront, but Lord Gu did not say a word.
Gu Ningxi gestured for her to sit down, her words tinged with a hint of self-pity that she herself hadn't noticed. "In this world, it's always harder for women. I'm glad I could be of some help to you."
Luo Yun's nose felt sore.
Gu Ningxi asked, "How is your brother?"
The Marquis of Nan'an had no sons, so he adopted his nephew to continue the family business, but he has not yet asked for the title of crown prince for him.
"He..." Luo Yun became angry again when he mentioned Luo Yang. "He is conceited, proud, and yet he has low self-esteem. He always acts like the master of the Marquisate, and he hates it most when others mention that he is not the Marquisate's biological son."
The Nan'an Marquis's family business was built by her father and mother and has nothing to do with other people in the Luo family.
"Are you on bad terms with him?"
"Yeah, it's bad."
In the eyes of outsiders, Luo Yang respects his elder sister very much and tolerates her in everything.
But Luo Yun saw through his character. He was humble when his father was alive, but when he took over the Marquis' Mansion in the future and gained power, she didn't know how he would take revenge on her and her mother.
"Since I know him well and know he'll turn against me sooner or later, why should I bother trying to please him? If I try to please him, I'm afraid he won't know how to be proud of himself. I find it disgusting."
Luo Yun and Gu Ningxi confided their true feelings: "I want to stay home for now, no matter what. If I get married, the Marquis's family business will have nothing to do with me anymore."
No matter how much dowry she could take away, it was the result of her parents' hard work, and she didn't want to give up the Marquis' Mansion.
Gu Ningxi knew how difficult it was to raise a daughter, and there was really little she could do to help Luo Yun.
"It's alright, Master Gu. I'll figure it out myself."
She apologized again sincerely, "I didn't mean to harm Lord Gu, but..." She sighed, "It was the situation at the time. I suddenly said I had a crush on someone during the marriage proposal. Only someone like Lord Gu would believe it."
Gu Ningxi thought about it and felt that the other party was probably praising her, so she smiled quietly.
Luo Yun's eyes were filled with earnestness. She had thought this matter would soon be over. Since Lord Gu was a man, his marriage shouldn't be greatly affected.
But because of her involvement, Lord Gu has not married yet.
Gu Ningxi understood what Luo Yun meant. She hoped that she could use this golden ruyi to arrange a marriage that suits her as soon as possible, so that she wouldn't have to be influenced by rumors anymore.
Gu Ningxi simply said, "This is my own problem and has nothing to do with you. So you don't have to..." Gu Ningxi said tactfully, "You don't have to keep thinking about compensating me."
She doesn't need the gifts sent to her house every year, including the golden ruyi this time.
Gu Ningxi said, "Don't feel guilty. I just hope..." She solemnly returned the jade ruyi, "that you can get what you want and everything goes well."
This is all she can do for Luo Yun.
Luo Yun was silent for a long time.
Now that everything was said, Gu Ningxi said, "Shall I tell the servant to serve the dishes?"
After talking for so long, she and Luo Yun must be hungry.
She stood up and was about to push open the door when she suddenly heard the girl behind her calling her.
"Master Gu!"
Gu Ningxi looked back, and Luo Yun smiled brightly and said, "If, in a few years, Master Gu still hasn't found a good match, and is forced to marry by his family, why not marry me?"
Now, she really wants to get married.
"I have to be responsible to Master Gu."
Luo Yun winked playfully, and Gu Ningxi also laughed.
But she didn't answer.
Separated by a wall, all the words fell into the ears of His Royal Highness Prince Zhao.
Especially the last sentence, which is particularly loud and clear.
It is truly resounding.
【Author’s words】
Xiao Lu: Yuan Le is dating a girl from the Luo family, and he is worried that Yuan Le will suffer a loss.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
