After the 100-day celebration, Wei Qinglou discovered that his young wife really liked the Ning family's little girl.
He likes it too.
He just prefers his own.
Of course, he didn't want a little rival competing for his affections yet. He already had enough of Ning's little daughter. If they had another one, would Zhu Jiayu even remember him?
In order to keep his position from being shaken, and more importantly because he felt sorry for his wife, Wei Qinglou behaved himself for a few unusual days.
...
The days began to brighten, the willow branches along the Spring Shade River turned a vibrant green with a hint of lushness, and the flowers in the Zhenguo Duke's courtyard bloomed even more beautifully, crowding together on the branches. Palm-sized lotus leaves began to float in the clear pond, and even tiny lotus buds gracefully emerged.
May has arrived.
As summer began in Yujing, dawn broke earlier and earlier. Zhu Jiayu, who was a light sleeper, found it even harder to fall asleep when the sunlight was dazzling. So, she decided to break her usual laziness and get up to help Wei Qinglou change into his court robes that morning.
Wei Qinglou enjoyed her service with a clear conscience. Finally, he instructed her, "If you don't have anything important to do these days, it's best to stay home as much as possible. If you do go out, remember to bring your books and sword."
"Why?" Zhu Jiayu looked up and asked, puzzled.
Wei Qinglou explained, "May is the birthday of Consort Gao. In previous years, Prince Pingnan would come to the capital to offer his congratulations at this time. This year, he brought his heir, Prince Pingnan, with him. I have some grudges with this heir..." He cut to the chase, "...and he might make things difficult for you this time he comes to the capital."
Zhu Jiayu nodded, recalling a past incident Gu Jinshu had told him, and winked at him with an ambiguous expression: "I'm afraid it's not as simple as some past grievances, is it?"
Wei Qinglou: ...
Without a doubt, it was Gu Jinshu who told her. It seems he really needs to have a serious talk with Gu Jinshu; she's been revealing all his secrets because she has Zhu Jiayu backing her up.
"In short, just remember what I said." Wei Qinglou changed the subject.
Zhu Jiayu did not answer, but asked him, "If you offend the Prince of Pingnan, can you bear the consequences?"
Hearing her say that, Wei Qinglou knew she was up to her old tricks again. He smiled and said, "Of course I can take responsibility. You can do whatever you want. But remember, always bring your books and sword with you."
Having not seen him for so many years, Wei Qinglou wondered what kind of person the Prince of Pingnan had become. He was not exactly a righteous person, and if he used some forceful methods, Wei Qinglou was really afraid that his little wife would not be able to handle him.
Zhu Jiayu nodded perfunctorily: "I know, I know. You should go to court now, don't be late."
After seeing Wei Qinglou off, Zhu Jiayu lay in bed for a while before getting up to wash, eat, and dress up.
She had arranged to go shopping with Gu Jinshu today to buy some trinkets for Xiaozhuo. She had also originally planned to meet Song Jiangmei, who had agreed, but for some reason, Song Jiangmei sent someone last night to say that she had something to do the next day and couldn't go. So today, only Gu Jinshu accompanied her.
Gu Jinshu had received much care from Master Xiao when she was young, so she naturally felt close to Xiao Wan. When she heard that Zhu Jiayu was going to buy things for Xiao Zhuo, she immediately agreed.
However, just as Zhu Jiayu finished getting ready, the Princess's residence sent a message saying that the Princess was feeling unwell and would be unable to keep the appointment today.
With no other option, Zhu Jiayu could only take Lüzheng and walk outside.
Shujian, who was guarding the courtyard with a grass root in his mouth, immediately jumped up from the ground as soon as he saw the lady dressed and walking out. He spat out the grass root in his mouth and strode forward to ask, "Is the lady going out?"
Zhu Jiayu then remembered Wei Qinglou's instructions, and she nodded: "Come with me."
"Okay!"
After leaving the alley and arriving at Yong'an Street in a horse-drawn carriage, Zhu Jiayu first instructed the driver to go to the renowned gold shop on the street.
At the full moon celebration, Zhu Jiayu gave Zhuozhuo a set of jade bowls, chopsticks, cups, and saucers; later, at the 100-day celebration, she gave Zhuozhuo a house.
The reason she went out this time was because she had seen the young lady of the Chen family wearing a small gold bracelet inlaid with gemstones on her wrist. It was tiny and looked extremely cute, and it made the young lady's wrist look as fair and delicate as jade. Zhu Jiayu then thought of making a pair of gold bracelets and a gold necklace for Zhuozhuo as well.
It's so golden and beautiful.
Upon entering the jewelry store, Zhu Jiayu began selecting items. During this time, she encountered ladies and young women from aristocratic and official families, who all greeted her with smiles.
"Madam Wei is here too?"
"It's been a few days since I last saw you, Madam Wei looks to be in very good health."
"Is Madam Wei here today to choose jewelry for herself, or to give as a gift?"
Zhu Jiayu and the others greeted each of them with smiles.
The man drinking on the third floor heard voices downstairs, leaned out and looked down, and immediately saw a beautiful young woman. He clicked his tongue and said to the servant beside him, "I've always heard those pedantic scholars praise women for their faces as bright as the autumn moon and their complexions as clear as the spring dawn. Now I've finally seen it for myself."
He raised his hand, wiped the wine that was about to drip from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, and instructed the servant beside him, "Quickly go and find out whose lady that is."
The servant stood to the side, bowing deeply, and said with some difficulty, "Young Master... His Highness said that this time when you come to the capital, you can't do it like before..."
Before he could finish speaking, he felt a wetness on his head. The next moment, drops of alcohol dripped down his head, stinging his eyes so much that he could barely open them.
"You know I'm the heir apparent? If you don't do as I'm told, what will fall on your head later is this 300-tael pot of Zhu Dongfeng liquor."
The fat, big-eared man narrowed his eyes fiercely, his face so bulging with fat that it looked ridiculously funny. Yet, the servant felt nothing but fear in his heart.
He knew that their crown prince never joked. If they were in their fiefdom, he would have dared to disobey the crown prince and might already be dead. It was only because they were in Yujing that the crown prince had become more restrained.
After weighing the pros and cons, he dared not delay any longer and quickly said, "Yes, yes, I will go and ask right away."
He hurried downstairs in a few quick steps. At that moment, the beauty brought by the Prince of Pingnan had already chosen her favorite jewelry. She walked over with a charming smile, wrapped her arm around his, and nestled in his arms. Just as she was about to speak softly, she didn't expect that the next moment, she would be pushed away by the man who had recently called her his darling.
"Once you've made your selection, go downstairs to pay the bill. Just mention that you are the heir of the Prince of Pingnan," Gu Chongyan said in a cold tone.
At this moment, he was preoccupied with the young lady he had just caught a glimpse of.
It's so beautiful.
Her beauty is unconventional and beyond compare.
He would be willing to die if he could just get close to him once.
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