Chapter 188 Dragon Boat Festival
"I thought you'd become more sensible after you came of age, but I've spoiled you too much. Now you disrespect your elders and speak rudely!" Prince Duan angrily flung his sleeve.
"Father?!"
Qi Wenyue's eyes widened in disbelief, almost as if she had misheard.
Is this still the same father who cared for and loved me, and was afraid that I would suffer any grievances?
Why does it suddenly seem like you've become a completely different person?
At most, she talked back to Consort Gu a few times and said some unpleasant things, but she didn't do anything!
"Father...aren't I your most beloved daughter? How could you hit me for this woman? Have you really become senile?"
Prince Duan lowered his eyebrows, his cold gaze sweeping over her without a trace of warmth on his face.
“If you were a good person, I would naturally cherish you like a treasure. But you are unruly and have never given me any peace of mind over the years. Since that’s the case, you can continue to stay in your courtyard and reflect on your actions. Once Consort Gu has found you a marriage, you can get married.”
"Father, your daughter does not want to get married!"
Qi Wenyue hurriedly got up from the ground, about to say something more, but Prince Duan had already run out of patience. With a wave of his hand, he ordered Qi Wenyue's maid to take her away.
"Men should marry when they are of age and women should marry when they are of age. How can you just say you don't want to?"
Qi Wenyue was still sobbing when she was taken away. As soon as Gu Linyan saw that she was out of sight, she immediately let go of Duan Wang's hand. Her face was no longer as weak and helpless as before, but cold as ice.
"How long is this charade going to go on?" she asked coldly, staring in the direction where Qi Wenyue had disappeared.
"Complaining to me is useless. I promised to keep your daughter safe, and I mean it." Prince Duan patted the sleeve that Gu Linyan had just pulled up, his eyes filled with a hint of critical disdain.
"Ha, you'd be so kind? You were the one who broke me and my lover up in the first place, and now you're acting all high and mighty?"
“Your daughter is also his daughter, and I will naturally treat her as my own.”
Gu Linyan suddenly turned her head to look at Prince Duan, and on his white, beardless face, there was a strange trace of nostalgia and deep affection.
A chill ran through her chest:
You're disgusting!
After saying that, Gu Linyan didn't want to stay with Prince Duan any longer and quickly headed towards the garden exit.
The news that Prince Duan had married a new concubine, Consort Gu, quickly spread throughout the capital.
The common people didn't care, but among the powerful and wealthy, it caused a huge uproar, and there was a great commotion.
Who is Prince Duan?
In his youth, he was very close to the emperor and his brother, and was one of the emperor's most valued sons. Originally, when the court officials were to choose sides, they were wavering between Prince Duan and the emperor. It was Prince Duan who took the initiative to withdraw, staging a scene of brotherly affection and respect, which may have stirred up a lot of bloodshed.
Therefore, the Emperor has always been very kind to this younger brother, and has entrusted the army to Prince Duan several times with great trust, allowing him to lead the troops into battle. If it weren't for the death of Princess Duan in childbirth fifteen years ago, and Prince Duan's injury on the battlefield, he would not have been so despondent after returning to the capital and would not have appeared in front of everyone for many years.
Unexpectedly, this revealed a major flaw.
Prince Duan is already this old and still refuses to accept his age, taking a concubine. I don't know if he's getting senile or if he thinks that Princess Wenyue is old enough to get married and can finally let loose.
Regardless of the reason, people in the capital were talking about it, and many people's impression of Prince Duan became somewhat worse.
Not to mention, this Consort Gu is related to Minister Xiao's mistress by marriage; they seem to be distant cousins, and they even look very similar.
Consort Gu ostentatiously attended various banquets as the mistress of the Duan Prince's mansion, which disgusted the ladies of noble families who had been married in marriage. But that's another story.
When news of what happened at the Prince Duan's residence reached Qi Yuxuan's ears, she was riding a horse with the Crown Prince.
After working diligently these past few days, she was finally able to trot on Xueyun in the riding arena. However, she was still not very skilled at mounting and dismounting and dared not run too fast.
Hard work pays off. I thought I would never be able to learn something because of my fear of heights, but now I'm doing it quite well.
As Lanxin served her water and wiped the sweat from her forehead, she hesitated before saying:
"That Consort Gu is said to look very similar to the one from the former Feiyin Pavilion..."
The person imprisoned in Feiyin Pavilion died in his room two days ago for unknown reasons. He was found with the only silver hairpin in his hair, and his body was already stiff.
Princess Chang Le ordered the mass grave to be abandoned without even a glance, indicating she was unwilling to mention it.
Qi Yuxuan gave a blank "hmm" and took the handkerchief to wipe her sweat.
"Is there any new news from Ren Shun?"
Lan Xin immediately shook her head: "No."
"Then tell me when he has news."
"yes--"
Watching Princess Chang Le happily mount her horse and urge Xue Yun to run, Lan Xin's heart remained heavy with worry.
"Qin Yuan, you've been by the princess's side longer than I have. Do you know if the princess was unhappy just now?"
Qin Yuan looked up, then at Lan Xin, and said with a blank expression:
“I didn’t arrive much earlier than Sister Lanxin, and the princess didn’t say anything just now, so she shouldn’t be unhappy.”
"Then why did the princess not react at all when I mentioned the Flying Sound Pavilion?"
Like any other fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl, she was either fiercely opposed to evil or innocently curious, and was very lively and bright.
Why is it that when it comes to her princess, she always seems so calm and collected, like an old man?
"Oh, don't worry, Sister Lanxin. As long as we do our job well, the princess will never be angry with us. Besides, you were personally bestowed by the eldest princess, and she always says that we should learn more from you."
"Yeah……"
Lanxin smiled a little shyly.
The Dragon Boat Festival was just two days away, and the mansion had already hung up mugwort, calamus, and artemisia, and also posted the Five Poisons Talisman and the image of the Celestial Master everywhere.
The eldest princess also returned from Huaicheng, and she had lost even more weight.
"Mother, you must be tired from the journey. Please eat more and get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow, Mother, please accompany your daughter to watch the dragon boat races."
As Qi Yuxuan served food to the Princess, she said:
"My daughter can now ride Xueyun and trot around the riding field. After the Dragon Boat Festival banquet, she will ride it for you!"
"Thanks to my cousin, the Crown Prince, for his excellent teaching. No wonder my mother invited him to teach me. He has made great progress every day. If I had a teacher as capable as my cousin to teach me in other fields, I could easily become the top scholar in the imperial examination."
"You're quick to understand, but you mustn't let Jun'er hear you say that, or he'll really force you to become the top scholar in the imperial examination!"
Qi Yuxuan gently and softly recounted the events of the past few days to the Princess, picking out the most cheerful and playful parts.
Laughter and cheerful conversation filled the table, and the sadness and desolation that had settled on the eldest princess on the anniversary of her death gradually dissipated.
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