Then the only option is for the Crown Prince to marry Gu Baozhu.
The Ninth Princess glanced at Gu Baozhu with a look of disdain.
He is neither handsome nor talented, and speaks in a vulgar manner. If it weren't for the need to win over the Marquis of Dingbei, how could such a person be fit to enter the Eastern Palace?
The Crown Prince looked at Gu Baozhu and said in a gentle voice, "I didn't expect that Old Madam Gu would cherish the Lady of Dingbei so much. I wonder what kind of good family she will find for Baozhu to marry into in the future."
Song Wenyu glanced quickly at the Crown Prince, thinking to herself that this dignified Crown Prince was like a gossipy woman, willing to abandon all dignity for the throne.
None of the highest-ranking officials were willing to marry their eldest daughters to the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince's marriage had been delayed for so long, and it was still unknown which family would ultimately marry him.
If they were to set their sights on Gu Baozhu...
I'm afraid the Gu family won't let the Crown Prince have his way.
Gu Baozhu chuckled, raised her eyebrows, waved her fist, and said nonchalantly, "Of course you can beat me. I'm practicing martial arts with my third brother now, and those incompetent rats can't get close to me. Besides, it's still early. I haven't reached the age of marriage yet, and my mother wants to keep me for two more years."
Everyone: ...
It was already inappropriate for the Crown Prince and Gu Baozhu to be discussing marriage so casually, and Gu Baozhu's response was even more shocking.
宋文玉回过神来，哈哈大笑：“莫不是要比武招亲？胜得过你的才能娶你？我在话本子上看过，江湖儿女都是这般随性，顾宝珠你也要这么来？你忘了上次咱们和耶律氏人击鞠，若不是你三哥，咱们要被揍得多惨。”
"How can you boost the morale of others and diminish our own?" Gu Baozhu said anxiously, pulling her back to stop her from laughing. "I am not the same person I used to be. If they come again, they won't be able to beat me."
Song Wenyu simply didn't believe it.
The Ninth Princess scoffed, "Gu Baozhu, you're getting more and more outrageous. Daughters from noble families aren't very well-behaved, so they can't be compared to the daughters of civil officials and scholars, but they shouldn't be causing trouble like this. If you keep making a scene like this, do you think Old Madam Gu will let you have your way? It would be better to arrange a marriage for you sooner rather than later, keep you under control for a few years, and let you develop your temperament so you'll be ready to get married."
Gu Baozhu was annoyed and gave the Crown Prince and his sister a threatening look.
“If I find someone who can’t beat me, I’ll beat him up every day. What would that be like? He could have lived to be a hundred, but he’d be gone before he was thirty, making me a widow. That won’t do. Would my mother and my third brother agree to that?”
Doesn't this mean pointing at a monk and calling him bald?
She was practically saying she wouldn't marry a short-lived man.
The crown prince's face also darkened.
But Song Wenyu was still laughing: "Marry her first, otherwise, after she's gone, are you going to dig up her grave and whip her corpse?"
The prince and his sister looked even uglier.
Gu Baozhu thought for a moment and said, "He's not that cruel, but his family's life will be difficult."
The Ninth Princess scoffed coldly.
Miss You smoothed things over, saying, "Gu Baozhu, you're talking nonsense again because you're young. It's just the few of us here. Once we leave this room, you shouldn't say anything more. If others hear this, I don't know how they'll laugh at you. I'll write it all down and come back to mock you on your coming-of-age day."
Gu Baozhu refused to back down and said seriously, "You all think I'm joking. I wouldn't have dared to think like this before. A while ago, my third brother and mother were discussing something, and I overheard them saying that if I couldn't marry someone I liked, I'd be willing to find a husband on the spot."
"Sitting down and soliciting husbands?"
Everyone was surprised.
The Ninth Princess sneered, "Does your third brother not have children? Even if your third brother is destined to be childless, there is still your sixth brother. Do you think it's your turn to sit on the ground and find a husband?"
Gu Baozhu said, "My sixth brother is physically weak, and my nephews and nieces are all studying literature, so my third brother said that as long as they are of the Gu family bloodline, the capable will be respected."
Everyone: ...
This doesn't mean that the Marquis of Dingbei can't have children, or that the lineage of Sixth Master Gu is ruined. The Gu family wants to keep Gu Baozhu's bloodline to carry on the family line.
Song Wenyu smiled.
Now that these words have been spoken, it would be unreasonable for the Crown Prince to continue his schemes.
The Ninth Princess's face was extremely pale.
Miss You remained silent, seemingly stunned by Gu Baozhu's words and at a loss for words.
The Crown Prince glanced at Young Master You.
Young Master You, who had been silent until now, cleared his throat hesitantly and said with a smile, "Miss Gu, are you bragging? Why don't we have a contest? If you can't even beat me, then don't even think about the martial arts contest to find a husband."
Miss You also said, "That would be best. As the Ninth Princess just said, some people might flatter us a bit too much. It's fine if they flatter us to make us happy, but what if you misunderstand and make the wrong decision? My third brother can also wield a stick, though he's not an expert. Why don't you have a match with him? We won't make a fuss about who wins or loses. What do you think?"
These words were spoken from the bottom of their hearts and were very appropriate.
Even Song Wenyu couldn't find fault with her, only saying, "The Third Young Master has been learning martial arts from a famous master since childhood, so it's best to let Gu Qi have some leeway. Gu Qi is still young, has a capricious personality, says whatever she thinks, and is unpredictable. Who knows, she might change her mind tomorrow. We're doing this for her own good, so let's stop here."
Young Master You turned his head and glanced at Song Wenyu, who immediately blushed.
Young Master You laughed and said, "Of course, we'll just stop here. I'm just curious about Miss Gu's martial arts skills."
He certainly can't compare to Lord Gu, but it's still easy for him to make Gu Baozhu suffer.
Although unwilling to win unfairly, he dared not disobey the crown prince's orders.
Young Master You had already made up his mind to stop there and not embarrass the little girl.
Everyone looked at Gu Baozhu.
Gu Baozhu looked somewhat troubled: "Young Master You, we should give it our all in this competition, otherwise how can we determine who is better? What's the point if we stop when we've reached a point?"
Young Master You smiled bitterly.
How can Gu Baozhu not understand human language? She's so arrogant.
The Crown Prince glanced at Young Master You again.
Young Master You could only say, "Fine, but if I use all my strength and you get injured, don't cry."
Gu Baozhu stood up, crossed her arms, and tilted her chin up, looking rather arrogant: "Then you shouldn't cry either."
Young Master You looked up at Gu Baozhu.
His eyes held a very complex expression.
There was speechlessness, mockery, a hint of disdain, and a touch of helplessness.
"Just tell me if you're going to cry or not," Gu Baozhu pressed on relentlessly.
Young Master You sighed, "No, I've practiced martial arts since I was a child and have been injured countless times. How could I possibly cry?"
“Alright then,” Gu Baozhu said with great enthusiasm, “Stand up and tell me what we’re going to compete in? Where shall we compete? Draw a line down for me and I’ll listen to you.”
Song Wenyu stared directly at Miss You.
Are they here to celebrate Madam You's birthday, or to start a fight?
How did it come to this?
Young Master You chuckled as he stood up and cupped his hands to Gu Baozhu: "Let's have a little martial arts match. After all, swords and spears have no eyes, and we don't need to make too much noise, lest we disturb His Highness the Crown Prince and the Ninth Princess."
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