The Crown Prince is treating Young Master You like a dog, biting Gu Baozhu; he's after the Gu family's daughter.
There's no way to avoid it.
We need to think of a solution.
As Qin Yuan was deep in thought, she felt a gaze secretly fixed on her face. She turned her head sharply and met the Crown Prince's burning eyes.
While talking to Madam You, the Crown Prince, who was also spying on Qin Yuan, was startled. He hurriedly looked away, covered his lips with his fist as if to hide his embarrassment, and coughed a few times.
Madam You hurriedly asked, "Is His Highness the Crown Prince feeling unwell?"
The Crown Prince dared not look at Qin Yuan again and said in a hoarse voice, "It's alright, Madam, you don't need to worry. My throat was a little itchy just now, but it will be fine in a while."
After thinking for a moment, he added, "After years of recuperation, my health has improved considerably, and I can move and behave just like a normal person."
“Yes, yes,” Madam You said with a smile, “I just heard the Empress mention the other day that His Highness the Crown Prince is getting healthier and healthier, and he will soon be able to hold his grandson. I really wonder which family’s daughter is so lucky to be chosen to enter the Eastern Palace.”
Speaking of this, the Crown Prince sighed inwardly, but smiled and said, "I didn't know that this matter was not only of concern to the Empress Dowager, but also to my grandmother."
Madam You smiled even more broadly: "With the Empress Dowager in charge and the Empress Dowager watching over her, the Crown Princess must be a virtuous, talented, and beautiful woman. Entering the Eastern Palace is a blessing that no ordinary girl can bear."
The Crown Prince smiled, then casually glanced at Qin Yuan again.
The stunning beauty he had been longing for was right before his eyes, but he was a step too late and was taken by that brute, Gu Laosan. Although the official rank of the chief priest was a bit low, if someone with such looks, figure, and charm were taken into the Eastern Palace, she would surely be given a concubine or high-ranking lady.
Even becoming a concubine is not out of the question.
pity……
Since the three dukes and nine ministers were unwilling to offer their legitimate daughters, he simply wanted to find a stunning beauty. However, the portraits of beauties presented were far inferior to those of the Lady of Dingbei.
What's even more infuriating is that, in order to win over the Marquis of Dingbei's household, the Empress Dowager actually favored the rude and barbaric Gu Baozhu as her concubine.
The Crown Prince looked at Gu Baozhu listlessly. Her striking eyebrows and overly bright eyes made her look like she was about to go out and fight if she weren't wearing a dress and hairpins.
When he was sparring with You Sanlang just now, he frowned. Such a young lady, yet she was so rude that she managed to swell up half of You Sanlang's face. Her skirt was tucked into her waist, and her legs were kicking around, leaving footprints all over the walls and beams.
No matter how much she tries to act like a refined lady, inside she's a wild monkey who hasn't shed its fur.
They keep saying they want to find someone who can fight, and they look down on scholars who can't even kill a chicken. How annoying!
The crown prince didn't want to talk anymore.
Those who practice martial arts are always perceptive, and Gu Baozhu had already noticed that the Crown Prince was spying on them. She secretly rolled her eyes and said, "What kind of bad idea is this sickly boy up to now? If he provokes me again, I really won't be able to resist giving him a beating."
If that interferes with her grand plan of finding a husband on the spot, then she's really asking for trouble—like an old man hanging himself.
Qin Yuan thought for a moment and said, "I think the Crown Prince probably won't dare to provoke you."
"What? He's a sickly guy and he's looking down on me?"
Gu Baozhu left Qin Yuan speechless.
Several people rushed in from outside, not even bothering to see who was in the hall, and said, "Her Majesty the Empress has arrived. The Duke, along with his master and sons, are all kneeling outside. They have instructed us to come and invite the Empress Dowager."
Madam You was taken aback.
If the Empress were coming, a eunuch should have come to deliver the message long ago. Why is it so sudden?
"How could we keep Her Majesty the Empress waiting? It would be extremely impolite."
The Crown Prince quickly stood up. "It must be that the Empress Dowager did not want to disturb the old lady's special day, so she came so quickly with a light entourage. Let's go out and greet her."
Madam You and the others quickly helped Old Madam You up and led her forward, with the other ladies following closely behind.
Qin Yuan led Gu Baozhu to the back, and as everyone bowed and knelt, they had just stood up when they heard Empress Lin say, "Old Madam of Dingbei, have your daughter-in-law and daughter arrived yet?"
Qin Yuan: ...They came so directly.
"Your Majesty, she's here, she's here. My daughter-in-law is visiting for the first time, so she must be shy and is hiding in the back."
Madam Gu answered with a smile.
Madam You immediately said, "Her Majesty the Empress has called her name, so why doesn't she hurry over to let Her Majesty the Empress take a look? No one else has such good fortune."
Empress Lin smiled and said, "No rush, no rush, it's good that you're here. With so many people standing here, wouldn't the child be even more shy? But Baozhu is usually so bold, so why is she also getting shy?"
Outsiders who heard this only felt that Empress Lin and Gu Baozhu were very familiar with each other and that they liked each other very much.
The Ninth Princess walked over, took Empress Lin's hand, and said with a smile, "Mother, you don't know, Baozhu isn't shy at all. I'll tell you all about what that guy did later. He scared the Crown Prince so much that he said he would never dare to underestimate Baozhu again."
The Crown Prince, supporting himself with his other hand, nodded and said, "Mother, I really didn't know that Sister Baozhu was so capable. She has quite a chivalrous spirit, after all, she is a daughter from the Marquis of Dingbei's mansion."
Qin Yuan felt relieved.
The Crown Prince is probably unwilling, or rather, dares not, to make a move on Gu Baozhu.
Empress Lin glanced at the Crown Prince and said, "As the saying goes, a tiger father begets no dog son. Baozhu is the youngest daughter of Marquis Gu, so she is naturally different. Let's sit down inside and talk. Don't make the old lady, who is so old, stand outside waiting."
The ladies then escorted Empress Lin and others into Rongxi Hall, where they took their seats according to rank and status. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Empress Lin ordered someone to present the birthday gift to Old Madam You. Only then did she say, "I've been feeling bored in the palace. I heard it's Old Madam's birthday, so I came to visit. Don't be constrained by formalities. Today is Old Madam's special day, so let's make it lively and comfortable."
The hall was now packed with people, all the women gathered together.
Empress Lin ordered the female officials serving her to summon Gu Baozhu and Qin Yuan to speak with her. Everyone knew perfectly well that this was Empress Lin trying to curry favor with the Marquis of Dingbei's residence.
The situation is tense between the Crown Prince's faction and the Prince of Qi's faction in the court. The tax silver case from when the late Crown Prince was alive has resurfaced. The Jingzhao Prefectural Government had imprisoned the person for a short time, but then broke him out of jail. Although the person has not yet been caught, the powerful families have already begun to try to overturn the case against the late Crown Prince's maternal family.
Marquis Dingbei was the former Crown Prince's study companion, and now he holds military power and is in charge of the capital inspection.
Neither the King of Qi nor the Crown Prince's faction was willing to give up this support.
Gu Baozhu is the only member of the Gu family who hasn't been married off.
Song Wenyu hid behind her mother, afraid of being seen by Empress Lin. Normally, being called up to speak would be an honor, but now, the further away the better.
Amidst the varied gazes of the crowd, the two sisters-in-law followed the female official forward gracefully and performed a deep bow.
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