Lord Gu was stunned once again.
Gu Baozhu is the most prone to spouting nonsense, but his mother and wife should be of one mind with him and always protect him.
"Why...why is this..."
Mr. Songshan said, "Many people are concerned about the Marquis's illness, and they will naturally try to find out information when they have the chance. This is also quite convenient, as the Seventh Miss is young and innocent. Whenever the Old Madam asks about the Seventh Miss's marriage, she says that she wants to keep her for a few more years and that she might even find a husband for her later... The Madam is fine... but she doesn't argue..."
Lord Gu slapped his forehead with a bitter face.
No wonder the gazes cast across the court were subtle and complex.
I see.
I see!
In such matters, only the innocent can clear themselves; there's no way to explain it to anyone right now.
The only saving grace is that this isn't true.
He's really good.
Mr. Songshan added, "I think this is excellent; I doubt anyone will try to take advantage of the Marquis now."
Gu Shiba said, "If the Marquis doesn't take a concubine, their schemes are useless."
Mr. Songshan shook his head: "No, no. If no one dares to plot against the Seventh Miss, then the Marquis will become a big piece of meat. Putting aside everything else, if the Emperor were to bestow a marriage upon him, would the Marquis accept or refuse? If he refuses, his wife will be in danger; if he accepts, how will he conduct himself? The struggle for the throne has always been a bloody affair. Who will try to persuade people with reason or with propriety?"
Lord Gu was drenched in cold sweat and nodded, saying, "In that case, it is indeed a good thing."
Mr. Songshan stroked his beard, narrowed his eyes, and appeared even more unfathomable: "You must still remember the story of Sima Yi that I told you last time. Sima Yi feigned illness and lay low for many years. When the emperor left the capital for the sacrificial ceremony, he launched the Incident at Gaoping Mausoleum, which turned the world upside down. Feigning weakness was Sima Yi's means of winning."
Now that the Marquis has achieved outstanding military exploits, the princes want to win him over, but the Emperor is very wary. The Marquis's best course of action is to feign weakness and dispel the Emperor's suspicions.
“Show weakness,” Lord Gu murmured.
...
The Emperor stood with his hands behind his back in the pavilion of the Imperial Garden, admiring the chrysanthemums. The old king stood a step behind him, holding a whisk. The hem of his robe and the whisk were occasionally lifted by the rustling autumn wind, adding a touch of elegance.
The chrysanthemums are in full bloom right now.
The autumn sky is high and blue, and even without clouds, it is cool and pleasant.
The autumn wind rustles through the thick, soft, and long petals, and the carpet of flowers—pure white, golden yellow, orange-red, purplish-red, pink, and deep purple—sounds and releases its fragrance.
The strong and refreshing chrysanthemum fragrance wafts over you forcefully.
It's not that I particularly love chrysanthemums among flowers, but that after this flower blooms, there are no more flowers left.
The Emperor murmured, "The fragrance permeates Chang'an. It is indeed very fragrant."
Then, changing the subject, he said, "We can have someone pick some chrysanthemum petals to cook in the evening."
Old Wang thought casually, "This is an ominous sign. This is Huang Chao's rebellion poem. Why is the emperor reciting this today? The next line is 'The whole city is covered in golden armor.'"
Who would like a scene from "Curse of the Golden Flower" where someone forces a coup?
He replied, "Yes, this old servant will have someone arrange it right away. Tao Meiren's chrysanthemum cakes are also very delicious."
The Emperor's eyes narrowed into slits, his lips curled slightly, and he nodded: "Bring out the chrysanthemum wine as well."
Old Wang slapped his forehead: "Oh dear, how could I forget? Consort Xing picked some flower petals to make wine last year. It's been a year already, we can dig them up and drink them now."
"Yes, blanch it in boiling water and serve it with crab. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water."
"Then why not have a chrysanthemum feast? They're all grown in the Imperial Garden, so even the Empress wouldn't think it's a waste. This year's chrysanthemums are exceptionally good. With such large petals, they'll be delicious when cooked in a hot pot. Even if they're mixed with crab, it won't be vulgar."
When Old Wang mentioned the Empress, the Emperor's brow twitched, and he turned his face away: "She only eats a few times a year. If you don't say anything about her extravagance and waste, who else will?"
This tone was already quite offensive.
Old Wang smiled and said, "This old servant will have someone pick them right away, specifically the big, plump ones and the ones that look the best."
The Emperor laughed and said, "How come you, old codger, have ruined the artistic conception with just one word? I heard that the 'Firefly Collection' is selling well. Why don't we use chrysanthemums as the theme for a competition in the future? If we make money, we'll have a hot pot feast."
While instructing people to pick chrysanthemums, Old Wang also warned the palace maids and eunuchs to be careful: "Don't pick the flowers that the Empress Dowager and the Empress will display at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. Don't say we didn't warn you if you get punished."
The emperor frowned.
Just then, the Prince of Qi arrived, bowed deeply, and asked, "Father, are you preparing a chrysanthemum hot pot?"
The Emperor smiled and said, "It was all because of that gluttonous old Wang that it got the better of him."
Prince Qi asked, "Father, you look exceptionally well today. Are you happy because you have chosen a Crown Princess?"
The emperor's smile faded.
I'm not so happy about this.
"I guess so. Is there anything else?"
The Prince of Qi said softly, "My ninth sister has made a deep and long cut on Fu Yun's face. I am worried that it will leave a scar, so I beg Father to bestow upon me the Jade Face Cream."
The Emperor said calmly, "This thing used to be nothing special, but now it's hard to find and has become a rare commodity. I don't have any here either. If your mother had any, she would have given it to you long ago. The chief physician's medical skills are superb; perhaps it won't leave a scar."
King Qi said dejectedly, "Fu Yun is hiding and crying. I want to cheer her up."
The Emperor was displeased: "Does Zhang Hanlin dare to look down on my daughter? I will issue an edict to annul this marriage and have your mother choose a better one for Fuyun."
Prince Qi hurriedly said, "How could Hanlin Zhang dislike Fu Yun? It's Fu Yun herself who is worried about leaving a scar. I'm sure Father Emperor understands the feelings of a young woman. A woman dresses up for the one she loves."
The Emperor waved his hand, looking disappointed: "Fu Yun is my most beloved princess, who would dare to dislike her? Look at Gu Baozhu of the Marquis of Dingbei's mansion, she's not even a legitimate daughter, and she's an unlucky posthumous child, yet she lives so carefree."
King Qi rolled his eyes inwardly.
When the one I love gets hurt, I just brush it off and don't mention it.
Those who cause harm remain unscathed.
King Qi sighed: "Everyone outside is saying that Marquis Dingbei is incompetent, and Gu Baozhu is rude and fierce. There is no successor in the Marquis Dingbei's mansion. I'm afraid he will have to switch to a literary career in the future."
The Emperor thought he was making a fuss over nothing: "Fortunately, the northern frontier has been pacified, and the Marquis of Dingbei's title is hereditary and can be passed down without fail. I am not stingy, so let's continue to pass it on."
In the end, King Qi was not allowed to stay and eat chrysanthemum hot pot with the emperor.
The chief secretary greeted Prince Qi outside the palace gate. Seeing his unpleasant expression, he wondered if he had just run into the Emperor, who was still angry, and asked quietly, "Is the Emperor still angry?"
Prince Qi got into his carriage, pulled down the curtain, and walked away before letting out a few cold laughs: "Why is he so angry? The ones who will suffer are Fu Yun, Prince Jin, and the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. His most beloved crown prince is fine. Everyone says that the Marquis of Dingbei's mansion has no successor, which he is happy to hear. Now he is so happy that he wants to hold a chrysanthemum banquet."
"Why?" the chief secretary asked, puzzled.
The Prince of Qi said, “What is there to be confused about? The Marquis of Dingbei has no heir, so the Gu family army he holds cannot be passed down. His beloved Crown Prince cannot get the Marquis of Dingbei’s support, and neither can anyone else. Your Majesty can appoint the Marquis of Dingbei without any scruples.”
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