Chapter 508 The Prince’s Deliberate Approach (I)
After the chrysanthemum viewing banquet in the palace, a subtle but significant piece of information quietly spread among the nobles of the capital:
Gu Qingran, the daughter of Gu Jinxiu, the Minister of Works who had just returned to Beijing.
It seems that she has caught the eye of the Empress and even the Crown Prince.
The rumors may be exaggerated, but it is true that the Empress personally bestowed a personal jade bracelet and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince came to the rescue and gave him clothes.
This is enough to make the ladies of aristocratic families with a keen sense of smell reassess the importance of the Gu family.
And the future of Miss Gu.
Gu Qingran herself seemed to be unaware of this and continued to live a secluded life.
Every day, apart from paying respects to his mother and learning household chores, he would bury himself in books.
Or he would play the zither to entertain himself, as calm as a pool of calm autumn water.
On this day, Gu Qingran was copying calligraphy in the study in the mansion.
The maid came in lightly and reported:
"Miss, Princess Ruchu has sent you a letter inviting you to attend a poetry gathering at her house tomorrow."
Princess Ruochu is the one who came back to Beijing after Gu Qingran returned.
A few ladies who had some contact with each other because of similar interests.
Gu Qingran put down his pen, thought for a moment, and then agreed.
"Reply Princess, Qingran will be on time for the appointment tomorrow."
The next day, Gu Qingran arrived at Prince Lin's Mansion in a small carriage with green curtains.
The poetry gathering was held in a warm room next to the garden in the mansion.
Many young men and women have arrived and are gathered around a newly acquired landscape painting to appreciate it.
Seeing Gu Qingran coming, Yan Ruchu greeted her with a smile.
"Sister Gu is here, please come in."
"We just happened to get an ancient painting from a previous dynasty, and no one is sure whether it is an original or a copy."
"Sister Gu is very accomplished in calligraphy and painting. Come and help me take a look."
Gu Qingran smiled slightly, nodded, and walked forward.
Today she wore a moon-white skirt embroidered with lavender orchids, which made her look even more pure and elegant.
She carefully examined the painting's brushwork, ink usage, signature, and paper.
After a moment's silence, Fang said slowly:
"Looking at his writing style, it is full of vigor and vitality, and it does have some of Li Gong's style."
"However, the cinnabar on the seal at the signature is slightly new and not as if it has been around for a hundred years."
"Also, this paper...although the texture is very similar, when you touch it closely, it still lacks some toughness."
"In my humble opinion, it must be a copy by a master from the previous dynasty. Although it is not an original, it is still rare."
Her voice was soft, but her analysis was clear and to the point.
After hearing what was said, the girls took a closer look and indeed found some clues, and they were all amazed.
"Miss Gu has good eyesight." A clear and gentle male voice sounded from the door.
When everyone looked over, they saw that it was the Fourth Prince Yan Xingchuan who had arrived at some point and was standing at the entrance of the warm room.
There were two people standing next to him.
A man in black clothes and black hair, with a solemn and graceful demeanor, is none other than Crown Prince Yan Xingtian;
The other man was handsome and tall, he was the eldest prince Yan Xingyi.
The sudden arrival of the three princes surprised and delighted the young men and women in the pavilion, and they hurriedly stood up to greet them.
Princess Ruochu also stepped forward and said with a smile:
"I didn't know that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, His Royal Highness the First Prince, and His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince had arrived. I'm sorry for not coming to greet you."
Yan Xingtian's eyes swept through the pavilion calmly, pausing for a moment imperceptibly on Gu Qingran before he raised his hand.
"No need to be so polite, I am just passing by with my royal brother and younger brother."
"I heard there was an elegant gathering at Prince Lin's Mansion, so I came in to take a look."
"Just continue, everyone."
His tone was calm, yet he carried an air of authority.
Although the young men and women sat down again, they were inevitably a little reserved.
His eyes occasionally drifted to the three princes with different styles.
Yan Xingchuan was obviously more interested in the painting. He walked closer to take a closer look and smiled at Gu Qingran:
"Listening to Miss Gu's speech just now is worth ten years of reading."
"This replica is so indistinguishable from the original that it takes real skill to tell it apart at a glance."
He has always loved calligraphy and painting, and these words come from the heart.
Gu Qingran lowered her head slightly: "Your Highness, the Fourth Prince is too kind. Qingran has only dabbled in this field occasionally, and I dare not boast of my skills."
Yan Xingyi has absolutely no interest in calligraphy and painting.
He only took a cursory glance and then looked around, as if looking for something.
Seeing that Chu Weiyi was not present, a hint of disappointment flashed across his eyes.
As for Yan Xingtian, after he said "No need to be polite" upon entering the door, he didn't say anything else.
He sat casually on the chair prepared by the palace servant and took the tea served by the maid.
His gaze seemed to fall on the scenery outside the window, and also seemed to fall on the moon-white figure in the pavilion.
Just now, outside the door, he clearly heard her comments on the painting.
So calm, objective and knowledgeable.
The tone doesn't sound like that of a thirteen-year-old girl at all, but rather like that of an expert who has been immersed in this field for many years.
This calmness and wisdom far beyond his age.
The queen in his memory who was always dignified and proper, and who hid all her emotions perfectly.
Something seems different...
It also seems that the core has never changed.
Princess Ruochu noticed that the atmosphere suddenly became tense, and she quickly suggested with a smile:
"Since Your Highnesses are here, why don't we also have a wine-flowing and water-curving ceremony to add some fun."
The young men and women naturally agreed.
The eunuchs quickly set up a table by the winding creek and placed wine cups on it.
The game begins and the wine cup flows down the river.
Whoever the person stops in front of must recite a poem or drink a glass of wine as punishment.
After several rounds, some young men and women made wonderful remarks and won applause from the audience.
Some people drank the penalty wine out of embarrassment, and the situation gradually became lively.
This time, the wine cup stopped right in front of Gu Qingran.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Gu Qingran stood up calmly.
She thought for a moment, her eyes swept across a pot of black chrysanthemums in full bloom not far away, and she chanted in a clear voice:
"The west wind blows through the yard, the cold and fragrant flowers make it difficult for butterflies to come.
If I climb high in the future, I will reward you with the peach blossoms blooming together with me."
The poem uses objects to express the poet's aspirations, and the artistic conception is quite good.
There is a subtle hint of passion hidden in her, forming a subtle contrast with her calm appearance.
There was silence in the pavilion for a moment, and then there were sounds of praise.
Yan Xingchuan was the first to applaud: "Excellent poem! Miss Gu is so bold!"
Yan Xingyi also raised his eyebrows and smiled: "I didn't expect Miss Gu to be so quiet, and there is a bit of masculine spirit in her poems."
Gu Qingran bowed slightly and said, "I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, Your Highnesses, and all the gentlemen and ladies."
Her eyes subconsciously and quickly swept over the prince sitting in the main seat.
Yan Xingtian's fingertips were gently stroking the edge of the teacup, and the corners of his lips seemed to bend into a very shallow arc.
The look in his eyes when he looked at her was filled with an indescribable... understanding and appreciation?
Gu Qingran's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason, and she lowered her eyes in a hurry.
Is it an illusion?
The look in His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's eyes seemed to have seen through everything beneath her calm exterior.
Yan Xingtian did understand.
This poem expresses the unwillingness to be ordinary and the hidden ambition.
It vaguely fits the image of Gu Qingran, the woman he knew who would eventually become the mother of the country.
She has never been a real, ordinary girl who is content to be quiet.
At this time and space, he might be able to see the sharpness beneath her gentle appearance earlier.
The Liushang order continues.
After a few more rounds, the wine cup stopped in front of another lady.
The lady seemed a little nervous.
After standing up, he hesitated for a long time, his face flushed red, and he couldn't think of a suitable poem.
The scene was a little awkward for a moment.
Princess Ruochu was just trying to smooth things over by asking her to drink a penalty.
But then Crown Prince Yan Xingtian suddenly spoke, his voice steady and calm:
"The Book of Songs, Zheng Feng, says, 'There are creeping weeds in the wild, dripping with dew. There is a beautiful woman, clear and graceful.' This may inspire you, young lady."
The lady was pardoned.
He quickly followed the prince's instructions.
I managed to finish the poem with some effort, which was not very good but at least complete, and got out of the predicament.
Everyone just thought that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was kind and couldn't bear to see others in embarrassment.
Only Gu Qingran curled her fingertips slightly.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince mentioned "a beautiful person, clear and graceful"...
When Liu Shang stopped in front of her just now, she seemed to... accidentally look in the direction of the prince?
Was he... responding to the look she had just given him?
This thought was too horrifying, so Gu Qingran immediately suppressed it and didn't dare to think about it too much.
…
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