Chapter 145: The Vicious Eldest Daughter (10)
It has to be said, the male protagonist is quite pitiful. After all, the emperor is his own flesh and blood, yet he wants to kill him for his own power and to protect the rights of the next generation. But who could have imagined that the male protagonist knew all this, and deliberately injured himself to hand over military power, thus deceiving everyone.
"No matter what happened in the past, I am now a cripple, and I won't live much longer." He coughed several times as he spoke, and even coughed up blood in front of Wen Wan by covering his face with a handkerchief.
Wen Yan: "..."
The male lead, does he really have to work this hard?
But she still had to act, so she quickly went over and said, "Your Highness, are you alright? Why are you coughing up blood? Doctor, please stop the car."
Gu Xi stopped Wen Wan, "Let's keep going. This is an old ailment, no need to see a doctor."
"Are you really alright?"
"It's alright, but when we get to the palace, I'll need the princess's help to walk."
Wen Wan: "Okay."
Your mother, the reason she's being supported is just so the male lead can maintain his image of being terminally ill. Why is he even spitting blood to scare her? Even though I know it's fake, it's still quite frightening to see a living person spitting blood.
Upon arriving at the palace, the carriage was naturally not allowed to enter. As for the emperor's favor towards his younger brother, Wen Wan felt this detail alone was unacceptable.
"Your Highness, the Emperor, the Empress Dowager, and the Empress are already waiting at Qiling Palace."
Wen Wan got off the carriage and reached out to help Gu Xi. Gu Xi's hand gripped Wen Wan's wrist, so warm that Wen Wan felt her wrist go numb. "Your Highness, be careful."
When A-Yuan got off the carriage, her legs suddenly went weak and she leaned half of herself on Wen-Yuan's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Your Highness, I've been in the carriage for too long and my legs are a little sore."
Wen Yan: "..."
Looking at the eunuch with a complicated expression, if this male lead were in modern times, he would definitely be an Oscar winner, right? She was almost convinced by his acting.
"Then I will help Your Highness walk."
It took about half an hour to reach Qiling Palace, which was the Empress Dowager's bedroom. The eunuch announced, "Prince Xi and Princess Xi have arrived."
Wen Wan's heart pounded, and she gripped Gu Xi's hand tightly with nervousness. "Your Highness, there's no need to be nervous."
"I am not nervous."
It would be a miracle if she wasn't nervous. These were the most distinguished and powerful people in the world. She had never faced a scene like this before. She had even broken down when facing her thesis advisor in college.
Upon entering the palace, Wen Wan saw several people already seated at the table. The one in the main seat was the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager was not the current emperor's biological mother. She had no children of her own, and the emperor was raised by her. The Empress Dowager was instrumental in the emperor's victory over his brothers and ascension to the throne. Therefore, the emperor held the Empress Dowager in high esteem after taking the throne.
Therefore, when Madam Chu wanted Chu Sisi to marry in her place, she was planning to use the Empress Dowager's connections. In the original plot outline, this part of the story went very smoothly, and the female lead even used the function of the spiritual spring space to please the Empress Dowager. Who would have thought that, by a twist of fate, she would become the princess.
Although she didn't want to please the Empress Dowager, she only hoped that the Empress Dowager would ignore her.
Next to the Empress Dowager is Emperor Gu Yu of Mingzhou, who looks about five-tenths like the male lead. However, because he is more than ten years older and has been exposed to women too early and has been ravaged by politics, he looks much rounder. But his foundation is still there, and he is still a handsome middle-aged man.
Then there's the Empress, whom Wen Wan met once during the wedding of the male and female protagonists.
There are also Crown Prince Gu Xingwen, Seventh Prince Gu Jian, and Third Prince Gu Wenrui.
The seat on the other side of the Empress Dowager became empty, clearly waiting for Gu Xi. Gu Xi was about to bow when the Empress Dowager stopped him, saying, "Axi, you are not feeling well, and these are all family. Why are you bowing? Quickly bring your princess to sit down."
"Yes, Brother Xi, Mother is right. Quickly bring your princess to sit down."
"Thank you, Empress Dowager. Thank you, Imperial Brother."
Wen Wan helped the male lead sit down, and then sat down next to him herself. More than one pair of eyes were looking at her. Wen Wan was so nervous that she almost threw up. Why were they looking at her? Did they have words on her face?
"Ah Huang is growing more and more beautiful," the Empress Dowager said. Wen Wan quickly replied, "Thank you for the compliment, Mother."
Say less, make fewer mistakes; say nothing, make no mistakes.
“Axi, Ahuang is the princess I chose for you. I was worried that you were always on the frontier and wouldn’t have much time to spend with Ahuang. But now that I see you two are getting along so well, I’m relieved.”
Gu Xi: "Thank you, Your Majesty. I am very grateful to Your Majesty for choosing a princess for me."
Bullshit, this male lead really knows how to talk nonsense.
"Let's eat. Brother Xi and the Princess must be hungry too."
"Okay, let's eat. This family feast is all about enjoying a good meal together."
Wen Wan looked at the table full of delicacies in front of her, but according to what Xiao Taozi had told her, she, a mere princess, must not touch the food before these people had started eating. Moreover, she could not eat too much, could not pick up the dishes that were far away, could not smack her lips, and had to maintain her elegance and refinement at all times.
I've never been so tired of eating in my life.
Wen Wan could only eat rice; she didn't even want to pick up any other dishes.
Then, the next second, a piece of fish appeared in the bowl, a fish with the bones removed. "Doesn't the princess like to eat fish?"
Wen Wan: She really loves to eat.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Then she put a piece of stewed chicken on the male lead's plate, and then noticed that the Empress Dowager and the Emperor were staring at her. What's wrong?
System: [The male lead doesn't play PUBG.]
Wen Yan: "..."
How did she know? This was the first time she and the male lead had eaten at the same table. Were these two suspicious of her?
Gu Xi smiled and then ate the chicken nuggets.
"The doctor said that Your Highness cannot be a picky eater. Even if you don't like chicken, you still need to have a balanced diet."
fart.
It's just that the closest dish to her is a bowl of chicken, and she can't reach for the ones further away, so of course she'll reach for the ones closer to her.
“The Prince and Princess have a really good relationship.”
However, Wen Wan stopped giving him chicken and started giving him vegetables instead. Surely the vegetables weren't a problem?
Wen Wan ate a small bowl of rice, but she didn't dare to ask for more, so she could only put down her chopsticks with a sense of grievance.
"Why is Ah Huang eating so little?"
Wen Wan: "I've always had a small appetite."
Although it was supposed to be a family banquet, the Emperor still discussed political matters with Gu Xi and gave the Crown Prince some pointers. The Third Prince, standing to the side, also said a lot of sarcastic and incomprehensible things that Wen Wan couldn't understand. In any case, both of them wanted to gain favor with the Emperor.
Princess Wen Wan was pulled aside by the Empress to chat about trivial family matters, and the Empress Dowager would occasionally chime in, sometimes trying to get her to have a child with the male lead. Everyone had their own ulterior motives, and Wen Wan was always on edge, afraid of accidentally offending someone and suffering the consequences.
Gu Xi didn't say much, but he put on quite a show. If he didn't act like he favored her, it would be too fake. He also wouldn't ignore her, because that would be a slap in the face to the Emperor and Empress Dowager. He had a perfect grasp of the balance.
They ate for two hours before leaving.
They boarded the carriage back to the Prince Xi's residence. It was already evening, but as the capital city without a curfew, the streets were still bustling with activity and the night market was in full swing. Wen Wan curiously lifted the curtain of the carriage to look outside.
Gu Xi: "Would the Princess Consort like to go for a walk?"
"Yes." She answered without hesitation, "Your Highness, rest assured, Chunye will stay with me and nothing will happen to her." Don't worry, she's willingly bringing Chunye along as her spy; there won't be any problems.
"Then let's go."
The carriage stopped, and Wen Wan had just gotten off when, unexpectedly, the male lead also got off.
"Your Highness?"
"It's been a long time since I've visited the capital's night market. I'll accompany the princess to stroll around today."
Wen Wan really wanted to go and have fun, but on the other hand, she felt that the male lead was more cunning than a sieve. Could he be plotting something?
"Thank you, Your Highness."
At first, Wen Wan was always on guard against the male lead, but after realizing that he didn't do anything special, she gradually let go.
Anyway, she hadn't done anything, so the male lead definitely wouldn't kill her right now. As long as she didn't get curious about what the male lead was planning to do in private, she should be able to save her life; after all, curiosity killed the cat.
Wen Wan quickly immersed herself in enjoying the ancient night market, where the food was incredibly diverse. Occasionally, she would also take care of the male lead, offering him whatever she wanted to eat first. If he didn't want to eat, she would enjoy it herself. Any leftovers would be shared with Chunye, Xiaotaozi, and the guards protecting the male lead.
The guards were soon laden with things, and Wen Wan's purse was soon empty.
She was out of coins, but she had just ordered a lotus flower pastry, which was freshly fried.
"Your Highness, do you have any money with you?"
Gu Xi chuckled, then paid Wen Wan's bill.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"Can the princess still eat?"
"Your Highness, haven't you heard? A person has two stomachs. One stomach is for holding staple foods, and the other stomach is for holding snacks."
"I've never heard of that before. I didn't know there was such a saying."
Wen Wan took the freshly made, warm lotus-shaped pastry and presented it to Gu Xi in a formal manner, "Your Highness, would you like to have a piece?"
Gu Xi, who had been refusing Wen Wan, suddenly stopped refusing, reached out and took a piece, and took a bite.
How does it taste?
"not bad."
Wen Wan picked up a piece and ate it, squinting her eyes in enjoyment. "This is so delicious! I'll take you to eat more delicious food next time. Staying cooped up at home every day, how can your health stay good?"
"Then thank you, Your Highness."
After a long day of sightseeing, the group decided to rest in a private room by the window at a restaurant.
Wen Wan satisfied her shopping desires at the night market and her hunger from not eating enough at the palace. Now she even finds the male lead "handsome." After all, aside from the fact that he will kill her in the future, it's not bad that he's willing to spend money on her.
【Female lead!!!】The system suddenly spoke up, and Wen Wan paused in her tea-drinking hand.
Where is the female lead?
[The female lead is in this restaurant. This is a good opportunity. You need to let her meet the male lead and give her a chance to cure his illness. After all, although his illness is fake, his face is ruined. Readers won't be happy to see their favorite characters with disfigured faces. Only the Spirit Spring Space can cure this.]
Wen Wan suddenly stood up. "Your Highness, I need to use the restroom. Please wait here for me for a moment."
Although the reason is not very elegant, it is very practical.
Wen Wan left the private room and immediately found the female lead in the place given by the system. She then saw the female lead sitting opposite a very handsome man.
Who is this?
[This person must be someone of considerable importance.]
Wen Yan: "..."
Nonsense, with that look, that demeanor, that outfit, how could he possibly be of simple status? He must be an important supporting male character at the very least.
Wen Wan walked to Chu Sisi's table. "Sisi? What are you doing here? And who is this?"
When Chu Sisi saw her, a hint of hatred flashed in her eyes, but she quickly hid it. "Sister."
The man opposite opened his folding fan, his peach blossom eyes narrowing with a smile. "So you're Sisi's older sister? My surname is Ye, and my given name is Nanfeng."
Ye Nanfeng?
The only son of the president of the nine major chambers of commerce, he is incredibly wealthy and a staunch supporter of the female protagonist.
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