Gu Qinlan lifted her foot and walked away, her steps light and elegant, each step perfectly timed.
The maids followed closely behind, their lanterns swaying gracefully, illuminating the magnificent front courtyard of the Prince Duan's mansion.
In the main hall, Eunuch Wen sat on a mahogany chair, leisurely savoring the fragrant tea, his eyes deep and his face smiling.
Princess Duan and her daughter Zheng Huiyi held hands tightly, their eyes filled with unease and anticipation. Prince Duan's three children clung closely to his side, appearing somewhat awkward and timid.
Gu Qinlan walked up to Eunuch Wen, bowed slightly, and said gracefully, "Eunuch Wen, greetings. May I ask what brings you here?"
Eunuch Wen put down his teacup, looked Gu Qinlan up and down, and nodded with satisfaction: "The Crown Princess is indeed worthy of her reputation. Her temperament is elegant and admirable. I have come here to convey the Emperor's decree."
Gu Qinlan smiled slightly, her expression composed: "Please announce the imperial decree, Your Excellency."
Eunuch Wen coughed, cleared his throat, and sharply surveyed the main hall of the Prince Duan's residence.
Everyone immediately held their breath, their eyes fixed on him. He slowly walked up to Zheng Dinglian, his gaze carrying an undeniable air of authority.
"Prince Duan's heir, Zheng Dinglian, receive the imperial decree!" Eunuch Wen's voice echoed in the hall.
Zheng Dinglian immediately knelt down and bowed his head, replying, "Your subject receives the decree!"
Gu Qinlan and the guests in the courtyard also knelt down, creating a solemn and respectful atmosphere.
Eunuch Wen slowly unfurled the imperial edict and loudly proclaimed: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The Northern Shu has repeatedly invaded our northern borders, causing immense suffering to the people, which deeply troubles me. I hereby order Prince Zheng Dinglian, the heir apparent of Prince Duan, to lead troops to the northern border to guard the frontier and resist foreign threats. Prince Zheng, you must act with utmost caution and seize every opportunity. I eagerly await your report of victory. This is the imperial decree!"
After reading the imperial edict, Eunuch Wen handed it to Zheng Dinglian and said solemnly, "Young Master Zheng, this is an imperial edict. You must set off immediately without delay."
Zheng Dinglian received the imperial edict with a solemn expression and replied in a deep voice, "Your subject obeys the edict!"
He looked up at Eunuch Wen, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Eunuch Wen, do you know the reason for Northern Shu's invasion this time?"
Eunuch Wen frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and replied, "According to the reports from our spies, the Northern Shu's invasion of our borders this time is because their emperor listened to slander and thought our country was vulnerable, so he attempted to take advantage of the situation. But this is only the surface reason; there must be a bigger conspiracy behind it."
Zheng Dinglian nodded, his eyes becoming even more determined: "In that case, I, the Crown Prince, must rush to the Northern Frontier as soon as possible to find out the truth and prevent Northern Shu from invading our borders again."
Eunuch Wen smiled slightly, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes: "Prince Zheng, His Majesty will surely be at ease knowing you have such determination. But this journey will be fraught with danger, so you must proceed with caution."
Zheng Dinglian cupped his hands and said, "Rest assured, Eunuch Wen, I will do my utmost to live up to Your Majesty's command."
The imperial edict caused an uproar, with guests whispering and gossiping among themselves.
"I heard that the Prince Duan's heir had only recently returned, and now he's already heading to the northern frontier. What arrangements has the court made?"
"That's right. The Prince Duan's heir has just married his wife and is still in the honeymoon phase. It's so pitiful that they have to be separated now."
"I heard that this turmoil in the northern frontier is no small matter, which is why His Majesty the Emperor urgently recalled the Prince of Duan. This Prince of Duan is the youngest war god in our Western Wei. Now that he's back, those rebels are in for a world of trouble."
The guests were whispering amongst themselves when a noblewoman in fine clothes approached. Her eyes were sharp, and her tone was sarcastic: "Hmph, Gu Qinlan has only been married for a short time, and she's already a widow. I don't know what she was thinking, marrying a jinx like the Prince of Duan's heir."
The lady's words resonated with the other guests, who echoed her sentiments:
"Yes, the Prince Duan's heir is notoriously cold and ruthless. Gu Qinlan's days ahead are going to be tough."
"I heard that her family originally wanted to marry her off to a poor scholar from the Ji family, but unfortunately, the heir of Prince Duan stole her away."
"Gu Qinlan is really having the worst luck this time."
Just as everyone was discussing, Gu Qinlan slowly stood up, a faint smile on her face, and her gaze swept over them.
Upon seeing this, the guests immediately composed themselves, lowered their heads, and remained silent.
Gu Qinlan silently took out a bulging money bag from her sleeve and handed it to Eunuch Wen.
Her gaze was calm and firm, her voice gentle as she smiled and said, "Eunuch Wen, I am very busy with affairs at home and cannot invite you to have tea and wine today. This bag of silver is just a small token of my appreciation, and I hope you will accept it."
Eunuch Wen took the money bag, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, but his face immediately lit up with a smile, and he said repeatedly, "Your Highness is too kind. However, Your Highness's composure is truly admirable. Congratulations on your marriage to Prince Duan! May you two be loving and grow old together."
Gu Qinlan smiled slightly and nodded gently: "Thank you for your blessings, Father-in-law. The banquet is not over yet, please stay here for a while and spend the evening with all the guests."
After saying this, she turned to face the crowd, her voice clear and firm: "Distinguished guests, although I am busy with affairs at home, I am very pleased to have you all here. The banquet will continue today, so please do not rush to leave. If there is anything I have done to impress you, please forgive me."
Upon hearing this, the guests applauded and praised:
"The Crown Princess is truly calm and composed in the face of danger, which is admirable."
"Congratulations on your marriage, Princess Consort! With such grace and poise, you are destined for great things."
"The Crown Princess's handling of the situation is truly reassuring."
Gu Qinlan smiled, her gaze sweeping over the guests, whose faces were filled with joy and admiration. A warmth spread through her heart, and she thought to herself: That's good!
Gu Qinlan then approached Zheng Dinglian, curtsied, and solemnly said, "Your Highness, please be careful on your journey. We are all here to pray for your safety."
Zheng Dinglian turned to look at Gu Qinlan, a hint of gratitude flashing in his eyes: "Princess Consort, thank you for your concern. I will be careful and strive to pacify the Northern Frontier as soon as possible, and return to see you."
A blush rose on Gu Qinlan's cheeks, and she lowered her eyes and said softly, "Okay, I wish you a speedy return."
At this moment, Zheng Dinglian's younger sister, Zheng Huiyi, quietly tugged at the sleeve of Princess Duan and whispered, "Mother, I think we should get my brother and the Crown Princess to consummate their marriage as soon as possible."
Princess Duan paused slightly, then turned to look at Zheng Huiyi, only to see her with a serious expression and worry in her eyes. She gently patted Zheng Huiyi's hand and smiled, "Yi'er, why do you have this thought?"
Zheng Huiyi frowned and sighed, "Mother, you know my brother's personality. He always prioritizes national affairs and doesn't care about personal matters. Now that he's about to set off for the border, if he's away from the manor for a long time and the Crown Princess still hasn't given birth, it might cause criticism from the court officials. Furthermore, if something happens to my brother, who will inherit the legacy of our Duan Prince's manor?"
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