Chapter 131
The Sixth Prince, who had never been interested in women, suddenly changed. Not only did he indulge in flowery affairs, he also brought back a prostitute.
The Third Prince heard this and teased his younger brother during the morning court session: "It's time for you to be more sensible. Otherwise, when you marry your concubine, I'll have to ask the governess to teach you."
Gong Yinai rarely made dirty jokes to the Third Prince, so his heart skipped a beat when he heard this, but his expression remained unchanged.
"Thank you, brother. This nanny is indeed no longer needed."
"Hey? Are you still shy? Have you found a candidate for the concubine?"
Gong Yinai knew that she would have to take this step sooner or later. Although she was a prince, her status was low and the aristocratic families would surely look down on her. The only people left were those who wanted to get close to her and those who had ideas about her harem. After all, if she married Gong Yinai, she would not have to have a mother-in-law to make decisions for her and would not have to serve in the palace, which would save her a lot of trouble.
Gong Yinai lowered his eyes: "My brother already has it in his mind."
"Who do you fancy? Brother can ask the Concubine to act as a matchmaker for your brother."
"An family, An Qinan."
The Sixth Prince was somewhat confused.
"settle down?"
The An family is a prominent family in Lingnan. The head of the An family is currently the Imperial Censor. His position is not too high, but An Qinan is very famous in the capital. She is a talented woman, but also a famous sick beauty. The Imperial Censor has repeatedly asked the emperor for mercy for this legitimate daughter and allowed the imperial physician to visit her home. She has been raised in luxury since she was a child, and it is said that her health is still not good. However, the few times she appeared in public, her poems were all famous in Kyoto and sought after.
"You like her?" The Sixth Prince raised his eyebrows.
Gong Yinai lowered his eyes, looking a little shy.
"My brother has heard her poems."
"Oh." The Sixth Prince nodded.
Gong Yinai found a good person.
He smiled and said, “Since you like it, I will go and ask the Toffee for it.”
Gong Yinai curled his lips slightly, "Thank you, brother."
After the morning court session, Gong Yinai returned home and the housekeeper came up to report.
"Master, the concubine Li Qiu said she wants to live closer to you. What do you think?"
No matter how big or small the matter is, it is usually Gong Yinai who makes the decisions in the mansion. Even if the housekeeper thinks that a little concubine dares to be so arrogant, he dare not handle it himself, but has to wait for Gong Yinai to return home.
Gong Yinai lowered his eyes and thought for a moment before saying, "Give her the bamboo pavilion next to my study. If she wants to go into the study, don't stop her. Also, assign her two maids to wait on her. And be attentive to whatever she wants."
The butler replied, "Yes."
I was shocked that my master was interested in this woman.
"Where is she?" Gong Yinai asked.
"In the guest room," said the housekeeper.
Gong Yinai waved her hand and went to the guest room to find Li Qiu.
Zhou Li sat at the table with a handful of books in his hands.
After getting used to the identity of Gong Yi Fu, she had to go out every day. Now, as a woman in the harem, she had nothing to do in her room every day. Zhou Li gradually picked up a book and started reading.
Fortunately, although the people in Gong Yinai's mansion looked down on her status, they did not treat her badly. The servants' upbringing can reflect the quality of their masters. Gong Yinai is a pretty good person.
It's just a little bit cloudy.
After bringing her here for such a long time, he just left her in the guest room and ignored her, as if she didn't exist in the house.
Zhou Li turned a page of the book and sighed.
Suddenly, footsteps were heard at the door. Zhou Li moved her ears slightly and recognized who it was. A smile appeared at the corner of her lips.
Gong Yinai stood at the door and knocked, "Can I come in?"
"Come in."
Gong Yinai pushed open the door. She had not yet taken off her red court dress. The scarlet robe made her shoulders broad and her legs long, and her face was as white as jade. The sunlight shone down on her from behind. Zhou Li only took a glance and then withdrew his hurt gaze.
"Sit down." Zhou Li said.
She took out the cup, lifted the pot and poured tea.
Gong Yinai stood by the door for a while before he stepped over the threshold and sat down opposite Zhou Li.
She looked at Zhou Li, who had a smile on his lips and looked calm and composed.
"Liu Yingzi." Gong Yinai mentioned her name, and the smile on his lips turned cold. "You know my identity."
Zhou Li said, "Have some tea."
"Let's talk." Gong Yinai picked up the teacup and took a sip. "What do you need me to do?"
Zhou Li is now playing Liu Yingzi, a woman whose father was framed by political enemies, leading to his death and the exile of her entire family. She raised her eyes to Gong Yinai and said, "I need you to help me redress my father's innocence."
Gong Yinai put down his cup in a daze. "This matter was decided by the Sage himself. If you want to redress your innocence, don't you have to get the Emperor to admit his mistake? Difficult."
One word, "difficult", reveals Liu Yingzi's current situation.
Liu Yingzi said, "I know you are a woman."
As soon as these words came out, Gong Yinai's murderous intention was revealed, but Zhou Li's next words made her murderous intention disappear immediately.
"I saved you in the Nanliang Palace, so I know your identity. I also told Gong Yifu that, so she takes care of you and is considerate of you. There is no free lunch in the world. Gong Yinai can help you conceal your identity."
Thinking of Gong Yifu, Gong Yinai closed her eyes. The person she felt most sorry for in her life was Gong Yifu.
I thought we could make up in the future, but the two of us ended up being separated forever.
"Okay." Gong Yinai whispered, "I'm going to marry a concubine soon. Liu Yingzi, I need you to play the role of Li Qiu well and compete with An Qinan for favor. If you want to call me away on the day of my wedding, do you dare?"
A concubine and a side concubine competed for favor. Given Li Qiu's status, if he was not careful, he would probably be sentenced to death by the royal family. After all, the royal rules were above everything else, and favoring a concubine over one's wife was basically a challenge to etiquette.
"I dare." Zhou Li said with a smile, "Why wouldn't I dare?"
"As long as you are not afraid of my identity being exposed and others knowing that Liu Yingzi is in your house."
Gong Yinai looked at Liu Yingzi's slightly changed face. He didn't know what disguise technique she used. She only changed her eyebrows, adjusted her facial features, and added a mole under her eye. She was different from the lady she used to be. She had a bit of indescribable charm.
As Hongying, she was dignified and beautiful.
As Liu Yingzi, she was pretty and charming.
As Li Qiu, she is charming and seductive.
Which one is she, and how sincere is she?
Gong Yinai didn't know, she just knew that the figure of the girl who once existed in her heart seemed to be gradually covered by a layer of white mist and disappeared.
Zhou Li pretended to be casual and said, "If you were Gong Yinai and ascended to a high position, then my father's vindication would be just a matter of a word from you."
Gong Yinai's breathing became heavier, and she narrowed her eyes. "I didn't know you had such lofty ambitions."
"Don't you have it? Do you want to be trampled underfoot and always fear for your identity?" Zhou Li beckoned, "As long as you sit in that position, no one will dare to touch you!"
"What nonsense!" Gong Yinai said angrily.
Zhou Li saw through her ambition and said, "Now that the crown prince has been deposed and enthroned, you brothers all have a chance. Why can't that person be you?"
Gong Yinai was silent.
Zhou Li smiled seductively and said, "Gong Yinai, I will help you."
Gong Yinai narrowed her eyes and looked at the woman who was trying to explore her inner thoughts. She stood up and approached Liu Yingzi step by step. She raised her chin and said word by word, "Don't try to control me, Liu Yingzi. I am not a tool for your revenge!"
After saying that, she let go, and Liu Yingzi tilted her head to the side in embarrassment.
Gong Yinai walked straight out.
Although she said so, Liu Yingzi's words were like a spell that caused ripples in her heart.
Doesn't she really want to?
Who doesn’t want to be the supreme ruler?
But can she, a woman, do it?
No, she is the Sixth Prince now!
Gong Yinai straightened her back, and those words were like weeds growing in her heart, stirring her thoughts.
No longer being inferior to others, this was too tempting for her.
Inside the room, Zhou Li rested his chin on his hand and played with the teacup with his fingers.
She didn't believe that Gong Yinai didn't have such ambitions.
The ninth day of the ninth month is an auspicious day.
The Sixth Prince's mansion was decorated with lights and colors to welcome his concubine.
Concubine Jing personally made coal for the Sixth Prince so that he could marry Miss An Qinan from the An family.
Gong Yinai was forced to drink a few cups by her brothers, and she walked towards the bridal chamber with unsteady steps.
An Qinan was waiting in the bridal chamber, her face full of shyness.
She was in poor health, and the maid she brought with her said that she shouldn't have sex too often. But today was her wedding day, and even though she was in poor health, she was still looking forward to it.
Gong Yinai arrived at the bridal chamber and stood in front of the door waiting. Liu Yingzi did not make a move for a long time. She pinched her nose, stepped into the room, and lifted An Qinan's veil.
When An Qinan saw her husband, the Sixth Prince of Daqing, who was famous for his handsomeness in the capital, her face turned even redder.
Everyone said she was pretty, but compared to the Sixth Prince, her beauty pales in comparison.
"Sixth Prince." An Qinan's voice was as soft as a mosquito's. She followed the nanny's instructions and helped Gong Yinai up with his belt. "Let me help you sleep."
Caught by Gong Yinai, Gong Yinai frowned, wondering what Liu Yingzi was doing!
There was a hint of alcohol in her voice. "You're not feeling well, so rest first. We can talk about sleeping with you later."
An Qinan stared at Gong Yinai blankly, with a look of confusion and grievance in her eyes.
She should be grateful for the Sixth Prince's thoughtfulness, but today is their wedding night!
There is a knock on the door.
"Master, the girl in Zhuxuan is sick. She refused to take the medicine prescribed by the doctor. She said..." The person outside the door paused.
Gong Yinai strode open the door and asked, "What did you say?"
The servant lowered his voice, a look of panic on his face, "She said that if the master doesn't go to see her, she will die on the master's wedding night. Every time the master thinks of her, he will hate her so much that his teeth will itch and he will never be able to forget her for the rest of his life."
An Qinan stood up from the bed, her heart sank.
Her family had already found out that the Sixth Prince had always been chaste and had only one concubine at home. They didn't expect this concubine to be so powerful.
"Madam." Gong Yinai stood outside the door. "You should rest first. I'll be back soon."
An Qinan failed to call Gong Yinai and waited all night, but the Sixth Prince did not come back.
In the morning, the bride went to the palace to pay her respects to her father, the emperor, and the empress.
An Qinan held her red and swollen eyes tightly. Gong Yinai held her hand and said with a worried look on his face: "Madam, did you not sleep well last night?"
An Qinan felt aggrieved when she saw Gong Yinai, who was still as elegant as ever, but as a new bride, she could not blame him and did not want to become a jealous woman.
"Um."
"Then we'll go early and come back early."
Gong Yinai helped An Qinnan get off the carriage. An Qinnan felt a pang of pain in her heart as she already had heart disease.
The doctor once said that we should not be too happy or too sad.
Yesterday I was first overjoyed, then overwhelmed with worry. My body couldn’t take it anymore.
Before he even entered the palace, he collapsed at the gate.
Gong Yinai picked up An Qinan and quickly summoned the imperial physician.
At the Sixth Prince's residence, Zhou Li looked at the sundial outside the courtyard. An Qinan had been in a coma for three days, with no cure. She asked Gong Yinai, "Before you married her, did you already know she wouldn't live long?"
Gong Yinai nodded slightly.
The smile on Zhou Li's lips turned cold, "You are really calculating."
"If she really dies now, will the An family blame me? After all, it was Li Qiu who was so ungrateful that he called the Sixth Prince away on the concubine's wedding night."
"Not only did your wife die, but you also solved this problem of mine."
"Gong Yinai, aren't you afraid that I will reveal your identity as a woman before I die?"
Gong Yinai turned around and grabbed Zhou Li's neck with one hand.
"Then you won't survive!"
Zhou Li coughed, and Gong Yinai let go and looked at her in disarray.
"The concubine has woken up!" the servant in the room exclaimed in surprise.
Gong Yinai glanced at Zhou Li and said, "Remember your current identity and do what you should do!"
She turned away and went into the house to see An Qinan, looking very affectionate.
Zhou Li followed Gong Yinai and really admired her acting skills.
Perhaps only such a cruel person can become the final winner.
Gong Yinai stood in front of An Qinan and said to her, "I'll ask Li Qiu to come and apologize to you. Let her take care of you during your illness!"
An Qinan just woke up and felt the weak beating of his heart. He looked at Gong Yinai with a pale face.
"Come here quickly!" Gong Yinai shouted angrily. Zhou Li walked over and greeted An Qinan with a weak face, "Slave Li Qiu greets the concubine."
An Qinan was helped up. She looked at Zhou Li with a bitter smile on her lips.
"My sister is such a distinctive person." No wonder the Sixth Prince, who never touches women, made an exception and brought her into the palace.
Zhou Li said softly, "Sister, I was wrong. The master has already punished me. Please forgive me."
An Qinan glanced at Gong Yinai, whose eyebrows were expressionless. She lowered her head, coughed twice, and said, "I'm not in good health, and I still need you to serve my husband more. Since my husband has already punished you, let it go."
"You don't look well either. I have many people around to serve me, so I don't need you anymore."
"Take good care of the prince."
After Gong Yinai was divided into two parts, he was conferred the title of Prince by the sage.
An Qinan said to Gong Yinai again: "I want to rest."
Gong Yinai held An Qinan's shoulders and laid her down, pinching the quilt: "Rest well and get well soon."
Zhou Li, who followed Gong Yinai out, didn't understand why An Qinan would let her go so easily. But she heard sobbing coming from inside the house. Zhou Li was stunned for a moment. She turned to Gong Yinai and asked, "Does she know that she won't live long?"
Gong Yinai nodded.
An Qinan was born with a heart disease, and the imperial physician diagnosed that she would not live past the age of 18.
Being able to wake up today is already a stolen day.
"Did you let her hear it on purpose?" Zhou Li suddenly realized why the imperial physician had to talk to Gong Yinai in front of the window. He was afraid that Gong Yinai wanted to make sure that An Qinan would hear the news that she would not live long, so that she would not have to make a fuss anymore, as she was already a dying person.
"You are so cruel." Zhou Li commented on Gong Yinai expressionlessly.
Gong Yinai sneered.
She said coldly: "Same here."
When Gong Yifu died, wasn't Liu Yingzi also bent on revenge and escaping from the Nanliang Palace? How cold-hearted she was.
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