Chapter 383 Gu Junze is a loyal minister and does not need to send women to the emperor
My uncle coughed and lowered his voice: "Ah Han, I believe you have also heard about the palace's selection of concubines."
Chu Ruohan guessed correctly, and said calmly, "I've heard a little bit about it."
"That's right! The news spread quickly," my aunt agreed. "As soon as we heard about it, we packed our bags and rushed over overnight."
Chu Ruohan sneered inwardly. In her previous life, her parents had been in trouble, and Chu Chenyu had sought help everywhere. This uncle's family, let alone offering a helping hand, didn't even dare to show their faces. Now, they've come knocking on her door.
"Uncle, what is the purpose of this trip?" Chu Ruohan asked directly.
My uncle and aunt exchanged a glance before my uncle said, "It's like this. Our Ah Ying is sixteen years old this year. She's good-looking and proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. I heard that for this talent show, you officials are required to recommend candidates..."
Mother Chu whispered, "They want you to help recommend your cousin to the palace."
It is true.
Chu Ruohan pursed her lips and said calmly, "I'm sorry, I'm afraid I can't help you with this."
"Ah Han, what do you mean?" The uncle's face changed. "How can you not help me with just one word?"
"Yes, Ah Han," my aunt said eagerly, "If Ah Ying can enter the palace and gain favor, she will be a great help to your General Gu in the future!"
"Ah Han," Chu's mother also advised, "Your uncle is right. This is a rare opportunity. If you can help, then help."
Chu Ruohan glanced at her mother and shook her head gently: "Mom, it's not that I don't want to help, but it's really difficult to handle."
She turned to her uncle and aunt: "Jun Ze has served his country and his people well. He is a loyal minister and does not need any help."
"This..." My uncle was speechless.
Chu Ruohan continued, "What's more, His Majesty has not yet appointed a queen, and the situation in the harem is uncertain. Sending my cousin into the palace now may not be a good thing."
"How can it not be a good thing?" my aunt said anxiously. "Being able to enter the palace and serve His Majesty is a blessing earned through several lifetimes!"
The uncle couldn't help but complain: "Ah Han, you don't care about family affection! If Ah Ying can enter the palace and gain favor, it will be of great benefit to your Gu family in the future. Why don't you understand?"
"Sister," he turned to Chu's mother, "you don't care about her."
Mother Chu hesitated for a moment and whispered to Chu Ruohan: "Han'er, your uncle and aunt also have good intentions, please think about it again."
Chu Ruohan shook her head and stood up.
"Uncle and aunt, please forgive me for being frank. Although I have never met my cousin Ying, I imagine she is quite pretty."
She said calmly, "But in this capital, there are so many beauties. I'm afraid her looks are not good enough to be compared with the ladies of the imperial families."
"You!" My aunt's face darkened.
Chu Ruohan was unmoved: "Even if she managed to enter the palace, would she definitely be favored? It's easy to enter the palace, but it's hard to get out."
"If I don't get the favor of the emperor, I will be trapped in the deep palace for the rest of my life without even a chance to make a breakthrough. Have you ever thought about this, uncle and aunt?"
"This..." My uncle was stunned.
"What's more," Chu Ruohan continued, "the current emperor is different from the previous one. He grew up in a Buddhist temple and has a cold and aloof temperament. I'm afraid there's a deeper meaning behind this selection."
"What's the deep meaning?" asked my aunt warily.
Chu Ruohan smiled slightly: "This is not something that ministers like me can speculate. But one thing is certain, Your Majesty's move may not be a sincere desire to choose a concubine."
She paused, her tone firm: "So, I won't recommend anyone with the quota I have, including my cousin."
The room fell silent for a moment.
Finally, his uncle's face darkened: "Okay, okay! Chu Ruohan, you're capable now, but you've climbed up the social ladder and forgotten your relatives! If you have any difficulties in the future, don't expect us to help you!"
Chu Ruohan chuckled: "Uncle, you're wrong. Over the years, you've always taken advantage of my mother's soft heart and taken advantage of the Chu family!"
This sentence was like a slap in the face, and my uncle blushed.
Chu's mother hurriedly tried to smooth things over: "We are all family, why say such hurtful words?"
My aunt's face was gloomy. "In that case, we won't stay any longer. We'll find another way to deal with Ah Ying's problem."
"It's up to you, aunt." Chu Ruohan said no more.
The uncle and aunt left in anger, leaving Chu's mother and Chu Ruohan in the hall.
"Han'er, why are you doing this..." Mother Chu sighed.
Chu Ruohan held her mother's hand: "Mom, you also know how complicated the court is. Junze doesn't want to be involved in the harem dispute, so I naturally have to respect his decision."
She paused and said, "Besides, if my cousin really enters the palace, it may not be a blessing."
Mother Chu looked at her daughter's determined eyes and finally nodded: "You are the general's wife now, and you have your own considerations. Mother will not force you."
Chu Ruohan finally breathed a sigh of relief and held her mother's hand: "Mom, it's better to be cautious about this kind of thing."
"I understand." Mother Chu patted her daughter's hand. "You've grown up and are more thoughtful than I thought."
Chu Ruohan smiled: "It's getting late, I should go back. I'll come see you another day."
"Well, be careful on the road."
After leaving the Chu family and returning to the carriage, Chu Ruohan looked out the window at the hurriedly passing streets, with a myriad of thoughts in her mind.
The imperial palace selection, ostensibly to fill the harem, actually conceals a hidden agenda. What is the new emperor Zhao Yunci's intention behind this move?
"Madam, someone is stopping the car ahead." The driver's voice came from outside.
Chu Ruohan frowned slightly, lifted the car curtain and looked out, only to see a familiar figure standing in the middle of the road with a solemn expression and wandering eyes.
"Gu Cheng'an?" She couldn't help but be surprised.
Gu Cheng'an heard the voice, looked up at her, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.
He took a deep breath and walked to her car curtain in two steps. "Du Ruoling is pregnant."
Chu Ruohan frowned. She didn’t understand why she had to be told about Gu Chengan and Du Ruoling?
But I still said congratulations.
She thought of Du Ruoling's temper. Gu Cheng'an had just climbed out of the quagmire and was afraid that he would fall back again.
Gu Cheng'an clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. He took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "I have decided to marry her."
"That's natural. If you really have a child, you'll be responsible for it."
Gu Cheng'an stared at her for a long time, as if trying to find some emotion on her face, but Chu Ruohan just looked at him calmly.
Gu Chengan smiled self-deprecatingly, feeling sorry for overestimating his own abilities.
"Shall I take you home?"
Chu Ruohan shook her head: "No need, I still have something to do?"
She gently closed the curtain and said to the driver, "Let's go!"
The carriage slowly started, leaving Gu Chengan standing there alone...
"Go to the silk shop in the west of the city." She told the driver to turn the horse around.
The carriage drove back onto the street, but Chu Ruohan's mind drifted far away.
Qin Fang went out with the caravan, and the shops were temporarily handed over to others to manage, but she was still a little worried.
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