As early as six months ago, when the Crown Prince got engaged, all departments and agencies had already begun preparing for the things needed for Crown Prince Li Gancheng's wedding.
Although Emperor Ganwu ordered the wedding to be held ahead of schedule, fortunately, many things had already been prepared, so it wasn't a hasty and perfunctory affair.
Since this morning, almost everything that was prepared in advance has been moved into the East Palace residence.
However, Crown Prince Li Gancheng did not cooperate actively, but instead dragged his feet.
Otherwise, the process of changing and trying on clothes should have been finished several hours ago, and it wouldn't have dragged on until now.
"How about we try someone else? Let me rest for a bit!"
Li Gancheng looked utterly dejected, almost on the verge of a breakdown.
He had been standing here for almost two hours, which would be equivalent to four hours in later times.
Not to mention my legs were numb, I was mentally broken long ago.
Because there were two imperial concubines present, Li Gancheng could not refer to himself as "this palace" and could only use the terms "your subject" or "I" in his speech.
Before he could even utter these complaints, Princess Chang Le, Li Ganrou, had a chance to object, as she had already rejected them.
"Oh dear, Your Majesty, this won't do! Trying on wedding clothes is an ancestral tradition, and it cannot be taken lightly!"
"Besides, where are you going to find someone with the same build and height as you on short notice?"
After Princess Chang Le, Li Ganrou, finished speaking, Princess Taiping, Li Ganxue, reminded her from the side, "Yes! Your Majesty, this is not a portrait painting done in the palace. You can find someone else to fill in for a while. This is the wedding dress you will wear on your wedding day!"
"The Crown Prince's wedding will be a grand event! Not only will all the civil and military officials of our Great Gan be present, but even the small vassal states surrounding Great Gan will send envoys to attend!"
"Moreover, there might even be military governors or dispatchers from the Great Xia, Great Song, or Great Zhou dynasties. Your image not only concerns yourself but also represents the face of our Great Gan! How can we be careless!"
"Besides, if Father finds out you're like this, he'll definitely be displeased. You should just change your clothes in peace."
After the two princesses finished speaking, Emperor Ganwu's three concubines simultaneously gave him a meaningful look.
He indicated that the two princesses were right and let Li Gancheng weigh the gains and losses in the matter himself.
"I……"
Li Gancheng sighed deeply, and in the end, he could only swallow the words he was about to say.
Some things are better left unsaid. Since they won't let me leave, why not find a way to slip away?
If I say it out loud, probably no one will agree, but if I run away secretly, what can they do?
There was really no other way but to try to suppress the news; it couldn't possibly reach the Emperor's ears.
Li Gancheng understood this principle, so he pretended to behave himself at this moment.
Of course, he could hide his thoughts from the three concubines of Emperor Qianlong, but he couldn't hide them from his personal eunuch Liu Jin.
Liu Jin, who served Crown Prince Li Gancheng, was a shrewd and capable man, no less so than Wang Delai, the chief eunuch of the Imperial Household Department who served Emperor Ganwu. Otherwise, he would not have become the chief eunuch of the Eastern Palace.
Seeing that no one could dissuade His Highness the Crown Prince, he naturally had to find a way to help. Otherwise, if His Highness the Crown Prince became playful again and caused trouble on the eve of the wedding, and insisted on sneaking out of the Eastern Palace, he would certainly be punished if questioned by the higher-ups.
Over the years, Liu Jin has been unfairly blamed, punished, and flogged countless times for this matter.
In Liu Jin's view, His Highness the Crown Prince was good in every way, but his playful nature had never diminished since childhood; he would seize any opportunity to sneak out and play.
Ultimately, he was just a young man in his early twenties.
But as playful as he may be, only Liu Jin understood that, putting aside his playful nature, Crown Prince Li Gancheng was not as honest and simple as he appeared to the outside world.
After all, they were all the biological sons of Emperor Qianlong, the founding emperor. As the saying goes, dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and a rat's son knows how to dig a hole.
Having served Crown Prince Li Gancheng for so many years, Liu Jin knew perfectly well that while Crown Prince Li Gancheng appeared harmless, virtuous, and learned, possessing the qualities of a wise and sage ruler, these were merely superficial appearances.
In fact, he had always been concealing his abilities and skills. In terms of intelligence, strategy, and ruthlessness, he was no less capable than Emperor Ganwu.
Sun Jian once said that his brother Long was not as simple as he appeared on the surface, so it goes without saying that others were not.
As soon as Princess Chang Le Li Gan Rou and Princess Tai Ping Li Gan Xue finished speaking to Li Gan Cheng, Liu Jin had already finished pondering these many thoughts in his mind.
He definitely needs to be advised, but he can't say it outright.
The only way to prevent His Highness the Crown Prince from taking the opportunity to slip away is to rely on one's own reason and strategy.
At this moment, Liu Jin cupped his hands to Li Gancheng, feigning surprise, and said, "Your Highness, this servant has a question, but I don't know if I should ask it."
Liu Jin's actions and words were indeed effective, and in an instant, Crown Prince Li Gancheng's attention was drawn to him.
The extreme impatience and reluctance on their faces were also somewhat diverted at that moment.
"Hmm? What's your question?"
Li Gancheng turned his gaze to Liu Jin, who was standing to his right, and said, "Just say it directly. Everyone here is one of our own. There's no need to hide anything."
"yes!"
Liu Jin first bowed respectfully to Li Gancheng, then asked with a puzzled look.
"Your Highness, on your wedding day, several small vassal states that are subordinate to our Great Xia will send envoys to offer their congratulations and present gift lists. This servant can understand that. Ever since His Majesty proposed the strategy of 'befriending distant states while attacking nearby ones,' Great Xia has always been an ally of us. This servant can also understand Great Xia sending envoys to offer their congratulations and present gift lists! But..."
"But the Great Zhou and the Great Song have been at war with us for years. Your wedding day should be a day of great fear for them. Why would they send envoys here?"
From a broad perspective, Liu Jin's words were indeed intended to divert Crown Prince Li Gancheng's attention, but in truth, this was also where he had questions and doubts.
Even if it weren't for the fact that Crown Prince Li Gancheng was trying to sneak away, he would probably find an opportunity to ask him this question.
Upon hearing this, it was easy to see from the expressions of those around them that many eunuchs and maids were also stunned for a second, because they were also puzzled by this question.
But their status was lowly, practically worthless in the eyes of the royal family. They paused for a second out of mere curiosity, but immediately had to get back to their work. After all, given their status, they couldn't question Li Gancheng like Liu Jin had...
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