"yes."
"Old Nine, you stay."
After everyone had left, Gu Yanwei walked to the emperor's bedside. Looking at his son in front of him, the emperor showed a fatherly and loving look for the first time.
"Old Nine, I have been sorry to your mother for so many years. I didn't believe her back then, which led to her losing the confidence to live. I have been living in self-blame and guilt all my life. When you were little, I really didn't dare to look at you. When you grew up, I was afraid to face you because your eyebrows and eyes are more and more like your mother. Every time I see you, I feel like I see her, and I can't extricate myself from the pain."
Gu Yanwei held the emperor's hand tightly. Since the death of Concubine Shu, he always felt that he was the only one living in the pain of missing his mother. He never expected that there were others like him who suffered a lifetime of pain from the loss of their beloved.
"Father."
"Old Nine, you are as smart as your mother. My health is getting worse and worse, so I decided to make you the crown prince."
"Father." Gu Yanwei didn't expect that the emperor would tell him such an important thing in person at his sickbed.
The emperor coughed a few times and said, "I can only feel at ease if this country is handed over to you. But when you sit on the throne of the crown prince, the risks you face will be far greater than what you face now. Old Nine, can you bear it?"
Gu Yanwei stood up and took two steps back, then knelt down again and said, "My father has entrusted me with such an important task, and I will definitely fulfill it."
"Okay!" The emperor nodded, "I feel relieved to have you. Go out. I need to rest."
When Gu Yanwei reached the door, the imperial doctors had not left yet. He quietly closed the palace door and turned to the imperial doctor Liu behind him and said, "How is father's health?"
Imperial Physician Liu suddenly knelt down with a group of imperial physicians and said, "In reply to the Ninth Prince, the Emperor's health is already failing. We have tried our best to treat him but are powerless."
The Ninth Prince frowned, and stared at the Emperor's bedroom with his deep eyes. After a long while, he slowly said, "Father, how long will it take?"
The imperial physician lowered his head and said, "No more than three months."
Early the next morning, the emperor dragged his tired body to the court.
"My dear ministers, do you have anything else to report? If not, I have an important announcement today." As he said this, he signaled Eunuch Liu beside him to read the imperial edict.
"The Emperor, in compliance with the Will of Heaven, proclaims that the Xiongnu have been constantly provoking our dynasty, and the war has been going on for a long time. Although I have received continuous reports of victory, I have been ill for a long time and I am afraid that I will not be able to see the day of victory with my own eyes. The Ninth Prince Gu Yanwei is both virtuous and talented, and has a kind nature. He made great contributions in the battle against the Xiongnu, and the position of Crown Prince has been vacant until today. Therefore, the Ninth Prince Gu Yanwei is appointed as Crown Prince to take care of the Xiongnu affairs on my behalf."
Even after it was read out, before the Ninth Prince knew it, the ministers had already started discussing it.
"Why, my dear ministers, do you have doubts about my decision?"
Lord Liu did not hesitate for a moment, and stood out from the crowd and said, "The Ninth Prince is extremely intelligent and kind-hearted. He is the perfect choice for the Crown Prince. I have no objection."
As soon as the words fell, a group of people echoed at the same time: "Your Highness and I have no objection."
At this time, the people in the court who stood on the side of the Eighth Prince kept frowning. Just when one of them wanted to stand up and oppose, the Eighth Prince pushed the person back with just a look.
"Okay, since all the ministers have no objection, the enthronement ceremony will be held tomorrow."
"Your Majesty is wise."
"Eighth Prince, why did the Emperor suddenly appoint the Ninth Prince as the Crown Prince? Why didn't you let me speak just now? Maybe there is still room for this matter to be turned around."
The Eighth Prince was not as anxious as Lord Li. Instead, he looked at Gu Yanwei and Shen Qingqiu not far away and said calmly, "From the war with the Xiongnu to the princess's murder of the king and then to overturning the case for Concubine Shu, Old Nine has always done things neatly and efficiently in the past few years, especially the matter of Concubine Shu. Father had been entangled in this matter for his whole life, but Old Nine dug up the truth at the end. Naturally, Father looked at her differently, and he was Concubine Shu's son."
"So what should we do now?"
"What's the hurry?" Seeing that the Ninth Prince and Shen Qingqiu had already walked over, the Eighth Prince forced a smile and whispered to the official beside him: "My father is not dead yet, so he can't become the emperor yet. We will have plenty of opportunities in the future."
As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Yanwei had already passed by him.
"Myna."
"Ninth brother, congratulations, you really make me admire you. If you don't make a name for yourself, you will be amazing once you make a name for yourself!"
"Thank you for the compliment, Brother Jiu."
"But you have to sit firmly on the throne of the Crown Prince, or you might fall off it accidentally."
Gu Yanwei said calmly: "Thank you for your concern, Brother Ba." Then he was about to walk around the Eighth Prince and leave. Looking at the backs of the two, the Eighth Prince suddenly called out to Shen Qingqiu.
"Princess."
Hearing the voice, Shen Qingqiu turned around and looked at her.
"The princess has been in the palace for so long and has helped my ninth brother solve so many problems. It's true that a tiger father has a dog daughter, and she is just as smart!"
Shen Qingqiu smiled, knelt down and saluted, saying: "Eighth Prince, thank you for your compliment."
"I wonder if I could have the honor of inviting you to the Imperial Garden to enjoy the flowers tomorrow. I've heard that you are very talented, so you won't refuse me this opportunity, right?"
After all, he was a prince, so Shen Qingqiu couldn't refuse, so he nodded, but he didn't notice that the man next to him had already turned grim.
When the two returned to the bedroom, Gu Yanwei suddenly turned around and looked at her and asked, "Why did you agree to his request?"
Shen Qingqiu looked at him and smiled playfully, "Are you jealous?"
The Ninth Prince grabbed her hand and said, "You are not allowed to go tomorrow."
Shen Qingqiu frowned, "It's just flower viewing. If I don't go, it would seem like I'm being coy. Don't worry, he can do anything to me."
Seeing that she didn't listen to his advice, Gu Yanwei became angry, but he felt that if he got angry, it would make him look petty, so he forced himself to suppress his anger.
In the blink of an eye, the sky became brighter. Shen Qingqiu arrived at the Imperial Garden as promised, and the Eighth Prince was already waiting.
"Your Highness came down so early."
The sun was shining brightly, and the Eighth Prince turned to look at Shen Qingqiu. She was wearing a plain gauze skirt and a plain hairpin on her head. The Eighth Prince was used to seeing the elegant and luxurious women in the palace, but at this moment, Shen Qingqiu in front of him was still fresh and refined.
"Since you have an appointment with such a beautiful girl, you should come earlier."
Shen Qingqiu smiled but didn't say anything.
She often heard her father talk about things in the palace. She always knew that Gu Yanwei was the most outstanding among all the princes, but the Eighth Prince in front of her was always cunning and flattering. He was Gu Yanwei's strongest competitor. She was afraid that he would be very unhappy that Gu Yanwei was made the crown prince this time.
"I wonder what the Eighth Prince wants me to come for?" Shen Qingqiu has always been an understanding person and doesn't like to hide things.
"Hahaha, Princess, you are really straightforward. I really like your personality."
Shen Qingqiu glared at him helplessly. She was willing to come out today just to listen to what the Eighth Prince wanted to say. She wanted to know how he reacted after learning that Gu Yanwei was appointed as the Crown Prince, and what actions he would take in the future. However, looking at the situation in front of him, he did not come to her to say these things.
"If the Eighth Prince has nothing to do, I will not bother you any more."
"Wait, Princess, are you in such a hurry to go back?" As Shen Qingqiu was speaking, she suddenly stepped on empty air and her body lost gravity and fell to one side. The Eighth Prince was quick to step forward and hugged her slender waist.
This scene was just in front of him and was seen by Gu Yanwei who had just arrived.
A burst of fragrance floated along Shen Qingqiu's long hair to the Eighth Prince's nose. The Eighth Prince closed his eyes and sniffed carefully and said, "What a nice fragrance."
In a trance, Shen Qingqiu pushed the Eighth Prince away and stood up, looking somewhat unhappy: "Thank you, Eighth Prince, I'll take my leave now."
Watching her hurriedly leaving, the Eighth Prince saw Gu Yanwei, who had been paying attention to the two of them, through the bushes. He said with a playful look in his heart, "I asked the princess to come here today just because I hope you can understand my feelings."
As he spoke, Shen Qingqiu walked faster, but in Gu Yanwei's eyes, it looked like shyness.
After everyone left, the eunuch who was serving the Eighth Prince came over and asked, "Your Highness, are you really interested in the princess?"
The Eighth Prince smiled, "She is indeed an interesting woman."
"But she belongs to the Ninth Prince."
"Shen Qingqiu is not an ordinary woman, and her father is a powerful marquis. If she becomes Old Nine's person, it would be better for her to become mine."
"We must also win over Gu Hou in this matter of the Eighth Prince."
The Eighth Prince sneered, "You are quite smart!"
When Shen Qingqiu hurried back to the Ninth Prince's Palace, Gu Yanwei had been sitting and waiting for a long time.
“I’m back.”
Seeing Gu Yanwei suddenly appear in front of him, Shen Qingqiu stepped back in shock, "Why are you here? Aren't you attending court?"
Gu Yanwei stood up and slowly walked in front of Shen Qingqiu. Shen Qingqiu only felt a sense of oppression coming towards him.
"Are you getting along well with my starling?"
"What did you say?"
Gu Yanwei sneered, "No wonder I told you not to go see him yesterday, but you insisted on going. It turns out you've already fallen in love with my Big Brother."
Shen Qingqiu didn't expect him to say such nonsense so early in the morning, and asked unhappily: "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"Why, are you angry? Weren't you smiling happily just now?"
Shen Qingqiu suppressed his anger and didn't want to argue with him. Just as he was about to leave, Gu Yanwei grabbed his arm and said, "Why, I was right. If you like her, I will..."
“Ninth Prince!” Shen Qingqiu suddenly interrupted him and said, “It seems that who I like has nothing to do with the Ninth Prince. I am not the Ninth Prince either. You should not be able to interfere in this matter. Besides, I have been in the palace for a long time. If I don’t go back, my mother will be worried. I will say goodbye to the Ninth Prince today!” After saying that, Shen Qingqiu flicked his sleeves and left.
Looking at his back, Gu Yanwei clenched his fists tightly.
——
"Mom, my sister is back." Seeing his sister whom he hadn't seen for a long time, Tuan Ge'er, who was fighting crickets in the yard, immediately ran back and called Liu.
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