He was wearing a loose moon-white Taoist robe, and his jet-black hair was loosely tied with a silk ribbon of the same color, half loose and half undone. He looked a little more lazy and comfortable than when he was in Prince Jing's mansion during the day.
A wisp of green smoke rose from the white porcelain lotus incense burner next to it, like the scent of plum or orchid, clear and light, filling the room.
Prince Li talked a lot and felt a little thirsty, so he took a sip of Dahongpao. He sipped the tea in his mouth and smelled the elegant fragrance. He felt that Gu Jue really knew how to enjoy himself.
The tea is good, and even the incense is top-notch. Every detail in this study is exquisite.
Prince Li drank sip after sip of tea, and finally put down the teacup after drinking about half a cup. His face straightened, and he continued, "If the marriage between the two countries had been rejected at the beginning, it would have been fine. But now that it has come to this, everyone in the world knows that we cannot regret it. We must continue. Either the third princess, or one of the royal family members will be chosen as a princess like the previous dynasty did."
"Even Hao Country may not agree so easily..."
After all, the two countries had agreed at the beginning that Da Qi would marry the legitimate princess born by the Queen to Hao Kingdom. Now, they just casually confer a title on a princess and want her to marry the Crown Prince of Hao Kingdom. I'm afraid that Emperor Hao Uhaduluo will not agree.
As he spoke, Prince Li sighed, frowned, and couldn't help asking, "Ajue, what do you think we should do about this?"
Gu Jue sipped the hot tea gracefully, still just smiling and saying nothing.
"..."Prince Li asked the question just now with some impulse. After he said it, he felt that it was inappropriate. It was not convenient for Gu Jue to ask about this question either.
Prince Li coughed twice, and after complaining, he felt much better. Then he explained his real purpose: "Ajue, do you still have the ointment you asked your housekeeper to send to the palace last time?"
He still didn't have the courage to say the word "dog skin" out loud.
"Ajue, I have had this chronic leg pain for many years. When it rains, snows or is cloudy, it is common for me to be unable to sleep all night due to the pain. Every doctor in the Imperial Hospital has seen me, but they are all helpless."
"Originally, I heard that Jishiditang had a miraculous doctor, and I wanted to go and see him, but the emperor..."
Prince Li shook his head helplessly.
Over the past six months, the emperor's temper has become more and more violent, like a cat whose tail has been stepped on, and he has done many inappropriate things.
Gu Jue waved at his servant Jing Feng and ordered, "Send someone to the princess to get some ointment for the uncle."
Jingfeng took the order and retreated.
Prince Li smiled so much that the wrinkles on his face came together like chrysanthemums, and even all the fatigue of the day was swept away.
"Ajue," Prince Li said affectionately, "Where did you get this dog... cough... ointment? Is it enough for you?"
"The North." Gu Jue said with a smile.
Prince Li had no doubt about this and stroked his beard with a smile on his face.
He guessed so in his heart. The north was cold and had been in war for many years, so it was not surprising to have doctors who were good at treating broken bones.
What really surprised Prince Li was that when Gu Jue mentioned "Princess" just now, this boy's expression and tone were obviously softer than usual. He actually liked his little princess very much.
Prince Li recalled the little princess of Gu Jue whom he had just met at Prince Jing’s mansion. She was pretty, had a good temper, and was a very well-behaved little girl.
"Ajue, when you have time, ask your princess to come to my house and walk around more often. I will ask your aunt to take her around." Prince Li said with a smile.
Prince Li meant well. This kid Gu Jue, whether in the past or now, has always been a bit arrogant and self-centered. He is too lazy to socialize with others, so he stays in Prince Chen's Mansion all day long. But his little princess can't follow his example and stay in Prince Chen's Mansion all day long. There is still a long way to go, and she should go out and meet people.
The Princess of Chen should look like the Princess of Chen.
Gu Jue had a smile on his lips, but he said nothing.
Looking at Gu Jue's current unfathomable look, Prince Li always felt as if he was in another world. People say that girls change a lot when they grow up, but in his opinion, boys change almost nineteen times when they grow up.
The young man who was dressed in fine clothes and rode a vigorous horse has now grown into a man capable of competing with the imperial power.
Originally, Gu Jue and the emperor were both legitimate sons of the previous emperor. If brothers worked together, they would be able to achieve great things. If they could work together, the Great Qi would surely prosper. However, the emperor could not tolerate Gu Jue...
Prince Li sighed in his heart again, thinking that Gu Jue should understand what he meant, so he stopped there and said nothing more.
Prince Li also picked up the teacup, took another sip of tea, and continued to praise the dog-skin ointment with a smile: "Ajue, that ointment is really amazing. The first time I used the ointment, I only applied it for a cup of tea, and the pain went away!"
"I don't know how many medicines I've taken and how many methods I've tried, but nothing worked..."
Just as Prince Li was gushing with praise, Jingfeng came back holding a wooden box the size of a bowl.
When Prince Li saw the familiar wooden box, he stopped talking halfway through, his eyes lighting up as if he had seen some rare treasure.
Jingfeng held the wooden box in front of Prince Li under his burning gaze and said, "Prince...Prince Li, if you use this ointment for another seven days, your chronic cold legs should be cured."
Prince Li happily took the wooden box and responded with a few empty words, but in fact, he didn't really believe it.
He has had cold legs for more than ten years, and it would be great if he could get rid of the pain.
A cure? He didn't even dare to think about it.
But this dog-skin ointment is still very good. Just as he said just now, the effect of this ointment is immediate.
Prince Li was reluctant to let go of the wooden box. Seeing that curfew was approaching, he quickly said goodbye: "Ajue, I'll leave first."
Prince Li happily left Prince Chen's Mansion with the dog-skin plaster, thinking about asking his princess to take Chu Qianchen for a walk.
That night, as soon as Prince Li returned to Prince Li's Mansion, he urged Princess Li to send the invitation.
So, early the next morning, Chu Qianchen received a post.
The big red post was very beautiful and delicate, with small plum blossoms printed on it in gold foil, as if someone had sprinkled golden plum blossoms from the upper left corner of the post.
The post sparkled in the few rays of sunlight.
Chu Qianchen held the post with a puzzled look on his face, read the content of the post, and looked at the signature.
"Let someone reject it." Gu Jue said calmly from the side.
He knew that this girl was the most impatient with socializing. Originally, he had no intention of agreeing when Prince Li said so. He didn't expect that this imperial uncle of his was really the same as when he was young, and his words were as decisive as rain.
"Meow?" The little black cat lazily curled up on the coffee table between Gu Jue and Chu Qianchen. In the sunlight, its pupils shrank into a thin line, and its emerald green cat eyes stared curiously at the glittering post in Chu Qianchen's hand, as if it was about to pounce on it at any time.
"Your Highness, I'm bored anyway, just let me go." Chu Qianchen pinched the post and shook it, and the pair of green cat eyes next to it also turned back and forth with the post, and the eyeballs were wide open.
Chu Qianchen stared at Gu Jue without blinking. Her soft and delicate skin shone with a pearly luster in the sun, making her face as beautiful as a hibiscus even more charming.
"OK?"
She then threw the post aside, pinched Gu Jue's sleeve as usual, smiled coquettishly, and showed some of the delicate look of a little girl.
Gu Jue: “…”
"Meow!"
The little black cat couldn't help but kick its hind legs and pounce towards the post. The kitten's body was very light, and it jumped high and far, drawing an elegant arc in the air.
However, its hind legs accidentally kicked the fruit bowl, and the fruit bowl hit the white porcelain teapot...
Gu Jue and Chu Qianchen moved almost at the same time, tacitly understanding each other, one taking the teapot and the other catching the five green dates that rolled down the fruit bowl.
Everything happened in a flash. Amber, who was standing next to her, had no time to react at all. She saw a "scandalous incident" that was about to happen being easily resolved by the two masters. She almost wanted to applaud them.
The little black cat was completely unaware of this. Its two claws, which looked like they were wearing white gloves, had already pounced on its "prey". Sharp hook-like claws stretched out from between its paws and started scratching the post with a "scratch, scratch, scratch" sound.
Xiao Yueying is not the kind of kitten that likes to make trouble on purpose. It is just playful and ignores everything else when it is excited. Its two owners are no longer surprised by this.
Gu Jue and Chu Qianchen silently put the things in their hands back to their respective places, looked at each other and smiled, an indescribable tacit understanding silently flowing between them.
Chu Qianchen put the jujubes back into the fruit bowl one by one, leaving only the last one in his hand. He wiped it with a frosty white handkerchief and then put it to Gu Jue's lips.
"Okay?" Chu Qianchen asked again in a soft voice.
Gu Jue slightly opened his thin lips and took a bite of the green date. "Crunch", the green date was crispy and sweet.
His thin lips were soft and inadvertently brushed against Chu Qianchen's tender fingertips. Chu Qianchen felt a slight tremor in her fingertips and an indescribable numbness spread rapidly, making her subconsciously withdraw her hand and take back the green date that he had bitten.
"Okay." Gu Jue swallowed the green dates, his Adam's apple moved, and he looked at her with a warm and gentle smile.
It was completely different from the cold and distant look he had received when they first met in March.
Chu Qianchen couldn't help but smile, his heart felt soft, as if there was a pool of spring water, lingering and charming.
For a moment, Chu Qianchen felt as if she had returned to her previous life. She blinked, and a voice in her heart told her that it was not the same. There seemed to be something more in his eyes that was different from his previous life.
Chu Qianchen unconsciously finished eating the green date that Gu Jue had taken a bite of, one bite after another, like a little squirrel chewing a pine cone.
Gu Jue looked at her with a gentler gaze. He also grabbed a green date and took another bite.
Two days later, Chu Qianchen went to Prince Li's mansion as agreed, bringing the note with several suspicious claw marks on it. Prince Li's wife specially invited some female relatives of royal family and nobles to accompany him.
In her previous life, before she reached the age of 15, Chu Qianchen had always stayed in the Yongding Marquis Mansion as a concubine. She never left the house and had almost no interaction with the female relatives in the capital until she was expelled from the Chu family the following year.
After that, she followed Gu Jue, and even her coming-of-age ceremony was just Gu Jue giving her a pair of hairpins and a crown, and also giving her a name.
Later...
She left the capital and lay dormant with Qin Yao for a few years before they led their troops to the capital together.
She had never been very good at remembering faces.
In the next few days, the hospitable Princess Li invited Chu Qianchen to watch plays and go on a boat ride... Unknowingly, she took her to meet a lot of people, and while meeting people, she also talked to her about the complicated interpersonal relationships in the royal family.
For example, Princess Shun and the wife of the Prince of Chang'an were both from the He family, and were aunt and niece;
For example, the wife of Prince Rui and the wife of Prince Xing were at odds with each other; for example, the wife of Prince Su and the wife of the Earl of Yongchang were close friends and agreed to marry their children to each other; for example, the Earl of Yongchang almost arranged a marriage with the General of Ming, but it was later cancelled for some reason...
…
Chu Qianchen also listened with great interest.
She also heard that Princess Li was giving her advice, not just about the in-laws and old friends among the families, but even about who was inclined towards the emperor and had some opinions about Prince Chen. She made some remarks intentionally or unintentionally.
The royal family of the Great Qi lasted for a hundred years, and its members were too numerous to count. These royal families also had to marry into noble families, forming a complex network of relationships. For example, which family was a distant relative of which, and which family had old grudges against which because of certain things, all of this could not be found in books.
These should have been told to the daughter-in-law by the mother-in-law, but the Queen Mother Yin was trapped in the deep palace and could not do anything.
Chu Qianchen has always been able to clearly distinguish the kindness and malice of others. He listened patiently to everything that Princess Li said and kept it in mind.
When Chu Qianchen provokes people, she can make them hate her to the core, like Concubine Yang and Chu Qianhuang, but if she wants to, she can also be very likable, making people think that she is smart and well-behaved, and they can't wait to rub her head and pinch her hands.
Princess Li fell in love with her at first sight, and at second and third sight she wanted to take her home. When she got home she said many good things to Prince Li: "Marriage is destined by heaven. The Emperor's marriage may have been a good marriage granted by mistake."
"Ajue's wife is good-looking. Although she is a concubine's daughter, she is generous, intelligent, and well-behaved. I think she is a good one."
These past few days, hearing his own princess praising Princess Chen frequently, Prince Li also knew that Princess Chen was indeed a good person. He also felt that the Emperor's move was an unexpected success.
Prince Li sighed and said, "Try to take care of Princess Chen as much as possible. The Queen Mother is in the palace and we haven't been able to see her in the past few months. As the elders, we should take care of her as much as we can."
If Princess Chen was an ungrateful or hopeless person, Prince Li would not have interfered. But since she was a person who knew what was good for her, he would help her if he could.
Prince Li was a worrier. As he thought about it, he started to nag: "Ajue, this kid, I don't know what he is thinking. Since he returned to the capital, he always stays in the palace and doesn't go out. Isn't he imprisoning himself?!"
"He is like a gourd with its mouth sawed off. He can't say a single word he doesn't want to say."
"Your Majesty is the same. He is too cautious and his temper is like a firecracker that can be ignited at any time. Well, after the New Year, I will find a chance to persuade the emperor."
As he was speaking, Prince Li stood up and walked back and forth in the room a few times with a little anxiety.
When he walked back and forth a few more times, Princess Li felt that she was also being distracted by him. She rubbed her brows and said, "Don't..."
She watched Prince Li walk to the window, his eyes falling on the plum branches outside the window that were covered with a little snow. She stopped talking halfway and changed the subject: "Prince, does your right leg no longer hurt?"
In the past, whenever it snowed, Prince Li's old rheumatoid arthritis would flare up, making him suffer so much that he would rather die than live, and unable to sleep at night.
However, although it snowed lightly last night, Prince Li was fine. He did not get up all night and is now in good spirits and feels very nimble.
Upon hearing this, Prince Li stopped where he was, as if time had stopped.
After a while, he stupidly lowered his head to look at his right knee, then stamped his right foot and said with a little stutter: "No...it doesn't hurt anymore."
The ointment that Gu Jue gave him last time was used up yesterday.
Prince Li thought that the ointment must be very precious, and he was too embarrassed to go and ask for it again.
After hearing his wife's reminder, he realized that his right leg didn't hurt at all, and it didn't affect his walking at all.
Prince Li tried to walk forward a few steps and finally came to the front of Princess Li.
"Does it really not hurt anymore?" Princess Li couldn't help but ask again.
"It doesn't hurt anymore." Prince Li nodded affirmatively.
At this moment, he suddenly remembered that when he was in Prince Chen's Mansion last time, Gu Jue's servant had told him that if he used the ointment for another seven days, his old cold legs would be cured. He just agreed casually at the time and didn't take it seriously. He didn't expect that this rubbish ointment could actually cure the old illness that had troubled him for more than ten years? !
Prince Li still couldn't believe it, his eyes widened, and he couldn't help but said to the Princess: "Pinch me..."
Princess Li was not polite at all and pinched his thigh hard, causing him to cry out in pain.
Then, Prince Li walked back and forth in the room at a brisk pace, even faster and more skillfully than before, from walking to running, he looked so light as a swallow that he seemed to be eager to climb up the roof and tear off the tiles.
It was so cold, but he ran himself into a sweat. He took the handkerchief handed to him by Princess Li and said happily, "It doesn't hurt anymore. It really doesn't hurt at all."
Prince Li felt that he had not only opened up the eight extraordinary meridians, but also the small and large circulations, and he felt refreshed.
The last time he went to Prince Chen's Mansion to ask Gu Jue for ointment, the first box of ointment had just been used up. After being blown by the cold wind, his right knee still hurt, so he had the audacity to go to the door in person to ask for it.
But it's only been seven days and the pain is gone.
"Could it be that my old illness has really been cured?" Prince Li whispered to himself and almost laughed out loud three times.
"I'm going to the martial arts arena to have some fun." Prince Li said as he walked out.
He was a martial artist and he had the habit of practicing martial arts to strengthen his body. However, he suffered from his old cold legs and had to lock himself up and not move in the winter in previous years. Now that he was free of the pain, he couldn't wait to go to the martial arts field to practice.
Prince Li left as soon as he said he would. When he walked out of the hall, his eldest son just came back. Prince Li's son had come to pay his respects to his parents, but was pulled away by Prince Li.
"Come on, come on, Boss. Accompany me to the martial arts arena to play."
Prince Li took his eldest son's arm and went to the martial arts training ground in the northeast corner of the palace.
The Prince of Li was completely confused, but he followed his father anyway. He let Prince Li stuff a spear into his hand, and then he foolishly followed his father's instructions to teach him moves.
The Prince of Li did not dare to use his full strength when facing his father. Besides, he was already in his forties and had been living a life of luxury for years, so his skills were declining. Before he could even finish his fight, the spear in his hand was picked up by Prince Li.
The spear flew out and was picked up by Prince Li with his own spear, and fell into his hands.
"Hahaha, you kid have been neglecting practice now." Prince Li laughed enthusiastically and felt as if he was back to his peak. Not only did his back and waist no longer hurt, but his hands and body also became more flexible.
At first, Prince Li was worried that the effect of the medicine would wear off after a few days and his old cold legs would relapse, but as a few days passed, his right leg got better day by day and was even more flexible than his left leg.
Some cousins of the same age in the royal family also noticed it and felt that Prince Li seemed to have become a lot younger, and they praised him for being strong and healthy despite his old age.
When Princess Li invited Chu Qianchen to visit the palace again, Prince Li came over specially and asked her to bring a message to Gu Jue, saying that the ointment was really effective, but the name was not very nice.
Chu Qianchen responded with a smile.
After returning, she told Gu Jue the first half word for word, except for the part "the name isn't very nice".
"Your Highness, am I powerful?" She asked for reward directly.
She didn't need to take Prince Li's pulse, she just looked at him and cured his old illness.
Chu Qianchen smiled smugly, just like the little black cat next to her. The little black cat brought some cat grass from somewhere to the edge of her skirt and tilted its little head to ask for a pat.
"Great." Gu Jue praised her and patted her head as she wished, with a faint smile in his eyes.
These days, Chu Qianchen went out almost every day, and was very busy at the palace because the New Year was approaching. Even the medicine for him was delivered to the outer study by Jingfeng, which made Gu Jue miss the days when she was around him.
At this time, Jingfeng also came to the outer study carrying a red lacquered carved food box. He walked outside the door curtain and saw Amber guarding the door. He knew that the princess had returned from Prince Li's mansion.
Jingfeng was afraid of disturbing the prince and princess' private conversation, so he simply did not go in. He looked at Amber with an hesitant look.
The princess was always away from the palace these days. Jingfeng had noticed that the prince was easily distracted even when reading a book. He would glance out the window from time to time, probably to see if the princess had returned.
Occasionally, the black cat raised by the princess would come to see the prince. The way the man and the cat looked out the window made Jingfeng, who thought he had not read many books, think of four words - looking forward to something with longing.
Amber thought Jingfeng looked strange, as if his face was cramping, so she asked, "Is this the medicine for the prince?"
Jingfeng: "Yes."
Amber: "Leave it to me..."
Jingfeng: "No, no, no, I got the wrong one."
amber:"……"
Jingfeng really couldn't put it into words. He felt that his prince seemed to be ignored, so he turned around and left in a hurry, leaving Amber looking at him with a puzzled expression.
The two people inside didn't know that Jing Feng had come and gone. Gu Jue's right elbow was propped up on a large pillow, his fist against one side of his cheek, he was leaning lazily on the Arhat bed, looking at Chu Qianchen and asked, "Where did you go today? Was it fun?"
Chu Qianchen followed suit, slumped down like a boneless ball, leaning his neck against the large pillow, and answered every question: "Today, the Princess of Li invited several princesses who had surrendered to the Prince of Li's mansion to watch a play."
She counted on her fingers, listing the names one by one: "Princess Ningde, Princess Yunhe, Princess Jiashan..."
After she mentioned seven or eight names, she sighed with a hint of regret, "But Princess Jingle didn't come. Princess Liqin originally wanted to invite her, but this morning, someone from the Princess's Mansion said that Her Royal Highness caught a cold last night."
Chu Qianchen had a good impression of the princess, so he said a few more words:
"Princess Li and several princesses said that the prince consort was disrespectful to Princess Jingle and gave some of the princess's dowry to his cousin concubine."
"Princess Jingle went to the palace a few days ago to complain to the Queen, but the Queen was busy with the Third Princess's marriage. She said that a harmonious family brings prosperity and that couples should tolerate each other, and asked the Princess to forgive her husband... After a few words, the Queen sent her away."
(End of this chapter)