Chapter 186 [VIP]
Prince Jin didn't want to provoke the Eastern Depot and invite trouble, but Yun'er couldn't wait any longer.
Since Shen Xu wasn't around, he must have instructed his men to protect his only sister. Isn't the Duke of Cheng'en known for his recklessness and drunken antics? Then let him go all the way with his drunken rampage.
The Prince of Jin deliberately chose to take action after the marriage contract was written, just in case.
Now, Duke Chengen has only one choice: to agree to marry into the royal palace in place of his daughter to bring good fortune.
Prince Jin said unhurriedly, "My dear in-law, you need to think this through. Is it the Prince Jin's residence, or the Eastern Depot's prison?"
Before they could finish reminiscing, Wu Shang made a gesture, and the guards immediately seized Cheng En Gong.
When his arms were held down and twisted backward, Cheng'en Gong was so frightened that cold sweat poured down his back, as if he had been thrown into a freezing cold, his whole body was so cold that he was almost frozen solid.
"No, no, I was wrong..."
The guards dragged him away, and the Duke of Cheng'en was terrified. He cried out in despair, "I promise, I promise, okay? My dear in-law, please save me!"
He agreed. The Prince of Jin smiled.
Why didn't you just agree earlier? You wasted so much of his time and effort.
He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Wu Shang: "Commander Wu, could you possibly grant me this favor? I presume the Duke of Cheng'en didn't mean it this way, perhaps..."
"Your Highness, you are not worthy of the respect due to the Eastern Depot."
“Commander Wu, now that Chief Supervisor Shen is not here, the Eastern Depot would be better off not being so arrogant,” Prince Jin said meaningfully. “There is something I would like to say to Commander Wu alone.”
Seeing that he remained unmoved, the Prince of Jin added, "This matter concerns the Chief Supervisor."
Wu Shang gave a wink, signaling the guards to let Prince Jin over.
Prince Jin walked up to him, deliberately lowered his voice, and said only to him, "Do you really believe that the Crown Prince won't take advantage of the situation after the Grand Eunuch Shen has been transferred far away? The Crown Prince hasn't made a move yet, perhaps because he doesn't have a good excuse yet, and he's afraid of being labeled as a 'discarding the millstone after it has served its purpose,' which would only cause trouble and be of no benefit to his succession."
"The Grand Eunuch left Commander Wu behind, presumably to guard against the Crown Prince's underhanded tactics, right?"
"Does Commander Qianhu really think that the Crown Prince is pure and harmless?"
The Prince of Jin observed Wu Shang's expression.
Wu Shang remained expressionless, but his subtle movements revealed his thoughts. For example, his narrow eyes were lowered, indicating that he was clearly deep in thought.
really.
Shen Xu and Xie Yingchen were far from being intimate; they were both wary of each other.
That's enough.
A sharp glint flashed in Prince Jin's eyes: "It's not a big deal that the Eastern Depot took away Duke Cheng'en, but Duke Cheng'en is, after all, the Emperor's brother-in-law. Even if he misspoke while drunk, he didn't offend the County Princess. In the end, it's just a minor matter. If someone with ulterior motives takes advantage of this, then the Crown Prince will have a legitimate reason to act, and no matter what, the Eastern Depot will be in the wrong. Isn't that right?"
"Lord Cheng'en was just drunk and acting crazy. Just send him away. Why leave him with a handle for such a small matter? It will make the Grand Eunuch uneasy in Qingzhou."
He pressed on, saying, "I have heard that the Grand Commandant has acted swiftly in Qingzhou, and there have already been many impeachments. Commander, you should be cautious."
Wu Shang gently rubbed his thumb and forefinger together.
The Prince of Jin then said, “Commander Wu, don’t lose your composure because of a moment of anger.”
Finally, Wu Shang snapped his fingers, and the guards released Cheng En Gong.
The guards didn't bother to move gently, and Cheng'en Gong fell flat on his face.
"The Lady of Fu'an County has been granted this title for her merits," Wu Shang announced loudly. "Who dares to cause trouble again?"
No, no, I wouldn't dare.
The officials who had been forcibly summoned were sweating profusely and waving their hands repeatedly.
Who would have thought that a drunken outburst by the Duke of Cheng'en would attract the attention of the Eastern Depot?
The Duke of Cheng'en was terrified. When he thought about the conditions that the Prince of Jin had forced him to agree to, he felt no gratitude whatsoever. Instead, he was filled with resentment towards the Prince of Jin for taking advantage of him.
With the help of his attendants, he stood up unsteadily and was about to leave.
At that moment, the gates of the county magistrate's mansion opened.
Yin Xiyan walked out alone.
Wu Shang reacted quickly, hiding himself behind a guard to avoid being recognized. However, it was already dark, and with only the candlelight of a few lanterns, she probably wouldn't recognize him.
Yin Xiyan wore a rouge-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with a long veil of the same color covering her face from below her eyes to her neck.
She walked out like that, stood in front of everyone, raised her hand to remove her veil, and frankly revealed her scarred face.
Many people had seen this face before. Cheng'en Gong stared at her and blurted out, "Gui Niangzi, you really are..." He didn't dare to finish his sentence and shrank back.
"What is it?"
Yin Xiyan faced the crowd and frankly confronted her identity.
She never had the idea of covering up the past, whether it was as Young Master Yin, as the courtesan Gui Niangzi, or as the county princess.
It's all her.
There's nothing shameful about it; a woman's dignity and life have never been confined to the world of her skirts.
Yin Xiyan stood calmly on the stone steps, her peach blossom eyes sweeping over the crowd as if those who mocked, doubted, ridiculed, and disapproved of her were the real clowns.
"Mr. Cheng'en."
She smiled, her voice still gentle and captivating: "What is it?"
The moment those three words were uttered, the guards cast menacing glances at him, eyes that seemed ready to devour him alive at the slightest provocation. Cheng'en Gong's heart pounded wildly. He dared not utter another word about "singing," and nervously swallowed, feeling utterly foolish for his actions.
What business is it of his to be conferred the title of county princess? Why should he be the one to stick it out?
Alcohol can lead to mistakes.
Alcohol can ruin your life!
"No, no, no..."
He felt cold all over; it was hard to tell if it was from sweat or cold water.
"I've come to the wrong door. Yes, yes! I've come to the wrong door. I'm going to the Prince of Jin's residence to discuss the wedding arrangements in a few days. I'm in a good mood today and have had a bit too much to drink, so I came to the wrong door."
"That's right, that's exactly it."
"I apologize for disturbing the county princess's rest. Please do not take offense. I will certainly offer a generous gift as an apology tomorrow."
Cheng'en wiped the sweat from his brow and smiled ingratiatingly, "Please return, Your Highness."
Yin Xiyan stood there for a while, staring directly at Prince Jin behind the guards.
Several officials nearby quickly added, "Princess, we just heard some commotion outside and came out to check. We had no intention of disturbing you."
They cursed Cheng'en Gong a hundred times over in their hearts.
Yin Xiyan smiled and said, "Lord Duke, please don't go to the wrong door again when you're drunk."
"No, no!"
He will never drink alcohol again.
Yin Xiyan walked back, and as she stepped over the threshold, she let out a soft breath.
She almost lost her composure when she met the Prince of Jin.
She walked towards the ceremonial gate, the cold night wind caressing her face and calming her anxious mind.
Miss Gu came by a few days ago and mentioned that such a thing would happen. She also said: This hexagram is the Great Hexagram of Lake over Wind. It means that a boat that is too heavy will capsize.
Yin Xiyan readily agreed.
Unless she spends the rest of her life hiding in this world, her status as a courtesan will eventually become public knowledge. Rather than hiding, she might as well take this opportunity to show herself openly and step into the public eye.
Yin Xiyan slowly recited the four words "a heavy boat will capsize," then loosened her clenched fist and told herself:
Don't rush.
The candlelight of the glass lamp flickered as Yin Xiyan walked further and further away on the bluestone path.
The door closed behind her, and Wu Shang emerged from the shadows. He made a gesture, and the guards retreated like a tide, perfectly synchronized, just as silently as they had appeared.
"My dear in-law," the Prince of Jin said with a smile, extending his hand to him.
Duke Chengen flung him away, his eyes brimming with undisguised resentment.
Prince Jin didn't mind and smiled warmly: "It's all over now. My dear in-law, please rest well when you get back. The big day is coming up in a few days, so don't miss the auspicious day."
Duke Chengen: "..."
He glared at them angrily, wanting to slap them, but he still had his pride. He shook the water off his sleeves, and with the help of his attendant, climbed onto his horse and rode away without looking back.
Once the Eastern Depot left, the others finally breathed a sigh of relief, as if they had been given a second chance at life. They wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads and stood in front of their respective mansions, looking at each other and exchanging stiff, dry greetings.
No one could have imagined that the Princess of Fu'an was actually a courtesan.
She didn't even try to hide it, she admitted it.
No one could have imagined that the Eastern Depot would be the one backing up the magistrate of Fu'an County.
Could it be...
Is Lady Gui a member of the Eastern Depot?!
Those who can squeeze across the narrow bridge and rise to the third or fourth rank in the imperial court are not too stupid; they have often thought things through and will always ponder and guess when faced with a situation.
Wu Shang said that the county magistrate of Fu'an was granted a title for his merits.
The Eastern Depot was the emperor's weapon, always doing shady things in the shadows.
So, Lady Gui was actually a spy planted by the Eastern Depot?!
He also made a great contribution!
"It's over."
The Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Stud muttered to himself, desperately trying to recall if he had said anything wrong in front of Lady Gui.
If I accidentally say something that gives the Eastern Depot a handle to use against me, I'll be finished!
All his curiosity vanished at that moment. He hurriedly ran back to the mansion, went straight to his study, and spent the entire night writing down all the dates and places where he might have met Lady Gui, constantly reviewing what he had said at the time.
He hadn't been this serious in decades since he passed the imperial examination after years of hard study.
Throughout the night, candle after candle burned.
Several households stayed up all night.
Sometimes, when he really couldn't remember, he would find an excuse to ask the people he was drinking with. Before long, the whole court knew about it.
As a result, a wave of "studying hard" swept through the imperial court, with people staying up night after night.
No one wanted to interfere with the newly appointed county princess anymore, fearing that they might end up like the Duke of Cheng'en, having to go to the Eastern Depot prison to calm down.
I heard that after Cheng'en Gong returned, he was so frightened that he fell ill and became as thin as a withered tree.
Those who were on good terms with him came to his door to comfort him, saying, "Lord Duke, you should think positively. At least there's a happy occasion coming up in the manor soon, which can help shake off the bad luck."
The Duke of Cheng'en wept even more bitterly.
"...Don't even mention that you're afraid of the Eastern Depot. Even the Crown Prince has to rely on the Eastern Depot now. Haven't you seen how these past two days, Miss Gu has been taking the Princess of Fu'an on horseback rides, watching plays, and listening to music? I heard today she even brought her into the palace to pay her respects to Consort Shu."
"Enter...enter the palace?"
When Cheng Engong looked up, his once chubby face had inexplicably become much thinner.
Xie Yingchen inexplicably bestowed the title of County Princess upon her, but neither the Empress Dowager nor the Empress summoned her to the palace, deliberately keeping her out of the public eye. The appointment was illegitimate and lacked legitimacy.
"Miss Gu is personally paving the main road for Fu'an County."
indeed.
Regardless of who she was going to see in the palace, she had to go through the motions at least once to truly deserve the title of county princess.
Gu Zhizhuo hadn't seen Consort Shu for a while, so he simply invited Xie Danling, who was having so much fun that she didn't want to leave, to go to the palace together.
Others had to present a token to enter the palace, but now that the emperor is "ill," even if a token is presented, the timing of its presentation depends on the attitude of the inner court.
Gu Zhizhuo had no such concerns; he could come and go as he pleased.
Consort Shu didn't miss her daughter, who had been gone for more than half a month, at all. Instead, she talked about the zither with Yin Xiyan as if she had met a kindred spirit. As they talked about the zither, Yin Xiyan mentioned her newly revised incomplete score and played a section on the zither instead of the pipa. Consort Shu couldn't wait to drag her away to exchange zither skills.
"I am a disciple of the great Zhou Xinyao. And what about the county princess?"
"I learned it from my mother."
"...Who is your mother?" Seeing the two maids sneaking away, Consort Shu called out, "Danling, you're about to come of age. Stay in the palace these next few days."
The two answered without turning their heads, then ran away hand in hand.
"Why don't you be my best man? When you come of age, I will be your best man too."
Their birthdays are only three days apart: Xie Danling's is on October 15th, and Gu Zhizhuo's is on October 18th.
"I actually don't want to come of age in the palace."
Leaning against the railing of the Eight Treasures Glazed Tile Pavilion, Xie Danling said sullenly.
She usually seems carefree, but she is actually quite sensitive. She could feel the impending storm in the palace, which made her feel suffocated and uncomfortable. She didn't want to stay in the palace.
"After she comes of age, Cousin Danling will leave the palace again..."
Gu Zhizhuo was about to tell her to wait until after her coming-of-age ceremony before coming out to live with him, when suddenly a voice called out to her.
"Miss Gu!"
Gu Zhizhuo turned around and saw Xie Jing.
Huh?
Xie Danling exclaimed in surprise, "Third Brother, why are you back? Didn't you... go to Xiliang to welcome your bride?!"
Gu Zhizhuo had just received a letter from Gu Yican a few days ago. Judging from the timeline, they should still be at the border. It would take at least another ten days to half a month for them to reach the capital.
Gu Zhizhuo narrowed her phoenix eyes and looked him up and down.
Xie Jing was disheveled, travel-worn, and had thick dark marks under his eyes, clearly indicating that he hadn't slept for several days. He had traveled day and night to get back.
Xie Jing rushed towards him.
Gu Zhizhu raised his arm and blocked him a step away.
"Miss Gu," Xie Jing asked anxiously, "do you know where Ke'er went?"
"Ask her about their business?" Gu Zhizhu chuckled mockingly, too lazy to bother with her.
No wonder he suddenly ran back; it turns out Ji Nanke was missing.
Sometimes, Gu Zhizhuo really couldn't understand Xie Jing. If Xie Jing was truly devoted, he had recently claimed that his feelings for Ji Nanke had faded. But if they really had faded, he could just give up such an important task without hesitation, disregarding everything for Ji Nanke, as if he were still the same as in his previous life.
This is all so disjointed, like someone's sick.
Xie Jing called her again from behind and blurted out, "Did you drive Ke'er away?!"
Xie Jing received Ji Nanke's letter when he was almost at the western border. The letter detailed how they met, got to know each other, and fell in love. She said that she didn't want to delay Xie Jing's marriage to his beautiful bride and was willing to withdraw, asking him not to look for her anymore.
For some reason, the thought of Ji Nanke being separated from him gave him an unseen force that compelled him not to give up, just like when Ji Nanke was about to jump off the city wall last time.
Two conflicting voices seemed to rise within him. One voice proclaimed that he couldn't betray Ji Nanke, that he and Ji Nanke would live a loving and harmonious life together, and that she would help him ascend the throne and become a wise and benevolent ruler. The other voice roared, "It's all a lie, a complete fabrication!"
Is this the witchcraft that Ke'er cast on him?
By the time he came to his senses, he was already on his way back to the capital.
Traveling at breakneck speed, without sleep for days and nights, Xie Jing was on the verge of collapse.
As soon as he returned, he went to the palace where Ji Nanke was staying. The palace maid said that she hadn't seen her for several days.
Why won't you let Ke'er go?
What are you saying?
Gu Zhizhuo turned around and cracked his fingers.
Her lips curved slightly, but the smile didn't reach her eyes: "Don't you want to think this through before you speak?"
"I……"
Xie Jing trembled in fright and shrank back.
Gu Zhizhuo is usually so fierce to Ke'er, he... he just misspoke.
Gu Zhizhuo took a step forward, and Xie Jing subconsciously took a step back, his back drenched in cold sweat.
She took another step forward, and he took another step back.
Xie Jing's back was pressed tightly against the chaise lounge, and he looked like he was about to fall off again. He cried out in a panic, "I was wrong, I was wrong."
Oh.
"Cousin Danling, let's go."
Seeing her turn to leave, Xie Jing quickly called out, "Miss Gu, could you please tell my fortune?"
"Help me figure out where Ke'er might be?"
Gu Zhizhuo was initially too lazy to pay attention, but suddenly a thought struck him, and he paused for a moment.
No wonder Master said that great fortune has now fallen upon the young master. She was just worrying about how to get close to Prince Jin's secret estate, and now the opportunity has come knocking. Ji Nanke should still have some good fortune left, right? It's shameful to waste it.
She turned around, her beautiful phoenix eyes glancing at him sideways.
"Please have mercy." Xie Jing looked exhausted, almost on the verge of collapse.
"After noon tomorrow, wait for her on the official road south of the capital."
Gu Zhizhuo secretly calculated with his hands hidden in his sleeve.
"By the way, tomorrow is the wedding day for the Prince of Jin's Mansion and the Duke of Cheng'en's Mansion."
"May everything go well."
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