As soon as Gu Qingyan arrived at the Imperial Garden, the air seemed to become a little tense.
Jiang Yu arrived a little earlier than Gu Qingyan. Guo Siyuan, dressed in official robes, accompanied Jiang Yu, while Gu Qingchen had already started playing around behind Jiang Yao.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
A chorus of voices, as melodious as nightingales, rang out, giving Gu Qingyan goosebumps. A smile appeared on his face. "The flowers in the Imperial Garden are in full bloom today. Ladies, please enjoy them at your leisure."
Upon hearing Gu Qingyan's words, a look of surprise flashed across everyone's eyes.
Before entering the palace, their elders had told them that what appeared to be a flower-viewing banquet was actually the Emperor's plan to personally select his preferred Empress. Now, judging from the Emperor's words...
Seeing this, Jiang Yu chuckled and said, "It's rare for the Emperor to have time to appreciate flowers. Ah Chen, come here."
Jiang Yu called Gu Qingchen over, bent down and touched Gu Qingchen's little face, "Alright, don't keep following Yaoyao, play with your brother for a while."
This was to help Gu Qingyan out of a predicament.
Upon hearing this, Gu Qingyan immediately picked up Gu Qingchen and ran away. Behind him, Wei Ruo was caught in a dilemma, not knowing whether to stay or leave, and glanced at Guo Siyuan several times.
"Siyuan, I think Prime Minister Kui has something to say to you. You may enjoy the flowers as well."
Jiang Yu dismissed all of them, leaving only Jiang Yao sitting beside her. The noble ladies were also reluctant to leave to admire the flowers.
"I don't want to beat around the bush with you." Jiang Yu glanced at Jiang Yao to the side, her smile widening. "Although His Majesty has come of age, neither I nor the Emperor Emeritus are in a hurry for him to choose a wife, so everything is up to His Majesty's wishes."
"You are all still young, just like the flowers in this Imperial Garden. Don't waste your time on these things." Looking at so many young ladies with budding potential, Jiang Yu couldn't help but give them a few more words of advice. "You should focus your energy on studying and enriching yourselves. The Emperor values destiny, and we cannot force things."
"Thank you for your teachings, Your Majesty. I will remember them."
Zhuo Min, Zhuo Yi's granddaughter, curtsied. With Zhuo Min taking the lead, the remaining noble ladies also expressed their opinions one by one.
"Alright, everyone go admire the flowers."
"Minmin, come here."
Jiang Yu waved and called Zhuo Min to her side, then patted Jiang Yao beside her, saying, "Your sister Amin is extremely skilled at playing the zither. If you have time, you should go and ask her for advice."
"I'll have to ask Sister Amin to teach me," Jiang Yao said with a smile, her expression also intimate with Zhuo Min.
Watching the two chatting and laughing, Jiang Yu also began to focus her attention on the flowers in the Imperial Garden, which were blooming beautifully.
......
Inside the pavilion in the middle of the lake.
"Does Prime Minister Kui want to see me?" In the past three years, Guo Siyuan's official rank has risen to the fourth grade, and his eyes have become more sharp.
"Can't I come to see Lord Guo if there's nothing wrong?" Kui Ruo's eyes held a smile that even she herself didn't realize. "That's right, Lord Guo doesn't accept half of my visiting cards."
"Kui Ruo, what exactly do you want?" Guo Siyuan gave in. "Bringing me here in front of so many people, don't you care about your reputation?"
"I've said it before, my reputation doesn't matter."
Kui Ruo stared into Guo Siyuan's eyes and said, "I said this a year ago."
Guo Siyuan avoided Wei Ruo's gaze, "I received a message early this morning, asking me to come to the palace to accompany Her Majesty to admire the flowers."
“I was also summoned to the palace to accompany the Emperor to the Imperial Garden. The Emperor said you were here too, so I came.”
Wei Ruo seemed even more shameless than she had been three years ago. Guo Siyuan's lips twitched, and for a moment she didn't know how to respond to Wei Ruo.
“Lord Guo, there’s no need to trouble yourself because of me. I remember you said that we’re better suited to be friends.” Kui Ruo smiled. “Let’s go admire the flowers together.”
Guo Siyuan likes the current way of getting along, so he will just maintain this distance.
Strangely enough, as time went by, he found himself unconsciously focusing his attention on the woman who had rejected him.
But he also knew that Guo Siyuan's ambitions lay in a wider world, not in his own Kui Mansion.
"good."
Guo Siyuan slowly stood up. "It's a rare treat to enjoy the flowers with Prime Minister Kui. If I could obtain a piece of his calligraphy, this trip would be truly worthwhile."
The two left chatting and laughing, while Gu Qingyan quietly poked his head out from behind the artificial hill.
"Why is Your Majesty acting so secretly?"
A voice startled Gu Qingyan, making him tremble. Gu Qingchen, who was standing next to him, immediately became excited upon seeing Jiang He, exclaiming, "Uncle!"
"Uncle, why did you leave without saying a word? You scared me half to death," Gu Qingyan said, patting his chest with lingering fear.
"Sneaking a look at Wei Ruo and Guo Siyuan?" Jiang He knew Gu Qingyan's thoughts with just a glance. "They have no chance."
"Why?" Gu Qingyan frowned. "These two are a match made in heaven, and they are both pillars of the Great Yu Dynasty. They are also interested in each other."
“Guo Siyuan would never give up her official career, and she has the ability to go even further in the court.” Jiang He pointed out the crux of the problem. “If she gets married at this time, all her efforts over the years will be in vain.”
After a moment's thought, Gu Qingyan had clearly figured out the crux of the matter.
"So be it, so be it."
"Alright, you've been sneaking away for so long, it's time to go keep your mother company." Jiang He picked up Gu Qingchen and strode towards Jiang Yu.
......
"Brother, what brings you here?"
“I have something I want to report to Your Majesty. Your Majesty, what do you think…” Jiang Yu quickly understood Jiang He’s meaning and hurriedly said, “Then let’s go back to the palace to talk.”
“Granny Ling, each noble lady who comes to the palace to admire the flowers today will be given a jade ruyi.”
This way, no one would secretly laugh at them for not being chosen by Gu Qingyan, and the jade ruyi could even raise their value.
"yes."
Ling Mama smiled and said, "Your Majesty is the kindest lady in the world."
Zhaoning Palace.
After sitting in the Imperial Garden for a long time, Jiang Yu's back started to ache.
"Time really flies," Jiang He said with a smile. "Back then, Qin Ke'er and Sun Shu came to Dayu to arrange a marriage alliance with Dayu. Now, in the blink of an eye, Qin Ke'er and Ling Ku have a child, and A Yan is being urged to get married."
“That’s right. Actually, I thought that the noble ladies from several prominent families were all around the same age as Ayan, so I wanted to let Ayan see if he liked them.” Jiang Yu smiled and her eyes crinkled. “Unfortunately, Ayan didn’t have that good fortune.”
“Ayan will have his own destiny.”
He could tell that Ayan had his own opinions about marriage, and not only Ayu, but Gu Lin also did not force Ayan in this matter.
Thinking of this, a hint of anticipation appeared on Jiang He's face.
He really wanted to know what kind of woman Ayan would fall for.
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