sjar Chapter 158 Back home
Chapter 158 Back home
Inside Yongchun Palace, the Imperial Noble Consort was carrying a plate of orchids outside the palace.
Gu Yuan quickly stepped forward to support the Imperial Noble Consort, saying, "These tasks should be done by the palace servants. Why are you doing them yourself?"
The Imperial Noble Consort looked up and saw Gu Yuan, and smiled, "Having nothing to do, I'm just tending to the flowers and plants to clear my mind."
Gu Yuan picked up a slender branch. "Didn't I specially find this for you at the beginning of spring?"
The Imperial Noble Consort slapped his hand away, clicking her tongue, "Don't break it."
She carefully put the branches and leaves back in their original positions, picked up a handkerchief to wipe her hands, and then said, "I heard you've been busy with the Lingqu Map of Qingzhou. How come you have time to come to the palace today?"
Gu Yuan helped her up. "I was thinking of my mother and came to visit her."
The Imperial Noble Consort pulled him to sit down on a bench in the corridor.
He sat down, picked up the silk fan beside him, and waved it. "What's your decision, about the Prime Minister's daughter?"
“Mother,” Gu Yuan said, “I really don’t want to marry her. I have my own plans, and besides, I’m worried that marrying the Prime Minister’s daughter would be detrimental to you.”
"What makes you say that?" The Imperial Noble Consort looked up at him.
The Imperial Noble Consort glanced around; seeing no one, she spoke, "You don't usually think about this. Have you perhaps suffered some injustice?"
Gu Yuan smiled and said, "After the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, Father Emperor still values his son. How could I have suffered any grievances?"
"Your words are clearly tinged with resentment," the Imperial Noble Consort patted the back of his hand. "We must be careful now."
Gu Yuan remained silent for a moment, then asked, "Mother, what do you think of the Marquis of Guangde?"
"Marquis Guangde?" the Imperial Noble Consort said. "To put it bluntly, he's a smiling tiger. No one can see through him. However, when your father was still a prince, the three marquises were all his subordinates."
"What was the relationship between my maternal grandfather and the Marquis of Guangde?" Gu Yuan asked again.
The Imperial Noble Consort paused for a moment, then picked up the fan again to fan him. "Um, your maternal grandfather never got involved in politics and had no dealings with him."
Seeing that Gu Yuan seemed lost in thought, she asked, "Why did you specifically ask about him today?"
"A few days ago, the Marquis of Guangde came to see the progress of the Lingqu Canal project in Qingzhou, and I spoke with him for a few words," Gu Yuan said. "I feel that he is different from what others say. If he were truly mediocre, how could he have been so close to Father Emperor for so many years?"
The Imperial Noble Consort chuckled softly.
Gu Yuan slightly raised her eyelids, "What does Mother think of this person?"
The Imperial Noble Consort did not answer.
-
"When will Your Highness return?" Qin Qi asked.
"I'll arrive tomorrow night," Qinghuai replied.
"Hmm," Qin Qi nodded, "I heard he's having a great time out there, so he might as well come back and visit."
"Isn't it because you're here?" Qinghuai smiled. "Didn't His Highness discuss this with you before he left?"
"Then he'll just pick the easy ones," Qin Qi said with a laugh, "The Pei family alone is already in enough trouble, and the palace is starting to fall into chaos. All he does is send messages back asking me to do things for him."
"With you here," Qinghuai gently comforted, "most of the matter has been resolved. The capable should do more work, after all. But His Highness asked you to find out who that person is. Have you found out?"
"No." Qin Qi said irritably.
Qinghuai served tea, saying, "Although you say that, you may not have truly not investigated."
Qin Qi pointed at him, laughing until he cried, "Look at you, so good at sweet talk, why haven't you found a wife yet? Don't end up not even as good as Xingluo and Jiaoyue."
Qinghuai coughed lightly. "Speaking of which, the Imperial Noble Consort was so devoted to Prince Jing that she didn't hesitate to sever ties with the Wen family. Now that she has fallen out of favor in the palace, what can she possibly do for Prince Jing now?"
"So many people want him dead."
"Eliminating Prince Jing will always benefit someone," Qin Qi said noncommittally. "The fire at White Horse Temple has brought the Duke and the Imperial Concubine into the picture. This matter probably won't benefit that person, so he needs to change his plans."
Qinghuai thought for a moment, "Because the Northern Barbarians want to go to war with Yanjing?"
He couldn't think of anything else.
Qin Qi stood up and stretched. "It's pointless to say anything more before we have evidence. Right now, we should keep a close eye on the palace's actions."
Seeing that he was about to leave, Qinghuai pressed him for an answer, "Are you leaving already, sir?"
Qin Qi turned around and said earnestly, "I am a married man, unlike you. Our matriarch will definitely worry about me being away for so long, and I have to go back to be with her."
Upon hearing this, Qinghuai was taken aback, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Qin Qi added, "Don't speak ill of me in your heart. Quickly have someone tidy up the mansion, lest His Highness comes back and sees the mansion in a mess and scolds you."
After saying that, he left with his hands behind his back.
Qinghuai stood there, muttering, "What's the point of tidying up a house that's already so clean?"
A day later, Gu Liang and the others arrived in Kyoto without incident.
Under the cover of night, the group entered the Liang Prince's Mansion without making a sound.
Because of the secrecy surrounding the trip, there was no welcoming ceremony at the mansion; only Wu Shi and Chen Xi eagerly awaited the arrival of the guests along the main road of the mansion.
When they saw Jiang Zhi return, their eyes reddened, and they went to greet him.
"Your Highness, Your Highness."
After exchanging greetings, the two men each flanked Jiang Zhi on one side.
“The princess looks alright,” Jiang Zhi said after taking a closer look at her at noon. “Why have you lost weight?”
Even the usually taciturn Chenxi said, "The Princess Consort has been gone for quite a while this time."
Jiang Zhi smiled and looked at her, "How is your injury?"
Chenxi nodded, "He has almost fully recovered."
"That's good," Jiang Zhi said with relief. "You still need to rest and recuperate for a while."
“Your Highness,” Wu Shi leaned closer, “you didn’t take me with you this time. I missed you so much.”
The little girl, whom Jiang Zhi hadn't seen in a long time, looked fair and clean. Jiang Zhi pinched her little cheek and said, "I missed you all too."
Wu blinked and said, "I heard from Commander Qing that the Princess Consort has gone to many places, but you haven't sent us a single letter. Could it be that you're having so much fun that you've forgotten about home?"
Jiang Zhi chuckled, "Where did you learn this allusion?"
At noon, she chuckled and caught a glimpse of a tall figure standing to the side. She secretly leaned close to Jiang Zhi's ear and whispered, "Your Highness, have you and His Highness been eating and sleeping together all this time?"
Jiang Zhi covered her mouth, "It's noon, are you hungry?"
At noon, with his mouth covered, he ventriloquiesced, "I'm not 'uh-huh,' I'm 'uh-huh.'"
She glanced at Gu Liang briefly, and Gu Liang, seeing the three of them, said, "You've all been waiting for a long time, why don't you go back and rest? I'll be in the study tonight."
Jiang Zhi nodded and replied, "Okay."
Gu Liang glanced at her, then turned and left.
Jiang Zhi watched his retreating figure and unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.
On the way back to the capital these past two days, Gu Liang clung to her tightly, afraid that she would change once she returned.
It's true that you can't blame her, since she still had things to do and couldn't devote all her attention to him.
However, after going through the journey together, Gu Liang's dedication to her was something she could feel. She could also sense that their hearts were connected, and their feelings for each other deepened as they spent more time together.
Seeing him leave so readily now, I actually felt a little reluctant to see him go.
Just a few months ago, they were sleeping in separate beds, keeping to themselves, and even dared to use knives.
Jiang Zhi composed herself and turned to instruct Wu Shi Chen Xi, "Let's go back."
But then she heard someone whisper at noon: "Your Highness."
Before she finished speaking, she stared intently at what was behind Jiang Zhi.
Before Jiang Zhi could turn around, her arm was grabbed.
"Zhu Tao, I've thought about it, and I've decided not to go to the study tonight," Gu Liang's voice sounded behind her.
Jiang Zhiyuan was startled, but upon hearing his words, her reluctance vanished without a trace.
She chuckled, "I'm not busy with military affairs."
Before he finished speaking, he had already swept her up in his arms.
Jiang Zhi gasped, but then swallowed the words back down.
"Your Highness, there are still people in the manor."
"So what? Isn't this in our own residence?" His tone rose.
She nestled shyly in Gu Liang's arms, knowing that the guards of the Prince's mansion always liked to hide in the shadows, including her maid.
"Are you tired?" she asked, trying to catch her breath.
Gu Liang lifted Jiang Zhi in her arms and said, "My husband has plenty of strength, carrying you won't tire you out."
Jiang Zhi remained silent, sensing that if she continued speaking, things would become unpleasant.
Whenever Gu Liang tries to cause trouble, she only makes things worse by trying to explain, and she can sense that he has become bad.