sjar Chapter 758 Gu Qingchen bowed to her? This is truly the first time ever.
Chapter 758 Gu Qingchen bowed to her? This is truly the first time ever.
When Lin Jiayou came out of the East Palace, it was already dusk, and the lanterns on the street lit up one after another, illuminating his pale face, which was twisted with a hint of smugness.
He sold himself for a very good price.
Three days later, a thunderclap resounded in the capital.
During the morning court session, the emperor stripped the fifth prince Zhao Zhang and the seventh prince Zhao Rui of their princely titles, demoting them to county princes, and ordered a thorough investigation of the Qi family, with all those involved, regardless of kinship, to be severely punished.
Overnight, the Qi family went from being a prominent imperial relative to being a plague that everyone in the capital avoided.
Zhao Zhang and Zhao Rui were ordered to move out of the prince's residence and confined to their respective princely residences, where they were not allowed to leave without an imperial edict.
This decree is more damaging than any rumor.
This signifies that these two once-glorious princes have completely withdrawn from the struggle for the throne, becoming two insignificant stains on the royal bloodline.
Inside the flower hall of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
Qian Zhenyun flicked away the last tea leaf, looked at Gu Qingchen across from him with a calm expression, and slowly said, "The imperial decree has been issued, and the matter has been settled."
The scroll in Gu Qingchen's hand was still on the same page as yesterday.
She didn't look at him, her gaze fixed on a bare plum branch outside the window, her voice cold and clear: "It's not that the dust has settled, but that a storm is brewing."
Qian Zhenyun put down his teacup, a knowing glint in his eyes: "You mean, the Crown Prince?"
“He accepted Lin Jiayou’s surrender, and he also accepted the knife I handed him.”
Gu Qingchen finally closed the book and turned around. There was no joy of victory in his clear eyes, only a cold and clear look.
"He used this knife to cut down his two most threatening brothers. Next, he'll deal with me, the one who handed him the knife."
Qian Zhenyun frowned slightly: "Does he intend to abandon me after I've served my purpose?"
“No.” Gu Qingchen shook his head, a mocking smile curving his lips. “He won’t dismantle the bridge; he’ll move it into his own Eastern Palace.”
Qian Zhenyun's heart sank.
He knew what Gu Qingchen was talking about. The military achievements of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, Gu Qingchen's wisdom, and the current public opinion that had completely sided with the Crown Prince—in the Emperor's eyes, she was undoubtedly the most perfect candidate for Crown Princess.
Once the imperial edict is issued, it is the will of Heaven, and there is no room for maneuver.
“My father said,” Gu Qingchen’s voice was very soft, “that if the Emperor insists on sending me to the palace, he will resign from his position as Duke of Zhenguo, take my mother and travel around, and never return to the capital in this lifetime.”
These words weighed heavily on Qian Zhenyun's heart like a boulder.
"I won't let Father go that far." Gu Qingchen stood up and walked slowly in the hall. "The Crown Prince wants to marry me simply because he values the power of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and my usefulness."
"Since that's the case, I'll let him see for himself that marrying me will not only be useless, but will also become his biggest trouble."
Qian Zhenyun raised his eyes: "What do you want to do?"
"I want him to break off the engagement." Gu Qingchen simply didn't believe the Crown Prince truly loved her. In her view, to truly love someone was to treat them like one's own parents—one person was enough for a lifetime, and everyone else was just a grain of sand in one's eye…
A sly glint flashed in Gu Qingchen's eyes. "However, I can't handle this alone. I need a helper."
"Who?"
"Princess Jiahe".
The following day, a simple carriage stopped in front of the Prince Yong's mansion.
The Yong Prince's Mansion was far more exquisite and flamboyant than other princely mansions, with two stone lions in front of the gate adorned with strings of shimmering glass beads.
Inside the house, the stove was burning brightly.
Princess Jiahe was leaning on a soft couch, letting her maid paint delicate gold thread patterns on her newly painted nails.
"Princess, a carriage has arrived outside the manor." A personal maidservant hurried in from outside, her expression strange. "She says it's from the Duke of Zhenguo's manor, and Miss Gu requests an audience."
"Snapped."
The hand warmer in Princess Jiahe's hand fell straight onto the thick carpet with a dull thud.
She sat up abruptly, her half-finished nail polish getting smudged.
"Who? Say it again?"
"It's Gu Qingchen from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion," the maid said, bowing her head as she repeated.
Princess Jiahe was stunned at first, then burst into laughter, her laughter filled with undisguised contempt and disdain.
"Gu Qingchen? What's she doing here? Is she here to laugh at me, or to show off her power?"
She waved her hand and said to the maid who was painting flowers, "Alright, you can go now."
The maids filed out, and Princess Jiahe stood up, paced a few steps in the hall, and her eyes flashed with suspicion.
"Let her in." She finally decided to see her.
She wanted to see what Gu Qingchen, who had just brought down two princes and was riding high on his success, was really up to.
When Gu Qingchen was led into the flower hall, Princess Jiahe had already sat down in the main seat again, picked up a cup of tea, her posture dignified, her eyes distant, as if she were waiting for an insignificant subordinate to come and pay his respects.
"Greetings to the Princess." Gu Qingchen gave a slight curtsy, performing a gesture of respect befitting an equal, neither humble nor arrogant.
Gu Qingchen bowed to her? This is truly unprecedented.
Princess Jiahe did not let her get up. She simply skimmed the foam off the cup with the lid and slowly said, "Miss Gu, what brings you here today to grace our Prince Yong's residence with your presence? I thought you were busy preparing for your ascension to the throne."
The barbs in those words were dense and long.
Gu Qingchen straightened up, his face showing no sign of anger or resentment.
She glanced around the opulent room, her gaze finally settling on Princess Jiahe.
“The Prince’s residence is not a place that just anyone can come to. But the matter I want to discuss today, after much thought, is something that only the Princess is qualified to listen to in the entire capital, and only the Princess can talk to me.”