sjar Chapter 713 Two methods, it seems, his is more ingenious.
Chapter 713 Two methods, it seems, his is more ingenious.
The unease that Gu Qingchen felt because of the trouble he had caused was instantly washed away.
Looking at her father's calm profile, she felt a sudden pang of sadness, which she quickly suppressed.
"I understand, Father," she replied in a muffled voice.
Chu Ruohan glanced helplessly at her husband, then shook her head, feeling both amused and annoyed.
"You two, father and daughter, one dares to do it, and the other dares to teach it."
She reached out and pulled her daughter into her arms, gently patting her back. "This matter won't end like this. We'll probably get news from Prince Yongding soon."
"And the Crown Prince, having lost face in public today, should put the Empress's mind at ease!"
“That would be for the best.” Gu Qingchen leaned against her mother’s chest, her voice carrying a hint of relief. “I never wanted to marry him in the first place. Today, he protected Princess Jiahe, and I’ve seen through him. We have different paths, so we can’t work together.”
Upon hearing this, a faint smile seemed to flash across Gu Junze's lips, so fleeting that it was impossible to catch.
The carriage traveled along the quiet streets and soon returned to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
The mansion gates were wide open, and the lights were on.
The steward and a group of servants were already waiting at the door, their expressions showing a hint of tension. Clearly, news from the palace had already reached them.
As soon as the family of three stepped into the main hall, a figure dressed in a scarlet official robe came to greet them.
"Uncle, Aunt, Qingchen."
Gu Lu bowed, his gaze finally settling on Gu Qingchen, his eyes filled with helplessness.
"Brother Lu." Knowing he was in the wrong, Gu Qingchen was unusually weak-willed.
"Let's talk in the study." Gu Junze didn't say anything more and walked straight towards the inner courtyard.
Inside the study, a servant served hot tea and then quietly withdrew.
Gu Junze sat in the main seat, picked up his teacup, but did not drink it. He simply used the lid to gently skim off the foam.
Gu Lu spoke first, his voice cold: "Qingchen, it was easy for you to kick her today, but there will be a lot of follow-up problems."
"His Majesty just praised our Gu family at the palace banquet, and you immediately kicked the Crown Prince into the pond. This is tantamount to slapping the royal family in the face in public, and it will make those who are watching in the court think that our Gu family is arrogant and disrespectful."
He looked at Gu Qingchen, his tone becoming more serious: "Princess Jiahe is a minor matter. Even if Prince Yongding is dissatisfied, Uncle can handle it."
"But the Crown Prince's reputation is the reputation of the nation. If you make him lose face in front of the world, you will shake his prestige. If he ascends the throne in the future, he will inevitably harbor resentment."
Gu Qingchen lowered her head. She wasn't unaware of these principles, but at that moment, her blood was rushing to her head, and she couldn't care less about them.
"Zhao Chen'an isn't that petty; I beat him a lot when he was a kid!"
"Times have changed. The Crown Prince has entered the court and is of marriageable age, especially in front of so many people..."
“What Brother Lu said is all perfectly reasonable,” Chu Ruohan said softly, trying to help her daughter out of the predicament. “But today’s incident is not Qingchen’s fault.”
“It was Princess Jiahe who provoked us first, and the Crown Prince’s handling of the matter was unfair. Our Gu family’s daughters cannot be bullied without being able to fight back.”
Gu Lu nodded: "Auntie is right. I don't mean to blame Qingchen, but I just want her to understand that when you're in the thick of things, every action you take will have countless consequences."
He paused, then changed the subject: "However, this matter may not be entirely a bad thing."
Gu Qingchen suddenly raised her head and looked at him in confusion.
Gu Lu's lips curled into a faint smile, tinged with a calculating tone: "The position of Crown Princess is a hot potato. My sister is straightforward and not suited for palace intrigue."
"Your kick today, even if it can't extinguish the Empress's hopes, can at least silence other people's speculations."
"As for offending the Crown Prince," Gu Lu looked at Gu Junze, his eyes questioning, "Uncle, what do you think?"
Gu Junze, who had been silent all along, finally put down his teacup.
"He won't hold a grudge for long."
“If a crown prince doesn’t even have this much magnanimity, he won’t be able to hold onto his position in the future. Zhao Chen’an may be somewhat indecisive, but he is not a narrow-minded person. His anger today stems more from shame and indignation than from hatred.”
"The one we really need to be wary of is Prince Yongding."
“The Prince of Yongding commands a large army and guards the northwest. Even the Emperor wants to win him over. His intention in sending his only legitimate daughter to the capital is self-evident.”
“Now that Princess Jiahe has been wronged, he will never let it go.”
Gu Lu continued, "Then I will go and sound out the palace tomorrow to see what the Emperor's attitude is. As for Prince Yongding, he will probably submit a memorial soon."
"No need." Gu Junze waved his hand. "If he wants to make a scene, let him make a scene."
He stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the deep night.
"The bigger the commotion he makes, the more the Emperor will appease him. At that time, we only need to make some concessions and give Prince Yongding enough face, and the matter can be dropped."
“As for that concession,” Gu Junze turned around, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes, “consider it payment for Qingchen kicking someone.”
Gu Qingchen's last bit of unease vanished.
She knew that no matter how much trouble she caused, she would always have her family supporting her.
This realization brought her immense peace of mind, and at that moment, it also reminded her of another person.
The man who saved her from an awkward situation at the banquet with a nonsensical joke.
Qian Zhenyun.
The method he used was completely different from his own.
He was straightforward and direct, throwing punches at her. But she, on the other hand, was relaxed and witty, deftly deflecting her attacks with ease.
Of the two methods, his seems to be more sophisticated.
The thought only flashed through her mind for a moment before she dismissed it.