sjar Chapter 383 Gu Junze is a loyal subject and has no need to send women to the emperor.
Chapter 383 Gu Junze is a loyal subject and has no need to send women to the emperor.
The uncle coughed and lowered his voice, "Ah Han, you must have heard about the palace's selection of concubines?"
Chu Ruohan guessed correctly as expected, and said calmly, "I've heard a little about it."
“Indeed, the news spread incredibly fast,” my aunt quickly agreed. “As soon as we heard about it, we packed our bags and rushed over overnight.”
Chu Ruohan sneered inwardly. In her previous life, when her parents suffered misfortune, Chu Chenyu sought help everywhere, but her uncle's family not only didn't offer any assistance, they didn't even dare to show their faces. Now, they've come knocking on her door.
"What is the purpose of your trip, Uncle?" Chu Ruohan asked directly.
The uncle and aunt exchanged a glance before the uncle said, "It's like this, our Aying is sixteen this year, and she's beautiful and skilled in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. I heard that for this imperial concubine selection, all of you officials are required to recommend candidates..."
Chu's mother whispered from the side, "They want your help to recommend your cousin to the palace."
Sure enough.
Chu Ruohan pursed her lips and said calmly, "I'm sorry, I'm afraid I can't help with this."
"Ah Han, what do you mean by this?" The uncle's expression changed. "It's just a matter of a word from you, how come you can't help?"
“Yes, Ah Han,” her aunt said eagerly, “If Ah Ying could enter the palace and gain favor, she would be a great help to General Gu in the future!”
“Ah Han,” Chu’s mother also advised, “Your uncle is right. This is a rare opportunity. If you can help, then help.”
Chu Ruohan glanced at her mother and gently shook her head: "Mother, it's not that I'm unwilling to help, but it's really difficult to handle."
She turned to her uncle and aunt: "Junze is a loyal subject who serves the country and its people. He doesn't need any help."
"This..." The uncle was speechless.
Chu Ruohan continued, "Moreover, His Majesty has not yet established an empress, and the situation in the harem is still uncertain. Sending my cousin into the palace now might not be a good thing."
"How could it not be a good thing?" Auntie exclaimed anxiously. "Being able to enter the palace to serve the Emperor is a blessing earned over many lifetimes!"
The uncle couldn't help but complain, "Ah Han, you're showing no filial piety! If Ah Ying could enter the palace and gain favor, it would be of great benefit to your Gu family in the future. Why don't you understand?"
“Sister,” he turned to Chu’s mother, “aren’t you going to do anything about her?”
After a moment's hesitation, Chu's mother whispered to Chu Ruohan, "Han'er, your uncle and aunt mean well. Why don't you reconsider?"
Chu Ruohan shook her head and stood up.
"Uncle and Aunt, please forgive my bluntness. Although I have never met my cousin Ying, I imagine she is quite pretty."
Her voice was calm, “But in this capital city, there are countless beauties, and her looks are probably not good enough among the daughters of officials.”
"You!" The aunt's face darkened.
Chu Ruohan remained unmoved: "Even if she manages to enter the palace, will she necessarily be favored? Entering the palace is easy, but getting ahead is difficult."
"If we don't gain the Emperor's favor, we'll be trapped in the deep palace for life, with no chance of advancement. Have you ever thought about that, Uncle and Aunt?"
"This..." The uncle was stunned.
“Moreover,” Chu Ruohan continued, “the current emperor is different from the late emperor. He grew up in a Buddhist temple and has a cold and aloof temperament. This selection of consorts probably has a deeper meaning.”
"What deeper meaning?" the aunt asked warily.
Chu Ruohan smiled slightly: "That's beyond the comprehension of us subjects. But one thing is certain: His Majesty's actions may not be out of genuine interest in selecting concubines."
She paused, then said firmly, "Therefore, I will not use my quota to recommend anyone, including my cousin."
Silence fell over the room for a moment.
The uncle finally hardened his expression: "Fine, fine! Chu Ruohan, you've got guts now, climbing up the social ladder and forgetting your relatives! If you ever have any trouble in the future, don't expect us to help you!"
Chu Ruohan chuckled lightly: "Uncle, you're mistaken. Over the years, you've taken advantage of my mother's soft heart to squeeze every last drop of benefit out of the Chu family!"
These words were like a slap in the face to him, and his uncle blushed.
Chu's mother quickly tried to smooth things over: "We're all family, why say such hurtful things?"
The aunt's face darkened: "Since that's the case, we won't stay any longer. We'll find another way to deal with Aying's matter."
"Whatever you say, Aunt." Chu Ruohan said no more.
The uncle and aunt left in a huff, leaving Chu's mother and Chu Ruohan in the hall.
"Han'er, why are you doing this..." Mother Chu sighed.
Chu Ruohan held her mother's hand: "Mother, you know how deep the waters are in the imperial court. Junze doesn't want to get involved in the harem struggle, so naturally I have to respect his decision."
She paused for a moment, then said, "Besides, it might not be a blessing for my cousin to enter the palace."
Looking at her daughter's determined eyes, Chu's mother finally nodded: "You are now the general's wife, and you have your own considerations. I won't force you."
Chu Ruohan breathed a sigh of relief and held her mother's hand: "Mother, it's best to be cautious about these things."
"I understand." Chu's mother patted her daughter's hand. "You've grown up and you're more thoughtful than I am."
Chu Ruohan smiled and said, "It's getting late, I should go back now. I'll come to see you again another day."
"Okay, be careful on the road."
After leaving the Chu family and returning to the carriage, Chu Ruohan gazed at the hurried street scenes outside the window, her mind filled with countless thoughts.
The imperial concubine selection, ostensibly to fill the harem, actually concealed a hidden agenda. What was the new emperor Zhao Yunci's true intention in this move?
"Madam, someone is blocking the carriage ahead," the coachman's voice came from outside.
Chu Ruohan frowned slightly, lifted the car curtain and saw a familiar figure standing in the middle of the road, with a solemn expression and wandering eyes.
"Gu Cheng'an?" she asked in surprise.
Gu Cheng'an heard the voice, looked up at her, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.
He took a deep breath and walked two steps to her carriage curtain. "Du Ruoling is pregnant."
Chu Ruohan frowned. She didn't understand why Gu Cheng'an had to tell her about his relationship with Du Ruoling.
But I still congratulated him.
She thought of Du Ruoling's personality; Gu Cheng'an had just climbed out of the mire, and she was afraid he would fall back into it.
Gu Cheng'an clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. He took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "I've decided to marry her."
"Of course. If I really have a child, I will take responsibility."
Gu Cheng'an stared at her for a long time, seemingly trying to find some emotion on her face, but Chu Ruohan simply met his gaze calmly.
Gu Cheng'an chuckled self-deprecatingly at his overestimation of his abilities.
"Shall I take you back?"
Chu Ruohan shook her head: "No need, I have other things to do."
She gently closed the carriage curtain and said to the driver, "Let's go!"
The carriage slowly started moving, leaving Gu Cheng'an standing alone in place...
"Let's go check out the silk shops in the west of the city," she instructed the coachman to turn the horse around.
The carriage drove back onto the street, but Chu Ruohan's thoughts drifted to distant places.
Qin Fang went out with the caravan, and she was still a little worried about leaving the shops to others to manage for the time being.