The illegitimate child has been found, despite the disapproval of the Su family and the ministers in the court.
However, Emperor Tianqi defied the opposition and took in his beloved woman, Concubine Wan, as his consort. He welcomed her into the palace and even bestowed upon their son, Li Yang, the title of prince when he turned one year old. It is evident that the Emperor's favor for Concubine Wan is extraordinary.
It was around that time that Empress Su fell ill.
Shortly after the Emperor brought back Concubine Wan and their child, the Empress discovered that she was pregnant. Exhausted both physically and mentally, she struggled to cope with the pressure from her own family and the ministers who urged her to produce an heir.
Just when she finally conceived a child, her husband brought back his true love and their son from the outside world.
Empress Su's health deteriorated, and on the day she gave birth, the Emperor was still at the palace, enjoying a hot spring with Concubine Wan and their child. The Empress experienced a difficult labor, losing a significant amount of blood and risking her life to give birth to the legitimate heir of the Dongli Imperial Clan.
The Crown Prince, Li Hao, was born frail and sickly, requiring constant medication and medical attention. People in the palace often joked that he was the "Prince Medicine Jar," but he never got upset. Occasionally, when he heard those remarks, he would even join in the laughter.
He was a humble and loyal person, handsome in appearance but not as academically gifted or intelligent as Li Yang. Naturally, he did not receive the Emperor's favor.
As a result, the position of the Crown Prince remained undecided.
All these thoughts raced through Gu Ying's mind, and when she looked up, Prince Shu gave her a meaningful glance and smirked. "Lai Fu, let's go," he said.
Lai Fu was the old steward.
The carriage traveled leisurely along the road, passing through the bustling crowd on Changning Avenue, heading toward an unknown destination.
In her past life, the two princes fought fiercely for the position of Crown Prince, almost leading to a river of blood. But in the end, they ended up serving as pawns for the Zhao family...
Gu Ying's mind drifted away. Royal affairs were intricate and complex, and she believed that bloodshed was an inevitable part of it.
She couldn't fathom what Prince Shu was thinking, so she chose to remain silent and wait for him to speak.
Li Yang stared at Gu Ying for a while before speaking, "Miss Gu, are you and Master Ye here to find King Physician?"
Since he brought it up himself, Gu Ying couldn't hide it and smiled, "Yes."
Li Yang was handsome, resembling Concubine Wan's exquisite beauty. When he spoke, his voice was clear and devoid of any oppressive air, making him approachable.
He continued to gaze at Gu Ying, whose cheeks had turned rosy from the cold wind. "I happen to have some information about King Physician. I wonder if Miss Gu would be interested?"
Gu Ying was about to respond when Ye Qingchi stepped in front of her and smiled, "Prince Shu, Miss Gu is just an ignorant young lady. If you have any business, you can discuss it with me first."
Li Yang became displeased. He had come here for Gu Ying, but he hadn't expected her to be accompanied by this uncompromising troublemaker.
"Hahaha, I merely wanted to help Miss Gu. There's no need for such guardedness, Master Ye," he said with a laugh.
Ye Qingchi remained composed, neither humble nor arrogant. "Miss Gu has just recently become engaged to the Young Master of the Duke's Mansion. It wouldn't look good if news of her meeting with you, Prince Shu, in private were to spread. Wouldn't you want to avoid tarnishing both your and Miss Gu's reputation with the Emperor?"
The Tianqi Emperor continues to favor Li Yang, but he also detests the princes for forming factions and pursuing personal interests behind his back.
Li Yang has long wanted to win over the Ye and Huo families, but he has always lacked the opportunity. Now that he has obtained the support of the Royal Physician, Wang, he cannot let it slip away.
His gaze turned slightly cold as he cleared his throat and stared at Ye Qingchi, whose rigid expression resembled that of his father, Ye Imperial Censor. With an almost imperceptible smirk, Li Yang said, "Perhaps it was my oversight, or maybe Young Master Ye has considered it carefully."
"However," he changed the subject, "Wang is an incredibly skilled physician, and many people seek his medical expertise. In the past, I had the fortune of saving his life, so he owes me a favor."
A smile played at the corners of his mouth, and his enchanting peach blossom eyes sparkled. "If Miss Er wishes for Wang to enter the mansion and treat your younger brother, I will be waiting for you at the Wangjiang Pavilion in three days."
The corner of Gu Ying's mouth twitched.
After getting off the carriage, she was still dazed. The Royal Physician Wang was involved with Prince Shu?
Ye Qingchi gently tapped her forehead and asked, "What are you thinking? Are you really going to attend the appointment? Just remember to shake your brain before you go."
Gu Ying could only laugh and cry, shaking her head. "I haven't made up my mind yet."
She was well aware of the complex power dynamics within the court. If Prince Shu suddenly came looking for her, he must have ulterior motives. But her brother's condition... she had to find a solution.
How could Ye Qingchi not see her thoughts? His eyes shimmered as he spoke softly, "Ah Ying, don't act impulsively. Prince Shu is an unpredictable individual. Compared to his brother, the Crown Prince, who is like a medicine jar, Prince Shu is like a venomous snake lurking in the dark. Regarding the matter with the Royal Physician Wang, I'll have my cousin secretly investigate. If we find out that Wang is in Prince Shu's hands, I'll personally deal with him."
Gu Ying was puzzled. "What does he want?"
The Ye family and Prince Shu's faction had always been at odds. Her father was still just a minor border general, without significant military achievements or authority.
Ye Qingchi looked at the retreating carriage and said, "Do you know that you're Zhao Changdu's future bride?"
Gu Ying blushed slightly. "He should just curry favor with the Crown Prince. Why bother with me..."
Ye Qingchi chuckled softly. "Perhaps he's also attracted to the beauty of our Ah Ying."
Gu Ying was taken aback. She hadn't considered that possibility.
But Ye Qingchi continued, "Ah Ying probably doesn't know this, but Prince Shu has a penchant for collecting beauties. Although he has yet to marry, he maintains a virtuous and beloved image in public. In reality... he often keeps concubines in secret."
Gu Ying remained silent.
No wonder Prince Shu couldn't ascend to the position of Crown Prince after the downfall of Prince Duan in her previous life.
"A person like him, Ah Ying, is better admired from afar," Ye Qingchi said seriously. "Even if you have no power or influence to offer him, just with your beautiful face, Prince Shu will be intrigued by you."
"But I'm not really..." After all, Jiang Yin had never shown any romantic interest in her in her previous life.
Ye Qingchi looked indulgently at her and said, "Ah Ying, you used to have a gentle and weak disposition, which made people overlook your beauty. However, after the Winter Hunting Competition, when you drew your bow and won first place, displaying your extraordinary elegance and charisma, you caught the attention of many. It's every man's dream to be intoxicated by a beautiful woman and hold the power of the world. Prince Shu, who possesses such power and is just one step away from the throne, would never let go of a beauty like you."
Gu Ying fell into silence once again, recalling the scene from a previous lifetime when Prince Shu led his troops into the Forbidden Palace, only to meet his demise at the critical moment.
It seemed as if he had truly done it all for a woman... His face covered in blood, defeated and crushed.
But who was that woman?
She couldn't remember anymore.
...
By the time Ye Qingchi secretly brought Gu Ying back to the Mu Xue Chamber, the sky had already darkened.
She wandered through the mansion wearing the attire of a maid.
The mansion was far from quiet.
As the end of the month approached, it marked the wedding date of Gu Jia and Jiang Yin. Liu Shi was busy preparing the bride's dowry for Gu Jia, and Zhe Yuju was often brightly lit throughout the night.
Liu Shi had rummaged through almost all the hidden treasures and jewelry, but Gu Jia's dowry still couldn't compare to half of Gu Ying's.
Naturally, her thoughts turned to the dowry left behind by the Ye family back then.
