Part 2
Just then, Linchuan entered from outside. Remembering something, the Empress Dowager took the opportunity to change the subject. “Your sister has actually learned to look at young men. The other day, she came back and asked Aijia to choose a husband for her.”
Gu Zhen swept a glance at Linchuan, knowing what the Empress Dowager wanted to say. Unaccustomed to beating around the bush, he asked directly, “Who is it?”
The Empress Dowager smiled and patted Linchuan’s hand, signaling her with her eyes.
After acting coy for a long while, Linchuan finally said, “It is the Heir of the Marquis of Hejian.”
The Heir of the Marquis of Hejian?
Just the matter of the Heir of the Marquis of Huai’an had caused the Empress to be angry with him until now. If he added the matter of the Marquis of Hejian’s heir, he would only suffer more. Given the Empress’s doting affection for that second Zhao daughter, she would likely cry while throwing another tantrum.
Gu Zhen’s brow furrowed slightly. Suddenly remembering that the Marquis of Hejian had asked for leave that day specifically to perform the betrothal ceremony for his son, his face turned instantly cold. “Is this your own wish, or does he also have feelings for you?”
Stared at by those hawk-like eyes, Linchuan couldn’t help but shrink back, then whispered, “He didn’t say it explicitly, but when he looks at me, there is clearly affection in his eyes.”
Gu Zhen found it absurd and laughable. He took another sip of tea, and under the gaze of the two women opposite him, he sneered, “Then do you know that he already has a fiancée and is to be married at the end of the year?”
Linchuan’s expression changed dramatically, and the Empress Dowager exclaimed, “Is there such a thing? Then forget it; this is truly not a good match. Let’s choose someone else, be obedient.”
“Mother.” Linchuan pouted, pulling at the Empress Dowager’s hand. “They’re only engaged, not married. Just make him cancel the engagement, wouldn’t that solve it?”
The Empress Dowager was soft-hearted. After being wheedled, she felt a bit sorry for her daughter, so she subconsciously looked up at the Emperor. But she met a face the color of iron.
Clang.
The teacup was slammed heavily onto the table. Gu Zhen kept a cold face as he wiped the splashed tea from his fingers with a silk handkerchief, sneering, “Give up on this idea.”
Linchuan’s heart pounded wildly under his gaze.
She had grown up not being very close to her brother, but she had never heard him speak to her in such a tone.
“I see that not only have you read few books, but your character has also rotted to the core.” Gu Zhen stood up abruptly, tossing the handkerchief back onto the table. “For this bit of selfishness, you want Zhen to offend two families for you? Do you want Zhen to add a stain of infamy to his name in the history books?”
With the atmosphere suddenly turning like this, the Empress Dowager hurriedly tried to smooth things over. “Ai, alright, alright, Emperor. She is young and ignorant; Aijia will discipline her in a moment. Besides, this isn’t such a huge matter. You are her own brother—sigh, if it can’t be done, it can’t be done. Why get so angry?”
Gu Zhen smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “So Zhen is a brother. Before, Zhen thought I had somehow acquired two children under my knees.”
The Empress Dowager’s face went green and white. Knowing the Emperor was bringing up the old matter of the Seventh Prince, she was incredibly embarrassed. She knew the Emperor was stating clearly once again that he was not the father of Linchuan or the Seventh Prince, so naturally, he wouldn’t destroy his own reputation for them.
Her daughter’s sobbing suddenly rang in her ears, making her feel even more at a loss. She looked up, wanting to say a few more words to the Emperor, to plead for mercy.
Gu Zhen flicked his sleeves to leave, anger hard to suppress in his heart. He had thought this sister was merely playful, but he hadn’t expected her thoughts to become so malicious.
He didn’t know who she took after.
If she was allowed to continue like this, the reputation of the Great Chu imperial family would be ruined by her.
Thinking of this, he turned around and said coldly, “You are always clamoring for a study companion. It just so happens Xunfang has entered the palace. Have her keep you company properly, and read through all those history books and classics!”
Ignoring the sobbing behind him, he walked out of Wanchun Palace with a cold face. When the procession passed Jiaofang Palace again, he heard the sound of the Pipa drifting out from inside once more.
But it was not as skilled or pleasant as before.
“What time is it?” he asked indifferently.
Checking the sky, Wu Mao replied, “It should be a quarter past noon (Wu shi).”
Gu Zhen couldn’t help but snort coldly. “Perfectly good time, yet instead of eating, she has the leisure to play the Pipa here. Zhen thinks she has too much free time!”
Wu Mao’s cheek twitched slightly. Passing in front of Suzhang Gate, he quickly grabbed a small palace servant and asked, “Has Her Majesty the Empress had lunch yet?”
The servant was startled, his face full of fear, and nodded. “Had… bad it.”
Having received the news, Wu Mao released him and ran back to follow the Emperor’s carriage with his head bowed.
Unexpectedly, although the Emperor hadn’t lifted the curtain, he had sensed Wu Mao’s movements and asked coldly, “What did you go do?”
Looking around, Wu Mao whispered, “Your Majesty, at this hour, even Her Majesty the Empress has eaten. Why doesn’t this slave send someone back to order the meal first, so Your Majesty can eat as soon as you return to Zichen Palace?”
The trip to Wanchun Palace was originally intended for the Emperor to stay there for lunch. Who knew he would have an unhappy fallout with the Empress Dowager and leave straight away?
Now, he hadn’t even eaten.
The carriage remained silent for a long time. It rattled along the road for a while, and only when they turned a corner did Gu Zhen say, “Who told you to go ask?”
Wu Mao lowered his head and didn’t answer.
His Majesty’s words just now were clearly meant to check if Her Highness had eaten, yet he refuses to admit it.
Gu Zhen closed his eyes. He didn’t punish him, nor did he say another word, simply stating flatly, “Send someone to order the meal.”
Wu Mao quietly breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that his action just now had satisfied His Majesty.
Zhao Yiyi plucked the Pipa a few times, then felt a bit tired. She handed it back to the female official who had been playing earlier and laughed lightly, “I’m still not very good at this.”
The female official smiled. “Your Highness isn’t bad at it, just haven’t learned it yet. This slave has learned for these many years, so naturally, I am more skilled.”
Zhao Yiyi rested her chin in her hand, looking at her. She pursed her lips and laughed twice, then proposed gently, “Since you say so, how about you teach me for an hour every day from now on?”
Yunzhu blinked slightly.
Yesterday, Her Highness mentioned wanting to learn the Pipa. When I asked why, Her Highness just smiled and said she found it interesting.
The female official couldn’t help but stand up and curtsy, saying respectfully, “This slave would be honored.”
Since it was decided that she would learn the Pipa, Zhao Yiyi had someone fetch another Pipa and tuned it under the official’s guidance.
The female official had originally thought the Empress was just acting on a whim and would probably give up after a short while due to fatigue. But she hadn’t expected that once the Empress decided to learn something, she would be incredibly persistent. Today, she forcefully practiced with her for a full hour.
Not a moment less.
Only Mancao knew that when her mistress learned the zither (Guqin) back then, when first learning to press the strings, she practiced until her left hand was full of blisters without slacking off in the slightest. When practicing the kneeling finger technique, she was even more stubborn, practicing until her fingers were bloody and blurred before she would stop.
When she suddenly wanted to learn Go, she also studied chess manuals late into the night.
As long as it was something she had set her mind to, she would never give up lightly, no matter what it was.
After practicing for over an hour, Zhao Yiyi’s fingertips were incredibly sore; she felt as if her fingers didn’t belong to her anymore. When she sat back down at the desk in the study, looking at the mountain of palace duties, her expression turned suddenly cold.
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