Chapter 1633: Chapter 1633: Scare
Yu Wen didn’t answer her cousin’s question. Someone was guarding outside, and soon after Gu Sheng and his brother opened the private room door, Yu Wen came out with Lin Xi.
Gu Sheng was extremely surprised, "Magistrate An He?"
Yu Wen nodded, "Mr. Gu."
He was no longer Mr. Gu in title; a single "Mr. Gu" and Gu Sheng’s ears perked up.
Lin Xi’s eyebrows curved, "Cough, cough."
Yu Wen introduced, "This is my cousin, Commandery Princess Lin Xi."
Gu Sheng didn’t dare to dream of speaking to a Magistrate, let alone the legitimate daughter of Prince Qin, so he spoke with great respect, "I have met the Commandery Princess."
Lin Xi blinked, truly as her cousin said, this person understood his position well, and gave a smile.
Yu Wen asked with curiosity, "Today isn’t a rest day for Hanlin Academy, how is it that Mr. Gu is at the teahouse?"
Gu Yan, who had been in the background, blushed, scratching his head and looking at his brother, feeling too awkward to answer.
Gu Sheng replied with a light tone, now that a major issue in his heart was resolved, "My elder brother is getting married."
There was no more need to say, Yu Wen understood and didn’t probe further, and while speaking, they went downstairs.
Outside, the Hou Residence’s carriage was waiting. Yu Wen was about to board when she heard someone calling her, "Zhou Yuwen."
Yu Wen raised an eyebrow, "You’ve been released from your confinement?"
Wen Ling choked a bit; she had long been released from house arrest, just felt stifled inside. She felt Zhuo Guyu was quite nice, but the Hou Residence treated him like dirt, so she no longer cared for him, certainly not for whom Zhou Yuwen didn’t fancy. "I invited you twice, why didn’t you come?"
Yu Wen pointed at herself, "Since you’ve been calling out, you haven’t greeted me."
Wen Ling, "... Greetings to Magistrate An He."
Her tone was full of teeth-gnashing frustration!
Yu Wen wasn’t bothered, as long as Wen Ling was put in her place. She inwardly reflected, the legitimate daughter of the Wen family truly had arrogance, and indeed had the credentials to be so.
Wen Ling watched angrily as Zhou Yuwen got onto the carriage and left, grinding her teeth as she glared harshly at the departing figure.
Gu Sheng couldn’t help but chuckle lightly as he watched the Hou Residence carriage go.
Gu Yan asked, "What are you laughing at?"
Gu Sheng didn’t answer, unable to discuss Magistrate An He, he turned to his elder brother and said, "Shall we go see the small courtyard?"
Gu Yan’s ears reddened, "Alright."
At the Hanlin Academy, Chang Zhi was in a foul mood all day, regretting telling his daughter the news, and even more so regretting agreeing to be a spy for her. Feeling irritable, he went out to have tea, only to see Zhuo Guyu drinking tea with the Top Scorer.
Chang Zhi ignored Zhuo Guyu. Ever since Zhuo’s father stirred up trouble at the Duke of Yongan Residence, the two families had cut ties, even though Zhuo Guyu was slick, the Duke Residence was proud, and Zhuo Guyu remained silent.
Chang Zhi wouldn’t mistreat himself; the tea had to be drunk.
After Chang Zhi walked away, Zhuo Guyu took a sip from his cup. Even though he thought Magistrate An He suited him as a wife, first his grandfather’s critical illness, then the Retired Emperor’s personal presence, dashed his hopes.
The Top Scorer, being from the South, was too far from the capital to return home to honor his ancestors, so he observed much bustle in the capital and knew the enmity between the Duke’s Residence and the Zhou Hou Residence. "Has Mr. Zhuo settled on a match through the matchmaking process?"
Zhuo Guyu, "Not yet."
None of the matches pleased him, and the ones that pleased him were shrewd, unwilling to marry into the Duke’s Residence, even with the Emperor’s favor!
Chang Zhi was brewing tea outside and heard just that. He was also curious about which family the Duke Residence would join in marriage.
Zhuo Guyu watched Zhou Changzhi leave, pondering whom Magistrate An He would marry, then frustratingly realized that while An He had many prominent families vying for her, he himself found no fitting match.
In no time, the day for the palace banquet arrived. Zhou Shuren and Zhulan entered the palace together, as there were female relatives from many countries; the Empress finally made an appearance and summoned the decree robe wearers into the palace.
Zhulan, with an excited tone, said, "I thought I wouldn’t be able to enter the palace."
Zhou Shuren, "It’s unfortunate we can’t sit together."
Zhulan didn’t mind, "I’m not here for you; I’m here for the beauties."
The palace banquet itinerary was set in advance; she had heard from Xue Han that there would be beautiful women performing dances, finally a chance to watch up close, such a rare opportunity.
Upon reaching the palace gates, guards and female officers stood at the entrance. The palace banquet was strictly regulated, making an assassination attempt very difficult. They entered the palace smoothly and parted ways as the couple, with Zhulan first visiting the Empress.
By the time Zhulan arrived, quite a few people were already present.
The Empress smiled and asked, "Why isn’t An He here?"
Zhulan realized, right, the granddaughter also had a title, "It is my fault, I didn’t bring her into the palace."
The Empress was merely asking and gestured, "Old Madam, please sit for now; we’ll go over together in a bit."
Zhulan, "Yes."
Time passed quickly, and a female officer came to report. The Empress stood, "Shall we go?"
Xue Han lagged a few steps behind, personally supporting her mother, "Mother seldom wears the decree robe, is it tiring?"
Zhulan smiled, "No problem."
Xue Han lowered her voice, "There are quite a few programs today."
Knowing her mother well, today’s song and dance had been planned well in advance, all newly choreographed and sure to leave her mother’s eyes feasting.
Zhulan repeatedly said, "Good, good."
Upon reaching the main hall, Zhulan and others slowly took their seats, and Xue Han was seated next to Rongchuan, as she was Princess Consort Qin.
Zhulan and the ladies sat on one side, diagonally opposite to the female ambassadors attending, she glanced at Zhou Shuren, who sat quite close to the Emperor, a sign of trust and favor.
The Emperor helped the Empress to her seat, and today was a banquet without state affairs; the Emperor spoke little before starting the feast.
Zhulan ate while her eyes couldn’t help but dart to Jiang An, who sat upright, seemingly sensing her gaze, pondered for a moment before continuing to watch the dance.
There were plenty of performances, soon exotic dancers entered, the central dancer was beautiful, even though Zhulan had seen many beauties, she still found the woman before her stunning.
Zhulan turned to look at the Emperor, who wasn’t gazing intently; instead, he was saying something to the Empress, her flushed cheeks indicating whatever was said was pleasing, while the beauty’s glances seemed wasted on the blind!
Then several solo dances followed, all captivating, a feast for the eyes with each nuanced smile of the dancing beauties.
Zhou Shuren kept an eye on the Crown Prince, though the Emperor wasn’t lustful, would the Crown Prince fall prey to a beauty trap?
It was clear the Crown Prince was well taught by the Emperor, as he only had appreciation in his eyes, without any other emotions; the beauty aiming for the Crown Prince had her plans fail.
Throughout, people left the seats successively, some due to natural needs. Zhulan having eaten a bit too much, followed a palace maid to the back, only to hear a woman’s agitated voice speaking in a non-Han language, her tone tinged with tears.
Zhulan glanced at the palace maid, who looked bewildered, unsure of what to do, until the maid coughed, prompting silence from the corner.
After resolving her natural call, Zhulan hadn’t walked far before she saw Jiang An, who was accompanied by a woman, and recognized her as the princess beside Jiang An.
Jiang An and his grandmother’s gazes met, Jiang An’s eyes slightly wandering. Zhulan looked at Jiang An, then at the princess with slightly reddened eyes despite attempts to hide it; it all seemed like a one-sided affection, her heart pounded!