freenovelworld Chapter 750 A Grand Gift
Chapter 750 A Grand Gift
Qian Zhenyun observed the change in her expression and knew that she had figured it out.
He walked back to the table, poured her another cup of hot tea, and handed it to her.
"His Highness the Crown Prince has come today, firstly to express his gratitude, which is the proper courtesy."
His voice wasn't loud, but every word struck Gu Qingchen's heart clearly: "Second, it was to 'take'. He took something from the Duke's mansion in a way that you couldn't refuse or get angry about."
“He made sure everyone saw that His Highness the Twelfth Prince had been wronged, and you, his ‘benefactor,’ should compensate him. A wooden horse in exchange for your help yesterday, plus the Crown Prince’s words of ‘lax discipline,’ he made a very profitable deal.”
Gu Qingchen held the warm teacup, his fingertips turning slightly white.
She recalled Zhao Heng's seemingly naive yet incredibly accurate accusations, and the Crown Prince's perfectly timed rebuke and helplessness.
It turned out that it wasn't a farce, but a calculated scheme.
A scheme disguised as childlike innocence, seemingly warm and affectionate, yet imbued with royal majesty.
The Crown Prince wasn't indulging his younger brother's misbehavior; he was telling her, and everyone else, that even though the Duke of Zhenguo's family had achieved unparalleled merit, they were still subjects.
A subject should be devoted to his ruler.
"He... is giving me a hard time." Gu Qingchen's voice was a little hoarse.
“It’s not a warning,” Qian Zhenyun corrected. “It’s a reminder. A reminder to you, and also to the Fifth Prince and the Seventh Prince, that you, Gu Qingchen, are someone Zhao Chen’an is protecting.”
"He may be able to 'take' a beloved pony from you today, but another day he will make those who want to harm you pay a much higher price."
The flower hall fell silent once again.
The silver charcoal in the brazier was burning brightly, making a soft crackling sound.
The anger of being bullied in Gu Qingchen's heart had unknowingly dissipated completely, replaced by a cold and sharp clarity.
She looked down at the tea leaves floating in the teacup and suddenly chuckled softly.
The laughter started softly, then grew louder and louder, carrying an indescribable sense of relief and exhilaration.
Qian Zhenyun watched her quietly, without disturbing her. He knew that this little beast, angered, had already sharpened its claws.
"I understand." Gu Qingchen raised his head, his beautiful eyes now devoid of anger, only filled with a gleaming fighting spirit.
"His Highness the Crown Prince has given me such a valuable 'favor.' If I don't accept it properly, wouldn't I be letting down his efforts today?"
She drank the tea in one gulp and slammed the cup down on the table.
"Gungung, you're right. Only when you're full will you have the strength to fight jackals."
A sly glint flashed in her eyes. "Now that someone has helped me keep the jackals in check, all I need to do is figure out a way to make them fight each other."
She was no longer the passive Gu Qingchen.
Whether it's the Crown Prince or a Prince, she not only has to play this game, but she has to play it beautifully.
Qian Zhenyun looked at the burning fighting spirit that had rekindled in her eyes, the smile on his lips unchanged, but he did not immediately agree.
He stood up, walked slowly to the empty shelf, stretched out his slender fingers, and moved a white jade ruyi from the shelf next to him, placing it precisely in the original position of the wooden horse.
Gu Qingchen looked at his actions with some confusion.
After Qian Zhenyun finished doing all this, he turned around and looked at her calmly.
"What the Crown Prince took away was a warhorse carved by a famous craftsman from the Northern Frontier. It represents the illustrious military achievements of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, as well as their unwavering loyalty."
He paused, his voice growing deeper and clearer: "By taking it away in front of everyone today, he is showing His Majesty and everyone in the court that Zhao Chen'an dares to accept and is capable of accepting this military merit from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion."
Gu Qingchen's heart jolted, and he instantly grasped a deeper meaning.
The Crown Prince's move was not merely a show of force to intimidate the Fifth and Seventh Princes, but also a political statement made to the Emperor.
In this way, he firmly bound the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion to his own body, and completely cut off any thoughts that other princes might have of trying to win him over.
That was a brilliant move.
Having figured this out, Gu Qingchen took the initiative to ask Qian Zhenyun, "Is there any major event in the capital recently that could bring these princes together for some 'excitement'?"
Qian Zhenyun saw through her thoughts and slowly uttered two words: "Winter Hunt".
Upon hearing those two words, Gu Qingchen's face paled almost imperceptibly for a moment.
The harrowing assassination attempt during the winter hunt, the despair of being dragged off a cliff by that bastard Zhao Chen'an, and the discovery of the former dynasty's token while trapped in the cave... one thing after another surged into my mind like a tide.
She shook her head instinctively. "The winter hunt is over."
She raised her eyes, and the cold light in them was even more intense than the winter snow outside the window.
If there is no opportunity, then create one.
She pressed further, "What are the weaknesses and vulnerabilities of the Fifth Prince and the Seventh Prince?"
Qian Zhenyun seemed to have anticipated her question and replied without hesitation, "The Fifth Prince Zhao Zhang lost his mother at a young age and was raised by the Empress. He is ambitious and eager for quick success and instant benefits, and he values military achievements the most in his life."
"The Seventh Prince Zhao Rui comes from a prominent family. He is most skilled at scheming and also the most greedy for money."
Military merits lead to wealth.
It was as if two threads were instantly lit in Gu Qingchen's mind, and a wicked plan to "kill two birds with one stone" quickly took shape in her heart.
She was going to set a trap, and the bait for this trap had to simultaneously appeal to both the Fifth Prince's "merit" and the Seventh Prince's "profit."
A cold smile curled at the corner of her lips, her whole being exuding an unstoppable sharpness: "He uses open schemes, so I will use open schemes."
"Doesn't His Highness the Crown Prince dote on this younger brother? Then I'll let everyone in the capital see how the Fifth Prince and the Seventh Prince 'love' His Highness the Twelfth Prince."
Gu Qingchen leaned closer to Qian Zhenyun, lowered his voice, and laid out his newly formed plan.
Qian Zhenyun listened quietly, his eyes filled with growing approval. Only after she finished speaking did he slowly nod.
"This plan is feasible. However, we still need someone to help us."
"Who?" Gu Qingchen asked immediately.
Qian Zhenyun met her gaze and calmly uttered a name.
"Lin Jiayou".
The name was like a fine needle, piercing Gu Qingchen's heart without warning.
Her expression faltered slightly, her once bright eyes dimmed a little, and her fingers unconsciously curled up.
During this period, she was first troubled by family matters, and then disturbed by the Crown Prince. She almost had to temporarily banish Lin Jiayou from her mind.
The dull pain of betrayal was still vivid in his mind when Qian Zhenyun suddenly brought it up.
However, she also had to admit that when it came to familiarity with various people in the capital and those shady connections, it seemed that no one else could be found as suitable as Lin Jiayou.