freenovelworld Chapter 725 My daughter, it's not his place to feel wronged.
Chapter 725 My daughter, it's not his place to feel wronged.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" Zhao Chen'an looked at her pale face, his tone carrying a hint of victorious composure. "Now you know, I wasn't forcing you, but saving you?"
"As long as you go to the Prince of Yongding's residence, bow your head and admit your mistake, I can then mediate with the Emperor, and this matter can be resolved peacefully."
He looked at her as if she were a bird trapped in a cage, no matter how strong its wings were, it could not fly out of his palm.
"This is the only way. Otherwise, do you really want to let your father be drowned in the spittle of those censors in the court for the sake of your ridiculous pride?"
Gu Qingchen doesn't care about her reputation or what the world thinks of her.
But she couldn't ignore her father, she couldn't ignore the entire Duke Zhenguo's mansion.
That confidence she always took pride in, that allowed her to act recklessly, came from the boundless love and tolerance of her family.
Now, her willfulness has become the biggest burden on her family.
Qian Zhenyun clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
He stepped forward, blocking Gu Qingchen's path, and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, the fault does not lie with her. As the Crown Prince, you should not be so unable to distinguish right from wrong."
Zhao Chen'an sneered and glanced at him with disdain.
"Right and wrong? In this deep palace and court, the most important thing is never right or wrong, but the weighing of advantages and disadvantages."
He stood up, straightened his perfectly wrinkle-free sleeves, and looked down at them.
"That's all I have to say. Gu Qingchen, think it through yourself."
After saying that, he didn't look at the two of them again, and turned to leave with the eunuch.
The plate of imperial kitchen pastries was still exquisitely displayed on the stone table...
After a long while, Gu Qingchen finally found his voice, "Gungun, am I really useless?"
She always believed that as long as her kung fu was good enough and her fists were strong enough, she could overcome all the injustices in the world.
In the end, however, she was powerless to fight back against these bloodless power struggles and conspiracies.
"No." Qian Zhenyun turned around and looked into her eyes, which had lost all their luster. He felt as if something had clenched his heart.
He raised his uninjured hand, intending to rub her head as usual, but paused in mid-air and finally just gently placed it on her shoulder.
“This is not your fault. You don’t need to apologize, and the Duke of Zhenguo will not allow his daughter to bow down to anyone in such a matter…”
After he finished speaking, he turned around and strode out of the courtyard without waiting for Gu Qingchen's reaction.
"Where are you going?" Gu Qingchen asked instinctively.
Qian Zhenyun did not stop walking, leaving behind only a calm and steady sentence.
"Go find the Duke."
The study of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
Gu Junze had just returned from the Ministry of War and was unfastening the sword at his waist when Chu Ruohan began to talk about the Crown Prince's visit.
"He wants Qingchen to apologize?"
Chu Ruohan handed over a cup of warm tea. "That old fox, Prince Yongding, isn't really seeking justice. He's clearly using your daughter's petty squabbles to test your limits in court."
She gently blew on the tea foam. "If the Crown Prince wants to quell the matter and appease Prince Yongding, then our daughter will naturally have to suffer."
Gu Junze picked up the teacup but didn't drink it; he simply rubbed the warm cup with his fingertips.
“My daughter is not someone he should be wronged by.”
Chu Ruohan nodded: "I've already had someone investigate. The Prince of Yongding's recent smuggling of salt in Jiangnan has caused quite a stir. There are many ways to put him in a good position, but..."
However, how to avert the emperor's suspicion without harming Qingchen in the slightest requires a very precise grasp of the balance.
Just then, the butler announced from outside the door.
"Lord Duke, Madam, Young Master Qian requests an audience."
Gu Junze and Chu Ruohan exchanged a glance, both somewhat surprised.
"Let him in."
Qian Zhenyun entered the study, his arm still in a sling, but his expression showed none of his usual mildness; his eyes were calm and sharp.
He bowed respectfully and got straight to the point without uttering a single unnecessary word.
"Lord Duke, Madam, Qingchen cannot apologize for this matter."
Gu Junze looked at him, neither confirming nor denying. "Oh? Then what do you think should be done?"
"Retreat, but not admit wrongdoing."
Qian Zhenyun raised his head and met Gu Junze's scrutinizing gaze.
“We don’t need to go to the Prince Yongding’s residence, nor do we need to bow our heads. But we can prepare a generous gift and send it to the palace, and have the Empress give it to Princess Jiahe. The gift is 'We are deeply saddened to hear that the Princess has fallen into the water. This is a small token of our condolences.'”
A hint of appreciation flashed in Chu Ruohan's eyes.
This move both saved face for the royal family and characterized the incident as an "accident," putting on a show of respect without admitting a single mistake.
Gu Junze's expression remained unchanged as he continued, "And then? Prince Yongding won't let this go."
"Your Excellency only needs to have the Censorate impeach Prince Yongding," Qian Zhenyun continued unhurriedly. "It doesn't need to be anything major. Just say that he failed to manage his household properly and spoiled his daughter, which led to the princess getting into a fight at a palace banquet, falling into the water, and disgracing the royal family."
He paused, lowering his voice even further.
"This matter could be big or small, depending entirely on the Emperor's will. But Prince Yongding will surely be overwhelmed with his own troubles and have no energy left to pursue Qingchen. At that time, who is right and who is wrong will become irrelevant."
To retreat in order to advance, and to cut off the fuel supply at the root of the problem.
The study fell silent for a moment.
Gu Junze stared at the young man in front of him for a long time.
This boy, who usually follows behind the Crown Prince and looks somewhat simple and honest, is surprisingly shrewd.
His words not only helped Gu Qingchen out of a predicament, but also took into account the sentiments of the court and the balance of advantages and disadvantages.
"Did you come up with this method?" Gu Junze finally spoke.
"Yes." Qian Zhenyun lowered his eyes. "I don't want to see Qingchen suffer."
Gu Junze suddenly smiled.
He walked up to Qian Zhenyun and patted his uninjured shoulder with considerable force.
"Good boy."
“In this capital city, everyone wants to climb up the social ladder by stepping on the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion. There are very few who dare to sincerely plan for Qingchen.”
He withdrew his hand, turned to Chu Ruohan and said, "Do as he says."
The temple fair at Jingxin Temple is a major annual event in Beijing.
Before dawn, the official road leading out of the city was already bustling with traffic and people.
An inconspicuous blue cloth carriage, mingling in the crowded throng, headed towards Jingxin Nunnery.
Inside the carriage, Gu Lanxin was restless.
Today she specially changed into an elegant light blue dress, which made her face look even more beautiful and her temperament gentle.
"Jiayou, are we... are we really going to that place?" She twisted the handkerchief in her hand, her voice filled with a mixture of timidity and anticipation.
Lin Jiayou sat opposite her, reached out and took her hand, patting it reassuringly.
"What, are you scared?" He looked at her with a smile. "Didn't you want to know my feelings? Today, I'll let you know."
Gu Lanxin's cheeks flushed as he stared at her, and she lowered her eyes shyly.
The carriage did not stop at the main gate of Jingxin Nunnery, but instead went around to a secluded mountain path behind the nunnery.
Lin Jiayou helped Gu Lanxin out of the carriage and instructed the driver, "Wait here."
After saying that, he took Gu Lanxin's hand and walked into the depths of the mountains and forests.
The mountain path was rugged, but Lin Jiayou always kept her by his side, sometimes clearing away branches that blocked her way, and sometimes reminding her of the pebbles under her feet.
That meticulous thoughtfulness completely captivated Gu Lanxin.
They walked for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, and suddenly the view opened up before them.
An exquisite villa suddenly appears nestled among the mountains and forests.
There was no plaque on the gate, and the surroundings were quiet and deserted, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind.
“This is…” Gu Lanxin looked at the courtyard in surprise.
“This is my mother’s private property. I lived here with my mother for a period of time when I was a child.”
Lin Jiayou pushed open the courtyard gate and led her inside. "After my mother died, no one has ever come here again..."