Zhou Gu went directly to the prince's study.
Prince Yan Huisheng is the Queen's legitimate son and the Crown Prince of the East Palace. He was established as the Crown Prince at birth and is now nineteen.
The emperor had many heirs, and the prince was not the eldest son, but only a direct descendant. There were two concubine brothers above him, and three concubine brothers below him, all of about the same age.
Therefore, the prince has known since he was a child that as a prince, everyone in the palace and harem will be watching him, and he cannot make any mistakes. From the time he can remember, he has developed a stable temperament.
Compared with other princes, Yan Huisheng can be said to have restrained himself and restored etiquette, cultivated his moral character well, was gentle and upright, and was praised by everyone.
At this time, he was discussing matters with the Taifu in the study. When he heard that Qin Luan from the palace had arrived, he said "hmm" and said without raising his head: "Let the housekeeper arrange it as he likes!"
After the steward left, Qin Taifu looked at Yan Hui and said, "Your Majesty will give you a person this time. Will Your Highness accept it?"
Yan Hui shook his head, "It's still the same as usual."
When the prince was thirteen years old, the palace sent maids from the palace to teach him, but the prince put them aside. Later, every year, the palace sent people to the palace, and the prince accepted them, but they never got close to him. But this matter is only a secret of the East Palace.
Grand Tutor Qin tentatively suggested, "Your Highness is already old, so it's time for you to have someone to serve you."
Yan shook her head in response, "Not interested."
Master Qin's face changed immediately.
Yan Huisheng looked up and smiled dumbly, "Teacher misunderstood. It's not that Gu is not interested in women, but that he has no intention now."
Taifu Qin breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Your Majesty intends to choose a concubine for you this year. Do you have any plans for the crown princess?"
Yan Huisheng paused and said nothing.
Qin Taifu observed the situation and said, "If Your Majesty has someone to choose, you need to make plans early. If you are not satisfied with the person Your Majesty chooses, the matter will be difficult to handle. Now, while His Majesty has not yet decided, if you have someone you like, The Queen must be informed of the candidate in advance so that it can be facilitated."
Yan Hui twirled her fingers but still said nothing.
Qin Taifu added: "The eldest prince's concubine was born in the Nanping Marquis' Mansion, and the second prince's concubine was born in Pingxi General's Mansion. Both of these palaces are gatekeepers. Your princess must not hide her identity, otherwise it will be difficult to suppress the eldest prince and the second prince. ."
He added: "Actually, it would be best for you to marry a girl from the Duke Protector's Palace. The fifth lady from the Duke Protector's Palace has not yet made a marriage arrangement."
"The Duke Protector's office has Zhou Gu, so there is no need for a marriage." Yan Hui replied in denial.
"Instead of choosing the Duke Protector's Palace, there are also the Prime Minister's Palace, Prince Ruian's Palace, Marquis Cheng'an's Palace, and Princess Qingping's Palace to choose from." Tai Fu Qin mentioned several houses in succession, "Any of these houses can be a help to His Highness. "
"What if I don't choose these families?"
Grand Tutor Qin was startled and had a bad idea in his mind. He asked cautiously: "Your Highness, you have someone you like, but does that girl have a low family background and low status?"
"You can say that."
Taifu Qin felt a thump in his heart and suggested, "You can marry her as your concubine."
Yan Hui pressed her eyebrows, "Let's discuss this later!"
Taifu Qin could only stop talking.
At this time, someone outside the door announced, "Your Highness, Young Master Zhou is here."
Yan responded with a "hmm", "I understand."
Grand Tutor Qin frowned, "Zhou Gu, since he was involved in robbing people and was beaten up by the old Protector of the Kingdom, he has not been here to recuperate for several days, right? Is it because of Qin Luan that you came here today?"
Yan Huihui didn’t know either, “You’ll know once you meet him.”
After a while, Zhou Gu came to the study and stepped onto the threshold. When he saw Tai Fu Qin there, his scalp went numb and he wanted to turn around and leave. When he heard Tai Fu Qin snort at him with a sullen face, Zhou Gu touched his nose and said, He didn't leave after all, but came in to greet him, "His Royal Highness, Grand Tutor."
This courtesy was much more serious than the lazy courtesy in front of the old Lord Protector.
Yan Hui asked with a smile, "Why are you here?"
Zhou Gu immediately stated, "I am not doing this for Qin Luan. Don't get me wrong, Your Highness."
Yan Hui raised his eyebrows, said "Oh" and laughed, "Then what are you doing?"
Zhou Gu scratched his head and glanced at Qin Taifu. He always felt that he was standing here, making him uncomfortable. He planned to leave quickly and said, "My grandfather made a decision for me when I was a child. There was a marriage in Jiangning, and now my fiancée is about to get her haircut. I received a letter from Jiangning, and my grandfather asked me to follow someone to Jiangning in person to attend her haircut ceremony."
"Jiang Ning?" Yan Hui was startled.
"Well, it's Jiang Ning." Zhou Gu didn't show any irritation in front of Yan Huisheng, "I'm going tomorrow. I came here specifically to inform His Highness that I'll be away for about a month. Don't miss me, Your Highness."
Yan Huisui looked at him, "Which family in Jiangning is the lady from?"
"Miss...Seventh from the Prefecture of Jiangning." Zhou Gu almost didn't say the word "little concubine". He felt that in front of others, he should protect the face of his fiancée who had been engaged since childhood. If he said it himself If she belittles people without scruples, then if word spreads, won't others have to step on her even more?
"There are no direct children in the Jiangning Prefecture, they are all concubines. The old Duke ordered you the seventh lady who was a concubine?" Yan Huihui was also startled, very surprised.
"Yes." Zhou Gu said without changing his expression, "My grandfather said that the Su family was kind to him, and I was about the same age, so we decided."
Yan Huisheng was wondering, had he not heard that the Jiangning Su family had any favors to the Duke Protector's Palace? It was Zhou Gu who was the legitimate son, not Zhou Che, the third son who was born by a concubine, who made the old protector so willing to kiss his grandson. He nodded and said warmly: "Okay, I understand."
He turned around, smiled and said to Master Qin: "Master Qin, please go back first. Let me talk to Zhou Gu. He feels uncomfortable with you here."
Taifu Qin snorted to Zhou Gu again, "I'm just waiting to see what rank you will get in the Jinqiu Science Examination. Don't let me lose my reputation." He paused and then said, "Even if you go, Jiang Ning, don’t neglect your studies, after all, it’s only a few months until the exam starts.”
"I know." Zhou Gu rolled his eyes in his heart, but he still responded on his face.
Master Qin said goodbye, left the study, and left.
After Qin Taifu left, Zhou Gu took a deep breath and relaxed. He said to Yan Hui with admiration: "Your Highness, I don't know how you can bear it. I have already gone to school, but I am still afraid of this old man. He keeps a straight face all day, being stern and serious."
Yan Huisheng smiled helplessly, "Although Taifu is strict and serious, he is reasonable and will not force others. How come you haven't gotten used to it after how many years? Everyone says you are brave. I guess you are also brave." Not that big.”
"I will never forget that Taifu Qin memorized the entire "Book of Rites" in front of me and asked me to memorize it silently within ten days, otherwise he would trap me in the East Palace and prevent me from leaving the palace. He won't even let me go back home, but His Majesty even sent him an expert from the Imperial Household just to supervise me. No matter how courageous I was, he destroyed me."
His arms can't twist his thighs, he learned this at that time.
Yan Huisheng laughed out loud, "Why did you make such a fuss in the study room back then? Taifu Qin also wanted to punish you. Don't tell me, it really worked. As expected, you have become much more honest these years."
Zhou Gu coughed and said calmly: "Your Highness, I don't really want to take part in the scientific examination in the golden autumn. I want to travel and take part again in three years."
Yan Huihui stopped smiling, "Don't you want to enter the court early?"
"Well, I have this idea." Zhou Gu sighed, "My grandfather didn't let me join the army, but I don't want to join the court early. The world outside is so big, and I haven't been able to go out and walk around. If I don't understand the people's livelihood, how can I do anything? Officials make decisions for the people?"
Yan Hui asked: "Does the old man agree?"
"I haven't told my grandfather yet, for fear that he won't agree, but if you support me and convince Taifu Qin to support me, my grandfather won't object." Zhou Gu made up his mind, "Your Highness, please help me chant?"
"You came to me, are you planning to go to Jiangning, not go back to Beijing, and just go out for a trip?" Yan Huihui saw through his thoughts.
Zhou Gu nodded, "I have this idea." He was surprised, "Your Highness, you are so perceptive."
Yan Huisheng sat down and said, "It's because your thoughts were obvious and you didn't hide them, so I figured it out." He looked at Zhou Gu, "The old Duke asked you to go to Jiangning in person to attend your fiancée's haircut ceremony. You should plan to do it in person." After she got her hair done, she decided on a wedding date for you. But you said you wanted to travel, so wouldn't the wedding be delayed? How long? One, two, or three years? Can this girl wait for you for three years? How old will you be by then? ?”
Zhou Gu also sat down and sat down on the chair as if he were boneless. He was discouraged and finally showed his depressed mood, "This is the problem."
Yan Huisheng thought for a while, "You haven't met your fiancée yet, have you? You go to Jiangning first, and after you meet her, you can think about it carefully, or ask her if she is willing to wait for you. Don't go directly, and go back to Beijing first. , after you come back, if you still decide not to end the golden autumn and want to travel, then discuss it with the old protector. Except for the old protector’s disapproval of your surrender to the army, there has been nothing against you in recent years. Maybe It’s easy to discuss.”
Zhou Gu wanted to say, "I don't want to marry that little concubine, but my grandfather refused to agree, and even threatened to expel me from the house. But he doesn't agree with me in everything." But he didn't say anything, and nodded, " That’s okay too.”
He took a sip of tea and looked at Yan Huihui, "Your Highness, you visited Jiangning a while ago. Isn't Jiangning fun?"
Yan nodded in response, "The scenery is beautiful and it's a good place."
Zhou Gu was happy, "That's fine."
Yan Huisheng looked at him, thought for a moment, and suddenly said: "Find someone for me to find out her identity. When I went to Jiangning, I was assassinated and she saved me. Time was urgent at that time. After I escaped, I hurried away. , without asking her name. When I came back later, I wanted to send someone to look for her, but I was afraid of attracting the attention of someone with ulterior motives and causing trouble for her."
"Okay, Your Highness, tell me what she looks like." Zhou Gu agreed.
"It's a daughter's house. She looks about fourteen or fifteen years old. Because it was dark at the time, I couldn't see her appearance clearly, but she must be very good-looking and has a nice smile." Yan echoed the description, "She's very thin, but not weak. "
Zhou Gu couldn't say anything, "Your Highness, Jiang Ning is afraid that a lot of girls like this will be caught. You have to tell me what is special about her that makes people remember and recognize her at a glance."
"My dagger was given to her." Yan Hui recalled, "She loves it very much and should probably carry it with her."
Zhou Gu nodded, this counts for a bit, "What else?"
"She should be a fishing girl from a farm. When I met her, she was by the river. She was fishing alone with a fishing net." Yan Hui said not sure, "The rest are gone."
Zhou Gu felt that this person might not be easy to find, but since he agreed, he continued to nod, "Sure, I will pay attention. Don't worry, Your Highness, I will stay in Jiangning for a month and try my best to find him."
Yan Hui smiled and said, "Thank you very much." After saying that, he added, "Keep it secret, don't make too much publicity, just find the person."
Zhou Gu responded, "Okay."
