Chapter 623: Chapter 623: Presenting Medicine

King Jin’s intentions to plot against the Dingbei Marquis’s wife are not without reason.

He seeks to undermine the Dingbei Marquis, seduce his wife, and thereby control the Gu Family Army.

Prince Qi’s face turned pale.

A whole nest of vile creatures.

He is ashamed to be associated with them.

Yet it is this group of filth that harmed his elder brother and his maternal family.

Could it be that being too pure makes even heaven intolerant?

Prince Qi raised his head, overhead was the arched roof of the carriage, painted vermilion, with red brocade pasted with fish glue, luminous pearls hanging down with long tassels, adhering to the prince’s standards everywhere.

He moved cautiously within these standards, not daring to deviate slightly, lest he becomes a pawn in an opponent’s scheme.

"...Wasn’t there talk of keeping the Seventh Miss for marriage?" the Chief Historian was still asking.

"What kind of reputation does Gu Qi have now, can she attract a good match? With her temperament, she can’t lead the Gu Family Army."

Prince Qi sighed.

"Third Brother really suffers."

But who doesn’t suffer?

Falling into the mundane realm, caught by greed, anger, and folly, it is destined to be a life of suffering.

Upon dying, entering the Yama Hall for judgment, it’s inevitable to roll through the many hells.

Prince Qi thought, in this life he’s a cautious prince living on edge, what about the next life?

In his next life, his elder brother, his mother may not be by his side anymore.

For the sake of that obsession, for revenge, he has committed many sins.

If he cannot succeed, isn’t he suffering in vain?

The Chief Historian worried, "Then Your Highness’s alliance with the Dingbei Marquis isn’t strong enough. Traditionally, alliances are either through blood or marriage, if not, then through rewards."

If the Dingbei Marquis Mansion cannot be tied through marriage, it can only be through imperial rewards and favor.

But the Dingbei Marquis has already achieved unparalleled merits and is highly regarded by the Emperor.

The Northern Border is already pacified, where are there so many battles to fight now?

For the Dingbei Marquis, the best option is to avoid the Crown Prince and Empress’s schemes, offend none of the other princes, and remain loyal to the Emperor alone in the future.

As long as he doesn’t rebel or support the wrong person, his achievements can safeguard the entire Dingbei Marquis Mansion’s stability unto old age.

Prince Qi laughed.

Though the autumn sun shone brightly outside, the carriage was dim with the autumn wind lifting a corner of the window curtain, leaves gently fell, then got crushed under the wheels.

In the semi-darkness, his graceful face full of sarcasm: "Why worry about such a long term. As for now, the alliance between myself and the Dingbei Marquis is very strong."

A yellow leaf intruded through the window gap.

Delicate white fingers picked it up, gently caressing it as if touching a lover’s skin.

A single leaf heralds autumn.

Fuyun’s lack of talent earns her favor, once she becomes useful, Empress Lin will direct her minions to harm her.

If the Crown Prince falls, and Earl Chengen collapses, he will have to confront those demons and monsters directly.

"At present, we have a common enemy." Prince Qi emphasized to the Chief Historian.

The true cause that made the Dingbei Marquis align with him was the silver theft in the ancestral temple.

The robbery of Monk Zhiguang made everything more obvious.

The death of the former Crown Prince and Gu Jinghui’s father and brother had inseparable ties to Empress Lin.

Hatred and camaraderie made their alliance exceptionally strong.

Gu Sanlang has been in the Northern Border for years, still retaining the valorous essence of a brave youth.

After all, not being a brave youth, he’d never swallow humiliation quietly for the sake of restoring the family’s honor at the Northern Border.

Not avenging this hatred would be inhuman.

Placing the leaf gently on the table, Prince Qi murmured, "After so many years, finally waiting for Third Brother, with him here, it’s steady."

Since childhood, he yearned for a companion like Gu Sanlang, but when he was able to choose one, there were no age-appropriate lads in the Gu Family.

Gu Sanlang, handsome and skillful in battle, loyal and brave, the former Crown Prince once praised him as a sharp dagger.

Because of his sharpness, people feared he might break easily.

Unexpectedly, the wooden Sanlang endured such storms and stress, all thanks to his supposedly wooden nature.

Both wooden and relentless, in the Northern Border, he faced everything clinging to Yelv non-yieldingly, not victory, not return, pressing his life toll on the Northern Border.

Regardless of how turbulent court politics was, Gu Family closed their doors, living without minding external affairs. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Gu Sanlang solely focused on warfare.

Even without military pay, Gu Sanlang resorted to plundering.

Lacking food, Gu Sanlang led men to farm while defending the border.

Everything followed a sole premise—if he couldn’t reclaim the Northern Border, he’d annihilate the Yelv clan completely.

Because of this determination, resilience, and effort, Yelv people couldn’t endure, ultimately retreating from the Northern Border, migrating the entire clan.

Yelv Langzhu sent his son over as a hostage.

The day they returned to court, streets were crowded, everyone came to see the War God.

Seeing him ride the Kicking Snow Black Steed, clad in rotten silver armor, red cherry on his head, his beard covering half his face, no longer having the silhouette of Yu Lang, Marquis Gu, Prince Qi cried throughout.

Third Brother Gu finally came back.

The Gu Family’s revenge was due, and his vengeance was also near.

Persistently, he sought countless ways to ally with Third Brother Gu, finally catching his eye.

Fortune seems to be turning in his favor.

The Chief Historian stood quietly on one side, not daring to interrupt Prince Qi’s reverie.

Prince Qi suddenly remembered something and issued a command: "The pepper should be stocked; stop after Mid-Autumn Festival."

The Chief Historian acknowledged.

Though unclear why Prince Qi trusted the Dingbei Marquis’s wife so much, as a close aide, the primary task was obedience.

Following the lord’s words and speaking appropriately at the right time would ensure standing out and gaining the lord’s favor.

The carriage stopped one shot away from the Prince Qi Mansion, Song Wenyu was blocking the way.

"Miss Song blocking this prince’s carriage, for what reason?"

Prince Qi was bewildered.

Song Wenyu wasn’t in much contact with Fuyun, and according to Old Wang, she had been chosen to become the Crown Prince Consort, though the edict hadn’t been issued, the position of sister-in-law was established between them.

Avoiding suspicion was appropriate.

Seeing her gaze filled with affection as she looked up, Prince Qi was even more reluctant to develop any entanglement.

His fastidiousness deeply ingrained, wished to avoid completely.

Today, Song Wenyu wore the Liuxian Skirt, her hair meticulously done, pink bead chains entwined, finally dropping a peach blossom shaped jade pendant between her brows, swaying with every gesture, captivating.

"This humble girl heard that His Highness Prince Qi is seeking medicine for Princess Fuyun, and came to offer some."

"Oh?"

Prince Qi’s voice carried more fluctuations, no longer as gentle yet distant as before.

The curtain lifted from within.

Song Wenyu glanced inside, saw Prince Qi sitting, his picturesque eyebrows inevitably dyed with urgency, instantly reassured.

Mentioning Fuyun, Prince Qi’s whole demeanor changed.

Prince Mansion Chief Historian got down from the carriage step, asking, "Might I inquire what medicine Miss Song offers?"

Song Wenyu gently bit her lip, cautiously retrieved an exquisite jade bottle from the pocket at her waist, raised it above her head, and softly said, "Jade Beauty Cream. This humble girl was injured on the face playing polo against the Yelv people, using this left no trace of a scar, alas only a little bit is left, I hope His Highness Prince Qi won’t disdain."

The Jade Beauty Cream was very rare, originally she intended to keep it for emergencies.

To get close to Prince Qi, she had to use it as a guise.