Lu Nianfu was so angry in the mansion that she wanted to smash the wall, but Gu Yanchen was bubbling with joy. He wasn't even angry when he heard that Feng Xinyao had entered the palace early in the morning.
Meng Changdong and Song Ming escorted Feng Xinyao to the capital. They knew she was determined to get revenge, but they still found her choice difficult to accept: "Boss, she's been selected under the identity of the fourth daughter of the Imperial Academy's Libationer."
"Then what happened to their fourth daughter?"
"She eloped with a failed scholar."
"Good heavens, he's got some nerve to elope with a noble lady. Tell me in detail, what exactly happened?"
Meng Changdong scratched his head, "That's all we've found out so far. The fourth daughter didn't elope far, and is currently hiding in Fuqiao Village, twenty li outside the capital. The Imperial Academy's Libationer's family, unaware of the truth, still believes their fourth daughter is staying properly in the palace."
Gu Yanchen pondered for a moment, "A daughter from the Imperial Academy's Libationer's family, how could no one among the contemporary noble ladies recognize her?"
The official circles in the capital were so small, and the daughters of high officials often gathered to play and compare. It wasn't possible that Feng Xinyao looked exactly like her, was it?
Meng Changdong said, "That's not it. We heard that this fourth daughter had been frail and sickly since childhood. She was sent to a manor to recuperate at the age of ten. It was only for this imperial selection that she was brought back."
"How could the royal selection choose a sickly person?"
"They say her illness suddenly got better."
Gu Yanchen curled his lips, "It seems that the Libationer's family, which focuses on educating people, is not peaceful either. Fine, I'll go into the palace to take a look first. You investigate the background of that fourth daughter and her lover more thoroughly, and we'll talk when I get back."
"Boss, you plan to cover for that girl?"
"She's already in the palace, what else can we do if we don't cover for her? We can't just wait for the truth to come out and have her beheaded for deceiving the emperor, can we?" To be honest, he quite admired girls with such courage. If she had come all the way to the capital and was just hiding in his mansion, he would have looked down on her.
The selected ladies were all housed in Chuxiu Palace. Gu Yanchen didn't want anyone to know that he knew her, so he didn't go through official channels. Instead, he used his martial arts skills to sneak into Chuxiu Palace. Then, seizing an opportunity, he grabbed the lone Feng Xinyao, covered her mouth, and dragged her to a secluded spot, "Don't scream, it's me."
The struggling Feng Xinyao instantly quieted down.
Gu Yanchen released her, "You're truly audacious. Do you know the crime of impersonating a selected lady?"
"Deceiving, deceiving the emperor."
"You knew, and you still dared?"
Feng Xinyao said, "Anyway, I'm alone in the capital. If the truth comes out, at most, I'll lose my head. But if I can't get revenge, what's the point of living? Your Highness, this is a rare opportunity, and you're far away in Yangzhou. Xinyao had to act first and report later?"
"Can you get revenge by being a selected lady?"
"There's always a sliver of a chance. Recently, I've gotten in touch with Consort Jian. If I can please her, the chance of being bestowed upon Situ Jue is very high."
Gu Yanchen was so angry that he gave her a rap on the head, "You rush in without understanding anything, where's your brain? Situ Jue is competing with the Crown Prince. He'll need to use marital alliances to win people over. You, the daughter of the Imperial Academy's Libationer, have no power or influence. If she chooses you, wouldn't she be wasting a spot for a concubine?"
Feng Xinyao quickly stated, "As long as I can get close to him, even a concubine is fine."
"You're not a celestial being, why do you think you can take his life just by getting close to him?"
Feng Xinyao fiddled with her fingers, "I'll take it one step at a time, and there will be a way then."
Gu Yanchen: ...
He took a deep breath, "So, your revenge doesn't even have a plan, you just seize opportunities when they arise?"
"Being selected into the palace, there's at least a sliver of hope. But if I don't act, there won't even be this last sliver of hope."
"Have you thought about it? Are you really willing to sacrifice yourself for this sliver of hope?"
Feng Xinyao nodded with a resolute expression.
It seemed her determination was firm. Gu Yanchen nodded, "Alright, I'll help you with your revenge, at least as a friend of your father. But not in this way of yours, it's too foolish."
Feng Xinyao suddenly looked up, "You, you're willing to help me?"
"Hmph, I can't just watch you die for nothing? You go back to Chuxiu Palace and stay there. After I deal with the matter of Miss Zhang Si, I'll find a way to get you out of the palace."
"But Your Highness, besides this, do we have any other way?"
"Stop worrying unnecessarily. It's just about placing someone in the Ning King's mansion, how difficult can that be?"
Feng Xinyao's eyes lit up, "Xinyao thanks Your Highness. Once my great revenge is achieved, Xinyao will surely repay your great kindness with all her might."
Gu Yanchen said, "Perhaps not. If I treat you like a cow or a horse, I'm afraid your father will come to settle accounts with me in the underworld."
Feng Xinyao: ...
After conferring with Feng Xinyao, Gu Yanchen went to the Imperial Academy.
Zhang Huan, the Libationer of the Imperial Academy, had a refined appearance, looking like the scholar he was. He wasn't surprised when he heard Gu Yanchen was visiting, thinking he was there to inquire about his brother-in-law Lu Fei's studies.
He had already thoroughly understood Lu Fei's situation and was sure he could make Prince Rui feel his concern for Lu Fei.
To his surprise, Gu Yanchen dismissed everyone as soon as he arrived, "Minister Zhang, do you know that the fourth daughter of your household has eloped with someone?"
Zhang Huan stumbled and almost fell, "Your Highness Prince Rui, you mustn't speak such nonsense. My fourth daughter is safely in the palace now, where could she have eloped?"
"There is indeed a Miss Zhang Si in the palace, but she is not the one from your household. Minister Zhang, elopement of a selected lady is a grave offense of deceiving the emperor. If the truth were to come out, how many members of your Zhang family could escape?"
Zhang Huan froze completely. After a long while, he asked dryly, "What, what exactly is going on?"
This matter was a long story.
Gu Yanchen kindly explained the details to Zhang Huan.
Zhang Huan brought his fourth daughter back at this time precisely to have her selected for the imperial harem. Even if she couldn't become an imperial concubine, marrying into a noble family would bring him prestige. Who would have thought that before he could gain any prestige, he would be shamed.
His daughter, who had always been raised in a manor, actually eloped with a man.
This was no longer just a matter of reputation.
Did she even know what the crime of deceiving the emperor entailed? And who did she choose? A scholar, and a failed one at that. What benefit could such a person bring him? It would be more like the father-in-law helping him.
Zhang Huan was furious.
He immediately wanted to go to Fuqiao Village to drag her back.
Gu Yanchen stopped him, "Minister Zhang, if you go there in such a furious manner, do you want to announce to the capital what good deeds your daughter has done?"
Zhang Huan froze. Upon careful consideration, he broke out in a cold sweat, "It is I who lost my composure. Your Highness, this matter should be planned carefully. May I ask if Your Highness has any ideas?"
"Since your esteemed daughter has abandoned the identity of Miss Zhang Si, let her disappear more completely. Soon, the one in the palace will contract a serious illness. You can take her back to the manor where she used to recuperate and then announce her death."
As for the real Miss Zhang Si, she would naturally have to flee far away.
He wondered what that failed scholar would do when he heard this news. In this era, few men were not driven by fame and profit. That scholar probably never dreamed that the noble daughter he finally managed to get close to would be a dead pawn.