"Mm."
"Absolutely not, absolutely not!"
Nangong Mo and Du Chun were in disagreement.
Nangong Li was about to strike Du Chun with his folding fan, but seeing the silver snake Du Chun was playing with in his hand, he weakly withdrew his hand.
He had no choice but to hide behind Nangong Mo and shout, "You say no, so it's no? You're not my Ninth Imperial Uncle, and my Ninth Imperial Uncle wouldn't be like you, devoid of desire, with no beloved by his side. Ah Du, I see you living your life alone and ending up lonely. You can't harm my Ninth Imperial Uncle like this!"
Du Chun's sleeve fluttered slightly.
The silver snake in his hand shot towards Nangong Li.
The silver snake coiled around Nangong Li's neck, and Nangong Li cried out in alarm, "Ah, ah, Du Chun, I'm a prince! Ah, ah, ah, playing with a prince is a capital offense! Ah, ah, ah, go away, get away!"
Nangong Li was fearless, but he was afraid of snakes. Everyone in the palace knew this.
The silver snake coiled tighter and tighter, as if it had a mind of its own. With a glance from Du Chun, it loosened its grip slightly. It then licked Nangong Li's face, even giving him a symbolic kiss on the lips, before slowly slithering down his body and back into Du Chun's sleeve.
Nangong Li leaned back on the chair, continuously wiping his mouth with a white handkerchief. His face was mournful, but he stubbornly declared, "Du Chun, don't think you can play this trick on me again. I won't change my words. I'd rather be shattered jade than intact tile, hmph!"
Although Nangong Li said this, he was inwardly collapsing.
When the three of them disagreed.
If he sided with Nangong Mo, he would at most be kissed by Du Chun's pet snake.
If he sided with Du Chun, he would undoubtedly suffer more than being kissed by the silver snake.
He understood this principle.
Du Chun knew that once Nangong Mo made up his mind, no one could change it. He simply said, "Since Ah Mo has made up his mind, I have nothing more to say. However, you must know that to marry the eldest daughter of the Gu family, you need the consent of Old General Gu. Furthermore, you must also understand that once you are involved with the Gu family, whether it's Gu Kun, his son Gu Yefeng, or even the second son Gu Wen and the third son Gu Yi of the Gu family, if these people cause trouble in the future, it will inevitably implicate our Ninth Prince's Mansion.
Gu Yefeng is a person of integrity and acts openly. I don't think he would do anything that violates the law. But others are hard to say. Given this, Ah Mo still wants to marry Gu Qianying?"
The Ninth Prince's Mansion was different from other royal residences.
Nangong Mo was also different from other princes.
On the surface, Nangong Mo seemed to be highly regarded by the current Emperor, but in reality, he had already become a person the Emperor feared.
For many years, every step they took was as cautious as walking on thin ice. But if they formed an alliance with the Gu family, it would be a blatant declaration that they were trying to win over Old General Gu.
This would only make the Emperor fear the Ninth Prince's Mansion even more, and thus take action against them.
"Yes!"
One word expressed his determination.
"In that case, do as you please!"
Du Chun flicked his sleeves and left.
Years of forbearance were exposed because of a woman, and he was indeed angry.
After Du Chun left.
Nangong Li stood behind Nangong Mo, diligently massaging his back, and asked with a smile, "Ninth Imperial Uncle, since you plan to propose on that day, I will handle the betrothal gifts. I will ensure everything is complete and grand."
Nangong Mo asked faintly, "What do you want me to do for you again?"
Nangong Li smiled sheepishly, "Hehe, Ninth Imperial Uncle knows his nephew best. In two days, my father will appoint me as the Secretary of the Ministry of Rites, in charge of next year's imperial examinations, to supervise my academic cultivation. Ninth Imperial Uncle, you know, don't mention my studies. I find those poems and essays extremely troublesome, so how can I manage these imperial examinations? Ninth Imperial Uncle, please think of a way to help me resolve this matter?"
"So, you are making a deal with me?"
Nangong Li poured Nangong Mo a cup of tea and pushed it towards him, smiling, "Calling it a deal would be too distant, wouldn't it? Hehe, as long as Ninth Imperial Uncle helps your nephew this once, your nephew will do as Ninth Imperial Uncle commands."
"The betrothal gifts will be prepared by me personally. You only need to get Old General Gu's consent."
"Ah?"
Nangong Li began to worry, "How can I deal with that old fossil, Old General Gu?"
Nangong Mo looked at him without speaking.
Nangong Li gritted his teeth, puffed out his chest, and said confidently, "Don't worry, this matter is on my shoulders!"
Two days later.
Gu Residence.
Old General Gu had considerable prestige in the imperial court. Today was his birthday, and many people came to the residence to give gifts and pay their respects.
Among them were Crown Prince Nan Rongqi, Fifth Prince Nan Rongpu, Sixth Prince Nan Ronghan, and Seventh Prince Nan Rongzhan, all of whom were present.
The princes were dressed in bright attire and were handsome. Their appearance immediately attracted the admiration of the young ladies from various households.
However, due to their noble status, even if the women present harbored affection for them, they dared not step forward easily.
Meanwhile, the most lively scene was in the back courtyard of the Gu Residence.
Today was also Old General Gu's birthday, and it was also the day the third concubine and the second and third sons of the Gu family returned.
"Let Concubine quickly see how grown up our Ying girl has become. Look how beautiful she's getting, she's almost as pretty as you, sister."
The woman speaking was the third concubine of the Gu family, Han Peijun.
At this moment, she was holding Gu Qianying's hand, like a long-lost friend, looking Gu Qianying up and down, and praising her repeatedly.
She called Gu Qianying "Ying girl" and referred to herself as "sister," showing great intimacy with Gu Qianying and her mother.
Looking at the joy on her face, one could not tell that beneath this smiling, friendly demeanor, she hid a vicious and venomous heart.
In her previous life, Gu Qianying never discovered Han Peijun's true nature until her death. If it hadn't been for the fact that the sachet Concubine Han had given her fell to the ground before she was imprisoned, and was surrounded and gnawed by rats, causing them to scurry about crazily, she wouldn't have suspected Han Peijun.
If one were to compare the methods of Concubine Han Peijun and Concubine Meng Yunping, they were not on the same level.
Meng Yunping was bronze, while Han Peijun was king.
Han Peijun was best at winning people over, then using each person's weaknesses to achieve her goals, and still making those used remember her kindness.
In her previous life, Han Peijun's outward impression was that her methods were not as deep as Meng Yunping's. In reality, she was the venomous snake hidden in the deepest recesses.
Even her daughter Gu Ziran was deceived by her outward appearance, and thus always felt that her mother was not as skillful as Concubine Meng.
In her previous life, she clearly remembered that Han Peijun was sent away by her father to a temple and confined for more than three months after it was discovered that she frequently used money to support her family and incited her family members to spread rumors outside that her father favored concubines over his wife.
She later learned that all of this was a play orchestrated by Han Peijun.
Firstly, Han Peijun used this to gain the trust of her mother, the First Madam.
Secondly, if she remembered correctly, three months prior, her father was reprimanded by the Emperor in court and seemed to have lost his official hat.
However, it was later resolved without incident.
During that period, her father was in a very bad mood and often lost his temper with the people in the mansion, scolding both the Second Concubine and her mother several times.
At that time, Concubine Han Peijun was sent out of the Gu Residence, avoiding her father's wrath and successfully gaining her mother's trust.
Thus, it was a win-win situation.
Gu Qianying withdrew her thoughts and heard the First Madam say with a smile, "Sister, you were only gone for three months, not three years. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at for saying that?"
"Why would I be laughed at? Sister is just stating facts."
Saying this, Han Peijun walked towards the First Madam and said, "Sister, the guests in the front hall are almost all here. We should go and accompany those ladies."
Logically, concubines could not sit at the same table as the main wife, nor could they appear in the front hall.
However, Han Peijun had managed to persuade the First Madam not only to take her to the front hall but also to allow her to dine at the same table as the main wife.
"Okay."
The First Madam was about to walk with her when Gu Qianying suddenly called out, "Mother, wait a moment."