Crown Jewels

Chapter 91

In the Jingyi Zhai, the master's cadence ended, and the scholars in the Zhai were like fish swimming in boiling water.

Gu Baozhu packed the books with downcast eyes, and after saying goodbye to Shen Lanqing and the others, she walked out of the ancient academy.

The ruts rolled on the asphalt road and entered the East City of Lin'an City.

Pull up the curtains of the car, and the gates of the official offices of Yonglefang and Jing'anfang are full of colorful forgings, and the buildings are colorful, and the lights are very lively.

Soon it will be the end of August, and the Empress's birthday will be celebrated everywhere.

Empress Gu Jun issued an edict; "August [-]th is my birthday, and Emperor Wu Yuan and Empress Yuan Ming will be slaughtered in Xuanhai."

Killing is banned in the whole country, and vegetarians are eaten for three days to repay their parents for their kindness.

The academies and government offices are closed for three days, and the scholars also take advantage of the holidays to go home to visit relatives.

Behind the curtain of the car, Gu Baozhu's eyes were facing the orange sky light, his expression was calm and indifferent.

Three days later, Aunt Gu Jun hosted a banquet in the Taiji Palace and entertained all the officials. The ministers presented birthday gifts outside the palace and celebrated the Empress's birthday in the Taiji Palace.

Gu Baozhu came back this time to celebrate his birthday with "Prince Gong" in the palace three days later.

The carriage slowly stopped at the gate of Prince Gong's Mansion in Yongle Square, and the skinny servant hurriedly sent a report after seeing it.

Looking at the "Prince Gong" who was standing gently at the door, Gu Baozhu bit her nails.

She suppressed the complexities in her eyes, and just the right amount of joy and attachment appeared on her face.

"The orb is back—"

The sound is as gentle as water, as if it can contain all dirt.

"Father—"

Gu Baozhu embraced Prince Gong's arm, and the two walked towards the palace hand in hand.

The sun was shining brightly in the palace, and there was a girl's delicate voice.

"Father, my aunt will have her birthday in three days."

"Have you already prepared the gift?"

In the afterglow of the setting sun, the spots of light cut out by the shade of the trees danced and flickered on Prince Gong's face, making his complexion a little dark and unclear.

Prince Gong seemed to think of something, the corners of his lips curled up in a strange arc, and then he simply hummed, watching Gu Baozhu without answering questions.

"Where is the orb?"

"Can you prepare a birthday gift for your aunt?"

Hearing this, the corners of Gu Baozhu's lips curled up, revealing an indiscernible delicacy.

She shook Prince Gong's right arm and said coquettishly.

"Baozhu is the daughter of the father, since the father has prepared a gift, it represents the face of Prince Gong's residence."

"Even if Baozhu doesn't prepare a gift, it should be fine."

The face of "Prince Gong's Mansion" was deliberately aggravated by Gu Baozhu, and Prince Gong raised his eyebrows.

He put his right hand against his fist, eyes and lips and coughed lightly, and it was rare for a long time to utter a word of reprimand in a low voice.

"Nonsense—"

"Your aunt has brought you well since childhood, so your gift naturally needs to be prepared separately!"

Gu Baozhu pursed her lips aggrieved when she heard the words, and her drooping eyelashes trembled slightly, revealing her grievance.

"It's rare for Baozhu to come back, what is the father doing so fiercely?"

"Actually, Baozhu has already thought of Aunt's gift—"

Prince Gong looked at Gu Baozhu who was awkwardly turned away, and a flash of impatience flashed in his eyes.

The breeze blew the green branches and swayed, accompanied by a faint and suppressed cough.

Although Gu Baozhu still didn't look at Prince Gong, her tense body and nervous demeanor visibly relaxed.

The wrench on the index finger rotates slowly like an annual ring.

The brand new white handkerchief was lightly wrinkled, and wiped away the bloodstains that did not exist on the corners of his lips, so Prince Gong coaxed calmly.

"Europe--"

"What gift did Baozhu prepare?"

"Talk to your father and listen."

As soon as Prince Gong finished speaking, he saw Gu Baozhu bowing his head and unwilling to speak.

"Father really wants to know?"

The look of being angry with him just now has been replaced by mysterious joy in the eyes at this moment.

Prince Gong shook his head slightly, after all, it was a girl's heart.

Behind the man's brown pupils, the hidden exploration also quietly disappeared, and his tone was gentle and tuned.

"It's only natural—"

Prince Gong nodded without thinking.

Gu Baozhu's phoenix eyes suddenly lit up, and her waist was straightened out, bringing out the usual accent of a little girl.

"If father is really so curious, it's not impossible to tell you, but—"

With Gu Baozhu's drawl, he obviously had something to say later.

Under Prince Gong's gentle gaze, Gu Baozhu was encouraged and continued:
"My aunt will definitely like the gift that Baozhu thought of."

"but--"

"The gift of Baozhu is the same as the dowry of the concubine mother, but the dowry of the concubine mother has not been taken care of for many years since she left—"

When Gu Baozhu said this, he suddenly lowered his brows and thought hard, as if he had never expected this incident.

In Prince Gong's eyes, the girl seemed to have a flash of inspiration, and said excitedly to him.

"Father—"

"How about Baozhu taking this opportunity to take good care of the mother's dowry?"

In the empty and lonely palace, a woman's crisp voice came.

His face was flushed red because he thought he was volunteering, and he looked at him expectantly.

Prince Gong moved the jade finger in his right hand slightly, raised his eyes to look at Gu Baozhu in surprise, his eyes were a little dark.

He quietly looked at the girl standing in front of him, his extremely calm expression looked a little indifferent at the moment.

The three-point indifferent question was hidden under the gentle tone.

"Baozhu wants to take over your mother's concubine's dowry, but does she want to get married?"

The hands hidden in the sleeves tightened slightly, and Gu Baozhu groaned inwardly.

Perhaps because of a guilty conscience, she actually felt that Prince Gong had seen through her long-planned thoughts.

In Prince Gong's eyes, the girl was holding a blue skirt, her brows were glittering with golden flowers, but her expression was a little awkward and unhappy.

"Father, what are you talking about—"

"You are not in good health, and Baozhu can't wait to stay by your side day and night."

Gu Baozhu kicked the rocks under his feet: "The reason why I want to take over the dowry of my concubine—"

"For one thing, it does need to be taken care of by someone. It is the daughter's private property, so the housekeeper will inevitably be careless."

"Two -"

The girl pursed her lips, and looked up at her eyes, which were clear after washing with water, showing three points of grievance.

"The second is that I just don't want to lose the face of my father and Prince Gong's mansion."

"In the academy, Guanghua made fun of me all the time. As the princess of the Yan Kingdom, I am not good at even the simplest general affairs."

Gu Baozhu's voice was clear, embarrassing and not angry.

The woman seemed to think of something more extreme, and stomped her feet impatiently.

"She even said—"

"If my aunt grants me a fief in the future, I will still be as mediocre as this."

"What will be lost in the future will be the face of my father and aunt, and I will be ridiculed."

There was a suppressed cough, and this time it seemed that even the breathing seemed to be a little faster, which made people hear the subconscious tightening.

Gu Baozhu hurriedly helped Prince Gong calm down.

Facing Gu Baozhu's sincerely concerned eyes, Prince Gong patted Gu Baozhu's back, and his voice returned to his usual gentle and Lang Lang.

"You've become a grown-up girl, why are you only caring about arguing with others, um—"

"If you really want to practice your mother and concubine's dowry, your father will let the housekeeper cooperate with you to count it."

The clear and gentle voice was slightly weak, but there was indulgent pampering in the tone.

When Gu Baozhu heard this, the corners of her lips turned up immediately, and she hugged Prince Gong and said coquettishly as before.

"Father is the best father for Baozhu."

"When Baozhu finds out that gift, I will open my eyes together with my father—"

After finishing speaking, Gu Baozhu greeted the butler who was waiting beside him, and sent Prince Gong back to his room to rest.

She was on her own, and she had to send someone to count the cages of the mother and concubine in the warehouse.

In the warehouse of Qingzhuan Biwa, the dusty cages were opened piece by piece.

There are gold and jade hanging ornaments, jeweled jewelry, calm wood carvings, and round and beautiful celadon.

Gu Baozhu lingered on these objects for a moment, and soon passed them lightly.

In the end, when the maid was busy tapping the utensils, she stopped in front of the box filled with smooth brocade, her eyes flickering.

(End of this chapter)