novelaction Chapter 139 Just the Second Son
Chapter 139 Just the Second Son
Li Xiaohan didn't believe in fate. Wasn't her engagement to Gu Yu'an the result of her hard work?
"That young marquis is far more capable than Zhao Qian. He excels in his studies, has participated in bandit suppression, and is the eldest son in his family—all things Zhao Qian cannot compare to."
"Exactly, I wonder what possessed that Miss Li."
"Oh, what's the big deal? It's just that I'm afraid of getting involved. It's human nature to be sentimental."
"Then you should choose a good one."
"Luckily, Li Xiaohan broke off the engagement, otherwise my niece would have a chance."
"If that's the case, then my niece is quite good-looking; she has both good looks and a good family background."
Li Xiaohan's face grew paler and paler as she listened. The more the group compared Gu Yu'an and Zhao Qian, the more upset she felt, with a deep sense of regret and resentment nagging at her.
She barged through the crowd, bumping hard into the shoulder of the woman who had started talking about marrying her niece to Gu Yu'an.
"Hey, who are you? You hit someone and didn't apologize," the woman said, touching her shoulder.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," the maid kept apologizing from behind, pointing to her mistress's head.
"baffling"
"Forget it, forget it, he's obviously not very bright."
The maid really thought her young mistress was out of her mind. She was already married, so why was she reacting so strongly to the young marquis?
Even if you're engaged, there's no need to break it off. What's the use of regretting it now? Do you think you can rekindle your romance with the young marquis?
……
In the teahouse, Lin Xiaoxiao poured a pill out of a white porcelain bottle: "Will this really work?"
Shen Qingqing: "Don't worry, if you start eating it now, it will make your skin as fair and tender as a young girl's, and you can keep eating it until the day you share a bed with the emperor."
"Won't anyone notice?"
Shen Qingqing said with a hint of pride, "Don't worry about the medicine I make. If something happens to you, do you think you'll let me off the hook?"
Lin Xiaoxiao nodded: "You're right, we're in the same boat."
Shen Qingqing said, "I prepared a few extra for you. Take three on the day you have sex, and even the emperor, a seasoned veteran, will never notice."
Lin Xiaoxiao looked at her with satisfaction: "Thank you very much then. What else?"
Shen Qingqing explained to her, "The red bottle contains fertility aids, and the blue bottle contains those pills. I advise you not to give them to the emperor; if he finds out, you're finished. The palace isn't an easy place to live. But since you helped me before, I'll give you two more bottles of medicine."
"This large bottle contains a colorless and odorless poison, while the small bottle is for preventing miscarriage. Don't use the wrong one, or I won't be responsible. It all depends on whether you can even bring it inside."
Lin Xiaoxiao smiled knowingly: "Thank you so much, my sister. I will never forget you when I become a high-ranking concubine and achieve great success."
Shen Qingqing's eye twitched. She thought, "You'd better forget about me."
Lin Xiaoxiao teased, "I heard the Gu family is out of danger now, why don't you consider Gu Liyao?"
"What's there to consider? He's just the second son of the Gu family; the title belongs to his elder brother."
Lin Xiaoxiao chuckled. "You're still looking down on Gu Liyao?"
Gu Liyao is probably the best person you can find in your life, but she didn't say so. What does it have to do with her?
"Fine, whatever makes you happy."
"Is the medicine ready yet? The last dose was too small, but the feedback was very good."
Shen Qingqing said impatiently, "It'll be soon. I'm human, not a god. Last time was just an experiment."
Lin Xiaoxiao laughed: "We've already made so much money from the experimental drugs, if we release even more, we'll be rolling in it! Yihongyuan has placed a lot of orders with us, you'd better hurry up!"
"understood"
The next day, the imperial edict arrived at the residence of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Lin Xiaoxiao, daughter of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, is gentle, dignified, virtuous, and intelligent. She is hereby granted permission to enter the palace to accompany the Emperor, and is hereby conferred the title of Beauty. She is also awarded one hundred taels of gold, several bolts of silk and satin, a pair of gold hairpins, and a pair of turquoise and blue jade bracelets."
The head eunuch slowly closed the imperial edict: "Congratulations, Your Majesty."
Lin Xiaoxiao solemnly accepted the imperial edict: "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty."
Ping'er, being sensible, handed over a money bag: "Please have some tea, Father-in-law."
The eunuch tossed her over, satisfied, and placed her in his arms. Although she was an adopted daughter, she was quite well-mannered. He had thought he'd made a wasted trip. "Thank you, Your Highness. Please get into the sedan chair. Your husband and the maids are waiting outside."
Lin Xiaoxiao smiled gently: "Father-in-law, may I say a few words to my family before I leave?"
As he spoke, he handed over another money bag.
The eunuch nodded and put the money pouch away: "That's only natural. Once you enter the palace, you'll have less time to see your family. So, this servant will wait for Your Highness outside."
Thank you, Father-in-law.
After the head eunuch left, a woman took Lin Xiaoxiao's hand and said, "I really didn't misjudge you. Xiaoxiao is very capable. You must take good care of yourself after you enter the palace."
"I will be your godmother"
The Vice Minister of Personnel added with a touch of pride, "Don't forget your godfather and godmother when you become successful!"
"Xiaoxiao will never forget the kindness her godparents have shown her."
The Vice Minister of Personnel nodded happily.
The man standing next to the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel had a face as dark as the bottom of a pot.
Lin Xiaoxiao still needed Gu Minghai's support outside the palace, and she had to coax him a bit: "Lord Gu, would you like to have a private talk with me?"
Gu Minghai came today to propose marriage, but his woman has become the emperor's woman. How can he accept this?
"Brother Minghai"
Gu Minghai ignored her.
"Brother Minghai? You're ignoring me and I'm leaving?"
Gu Minghai then turned around: "What's going on? Why would the Emperor suddenly want you to come to the palace?"
Lin Xiaoxiao briefly recounted what happened that day.
Gu Minghai slammed his fist on the table: "I'll go to the palace right now and tell them you've been my woman for a long time."
Lin Xiaoxiao grabbed him and wrapped her arms around his neck: "Don't you want to surpass Gu Mingtang?"
"What do you mean? You mean you'll become the emperor's favorite concubine and whisper in his ear to get Gu Mingtang removed from office, so that I can become the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat?"
"It's not that easy. The Second Prince's birth mother, Consort Shu, has whispered in his ear countless times, but she hasn't managed to replace the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat with the Prime Minister."
"I would never trade my woman for my future."
Lin Xiaoxiao gave him a playful glare: "I don't want to go to the palace either, but the emperor's decree has already been issued, what can I do? Disobeying the decree is punishable by death. Go ahead, I won't stop you."
Lin Xiaoxiao removed her hands from Gu Minghai's neck.
Gu Minghai hesitated, pacing back and forth in frustration: "What should I do? The Emperor wouldn't stole someone else's woman, would he? I'll go find him now."
"If he insists on doing this, I will tell the censors that under pressure he will no longer allow you to enter the palace."
Lin Xiaoxiao held him down: "But if you do that, you won't be favored by the emperor. He can't touch you for now, but what about later? Your future will be ruined. I feel sorry for you."
"With Gu Mingtang blocking my way and the title already given to Gu Yu'an, what future do I have?"
"I told you you're easily swayed."
Lin Xiaoxiao climbed back onto Gu Minghai's neck and whispered a few words in his ear.
Gu Minghai's eyes lit up instantly: "Are you serious?"