Chapter 42 (1/2)

“Father, Mother.” Gu Ru Jiu walked into the main courtyard and bowed to her parents. Then she bent her knees slightly towards her eldest brother, her second brother and her second sister-in-law. Everyone in the family sitting seriously like this made her feel puzzled. Nothing special had happened in the capital recently, so why were they all so serious?

“Jiu Jiu, come here. Sit down to speak.” Gu Chang Ling, under the gaze of his entire family, was emotional. “Next month, you come of age. This father thinks of the year you were born, you were a wrinkly little ball. Fifteen years passed in the blink of an eye.”

Gu Ru Jiu felt her heart warm up. She stood and bowed deeply to Yang shi and Gu Chang Ling. “Thank you, Father, Mother, for raising me.”

“Parents raise their children in hopes of their health and growth. Children thank their parents for raising them. As parents, we thank our children for coming to our lives.” Yang shi‘s eyes turned slightly red. She used a small smile to disguise her emotions. “So in the future, do not say such words. There is no need for thanks between parents and children.”

“Yes.” Gu Ru Jiu nodded with a smile. She walked next to Yang shi, crouched down and looked up at her mother. “Mother, what is it?”

“I am fine. But you are growing up by the day, and are at an age when you can leave the house. This mother cannot bear it.” Yang shi wiped away the water from the corners of her eyes and reached out to touch Gu Ru Jiu’s forehead. “There is something I haven’t told you. I wanted to tell you the day after, but then the news of Prince Cheng came that day. His Majesty was going to mourn for Prince Cheng for seven months, so I could not mention the matter.”

She looked at her daughter’s perplexed expression and knew that the imperial family had not spoken of this matter to her daughter on her trips to the palace. As a result, her unwillingness decreased greatly. Fortunately, the emperor knew the rules and they had not privately confirmed their marriage.

“The imperial family asked Mistress Hu to come propose a marriage to our family.” Yang shi‘s tone was slow. She clearly did not want to mention this matter to Gu Ru Jiu. “His Majesty wants to marry you and make you empress.”

Gu Ru Jiu’s mind was overwhelmed. Her as empress? This was Jin Yang’s intention?

In the last half year, she had not seen Jin Yang many times. At the start of spring this year, the third day of the third month, she had made two pouches for good fortune and longevity to bring into the palace. Because His Majesty had been mourning for Prince Cheng and she was female, she had bid farewell after a few words.

Later, she had seen Jin Yang at Kangquan Place two times. While Jin Yang had seen her onto the carriage each time, she came and left hurriedly. She had never thought that Jin Yang would have such thoughts.

“I hear that this is His Majesty’s intention.” Yang shi saw her disbelief and sighed. “Your father and I thought, if you are unwilling, we will find a reason to refuse this marriage. Other than us, the Hu family, the empress dowager and His Majesty, no one else knows of this.”

“Let me think.” Gu Ru Jiu stood up dazedly and sat down on a chair. The imperial family had spoken, so how could it be refused so easily? Her mother spoke so easily in order to comfort her emotions, but she was not an ignorant child. How could she not know the powerful connections in here?

The other members of her family saw this and could not bear it. Hu shi whispered, “Little Sister-in-law, what do you think of His Majesty?”

“He… treats me very well.” Gu Ru Jiu thought for a moment. “He never abuses his status and is extremely careful and considerate. Brother, you treat me just like he does.”

Gu Cun Jing heard this and changed expression. He had seen long ago that His Majesty was very good to his younger sister. But at the time, he thought that his younger sister was extremely adorable, so His Majesty had some fraternal feelings. Also, His Majesty hadn’t had such thoughts towards his sister at the time. But now, why was it not a fraternal feeling, but a romantic feeling?

Hu shi heard Gu Ru Jiu say this, and her expression eased slightly. “I see that His majesty is sincere towards you.” But how long could this sincerity be maintained? Two years? Five years? Or ten? While marrying into the imperial family could bring glory to the family, but would a family like theirs need to sacrifice a daughter to gain this glory?

“Marquis, Lady, Matron Liu from Kangquan Palace has come.” A servant reported.

“Come in.” Gu Chang Ling stilled, and indicated for the chief steward to personally greet her.

Matron Liu entered the main courtyard. Seeing everyone from the Gu Family present, she first curtsied and then said, “This servant has come to shamelessly ask for a cup of tea from Marquis. Marquis, Lady, do not look down on me.”

“Matron Liu is too polite,” Yang shi said with a smile. “We will clean our poor home to welcome you.”

After saying a few words, Matron Liu moved to the main topic. “This servant has come to bring County Princess Changyan into the palace.”

Yang shi hesitated upon hearing this. “We should not refuse the empress dowager’s invitation, but it will be my daughter’s coming of age ceremony soon. I fear…”

“Lady, do not worry. The empress dowager is only inviting the County Princess to stay for two days, and will send the County Princess back soon.” Matron Liu knew of Yang shi‘s concerns and explained carefully. “County Princess is about to come of age. The empress dowager, due to her status, cannot attend in person, and so has invited the County Princess to stay in the palace. Marquis, Lady, please understand.”

As Matron Liu said such things, if Yang shi refused again, then it would be unreasonable. She thought for a while and then looked towards her daughter for her own decision.

“This subject has not seen the empress dowager for many days.” Gu Ru Jiu slowly smiled. “Since that is the case, I will go disturb Aunt for a few days.”

“It is not a disturbance at all. The empress dowager has been looking forward to this.” Matron Liu was overjoyed seeing Gu Ru Jiu consent and her smile became relaxed.

When Gu Ru Jiu went with servant girls to her own courtyard to pack her luggage, Matron Liu said to Yang shi, “This servant has something else to mention to Marquis and Lady.”

Yang shi looked at her silent husband and knew that he could not speak due to being a man. So she was the one to talk. “Matron, please speak.”

“His Majesty’s mourning period has passed. The matter of empress cannot be delayed.” Matron Liu bowed to Yang shi and Gu Chang Ling. “Please, Marquis, Lady, agree to this marriage.”

Gu Chang Ling, who had not spoken all this time, said, “While they say that a marriage is agreed by the parents and the matchmaker, predestined affinity is still involved.” He took a sip of tea. “His Majesty is a benevolent monarch. The Gu Family naturally wants an ideal son-in-law. But in the future, the young people are the ones growing old together, not us old people. So whether this matter succeeds depends on the young people’s opinion.”

Gu Chang Ling’s words were not subtle and Matron Liu understood his meaning. They had no objections to the marriage with the imperial family. The key was whether County Princess Changyan was willing.

She had heard long ago that the Gu Family loved their daughter, but it was rare to see such a degree of love. If another family encountered such a thing, they would have agreed already. Who would be like the Gu Family?

“I am going to see if Jiu Jiu finished packing and avoid making Matron wait.” Yang shi stood up and smiled towards Matron Liu before moving to the inner courtyard.

When Yang shi reached her daughter’s courtyard, she saw that everything had been packed. She held her daughter’s hand and said, “No need to consider so much. We are here.”

“Mother, don’t worry. This daughter understands.” Gu Ru Jiu smiled at Yang shi and hugged Yang shi‘s arm. She leaned her head on Yang shi‘s arm. “You are so good to me. How do I bear to let all of your good go to waste?”

Yang shi patted her back and laughed silently.

##

After Matron Liu accompanied Gu Ru Jiu into the palace, she went to the empress dowager to report, telling Empress Dowager Zhou what Gu Chang Ling and Yang shi had said.

Empress Dowager Zhou was not angered by the words and laughed. “The Gu Family is always like this. For so many years, Yang shi has not changed. No wonder she could raise a girl like Jiu Jiu.” After saying this, she said to Matron Liu, “Go and tell the Gu Family’s words to the emperor. Also, tell him, based on my maternal relationship to him, regardless of whether he and Jiu Jiu succeed, he cannot become angry with the Gu Family.”

Matron Liu glanced at Empress Dowager Zhou and her complicated expression turned to silence. “This servant will go right now.”

##

In the western hall, Gu Ru Jiu examined the room she had once lived in. It was extremely clean, and the decor had been placed based on her initial preferences, as though nothing had been changed and was just waiting for her to move in.

“Just unpack slowly. I will go visit the empress dowager.” Gu Ru Jiu took Bao Lu, Qiu Luo and two palace attendants to go to the main hall. When she reached the door, she saw Matron Liu walk out. Matron Liu bowed to her and she dodged slightly and returned a half bow before moving inside.

Matron Liu stood on her spot and waited for Gu Ru Jiu to enter before she continued to walk. After a few steps, she heard the empress dowager’s pleased laughter from inside. While she did not know what the county princess had said, she could tell how happy the empress dowager was.

This was likely the so-called predestined affinity. Matron Liu thought.

##

When Matron Liu came to Purple Imperial Hall, Jin Yang was looking at the reports of drought and flooding from the different areas. Hearing Matron Liu’s arrival, he put down what was in his hand and had a servant invite Matron Liu in.

“This servant greets Your Majesty.” Matron Liu greeted Jin Yang with a smile and a bow. “Today, the empress dowager invited County Princess Changyan to stay in the imperial palace and invites you to accompany the empress dowager for the noon meal.”

“Matron doesn’t have to be so polite.” Jin Yang reached out for a lifting motion. His eyes lit up slightly. “Junior Sister has not visited the palace for some time. Does she seem well?”

“She seems thinner than before and taller.” Matron Liu saw His Majesty standing upright as though he was not affected, but his gaze was worried. She said with a smile, “But she has grown more beautiful. Today, when this servant saw the County Princess at the marquis establishment, this servant almost lost composure.”

Hearing Matron Liu say this, Jin Yang’s mood grew better. He put his hands behind his back and said with a smile, “Junior Sister has gathered the best traits of Teacher and his wife.” In his view, Junior Sister’s skin was white, her eyes large, her eyebrows curved, and her hair black. No one was better looking.

Seeing His Majesty in a good mood, Matron Liu took the opportunity to tell him what the Gu Family and the empress dowager thought. She had worried that His Majesty would be angered. But after hearing her words, His Majesty started to praise the Gu Family.

“Teacher Gu’s words are sensible.” Jin Yang had intentions of putting the Gu Family into important positions. Part of the reason was Jiu Jiu, but more was the Gu Family’s conduct and their abilities. As an emperor, the officials he wanted were ones who did not cause trouble and who cared for the people.

If a person didn’t even love their family, could he be expected to love the people? If a person was willing to abandon their children for glory and wealth, then attracted by self-interest and power, he could do more daring things.