Chapter 687: Apology

Consort Rou hurriedly walked with Princess Fuqing toward the Qian Ting, and as soon as they arrived at the Qian Ting they saw the Empress's imperial procession.

Hundreds of people swarmed, almost blocking the alley outside the Princess's residence; just that formation already showed a touch of solemn grandeur.

A crowd of palace attendants escorted the splendidly dressed Gu Jiu Ling as she slowly entered the Princess's residence's main gate; she was naturally lovely and beautiful, and the Empress's heavy, gorgeous court robes on her only enhanced her beauty.

"Pay respects to the Empress!" Consort Rou, with Princess Fuqing, stepped forward and bowed to Gu Jiu Ling.

Gu Jiu Ling quickly smiled and supported Consort Rou's arm: "Consort Rou, you're too polite; I came today for Princess Fuqing's marriage. Princess Fuqing is intelligent and talented, with a gentle beauty and a graceful, generous nature—I am quite fond of her."

Gu Jiu Ling paused, then said: "No matter what, we must find a suitable match for Princess Fuqing today; I have come personally to choose!"

As soon as Gu Jiu Ling finished speaking, everyone around was stunned; they never expected the Empress herself to come to the Princess's residence to pick a prince consort.

If the Empress is presiding, whoever she chooses is the one.

It's obvious that Gu Jiu Ling is probably going to force the issue, like making a bull drink water.

Consort Rou's eyes instantly flashed with gratitude: "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Her voice already trembled slightly; Gu Jiu Ling had come to save her child's life.

"Please come in, Your Majesty!"

Consort Rou hurriedly ushered Gu Jiu Ling into the Qian Ting, but just as they sat down, a pale, panicked noblewoman hurried to the door, followed by a timid woman; although her clothing wasn't as luxurious as the previous noblewoman's, it was still respectable.

The Princess's residence's matrons carefully stepped forward and knelt before Consort Rou and the others to report.

"Reporting to the master, the Marchioness of Ning'an and... Lady Li, wife of the Vice Minister of Works of the Li family, request an audience, saying they wish to come and make amends!"

Consort Rou was momentarily startled, then quickly lifted her gaze to her daughter.

Princess Fuqing obediently stood behind Gu Jiu Ling, serving tea and water, picking pastries and fruits, her expression calm without raising her head.

She secretly sneered in her heart, "Make amends?"

The incident happened last night, but the Li family said nothing all night long; even the Marchioness of Ning'an looked down on the Princess's residence, thinking they could just mention it the next day.

But this morning, when the Empress had just arrived at the Princess's residence, these people could not sit still; they rushed over, not to give the Princess's residence face, but out of fear of the Empress's majestic aura.

Gu Jiu Ling took the peeled fruit flesh from Princess Fuqing, took a bite, and smiled: "This fruit is sweet; let your mother try some."

"Yes!" Princess Fuqing slowly stepped back to stand beside Consort Rou.

Gu Jiu Ling picked up a damp handkerchief, wiped her hands, and lightly smiled: "Please come in; is there anything else you wish to say?"

"Yes!" The matron hurriedly withdrew, and shortly returned with the Marchioness of Ning'an and Lady Li.

Lady Li's heart nearly leapt out of her chest; from yesterday to now, the Li family has been a mix of great joy and great shock.

She never expected Princess Fuqing's selection of a prince consort to fall on her son; if her son became a prince consort, he would become imperial kin, rising in a single step—such good fortune is not easily obtained.

But before the household's joy had even faded, her son, after getting drunk, ended up making such a huge mistake.

Her father-in-law is still furious, having beaten that clueless boy hard with several paddles; the boy is still lying in the room.

Even now, he still says he doesn't want to be a prince consort; having said it so often, she and her father-in-law also think their son might perhaps top the next spring examination and become a zhuangyuan, and maybe the title of prince consort truly doesn't suit him.

Moreover, Princess Fuqing is merely an unfavored princess of the previous dynasty; what waves could she possibly stir up?

Perhaps her earlier show of respect to the Empress was merely putting on an act.

But this morning, the Empress personally made her procession to the Princess's residence, and instantly the whole of Jing Cheng was stunned; this is not just for show—it clearly tells everyone that Gu Jiu Ling will protect Princess Fuqing.

Now the Li family is completely dumbfounded; even the usually unconcerned Ning'an Marquis household panicked, and upon seeing Lady Li bring gifts to apologize, they unleashed a torrent of blame upon her.

She hastily brought Lady Li directly to the Princess Fuqing's residence to make amends, hoping only that the Empress would not blame her, and if blame came, that it not involve her. beautiful jade book insect

She had finally managed to gain favor in front of the Empress with her eloquence, pleasing her, but now that the relationship had just been maintained, such a big mess erupted.

She had also been foolish before; since Gu Jiu Ling personally oversaw Princess Fuqing's marriage, how could she not take it seriously?

The Marchioness of Ning'an wished she could slap herself to death; she had been blinded by pig fat at first, and only now did she see clearly.

Gu Jiu Ling's treatment of Princess Fuqing is truly not just for show; it is genuinely good.

"Your servant pays respects to the Empress!" the Marchioness of Ning'an and Lady Li hurriedly kowtowed to Gu Jiu Ling.

Gu Jiu Ling merely glanced at them indifferently, said nothing, and instead smiled at Princess Fuqing: "These are portraits of marriageable men taken earlier from the Bureau of Matrimony; take another look today, and tomorrow the imperial edict of marriage will be sent to your residence."

Gu Jiu Ling ordered Jiu Yue to bring over those men's portraits again; this time Fuqing understood that if she remained pretentious, the fault would be hers.

She hurriedly rose, thanked Gu Jiu Ling, took the portraits, and stared intently, yet she didn't know how to choose.

She realized that today, no matter whom she chose, her wish would be fulfilled.

But she still had some reservations.

Gu Jiu Ling on the side smiled: "Just pick casually; the Marquis's son, the aristocratic heir—no matter how you choose, it's far better than last time; last time you might have been blinded, this time pick a few more, and I'll help you vet them."

"A heavenly gifted daughter ought to match a noble and royal clan; how could ordinary cats and dogs ever catch your eye?"

With each sentence Gu Jiu Ling spoke, Lady Li's face turned a shade paler as she knelt on the ground.

Obviously this was comparing her son to pigs and dogs, and she didn't know what to do.

Princess Fuqing took a breath; last time she had merely sought stability, but now she saw that not only were the high-ranking families problematic, even the lowly households had those disgusting things unfit for the table.

Rather than that, it would be better to choose someone of high lineage; at least they wouldn't do something as tasteless as the Li family.

Princess Fuqing focused her gaze, about to look again, when suddenly a commotion erupted at the Princess's residence gate, and then a tall, slender man in a dark brocade robe strode in slowly.

The matrons guarding the gate hurriedly rushed in, their faces flushed with panic, and reported: "Reporting to the master, Shangshu Gu requests an audience!"

As soon as the three words "Shangshu Gu" left the matron's mouth, everyone in the hall—whether seated or kneeling—startled in unison.

What is Gu Kang doing here?