Crown Princess was the Empress's eldest niece, Fu Ying Xiao, so Fu Ying Ran was naturally unable to enter the Eastern Palace. While sisters sharing a husband was a tale of virtue in the time of Yao and Shun, it was a joke in the Great Yin Dynasty. The families of the other three young ladies had not taken sides, and each was worth winning over. The Empress, for a moment, truly couldn't make up her mind.
While the Empress was overwhelmed with choices, Noble Consort Jian's mood was utterly dreadful.
What did His Majesty mean by this? Her son was still in Yangzhou fighting the Japanese pirates, yet he was in the inner palace helping that wretched Empress's son find allies. The favoritism was so blatant. How difficult would her Jue'er's path be in the future?
Noble Consort Jian grew more indignant the more she thought about it.
With a "crash," she overturned the tea table.
The fine green tangerine tea cups shattered into a pile of fragments.
Jin'er, the head palace maid, stepped forward cautiously, "Your Ladyship, please don't be angry. If you upset yourself, His Highness Prince Ning will be heartbroken. Besides the Crown Prince, didn't His Majesty also bring the Third Prince? I imagine today was just a coincidence. It's a pity Prince Ning isn't in the capital; otherwise, he would have had a chance at selecting a consort today."
Noble Consort Jian snorted, "The Third Prince has always followed the Crown Prince's lead. If he were to gain this assistance, it would be no different than benefiting that Dali Temple Minister by His Majesty's side."
"Your Ladyship jokes. Not to mention that Minister Gu is already married, but even if he were unmarried, he wouldn't be a match for those four young ladies."
"Do I need you to tell me that? His Majesty is becoming more and more fond of concealment. Does he think that by bringing one more person, others won't realize he's arranging matches for the Crown Prince and the Third Prince?"
Gu Yan Chen, who was deemed the decoy, also thought so. Thus, on the training grounds, he lost with utmost perfunctoriness, allowing the Crown Prince and the Third Prince to shine. Emperor Chang Wu was so angered that he picked up a peach and threw it at him, "Gu Yan Chen, compete properly! If you're still so careless, believe it or not, I'll withhold all your salary for this year!"
Gu Yan Chen: ...kuAiδugg
Had he misjudged His Majesty's intentions? It shouldn't be. Wasn't he tactful enough?
He desperately wanted to continue being a slacker, but it was only the beginning of April. If all his salary for the year was withheld, wouldn't he have to live off someone else for the remaining nine months?
For the sake of money!!!
A determined gleam flashed in Gu Yan Chen's eyes. Arrows were loosed from his bowstring one after another. The first arrow struck the bullseye. The second arrow split the first arrow from its tail, dividing it in two before hitting the red dot of the bullseye again. Then, the third, the fourth, and up to the fifth arrow, the target that had stood for many years was uprooted and toppled.
The scene fell silent for a few breaths, then Zhao Si Yue's delighted cry rang out, "Lord Gu, you're amazing!"
Emperor Chang Wu led the applause. Well done, a true son of his.
With Emperor Chang Wu leading, everyone naturally followed suit with praise, especially since Gu Yan Chen was indeed outstanding.
With this archery skill, it would be difficult to find an equal in the entire Great Yin.
Consort Hui, observing Emperor Chang Wu's delight, her gaze quietly fell upon Gu Yan Chen's strikingly familiar face. She thought, perhaps the skies in the imperial city were about to change. But what did that have to do with her? Her son wasn't vying for that position.
She merely wondered what the Empress and Noble Consort Jian would think when they saw his face.
She would just wait to spectate and watch the drama unfold.
The Crown Prince and the Third Prince had initially believed themselves to be the protagonists, with Gu Yan Chen merely a supporting role. Only after several rounds of competition did they realize they were the ones playing supporting roles. The Crown Prince was better; he was already past thirty and had been the Crown Prince for many years. He wouldn't lack the magnanimity to tolerate this. The Third Prince was not so fortunate. Since when did a mere Dali Temple Minister dare to show him such disrespect?
With such perception, this man actually managed to climb to the rank of Third Grade and was deeply favored by his father. His father's preferences were becoming increasingly inscrutable.
After completing the obstacle course horse race with the two princes, Gu Yan Chen breathed a sigh of relief. His salary for the year should be safe, right? He nimbly dismounted, his long legs swinging out a sharp arc in the air. His black tight-fitting attire cinched his waist, further accentuating his physique. Zhao Si Yue's eyes almost bulged out. What a pity it wasn't a selection of wives for Lord Gu today!