Bai Qi brought Gu Qianying into the palace and returned immediately. Upon his return, he reported, "Master, I have delivered Miss Gu to the palace and instructed the palace informants to look after her."
Inside the carriage, the image of the little girl in blue from years ago remained etched in Nangong Mo's mind.
After a long while, he twirled the jade thumb ring on his finger, parted his lips, and asked, "Bai Qi, what do you think of Miss Gu as a match for this master?"
Suddenly, Bai Qi recalled that his master had previously ordered him to ensure Miss Gu stayed in the carriage for as long as possible, by any means necessary. From this, he wondered if his master truly had feelings for the eldest daughter of the Gu family.
Bai Qi pondered for a moment and replied, "A flower and cow dung, putting the cart before the horse."
Bai Qi spoke bluntly. He believed his master was a rare handsome man in the world, while Miss Gu, though possessing a beauty that could topple cities, paled in comparison to his master.
"You say Miss Gu is..."
Nangong Mo's tone was indifferent.
Yet, his tone sent a jolt through Bai Qi.
"No, no, no, your subordinate means that Miss Gu's beauty that can topple cities is indeed a good match for you, Master. However..."
Bai Qi stole a glance at Nangong Mo. Seeing that he was not angered, he continued, "However, I seem to have heard that Crown Prince Nan Rong Qi intends to win over Lord Gu. After all, Old General Gu is a veteran of three dynasties and recently led his grandson to victory. Old General Gu is upright and unyielding, but Lord Gu is short-sighted and driven by profit. I fear that with a word from the Crown Prince, he will readily follow. If Lord Gu aligns with the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince, in order to win hearts, will inevitably advise the Emperor to take the legitimate daughter of the Gu family as a consort."
As the wind blew, Bai Qi's robes fluttered, and a chill permeated the air.
"I recall that Minister Meng's daughter has been in love with the Crown Prince for many years."
Bai Qi scratched his head.
A "unique" woman who privately kept many young men in her residence and was rumored to have an unclear relationship with her cousin – the concubine's daughter of the Meng family, Meng Yating?
Bai Qi suddenly realized and chuckled, "Your subordinate knows what to do."
With that, Bai Qi asked again, "Master, it's getting late. The palace banquet is about to begin."
Nangong Mo leaned back slightly, his eyes half-closed. "No rush. I am a person with mobility issues. The Emperor will understand if I arrive late."
Bai Qi's mouth twitched.
Indeed, he had no grounds to refute this reason.
The carriage of the Ninth Prince's manor lingered outside the palace for a long time. Many people who wished to curry favor with Nangong Mo were present, but Bai Qi turned them all away.
Around noon, as the executioner escorted the condemned prisoners to the execution ground, there was finally movement within the Ninth Prince's carriage.
"Bai Qi, to the banquet."
"Yes, Master."
Bai Qi placed the prepared wheelchair outside the carriage, and then the guards who had been hidden in the shadows reappeared, surrounding the carriage inside and out.
In a moment, the hidden guards departed swiftly.
Only then did Bai Qi push Nangong Mo towards the palace.
Gu Qianying was escorted into the palace by Bai Qi and then followed a young eunuch to Xuande Tower.
Xuande Tower was where the Emperor specially hosted banquets for his meritorious officials.
The decorations inside were magnificent and opulent.
At the palace banquet, there was fine wine, delicious food, singing, dancing, and lively festivities.
The Empress and several consorts were seated according to their ranks. The Emperor, Old General Gu, and Gu Yefeng, the eldest son of the Gu family, had not yet taken their seats, likely discussing matters in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Meanwhile.
Gu Qianying sat close to the First Madam, while Gu Mingyue, Gu Ziran, and Gu Yumei maintained a distance of one zhang from Gu Qianying.
The three were merely concubine's daughters of the household. Having received their father's permission, they were allowed to accompany their legitimate elder sister to the palace banquet, hence their seating was further away.
Gu Mingyue watched Gu Qianying sit alongside other young ladies of noble families, feeling a pang of bitterness.
That wretched Gu Qianying, what else could she possess besides her noble status!
At such a grand palace banquet, she wore a white dress. Hmph, it was truly unsightly!
Yet, Gu Qianying's unique attire attracted the attention of several princes.
Gu Qianying herself possessed a beauty that could topple cities. Coupled with her specially chosen attire today, she was like a single red bloom amidst a hundred flowers, evoking envy and jealousy from many young ladies.
Gu Mingyue observed from the side, her heart growing increasingly agitated. Her beautiful eyes flickered as she looked towards Gu Qianying.
"Sister, didn't you come with the Ninth Prince? Since you're here, where is the Ninth Prince?"
Gu Mingyue deliberately asked this question in front of everyone.
Who was the Ninth Prince? He was the "male companion" that many young ladies dreamed of marrying!
Coming together with the Ninth Prince, what did that imply?
It was self-evident.
Gu Mingyue's question caused all the ladies who yearned for Nangong Mo but could not have him, and the imperial consorts in the palace, to turn their gazes towards Gu Qianying. The hatred in their eyes was palpable.
"Who is this?"
"The granddaughter of Old General Gu, the legitimate daughter of the Gu family, Gu Qianying."
"Look at her white dress, is she here for the palace banquet, or..." Hmph!
"Such disrespect for etiquette, it doesn't seem like something a legitimate daughter would do."
"Indeed, if no one mentioned it, I would have thought she was the concubine's daughter of some family."
Among the ladies, one after another, they taunted her.
Among them, some recognized the other three ladies of the Gu family and proceeded to belittle Gu Ziran and the others as well.
Gu Ziran wanted to retort but was stopped by Gu Yumei.
Gu Mingyue, oblivious, believed that the people being mocked did not include her.
Finally, she added, "My eldest sister has always disliked wearing flashy dresses. She always says that only women of the brothel like to dress colorfully to attract men."
Gu Mingyue's words caused many young ladies and consorts to not only ridicule Gu Qianying but also resent her.
"What? What is she saying! There are many imperial consorts in the palace who like to wear bright colors. What? Does Miss Gu also think that the imperial consorts are famous courtesans?"
Among the crowd, some were cautious, some watched the drama unfold silently, and some were bold and foolish. This remark immediately implicated all the imperial consorts present.
Seeing Gu Qianying suddenly become the target of everyone's "attack."
Gu Mingyue was overjoyed.
Gu Qianying, you wretched woman, I will ruin you with gossip.
Slandering the imperial consorts is a grave offense. She refused to believe that Gu Qianying could escape this time.
Someone had implicated the imperial consorts present, and the Empress, seated in the main seat, had no choice but to inquire about the matter.
"Oh, Miss Gu actually thinks that plain clothing is more beautiful than flashy dresses?"
The Empress's question, though seemingly simple, was a double-edged sword. No matter how Gu Qianying answered, the charge of slandering the imperial consorts would be pinned on her.
Just as everyone expected Gu Qianying to fall to her knees begging for mercy, they saw Gu Qianying slowly rise and walk to the center of the hall...