The old lady listened intently as Gu Liyue recounted in detail how Feng Lanqing and Liu Qinting had pushed her into the water back then, and how the Liu family had forced her to break off the engagement. Her heart felt as if it were being stabbed by a knife. She now realized that her granddaughter had endured such a miserable life at that time.
"Don't be afraid. It was that young man Feng who wronged you first. Now that the engagement has been broken off, there's no reason you can't get engaged again. However, although others may not know about this, Jin Chen must be informed. After all, he's your future husband."
Gu Liyue said timidly, "He... already knows. Previously, when Feng Lanqing passed the imperial examination at the county level, I accidentally ran into him and we had a conflict. It was... Prince Lu who saved me."
The old lady was completely relieved. "Since he still wants to marry you after knowing this, it shows that he's truly sincere towards you. So you don't need to worry anymore. As for that Feng Lanqing, how dare he humiliate my granddaughter like this? How could I tolerate it? Second son, send someone to inquire about the situations of the Feng and Liu families. Humph, if they're in a bad state, then that's that. But if they're doing even a bit well, you know what to do, right? I've never been one to be forgiving."
Gu Zhongxian immediately agreed, clenching his teeth tightly. He had long been dissatisfied with his sister-in-law's family. It was only because Gu Liyue had always been reluctant to hold grudges that he had endured it again and again without taking any action.
Gu Liyue didn't say much. Now that she was a young lady of the Gu family, even if Feng Lanqing were to pass the provincial or imperial examinations, he would never be as well - off as the Gu family.
She vaguely remembered that when she was seriously ill, her uncle had argued with Mrs. Miao in her room. They had said that her father's family was of noble status, and they were waiting for her father's family to come looking for her.
Thinking about it now, she couldn't help but feel emotional. The fact that she had survived in the Liu family until the age of fifteen was, in a sense, the Gu family's silent protection.
Regarding the news of the imperial bestowal of marriage, the emperor had given the Gu family enough face. He was waiting for the Gu family to come to the palace to decline the offer if they were not willing. However, after waiting for several days, Marquis Gu went to and from court as usual, showing no sign of submitting a petition.
So the emperor summoned Lu Jinchen to play chess with him. Squinting his eyes, he asked, "I don't really have an impression of the young lady from the Gu family. Are you really determined to marry her?"
Lu Jinchen nodded. "She entered the palace during the New Year's Eve palace banquet."
The emperor remembered this. At that time, he had only mentioned it in passing. That young girl had a few conversations with Lu Yunxi, and she was quite articulate. Later, when he learned that she was from the countryside, he was secretly surprised. He had thought that all country girls were timid.
However, he couldn't remember her face clearly. She was probably a young child, and she was quite good - looking. Her eyebrows somewhat resembled her father's.
The emperor asked again, "What do you like about her?"
"She's innocent."
The emperor laughed. "There are many innocent young girls. Why did you take a fancy to her, Chen'er? Those old stubborns in the Gu family are not easy to deal with."
"Otherwise, why would I come to you, Uncle Emperor?" Lu Jinchen calmly made another move on the chessboard. "Uncle, you've lost."
The emperor burst out laughing and pushed the chessboard aside. "Tell me the truth. Why do you want to marry her?"
Lu Jinchen smiled faintly and poured a cup of tea for the emperor. "She... is beautiful."
"Beautiful?"
"Yes, beautiful. Uncle Emperor, you haven't taken a good look at her. She's really beautiful."
The emperor squinted at Lu Jinchen. "More beautiful than... the young lady from the Qi family?"
Lu Jinchen pondered for a while and swirled the cup on the table. After a long time, he said, "Uncle Emperor, a girl who is aware of her own beauty is not that beautiful. And she is a person who is beautiful but unaware of it."
The emperor didn't ask any more questions. He knew his nephew well and knew that he was not a man who was obsessed with beauty. If it was just for fun, he would not approve. But now it seemed that his nephew was truly in love.
Lu Jinchen's eyes curved slightly. "Uncle Emperor, will you grant my request?"
The emperor sighed. "Fine. You're not young anymore. In a few days, I'll summon that girl to the palace. If she's suitable, I'll bestow the marriage for you."
Lu Jinchen immediately knelt down. "Thank you, Uncle Emperor."
The emperor waved his hand. "Don't thank me so soon. Those old guys in the Gu family are people that even I have to give some leeway. If they're not willing, I can't force them."
Lu Jinchen quickly replied, "Uncle Emperor, please rest assured. I'll go to the marquis's mansion later to propose marriage in person."
The emperor was stunned for a moment and couldn't help but say, "Chen'er, your father..."
"Uncle Emperor." Lu Jinchen interrupted him. "The Prince of Liang and I only have a superficial relationship. When my bride enters the family in the future, she will surely visit his mansion. But I have my own residence and don't live with him."
The emperor looked at Lu Jinchen for a long time, then sighed slightly and waved his hand, signaling him to leave first.
Before Lu Jinchen could return home after leaving the palace, he met Gu Chengzhi outside the palace gate. Gu Chengzhi was sitting on his horse with a grim expression, waiting for him.
"Let's go to the martial arts field."
Lu Jinchen and Gu Chengzhi had grown up together since childhood. The martial arts field was a place they often went to. Whether they were happy or sad, they would go there to have a fight and enjoy a good bout.
However, usually it was Lu Jinchen who was in a bad mood. Today, he didn't know why Gu Chengzhi was like this, as if he had encountered some trouble.
Gu Chengzhi's attacks were not like his usual ones that stopped at a touch. Almost every move was aimed to kill. Even though Lu Jinchen's martial arts skills were better than his, he could hardly withstand such an offensive.
Finally, Lu Jinchen had no choice but to press Gu Chengzhi firmly to the ground and asked helplessly, "Are you crazy today? Do you want to fight to the death?"
Gu Chengzhi, unable to move under the pressure, said angrily, "I'm telling you, it won't be that easy for you to marry my sister. If you ever treat her badly in the future, I will never let you off!"
Lu Jinchen laughed heartily and released Gu Chengzhi. Clapping his hands, he said, "Since it's my brother - in - law challenging me, I naturally dare not be presumptuous."
Gu Chengzhi glared at him angrily. He sat up and waited for a while. Seeing that Lu Jinchen didn't intend to pull him up, he angrily reached out his hand. "Why don't you pull me up!"
Lu Jinchen pulled him up. "Do you want to continue?"
Gu Chengzhi said dejectedly, "You're not good enough for my sister."
Lu Jinchen wasn't angry. Raising his eyebrows, he led him out. "Shall we go for a drink?"
"You! Are you human? I'm being serious with you. You're clearly like a weasel paying New Year greetings to a chicken - you have ulterior motives!"
"Then... if you don't want to drink, where do you want to go?"
Gu Chengzhi scratched his nose. "Let's still go for a drink. Anyway, you're treating today."
Lu Jinchen smiled faintly. "Previously, I might have been reluctant, but today I'm more than happy to have a good time with my brother - in - law."
Gu Chengzhi felt even more uncomfortable. Pulling Lu Jinchen, he said, "You brat, have you been coveting my sister for a long time? You saw that she was beautiful, so you started caring about her bit by bit, and now you even want to take her away. You... You must have planned this all along."
Lu Jinchen bowed to him. "Brother - in - law is absolutely right. Speaking of which, I really have to thank you, brother - in - law. If it weren't for you telling me that Liyue was framed by the Jiang family that day, I wouldn't have rushed back so urgently to take her away. Moreover, the method of taking her away was also thought up by you."