Only then did Gu Liyue learn that the Feng family had introduced so many novel things in the capital. She was extremely interested. With nothing else to do, she would often drag Qin Caiyin to the shops whenever she had free time.
However, after just a few outings, Qin Caiyin was reluctant to go anymore. She was now on very good terms with Jiang Che. Even if they couldn't see each other every day, they would write letters to pour out their feelings for each other.
"Going out to catch the cold everywhere is really no fun. You go by yourself. I'm not going anymore."
Gu Liyue pulled her and said, "Have you abandoned your friend for your lover?"
Qin Caiyin burst out laughing and tapped Gu Liyue's nose. "Who told you to choose such a busy husband? Well, if your man won't accompany you, can't my man accompany me?"
Gu Liyue glared at her unhappily. "You value your lover over your friend. I'm not talking to you anymore."
But after leaving the Qin family, Gu Liyue's heart grew heavy. Jiang Che wasn't idle every day, but even when he was assigned tasks, he would still find a way to write letters to Qin Caiyin. But Lu Jinchen, once he disappeared, was nowhere to be found.
Tangyuan asked, "Miss, do you want to go shopping anywhere today?"
Gu Liyue had lost her interest and shook her head. "Forget it. Let's go back to the mansion."
Not long after she got home, Danju came running back out of breath. "Miss..."
Tangyuan asked in confusion, "Danju, what are you doing? Has something extraordinary happened?"
Danju nodded repeatedly. "Miss, I heard people outside saying that the second young master of the Prince Liang's Mansion has become engaged to the eldest legitimate daughter of the Duke Qi's Mansion."
Gu Liyue asked in surprise, "Lu Jinxuan and Qi Manyan?"
Danju nodded vigorously. "Yes, it's them."
Gu Liyue was extremely astonished. These two people had nothing to do with each other. How could they get engaged? Qi Manyan seemed to be an arrogant person. Otherwise, she wouldn't have taken so long to choose among the royal princes. Although Lu Jinxuan was also the son of the Prince Liang, when he was born, the princess was still a concubine, and he was the second son, with an older legitimate brother above him. In the future, when Lu Jinchen succeeded to the title, Lu Jinxuan would eventually be separated and would only be a member of the royal family.
These were all members of the royal clan, but there was a huge difference between those with a royal title and those without. Although some second sons of the princes or favored concubines' sons might be granted a royal title, it would still be lower than the inherited title. It would be fine if they had a good relationship with the eldest legitimate son, but Lu Jinxuan and Lu Jinchen were not born of the same mother, and it seemed that their relationship was not very good.
Danju said, "I heard that the whole capital is talking about this now. Miss Qi was so picky before, and she once clearly said that she liked..."
She liked the heir of the Prince Liang, but since the heir would be the son - in - law of their Gu family, it was better not to say this.
Gu Liyue couldn't quite figure it out, so she stopped thinking about it. She just said, "Maybe they have different ideas. I've met the second young master of the Prince Liang's Mansion. He is elegant and outstanding, and has always had a good reputation. Miss Qi is quite a good match for him."
Danju thought for a while and said, "Miss, there's another piece of news from the Prince Liang's Mansion. It may be related to this. I heard that the heir of the Prince Liang has had a much better relationship with the Prince Liang recently. The heir has been living in the mansion for more than two months."
Gu Liyue wasn't surprised, but what she was thinking about was what on earth Lu Jinchen was doing? What kind of task had the emperor given him that made him have to live in the mansion? Or had he really let go of his grudges and was willing to get along well with the Prince Liang and the princess?
Danju asked, "Miss, could it be that the Qi family saw that the Prince Liang's Mansion was in harmony and then agreed to let Miss Qi marry the second young master?"
Gu Liyue pondered for a moment and didn't say anything. She just thought it was impossible in her heart. Qi Manyan was definitely not a person who would settle for the second - best. But she just couldn't figure out the reason.
After a pause, Gu Liyue said to Tangyuan, "Send someone to the heir's mansion and tell him that I want to see him."
Tangyuan asked, "The heir of the Prince Liang? But isn't the heir living in the Prince Liang's Mansion? Shouldn't we look for him in the mansion?"
Before Gu Liyue could say anything else, the voices of the maids greeting someone came from outside. It was Gu Chengzhi.
Gu Liyue quickly welcomed him, took off his outer robe, shook off the snow on it, and let him sit by the stove to warm up. "Fourth brother hasn't come for a long time. Why do you have time today?"
Gu Chengzhi laughed heartily. "Sister, your words sound like you're complaining about me?"
Gu Liyue pursed her lips and said, "Whether you come or not has nothing to do with me. Danju, bring the bird's nest stewing on the stove for the fourth young master."
Gu Chengzhi waved his hand. "What you girls eat, why give it to me? Sister, keep it for yourself."
Gu Liyue said, "I'm tired of eating it. Fourth brother, just help me out."
Gu Chengzhi then looked at the embroidery on the table and frowned. "Do you do this every day? Grandmother said not to let you do it. You'll hurt your eyes."
"It's okay. I'm just bored. I'll take care of myself." Seeing Gu Chengzhi beating around the bush, Gu Liyue felt even more uneasy. "Fourth brother, did you come to see me today because you have something to tell me?"
Gu Chengzhi said, "Can't I come to see my sister if I have nothing to do? However... there is a small matter. I'm going on a mission out of the capital."
Gu Liyue asked curiously, "Out of the capital? Where are you going?"
Gu Chengzhi replied, "There have been a lot of problems with Lord Lin, the imperial son - in - law. Originally, this task should have been carried out by the second brother with his men. But perhaps the emperor took pity on the fact that the second brother has been married for less than three months and wanted me to gain some experience, so he assigned the task to me."
Gu Liyue nodded nervously. She wanted to ask what exactly the matter was, but seeing that her fourth brother was being vague, she understood that it was probably a confidential matter and not convenient to talk about. She thought for a while and then asked, "Then... is the heir going with you?"
Lu Jinchen and Gu Chengzhi used to be together all the time, whether it was for official tasks or other people's requests.
Gu Chengzhi shook his head. "We were originally going together, but he... Liyue, do you know about the heavy snow blocking the mountains in the north?"
Gu Liyue knew very little about the affairs of the court and of course didn't know. But hearing about this natural disaster, she was quite panicked. "No... Is it very serious?"
Gu Chengzhi said, "The officials in the northwest region concealed the situation. Later, they couldn't hide it anymore. The emperor quickly ordered the Prince Qingling to lead troops to rescue. But now the mountains are blocked by heavy snow. I heard that the Prince Qingling and his elite soldiers have all died..."
Gu Liyue's eyes widened. The Prince Qingling? Lu Yunxi's father?
Gu Chengzhi said, "I went to see Yunxi specially yesterday. She was quite calm, but..."
Gu Liyue asked, "Then what should we do now?"
Gu Chengzhi said, "This morning, the Prince Liang has requested to lead troops to rescue, but the emperor rejected him. This disaster is very dangerous, and the emperor's cousin's life or death is unknown. Naturally, he doesn't want his younger brother to take risks. So Jinchen knelt outside the Hall of Diligent Administration to request to go."
Gu Liyue felt that she couldn't even speak. It took her a long time to stammer, "Jinchen? What does he want to request for? Does he want to go for the rescue himself?"
Gu Chengzhi sighed deeply. "Yes... Jinchen said that as the heir of the royal family, he has lived in luxury for twenty years and enjoyed all the privileges. He should, just like his father, do his part for the country and the people."