"AAAAHHH! Why are there so many things to do!"
Qiuqiu stared at the paperwork piled up on the table, feeling utterly frustrated. She had come up with a new idea a few days ago and was eager to write it down. Little did she expect that so many matters would crop up in these few days.
There were applications from the Ministry of Works for house repairs, lists of official promotions submitted by the Ministry of Personnel, and even matters regarding the cultivation of new seeds in the suburbs...
After a moment of frustration, Qiuqiu resigned herself to her duties and started working.
Outside the room.
Shen Baozhu said with a touch of pity, "Isn't it a bit unfair for you to dump all these things on Qiuqiu?"
"Baozhu, it's rare for you to have some free time. Let's go out and have a stroll," Gu Chen said, holding Shen Baozhu's hand, his voice sickeningly sweet.
Hearing Gu Chen's coaxing, Shen Baozhu's ears turned bright red. She could only silently apologize to Qiuqiu in her heart.
The two of them walked hand in hand and first went to the pavilion behind the manor.
There were two kids sitting in the pavilion, sighing.
Chen Jinxing sat upright, looking a bit aggrieved. "Why does mother like you more?"
Beside him, Shen Zhiyi leaned against the railing and sighed. "Why does uncle like you more?"
The two kids glanced at each other and then sighed in unison.
When Shen Zhiyi saw Shen Baozhu's figure, he rushed over immediately. "Auntie, auntie, auntie! Why does uncle like Jinxing more? Is it because I'm too stupid?"
Chen Jinxing also looked expectantly. "Why does mother smile more happily when she sees Zhiyi? Am I not being a good boy?"
Shen Baozhu sat down beside the two kids and put her arms around them. "Well, this is a bit complicated. Zhiyi, does Jinxing look familiar to you?"
"Like someone who is very good at studying and starts reading before dawn, and is known as a child prodigy..."
Shen Zhiyi tilted his head and thought for a while. "He's like uncle. So uncle likes Jinxing because he resembles him? Wow, uncle is so narcissistic!"
Shen Baozhu didn't know how to comment on the word "narcissistic". Instead, she turned to Chen Jinxing and said, "Jinxing, do you know how a disciple feels when they see their teacher? Sister Miaochun used to be uncle's disciple, you know!"
Chen Jinxing understood. "Then if mother sees me every day, it's like seeing her teacher every day. She can't even rest at night. Mother is so pitiful."
After resolving the two kids' confusion, Shen Baozhu and Gu Chen sat in the pavilion for a while. They planned to go to Zuiyin Tower for lunch and then take a stroll in the afternoon.
However, there was a little hitch when they were about to leave.
They met Chen Ruxia with a cold face, Shen Heqing looking extremely gloomy, as well as Chen Miaochun and Yan Mingli trying to mediate at the door.
Gu Chen instinctively let go of Shen Baozhu's hand. It wasn't the right time to expose their relationship yet.
If Qiuqiu found out about this, he wouldn't be able to dump all the work on her and have free time to go out with Baozhu.
Shen Baozhu walked up to Chen Miaochun. "What's going on?"
The cause of the argument was Shen Danqing.
Influenced by Shen Yunfeng, Shen Danqing had never had the intention of getting married. Even though the Princess of Jingning had tried to matchmake, she was dissuaded by Concubine Yun.
For all these years, Shen Danqing had remained unmarried.
Unexpectedly, he fell in love with Chen Ruxia's personal maid.
Yan Mingli whispered an explanation. "It's Bai Wu, the maid Ruxia always has with her. The two of them were caught by Heqing when they were meeting. He went to Ruxia to ask for Bai Wu, but Ruxia thought he only had his younger brother in his heart and refused to hand her over."
"That's not right. Ruxia is worried about Bai Wu. Bai Wu and Danqing have different social statuses. What if Danqing changes his heart in the future? This is also Bai Wu's concern. Is it that Ruxia doesn't want to give her up? It's Bai Wu who doesn't want to get married," Chen Miaochun retorted.
Regarding Shen Heqing, Yan Mingli still had a bit of backbone. "Danqing isn't that kind of person. Heqing is also discussing it with Ruxia."
Chen Miaochun sneered. "People's hearts are changeable. Is this so hard to understand?"
Seeing that Yan Mingli and Chen Miaochun were about to quarrel, Gu Chen decisively pulled Shen Baozhu away.
Shen Baozhu was still a bit shocked. "Second brother has someone he likes? Oh my god, I have to tell Concubine Yun!"
"This can wait. We'll talk about it tonight. Let's go to Zuiyin Tower first," Gu Chen was still looking forward to their afternoon outing.
Thinking that they were usually very busy and it was rare to have some free time, Shen Baozhu hesitated for a moment but still agreed.
The two lovebirds strolled around the entire capital city and even ran into Gao Shan and Xu Yunmiao.
Xu Yunmiao was holding his two - year - old daughter and choosing clothes for Gao Shan. He happened to see Shen Baozhu and Gu Chen walking hand in hand. "Baozhu, are you in the capital for a visit? Where's Qiuqiu? Why haven't I seen her?"
Mentioning Qiuqiu, Shen Baozhu and Gu Chen glanced at each other guiltily. Gu Chen changed the subject. "Brother Yunmiao, why are you out alone? Where's Sister Gao Shan?"
"She's at the training ground practicing martial arts," Xu Yunmiao's smile widened. "Martial artists wear out their clothes quickly. I'm out to buy a few ready - made clothes and pick out some fabrics. Your Highness, could you help me take a look and see which fabric is better?"
Gao Shan's taste was the same as Gu Chen's. The most stain - resistant and convenient ones were the best.
While helping Xu Yunmiao choose the fabrics, Gu Chen casually mentioned the argument between Chen Ruxia and Shen Heqing.
Hearing this, Xu Yunmiao smiled. "Ruxia and Bai Wu's concern is the difference in social status. How about having Gao Shan recognize Bai Wu as her younger sister? Then Bai Wu will be out of the low - status servant class and will have more confidence. The rest will depend on whether Danqing can win her over."
Shen Baozhu and Gu Chen thought this was a good idea and planned to discuss it when they got back.
After leaving the cloth shop, Gu Chen pulled Shen Baozhu into the palace.
In the Fengyi Palace.
The queen was in a good mood. She was looking at the list of betrothal gifts one moment and the list of dowries the next, and making some modifications. "Susu likes jadeite. This jade pendant should be put on the dowry list and sent to Susu by Xuyang."
"After all, it's Xuyang's dowry. His biological mother should know about it. Zhuyue, you copy a list later. This one will be burned for Concubine Cui."
When she saw Gu Chen and Shen Baozhu walking in hand in hand, the queen's smile grew even wider. She watched as the two young people walked into the side hall hand in hand.
Gu Chen took out an unfinished wedding dress and asked Shen Baozhu to try it on. His ears were so red that they were almost dripping blood. "Baozhu, when I finish embroidering this wedding dress, will you marry me?"
The Dragon King: [No, you can't, absolutely not!]
The Dragon King: [Our little cutie is still a child!]
The Dragon King: [It's okay to have a little romance, but there's no need to get married!]
Lin Yu: [Everything should be based on Baozhu's wishes. May Baozhu always be happy!]
The Immortal Qingyun: [Is Gu Chen in good health? He should take a few more pills to strengthen his body. He mustn't die young.]
The Dragon King: [Why is it only me objecting? What's wrong with you two!]
The Dragon King: [Fine. If our little cutie really likes Gu Chen, then I'll reluctantly agree.]
The Dragon King: [Our little cutie will surely have a happy and fulfilling life!]
Looking at the subtitles floating in mid - air, Shen Baozhu stroked the wedding dress on her body. She was overjoyed and gently nodded.
...
When Shen Baozhu was unaware, the system carried her joy through space and time. Among the stars in the universe, it returned to an elderly man.
[Intelligent Brain 1123 has successfully completed the task and is transmitting data.]
[Data transmission successful. Please, Mr. Lin Yu, the highest - level authorized person, receive the data.]