Zhao Shuning didn't understand.
Her mother was the favorite concubine of the lord, and he was a prodigy. Why was he still bullied like this?
Moreover, the son of the lord's wife had already passed away. In the future, it was very likely that the position of the lord of Cangwu Kingdom would fall to Gu Hanxun. Instead of currying favor with Gu Hanxun, the lord's wife tried every means to embarrass him. Why?
Now that she knew that Gu Hanxun was probably related to her entering the barrier, Zhao Shuning naturally wouldn't let it go easily.
She dressed and washed herself, then disguised herself as a maid in Chengxun Palace and followed at the end of the procession to Chenghuang Hall.
By then.
The memorial ceremony was coming to an end.
Zhao Shuning wore a veil hat and retreated to the side with the maids from Chengxun Palace.
Although she kept her head down, she still got a clear look at Gu Hanxun.
He bore a slight resemblance to Gu Zhiruo five hundred years later. But Gu Zhiruo always smiled gently and modestly, while Gu Hanxun exuded an aura of coldness, always giving people the feeling that he was off - limits.
"Your servant pays respects to Father, Mother, and Concubine Mother."
"Be excused."
The speaker should be the current lord of the kingdom.
At this time, a woman's voice came.
It was a bit hoarse, the voice of the sobbing woman Zhao Shuning had heard before.
"The Second Prince really puts on airs. On the day of his elder brother's funeral, he didn't even bother to leave Chengxun Palace."
"Your servant's legs are really inconvenient. If I came out, I would need some people to take care of me. It's really inappropriate."
The woman gave a soft laugh, her tone full of mockery.
"My father, Prime Minister Qin, dedicated his whole life to Cangwu Kingdom and thus won such a good reputation. My son, Gu Xingran, is the eldest prince of Cangwu Kingdom and your elder brother, Gu Hanxun. You've always said you were close to my son since childhood. Now, you even refused to attend his memorial service and came up with so many excuses."
Gu Hanxun frowned and lowered his head without refuting.
The daughter of Prime Minister Qin?
It made sense then.
Five hundred years ago in Cangwu Kingdom, although it was the world of the Gu family, the real person in power was the Qin family. Prime Minister Qin had spent his life in the military, expanding the territory, and was deeply loved by the people of Cangwu Kingdom. His prestige far exceeded that of the royal Gu family.
So, in many cases, the royal family had to get the approval of the lord's wife. Over the years, even though Concubine Xiao was favored, she didn't dare to go against the lord's wife's wishes.
"It's Xun'er who is being childish. Your younger sister is here to apologize to you on his behalf."
Hearing this, the lord's wife didn't even look at Concubine Xiao.
"Pay your respects."
Pay respects?
Did the lord's wife really want a man with paralyzed legs to kneel?
Gu Hanxun's hands were tightly clenched.
Seeing this, Qin Anxin on the high platform in the main hall deliberately said, "This palace almost forgot that the Second Prince's legs are disabled and he can't stand up. But this memorial ceremony was passed down from our ancestors, and you have to kneel."
"Maybe you can find a woman to help you step forward and kneel. But that woman must be the future empress dowager. Only the empress dowager is qualified to pay respects to my son with you."
Gu Hanxun's hands were tightly clenched.
The veins on his hands were bulging, but he didn't dare to say a word.
He was enduring.
"Son, how about this palace asking for you among all the court officials. Is there any official's daughter willing to step forward and pay respects with you?"
"Mother, I can do it myself."
Gu Hanxun struggled to stand up.
Everyone was stunned.
But only for a second.
Because the next moment, Gu Hanxun fell hard from his wheelchair. His hands propped on the ground, and Zhao Shuning could vaguely see the unwillingness and humiliation on his face.
"Look, why be so stubborn?"
"Prime Minister Zuo, I wonder if your youngest daughter would like to step forward and pay respects with the Second Prince?"
The young girl who heard this was greatly shocked. She walked out, but before taking three steps, she fainted.
"Why are you so easily frightened? The Second Prince is so handsome. He's not some kind of wild beast. Minister Lin, I wonder if your daughter is willing?"
"Madam, my daughter is not willing."
After that, Qin Anxin asked many people one by one, but no one was willing. Instead, those female relatives knelt on the ground in a row.
Zhao Shuning had never seen such humiliation before.
When the lord's wife was speaking, she always made Gu Hanxun lie on the ground, and no one dared to step forward to help him up.
Because they knew that the lord's wife was taking out her grief of losing her beloved son on the Second Prince.
Even if he was innocent, so what?
The lord's wife said he was guilty and didn't know the etiquette, so the Second Prince was guilty and didn't know the etiquette.
Gu Hanxun's eyes turned scarlet.
On his hands.
Spiritual power was slowly gathering.
But the people on the high platform in the main hall didn't notice, or even if they did, they still didn't dare to say a word.
The lord's wife was not scary. What was scary was the power behind her. She had a powerful and mysterious force. It was said to be left by Prime Minister Qin. Those who offended the Qin family didn't end up well.
Knowing this, even though Gu Hanxun was a very good talent, no one dared to cherish him.
The lord didn't intervene, and Concubine Xiao didn't dare to interfere either.
At this moment, Gu Hanxun was like a young seedling growing in the broken rocks on a cliff in winter, having to endure the strongest wind and rain.
"Sister Concubine Xiao."
"Your servant is here."
"I see that your child doesn't seem very willing to kneel and pay respects to my son Xingran."
"Sister, calm down. Hanxun is willing. He is willing."
Concubine Xiao quickly said to Gu Hanxun on the ground, "Hurry up and kneel to see off the eldest prince."
The place where Gu Hanxun fell was still a long way from the coffin.
Were they trying to force him to crawl over?
Zhao Shuning watched this scene as if she saw Gu Zhiruo, whom she had raised for many years, being humiliated like this.
Gu Hanxun couldn't have anything happen to him now. He should know something about her grandfather's matter, and the barrier was of great importance. Zhao Shuning had to find out the truth.
Everyone laughed.
Gu Hanxun only felt that his ears were filled with those harsh mocking voices.
The blood in his body was slowly boiling.
A force seemed to be about to break out of his body.
He suddenly propped his hands on the ground, and most of the spiritual power had gathered in his hands.
But just as he was about to fight back regardless of everything, a pair of hands landed on his arms.
It was a maid from Chengxun Palace.
Did she dare to offend the lord's wife at this critical moment?
"I'll help you up."
Zhao Shuning whispered softly.
At this moment, all the spiritual power in Gu Hanxun's hands dissipated.
Gu Hanxun was helped up.
Many eyes were cast on Zhao Shuning.
This little maid was not going to live long.
"How dare you! A maid from Chengxun Palace dares to step forward and help the master up without the order of this palace. Do you think this palace doesn't exist?"
Zhao Shuning raised her eyes.
She looked at the lord's wife on the high platform.
She wore a veil hat.
But at this moment, she raised her head and looked directly into the lord's wife's eyes, which violated the palace taboo.
"Since he is my master, as a servant, why can't I help him?"