Su Mingyu bit her lower lip. "In this way, we can take the opportunity to bring down Jiang He as well."
Since they were going to get married, Su Mingyu took Gu Ruobai back to the Ye Mansion one day.
When Ye Weiguang learned that Su Mingyu and Gu Ruobai were going to get married, he immediately had people prepare two large trunks of dowry, which left Su Mingyu stunned.
Su Mingyu rubbed her eyes. "Elder Ye..."
"Still calling me Elder Ye?" Ye Weiguang raised his eyebrows and looked at Su Mingyu. "It's time to change the address."
"O-oh... right, right, right." Su Mingyu slapped her forehead. "Grandfather."
Saying so, Su Mingyu nudged Gu Ruobai's elbow with her hand. Gu Ruobai immediately reacted. "Grandfather."
Ye Weiguang raised his eyebrows. "Oh, our Ye family finally has a powerful backer."
Gu Ruobai had a cold and aloof look, but there was a hint of tenderness in his eyes. "I will treat Mingyu well."
Ye Weiguang nodded. "I believe you."
After leaving the Ye Mansion, Su Mingyu pushed Gu Ruobai from behind and joked, "Look, when you came to propose marriage, not only was there no difficulty for you at all, but you also got so much dowry. You've really got a good deal."
The corners of Gu Ruobai's mouth twitched slightly. "Elder Ye knows well that what's mine is yours. So it seems that he gave me so much dowry, but actually it's all for you. Elder Ye's family wealth is not abundant, yet he's willing to give so much. It seems that he really dotes on you."
Su Mingyu squinted her eyes. "Then you'd better treat me better in the future. If you make me unhappy, I'll go straight back to the Ye Mansion."
"Not the Su Mansion?" Gu Ruobai asked knowingly and joked. "We've passed Elder Ye's side, but I'm afraid Wang Manwen will ask for a fortune."
Although Gu Ruobai sounded worried, there was not the slightest bit of concern in his tone.
Su Mingyu noticed it. "What's this? Didn't the Prince Ruixian sound so just and honorable before? Are you going to back down now?"
Gu Ruobai grabbed Su Mingyu's hand back. "How could that be? We've already crossed ninety-nine hurdles. Are we going to give up at the last step?"
"That's more like it."
Su Mingyu snorted. "Then shall we go to the Su Mansion now?"
"Tomorrow." Gu Ruobai frowned. "It's almost evening. Have you ever seen anyone go to propose marriage at night?"
Su Mingyu touched her nose. "Anyway, it's just a formality. Will Wang Manwen and Su Zhengyi stop you from marrying me?"
Yan Shiqi was quite calm. Since she separated from Jiang He last time, she hadn't contacted anyone.
Su Mingyu noticed this. Coupled with the fact that Mu Yi had no news either, she felt a bit anxious.
"The palace is always having flower - viewing parties or birthday celebrations. Isn't it easy for you to enter the palace and take a look?" Gu Ruobai was looking at the scroll in his hand and looked down at Su Mingyu.
Su Mingyu pursed her lips. "I'm just an ordinary girl. If I go to the palace every now and then, aren't you afraid that others will notice our suspicion of Yan Shiqi?"
"Who said you should go every now and then?" Gu Ruobai lowered his eyes. "I'm at least a prince, and I'm about to marry you. For such a big event, don't I need to report it to the Empress Dowager?"
Hearing this, Su Mingyu understood. "You mean, we'll take the opportunity of meeting the Empress Dowager to have a good talk with Yan Shiqi?"
Gu Ruobai glanced at Su Mingyu. "You're not completely brainless. I've already submitted a memorial to bring you into the palace, and Father has approved it. So we can enter the palace tomorrow."
Su Mingyu's eyes lit up. "I didn't expect you to be so well - prepared."
The next day, accompanied by Zhizhu, Su Mingyu deliberately chose a very dignified set of clothes. After changing, as soon as she walked out of the door, she saw Gu Ruobai waiting for her.
Today, Su Mingyu was wearing a light - blue long gown, with a sheer veil of the same color over it. She tied an indigo blue belt around her waist. Her black hair was coiled into a flowing - cloud bun, with several pearl flowers inserted in it. Her fair skin was tinged with a blush. With her crescent - shaped eyebrows and star - like eyes, she exuded a cold and gorgeous charm. She was truly a beauty of national renown.
It was the first time Gu Ruobai saw Su Mingyu dressed so formally and beautifully. His eyes couldn't help but freeze, and a flash of amazement crossed his dark eyes.
"Let's go. We'd better hurry into the palace. We mustn't keep the Empress Dowager waiting."
Su Mingyu came to Gu Ruobai's side and waved her hand in front of his eyes. "What's wrong with you? Staring blankly?"
Gu Ruobai pursed his thin lips. "I rarely see you dressed so elegantly."
Su Mingyu spread her hands and spun around. "The clothes from our Sinnan Pavilion look good, right?"
Gu Ruobai grabbed Su Mingyu's hand and pulled her into his arms, then made her sit on his lap.
Looking down at Su Mingyu's fair and tender cheeks, Gu Ruobai lifted her chin and raised his eyebrows at her. "You're dressed so beautifully. Do you want to attract bees and butterflies in the palace?"
Su Mingyu blinked her bright eyes. "What's there to attract bees and butterflies in the palace? Except for the Emperor, who is a real man, I don't take a fancy to anyone else."
After saying that, Su Mingyu snorted and got up from Gu Ruobai. "Let's go."
Zhizhu watched the backs of the two getting into the carriage from afar and couldn't help but be stunned. "Why do I feel like these two are getting more and more childish?"
Mu Yi lowered his eyes. "Don't interfere in the master's affairs."
Zhizhu clicked her tongue. "That's your master's rule. Our master didn't say so."
After saying that, Zhizhu made a funny face and turned away, leaving Mu Yi with an ugly expression.
Getting off the carriage, Su Mingyu and Gu Ruobai followed the palace maids into an antique red - lacquered corridor.
They walked all the way to the end, and a carved and lacquered wooden door came into view. In the main hall, there sat a majestic - looking old woman.
Su Mingyu stepped forward and quickly knelt down. "Your servant girl, Su Mingyu, pays respects to the Empress Dowager."
Gu Ruobai also stepped forward to salute. His gentle appearance lacked the usual coldness.
The Empress Dowager sitting high in the main hall waved her hand. "Get up. You're the eldest legitimate daughter of the Su family, right? Come here. Let me take a look at you."
Su Mingyu and Gu Ruobai glanced at each other. After getting Gu Ruobai's eye signal, Su Mingyu stepped forward and stood in front of the Empress Dowager. "Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, you're over - praising me."
The Empress Dowager looked Su Mingyu up and down. "You're quite a delicate - looking girl, and your temperament is also gentle."
Saying so, the Empress Dowager signaled the granny beside her with her eyes. The granny walked up with an antique box in her hands.
"Miss Su, this is a reward from Her Majesty the Empress Dowager."
Seeing the granny open the box, there lay a very delicate jadeite inside. Just by looking at its quality, one could tell that it was very valuable.
"Take it, girl."
Seeing that Su Mingyu didn't move, the Empress Dowager reminded her.
Su Mingyu let out an "oh". "Th - thank you, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."
After chatting casually with the Empress Dowager for a while, the Empress Dowager said she was tired and wanted to rest. Su Mingyu and Gu Ruobai then excused themselves and left the Empress Dowager's bedroom.