The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 679 - 641: Peerless Beauty in the Mortal World (Second Update)

Chapter 679: Chapter 641: Peerless Beauty in the Mortal World (Second Update)

After some thought, Empress Qi raised her hand and said, "In that case, you may rise."

Gu Yu secretly breathed a sigh of relief and shot a grateful look at Jingzhe.

Qi Xuan’s visit to the palace to pay respects to the Empress was just a guise; she intended to use the opportunity to meet her future husband, Crown Prince Zhao Xi, thinking he might come to Kunning Palace today. To her surprise, she sat until the afternoon and no one appeared.

Qi Xuan couldn’t stay any longer and had to get up to leave, and Empress Qi ordered someone to escort her.

After Qi Xuan left, Gu Yu also took her leave.

Empress Qi said, "No matter what was wrong with that bowl of soup, I won’t fuss with you for now. But since you voluntarily requested to go to the Eastern Palace, you ought to first find out the Crown Prince’s preferences. I don’t want to hear or see such a mistake about the soup again."

Towards the end, Empress Qi’s eyes flashed with severity.

For dealing with affairs, she wasn’t as smooth as Empress Su, and for palace intrigue and scheming, she wasn’t as strategic as other concubines. When it came to vying for favor, she couldn’t outcompete Princess Consort Duan. But for Zhao Xi, her son, Empress Qi truly cared and cherished him.

From his daily itinerary to his food preferences—what dishes he liked, what soups he drank—she knew it all.

Gu Yu trembled and hurriedly promised that she would not make any mistakes in the future.

After Gu Yu left, Jingzhe cleaned up the cups on the coffee table.

Empress Qi rubbed her temples, "If it weren’t for Xixi always refusing to deal with those girls, I wouldn’t have sent someone so ignorant of the rules over."

Jingzhe said, "Sister Gu Yu is always a resourceful person, so don’t worry too much, Your Majesty."

Empress Qi hummed softly.

At that time, she agreed to send Gu Yu over because she valued her cleverness, thinking that Xixi’s life was too monotonous and dull; perhaps having someone around could stir his interest.

Never imagined such a big mistake would occur on the first day.

——

After returning from Kunning Palace, Gu Yu first went to find Mr. Mu, asking him to help compile a list of His Highness’s preferences.

Mr. Mu dared not refuse such a request and after grinding the ink, he wrote down a bunch.

Gu Yu took a look, and among them were three items: prefers bland flavors, dislikes food with strong gamey taste, dislikes incense, and dislikes too many jade ornaments inside the room.

One glance was quite a shock; her first day in the Eastern Palace, she had touched so many of His Highness’s taboos.

Gu Yu was so anxious that cold sweat broke out, glaring at Mr. Mu, "Why didn’t you remind me when I was making the soup this morning?"

Mr. Mu had to make excuses, "I thought Madam was making the soup for herself."

After all, everyone in the Eastern Palace treated His Highness’s likes and dislikes as a life-saving charm memorized deep in their hearts; who would’ve thought that someone who stayed by the Empress’s side for over a decade wouldn’t know any of it?

The fact that the Empress would send someone like this for His Highness’s enlightenment was indeed incredible to Mr. Mu.

After obtaining the life-saving charm from Mr. Mu, Gu Yu went back to her room and memorized it several times, estimating that she was almost ready before getting up to go to Chengming Hall, only to be told that His Highness was not there.

"Where did His Highness go?" Gu Yu nervously looked at the little eunuch who answered.

Because she was reprimanded at Kunning Palace, her previous arrogance from just arriving yesterday was completely restrained, and she spoke cautiously.

The little eunuch was stunned for a moment, then shook his head, "I do not know."

He was merely a low-ranking eunuch, and felt it was remarkable to see His Highness from afar during usual times, how could he know His Highness’s whereabouts.

——

After the Great Court meeting dispersed, the officials each went home, and after lunch, Zhao Xi found some leisure time.

The government offices wouldn’t open until the sixth of the month, and he planned to find Emperor Guangxi to play chess, when he received a post from the Song Mansion, personally written by Song Yuanbao, inviting Zhao Xi to play at an estate outside.

Zhao Xi didn’t think much at the moment, changed into casual attire, and took Eunuch Sanbao along with over a dozen Hidden Guards before leaving the Eastern Palace.

Song Yuanbao had an appointment, explained the situation to Song Wei, and instead of going to the Lu Family to pay respects, waited at home for Zhao Xi.

Today, Zhao Xi was dressed in a gleaming sky-blue brocade robe, sitting straight on the shiny black horse, though it hadn’t snowed, there was a misty feeling all around, blurring his handsome features, and as the sound of hooves approached, Song Yuanbao stood far outside the main gate, clicking his tongue twice, "Such a color as the sky clears after the rain. The rumors in the streets were right, His Highness is such a peerless figure, not suited for mundane contamination."

While speaking, Zhao Xi was already close on horseback, his voice clear as morning dew, "What nonsense are you talking?"

"Nothing," Song Yuanbao smiled and had his servant bring his horse, mounting it, "Today I’ll take you to a fun place."

After pausing for a moment, he whispered, "Did you bring the Hidden Guards? If not, I’ll go inside and have my father arrange."

"I brought them." Zhao Xi’s tone was indifferent.

"Then it’s good, let’s go!"

Song Yuanbao turned his horse around, and the two of them rode side by side at the front. Eunuch Sanbao, also dressed in casual clothes, followed behind on horseback.

More than a dozen Royal Hidden Guards followed in secret.

The group headed towards the outskirts of the city.

Along the way, Song Yuanbao explained to Zhao Xi that Ye Rong was hosting them to play at his elder brother’s manor today.

Zhao Xi had heard that Ye Rong’s eldest cousin, Ye Zheng, was fond of tending flowers and had specially set up a manor. He had learned some method from somewhere, and the manor could grow off-season flowers, making it feel like spring all year round.

When the two arrived, sure enough, they could smell the subtle fragrance of flowers from afar.

Song Yuanbao dismounted and turned to Zhao Xi, raising his eyebrows, "There are a lot of flowers inside. If you don’t like the smell, let’s take the opportunity to move somewhere else."

Zhao Xi coolly replied, "Time is getting late, if we move again, it may get dark soon."

That indicated he could manage.

Song Yuanbao nodded, handed the horse to a young servant guarding the garden, and asked the gatekeeper to announce their arrival.

Before long, Ye Rong appeared with several noble sons.

Upon seeing Zhao Xi, they all calmed their excess emotions and prepared to kneel to the Crown Prince.

Zhao Xi said, "As we’re out to enjoy ourselves, there’s no need for excessive formalities."

Though he said so, as the Crown Prince, his presence wasn’t to be taken lightly. The group of chatty gentlemen suddenly became quiet, not daring to breathe heavily.

Ye Rong, known for being unable to hold back his words, saw the silent crowd and sourly remarked, "At year’s end, I sent several invitations to the Eastern Palace, but His Highness never responded even once. Yet, once Song Yuanbao sends one, you come without hesitating. Though he’s your companion, the preferential treatment is too evident!"

Song Yuanbao raised his eyebrow at Zhao Xi, without commenting.

Zhao Xi’s expression remained unchanged, "Year-end affairs are busy, couldn’t spare the time."

Ye Rong could only sigh, "Alright, regardless of who invited, it’s good you’re here, let’s go in, the banquet is already being prepared inside."

After saying this, Ye Rong led the group inside.

Song Yuanbao also felt that Zhao Xi was unusually easy to invite today. However, the start of the year was typically a time for visiting and socializing, perhaps the person had been cooped up in the palace for too long and wanted to get out.

Seeing Song Yuanbao staring at him, Zhao Xi turned his head, "What is it?"

"Nothing." Song Yuanbao shook his head, then after a while added, "After New Year’s, my parents will ask someone to choose a date."

"What date?" Zhao Xi was momentarily unresponsive.

"What else but the date for proposing marriage," Song Yuanbao said, "The imperial exam will be held this year, and if I do well, it won’t be long before I can bring my bride home."

Saying this, he glanced at Zhao Xi, "Your Highness, could you help tutor me? Suddenly linking becoming a top scholar with getting married, I’m a bit nervous."

Zhao Xi withdrew his gaze, "No time."

Song Yuanbao said, "But it’s my life’s major event, you can’t just stand by and do nothing!"

"Then wait until you’re dead and we’ll talk."

How thorny and bitter those words sounded!

Song Yuanbao pleaded, "Don’t be so petty, whatever conditions you have, just say, if they can be met, I’ll definitely do it."

"I said no time." Zhao Xi remained indifferent.

"How about I go to the Eastern Palace to find you? I won’t take up more than half an hour each day, is that alright?"

Zhao Xi stopped responding and stepped into the garden.

Song Yuanbao hurriedly followed, "It’s decided then, I’ll come tomorrow. Otherwise, after the sixth day when the Imperial College starts, I’ll be attending classes in the morning and visiting the Divine Soldier Bureau in the afternoon, leaving no time for anything else."

Saying this, Song Yuanbao thought of something, "By the way, Your Highness, are the few jars of wine I buried under the Osmanthus tree when I left Yutang Palace still there?"

"They are."

"Great, tomorrow we’ll dig them up and have a few good drinks. They’ve been buried for so long, the taste must be very mellow."

Zhao Xi turned his eyes towards him, "Your tolerance for alcohol has improved?"

Being stared at like that, Song Yuanbao suddenly felt guilty.

He coughed lightly twice and chuckled, "Isn’t it because there are many family banquets? My father and grandfather both drink, so when I’m idle..."

Zhao Xi coldly remarked, "What I told you before, you never take to heart."