Chapter 965: Chapter 801: Prince Gong’s Invitation

This time the Emperor certainly cannot go back on his word, otherwise in the future, he will have no face to meet her in the afterlife.

"Emperor, how should we handle the matter of the Third Prince?"

The Minister of War, Dai Yuanji, observed that both Princes have been granted titles and will soon be heading to their designated lands.

Yet the matter of the Third Prince remains unresolved, and the Emperor remains silent on it; could he be considering sparing the Third Prince?

The Emperor tightened his face, glanced at Dai Yuanji, and then turned his gaze to Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Kuang Zhao Ying.

"Kuang Aiqing! What is the progress on the Crown Prince’s assassination case?"

Kuang Zhao Ying promptly stepped forward and respectfully replied, "In response to the Emperor, the current progress of the case is going smoothly. I interrogated throughout the night and found everything to be true. The Third Prince instructed the maidservant to hide in the Crown Prince’s residence to attempt to murder the Crown Prince. This time the assassination attempt was foiled by the Crown Prince himself, and fortunately, the Crown Prince has good fortune and emerged unscathed. As for the last case involving the Eldest Prince, it was indeed the doing of the Third Prince as well. The evidence is conclusive, and I speak nothing but the truth. Once the Dali Temple has organized the documentation, I shall present it for the Emperor’s review."

Kuang Zhao Ying believed that this time the Third Prince might really be heading for trouble; it’s normal for Princes to fight to the death, but being caught red-handed is foolish!

Didn’t the Eldest Prince and the Crown Prince also use underhanded methods behind the scenes?

Surely they have done it many times without being caught?

So, being outmaneuvered is your own fault. You can only blame your own stupidity!

The Emperor furrowed his brows and let out a deep sigh. Perhaps for the Third Prince, becoming a monk might be the best outcome.

In truth, being confined in the Imperial Clan Court is far from an easy life; looking back several dynasties, many Princes held there have gone mad.

Gu Chengyu also shook his head, seemingly recognizing that the Emperor had a plan for the Third Prince.

Gu Chengyu thought the Emperor might likely adopt the Crown Prince’s suggestion, after all, compared to confinement in the Imperial Clan Court, becoming a monk offers some freedom.

Moreover, becoming a monk is also an act of cultivation, severing worldly ties and devoting oneself to Buddhism, which might not be a bad thing.

If the Emperor were even slightly merciful and did not strip the Third Prince of his title, the monastic life wouldn’t be too harsh.

However, those days of luxury and grandeur are now gone forever.

Gu Chengyu climbed into the carriage, thinking that today had finally ended early. When his teacher receives the Holy Decree tomorrow, it would be a joyous occasion.

He was eager to return and discuss the opening of an additional examination with Sun Xian, so he paid no attention to the situation behind him.

Ming Yan noticed a splendid carriage approaching them, stopping in front of them.

Thinking their carriage was blocking the way, Ming Yan intended to move aside, only to see the carriage opposite lift its curtain, revealing a strikingly handsome face.

"Mr. Gu is in a hurry to return?" Prince Gong looked at Gu Chengyu, who was climbing into the carriage, and couldn’t help but chuckle lightly.

Gu Chengyu had just gotten onto the carriage’s shaft when he heard someone calling him from behind. Turning around, he found it was Prince Gong?

He quickly got off the carriage and bowed, "Your servant greets Prince Gong!"

Gu Chengyu assumed it was a chance encounter and thought nothing more of it.

After all, there were many Ministers leaving the palace at this time, so running into someone wasn’t unusual.

"Mr. Gu, there’s no need for such formalities! Today the skies are still bright, might Mr. Gu have some free time to join me for a drink?"

Prince Gong felt that this chance meeting was a godsend and that sending an invitation might seem too deliberate.

He would soon be heading to his fiefdom, and he needed to probe Gu Chengyu’s position before that.

He was unsure if Gu Chengyu had made some arrangement with the Emperor. In his view, his strategic skill was no less than the Crown Prince, except the Crown Prince had the advantage of a good birth!

If he could win Gu Chengyu over to his side, it would certainly increase his odds of success in the future.

Even if Gu Chengyu declined, he wouldn’t let it benefit the Crown Prince either.

Gu Chengyu slightly furrowed his brows; he planned to first visit his second sister’s place to find Sun Xian.

Besides, he was officially an Eastern Palace Minister, so what would it look like to have close dealings with Prince Gong?

Others might think he was taking advantage of both sides.

Moreover, people were coming and going, and quite a few courtiers had already noticed, so naturally, he couldn’t just leave with Prince Gong.

Prince Gong’s intentions were unclear; could he be trying to sow discord between him and the Crown Prince?

If so, that strategy wasn’t very clever.

Prince Gong couldn’t be that foolish, could he? Anyway, he thought the invitation was certainly not for anything good, so he planned to refuse.

Prince Gong noticed Gu Chengyu initially frowned but then gave him a meaningful glance, which suddenly made him realize his own lack of consideration.

Seeing Gu Chengyu, he had hurriedly ordered the carriage driver to catch up. He thought seizing the moment was better than choosing another day, hence the invitation.

Only now did he realize how inappropriate it was, and it seemed best to reschedule.

Because he bet that Gu Chengyu would refuse, as one could tell from Gu Chengyu’s prudent demeanor and his current expression.

"Oh! I suddenly remembered there’s something I haven’t taken care of. Let’s arrange another day instead!"

To avoid the embarrassment of being refused by Gu Chengyu, Prince Gong patted his forehead, pretending to have forgotten other pending matters, and promptly shifted the topic.

"Since the Prince is busy, then I shall not impose. Once the Prince is free, I will host a gathering, and invite the Prince for drinks."

Gu Chengyu noticed Prince Gong was quite tactful and was glad to return the courtesy.

Of course, those words were just polite formalities, which generally aren’t taken seriously.

After more pleasantries, they parted ways; this was the proper way of interaction.

Unexpectedly, Prince Gong was not one for conventional paths. Upon hearing these words, his face immediately broke into a broad smile, saying, "Very well! I am free the day after tomorrow; I will wait for your invitation, Mr. Gu."

Without allowing Gu Chengyu to refuse, he urged the carriage driver to move forward.

Gu Chengyu’s temple throbbed; was it that he couldn’t understand politeness, or what?

Still, the day after tomorrow, he even set the date for him; could he refuse? Could he?

Before long, spring passed unbeknownst, only realizing summer had deepened when the skies cleared.

Gu Chengyu sat leisurely on a rocking chair beneath the grapevine in the courtyard, closing his eyes lightly.

Ming Mo entered the courtyard and saw his master reclining on the rocking chair, dozing off.

The rocking chair swayed gently, with the corners of his pea-green robe fluttering in the breeze, epitomizing relaxation.

Dressed in a pea-green round-collared cloud Luo shirt, Gu Chengyu appeared more refined and elegant.

Two years flew by swiftly, and his master became increasingly captivating.

Ming Mo recalled the other day when his master went to the street, the girls from the brothel nearly toppled over the railings, waving toward his master.

His master merely glanced over briefly, and those girls nearly fainted with happiness.

Their exaggerated expressions made him shiver with unease.

Frightened, his master didn’t dare look again, leaving with a stern face toward Lord Ye’s food shop.

Ming Mo couldn’t help but shudder. Being too good-looking also posed constant trouble.