Ji Wushang smiled.
After having breakfast, the two were too preoccupied to attend to matters at the manor. Nan Xuzong took Ji Wushang to the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion to attend the banquet for Beigong Minhao's wedding.
Many high-ranking officials and nobles, dressed in their finest attire, arrived with their families, their gifts piling up at the entrance. Although the Princess Consort of Zhenbei disliked the Miss Gao somewhat, it was a decision made by the Prince of Zhenbei and Beigong Minhao, so she could only accept it and greet them with a smile.
At the entrance, the steward and many maids and servants were already there to greet them.
Ji Wushang got off the carriage and went inside with Nan Xuzong.
The steward stepped forward and said, "It is the Prince and Princess Nan. Please come in."
"I have prepared some small gifts to congratulate the Crown Prince on his wedding. Please accept them, Steward." Nan Xuzong pointed behind him, where Gong Shu was carrying several loads of congratulatory gifts.
"Thank you, Prince Nan and Princess Consort!" the steward said with a smile. "Someone, quickly invite the Prince and Princess Consort inside!"
Nan Xuzong nodded, and Ji Wushang thanked him with a smile. The two then went inside together.
Ji Wushang observed his surroundings. The Prince of Zhenbei was greeting guests in the hall. Nan Xuzong whispered a few words in Ji Wushang's ear, "Don't move around. I'll go check on Minhao."
"Yes." Ji Wushang nodded.
Ji Wushang observed everything in the main hall. The high-ranking officials and nobles exchanged polite words, while the young ladies, wives, and concubines laughed and joked without any restraint. Some, when no one was paying attention, whispered among themselves, gossiping about things.
Ignoring everything, Ji Wushang walked out of the crowd.
If Nam Wook-chung can make it in time, he should be able to see Bei Gong Min-ho, who didn't go to pick up the bride.
Ji Wushang sighed, and seeing a maid pass by, he immediately went up to her. "Miss, may I ask, has the Prince gone out to greet his bride yet?"
"Reporting to Miss, the Prince is still in his room. It seems a distinguished guest went in earlier, and no one was sent to disturb him." The maid looked at Ji Wushang, who was dressed in fine clothes, and assumed she was the young lady who had admired Beigong Minhao. After glancing at Ji Wushang a few times, she said, "The Prince's marriage is settled, Miss. Don't be sad. There will be many more handsome young men to come!"
Seeing that Ji Wushang remained silent, the maidservant thought she had touched a sore spot and sighed, shaking her head. "Actually, I also feel that Miss Gao is not good at all. I've heard that she has embarrassed herself in front of others several times, but I just don't understand why the Crown Prince would marry her! How can such a woman become the Crown Prince's consort? Alas, perhaps she is the legitimate daughter of Prime Minister Gao Zuo..."
"Uh, thank you." Ji Wushang knew what he meant as soon as he heard it, and changed the subject. "Then, where is the Prince's courtyard? Oh, I'm here to find someone. My cousin is his guard, hehe." Ji Wushang forced a smile. He couldn't find any other excuse, so he just made up this reason to fool people.
"Turn left ahead, then walk 150 steps and turn right, go through the bamboo forest, and you will arrive at the Crown Prince's courtyard."
"Thank you, I'll be going now." Ji Wushang smiled, took out a piece of silver from his pocket, and placed it in her hand. "It's just a small token of my appreciation. Remember not to tell anyone about this."
"Hmm." The maid was also sensible. "You won't go and do anything, will you?"
"No, how could that be? I'm just going to see my brother. No, never mind, I'll be going now. Thanks, I'm leaving."
Ji Wushang deliberately spoke nonsense, then returned the way he came, but suddenly hid at the turn.
The maidservant felt something was off. "Why is he talking nonsense? Never mind." She muttered to herself and walked away.
Ji Wushang watched the person walk away before coming out.
Hearing this, it meant that Bei Gongminhao hadn't yet gone to marry that Miss Gao. Ji Wushang thought for a moment, and a plan came to mind.
Miss Gao cannot afford to get into trouble at the Prince of Zhenbei's residence. If something happens, Prime Minister Gao Zuo will definitely not let the Prince of Zhenbei's residence off the hook. Although the Prince of Zhenbei is majestic and domineering, he cannot afford to offend Prime Minister Gao Zuo for such a matter. You must know that Prime Minister Gao Zuo is a man of the Second Prince Huangfu Ting... Everyone can guess the implications of this relationship.
Ji Wushang quietly followed the maid's instructions, walked forward, turned left, and followed the path to Beigong Minhao's Fragrant Garden.
It must be said that Beigong Minhao is an elegant man. This fragrant garden is full of flowers and plants, red and green, and all kinds of seasonal flowers.
Ji Wushang walked through the corridor, unsure which room to look for. After some thought, he went to the study.
Mohan Study.
Ji Wushang listened intently, and finding no one inside, slowly pushed open the door and cautiously walked in.
Entering the study, Ji Wushang walked to the desk. On the desk, there were unfinished paintings and calligraphy. Ji Wushang looked down and saw a painting of a beautiful woman!
Well, I've seen plenty of these portraits of beauties, but why is the person in this picture Ji Yinxue? Ji Wushang was startled, but at that moment, a voice came from behind him, "Why are you in this study?"
☆、160 Others just won't let me live a peaceful life
Ji Wushang turned around abruptly and saw Bei Gongminhao. He was dressed in red, wearing a golden crown, and his black hair was neatly combed with a few strands draped over his shoulders. He looked gentle and refined. Unlike Nan Xuzong, he always had a smile on his face, and it seemed that no one could make him take off that smiling mask.
"Shouldn't you congratulate me?" He smiled, turned around, sat down in the chair, and looked up at her. She had become increasingly mature and womanly; her innate beauty radiated from her. She had become even more charming and dazzling after getting married.
But she wasn't his.
“I came here to stop you from marrying Miss Gao. If you were to marry someone else, I would certainly bless you. But you cannot marry her; she will harm you.” Ji Wushang made up his mind.
"Is that so? This shouldn't be any of your business, Ji Wushang, right?" Bei Gongminhao chuckled and poured a glass of wine on the desk. "Also, this is my brother's study, not mine. Did you come to the wrong place?"
"Yes," she replied readily.
"What brings you here? Is it just because of this? Then there's no need. Xu Cong just left. You can go with him to the front yard for a drink." He poured the wine into his mouth, but as he tilted his head back, a tear fell into the wine glass, mingling with the wine and going down into his stomach.
He put down his glass, his smile unchanged. "Or, shall I ask you to leave?"
"What exactly is your purpose? Is it to lull them into a false sense of security, or to use Miss Gao as bait?" Ji Wushang looked at him. As for the painting of Ji Yinxue in front of him, it should have been the last painting that Beigong Jueshi painted before he left. Unfortunately, it was not finished before his heart was broken.
However, Ji Yinxue is not worth his expectations or his pity.
"No comment." Beigong Minhao smiled. "Xu Cong is here, let's go with him!"
As they were talking, a person came out alone, pushing a wheelchair. Ji Wushang recognized him as Nan Xuzong.
“Cong”.
“Okay, let’s go.” Nan Xuzong glanced at Beigong Minhao, his eyes seeming to say, “Remember our promise.”
Beigong Minhao smiled, a smile that seemed to be a blessing or a gesture of acceptance.
Ji Wushang said, "Can't there be another way?"
Beigong Minhao smiled brightly, turned around, and went into the room.
Ji Wushang closed his eyes, and Nan Xuzong sighed silently, then pulled Ji Wushang out without expression.
The sunlight was a bit too bright.
Ji Wushang sat on the corridor, watching the people coming and going, without the slightest desire to look up. "You don't need to worry about his choice. Killing someone and saving someone are both very simple," Nan Xuzong arrived unnoticed. "His choice may be the right one."
"Maybe!" Ji Wushang smiled. "It's just that sometimes I really don't understand what's going on between you two. Never mind, I'm tired, Cong, I want to go back."
"Mm." Nan Xuzong nodded, and with a wave of his hand, Gong Shu came out.
"Send the Crown Princess back to her residence," Nan Xuzong ordered Gong Shu.
"Yes." Gong Shu led Ji Wushang out.
Ji Wushang followed behind Gong Shu, wondering why he insisted on marrying Gao Fengfen.
The swaying carriage arrived at the Marquis's residence. Ji Wushang got out and went inside alone. "Gong Shu, go and take care of Cong."
"Yes." Gong Shu nodded and drove away.
Upon entering, Ji Wushang went straight into Moxuan Garden.
Aunt Zhao was enjoying fruit and melon seeds in her Zhuangshu Garden when a maid came to report that Ji Wushang had returned.
"That little vixen is back? And what about the young master?" Aunt Zhao's eyes were alluring, and her specially painted fox eyes were even more seductive.
"The Crown Prince has not returned. Only the Crown Princess returned to Moxuan Garden. She looks very tired."
"Hmm, go down!" Aunt Zhao sneered, "Boys are plump and girls are slender."
"Your servants are here." Huanfei and Yanshou immediately knelt on the ground. Just as their names suggested, one was slightly plump and the other was rather thin. They were Zhao Yiniang's two head maids.
"Go and pick out some fabric for the Crown Princess, then give it to Aunt Jin to make a new dress. The Crown Princess has been married for a few days now, so she should have some new clothes made for her."
"Yes." The two maids exchanged a glance and nodded.
Ji Wushang stared at the desk before him, initially contemplating whether to kill Gao Fengfen on the way, but neither forward nor backward seemed feasible. Nan Xuzong was right; if Beigong Minhao truly didn't want Gao Fengfen to die, he could easily find an excuse to kill her. After all, birth, aging, sickness, and death are all very easy things.
"Miss, why are you back so soon?" Zhu'er came in from outside carrying clothes that had just been packed. "These are new clothes that Aunt Jin had made for you, Miss."
"Okay, leave it there!" Ji Wushang's eyelids felt a little heavy.
Zhu'er nodded and had just stepped inside when she heard a servant report from outside, "Your Highness, two of Aunt Zhao's head maids, Huanfei and Yanshou, have come to the courtyard with several bolts of fabric, saying they want you to choose some to make new clothes."
"Let them in." Making clothes for the bride was an old custom, and Ji Wushang couldn't refuse.
Pulling himself together, Ji Wushang sat down at the table and had Zhu'er brew a pot of Biluochun tea.
"Greetings to the Crown Princess." The two maids were quite pretty and knew how to read people's expressions. Ji Wushang smiled and said, "Rise!"
The maids carrying fabric behind them were also very eye-catching.
"Please select a few bolts of fabric for the Princess Consort, so that I can inform my aunt and have some clothes made for her," Yan Shou greeted with a smile.
“Okay.” Ji Wushang nodded, stood up, and then casually pointed to a few pieces of light blue cloth. “That’s all, thank you.”
"It's no trouble at all. It's our good fortune to be able to bring these fabrics for the Crown Princess to choose from."
She has a sweet tongue, is quick-witted, and knows how to read people's expressions.
A few words flashed through Ji Wushang's mind, and he said, "Alright, you can all go now! I'm tired." If they're here to cause trouble, he won't stay!
Huanfei stepped forward with a smile, holding a ruler. "Princess Consort, we haven't taken your measurements yet!"
“Yes, the biggest fear when making clothes is that the size is wrong. Please cooperate with us, Your Highness, and let us measure your body.” Yan Shou stepped forward with a smile.
"No need, Zhu'er." Ji Wushang refused outright and immediately called Zhu'er out. Zhu'er came out right away, "Princess Consort." Ji Wushang was married, so she naturally couldn't still act like a young lady in front of everyone, otherwise people would probably gossip.
"Go, take some of the clothes that Aunt Jin just brought over and give them to them. Just make sure they're in that size." Ji Wushang smiled. Wasn't it obvious? Taking her measurements—she probably had ulterior motives!
“This…” Huanfei looked a little embarrassed, her eyes drifting to Yanshou. Yanshou immediately said, “I’m afraid this is not a good idea. The fabric is different. I hope the Crown Princess can cooperate.”
Ji Wushang's face turned cold. "So you're saying that the clothes Aunt Jin sent me are the wrong size? You can't even make them the same way?"
"We had no such intention." The two women immediately knelt down as they spoke. Ji Wushang looked at them and snorted coldly, "If you have no such intention, then do as I say!" Ji Wushang glanced at Zhu'er, who immediately presented a new garment that she had just finished making.
Yan Shou could only glance at Huan Fei. The two nodded, and Yan Shou took it, saying, "I will obey the Crown Princess's orders."
"Go down, I don't want to be disturbed. Tell Aunt Zhao I'm tired today. I will study the affairs of the manor carefully, and tell her not to worry."
"Yes." Huanfei nodded, and then she and Yanshou took a few maids and left.
Back in the courtyard, Aunt Zhao was quite displeased upon hearing this response. "You lowly servants, you can't even do one thing right!"
"Auntie, actually it's because the Crown Prince's wife is too domineering that I don't even dare to touch her!" Huanfei said to Auntie Zhao with considerable dissatisfaction.
Aunt Zhao's face was cold and tense. "Hmph, only you know how to shirk responsibility like this!"
"This servant wouldn't dare!" The plump and slender women immediately kowtowed and begged for mercy.
Just then, a young maid ran in from outside and said, "Auntie, the Second Young Mistress has arrived."