Imperial Husband Chapter 15

"Sit." After Gu Rushuang sat down, he signaled for Li Jin to also sit down and talk.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Li Jin bowed to Gu Rushuang, then sat down.

Seeing that Li Jin was so steady at such a young age and did not cry uncontrollably like an ordinary child who had just lost their mother, Gu Rushuang could not help but nod in satisfaction.

Gu Rulan's judgment in choosing a husband was poor, but she had nevertheless raised this child quite well.

Gu Rushuang abandoned his original idea of merely exchanging pleasantries with Li Jin and unexpectedly asked, "Jin'er, what do you think of the Third Prince, Ying Ziqi?"

Asking this so suddenly clearly indicated that Gu Rushuang had begun to consider grooming Li Jin.

"Replying to Your Majesty, Your Subject has only met the Third Prince once."

"Based on just that one meeting, what does Jin'er think of his character?"

"Benevolent and kind-hearted."

Li Jin uttered these four words against his conscience.

No one understood better than Li Jin the hidden wolfish ambition Ying Ziqi harbored. However, knowing was one thing—if he were to speak out recklessly, Gu Rushuang would not believe him.

"Then, Jin'er, do you think it is suitable for This Palace to adopt him? Speaking of which, he is quite excellent and is also favored by the Emperor..." As Gu Rushuang said this, he also briefly explained the matters concerning the princes to Li Jin, with Ying Ziqi being the main focus.

It was conceivable that Gu Rushuang favored Ying Ziqi in his heart, but he had not yet made a final decision.

"Your Subject does not dare to speak presumptuously."

Could it be the butterfly effect?

Li Jin's heart tightened.

In his previous life, Gu Rushuang had also summoned Li Jin, though it happened much later than in this life. During that meeting, they had only exchanged pleasantries before Gu Rushuang let Li Jin leave, other matters were not discussed. Furthermore, Ying Ziqi had already become Gu Rushuang's adopted son before Li Jin entered the palace.

"Jin'er, speak frankly. This Palace wants to hear your true opinion. You will not be punished for anything you say, even if your words are mistaken."

Hearing Li Jin say this made Gu Rushuang even more interested in his response.

"Yes." Knowing he could not refuse, Li Jin simply stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Subject believes the Third Prince is not the best candidate."

Gu Rushuang raised an eyebrow. "Why does Jin'er think so?"

Gu Rushuang was somewhat surprised by Li Jin's answer. After all, among the current princes, only the Third Prince Ying Ziqi and the Seventh Prince Ying Yuan lacked a birth mother to care for them.

Moreover, Ying Yuan was not favored by Ying Zhengjing, was young, and no one knew if he would grow up properly. Ying Ziqi, on the other hand, was exceptionally intelligent and benevolent from a young age. Ying Yuan could not compare to Ying Ziqi in any way.

Speaking of adopting a prince, Gu Rushuang was also forced into it.

Just some days before Gu Rulan's incident, Gu Rushuang had suffered a miscarriage that injured his body, leaving him unable to have children of his own, thus he turned to the idea of adopting a prince.

However, once Gu Rushuang's intention to adopt a child emerged, the consorts in the rear palace could no longer sit still. Particularly those consorts who had borne children frequently brought them to visit Gu Rushuang, hoping their child would be chosen to be adopted.

Being the Empress's adopted son was far more prestigious than being the son of a consort. After all, the current Empress had no biological sons, wouldn't the adopted child then become the legitimate heir?

Gu Rushuang was accustomed to the attentiveness of these consorts. Whoever came would be received by palace attendants, maintaining a completely impartial attitude without showing any particular favor to any prince. In the end, it was the actions of the consorts that angered Ying Zhengjing, who ordered them not to disturb Gu Rushuang without reason, and only then did the consorts quiet down.

Therefore, even if Gu Rushuang had taken a liking to Ying Ziqi, he did not show it too obviously.

"Because Your Subject believes that compared to the Third Prince, who already has everything, the Seventh Prince, who has nothing, is more worthy of Your Majesty's attention. Furthermore, Your Majesty also said the Third Prince is currently enjoying the Emperor's favor. If Your Majesty were to adopt the Third Prince at this time, the Emperor might..."

Li Jin stopped short and looked at Gu Rushuang.