When Shen Qianxue was about to attend the banquet, Shen Ningyu happened to be in Shen Qianxue's palace, so Shen Qianxue brought Shen Ningyu along to keep her company and avoid boredom.
Shen Qianxue said with a smile, "Your aunt doesn't know either, but we'll know once the person arrives."
Since Shen Qianxue said so, Shen Ningyu had no choice but to restrain herself for the time being.
Zhiqiu walked in from outside and, with a normal expression, leaned close to Gu Rushuang's ear and said softly, "Your Majesty, just now Eunuch Yang came to relay a message saying His Majesty..."
Li Jin did not keep everyone waiting long, moments later, he walked in with Ping'an.
A child?
The moment Li Jin entered, the word 'child' surfaced simultaneously in the minds of the consorts, including Shen Qianxue, their eyes filled with incredulous astonishment.
Because they had all thought the person Gu Rushuang was waiting for was from the Gu family, they never expected it to be a child they had never even seen before.
What trick was Gu Rushuang trying to pull?
Lan Yingying couldn't help but frown and said, "Your Majesty, the person you said we were waiting for earlier is this child?"
He's finally here.
Upon seeing Li Jin approach, Ying Yuan's heart skipped a beat, and then all his attention was drawn to Li Jin. At the same time, a faint trace of anger flickered imperceptibly in Ying Yuan's eyes.
Who is he? He's really good-looking.
This was Shen Ningyu's first impression of Li Jin.
"Mmm."
Gu Rushuang nodded, acknowledging Lan Yingying.
Li Jin walked calmly under everyone's scrutinizing gaze to stand before Gu Rushuang, bowed, and said, "I pay my respects to Your Majesty. It is my fault for arriving late, I beg Your Majesty to punish me."
Gu Rushuang shook hia head, "Rise quickly. The fault does not lie with you. This Palace imposed upon you, knowing you have just recovered from a serious illness, yet still asking you to make this trip."
So he was sick, that's why he never came to find me?
The anger in Ying Yuan's eyes instantly vanished upon hearing Gu Rushuang's words, leaving only a trace of concern that even Ying Yuan himself did not notice.
Li Jin clasped his hands and said, "To receive Your Majesty's invitation is an honor for me."
"Good, good, good."
Gu Rushuang said 'good' repeatedly and had Li Jin take a seat.
Lan Yingying was no pushover. Seeing that Gu Rushuang had no intention of introducing Li Jin, she asked herself, "Your Majesty, have you forgotten to introduce this child to us?"
Under Gu Rushuang's indication, Zhiqiu curtseyed to Lan Yingying and said, "Replying to Imperial Concubine Jin, he is Li Jin, the Heir Apparent of the Prince of Dingbei, personally ennobled by His Majesty."
She's here too?
Li Jin discreetly glanced at the little girl beside Shen Qianxue and recognized her as Shen Ningyu.
So his name is Li Jin... uh... he... he, why is he looking at me?
Shen Ningyu shyly turned her head away, not daring to meet Li Jin's gaze.
Lan Yingying widened her eyes, "He is that short-lived..."
Oh no.
Realizing she had accidentally spoken her inner thoughts aloud, Lan Yingying immediately shut her mouth.
"Imperial Concubine Jin."
Gu Rushuang glanced displeased at Lan Yingying.
"This concubine merely misspoke for a moment. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness." Lan Yingying replied with a false smile, then turned her gaze to Li Jin, "Heir Apparent Li, you won't blame me, will you?"
Lan Yingying's words to Li Jin were merely perfunctory, lacking much sincerity, because the fact that Li Jin would not live long had already spread among the noble officials in the capital. How could Lan Yingying be willing to spend time currying favor with a dying man?
Li Jin said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Since Imperial Concubine Jin did not do it intentionally, how could I take it to heart?"
Lan Yingying gave a fake smile.
"I am relieved that Heir Apparent Li thinks this way."
As this interlude concluded, the welcoming banquet soon officially began.
Everyone unanimously raised their ceremonial cups to toast Gu Rushuang, saying, "We congratulate Your Majesty on gaining the Seventh Prince."
"Good." Gu Rushuang, being a wine lover, naturally would not refuse. He picked up the ceremonial cup on the table and drank it all in one go. "Today is so enjoyable, This Palace will also mention something to Jin'er."
Having said this, Gu Rushuang's gaze fell upon Li Jin.
Li Jin stood up, clasped his hands, and said, "Please speak, Your Majesty."
"Jin'er, This Palace intends for you to become Yuan'er's study companion. I wonder if you are willing?" Gu Rushuang left the choice to Li Jin.
Shen Qianxue's pupils constricted. She reminded in a slightly questioning tone, "Your Majesty, regarding having Heir Apparent Li become a study companion, have you already mentioned this matter to His Majesty? And has His Majesty agreed?"
What is Gu Rushuang really up to? This Heir Apparent Li is born of Gu Rulan, he should actively avoid suspicion. Why would he instead bring up such a matter himself?
Gu Rushuang's actions left Shen Qianxue bewildered, completely unable to guess Gu Rushuang's intentions.
Lan Yingying chimed in, "Yes, Your Majesty, the matter of a study companion for a prince is significant. You cannot decide on your own without consulting His Majesty."
At the same time, the other consorts who had borne princes also had faces as black as the bottom of a pot, but they dared not speak out openly like Lan Yingying and the others due to certain apprehensions.
They looked down upon Li Jin, who wouldn't live long, but behind Li Jin was the Prince of Dingbei's mansion, so they had to be wary.
Gu Rushuang looked expressionlessly at the consorts, "You need not worry about this. Since This Palace asks this way, it is naturally after having first obtained His Majesty's consent."
Actually, Gu Rushuang had concealed some of the truth.
The reason Gu Rushuang suddenly proposed making Li Jin a study companion was not his original intention, but rather the idea conveyed by Yang Shaochuan earlier on the orders of Ying Zhengjing. However, giving Li Jin the right to choose was Gu Rushuang's own decision.
In other words, if Li Jin was unwilling, Gu Rushuang would try his best to persuade Ying Zhengjing to abandon this matter.
Li Jin bowed to Gu Rushuang unhurriedly, "Your Subject is willing."
Li Jin had originally intended to support Ying Yuan, so he naturally would not refuse. However, what puzzled Li Jin was why Gu Rushuang had brought this matter up so much earlier in this lifetime?
Gu Rushuang nodded and did not continue the topic, instead urging everyone to eat more so they could enjoy themselves to the fullest.
Unfortunately,
Because of Gu Rushuang's earlier words, the consorts had long lost the mood to continue.
____
What exactly is the meaning of Gu Rushuang wanting that sickly Li Jin to be Ying Yuan's study companion? Could it be... that Gu Rushuang also wants that useless one to compete for the position of Crown Prince?
Ever since returning to her own palace after the banquet ended, Shen Qianxue's expression had been quite poor, as she continuously pondered Gu Rushuang's purpose.
Shen Ningyu's childish words broke the quiet in the hall, "Aunt, what is the background of that Li Jin? Why did your expression become so poor when His Majesty mentioned him?"
"He is Li Jin, the Heir Apparent of the Prince of Dingbei."
"That child is the Prince of Dingbei's son? Why have I never seen him before?"
"How old are you? There are many people in the capital you haven't met. Besides, he is older than you." Shen Qianxue tapped Shen Ningyu's nose with her finger and said with a slight smile, "Yu'er, why are you suddenly talking about him? Could it be that you've taken a liking to him?"
Shen Qianxue and Shen Ningyu's father were born from the same mother, so Shen Qianxue was tolerant of Shen Ningyu interrupting her thoughts and did not scold her.
Shen Ningyu denied, her face blushing with shame, "Not at all."
"Your expression doesn't look like 'not at all'." Shen Qianxue had originally just been teasing Shen Ningyu casually, but now seeing Shen Ningyu suddenly blush, she naturally felt like continuing to tease her.
"Aunt, I still need to go find the Fifth Princess. I won't talk with you anymore." Knowing she couldn't win the argument with Shen Qianxue, Shen Ningyu found an excuse and ran off.
The Fifth Princess Shen Ningyu referred to was none other than Shen Qianxue's daughter, Ying Xichen, who was the same age as Shen Ningyu.
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