Not long after Li Jin and Gu Rushuang finished their conversation and he left, Zhiqiu entered to attend to him. He quickly noticed that Gu Rushuang's expression was somewhat off. "Your Majesty, what is wrong? Ever since you finished speaking with Heir Li, you have seemed preoccupied. Could it be... something unexpected has happened?"
Gu Rushuang shook his head. "No, This Palace was merely thinking of other matters."
"Is Your Majesty thinking about the Second Prince?"
"Mmm."
Zhiqiu was Gu Rushuang's trusted confidant. Since Zhiqiu had already guessed the real reason for his concern, Gu Rushuang saw no further need to conceal it and simply nodded in acknowledgment.
With Ying Zihui's faction collapsed, the Second Prince, Ying Ziheng, would undoubtedly benefit the most. It was a foregone conclusion that he would seize this opportunity to rise rapidly.
Next.
Gu Rushuang was certain that Shen Qianxue would focus all her efforts on dealing with him.
Shen Qianxue had chosen to enter the palace, she would naturally not be content with merely being a consort, especially after her son had been selected as the Crown Prince. To put it bluntly, the reason Shen Qianxue had previously only engaged in verbal provocation and minor, harmless actions was that she did not want to do the hard work only for someone else to reap the rewards.
Zhiqiu suggested, "Your Majesty, perhaps you could discuss this with Heir Li. Maybe he has a solution."
After Li Jin had persuaded Gu Rushuang to allow Shi Weixu to research smallpox within the palace, Zhiqiu no longer dared to underestimate him and even held him in high esteem, hence this proposal.
As an old servant by Gu Rushuang's side, Zhiqiu understood better than anyone how difficult it was to persuade Gu Rushuang to agree to something that could potentially cause panic within the palace, yet Li Jin had managed it.
Gu Rushuang shook his head in refusal. "Zhiqiu, aside from the already fallen Ying Zihui who is an adult, the other princes are all much younger than Ying Ziheng. Ying Ziheng ascending to the position of Crown Prince is an established course that no one can stop. Telling Jin'er about this would only add to his worries. It is better not to mention it at all."
"Your Majesty..."
"Enough, let this matter end here. You are also forbidden to speak of it to Jin'er."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Hearing the finality in Gu Rushuang's tone, Zhiqiu could only nod in reluctant assent.
Afterwards, Gu Rushuang informed Ying Zhengjing about the discovery of a cure for smallpox. Puzzlingly, Ying Zhengjing ordered the matter to be suppressed, even going so far as to silence the young eunuch Gu Rushuang had mentioned. Consequently, apart from Li Jin and the others who already knew, no one else was aware of this matter.
Elsewhere.
Ying Yuan was seeing Li Jin off from the palace. As the two drew closer to the palace gates, Ying Yuan couldn't help but say, "Li Jin, it's so late already. How about... how about you stay in the palace tonight?"
Li Jin smiled and shook his head, refusing.
"Seventh Prince, I am an external male."
"I know, but I wish you could stay in the palace... even for just one night."
"Isn't there His Majesty the Empress, and Zhiqiu and the others? Seventh Prince, you could try talking with them."
"Li Jin, they are not you." Ying Yuan shook his head vigorously. "Even though Mother Empress treats me very well, only you are the one who is truly good to me, who truly wants to be my friend, and not for any other reason. That's why I want you to stay. Also, I dislike those people in the palace who always wear false masks."
During this period as the adopted son in Gu Rushuang's palace, the attitude of the palace staff, who had previously paid him no mind, had done a complete one-hundred-eighty-degree turn. They were all fawning and flattering. Even the consorts in the rear palace and Ying Zijun, who had always been at odds with him, no longer dared to openly look down on him or move against him. It was true that Ying Yuan's life was more comfortable than before.
But this did not mean Ying Yuan was happy.
On the contrary.
Ying Yuan detested their hypocrisy.
"Seventh Prince, you are a prince." Li Jin lightly patted Ying Yuan's shoulder. "Even if you dislike it, you must learn to get used to it, and you absolutely cannot show them a disgusted expression, understand?"
Li Jin knew his words were difficult for a young prince to follow, but since he had chosen Ying Yuan, he needed Ying Yuan to accomplish this.
"I... will try my best..."
If anyone else had said this to Ying Yuan, he would not only have refused to listen but would have believed that person had ulterior motives. But it was different coming from Li Jin. Ying Yuan was willing to act according to Li Jin's words.
"Not 'try,' you must do it." Li Jin was amused by Ying Yuan's conflicted little expression and couldn't help but ruffle his hair.
"Then if I do it right now, can you stay in the palace tonight with me?"
"No."
"......"
Ying Yuan's expression instantly fell, like a young animal ordered by its master to stay home and not follow.
"However, I can give you a reward."
As soon as Li Jin said 'however,' Ying Yuan's eyes immediately filled with expectation. "What reward?"
"Close your eyes first."
"Okay."
Ying Yuan closed his eyes without another word.
"Seventh Prince, open your mouth."
Li Jin added this line unexpectedly. Although Ying Yuan found it a bit strange, he complied.
A moment later, the aroma of osmanthus suddenly drifted between them, and simultaneously, something soft touched Ying Yuan's lips, causing him to freeze.
This is...
"You can open your eyes now, Seventh Prince. Is the osmanthus cake delicious?"
As Li Jin finished speaking, Ying Yuan immediately opened his eyes and stared blankly at Li Jin for a while before saying, "It's very delicious. Li Jin, thank you."
Is this the first gift Li Jin has given me?
This thought involuntarily surfaced in Ying Yuan's heart. At the same time, an indescribable feeling quietly emerged, but before Ying Yuan could grasp it, it had already vanished without a trace.
"That's good."
Li Jin breathed a sigh of relief.
To be honest, seeing Ying Yuan's pitiful appearance just now, Li Jin had felt a bit stifled and instinctively gave Ying Yuan the osmanthus cake that Ping'an had stuffed into his hand.
It seemed the effect was quite good, at least Ying Yuan no longer looked as dejected as before.
"I really must go now. Next time I enter the palace, how about I bring you another piece?"
"Okay, it's a promise." Having said that, Ying Yuan stretched out his hand towards Li Jin.
Li Jin raised his eyebrow in confusion. "This is?"
"Pinky promise. Li Jin, you stretch out your finger too."
"Mmm."
Puzzled, Li Jin stretched out his hand.
Instantly,
Ying Yuan immediately hooked his finger with Li Jin's and declared solemnly, "Li Jin, we've made a pinky promise now. You must not break your word."
Ying Yuan had learned the pinky promise trick during the palace banquet earlier, after seeing the children of the officials do it. Now he was putting it to use immediately.
However, there was one detail Ying Yuan hadn't noticed.
The two people he saw making the promise were a boy and a girl, and the one who suggested it was the newly adult young woman.
As for the content of their promise, Ying Yuan hadn't paid any attention at all.
"Okay."
Amused to see this childish side of Ying Yuan, Li Jin agreed with a smile.
Li Jin himself didn't notice that this unconsciously revealed smile held a trace of warmth that was usually difficult to detect.
Xuanqing Palace.
Looking at the stack of identical memorials, Ying Zhengjing laughed coldly. "They are truly Our good ministers. It has not been long since We dealt with the Eldest Prince, and these people are already shifting with the wind, urging Us to appoint the Second Prince as Crown Prince. Truly excellent."
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