Volume 1 Chapter 102

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  When Ning Wang Long Shu rode a white horse to the gate of Anji Hou Mansion, Gu Huai Li and Gu Huai Yi stood shoulder to shoulder facing Long Shu and bowed: "Minister Gu Huai Li (Gu Huai Yi) pays respects to Your Highness Ning Wang!"

  Long Shuyuan dismounted and walked up to Gu Huaiyi and Gu Huaili, his voice as smooth as jade, saying: "No need for formalities, esteemed ones." He personally helped Gu Huaili up from the side, a warm smile on his face.

  Seeing Ning Wang Long Shu's unobtrusive support beside his younger brother Gu Huaiyi, a hint of envy flashed in Gu Huaili's eyes. He couldn't help but imagine the two people in front of him as himself and his future son-in-law Jing Wang. Thinking about Jing Wang, who made him afraid with an aura of coldness all over his body, taking the initiative to support him, Gu Huaili couldn't help but shudder. He quickly drove out the imagined scene from his mind, and he wasn't envious of Gu Huaiyi anymore.

  "What's wrong, Duke Anji? Are you not feeling well?" Long Shuyu looked over with a concerned gaze. He had just made that gesture for three reasons: Firstly, Gu Huiyi was the savior of his father, the Emperor, and would definitely be reused in the future, so he wanted to curry favor with him; Secondly, Gu Huiyi was his father-in-law, and although his previous action seemed unintentional, it was actually a gesture of goodwill, showing that he valued his daughter, who was also Long Shuyu's queen; Thirdly, Duke Anji's daughter was the concubine of his third brother, and according to his brother's temperament, he would not do something as lowly as this. With him as a comparison, if... then the people of Duke Anji's household might lean towards his side, and the possibility of them standing on his side would be extremely high. Moreover, Duke Anji's eldest daughter was not even his third brother's main wife.

  He had just subconsciously supported Gu Huaiyi's movement, which also made Gu Huaili dissatisfied with the future third brother. He seemed to focus all his attention on Gu Huaiyi, but his eyes were closely watching Gu Huaili's side.

  Seeing Gu Huai Li's envious expression, he thought that his plan to drive a wedge between them was already half successful. He expected that when Third Brother came again in the future, they would thoroughly fall out with the An Ji Marquis Manor. Thinking of this, he spoke to Gu Huai Li with concern.

  "Returning to the Ning Wang's palace, I... have no physical discomfort, thank you for your concern about me, Ning Wang!" Hearing Long Shu Yuan's concerned inquiry, Gu Huai Li immediately replied with a mixture of respect and excitement. The thread of envy that had just been suppressed floated up again. In his heart, he couldn't help but imagine how great it would be if the Ning Wang were to become his son-in-law.

  "Big brother, Ning Wang, let's go into the mansion first!" Gu Huaiyi said to the two of them.

  "Yes, yes. Yes, Third Brother is right, Prince Ning's mansion please enter..." Gu Huaiyi heard Gu Huaiyi's words and immediately came back to his senses. The two led Long Shu far into the gate of Anji Hou Mansion.

  Long Shuyu walked into the Anji Marquis's mansion, this was his second time coming to the Anji Marquis's mansion. Compared to the first time he came, the Anji Marquis's mansion had undergone quite a few changes, with a hint of prosperity and grandeur, many places showed signs of renovation, adding some luxurious decorations. However, there wasn't an abrupt feeling, the changed areas were also uniquely crafted.

  Long Shuyuan nodded in satisfaction. A hundred-year-old family is a hundred-year-old family, and although it has faced decline before, once it makes a comeback, the flavor of that hundred-year-old family comes out.

  The servants walking around were also humble and polite, thinking of the princess he was going to marry, Gu Qingyao. The smile on Long Shufang's face became even warmer because of a beautiful story about blue and white porcelain. Anji Hou's legitimate daughter, Gu Qingyu, was known by everyone in high society, although she had met the prince and some others, but the little girl's small thoughts were not taken to heart by anyone. Moreover, on that day "Junmu X", came out to resolve the situation, and everyone's attention was diverted.

  However, it made him recognize the two legitimate daughters of the Anji Marquis's estate. Compared to the unseemly Gu Qingjin, the later white-robed Ruoxue who stood up to plead for her sister, and the elegant and charming Gu Qingyao, made his eyes light up noticeably.

  After receiving the imperial edict to marry, Long Shuyu let his confidant start inquiring about some matters of the three houses of Anji Marquis Manor. He learned that his father-in-law Gu Huaiyi's wife, Madame Su, came from a hundred-year-old scholarly family, the Su family. Madame Su was renowned for her good reputation while she was still in the inner chambers. After marrying Gu Huaiyi, she had accompanied him on his external appointments for many years, visiting numerous places and socializing among local officials' families to take care of matters behind Gu Huaiyi's back, being meticulous and well-organized.

  Before, my father-in-law Gu Huaiyi was able to be released from his exile and return to the capital to serve as an official. More than half of the reason for this was also due to the influence of his capable mother-in-law. I believe that a daughter taught by such a mother-in-law, like Gu Qingyao, would not be an ordinary, ignorant, or short-sighted woman. Moreover, Long Shu had personally seen Gu Qingyao and thought her to be an ethereally beautiful woman with a very spirited aura.

  The main hall of Anji Houfu is much better than Longshu, and it has also undergone great changes since the last time I came. However, it remains clean and tidy, with more grand and magnificent decorations.

  Long Han sat at the top position, his eyes scanning the changes in the hall, and saw a plum blossom painting hanging on the wall of the hall... No, it wasn't a plum blossom painting. Long Shuyuan stood up and walked to the front of the character, exclaiming: "Double-handed plum blossom seal?"

  "Your Highness Ning Wang is erudite, this is a humble work of mine in my spare time..." said Gu Huaiyi standing behind Long Shu with humility.

  "This is a masterpiece, at least I, the king, cannot write such characters. From afar, it looks like flowers, but up close, it's words. The words contain characters, and the characters hide flowers, blending together as one. The font is strong and powerful, flowing with ancient elegance. At first glance, I thought it was a plum blossom painting!" Dragon Comfort praised without reserve.

  "Thank you for your praise, Your Highness." Gu Huaiyi saw that Long Shuyuan was sincere in his praise and nodded with a smile without further humility.

  Long Shuyuan continued to gaze at the couplet with both hands turning into plum blossoms, reciting the words on it: "Mountain one journey, water one journey, body towards Yu Guan that bank goes, night deep thousand tents lamp. Wind one watch, snow one watch, noisy broken heart hometown dream not become, old garden no this sound. Good words, good a night deep thousand tents lamp..." Long Shuyuan's eyes burst out with bright light, originally thought such a weak woman, didn't expect to write out such majestic words.

  Gu Huaiyi heard Long Shuyuan praise the lyrics, furrowed his brow. As far as he knew, this poem was probably something his daughter had learned from her niece. He was a military general and when he first heard the poem, he also exclaimed that it was good. How could it be that today he was reciting this very same one? He thought about telling Long Shuyuan that the poem was written by his niece, but seeing Long Shuyuan's admiring expression, he hesitated and decided not to mention it. Anyway, his niece wouldn't write plum blossom couplets.

  "Flattery, flattery." Gu Huaiyi humbly said: "My daughter has always been taught by her aunt, and I have rarely worried about it. However, my daughter is indeed a considerate one."

  Upon hearing Gu Huaiyi's words, Long Shuyuan and Gu Huaiyi exchanged a faint smile, their eyes moving away from the plum blossom embroidery on the wall to a nearby screen. Long Hanshan slightly furrowed his brow - it was embroidered on both sides? This is quite rare; it seems this little wife of his is virtuous, gentle, and multi-talented.

  Gu Huaiyi knew that the arrangement in the hall today was done by his wife, and the calligraphy and paintings on the wall as well as this screen were just put out yesterday, precisely to let Long Shufang see them. Seeing Long Shufang look at the calligraphy and paintings and then place her gaze on this screen, she smiled slightly and said: "There is a wet nurse beside my wife who is extremely skilled in embroidery, and all of my daughter's embroidery was learned from that wet nurse. My daughter is most skilled in needlework and women's red (i.e., traditional feminine pursuits)."

  Upon hearing Gu Huaiyi's words, Long Shuyuan's demeanor became even more gentle and warm. The last bit of resentment in his heart towards Gu Qingyao for not being the legitimate daughter of the Marquis had completely disappeared. Such a woman with both beauty and talent was worthy of matching with him, the Ning Wang.

  Long Shuyu spoke to Gu Huaiyi with an undisguised tone of satisfaction: "She's very good, Lord Gu can rest assured, I will treat her well."

  "Thank you, Your Highness Ning Wang." Gu Huaiyi's eyes showed emotion.

  Long Shu smiled and said, "Lord Gu, please take a seat."

  Long Shuyuan helped Gu Huaiyi to the front, and under everyone's gaze, he lifted his dragon robe and slowly knelt down in front of Gu Huaiyi, who exclaimed: "Your Highness Ning Wang?"

  Long Shuyuan gazed at Gu Huaiyi's shocked and pale face with warm eyes, comforting him. Seeing Long Shuyuan's gaze, Gu Huaiyi understood the meaning in his eyes, and his complexion returned to normal. He stiffened his body, allowing Long Shuyuan to bow and knock his head against the ground in respect. Gu Huaiyi knew that this was Long Shuyuan thanking him for raising Ning Wangfei.

  After Long Shuyuan finished worshiping, Gu Huaiyi hurriedly helped Long Shuyuan up and then knelt down in front of him, hastily kowtowing three times to show his complete loyalty as a subject.

  "Go and invite the lady to come." After Gu Huaiyi stood up, she instructed a small servant outside the hall. The servant quickly left and soon returned with Su Shi, who was supported by her personal maid. Su Shi was dressed very properly and elegantly, exuding a refined and cultured air that was typical of a well-bred lady from a scholarly family. Her delicate makeup and features revealed that she must have been a beauty in her youth, and as the years passed, she naturally radiated a woman's charm. With her dignified demeanor and gentle expression, she appeared soft and composed, elegant and refined. Although not the most beautiful, she had an endearing quality that made people feel at ease, and her poise was impressive. She truly lived up to being the mother of a daughter like Gu Qingyao.

  "Long Shuyuan pays respects to his mother-in-law." Long Shuyuan waited until Su Shi stood at the top, then performed the same actions he had just done in front of Gu Huaiyi, one bow and one kowtow.

  Su's heart couldn't help but feel proud, as the sixth prince, Ning Wang, her son-in-law was a royal highness, her daughter was the legitimate wife of the royal highness, and although her elder sister's daughter had always been stronger than her, she was only a concubine of the royal highness. Even with the support of the Jun family, what could be done? She smiled slightly at the corner of her mouth, unable to conceal her joy, and said softly: "Please rise, Prince Ning Wang, Qingyao will be handed over to you."

  Su Shi kowtowed three times to Long Shuyuan, who waved his hand and said to Gu Huayi and Su Shi: "Father-in-law, mother-in-law, today I formally present the betrothal gifts. Half a month later, I will officially welcome Princess Ning into the Ning Wang Fu."

  "Good...good...good..." Gu Huaiyi and Su nodded with excitement in their eyes.