I don't want to be the favorite concubine of this palace anymore

Chapter 105: Participating in the Longevity Ceremony

In the Ningguo Mansion, Bai Yueli went home and cried again because of the matter of Prince Cheng. The whole family felt sorry for Bai Yueli and could only comfort her. However, the emperor's marriage could not be changed.

After dinner, Bai Jingchen stopped his parents who were about to leave. He struggled for a few days and decided that it would be better to tell his parents about his relationship with Gu Anyan as soon as possible.

"Father and mother, I already have a girl I like, and I want to marry her."

Duke Ningguo and Mrs. Wu were very surprised. They had thought that their son and Princess Ronghua were childhood sweethearts and would definitely get married. But after asking several times, their son said that he only regarded her as his sister.

So they had no choice but to give up, but they didn't expect that their son would find another woman on his own.

"Whose family is she from?" Mrs. Wu asked with concern. She still liked Li Jiawan very much. But there was nothing she could do if her son didn't like her.

"She is the eldest daughter of Lord Gu, the prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture. Her name is Gu Anyan. You have also seen her."

Mrs. Wu recalled Gu Anyan's appearance and had some impression of her, which meant that she was just an ordinary woman and did not leave any impression on her.

Duke Ningguo hesitated for a moment and said, "Are you sure you want to marry her?"

Bai Jingchen said with certainty: "My son really likes her and is willing to marry her."

At this time, Bai Yueli, who was hiding behind the door and eavesdropping, suddenly jumped out: "I don't agree!"

It scared several people in the hall.

Bai Jingchen looked at Bai Yueli with a dark face and displeasure: "Sister, you should worry about your marriage. You are about to get married, why are you so surprised?"

Duke Ningguo looked at Bai Yueli disapprovingly and said, "Don't make trouble. Go back to your own yard and have a rest. Have you finished embroidering your wedding dress?"

Bai Yueli stamped her feet in anger, "Mother, I'm serious. I don't like Gu Anyan to be my sister-in-law. How can her looks and family background compare to Sister Wan'er's?"

Mrs. Wu was a little embarrassed. In fact, she thought so in her heart, but she still took her son's feelings into consideration and would not say it out loud and make her son sad.

Hearing her daughter say this, she looked at Bai Jingchen:

"Chen'er, you also know that Wan'er has always had feelings for you, and you two grew up together and know each other very well. Are you really not interested in her?"

Bai Jingchen said helplessly: "Mother, I really don't have any romantic feelings for her. I have always treated her as my sister. I know very well that the person I like is Gu Anyan. I hope that father and mother can fulfill their son's wish."

Duke Ningguo did not have any intense reaction. Although he and Lord Gu were not very familiar with each other, they were both royalists and the emperor's trusted ministers.

The other party's family background was acceptable. The woman looked a little weak when she came to the Duke's Mansion last time, but his son liked her and he didn't want to break up the couple. Besides, his son was already twenty years old.

As the heir to the Duke's Mansion, it's time for him to get married. It's rare that he brought it up on his own initiative, so this is a good opportunity to settle this matter sooner rather than later.

Bai Yueli wanted to say something, but was glared back by Bai Jingchen and the Duke.

"Let me discuss this matter with your mother. Since you like her, we can come to propose marriage as soon as possible and settle your marriage."

Bai Jingchen was delighted: "Thank you, father and mother."

Bai Yueli muttered unwillingly: "I don't know what my brother is thinking. He doesn't want a woman as good as Sister Wan'er, but wants the daughter of a fourth-rank official."

Now everyone in the room looked unhappy. This daughter had caused her family a lot of worry recently. She had been lost when she was a child. After she was found, her family doted on her to make up for her.

But she was spoiled and didn't know how high the heavens were. I thought it was okay to spoil her and just educate her well.

But now it seems that they all regret not teaching her strictly. If this continues, what will happen if she marries into Prince Cheng's palace?

"Li'er, don't say such contemptuous words in the future. Haven't you offended enough people? You are going to get married soon, why are you still so ignorant?

You should worry more about what to do after you marry into the Cheng Palace, and stop meddling in other people's business."

This was the first time Bai Yueli heard Duke Ning criticize her so harshly. She felt wronged and her eyes turned red. "Are you just waiting for me to marry into the Cheng Palace and suffer? Fine, you don't have to worry about my affairs. Anyway, the Crown Prince will not ignore me!"

After saying that, she turned and left.

The three people who stayed behind all changed their expressions. What did she mean by this? Did she still have a private contact with the prince?

Duke Ning said to Wu with a gloomy face, "Send someone to keep an eye on her recently, don't let her cause any trouble before she gets married, and persuade her not to meet the Crown Prince in private. The Crown Prince must have some plans, and don't drag our Duke's Mansion into the fight between the princes."

Wu asked worriedly, "My husband, if the crown prince and King Cheng compete for that position, who are you going to help?"

Duke Ningguo said expressionlessly: "I will only be loyal to the one above me. It depends on who can sit in that position."

Bai Jingchen also nodded in agreement: "Yes, although the prince seems to be powerful now, your majesty is in his prime and in good health. It is still unknown what the future will be like. It is indeed not advisable to take sides too early."

-

The pills sold well in An Muxi's clinic these days, so she sent Perilla and Angelica dahurica to help make the pills. The sales of picture books in the bookstore were also stable.

Everything seems to be on track.

Dai Meng sent a pigeon letter back to Tianyue Kingdom reporting what Dai Zhen had done. The Queen of Tianyue was very angry and wrote back ordering Dai Zhen to set off for Tianyue Kingdom immediately.

After seeing Dai Zhen off, Dai Meng felt relaxed and spent every day with Li Yian in the palace. They would return to Tianyue Kingdom after attending Emperor Tiansheng's birthday celebration in two days.

The detoxification of Crown Prince Tianqi has been going on for five days, and Divine Doctor Gao was in charge of it all these five days. Feng Qingyu felt a little disappointed that she hadn't seen the little divine doctor again.

The Emperor's birthday is in two days. An Muxi was not qualified to go, but Dai Meng and Lu Qingxue insisted on taking her with them.

Thinking that Dai Meng was about to leave, she did not refuse. After all, since Dai Meng was returning to Tianyue Country this time, she really didn't know when they would meet again.

An Muxi has been quietly thinking about new picture books in the palace these days. Soon she wrote two more books, "The Counterattack of the Useless Daughter" and "The Evil King's Little Favorite Concubine".

After she sent it to the bookstore, she got back her share of the royalties. Now she gets about five to eight hundred taels of silver every week, and she is very satisfied.

Although it cost six thousand taels to buy the clinic and purchase medicinal materials last time, the clinic is now slowly starting to make a profit. Together with the profit from the bookstore, we have at least two thousand taels of income every month.

This way, she won't have to worry about going hungry when she goes out anymore.

She also raised the monthly salary of several maids to five taels. Including Song Lan from the clinic, her salary also increased to five taels. Everyone was very grateful to An Muxi and worked harder.

On the day before the Wanshou Festival, Divine Doctor Gao completely cured Feng Qingyu of the poison and obtained the Golden Cup and Silver Embryo as promised.

The next day was Emperor Tiansheng's birthday. An Muxi and Lu Qingxue got on the carriage early in the morning.

The moment she lifted the car curtain and saw Li Rui walking out, she was a little surprised. Why did Li Rui become thinner, and one of his shoulders seemed to sway unnaturally when he walked?

Could it be that he was injured?

Li Rui also saw An Muxi, but got on a carriage without saying anything.

He had been recuperating in the mansion recently. His internal injuries had healed somewhat, but the injury to his shoulder from the sneak attack by that man last time had not yet healed.

Soon the two carriages arrived at the Tiansheng Palace.