GTB Chapter 194

Chapter 196: Leaving the Palace

Jiang Jiuchu held onto the hemp ropes of the swing with one hand and Shi Yan’s lower back with the other, feeling a little embarrassed.

“Husband, you are the Crown Prince now, you need to be careful with your words. Besides, Your Highness works so hard every day, getting up early to attend court, but I haven’t been able to wake up to help you dress and wash, I feel a bit ashamed. Why don’t you just have a maid help you get dressed!”

“No, this Prince doesn’t like other women serving me at close quarters. Jiuchu would actually let other women serve me with dressing? Aren’t you jealous?”

Jiang Jiuchu leaned her head on Shi Yan’s shoulder and looked at the autumn chrysanthemums in the flowerbed opposite them. “Alright! I am a little jealous, to be honest. Don’t even mention other maids, I wouldn’t be happy even if I let Green Lo and Green Intent help you dress.”

“Do you think… someone as petty as me can be a good Crown Princess? Will I be qualified to be the mother of the nation in the future?”

Upon hearing this, Shi Yan stopped the swing with his foot, and it instantly ceased swaying. He turned his head to look at Jiang Jiuchu, “Jiuchu doesn’t believe in her husband.”

“No, of course, I believe in you, it’s just…”

Before Jiang Jiuchu could finish speaking, Shi Yan interrupted, “Jiuchu, remember this, it’s not that you’re petty, it’s that Shi Yan is petty, and so petty that he can only hold you alone. So, don’t try to be magnanimous, I’ll get angry. You know what happens when your husband gets angry…”

Jiang Jiuchu pushed away Shi Yan’s handsome face as he leaned in. “I know…”

She glared playfully, then got up and pulled Shi Yan up, “Let’s go have breakfast, I’m hungry.”

After they had breakfast, Shi Yan took Jiang Jiuchu’s hand, “Would it be possible for Jiuchu to serve her husband with ink and paper in the study?”

“No, you go and do your work! Don’t worry about me.”

Jiang Jiuchu knew that Shi Yan was afraid she would be bored, that’s why he wanted her to accompany him.

She thought for a moment and asked, “Can I go out of the palace for a stroll?”

Shi Yan paused, then nodded. “You can.”

After he answered, he waved to Mu Feng, who was standing to the side. When he came over, he instructed, “Send ten shadow guards to protect the Crown Princess.”

After giving the order, Shi Yan looked at Jiang Jiuchu again, “Let Mu Qing follow you, and don’t come back too late. You must be back here before sunset.”

“Okay, I will.” Jiang Jiuchu quickly nodded in agreement.

Seeing Jiang Jiuchu happy, Shi Yan couldn’t help but smile. He raised his hand and caressed her cheek. “In a few days, after I’m done with my work, I’ll take you to Crescent Peak for a couple of days.”

“Crescent Peak?” Jiang Jiuchu looked at Shi Yan with curiosity and anticipation. She had never heard of any Crescent Peak.

“Yes, it’s a very beautiful place, and it’s also where I used to stay. I’ll accompany you to stay for two days.”

“Is it far?” Jiang Jiuchu asked Shi Yan. “If it’s far, then let’s not go. You can take me there when you have the chance in the future.”

Although she really wanted to go, she knew that Shi Yan was very busy right now, and there were many factions opposing his position as Crown Prince.

“Not far, it’s in Yu City. Staying for two days, plus the travel time back and forth, will only take three days. I’ll take it as a private visit to investigate the local people’s conditions.”

As he spoke, Shi Yan kissed her forehead, “Go early and come back early.”

“Okay.” Jiang Jiuchu smiled and tiptoed to return a kiss on Shi Yan’s cheek, “Alright, I’ll bring back pastries for you to eat.”

Jiang Jiuchu waved to Mu Qing and Green Lo, who were standing in the distance, “Let’s go, I’ll take you out of the palace to have fun.”

Upon hearing this, Mu Qing and Green Lo hurriedly lowered their heads and walked over, following behind her with blushing faces. There was nothing they could do; the masters were becoming more and more affectionate. As long as His Highness was around, they would voluntarily stand far away.

Shi Yan stared at Jiang Jiuchu’s cheerful back, the determination in his eyes even stronger. The empire he wanted to build was not for the common people, nor for the ancestral foundation of the Shi family, but only for the pure land of him and her.

“Miss, where are we going?” Inside the carriage, Green Lo looked out the window and asked Jiang Jiuchu.

“Hmm… to the Gu residence. It’s been so long since I’ve seen Ji Shuting. We’ll go find Shuting first, and then go find Xiao Li. I want to take the two of them out to the lake and introduce them to each other.”

“Yes, ma’am!” Green Lo smiled and lifted the curtain, calling out to Lin Huo, “To the Gu residence.”

After Green Lo finished speaking, the carriage turned around and headed west. After a little over half an hour, the carriage stopped in front of the Gu residence.

The gatekeeper of the Gu residence was about to go inside to report, but upon hearing Jiang Jiuchu’s identity, he quickly and respectfully led her into the front hall.

“Crown Princess, please wait a moment. The servant has already gone to inform the madam, and our madam will be here soon.”

Jiang Jiuchu nodded. She really wanted to follow the servant directly to find Ji Shuting, but today was different from the past. This was the Gu residence, and it was her first time here, so it was better to wait obediently.

In the back garden of the Gu residence, Madam Gu was sitting in the pavilion. She took the tea handed over by the maid, and with her hand holding a handkerchief, she lifted the lid and took a light sip, perfectly displaying the demeanor of a noblewoman.

She put down the lid and looked at Ji Shuting, who was standing in front of her, “Shuting, as a young lady from a famous family in Kyoto, you should know that in these high-class households, there is no man who doesn’t take concubines.”

As she spoke, she turned her head and glanced at the fair and elegant woman beside her, “Besides, this is Changxuan’s cousin, not an outsider. She’s only going to be a concubine for Changxuan, why are you disagreeing?”

Ji Shuting looked at Bai Tao’s submissive appearance with her head lowered, suppressed the displeasure in her heart, and patiently explained to Madam Gu, “Mother, it’s not that this daughter-in-law disagrees, it’s that Changxuan himself doesn’t want to take a concubine. Of course, if you let me choose, I would also disagree in my heart. It’s only been half a year since I married into this family, and you’re already eager to take a concubine for Changxuan, have you ever thought about this daughter-in-law?”

“You…” Madam Gu was so angry that she slapped the stone table with one hand, but then she cried out in pain. Her face was even more flushed, and she pointed directly at Ji Shuting, “You actually dare to talk to me like this, you simply don’t respect me as your mother-in-law.”

“How could Changxuan disagree to take a concubine? I’ve never seen a man who doesn’t take a concubine. It must be that you see our Changxuan is easy to talk to, and you won’t let him take a concubine.”

“And…”

Before Madam Gu could finish speaking, a servant ran over in a hurry, interrupting her.

“Old Madam, Madam, the Crown Princess has come to the door and said she is looking for the Madam, and is waiting in the front hall drinking tea.”

“Crown Princess?” Upon hearing this, Madam Gu stood up in surprise. Seeing the servant nod, she quickly asked Ji Shuting, “Are you acquainted with the Crown Princess?”

Ji Shuting nodded in response, not expecting Jiuchu to come to the Gu residence. After all, before living outside the palace, Jiuchu had never visited the Gu residence.

Thinking about it, she must be feeling very bored in the palace, so she came out to find her to play.

“Mother, since the Crown Princess is looking for me, I must go quickly.”

After she finished speaking, she quickly stepped out of the pavilion, but Madam Gu called out to stop her.

“Wait…”

Madam Gu straightened her clothes and raised her arm, waiting for Bai Tao to quickly help her. Then, while walking down the pavilion, she said, “Since the Crown Princess has come to the door, as the mother of the champion’s wife, I must go to greet her, otherwise, wouldn’t that be disrespectful?”