Chapter 40: Don't covet what isn't yours

  Gu Zhaodong was puzzled and felt indignant, looking at Gu Chengxiang: "It's just the time for the imperial examination. If I follow you into the palace, it won't be unseemly and will also benefit the Gu family. But my fourth brother is unlearned and ignorant of etiquette. If he were to offend someone in the palace, Father would have to clean up after him. Why bring him along?"

  Chancellor Gu looked at him and said: "This is what His Majesty has personally decreed. As his father, I also have no way to change it."

  It's as if he had hit the jackpot, Gu Zhaodong was extremely annoyed, knowing that it was already impossible to change, but still couldn't help but complain.

  "All right, you go back and prepare for the imperial examination." Minister Gu sighed and said: "You've already got the top spot in the bag, so don't worry about anything else. The Ministry of Justice has a vacant deputy position, I've arranged for one of my students to take it temporarily, if you pass the exam, I'll put in a good word with the Empress and vacate the position for you."

  Gu Zhaodong's face looked a lot better, he pursed his lips and lowered his head: "Thank you, Father."

  "You and Bei'er are different, no need to target him." Gu Xiang said with deep meaning: "What is yours will not be less, what is not yours cannot be taken by force."

  Some didn't quite understand what was being said, but Gu Zhaodong still nodded: "Yes."

  If he gets an official position, he can move out of the Prime Minister's mansion. Later, think of a way to transfer his fourth brother to Beijing or directly take drastic measures, and Yan'er will eventually return to his side.

  The plan was foolproof, Gu Zhaodong smiled slightly, after bowing to Gu Chengxiang he turned around and left the study.

  "The Fourth Young Master's wife is indeed a lucky charm. Look, in the past, the Fourth Young Master was not even presentable, but now he actually follows her to rescue the prisoners and ends up saving the Emperor by mistake, earning an opportunity to enter the palace."

  "Isn't that so? However, I heard that the official seals of Jing Quan and Shen Shilang have been taken away by the Emperor. Shen Shilang is the father of Fourth Young Master's wife, this is quite awkward."

  Gu Zhaodong listened, and the regret in his heart surged like a stormy sea. He should have married Yan'er first, anyway Shen Guiya was already pregnant with his child and couldn't escape, it would have been the same even if he had welcomed Yan'er first.

  Madam Shen is said to have incurred the emperor's wrath, and Shen Guiya is her own daughter. He naturally wants to avoid trouble now. In case the emperor remembers to punish him one day, don't ruin his future.

  "My husband." The Cold Empress was hard to tame.

  Just thinking of hiding, but as soon as I crossed the moon gate, I saw Shen Guiya coming over with a flourish.

  Gu Zhaodong frowned: "Bao's family made a mistake, your father was deprived of his official seal, and you're still dressed so brightly?"

  Shen Guiya had learned the local craftsmanship and prepared some pastries for him to try, but unexpectedly got a cold reception. She became unhappy: "Just because my official seal was confiscated, isn't there still a public official who can intercede? Why do I have to dress like I'm in mourning?"

  Gu Zhaodong snorted: "You have no filial piety at all, move to the east wing and live there, vacate the main house, I want to move in."

  "Shen Guiya glared: 'I'm still pregnant!'"

  What's the difference between the east wing and the servant's quarters! Is this person crazy? She didn't do anything wrong, why treat her like this?!

  Gu Zhaodong just found an excuse to cold-shoulder her, which was also in line with the trend of the times. Living on the east side had nothing to do with miscarriage or pregnancy.

  He didn't say anything more and went to instruct the servants after passing by Shen Guiya. Shen Guiya followed him for two steps, stomping her foot in anger.

  This man is too selfish! She was still thinking of relying on him to make a living, who would have thought that he had no feelings at all, and wasn't even as lovely as Gu Zhaobei!

  "Miss." A voice came from behind the jade comb: "Why are you angry again? Didn't Gu Niang just say last time that you shouldn't always be angry, and follow the rules here?"

  "What rules are you following?" Shen Guiya said in a low voice: "He's going to send me to the Cold Mansion!"

  "It must be Miss, there's still something not quite right." Yu Shu said softly: "Let's go back and think carefully, the young master of this mansion is half the sky, no matter how angry you are, you can't do anything to him."

  Shen Guiya took a deep breath and nodded: "Okay, I'll listen to you."

  She was not as glorious as other time-traveling women in this ancient era, but instead was suppressed by Shen Guiyan and couldn't even lift her head. This shouldn't be the case. She used to be a bit reckless, but now she's also become more reserved, waiting for an opportunity to strike. There will come a day when she'll shine brightly. The ruthless CEO and his clever secretary

  The current Empress Dowager is the biological aunt of the Empress, but only the foster mother of the Emperor. The Emperor respects and filially pities her, yet the Empress Dowager always feels that there is no blood relationship, so she often helps the Empress win over officials in the court. Half of the memorials to the throne are first sent to the Eastern Palace; any words that say the Empress is a hen that announces the dawn are immediately burned.

  The emperor was not unaware, but knowing also had no way out. Most of the military power in this world was in the hands of the empress dowager, and he could sit firmly on the throne already was not easy.

  Shen Guiyan carefully checked herself for any imperfections while helping Gu Zhaobei change clothes.

  "When you enter the palace later, don't be too presumptuous. Although you are the son of the Prime Minister, you have no official position or title. If you lose face in front of your grandfather, he will definitely punish you when he returns."

  Gu Zhongbei yawned lazily: "Isn't it just a slightly bigger house with somewhat more dignified people? Why are you so tense, the tenser you are, the more mistakes you'll make, you'd better relax."

  Shen Guiyan took a deep breath and said helplessly: "I also want to relax, but as soon as I think of meeting the emperor, I really can't calm down."

  "Isn't the Emperor like that?" Gu Zhaobei slightly raised an eyebrow: "Aren't we all human?"

  "It's different." Shen Guiyan helped him fasten his belt: "As the ruler, he governs the world and commands the nine provinces. One person bears the worries of the people of the world, not everyone can do it, naturally worthy of admiration."

  Gu Zhaobei was taken aback for a moment, then pursed his lips: "I thought the emperor was just one of the three thousand beauties in the harem, living a life of luxury and pleasure."

  "Has Master seen me wear four golden hairpins before?" Shen Guiyan asked with a smile.

  "I've seen it." Gu Zhaobei said: "It's gorgeous, looks very nice, unfortunately you only wore it once."

  "That's because the more magnificent the jewelry, the heavier it is." Shen Guiyan adjusted his robe with her hand: "Heaven is still fair, giving you as much glory as you have to pay for in effort. So, when you see the emperor having fun, don't know how much hard work is behind him."

  Gu Zhaobei was taken aback for a moment, lowered his eyelids and chuckled: "How do you feel that you've been getting more and more like a husband recently?"

  Post-apocalyptic pastoral mode

  "Ah, is that so?" Shen Guiyan said with embarrassment: "Recently, I chatted with Master Zhou about these things and unknowingly mentioned them to you. Since you don't like listening to it, let's just pretend we didn't hear it. Let's get ready and go wait for the master at the entrance earlier."

  "Good." Gu Zhaobei took her hand and walked out the door.

  Today is the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet. In the afternoon, everyone can have a leisurely conversation in the Imperial Garden. At dusk, there will be a feast, and at night, there will be music and dance performances to add to the excitement, all arranged with great elegance.

  Prime Minister Gu repeatedly instructed Gu Zhaobei on the way: "Remember not to offend anyone, if you offend a noble person, even if I'm your father, I won't be able to protect you."

  "My son knows." Gu Zhaobei was somewhat impatient, these people were really too garrulous.

  Today, Yuwen Changqing's 100,000-strong army is already stationed outside the capital. He also came to the palace to celebrate his birthday. It is said that the order to deploy troops was placed in the hands of the deputy general, and the deputy general will directly follow the instructions.

  What is he doing? Gu Zhaobei sneered, the Emperor was indeed something, his own wife was thinking of helping her son usurp the throne, but he was still wandering around outside the palace. Although he had given him an opportunity to enter the palace, wasn't he now in danger himself?

  It's ironic that Yan Er still looks up to him, when this emperor can't even protect himself, what is there to look up to?

  One side is complaining, but at the same time still thinking of ways to help.

  Inside the imperial garden, there were officials everywhere, with only a few noblewomen. Prime Minister Gu was quickly pulled away by someone, and Gu Zhaobei took Shen Guiyan to find a quieter corridor to sit down.

  "It's really prosperous in the palace." Shen Guiyan couldn't help but sigh: "The jade buildings and jade halls are truly different from other places."

  "Do you like it?" Gu Zhaobei asked.

  Shen Guiyan was taken aback and said: "Everyone likes good things, but if they are not their own, I will not miss them."

  "It's really..." Gu Zhaobei couldn't help but chuckle, he had indeed married a straightforward wife.

  "General Yuwen, there are fewer people on this side, please come over here." A man in official uniform led the way. Gu Zhaobei turned his head and saw him, but pretended not to have seen him, drifting away with a distant gaze to take in the scenery.