Chapter 27: Imperial Favor is Overwhelming, and There is Also a Phoenix Chariot by Its Side

  With a clink of his wine cup, Gu Zhongyan raised his head and looked northward.

  He had just sent someone to stop her, but she was already in the east wing? What did she run over there for in the middle of the night? And still hasn't come back?

  The leaves opposite asked, and as soon as they looked up, they saw that the expression on Gu Si Gongzi's face had changed suddenly. Just now he was still praising the wine, but his current expression was like a cockroach had come out of the wine.

  "What's wrong?" Ye asked with a smile, after all, they were close friends.

  "It's nothing, the painted bird raised in the mansion is unfamiliar with the borders and flew out." Gu Zhaobei sighed: "I'm afraid I have to go back and take a look."

  "What kind of bird is this? Didn't you agree with me to stay out for seven days and not return? Don't try to make excuses to deceive me!"

  "It's nothing." Gu Zhaobei chuckled lightly: "It's really because that bird is rare and hard to find. I'll take advantage of the night to return, and come back at dawn, you can just pretend I never left."

  Ye Wen Dao clucked his tongue twice: "You're also concerned about these trivial matters, poor girl with a big basket of daughters. Alright, you go, I'll help you deal with this."

  "Thank you." Gu Zhaobei stood up and slowly backed away from his seat.

  "Alas, it's said that after Gu Si Gongzi married Shen San Niangzi, there might be some changes, but in the end, it's still the same. Someone nearby saw him leave his seat and couldn't help but mutter a few words: 'He was originally unlearned and without skills, now he's even more indulgent in wine and lust, it seems that the rumors circulating in the capital before might not be true after all.'"

  "What rumors have been circulating before?" A newcomer to the capital asked with a smile.

  "You don't know, Miss Shen San is said to be extremely auspicious, with a face that brings prosperity to her husband. In the past, several imperial princes and royal dukes were eager to engage in marriage, but it was only after the prime minister rendered meritorious service to the emperor that this daughter-in-law was settled on. Who would have thought that she would be ruined by this Fourth Master?"

  "What's the use of having a good husband? Look at Gu Si Gongzi, hasn't he still made no progress?"

  Ye Wen Tao sipped his wine and chuckled lightly: "Yes, no progress at all, wasted so much worry from the master."

  Out of the intoxicating flower shade, Gu Zhaobei directly mounted his horse and rushed to the Prime Minister's mansion. Chui Yun followed behind him, saying: "It was the young lady of the Prime Minister who invited the lady over, so it shouldn't be a big deal."

  "Exactly, it was she who took him away, that's why I want to go back. That woman is not clean at all."

  Chui Yun was slightly surprised, the young master's wife usually looked elegant and refined, how could she be unclean? Many people in the mansion thought she was good at managing the household and virtuous, completely unlike the rumors outside that said she was arrogant.

  "You all listen to me from now on." Gu Zhaobei said while riding his horse, "Whatever belongs to the East Wing, don't bring it into Madame's courtyard. If Young Master or Young Mistress wants to see Madame for something, come tell me first."

  "Yes." Chui Yun decided to believe in his own master. Sometimes what one's eyes see isn't necessarily true either.

  A cloud of dust rose as the horse stopped at the wall of the Chancellor's mansion, without going through the gate, Gu Zhaobei easily climbed over the wall and went in, while Zhuoyun led the horse to the stable.

  Looking around at the quiet surroundings, Gu Zhaobei still took off his showy outer robe first, wearing only the black inner robe underneath, and slipped away to the East Wing.

  "The flower pots in the backyard have been stacked up, as if someone had trampled and flipped over the wall." Yuzhen frowned and reported: "I went out to look around, but didn't see anyone, probably they ran away early."

  "Can a person in a coma walk out by themselves?" Shen Guiya was somewhat angry: "This time it's exposed, next time you want to use this method to control her, it will definitely not work again. It was originally foolproof, how could she have escaped?"

  Jade Comb shrunk her neck: "Perhaps it's just her good luck."

  "What's the point of fate?" Shen Guiya snorted, "What's good about believing in superstition? I'd rather believe in horoscopes! Forget it, let's just sleep for now. Besides, she doesn't have any evidence to accuse me this time, and there's nothing she can do to me."

  "Yes." Jade Comb hastily came up to help her change clothes.

  Escaped? Gu Zhaobei slightly let out a breath of relief, having no interest in watching the subsequent scene, turned around and left the East Wing.

  She managed to dodge it herself, can only say that she was lucky, Shen Guiyan looked like a honest and down-to-earth person, but only had the share of being bullied.

  He went back to Beiyuan and took a look, and the person had indeed fallen asleep. Gu Zhaobei quietly entered, helplessly discovering that she was sleeping very well.

  Not looking like being bullied at all.

  Rubbed his nose, Gu Chao Bei let out a light laugh and relaxed.

  In her dream, Guiyan felt some itchiness on her face and heat on her lips. She couldn't help but turn over. Then she heard someone's murmurs, and then nothing else.

  When she woke up, it was already bright outside. Shen Guiyan quickly got out of bed and found that Jiang had already prepared her clothes and breakfast.

  "Today Fu Xue will send a horizontal inscribed board to our mansion." Jiang Shi looked at her and said, "Madam didn't rest well?"

  Her complexion was a bit off, Shen Guiyan nodded: "I got a lesson yesterday, so I didn't sleep well."

  Shen Guiya was able to do such a thing, and it really surprised her. Fortunately, there was Xu Shi's help, otherwise she would not have escaped this time.

  What a close relative, almost thought that person had changed sex. These relatives by blood are probably more vicious than unrelated people, and this time they have given her a lesson.

  Fu Xueshi is a high-ranking official in the imperial court, and soon the Prime Minister will also come to welcome him personally. The mansion will be bustling again. Jiang Shi sighed: "Unfortunately, Master is not here, and the honor will surely go to the East Wing again."

  Shen Guiyan raised an eyebrow: "Fengtou?"

  Fu Xue Shi is exceptionally talented, fond of reciting poetry and composing couplets, and also happens to be the chief examiner for this imperial examination. Jiang said: "Presenting the plaque is on his way, I'm afraid he came to get close to the young master. Who doesn't know that the young master will surely win first place this time?"

  To put it bluntly, having real power is not enough; you also need to have connections.

  Shen Guiyan didn't worry as much as Jiangshi, thinking that Gu Zhaodong had his own abilities and the limelight suited him just fine. At present, with two factions vying for power in the imperial court and the Eastern Palace taking control, the situation was chaotic, but she thought it might be a good thing that Gu Zhaobei was far away from the imperial court.

  Fu Xueshi sent a plaque with the inscription "A Hundred Years of Harmony" written by the emperor himself last time, and the Gu family started preparing for the ceremony early in the morning. Shen Guiya wore a stunningly beautiful red long gown with intricate embroidery, underneath which was a yellow silk skirt with silver trim, and her hair was adorned with sparkling accessories. She looked great, but it was too showy.

  Shen Guiya didn't think there was anything wrong with it and happily stood beside Mrs. Gu.

  Gu Zhaodong and Gu Zhaonan were already standing in the hall, and Gu Chengxiang was also waiting. Shen Guiyan arrived a bit late and quietly went to stand at the back.

  Fu Xueshi is the queen's favored person, getting his recognition would naturally be good. Madame Gu pulled Shen Guiya along and said: "I don't want you to compete with Dong'er for attention, just don't make any mistakes later."

  Shen Guiya's eyes were filled with excitement, and she nodded in agreement on the surface, but in her heart, she was overjoyed. Scholars? No big deal, just some poems and songs, this dynasty doesn't have any history, she can just recite some Tang poetry and Song lyrics, and these people will definitely regard them as divine works.

  Shen Guiyan listened behind her head, thinking for a while.

  The current queen has overwhelming power and a quirky temper, not easy to please. If Gu Zhaodong enters the court, he will probably serve under her, it's unknown whether it's good or bad.

  "Someone has arrived." A soft voice reported from outside, and the Prime Minister stood up to greet him: "Lord Fu."

  Fu Xueshi was a sharp-eyed old man who burst into laughter as soon as he came in: "Congratulations, Chancellor!"

  The Grand Preceptor accompanied the smile, looking at the plaque that was carried in behind him. It was bestowed by the Emperor himself, and had originally been taken away to find a palace craftsman to carve, but was intercepted by the Empress Dowager, who had it carved with the same imperial grace, and even specially found Fu Xue to deliver it to him.

  All I want to say is one sentence: Even if the emperor's grace is vast and overflowing, there is still a phoenix carriage pressing down beside it.

  "Thanks for your trouble."

  Fu Xueshi waved his hand and followed him upstairs. He swept a glance around the room: "Where are the newlyweds?"

  "Shen Guiyan paused for a moment, then followed him out and bowed: 'Commoner's wife Shen, paying respects to Your Excellency.'"

  Fu Xueshi looked at her and smiled after a moment of scrutiny: "Fourth Master is really lucky."

  Shen Guiyan felt a chill on her back, she always thought that Fu Xueshi's eyes were too sharp. Just as she was about to say something to shift the attention, Gu Gong asked Gu Furen: "Where is Bei'er?"

  Mrs. Gu looked at Fu Xue-shi and said in a low voice: "He hasn't come back from outside."

  "Preposterous!" Grand Councilor Gu was furious: "Send someone to bring him back for me! What kind of reasoning is this, the Empress's kindness is so great, yet he still doesn't come back to thank her?"

  Fu Xue heard this and smiled: "Fourth Master is naturally carefree, why must you get angry, sir?"

  "Alas, it's because I have no way to teach my son." Grand Preceptor Gu sighed and said: "I still hope that Her Majesty the Empress will not blame me."

  "How could it be? Fu Gong is a man of loyalty and filial piety, the Empress naturally knows about it." Fu Xue Shi sat down, laughing with his eyes narrowed.

  Everyone in the hall accompanied with smiles, saying something meaningless.

  Madam Gu looked at the time and said: "The wine feast has been prepared, Lord Fu, please move to the flower hall."

  "Thank you for your hospitality." Fu Xueshi stood up and glanced at Shen Guiyan again before smiling and following the Prime Minister out.

  "Weren't you always called a talented girl?" Shen Guiya walked past her and suddenly turned back to ask with a smile.

  Shen Guiyan looked ahead and followed the crowd without paying attention to her.

  "Look at your pretentious attitude, wait and see what a real talented woman looks like."

  In the past at Shen's residence, Shen Guiya was never famous, just because Shen Guiyan's talent was too outstanding. Now it's also her turn to make a comeback, no matter how talented Shen Guiyan is, can she compare with ancient famous poets?

  She walked ahead with confidence, Shen Guiya holding Madame Gu's hand and smiling coyly, while Shen Guiyan followed behind, her face calm and unruffled.

  The dancing girl started to dance, but Fu Xue-shi seemed uninterested, and the crowd also became silent. In general, high-ranking officials' homes keep dancing girls to entertain noble guests, but this Chancellor's residence was a bit too old-fashioned, with dull dance clothes and dances that were not impressive.

  Mrs. Gu looked worried, and Shen Guiya felt her chance had come.

  "Since we're feeling bored, why don't we talk about poetry instead?" Shen Guiya spoke up: "Yesterday, Ya'er happened to come across a line of poetry and heard that Lord Fu is quite skilled in this area, so I thought I'd bring it out for your critique."