Looking at the little woman in his arms with a beaming smile, Du Gu Qing suddenly felt that all he wanted was such a simple thing. However, his two elder imperial brothers had pushed him into the limelight. He was just a prince without any real power and no fief of his own. But they all wanted to get rid of him, completely ignoring the brotherly affection.
Du Gu Qing sighed silently in his heart, but there was no unusual expression on his face. When Mei Qingxue looked at him, his face wore the same calm look as always. His long, warm fingers lingered on the purple butterfly on her chest.
"Qing!" Mei Qingxue softly called his name. She didn't find it at all cheesy.
"Um..." Du Gu Qing took the opportunity to kiss her on the lips.
"Alright..." Mei Qingxue turned her head. "Aren't you supposed to go to court?"
He had so much energy last night and tossed around all night. Let's see how he would manage to go to court today.
"It's time to get up." Du Gu Qing sighed softly, reluctantly getting out of bed. Outside the Qingxue Pavilion, Yue Ru had already prepared the water for washing the face. Han Zhao was also waiting outside the door.
Seeing Han Zhao staring straight at her, Yue Ru nodded with a smile, then turned her face away, not daring to look at the man who made her blush and her heart race.
"Make a pair of shoes for me. I'm always going in and out, so shoes wear out quickly!" Han Zhao said brazenly. In fact, he wasn't short of shoes at all as the prince had given him many. He just wanted Yue Ru to do some needlework for him.
Yue Ru nodded, biting her lips, with a deep blush on her face. The more Han Zhao looked at her, the happier he became. Knowing that she would become his wife in a few days, he suppressed the passion in his heart and grinned at her.
"Accompany me to the palace to visit Mother Concubine today. Since we got married, you've only been to the palace once. Mother Concubine misses you." Du Gu Qing said while tying his belt.
Mei Qingxue put on a robe and got up. She helped him comb his hair and tie it up.
"I'll do as you say. But once we're in the palace, Mother Concubine will surely ask when we'll have a child. How embarrassing would that be?"
"I'll tell Mother Concubine that you're shy." Du Gu Qing smiled. It wasn't a big deal. He just needed to say a word to Mother Concubine. But Mei Qingxue spat at him.
"You're so shameless. How can you talk about such things in front of others, so that they'll know how harmonious we are?!" Mei Qingxue didn't like people gossiping or being asked when she would get pregnant. Whether she got pregnant or not wasn't up to her alone. Moreover, she hadn't decided yet if she wanted to get pregnant. She was only sixteen years old now. She wasn't ready to be pregnant. She even wasn't sure what kind of feelings she had for Du Gu Qing. She wouldn't be an irresponsible parent, so she deliberately took contraceptive measures.
"You'd better hurry up and go to court. Come back to pick me up to go to the palace later." Mei Qingxue didn't wait for Du Gu Qing to say anything, and then added, "You should also pay attention to the matter between my maid and your personal attendant. Although I'm in charge of the backyard, you're also the head of the family. You can't just ignore it."
"What the princess said is very right. I understand, my dear." Du Gu Qing looked at Mei Qingxue with a beaming smile, wondering what she was up to.
"Have something light for breakfast. I'll ask Yue Ru to prepare some food for you when you come back for lunch."
Mei Qingxue looked him up and down, then nodded. "You'd better hurry up and go to court. I'll take a little nap."
She had worked hard all night last night and got up early today. She couldn't bear it.
"Okay." Du Gu Qing gently kissed her between the eyebrows. "Then I'll go."
"Um." Mei Qingxue pulled the robe over herself and lay back on the bed.
She could clearly hear the sound of Yue Ru serving him to wash his face outside. She heard Du Gu Qing casually asking for a few snacks to eat on the way. She didn't fall into a drowsy sleep until she heard the footsteps fading away. She always liked to get up late. Usually, Yue Ru couldn't wake her up no matter how hard she tried. But today, she had dressed up for Du Gu Qing out of the blue.
Han Zhao followed behind the prince. He looked back at the shy girl and grinned. Du Gu Qing noticed Han Zhao's little action but didn't blame him.
"Your wedding room has been decorated." Du Gu Qing's sudden words made Han Zhao's face turn red immediately. "Yes, Your Highness."
"She's the princess's most intimate maid who grew up with her. Treat her well."
"Yes!" Han Zhao didn't know why the prince would even ask about a maid. He just nodded and didn't refute.
"The princess has found a miracle doctor for me. Go and pick him up. Be polite."
"Yes!"
Last night, Mei Qingxue had told Du Gu Qing the address of the miracle doctor. Du Gu Qing promised her to pick up the doctor. He wasn't afraid to seek medical advice. Du Gu Qing didn't mind giving it a try. Anyway, he had nothing to lose. For now, he hadn't told Mei Qingxue that he wasn't really sick, for fear that she would be sad.
When Mei Qingxue knew that he was the same person as the Handsome Young Master, Du Gu Qing saw the joy in her eyes. Although he wasn't sure what Mei Qingxue's attitude towards him was, he was determined to treat her well whole - heartedly. Therefore, he would try his best to meet all her requests.
"Your Highness, are you going to tell the princess the truth?"
Han Zhao asked cautiously. He had mentioned it several times before but was always rejected by the prince. He didn't know why the prince had changed his mind today.
"Let's see this miracle doctor the princess found. If he can tell, then tell the truth. If not, keep it a secret for a while longer." Du Gu Qing looked out of the carriage window. The longer he got along with Mei Qingxue, the more reluctant he was to part with her. Even if he were to die one day, he would be loath to leave her.
Now that his cold poison couldn't be cured, his 25th birthday would be his doom. Thinking that he couldn't accompany her, Du Gu Qing felt a sharp pain in his heart.
"Yes." Han Zhao bowed outside the carriage. Du Gu Qing didn't say a word in the carriage anymore.
"Isn't that the carriage of the Sixth Brother?" A sarcastic voice came from behind. Du Gu Qing didn't need to turn his head to know that it was his Third Imperial Brother, Du Gu Jue. Last time, Mei Qingxue had asked him for 180,000 taels of silver for medicine and some compensation. Since then, Du Gu Jue had been deliberately opposing him in the court.
"Third Imperial Brother." Du Gu Qing lifted the curtain. His face already showed the sickly look that they were used to seeing. "Thank you, cough, cough, thank you, Third Imperial Brother, for your concern for your little brother."
For giving so much money for medicine.
Du Gu Jue was just resentful about this matter. He didn't expect Du Gu Qing to bring up the thing that made him the most unhappy.
"Does your princess take good care of you? They all say that the Sixth Brother is impotent. Isn't it a pity for the younger sister - in - law to live as a widow?" Hearing Du Gu Jue's voice from the carriage next to him, Han Zhao was so angry that his veins bulged.
Thanks to Du Gu Qing's order, he managed to hold back.
"Living as a widow is also for me. Why, is Third Imperial Brother envious? Then I'm willing to pass this illness on to my elder brother. After all, we're brothers."
Du Gu Jue was silent in the carriage for a moment, then snorted. "You're just sharp - tongued. Just you wait. The things of Du Gu Jue aren't something you can take away as you like. It depends on my will."
After saying that, he didn't say a word anymore.
Du Gu Qing looked at the carriage, then put down the curtain and shrank back into his seat. Where Du Gu Qing couldn't see, Du Gu Jue also sneered. The two of them had each married the daughters of the two most powerful families in the court. His father - in - law was also on his side.
Du Gu Qing's father - in - law, that old fox, didn't listen to anyone's words. He just watched from the sidelines among them. So far, they still didn't know what that old fox was up to.
It's a pity... Du Gu Jue looked at Mei Haoxuan. He was the only son of that old fox. As long as he could win him over, it would be the same.
Having made up his mind, Du Gu Jue told the coachman to hurry up, leaving Du Gu Qing, who was driving at a leisurely pace, behind.
Arguing with that useless fellow wasn't what he wanted. He just wanted to mock him. Who would have thought that the guy had actually become bold. Usually, he just listened without retorting. But today, he even dared to talk back. It seemed that his little princess wasn't an ordinary young lady. Or maybe it was the instigation of that old fox, General Mei.
Du Gu Jue resented them all bitterly. He knew that the only one who was really capable of competing with him for that position was the Great Imperial Brother, Du Gu Ming. But that guy had been behaving quite calmly recently. There must be something strange going on.
"I was wondering who it was. Who dares to ride so fast in the palace?" Just as Du Gu Jue was about to calm down, he saw a familiar figure. It was the Great Prince, Du Gu Ming.
"Great Imperial Brother!" Du Gu Jue was the first to call out.
The man on the horse reined in his horse and turned back to look at Du Gu Jue. "Third Brother, I haven't seen you for a few days. Your skills have improved."
There was no trace of intimacy on Du Gu Ming's cold face.
"Where, Great Imperial Brother. You don't even bother to talk to your younger brother when you see me?" Du Gu Jue forced a smile. "I've been assisting Father Emperor in handling government affairs recently. I don't have time to chat with you here." After saying that, he whipped his horse and galloped away.
Du Gu Jue wasn't angry. He just sneered and watched the disappearing figure.
Assisting in government affairs was just said to him deliberately, so that he would know that the Great Prince was the one valued by the Emperor and the candidate for the crown prince. He wanted him to give up. But there was no way. He didn't even look at who Du Gu Jue was.
In the carriage that was slowly coming from behind, Du Gu Qing saw from afar the two of them passing by each other. He knew that they were already at daggers drawn. Even from a distance, Du Gu Qing could feel the intense animosity.
"Han Zhao, have you done what I told you last time?"
Han Zhao only needed to think for a moment to know what Du Gu Qing was referring to.
"Yes, Your Highness. I've made all the preparations."
"I have no intention of that position. I'm just afraid that someone will make me uncomfortable." Du Gu Qing's voice gradually turned cold. All he wanted was to live a peaceful life with the one he loved. But those people just wouldn't let him live in peace. This was the sorrow of being a member of the royal family.