Mei Qingxue sat silently in the carriage. She knew only too well that even if the establishment of the prince's mansion was incomplete, it couldn't delay the arrival of the concubine. The purpose of Concubine Qin was probably to have more concubines to carry on the family line.
But what was the emperor's intention? Knowing that the Sixth Prince was impotent, why still arrange for him to take a concubine?
He was a prince without real power or fief. Why would a county princess from a feudal lord marry him? Unless the emperor had other motives. There would be plenty of opportunities to find out. Let the concubine enter the mansion if she wanted to. As long as Du Guqing couldn't control his lust, she would surely teach him a lesson.
"Have you ever seen the county princess of the Marquis of Anning?"
Amid Du Guqing's uneasiness, he finally heard Mei Qingxue's question. He let out a sigh of relief and quickly shook his head. "I've never seen her. There are many people in the court I haven't met. I don't even know where this Marquis of Anning came from today."
He vaguely guessed the emperor's intention in the imperial marriage, but he couldn't tell Mei Qingxue. He was afraid she would lose her temper. So pretending to be ignorant was the best option for now. He really hadn't seen the county princess of the Marquis of Anning. This wasn't a lie.
Seeing Du Guqing's clear eyes, it didn't seem like he was lying. But Mei Qingxue had no intention of forgiving him. The concubine his parents wanted to arrange for him must be a tough one. She, Mei Qingxue, was determined to prove that she was capable of handling any situation, just like a woman who could manage the household, deal with all sorts of problems, and fend off rivals.
The exact words might not be like this, but Mei Qingxue was now eager to test her wits against this "rival in love." Even she didn't realize that subconsciously, she was now defending her home, the home she shared with Du Guqing.
Du Guqing smiled gently. Having Mei Qingxue was truly wonderful. She was the woman he loved the most. She wouldn't change because of the arrival of concubines. If Mei Qingxue didn't like them, he wouldn't touch them.
"What's the name of the Third County Princess?"
When the mistress of the house spoke, Du Guqing, who was under her management, quickly replied, "Reporting to the princess, I really don't know the surname of the Marquis of Anning."
Du Guqing thought Mei Qingxue was testing him and immediately declared his innocence. Han Chao was so shocked at hearing the prince speak like this to the prince that his jaw almost dropped to the ground. Yue Ru couldn't help but snicker.
She learned that she could manage Han Chao like this in the future.
"I was so angry with you that I forgot." Mei Qingxue didn't believe that Du Guqing didn't know the surname of the Marquis of Anning, but she didn't bother to argue with him about it for now. What she was concerned about now was why the emperor gave her two choices and asked her to choose a sister - in - law. This must be unusual and there might be a trap.
Mei Qingxue wasn't stupid. In her previous nine lives, she loved watching palace - intrigue dramas and historical plays. Now, unexpectedly, she had the opportunity to put what she had learned into practice. Thinking of this, the corner of Mei Qingxue's mouth curved into a smile. She would ask An Ying to investigate the backgrounds of these two families tonight. By comparing them, she would be able to figure out the emperor's scheme. She, Mei Qingxue, would never allow any harm to come to her family, not even potential danger. Her father, mother, and brother in this life doted on her so much. Mei Qingxue would even risk her life to protect them. Even if the emperor of the country wanted to touch them, he had to see if Mei Qingxue would allow it.
Du Guqing knew what Mei Qingxue was thinking, so he was waiting for her to ask him about the backgrounds of the Grand Marshal and the General of the Central Guard. Unexpectedly, after waiting for a long time, she didn't ask. He then realized that his little woman was going to use her own connections.
"Are you angry with me?" Du Guqing asked tentatively. If she was angry, wouldn't he have to sleep in the study tonight?
"No." Mei Qingxue nodded gently. This matter wasn't caused by Du Guqing. Why should she be angry with him? Now, the arrival of the concubine was a minor issue. The safety of her parents had become the key.
Mei Qingxue touched the sleeping powder on her waist. It had been there for several months. For the sake of being prepared for any eventuality, she never left the sleeping powder off her waist.
The slight movement of her fingers caught Du Guqing's eye.
Du Guqing let out a bitter smile in his heart. He knew he would be drugged again tonight, but he didn't expose Mei Qingxue's little trick. He let her do as she pleased. He would protect her.
When they returned to the prince's mansion, Mei Qingxue stood in the courtyard and looked at the scenery. She knew this place would no longer belong to her. She felt a bit disappointed. This was the home she shared with him, but now outsiders were going to enter.
After just a brief pause, Mei Qingxue quickly walked back to her Qingxue Pavilion. She found her light - weight clothes and waited to go out at night.
"Yue Ru, have the meal sent to the room tonight. And prepare some good wine." Tonight, she was going to drug Du Guqing. Thinking of Du Guqing being drugged by her again and again without knowing, she felt a bit guilty.
Du Guqing watched Mei Qingxue's back as she walked away quickly and smiled helplessly. What kind of expression would his little woman have if she knew that the drugs she gave him never worked?
Han Chao looked in the direction the prince was looking and gently called out, "Your Highness?"
"Um, go to the study!"
Du Guqing walked into the study. His study was now empty. Every time he came in and saw this, he could imagine the expression on Mei Qingxue's face when she burned his books.
"Shall I buy some books and put them in?" Han Chao, who also saw the empty study, asked.
"No. If I buy them, the princess might burn them for me someday. Fortunately, the princess showed mercy in my library." That little woman was going to use her Bihai Pavilion again. Du Guqing had already investigated the Bihai Pavilion thoroughly. That was why he knew better that if Mei Qingxue left him, she would disappear forever.
Although the Bihai Pavilion was not as powerful as his Qianyuan, it was still easy to hide a person, especially if she intended to do so. Du Guqing wouldn't give Mei Qingxue any chance. So every time Mei Qingxue drugged him at night and went out to check accounts, he would personally escort her back and forth. One reason was to prevent any mishaps to her, and the other was to prevent her from disappearing.
But that heartless girl was still completely unaware. At most, she would just reject his closeness. He really wanted to have a child with her soon.
Mei Qingxue put the sleeping powder into the wine. She watched Du Guqing drink it and fall asleep drowsily. Then she helped him onto the bed and sent Yue Ru away, telling her not to stand guard at night. Only then did she change into her light - weight clothes and climbed over the wall to leave the prince's mansion. Now she was very skilled at climbing over the wall. Maybe it was because she had practiced a lot in the past few months. Mei Qingxue didn't notice that a shadow had been following her. She watched her enter the Yingkelai.
"Boss!" The shopkeeper immediately clasped his fists when he saw Mei Qingxue.
"Don't be so polite. Is An Ying here?"
"Yes!"
The shopkeeper answered and opened a secret door. Behind it was a secluded courtyard where An Ying lived. As soon as he saw the secret door open, An Ying instinctively grasped the hilt of his sword.
Seeing Mei Qingxue come in, he quickly stood up and saluted. "Master!"
"I've told you not to be so formal. I have something for you to do." Mei Qingxue enunciated clearly and gently said, "Investigate for me which camp the Grand Marshal and the General of the Central Guard belong to, and what kind of characters their daughters are."
"Yes."
An Ying immediately saluted. Watching An Ying salute and carry out her order meticulously, Mei Qingxue felt quite helpless. Loyalty was something she needed, but now they were no longer just killers. Why was An Ying still...
"Don't be so restricted in the future."
"Yes. Master!" Hearing An Ying's answer, Mei Qingxue finally gave up her attempt helplessly.
"I'm in a hurry for this information. I'm waiting for your news."
"Yes!"
After Mei Qingxue finished speaking, she quickly turned around. Since she had drugged Du Guqing so many times, he must have developed a tolerance. She had to go back earlier, lest that person wake up and become suspicious. If he thought she had committed one of the seven reasons for divorce, wouldn't she be wrongly accused?
She climbed back over the wall to the Sixth Prince's Mansion. Seeing Du Guqing still sleeping soundly, Mei Qingxue let out a sigh of relief. It was good that he hadn't woken up. But before she could fully relax, Du Guqing slowly shook his head.
"I'm really weak. I can't hold my liquor."
"Then we won't drink next time." If they didn't drink, where should she put the sleeping powder? The taste was a bit strange. In a place where Mei Qingxue couldn't see, Du Guqing secretly snickered. Then he took the opportunity to pull Mei Qingxue into his arms. He had followed her around for half the night. Now was the perfect time to get close to her.
"Weren't you drunk?" Mei Qingxue nodded secretly. People tend to lose control after drinking. She shouldn't let this guy drink anymore. Every time, she was the one who suffered the most.
"Even when I'm drunk, I have to hold the princess." Du Guqing acted coquettishly and nestled into Mei Qingxue's arms. Before she could react, that shameless guy had removed her outer garment, exposing her smooth and fragrant shoulders.
Before Mei Qingxue could get angry, that guy covered her lips and began to kiss her.
Previously, Mei Qingxue felt guilty for drugging Du Guqing, so she didn't reject his advances. The two of them spent a passionate night together. When Mei Qingxue woke up in the morning, her waist was sore. Only then did she realize that she had completely surrendered after just one kiss from Du Guqing.
She propped up her waist and scolded that self - satisfied guy a few times. That guy wasn't angry at all. He swaggered off to court, leaving Mei Qingxue alone to sleep until late in the morning.
The news about the two families hadn't come back yet, but the new prince's mansion had already been planned. It was a large compound with five courtyards, accompanied by two smaller compounds with three courtyards each. It was almost as grand as the prime minister's mansion. Mei Qingxue didn't like it at all. A too - large courtyard would make her feel confused. Having too many servants would make her uncomfortable. Moreover, she wouldn't be the only mistress here.
Before she got married, there weren't many servants in the prime minister's mansion. Although the courtyard was large, it was allocated by the emperor himself and was mostly for viewing. No matter how simple it was, it was her home. Whether it was rich or poor didn't matter to her.
Now that the new prince's mansion was being built, she didn't feel at home. Once the new prince's mansion was completed, the concubine would enter the mansion soon.
Thinking of this, Mei Qingxue was in a low mood. Du Guqing saw it and was worried in his heart, but Mei Qingxue wouldn't tell him anything. Amid their uneasiness, the imperial edict for the marriage arrived.
"The imperial edict is here... Sixth Prince and Sixth Princess, receive the edict!"