Those who had previously disliked the Sixth Prince for being a sickly man and were reluctant to accompany the bride in marriage would now find it too late to regret.
Yue Ru didn't know that the sisters in the Prime Minister's Mansion now envied her the most. Originally, she was of slave status just like them, but now she was different. Anyone would envy her.
Here, the maids and guards were paired up. Over there, something unexpected happened. An ordinary blue sedan chair stopped outside the gate of the Prince's Mansion. The person coming held the visiting card of the Marquis of Anning.
"Go quickly and inform the Sixth Prince. The Third Princess has come," a servant following the blue sedan chair handed the visiting card of the Marquis of Anning to the gatekeeper.
The gatekeeper couldn't tell whether it was genuine or not. He looked at the visiting card in his hand left and right. "You wait here. I'll go and report!"
Today, Uncle Fu had gone to drink across the street. The Prince and the Princess had also changed into their everyday clothes. The gatekeeper didn't dare to make his own decision. So he told the guards to guard the gate well. Then he opened the small side - door and sized up the sedan chair. He couldn't tell who was inside, but he could feel that the person in the sedan chair must be very light, presumably a woman.
Running across the street, the gatekeeper didn't dare to look for the Prince directly. Instead, he went straight to Uncle Fu and told him what had just happened. Then he handed the visiting card in his hand to him.
As soon as Uncle Fu saw the visiting card in his hand, he immediately recognized it as genuine.
"First, lead the person into the side courtyard. Don't let anyone see. Have someone serve her well. Don't be disrespectful."
"Uncle Fu, but..."
"Go quickly!"
Uncle Fu didn't delay. He immediately reported the matter to Du Gu Qing in a low voice.
Du Gu Qing pondered in silence. He exchanged a look with Mei Qingxue. "Han Chao, it's your big day. The Princess and I have already received your greetings. You just entertain them. Eat more and drink less."
Since the Prince was in his everyday clothes, the guards watched the two of them leave with awe in their eyes. Then they started to make a ruckus around Han Chao.
"What did Uncle Fu just say?" Mei Qingxue thought she had misheard. Why did the Third Princess come secretly in a sedan chair instead of having a grand wedding?
When they reached the side courtyard, they saw a young girl in pink, about twelve or thirteen years old, sitting inside.
This child was so young. Could she really be the Third Princess of the Marquis of Anning's family? Mei Qingxue was so shocked that she couldn't say a word.
Looking at the young girl who was clearly still a child, Du Gu Qing also showed a slight look of surprise on his face, but he quickly regained his composure.
As soon as she saw Du Gu Qing and Mei Qingxue, the young girl with a childish face jumped over.
"Rong Yu'er pays respects to the Sixth Prince and the Princess." Her voice was clearly that of a child who hadn't changed her voice yet.
Wasn't she supposed to be fourteen? Mei Qingxue looked at Rong Yu'er doubtfully. This small body might not even be twelve years old. Could Du Gu Qing really be interested in this concubine?
"Are you the Third Princess?" Mei Qingxue asked hesitantly. If she was this young, it would really be a sin.
"Yes, it's me." The young girl in pink looked a bit nervous. She bit her lips slightly. She was really pitiful. Mei Qingxue cursed the evil old society in her heart, but a gentle smile appeared on her face.
She couldn't scare the child. This wasn't the child's fault.
"Aren't you fourteen years old?"
Damn it. The other day she was glad that she hadn't traveled back to the Qing Dynasty, but now she saw such a young child.
Rong Yu'er glanced around, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated. Du Gu Qing gave a signal, and all the servants who had been serving Rong Yu'er retreated.
Seeing that there was no one else around, Rong Yu'er knelt on the ground with a "thud" and burst into tears. "Princess, Rong Yu'er has committed the great crime of deceiving the emperor. Please keep it a secret for me."
"Get up quickly," Mei Qingxue said anxiously. It seemed that this matter was not simple. Even the crime of deceiving the emperor was involved. Although she could guess the general situation, since she hadn't experienced it herself, Mei Qingxue was still a bit at a loss.
Du Gu Qing looked at the visiting card in his hand and thought for a moment. "Did your father give you a secret letter?"
Rong Yu'er nodded. She turned around and took out a letter from her inner clothes. She carefully handed it to Du Gu Qing.
Du Gu Qing immediately opened it and read it. His expression became solemn. Rong Yu'er nervously watched him.
Du Gu Qing put the letter on the candle flame to burn. "I understand what your father means, but I can't guarantee how long I can protect you and your father."
"My father said that as long as we can get through the current crisis!" Rong Yu'er said like a little adult.
Now in the court, there was an invisible smoke of war. Everyone chose their own camps, snatched and suppressed each other. It was a complete mess. The Marquis of Anning was actually able to plan ahead in times of peace. He was really a remarkable person.
Du Gu Qing nodded secretly. Even if he couldn't protect the marquis's power and influence, his life would be safe. If the emperor wanted to execute his son as well, then it would be another matter.
"Are you going to claim to be ill and avoid seeing people after you get married?" Mei Qingxue only needed to think for a moment to figure out how to avoid being noticed. That was to avoid seeing people and just say that she was seriously ill. Then there would be no problem.
The Marquis of Anning actually dared to lie about his daughter's age being fourteen. This was a fatal crime! Immediately, Mei Qingxue understood what was going on.
"I understand," Du Gu Qing nodded. He let Mei Qingxue pull Rong Yu'er up. Looking at this little girl who was not even as tall as her shoulder, a look of pity appeared on Mei Qingxue's face.
Knowing that Rong Yu'er came here not to divide her family but to seek protection, Mei Qingxue felt relieved. She finally understood why the evil old society was said to be a man - eating society. It seemed that she also had to do something.
Immediately, she put aside all her misgivings and took the initiative to hold Rong Yu'er's hand. She was as affectionate as if they had known each other for a long time.
"Sister Yu'er, don't be afraid. We will do our best to protect your safety," Mei Qingxue vaguely understood the marquis's intention.
Tears welled up in Rong Yu'er's eyes. "Yu'er's life is not worth much, but I'm afraid my father won't be safe!"
When she left home, her father and brothers had smiled so calmly. How could Rong Yu'er not know what kind of situation her family was facing? Having been stationed on the border all year round, she was not really a delicate girl. It was just because she had received the love of her father and brothers that she had asked the emperor to marry the powerless and sickly prince.
Everyone in the world knew that the Marquis of Anning had many soldiers and great power guarding the border. As long as one of the two princes tried to win him over, the emperor would surely execute him. No matter who became the emperor, they would not leave anything that threatened them.
Mei Qingxue knew this truth very well. In the previous nine lives, she had studied history and literature in three of them. The psychology of emperors and generals was also one of her research directions. In the previous lives, it was all theoretical. In this life, facing it directly meant betting her life, her man, and her family on it.
She knew everything about the officialdom, the imperial heirs, and the harem. In general, it was a struggle between people. For power and that position, fathers and sons, brothers would turn against each other. That position could make people lose all sense of family and be ruthless.
However, the matter of this child in front of her was extremely important. No matter how bold she was, she didn't dare to make any guarantees.
"Don't worry for now. Maybe nothing will happen." This matter could be either very serious or not, but it couldn't be taken lightly. Mei Qingxue had her own thoughts. She immediately understood why the emperor had given her family a choice between two families. It seemed that no matter which choice she made, it would be a trap. The only possibility was not to choose.
But this only option might not be possible. She had to choose one to make the emperor put down his suspicion. She didn't know if her brother had a favorite target. If she didn't make arrangements early, her family might also be involved in this storm. No... maybe they were already involved. It was just that her father and brother had always protected her so well that she thought the world was peaceful and the family was harmonious. In fact, she just didn't know.
"This is not a place to talk. A courtyard for the concubine has been prepared for you. Do you have any attendants with you?" Mei Qingxue already regarded Rong Yu'er as her little sister.
"I have a guard and a maid."
Mei Qingxue held her hand and personally led her to the side courtyard. Rong Yu'er obediently followed behind Mei Qingxue without looking at the man who was falsely claimed to be her husband.
Looking at the courtyard that would be her virtual prison, Rong Yu'er showed no emotion in her eyes. She was more worried about her father and brother far away on the border.
The name of the concubine's courtyard was Suo Yun Jian.
Every time Mei Qingxue saw this courtyard, her heart would sink. That young girl who should have been in the prime of her youth would have to be locked up here.
Du Gu Qing didn't think so much. This was the Sixth Prince in Mei Qingxue's eyes, a sickly man who did nothing all day and sometimes disappeared. But now, apart from the fact that there was an extra concubine who didn't have a ceremony in the family, there was no other difference in life.
Anyway, the order to confer the title of concubine had been issued. All the formalities could be reduced as much as possible in Du Gu Qing's case. After all, he was an unfavored prince and a powerless lord. Although he was in poor health, he still had the qualification to be made the crown prince. That was one of the reasons why the First Prince and the Third Prince didn't mind attacking their own younger brother.
However, because of the emperor's lack of attention, he had been ignored by many people. Life in the Sixth Prince's Mansion was now quiet and peaceful. Although Yue Ru had returned to the mansion to work, she couldn't serve Mei Qingxue closely as before. She could only be a stewardess. Without Yue Ru's chattering in her ear, Mei Qingxue's life was indeed much quieter.
The guard Han Chao remained the same. The Sixth Prince still disappeared from time to time. Gradually, Mei Qingxue also discovered the pattern of the days when he would disappear.
"An Ying, stop the investigation on the two young ladies that I asked you to do last time. Starting tomorrow, you follow the Sixth Prince and see where he goes. Make sure he doesn't notice your presence."
"Yes, Master!" An Ying replied crisply without any hesitation, but his body remained standing there without moving.
Mei Qingxue's face became solemn. Although it was just a matter of providing food, clothing, and daily necessities for one more person in the mansion, and that child seemed to be invisible and never showed up, just thinking about the title of the concubine and that mysterious guy who disappeared from time to time made Mei Qingxue feel even more uncomfortable.
Looking at An Ying, who seemed to have something else to say, Mei Qingxue gave him a strange look. She didn't know why this usually very efficient guy didn't disappear today.