The briefing said that Miss Mei didn't show up in person but had relieved quite a number of disaster - stricken people. Grateful for the young lady's kindness, people somehow got a portrait of her and worshiped it every day.
Mei Qingxue, could it be that I've underestimated you? It seems this woman is really extraordinary!
Du Gu You tapped the briefing with his finger. In the past, he had never paid much attention to this woman who was only known for her beauty. Generally, women with such a reputation were often of bad conduct. However, Qing wanted to marry her, and their family backgrounds were well - matched.
Mei Zhenguo, that old fox, didn't support any of the princes. As the emperor, Du Gu You had secretly and openly tried to sound him out several times but had never gotten any useful information. After all, they were in - laws.
Du Gu You understood Mei Zhenguo's intention. Mei Zhenguo would be loyal to whoever became the emperor. It wasn't the subjects' business to choose the emperor, so Mei Zhenguo had never expressed any opinion on the topic of the crown prince.
After much thought, Du Gu You decided to hold a palace banquet and release Du Gu Ming. At present, Du Gu Ming was the most suitable candidate for the crown prince. His third son was simply not the material to be an emperor. Du Gu You was very clear about his character.
Who asked him to have only three sons.
As soon as Du Gu Qing returned from the court, he went to pick up Mei Qingxue. He thought that after half a day, Mei Qingxue should no longer be entangled in the topic of the morning. As soon as he entered the Qingxue Pavilion, Du Gu Qing knew something was wrong. As soon as he entered the door, he saw several huge bundles on the ground. "Xue, what are you doing?"
Mei Qingxue didn't even look at him. "A husband who is not honest and lacks basic integrity is not worth having." Forgive me, but I still have bigger secrets that I haven't told you.
Judging from Mei Qingxue's appearance, she seemed to be packing up to return to her natal home. Xuan Qiao was sweating all over while packing things up. Mei Qingxue was cracking melon seeds while directing Xuan Qiao to pack this and that.
"Xue, what on earth are you doing?" Du Gu Qing was really anxious.
Xuan Qiao was full of black lines. Wasn't it just putting the unused things into the warehouse and taking the accumulated things to the backyard to dry in the sun? How could the princess come up with so many names for it?
The maid was speechless...
She lowered her head and packed things frantically, hoping that she would never finish packing, never finish...
"I can't go on like this."
Du Gu Qing quickly walked up to Mei Qingxue and grabbed her hand. "You can ask me anything, and I'll tell you everything. I won't hide anything from you, okay?" He didn't want to spend cold nights alone, and he didn't want to lose Xue.
Hearing the almost sad tone in his voice, Mei Qingxue also knew that she had gone too far. She had to soften her attitude. "Then tell me honestly. Is there anything else I don't know? You should know that if you hide the truth, it will hurt here." Mei Qingxue patted her chest. No one liked to be deceived or hidden from. No matter how open - minded she was, it was the same.
"I'll tell you!" Du Gu Qing tightly grasped her hand, fearing that if he was a little careless, she would disappear.
"In the past, my elder brother and third brother and I often attended banquets. At the end, they would also give me some women."
"Some?"
This... Mei Qingxue was full of black lines. With a cold face, she was about to pull her hand out of his.
"I haven't finished yet!" The thick - skinned guy knew that Mei Qingxue wasn't really angry. He immediately resumed his old ways, but still told the whole story exactly as it happened. "I gave all the women who were sent to my mother. There were probably more than a dozen of them. I really didn't touch any of them." Du Gu Qing quickly raised his hand to swear.
Xuan Qiao wanted to find a place to hide. She would only show up after the prince and the princess returned to normal. Now she didn't know whether to leave or stay. She couldn't make a single sound and didn't dare to do nothing. Sweat broke out on her.
"I believe you." Actually, Mei Qingxue had already believed him. The rumor that he was impotent when she married him was probably spread by his two good brothers. Generally, giving women to their brother was just to plant spies. They didn't expect that the sixth brother didn't take this trick at all. As a result, there was a rumor that the sixth prince was impotent.
"What should I wear for the palace banquet tonight?" Mei Qingxue casually found a topic to divert Du Gu Qing's attention. Seeing that Mei Qingxue was no longer entangled in his so - called past, Du Gu Qing finally felt relieved.
"Xue looks good in anything." After all, she was the most beautiful woman. Du Gu Qing looked at her with a smile in his eyes.
Xuan Qiao crawled out of the pile of clothes with her buttocks up. "Princess, can this servant leave?"
It was so torturous. Next time she saw the prince approaching the princess, she would definitely hide far away.
Seeing the bundles all over the place, Du Gu Qing, who had just put his heart at ease, lifted it back to his throat. "Xue... What are these..."
Hearing the anxiety in his voice, Mei Qingxue covered her mouth and laughed. "Silly. Can't you see that these are old things that need to be washed and dried in the sun? Otherwise, they will get worms."
"You scared me to death." Du Gu Qing patted his chest.
"Go down and bring some herbal tea for the prince." Mei Qingxue held back her laughter. She really scared Du Gu Qing today. She promised that she would never do it again. Du Gu Qing really liked her, and she had already fallen in love with him in his tenderness.
"I didn't mean to scare you at first. There were so many bundles here, and you just didn't know about it, so I decided to tease you." Mei Qingxue reached out and stroked his cheek. "I'll never scare you again."
"As long as you don't say you're leaving me, you can scare me as you like!"
"Really?" Mei Qingxue smiled wickedly. If she said something casually, there would probably be serious problems. For example: Du Gu Qing, I'm pregnant, and the father isn't you.
Du Gu Qing would even want to kill her.
In this place, remember, such jokes must never be made.
"Really." Although Du Gu Qing promised readily, seeing Mei Qingxue smiling like a cunning little fox, he felt that he seemed to have missed something.
"Do you have some conspiracy?" Du Gu Qing hesitated for a moment and said his doubt.
The little woman shook her head like a rattle. "How could I? I'm the most well - behaved and kind - hearted."
Mei Qingxue was kind - hearted. Du Gu Qing believed that. But whether she was kind - hearted to him, Du Gu Qing, he really didn't know.
"Which young lady do you think is the most suitable to be my elder brother's wife?" This question had troubled her for a long time. During that half - month of crazily receiving gifts, she had narrowed down a range.
Excluding the people of the eldest prince who had sent gifts, and among the remaining court officials, excluding the people of the third prince, those people were basically powerless. Choosing a suitable daughter from those families would be the best.
"Seems like you've already had an idea, but you still come to trick me." Du Gu Qing wasn't going to be fooled by Mei Qingxue. Who knew what tricks she would come up with next.
"At the palace banquet tonight, if we mention it to the emperor at the right time, it should work. I hope my elder brother won't blame me for making the decision for him without permission. Who asked our family to be in such a position." Mei Qingxue didn't know her elder brother's thoughts. She hadn't communicated with her elder brother before. When they met in the palace later, it would be good to exchange ideas.
"Your elder brother is on duty today. Let's go quickly. We might still meet him in the palace." Du Gu Qing understood Mei Qingxue's thoughts.
"Okay." Mei Qingxue left the bundles all over the place to the heart - broken Xuan Qiao. Oh my god, such a fussy master. Later, she would ask Sister Yue Ru how she could stand it.
Mei Qingxue changed into a very ordinary dress. Her appearance was originally too gorgeous. Now she was going to the palace for a palace banquet. Although it was called a palace banquet, it was actually a royal family dinner. Mei Qingxue naturally knew what to pay attention to.
Last time, the emperor had given her two choices, but she had chosen neither. So far, she hadn't given the emperor an attitude. She estimated that the emperor would think too much. Going to the palace today was exactly the time to talk about family matters. Talking about her elder brother's marriage wouldn't seem out of place. If the emperor could help to arrange a good marriage, maybe he would be in a good mood and happily let them go back to their own homes.
"Xue, what are you worried about?" Du Gu Qing could tell that there was a faint trace of worry between Mei Qingxue's eyebrows.
"I have a bad feeling." She couldn't tell why. There was a feeling that told her not to go to the palace, but it was impossible not to go. There was no way to avoid it, so she could only face it.
"Don't think too much. There won't be any problems. It's just that there are a few more imperial concubines. Later, after you pay your respects, just act like that ostrich you talked about."
Mei Qingxue had told Du Gu Qing that ostriches would bury their heads in the sand when they were in danger and stick their butts up high. At that time, Du Gu Qing thought it was very funny. He didn't believe there could be such a stupid bird. Later, he realized that it was a self - deceiving method. It didn't hurt others and didn't cause any harm. Why not do it? He also wanted to be an ostrich, but unfortunately he couldn't.
It was very easy to find the commander of the imperial guards. Her elder brother's uniform was different from theirs. Du Gu Qing helped Mei Qingxue out of the carriage. "Hurry up."
"Okay."
Mei Haoxuan was about to patrol other places and didn't see Mei Qingxue walking towards him.
"Brother."
"Xue'er..." Hearing his sister's voice, Mei Haoxuan turned his head, with a look of surprise on his face.
"Brother, let's not talk about this for now. Last time I sent a letter home. Quickly tell me which young lady you like?" This was a really important matter.
Hearing his sister's question, Mei Haoxuan blushed.
I... Come on. Why are you blushing now? It's so important...
"This is of great importance. If you don't tell me, I'll decide for you!" Mei Qingxue said in a domineering tone that Mei Haoxuan had never heard before. Her elder brother was good in every aspect, but how could she forget the reserve and euphemism of the ancients...
"This concerns the fate of our Mei family. Do you have a conclusion, brother?"
"I'm on duty in the palace all day. How can I know which official's daughter is suitable?" Mei Haoxuan finally digested his sister's question.
"Okay, brother. I understand. You just go home and wait for the news. Tell father and mother that Xue'er is fine." In the prince's mansion, she was the boss. The princess Mei Qingxue was the biggest.
"You should go home more often to see mother. Mother misses you very much."
"Got it, brother!" She quickly said a few words to Mei Haoxuan and then got back into the carriage. Through the curtain, she could still see her brother staring blankly at her.
She had a candidate for her sister - in - law in mind. This was also after careful consideration. But... What if she was wrong? Was there any chance to return the "goods"?