My goodness! To make a princess a concubine, he really has a wild imagination.
Lieutenant Li was lucky just to come back alive after reasoning with such a person. Compared with losing his life, a slap was just a minor physical pain.
"Well..." Lieutenant Li wanted to say something else.
Du Gu Ming immediately stopped him. It was already a blessing to be alive. After all, the other was a prince and his younger brother. Du Gu Ming knew his subordinate well.
"You may leave. I'll handle this myself."
What else could he do? With the Geng family's actions, it was likely that all the officials in the south of the Yangtze River would be replaced. Previously, Du Gu Qing had only been traveling and not interfering in affairs. It was all the Geng father and son who had caused trouble. As for Geng Meie, she was just the same. Now, the Geng family was completely finished.
Du Gu Ming knew his younger brother's temper well. He was sure that his little brother wouldn't even open the letter he had sent. Although Du Gu Qing had retreated to the south of the Yangtze River, there was no telling when he might come back. Since he had recovered from his illness, he was qualified to compete for the crown prince position. Putting himself in others' shoes, Du Gu Ming thought that everyone was as eager for that position as he was.
Du Gu Jue also heard about the 150 slaps. Only then did he realize that his little brother had been quite polite to him. The advisor who had originally had some complaints was secretly relieved when he saw Lieutenant Li. He had been quite polite when he spoke that day and had only been sent away. Lieutenant Li had received 150 slaps. No one knew how many teeth were left in his mouth. Even if they hadn't fallen out, they must have been loose.
The emperor received a secret report from the south of the Yangtze River and told Concubine Qin about Du Gu Qing's actions. Concubine Qin couldn't help laughing. "Qing'er always protects his princess. He wouldn't even say a harsh word to her. Those people are really blind."
"Yu, when shall we go to the south of the Yangtze River? I miss my father." Concubine Qin's eyes showed longing. Du Gu Yu gently pulled her into his arms. "We can go as soon as the crown prince is determined."
The intimate figures of the two stung Concubine Yu's eyes.
She secretly clenched her hands. "If I can't have your love, I'll become the empress dowager!" Immediately, she summoned Du Gu Jue into the palace for a secret plot.
Du Gu Jue nodded. "Don't worry, Mother Concubine!" He was willing to do anything to get that position. As long as he didn't kill his brothers, the emperor would always show mercy.
He thought Du Gu Ming was stupid. How could getting rid of his brothers reduce the threat? That was impossible. Even if all his brothers died, their father could still adopt a son from a collateral branch. What he wanted to do might lead to eternal damnation, but he was willing to give it a try and would never regret it. Even if he had to be imprisoned in the Gulan Garden for the rest of his life, he had to know if he could sit on that throne.
Moreover, his mother concubine wanted to be the empress dowager, and he must fulfill her wish.
Even if he couldn't achieve his goal, he wouldn't let Du Gu Ming be happy. Du Gu Yu vaguely felt that something was about to happen, but he couldn't find any clues. He just felt that the court was unusually calm, which was definitely abnormal.
With his sensitivity, he could sense the unusual atmosphere. All he could do was secretly make some preparations. He didn't know if his son couldn't hold back anymore.
In the court, the two factions still confronted each other and tried to undermine each other.
But what was going to happen? Du Gu Yu frowned tightly.
In the south of the Yangtze River, Du Gu Qing cleaned up the local officials and selected new candidates for the government office. Mei Qingxue transferred Guo Jun and Xiaobei to work under Mei Haoxuan.
The old duke was very happy to see his grandson handling affairs. He had already retired from his position and only had the title of duke without any real power. The Geng family didn't even put him in their eyes. He had suffered a lot of humiliation from them before, but he didn't want to care about it. Su Minghui was useless, and he couldn't control him either.
Now, Prince Rui's actions were exactly what he wanted.
The old duke also had the same premonition as Du Gu Yu. "Qing'er, I always feel that something big is going to happen recently!"
"Grandpa, you just enjoy your retirement. If there's anything, there's Guo Jun and the others. Your grandsons have grown up. If there's anything, there's still me." Du Gu Qing had to comfort him. What could happen? It was just that his elder brother couldn't sit still and wanted to cause some trouble.
The temptation of that position was enough for people to disregard their own lives. Du Gu Qing understood this very well.
"Why don't you bring your wife? Your grandmother likes her very much. After you came last time, she has been talking about her all the time." The old duke didn't know what Mei Qingxue had said to his wife, but anyway, his wife and several daughters-in-law liked Mei Qingxue very much. They would mention her if she didn't come for a few days.
"Grandpa, Qingxue said that she's cultivating herself in the mansion recently. I don't know what kind of self - cultivation she's doing."
Du Gu Qing lied without batting an eyelid. The old duke already knew that Mei Qingxue didn't allow Du Gu Qing to enter her room. After all, there was a two - generation gap, so he didn't dare to say anything. It was said that the reason she didn't allow him to enter was to let Du Gu Qing handle the backlogged official business with peace of mind.
The old duke liked this. She knew what was important and was a capable person.
"That's good. You can also take this opportunity to rest. How's your official business going?" The old duke was concerned about the public grievances that had accumulated during Su Minghui's time.
"Grandpa, I will handle it well. I won't disgrace your name."
"You're getting better at talking. You just need to not disgrace the name of the Plum Blossom Fairy."
"Grandpa, you know about that too?"
"Your grandpa may not ask about political affairs, but I'm not senile yet. Every year during the flood season, I know exactly how much grain the Mei family has sent." The old duke patted his chest.
What he liked most about that little woman was that as a woman, she cared about the common people and had done so many practical things for them.
"Grandpa, isn't your grandson good?"
"The old man likes his granddaughter - in - law more. By the way, I haven't asked you. How did Eunuch Tang become the steward of your mansion? According to his rank, he shouldn't..."
"Grandpa, you don't know. Eunuch Tang just thinks that the Prince Rui's Mansion is more suitable for him to spend his old age. When Mother Concubine was out of favor, Eunuch Tang protected her many times. So..."
"It's good to remember those who have helped you. But it can't be that simple, right?" How could the old duke be easily deceived by Du Gu Qing?
"I'm just guessing. When we were still in the capital, Eunuch Tang especially liked to come to my Prince Sixth's Mansion. I think it's because he was lonely and he liked my princess's personality."
"Let's not talk about this. Since he has this heart, you should treat him well. If you were ordinary children, Eunuch Tang would be a good support. But now, let's not mention it."
"How did you arrange Guo Jun? I don't like him working in the government office."
"Qingxue thought that cousin might want to go to the battlefield. A good man should have great ambitions on the frontier. She will arrange it. Grandpa, don't worry."
"Women shouldn't interfere in politics. Is your princess...?" The old duke asked worriedly. He didn't dislike Mei Qingxue for interfering too much. He was just afraid that she would cause trouble for herself.
"Grandpa, don't worry. Qingxue has already made arrangements." Du Gu Qing knew that the old duke was worried about them, so he had to comfort him.
"It's good that she knows what's important. You two come over for dinner tonight. Your grandmother misses Qingxue very much."
"Okay, I'll go back and pick up Qingxue right away." Du Gu Qing stood up. The old duke looked at his back and smiled. "Old woman, do you think we're being too nosy?"
An amiable old woman walked out from behind the screen. "It's natural for the old to worry about the children's affairs. Since Qin'er is not here and the emperor has rarely cared about him over the years, we are Qing'er's closest relatives. If we don't help him, who will?"
"You're right. Qingxue likes all kinds of pastries..."
Just as the old duke was about to say something, the duchess laughed. "So you know too, you old rascal. You've been pretending so well."
"Zhen Guo is my disciple. Now our two families are in - laws. Qingxue has no relatives here. Shouldn't we be nice to her? Besides, girls tend to miss home easily." The old duke still remembered how reluctant Qin'er was when she got married. She wrote several letters a year saying that she missed home.
Now, Mei Qingxue was also marrying far away. The old duke could imagine that she would miss her parents.
"You're right. I've already asked someone to prepare. You can stop worrying." The old duchess gave her husband a loving look and then turned back to the inner room with a smile.
"Qingxue, Grandpa asked us to have dinner with them."
Du Gu Qing whispered behind Mei Qingxue, who was taking a nap. Mei Qingxue opened her eyes and knew that it was inevitable to be nagged by the old people at night.
She had to get up. "How's your review of the documents going?"
"It'll be almost done in two or three days." This was the truth. "Has Han Zhao come back?" She didn't know if Yue Ru had given birth yet. Mei Qingxue was still thinking about all kinds of things.
"Should be back soon. I asked him to send the letters and gifts to your parents."
"I miss my father, my mother, and my elder brother. I don't know how my elder brother and sister - in - law are doing. I also don't know when my sister - in - law will have a baby."
"You're always so worried!" Du Gu Qing tapped Mei Qingxue's nose. "Get up quickly. It's impolite to keep the old people waiting."
"Did you tell Grandpa that I don't allow you to enter my room?"
"No. Really. Grandpa just said that Grandma and aunts miss you and don't know why you've caught their fancy."
"That's because your princess is loved by everyone." Mei Qingxue said proudly. Sometimes, even she would secretly be narcissistic about her beautiful appearance.
In the ten lifetimes, this one was the happiest and most comfortable. The only thing was that she was far away from her parents. She missed them very much, but there was nothing she could do. They couldn't return to the capital casually, and her father couldn't retire now because the emperor wouldn't let him.
Mei Qingxue sighed softly. Nothing in this world was perfect.
She had died miserably in the previous nine lifetimes. In this lifetime, she was separated from her relatives and suffered from the pain of missing them.