newbobooks Chapter 612 You've already made a scene before the Emperor, how can I possibly stop you?
Chapter 612 You've already made a scene before the Emperor, how can I possibly stop you?
"Mother! Mother!"
Chu Ruohan was holding a cup of tea when she was startled by the loud noise, causing her hand to tremble and the tea to almost spill.
She put down her teacup and glared at her daughter who rushed in front of her.
"His Majesty has granted permission! We can all go to the Eastern Palace to attend the Crown Prince's birthday banquet!"
Gu Qingchen hugged Chu Ruohan's arm and shook it excitedly.
Chu Ruohan reached out and tapped her smooth forehead with her finger. "You've caused such a stir that even your father was summoned to the palace. How could I not know?"
Gu Qingchen chuckled, then squatted down beside his mother's legs, tilting his little face up with bright, sparkling eyes.
"Then, Mother, do you think... I don't need to pretend to be sick anymore? Everyone else is going, and it would be so embarrassing if I didn't go alone."
Looking at her daughter's fawning and expectant little face, Chu Ruohan could only let out a helpless sigh.
"You've already made a scene before the Emperor, how can I possibly stop you?"
"Yay! Mommy is the best!" Gu Qingchen jumped up happily.
But then her face fell, and she counted on her fingers, "But Father took all the money, and I still have to return it to my classmates. I... I don't have any money to buy a gift."
Seeing her worried and distressed look, Chu Ruohan finally softened.
She took a bunch of keys from her waist and threw them into her daughter's arms.
"Go to the warehouse and choose for yourself."
Gu Qingchen's eyes lit up as he hugged the heavy bunch of keys as if they were the most precious treasure in the world.
She grabbed Qian Zhenyun, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, and they dashed towards the mansion's private treasury like a gust of wind.
As soon as the warehouse door opened, the dazzling array of treasures made Qian Zhenyun's eyes pop out.
Gu Qingchen, however, was picking and choosing among the items inside.
"This jade ruyi is too old-fashioned; the Crown Prince definitely won't like it."
"This luminous pearl is quite bright, but there must be a lot of them in the palace. Giving it as a gift wouldn't show any sincerity."
She wandered among the rows of shelves, talking to herself. What hadn't the Crown Prince seen? Ordinary gold and jade items certainly wouldn't catch his eye.
Suddenly, her gaze fell upon a long sandalwood box in the corner. She recognized it; it was one of her father's most treasured possessions, something he rarely showed to others.
Gu Qingchen tiptoed and laboriously took the box down. When he opened it, he saw a simple and ancient-looking longbow lying quietly inside, its bow gleaming with a faint light.
The bow arm is engraved with intricate cloud and thunder patterns, clearly indicating that it is no ordinary item.
"This is it!" A sly glint flashed across Gu Qingchen's face. "This is a treasure Father has been hiding; the Crown Prince has definitely never seen it before!"
Qian Zhenyun turned pale with fright: "Qingchen, this, this belongs to the Duke! If we take it, the Duke will beat us to death!"
"What's there to be afraid of!" Gu Qingchen hugged the long box to his chest with a hearty laugh. "I'm just borrowing it! I'll just secretly put it back after the birthday banquet, won't I?"
Without a word, Gu Qingchen shoved the box into Qian Zhenyun's arms. "Take it! Let's go!"
After saying that, he grabbed Qian Zhenyun, who was on the verge of tears, and ran away like a thief.
borrow?
Wasn't it a gift that was given away? Can it be returned?
Qian Zhenyun was helpless; she was such a liar, she didn't even know how to use her brain.
Qian Zhenyun touched the book on her chest, hoping that the Duke of Zhenguo wouldn't spank her if he found out!
On the day of the Crown Prince's birthday, the area outside the palace gates was bustling with activity and carriages.
The students of Bailu Academy had all arrived, each dressed in brand-new clothes, and disembarked from their carriages after much encouragement from their families.
"Once you enter the palace, be careful in everything you do, don't do anything wrong, and pay attention to the rules!" The parents of officials all had serious expressions and repeatedly gave these instructions.
"To be able to attend the Crown Prince's birthday banquet is an honor beyond measure! Be smart and learn as much as you can once you're inside!" The parents of the merchant families were filled with excitement and anticipation, wishing they could go in for their children.
Gu Qingchen jumped down from the carriage, looked around, and felt something was strange.
Other parents would write their children's instructions on their foreheads, so why isn't her mother worried about her at all?
She immediately realized that she had probably run too fast while carrying the bow...
"Boss!"
"Boss Gu, you've finally arrived!"
As soon as Zhou Panghu and Li Si Gongzi saw Gu Qingchen, they immediately surrounded her, clearly regarding her as their pillar of support.
Hearing his classmates call him "boss" one after another, Gu Qingchen felt extremely proud, and his small chest was held high.
Some ladies from less affluent families also brought their children forward and bowed respectfully to Gu Qingchen.
"Greetings, Miss Gu. My son is unruly. I hope you will take good care of him at the academy in the future."
Gu Qingchen quickly stepped aside. She was young, and whenever she went out with her mother, she had to greet the ladies of various families. No one else would come up to her and bow to her.
Led by a palace attendant, a group of teenagers swaggered into the palace gates.
Gu Qingchen walked at the front, surrounded by the crowd, with Lin Jiayou and Qian Zhenyun following behind, like a victorious young general.
Outside the palace gates, watching the children's departing figures, the ladies who remained gathered in twos and threes, discussing among themselves.
A richly dressed lady, watching Gu Qingchen's retreating figure, said sourly to Madam Zhang beside her, "Madam Zhang, your young master is getting quite close to Miss Gu. Is it because you're after the power and influence of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion?"
"But I heard that the Duchess herself said that she only takes in sons-in-law and does not marry out."
Upon hearing this, Madam Zhang was not angry at all; instead, she covered her mouth and laughed.
"Looking for a son-in-law?" A glint flashed in her eyes. "So what if he's a live-in son-in-law? If my son can climb the social ladder to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, he'll have everything: a bright future, power, and wealth!"
Upon hearing this, the ladies around him all showed expressions of disdain.
Another official's wife sneered, "They're truly blinded by greed. Don't they even know their own family's status? How dare they covet the position of the Duke of Zhenguo's son-in-law?"
"Exactly, is it so easy to cross the threshold of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion? Don't end up losing everything and becoming the laughingstock of the entire capital."
As Madam Zhang listened to these words, her smile remained unchanged, but in her heart she had already cursed these people to the core.
She firmly believed that fortune favors the bold, and with such a great opportunity right in front of her, only a fool wouldn't seize it.
The Crown Prince's birthday banquet was held in Fangqing Pavilion. The young Crown Prince sat in the main seat, his face showing a bit of unnatural restraint.
He didn't know any of these people. If it weren't for trying to please Gu Qingchen, they wouldn't have been qualified to enter the palace.
The students took turns presenting gifts, mostly stationery and jade ornaments, which were valuable but nothing out of the ordinary.
Some even offered silver notes directly, which terrified the young prince. If he dared to accept them, the censors would impeach him again in court tomorrow…
Finally, it was Gu Qingchen's turn.