Chapter 703: Not Present
Chapter 703: Chapter 703: Not Present
Qin Yuan quietly peeked out from behind Marquis Gu to size up the two people stacked on the ground, unable to help but whisper a complaint, "You’re blocking me, being overly cautious."
Marquis Gu didn’t move, his narrow eyes scanning the surroundings vigilantly, saying irritably, "This girl is really impatient, so many people gathered here; if startled, it would be troublesome."
The key to night patrols in the military camp is preventing night disturbances in the camp.
If soldiers get startled at night and run around slashing people, it can sometimes disturb the entire army, causing a commotion, which is even more terrifying than an enemy night raid.
Don’t be fooled; here, there are only ladies and scholars who couldn’t even bind a chicken.
The crowded area was full of carriages, horses, and people, plus the lights and incense, leaving no room for mistakes.
Qin Yuan made no sound, quietly retreating behind Marquis Gu with her head lowered.
Standing at both ends, Lin Ziqi and Wu Junren ignored the noisy crowd, stubbornly looking at each other.
The shouts and screams seemed as if they were from a distant long street.
At this moment, they saw only each other in their eyes.
Now, they were once again of one mind.
The killjoy Gu Baoshu jumped into the center carrying a person on her back, loudly declaring, "Everyone’s here now, feel free to talk all you want; can you make black into white?"
With a twist of the waist, the person on her back fell to the ground, her disheveled hair covering her face, revealing an indistinct face, but the embroidered dress and the delicate small feet indicated she was a slender lady.
Marquis Gu frowned, "Why did you bring back a lady?"
Gu Baoshu waved her hand nonchalantly, "Third Brother, don’t ask, you’ll know in a moment."
Having resumed the demeanor of the Imperial Princess, the Ninth Princess pointed with a jade finger, saying with displeasure, "Gu Baoshu, you’re really something, I was just saying how watching a commotion could be missing you!
What are you up to now?
Where did you grab these people from?
Prince Jin isn’t here, why are you involving him for no reason!"
Gu Baoshu put her hands on her hips, "Ninth Princess, you say such things, this whole affair started because of him. Who else am I supposed to talk about?
Why don’t you ask why the good Prince would be at odds with my Dingbei Marquis Mansion."
"How dare you speak like this?" the Ninth Princess asked in shock, barely maintaining her poised demeanor.
This Gu Baoshu was getting more troublesome.
The Crown Prince’s incident in the water hadn’t yet settled, and she wanted to stir up another big affair.
It’s a good thing she wasn’t chosen to enter the Eastern Palace, otherwise, there would be constant chaos, and even a healthy person would get sick from anger, while the sickly might lose half of their lifespan.
Gu Baoshu didn’t care what she was thinking, speaking her mind without regard for the consequences.
"He can do it, so why can’t I speak up?
A few days ago at the Duke Zhen’s Mansion, I caught him in the act of adultery, and he ran stark naked out the window, which offended him against my Dingbei Marquis Mansion, secretly bribing some small fry to harm my third sister-in-law’s family.
A dignified prince acting despicably, like a rat in the sewer, really despises me.
Pah! I feel sick just saying it!"
The previously noisy venue was suddenly so silent that a pin drop could be heard.
The noblewomen present blushed at Gu Baoshu’s straightforward words, showing disdain, but couldn’t hide their interest.
The scholars, hearing such astonishing words for the first time, were wide-eyed and speechless.
Even Wu Junren and Lin Ziqi snapped back to their senses, eyes full of shock.
The Ninth Princess hurriedly pressed her uncontrollably twitching right eyelid, sharply scolding.
"You, you, you! Shut up! Speak no nonsense and ruin the Empress Dowager’s honor, you’ll be to blame!"
Damn it, she really dared to speak anything.
If Gu Baoshu were to marry into the Eastern Palace, she dared to say, the Crown Prince would be lucky to live three months.
This kind of reprimand couldn’t deter Gu Baoshu, and even the onlookers exchanged knowing glances.
The Ninth Princess was so furious.
It showed that Miss Gu’s words were most likely true.
Such royal secrets, when spoken in a theater, could last for years.
The Ninth Princess was about to continue using her influence to suppress, but Gu Baoshu turned to Prince Qi, "Your Highness Prince Qi, do you allow me to speak?
The Ninth Princess, as an Imperial Princess, conducts herself improperly, colluding with Prince Jin to accuse the Qin Family and Dingbei Marquis Mansion.
If you won’t allow me to speak, I suppose you’re in cahoots with them.
Then I’ll go speak to the Emperor."
With these words, the crowd was in an uproar.
What kind of noblewoman was this in the world?
The Ninth Princess’s mouth was twisted, "You, Gu Baoshu, you’re something else."
Gu Baoshu pouted, "Now you’re praising me? Too late, don’t think a few sweet words will make me float with pride like oil in a dog’s belly."
"Haha..."
Princess Fuyun laughed, quickly adjusting her veil and turning her head to another side, avoiding looking at the Ninth Princess’s face.
Even Qin Siyuan couldn’t help but chuckle, pinching the sleeve, whispering to himself, "I didn’t expect Baoshu could even use ’colluding,’ this is progress."
Prince Qi showed a troubled expression, fist clenched, trying to suppress his smile, lightly coughing a few times before saying, "Gu Baoshu, if it were someone else speaking this way about Prince Jin, they would likely first be flogged severely.
But you’re young and ignorant, so I will spare you this once.
Know that royal dignity must not be offended."
Marquis Gu said, "Your Highness Prince Qi, that’s not right."
"Oh?" Prince Qi raised his brows.
His handsome features showing no displeasure, instead full of anticipation.
Marquis Gu said, "A prince breaking the law should be punished the same as a commoner. If what my sister says is true, all of it being the work of Prince Jin, then Prince Jin owes me an explanation.
If Your Highness Prince Qi dares not handle this matter, I will go to the Emperor for justice.
In this world, all matters revolve around reason."
Prince Qi, seemingly left with no choice, turned to the Ninth Princess, "Little Nine, if they were speaking about someone else, we could let them take it to the Capital Governor Mansion to cause a fuss.
But since it involves Prince Jin, we can’t ignore it, otherwise, scholars everywhere might really think we are colluding, making things difficult for the National Academy Sacrificial Officer."
The Ninth Princess insisted, "This matter is of great importance, to convict Prince Jin, he must be present."
Princess Fuyun commented softly, "But Qin Jijiu is also not present."
The Ninth Princess was at a loss for words, stammering, "...this..."
Gu Baoshu coldly sneered, "Seems like the Ninth Princess doesn’t want to give my Dingbei Marquis Mansion justice."
The Ninth Princess was once again at a loss, looking earnestly at Prince Qi, eyes pleading, "...no..."
Prince Qi shook his head, helplessly asking Gu Baoshu, "Little Sister Baozhu, today I and Princess Fuyun came here to listen to Mr. Songshan and Young Master Nantang’s discourses, who knew we would encounter a poetry theft affair.
Lin Ziqi’s borrowing of Young Master Nantang’s poem is already a well-established fact..."
Gu Baoshu angrily said, "How could I, Gu Baoshu, untangle the matters of scholars? Wasn’t it them, drinking celebration wine upstairs while watching the fun, and I caught them red-handed, so I brought everyone back."