flstandardbreds Chapter 145 Everyone has their own agenda
Chapter 145 Everyone has their own agenda
Wang Mingjue pounced on Yan Qing like a madman.
Of course, she didn't succeed.
"enough!"
Before Gu Huaizhou took action, King Qi grabbed Wang Mingjue and stopped her crazy behavior.
This idiot!
He knew that although Wang Mingjue was on good terms with Yan Qing on the surface, she was actually very scheming and had always been jealous of Yan Qing. But he never expected that she would actually kill Lu Qiaonan and put the blame on Yan Qing.
Lu Qiaonan is no nobody.
But since you have done it, you have to stick to it. How can you be so stupid as to change your mind halfway?
When Yan Qing suddenly appeared and said that Wang Mingjue was committing suicide for Lu Qiaonan, King Qi secretly thought that something bad was going to happen.
Sure enough, this idiot Wang Mingjue was bewitched by some unknown thing and actually followed Yan Qing's words and admitted that he was committing suicide for love!
She committed suicide for love?
Everyone here committed suicide for love, and she, Wang Mingjue, will not commit suicide for love!
At that moment, the King of Qi knew that this idiot must have been fooled by Yan Qing and even ignored his hints.
If she had insisted that Lu Qiaonan was killed by Yan Qing, even if the charges could not be proven in the end, she could still make Yan Qing and Gu Huaizhou pay a price!
Moreover, taking a step back, even if Lu Qiaonan's life was not at the mercy of Yan Qing and Gu Huaizhou, as long as he and his mother were there, Wang Mingjue would never be dragged into this.
Now, she wants to die for Lu Qiaonan?
Then naturally I would have to remain a widow for him!
Now that she finally knew she'd been tricked, she was going to fight Yan Qing to the death? Where did she think she was? Did she think Yan Qing was still the same Yan Qing she used to manipulate?
The King of Qi was sure that if he failed to pull Wang Mingjue back, her fate would be even more miserable than being a widow for Lu Qiaonan!
"Second brother!"
Wang Mingjue looked at King Qi aggrievedly and called out the nickname he used to call him when he was a child.
The King of Qi pinched his brows and said angrily, "Idiot!"
Wang Mingjue pursed his lips and dared not say a word.
At this moment, the nanny beside the queen suddenly appeared behind everyone and said with a smile: "Your Highnesses and Lords, the banquet is ready. The Queen invites everyone to take their seats."
The King of Qi knew what it meant as soon as he heard it.
The Queen Mother already knew about this matter and did not intend to intervene. Wang Mingjue had been raised by Queen Wang since childhood, so he naturally understood the meaning of the nanny's words.
Her face turned pale.
King Qi said, "Come here, take the county lady away and send her to the Marquis of Wu'an's mansion!"
"Second brother, I don't..."
"Shut up!"
The King of Qi lowered his voice and warned Wang Mingjue: "If you still want to be a good county lady, then stay a widow for me! Otherwise..."
Wang Mingjue was frightened by the murderous intent in King Qi's eyes.
Until the guards came to pull her away.
Wang Mingjue didn't resist anymore and silently let the guards take her away. When she passed by Yan Qing, she suddenly raised her head, stared at Yan Qing with a sinister look, and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear: "Yan Qing, you wait!"
Yan Qing smiled lightly.
Wait?
She has waited her whole life just for this day, to send Wang Mingjue to hell with her own hands!
Gu Huaizhou stood beside Yan Qing.
He looked at Wang Mingjue's back with deep eyes.
Dare to threaten Qingqing?
The man narrowed his eyes and looked like he didn't want to live anymore.
"Since it is the Queen's order, we naturally cannot be absent."
Prince Li laughed.
The others immediately followed suit and headed towards the front hall.
Today's banquet was originally hosted by the Queen Mother for the Fourth Prince, so naturally we would not offend the Queen Mother.
At that moment, everyone followed Mammy out of the garden.
Lu Qiaonan's body was still floating in the lake, alone and unattended.
*
The feast is ready.
After everyone arrived, they were guided by the palace servants to their seats and sat down.
The table is divided into two sides according to gender, and then arranged from high to low according to rank.
But the first male guest was Gu Huaizhou, followed by Prince Li, Prince Qi, and Prince Jing...
Yan Qing frowned when he saw this ranking.
Queen Wang clearly wanted to make Gu Huaizhou the target of public criticism...
"Princess Princess, please come this way."
The palace maid invited Yan Qing to the second seat for female guests.
The first one is the eldest princess.
The eldest princess had already sat down in her seat early, and when she saw Yan Qing she snorted coldly.
Next came Yang Ying, Yang Xuan, and other ladies and noble ladies.
After everyone was seated, Queen Wang finally arrived.
"Everyone, I have been ordered by His Majesty to hold a banquet for the Fourth Prince. Firstly, it is to celebrate the completion of the Prince's Mansion, so that Huaizhou can finally have a home. Secondly, it is to express gratitude to the heavens for finally allowing Huaizhou to return to his roots and no longer be a wanderer among the common people..."
"Long live the Queen!"
The guests on both sides stood up at the same time and saluted Queen Wang.
Queen Wang looked at Gu Huaizhou lovingly: "Huaizhou, your father has never been so concerned about any other prince. If it weren't for the fact that you have been living among the common people since childhood, then the Crown Prince..."
Everyone's expression changed instantly.
Many people in the court have been wondering which son His Majesty has chosen to inherit the throne. Who would have thought that it would be the fourth prince who has been living among the people?
No wonder His Majesty hasn't appointed a crown prince for many years!
Among them, Prince Li had the ugliest expression!
Of course he knew that the Queen said this on purpose, and that she was targeting him. The hateful thing was that he knew that this was all the Queen's calculation, but he couldn't help but care.
Because it is a fact that my father has not appointed a crown prince.
It is also a fact that she dotes on Gu Huaizhou!
Ever since Gu Huaizhou became his fourth brother, his father summoned him to the palace to keep him company every day and did not allow anyone to disturb him.
And in his memory, no son had ever caught his father's eye, not even the crown prince born to the queen!
But Gu Huaizhou is an exception!
Queen Wang took in everyone's expressions, especially Prince Li's. Seeing a gloomy look cross Prince Li's face, she smiled with satisfaction, then said to Gu Huaizhou as if to conceal it, "In short, Huaizhou, His Majesty has high hopes for you. Don't let him down..."
Gu Huaizhou's eyes deepened, but he didn't say anything.
Queen Wang had no intention of letting him speak.
She just wanted to keep people guessing.
It doesn’t matter even if someone believed her words. It would be even better if someone in the court supported Gu Huaizhou.
Ying Yuan and Chu Er have been fighting for so long, but there is no winner.
Now that Gu Huaizhou has finally arrived, the balance can be broken. As long as Ying Yuan focuses some of his attention on Gu Huaizhou, she will be able to find Ying Yuan's flaws. Then she will be able to kill two birds with one stone and wipe out these two people who should not exist in the world.
No one in the entire Dayong would go against her Chu'er anymore!
After saying this, Queen Wang picked up the wine glass on the table and said to the crowd, "Come, my lords, please join me in congratulating the Fourth Prince."
The ministers suddenly had different expressions.
But no matter what they thought, they all picked up the wine glasses on the table and, together with Queen Wang, toasted to Gu Huaizhou: "Congratulations, His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince!"
The lady on the other side also stood up.
The eldest princess snorted coldly and cooperated reluctantly.
Yan Qing, however, looked tense.
She looked at Gu Huaizhou worriedly.
However, there was no change on the man's face. He handled the matter with ease, holding the wine glass.
Yan Qing suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.
Gu Huaizhou must have been prepared...
After all, in his previous life, he was the one who stood firm in the power struggle, became the emperor of Dayong, and recovered a lot of lost territories.
He... should be able to do it!
After the greetings, there was a singing and dancing performance.
Queen Wang specially arranged the best musicians and dancers in the palace.
As the wine flowed, everyone was talking and laughing, as if the previous sensitivity had not existed.
Only the eldest princess was unhappy.
After drinking a few glasses of wine, the eldest princess glanced at Gu Huaizhou opposite her, then glanced sideways at Yan Qing who was sitting in the first seat below.
She suddenly sneered.
Halfway through the dance, the leader suddenly stood up and said to Queen Wang, who was sitting at the head of the table, "Mother, it's rare that Fourth Brother has survived all these years among the common people and even been reunited with our father. This is a great event that should be celebrated properly. What's the point of these ordinary dances?"
"Oh?"
Queen Wang seemed to be intrigued. "My dear, do you think these dances are too ordinary?"
"Of course!"
The eldest princess said loudly, "Although my fourth brother has never seen these dances, I have seen them often. Even the gentlemen present have seen them several times at palace banquets. They are no longer strange to me."
After a pause, she suddenly turned around and looked at Yan Qing provocatively: "Why don't we try something new!"
Queen Wang took in the expressions of the two men.
She naturally knew about the entanglement between her daughter and Yan Qing.
Although she did not like her daughter's previous husband, she also did not like Yan Qing, so when she saw the eldest princess targeting Yan Qing, Queen Wang did not stop her.
Instead, he looked at Gu Huaizhou meaningfully.
Queen Wang asked, "I wonder if the emperor has any suggestions?"
The eldest princess immediately said, "Isn't your Majesty going to choose a consort for my fourth brother at the banquet? In my opinion, why not have the young ladies present here come forward and perform? The one who comes out on top will become the consort of the fourth prince? What do you think, Majesty?"
"Okay! This is a great plan!"
Queen Wang immediately clapped her hands, and after nodding, she remembered to ask Gu Huaizhou, so she looked at Gu Huaizhou and said, "Fourth Prince, what do you think of Shu Ning's idea?"
Gu Huaizhou stood up and said, "Your Majesty, Huaizhou has just been recognized by my father and does not want to get married yet."
Queen Wang smiled kindly, "Just like your second brother, you're such a grown-up, yet you still say childish things. You've had a hard time out there these past few years, and I haven't taken good care of you. Every time I think about it, my heart aches. That's why I advised your father to choose someone close to you who will stay by your side and take care of you for me."
The queen spoke with such sincerity that it seemed as if Gu Huaizhou was her biological son.
But the people below had different expressions.
There was a darkness in the eyes of the King of Qi, and a sarcasm on the face of the King of Li. All the other guests lowered their heads, looking as if they were paying attention and not listening at all.
Only Prince Jing was drinking seriously.
Gu Huaizhou's expression was cold.
Why did he become a wanderer?
If Queen Wang had not framed my mother back then, how could my mother secretly have someone swap the fetus and let her confidant take her out of the palace?
He had been wandering around in his early years.
It was when Queen Wang discovered that the baby was not dead that year that she sent people to hunt him down secretly. It was not until he returned to Kyoto under the identity of the son of the Gu family that he lived in peace for a few years.
Talking sweet words.
But it's all sweet talk.
What do you mean by choosing a concubine to take care of him? Is it to monitor him?
Gu Huaizhou said with a gloomy look in his eyes, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty, but my second and third brothers are still married. How can I surpass them?"
"It's okay to cross this king, but please don't cross Second Brother."
Prince Jing, who was halfway through drinking, suddenly spoke with a thick tongue: "Zi, Ziyuan, you must not cross the line between you and the Second Royal Brother. He looks gentle as jade, but he's actually very mean-spirited. You absolutely cannot marry before him..."
The King of Qi, who had remained silent, said: "..."
Gu Huaizhou looked at Prince Jing's flushed face, curled his lips, and immediately said, "Yes, my younger brother dares not get married before his two brothers!"
King Jing nodded: "Okay! Drink more!"
Queen Wang: “…”
I didn't expect this idiot to do something bad all of a sudden!
But who is Queen Wang? She has made up her mind to choose a concubine for Gu Huaizhou today, so how could she let others interfere?
At that moment, Queen Wang said to the palace servants, "Come here, Prince Jing is drunk, help him down to rest."
"Yes."
Two palace maids came forward and helped Prince Jing up.
Prince Jing was bewildered and struggled, "No, I can't go down. I want to stay and watch Ziyuan choose a concubine, haha..."
However, the palace servants did not listen to him at all.
Pulled him down by force.
Queen Wang said, "Alright, it's decided. I won't hide it from you all. Today's banquet is not only to welcome the Fourth Prince, but also to select a concubine for him. I've sought His Majesty's consent on this matter, so..."
Queen Wang looked at Gu Huaizhou with a hint of meaning and said with a smile, "Even if the Fourth Prince doesn't want to, this Fourth Prince's Consort must be chosen..."
Gu Huaizhou's face looked extremely ugly.
It had been a long time since he had felt this way.
He stared at Queen Wang at the top with gloomy eyes, and even Yan Qing, who was standing beside him, could feel the murderous aura.
She was terrified.
Gu Huaizhou wants to die?
He is still just a prince. Even if he knew that Queen Wang was deliberately trying to put people around him, he couldn't express it so obviously!
He wasn't such a simple-minded person in his previous life!
Yan Qing looked at Gu Huaizhou, fearing he might suddenly charge forward and fight Queen Wang to the death. She immediately stood up and said, "Your Majesty is wise!"
This sound indeed interrupted the murderous aura that permeated someone.
Gu Huaizhou looked over suddenly.
Yan Qing didn't dare look at him. She steeled herself and said to Queen Wang, "Your Majesty, you sympathize with the Fourth Prince's miserable early years and want to choose a concubine for him at the banquet. This is truly a motherly heart. I am deeply moved!"
"Chi~"
The eldest princess snorted, "Are you touched? I think you're jealous, right?"
Yan Qing lowered her head and spoke word by word, "The Princess has misunderstood. This princess is truly moved by the Empress's kindness. Moreover, all the ladies attending the banquet at the Fourth Prince's residence today are noble ladies from Kyoto, which shows that the Empress is truly devoted to the Fourth Prince's consort. This princess also hopes that the Fourth Prince can choose a good partner to accompany him..."
"Bah!"
The golden cup in Gu Huaizhou's hand was suddenly crushed.
He looked at Yan Qing in disbelief, his dark eyes like an endless abyss, staring at Yan Qing closely: "Princess, do you also want this prince to choose a concubine today?"
Yan Qing noticed his violent mood, pursed her lips, gritted her teeth and said, "Yes."
At least I can get through this first.
It's just choosing a concubine, not getting married.
He has just returned to the palace, how can he confront Queen Wang head-on like this?
At least we have to build up our power first, and when we have the leverage to fight against the Wang family and Queen Wang's faction, then...
"it is good!"
Gu Huaizhou suddenly threw away the fragments in his hand, picked up the wine jug beside him, and took a sip.
He said in a hoarse voice: "Since Qingqing asked me to choose a concubine, then I will choose!"