Although it was impossible for Shen Zhongbai not to understand the meaning of Gu Linjiang's words, he just didn't want to reply in front of so many ministers. He was the emperor after all. If he lost his sense of proportion in front of so many ministers, he would not only lose face. Something happened.
"Does Prime Minister Gu mean to blame me for not taking good care of the Ninth Princess? That caused a fire in the palace and the Ninth Princess died unexpectedly?" Shen Zhongbai looked at Shen Qiangwei beside him frivolously, and Shen Qiangwei also understood Shen Zhongbai's intention. Meaning, Shen Zhongbai continued what he said.
"Does Prime Minister Gu know? Why did the fire in the Qingxin Palace start? This palace is heavily guarded. It is absolutely impossible for anyone without a top expert to get in or out. Whoever is most likely to harm the Ninth Princess in this palace should be exempted from my duties. Concubine, will you remind Prime Minister Gu? Prime Minister Gu should still take care of his own family affairs and stop interfering with the affairs of the palace. The harem is not allowed to interfere in politics. Can a foreign minister interfere with the harem? "
From the exchanges between Shen Qiangwei and Shen Zhongbai, Gu Qiang could clearly see that Shen Qiangwei did everything according to Shen Zhongbai's wishes. No wonder Shen Qiangwei was able to retain her position in the palace for such a long time. , is indeed a smart man.
"I don't dare, old minister. Qian'er is the one who is not lucky enough to blame others." How could Gu Linjiang not hear it? The meaning of these words is nothing more than to remind himself that the fire in the palace was probably started by Gu Zhihua, but Until now, he has not received any information about Gu Zhihua, which means that Shen Zhongbai wants to use this matter to let him go. If he brings it up again for no reason, he will definitely cause trouble for himself.
Shen Zhongbai smiled and did not respond to Gu Linjiang's words. Gu Qiang was even more uncomfortable. After the banquet, Qi Bai secretly went to the Imperial Garden to find a chance to communicate with the Southern Qi envoy alone. Gu Qiang then Shen Siyin was forced to stay, in the name of exchanging feelings.
The two of them walked awkwardly on the path of the imperial garden, but Gu Qiang spoke first. This Southern Qi might not be any worse than Bei'an. Why is this princess unwilling to marry to Southern Qi? He is a commoner, and Shen Zhongbai broke the rules by marrying Shen Siyin to him. I am afraid that after he comes out, Shen Zhongbai will be in trouble again.
"Princess, don't you dislike me? Why didn't you have any objection when you knew that the emperor was going to marry you to me?"
Gu Qiang could only place her hope on Shen Siyin now. As long as she was unwilling to marry him, Shen Zhongbai might withdraw his fate, but that would most likely be after the Southern Qi envoy left.
Shen Siyin kicked the pebbles on the roadside boredly, "Nan Qi is so far away. I don't want to marry, so I accepted the marriage offer from the emperor. Anyway, I don't hate you. If I marry you, I don't have anything." The loss, on the contrary, also helped my imperial brother, which is just right."
Gu Qiang was not a fool, so he could understand exactly what Shen Siyin meant by helping. Shen Zhongbai just wanted to take over the Gusu family for his own use, and with Shen Siyin's excuse, he It would be safer to deal with those ministers without having to become an official in the court, and it would definitely not threaten his throne.
"But the person you married is not the person you love, doesn't it matter?" Gu Qiang has experienced a lot of things, but she always feels that she is not as clear-eyed as them about some things. For example, Shen Qiangwei, For example, the current Shen Siyin.
"That doesn't matter. Anyway, I don't hate you now."
"Then I have a way. I accept the emperor's offer of marriage and become your consort, but we will postpone the marriage until three years later. If you don't find the one you want by that time, I will continue to be your consort. If you find the one you love, we will cancel the engagement, okay?"
Gu Qiang thought about it carefully. If he went by Gu Su Liang and Gu Huaian and claimed to be sick temporarily, he might not be able to persist for a long time. What's more, Shen Siyin had made it clear that he had no interest in him. In this case If so, it would be better for the two of them to cooperate and cover this matter up first. It would be good after all.
"Your idea is quite unique. Others are trying hard to be my consort, so why are you trying to shirk it? You have to know that the emperor has given you this opportunity, which is something many people only dream of. The position you want to get." Shen Siyin is short, and even Gu Qiang is not tall, but she is taller than ordinary women, which is enough in front of Shen Siyin.
"The common people are used to being carefree and happy, so they don't like life in the palace very much. I think the princess is the same. She may not like the consort that the emperor has arranged for you, right?" The love and hatred in the royal family are ever-changing. Even if Shen Simian really likes her, as long as she can last two or three years, she doesn't believe that Shen Qianshan won't come back in three years...
"Just do as you say over there. Anyway, I don't like you very much. As long as you don't send me away for marriage and leave your royal brother too far."
After hearing this, Gu Qiang's heart tightened. It seemed that the relationship between Shen Siyin and Shen Zhongbai was indeed good. However, he could guarantee that Shen Siyin would not be sent away to get married in these three years. , but there is no way to guarantee that the two brothers and sisters can always be together. Shen Zhongbai has caused himself so much misery, and he will never let him go again.
"Your Majesty, if you promise Princess Si Yin to a commoner, wouldn't it be a bit unfair to the princess? I dare to ask the emperor to take back the promise. Even if it is to send the princess to get married, it is better than marrying the princess to a street boy, so as not to The princess will suffer in the future.”
Gu Linjiang looked like an old minister who spoke sincerely, but Shen Zhongbai understood what he was thinking. Although the Gusu family did not have any official power in Kyoto, this official had more or less influence over his family. Everyone would be a little wary. Gu Linjiang, an old fox, might have been eyeing Gu Su Ran for a long time. Otherwise, why would he be so opposed to marrying Shen Siyin to Gu Su Ran
"Prime Minister Gu's worries are really unnecessary. After all, the Gusu family is considered a big family in the capital. Si Yin and the young master of the Gusu family have known each other for a long time, and they understand each other well. , since Si Yin didn’t have any questions, the Prime Minister doesn’t have to worry, I have my own arrangements.”
When Gu Linjiang arranged the seats just now, Gu Suran was beside him. He originally wanted to take this opportunity to get close to the young master of the Gusu family, but he did not expect that after so many things happened, Shen Zhongbai would also have He was already ready to choose Gu Suran as Shen Siyin's consort, so he was caught off guard.
Qi Bai secretly followed the Nan Qi envoy and watched him walk into a bamboo forest in the imperial garden. He quickly followed in. An Ye had already noticed that someone was following him, but he had no way to determine who was behind him. Because of his identity, he kept leading him into the woods. If the two of them fought, he might not have the upper hand.
Qi Bai watched the envoy of Nan Qi go deeper and deeper, and he gradually began to feel suspicious. The figure of this person really became more and more familiar to him. Although he was sure that he was definitely not the prince, Qi Bai still remained vigilant. , followed.
Dark Night walked to the end of the dense forest, still worried about the conversation between Shen Zhongbai and Gu Linjiang at the banquet just now. From what they said, the Ninth Princess must have passed away long ago. If this is the case, if the prince knows this News, the situation is beyond his control.
An Ye and Qi Bai both held flying knives in their hands. There was still a distance between them. No one spoke, and Qi Bai did not show up. An Ye slowly turned his head, "This brother doesn't know how to follow." What’s the purpose of staying here for so long? Why don’t you show up and let the two of us have a good talk?”
Shen Zhongbai was very scheming and might really send someone to assassinate the Southern Qi envoy, or to control himself. An Ye never put down the dart in his hand, and Shen Zhongbai must not let Shen Zhongbai take advantage of the loophole.
Qi Bai walked out from the bushes beside him, "May I ask where the young master is from?" Although Qi Bai did not dare to confirm, from the way the envoy of the Southern Qi Dynasty spoke, he had basically guessed the identity of the other party. After all, they have worked together for so many years, so they naturally understand each other very well.
"Of course I am from Southern Qi. Could it be that I, an envoy from Southern Qi, am also from another country?" An Ye heard the person opposite asking him such a question, and he was even more confused. He did not dare to approach, and It is to secretly observe the position of the person opposite.
"Do you know this thing?" Qi Bai knew that if the person opposite was really An Ye, he might be aiming at himself and preparing to use a hidden weapon. He could only take out the token in his arms, "If you know this thing , you should know who I am."
The moonlight outside was not very bright. Dark Ye quickly squatted down and picked up the token on the ground. He could confirm at a glance that this thing was indeed Qi Bai's, "Who are you? Why do you have this thing?" "
There have been so many things happening recently that no one dares to let down their guard.
"I am the bodyguard of the prince." Qi Bai still did not show up. He was afraid that he would make a mistake in judgment and expose his identity, so he could only keep this distance and talk to the person opposite. But this time, he put his hand near his throat. I took off the voice changing sticker.
"Qi Bai..." An Ye could tell the identity of the man when he heard the voice, and he quickly walked in front of him, "Fortunately you are here, eh, you are not..."