There was a strong smell of blood in his nose. Pei Yushengru took two steps back, frowned and looked at Pei Yuanjun's receding back, his face darkening.
It is not uncommon for sisters to marry their uncles and nephews among the common people, but in the royal family there are rules. If they are cousins or sisters, it is fine, but if they are sisters, you have to think carefully. It is fine to choose the one first, but you have to examine the one after that carefully.
Pei Yusheng had no intention of making Qu Qiuyan his principal wife, but he intended to make her his concubine. After all, he was quite satisfied with Qu Qiuyan for now. No matter who he would marry in the future, he felt that Qu Qiuyan being a concubine would suit his taste. The two of them had also been dating privately for a while, and Qu Qiuyan was also considerate and gentle.
If Qu Zhizhen's position was not too low and he had no strength, he would indeed have intended to marry Qu Qiuyan.
Since it is a concubine position, it must be approved by the royal family. Now, the fact that Pei Yuanjun has taken a fancy to Qu Zhizhen's little daughter has been known by his father for a long time, and it has been arranged early. On the contrary, although his affair with Qu Qiuyan came first, it was kept secret and fell behind in the eyes of his father.
It seems that he needs to think carefully whether giving Qu Qiuyan the position of a concubine is a bit high. Pei Yusheng does not want the emperor to interfere in his private affairs.
Even if it was just an ordinary investigation, it would be best not to attract attention if possible. This was what his mother repeatedly reminded him.
"Your Highness, do you want to go and take a look first?" Seeing that he was still standing there with a stern face, the guard reminded him in a low voice.
King Jing stayed behind to deal with the aftermath, so he naturally couldn't leave at this time.
Pei Yusheng frowned. He actually wanted to go back a long time ago, but his father had ordered Pei Yuanjun to be in charge of this matter and asked him to help out. Now that Pei Yuanjun was gone, it was inconvenient for him to leave.
"Let's find a clean room to sit down first and let someone clean up the mess," Pei Yusheng said.
In fact, he had wanted to leave a long time ago. In a place like this, he always felt that some strange things might emerge from anywhere. If it was not for the purpose of pleasing his father, he would not have accepted this task.
Every time he came to such a place, he would feel uncomfortable for at least several days.
"Yes, Your Highness, please follow me." The guard nodded and led him to the place where Prince Yun usually rested. Prince Yun was different from Prince Jing. When he was in the capital, he would come for a walk from time to time. Unlike Prince Jing, he was never seen and even when he came, he would just ask questions and would not even sit down.
"Uncle Wang usually rests here?" Pei Yusheng stood at the door and did not go in.
"Yes, this is where Prince Yun works." The guard nodded.
"Let's change place." Pei Yusheng turned around decisively.
"Those rooms are a little smaller than this one, and the furnishings are just so-so." The guard said after a moment's hesitation.
"Just any room!" Pei Yusheng said. He felt stressed when entering a place like this, not to mention Pei Yuanjun's office in such a place. He didn't know if there was anything that would scare him.
It was already late at night, and it looked like he would not be back early today. He had to find a place to rest. Should he lie down on the couch where Pei Yuanjun used to rest? Pei Yusheng felt that he had no such idea at all.
In the next few days, the atmosphere in the Qu Mansion was very peaceful, but this peace seemed very heavy. When Qu Moying went to pay his respects to the old lady, the old lady always had a gloomy face, and even her smiles were very forced. Qu Moying also tactfully left early, as the Qu Mansion was no longer able to have the final say on this matter.
There is actually not much that the Qu family can do.
At most one
Waiting.
What Qu Moying could not have imagined was that Nanny Yan actually stayed in the Qu Mansion and did not return to the palace when Qu Moying entered the palace. She said that it was the intention of Concubine Qu to let her stay by Qu Moying's side and could give him guidance if he did anything wrong.
Qu Moying asked herself whether she had the ability to keep such a high-ranking and well-educated aunt by her side, so she went to visit Nanny Yan on purpose after returning home.
Unexpectedly, Nanny Yan's attitude was much more docile than before. She didn't mention Qu Caifeng's matter, as if she had nothing to do with it. She looked like she was staying out of it and had nothing to do with it at all.
Since she didn't say anything, Qu Moying asked more questions. Since he couldn't get anything out of her by beating around the bush, he just asked someone to serve Nanny Yan well, as if he had one more person in his yard. As for other things, Nanny Yan was much more tactful and would never get close to Qu Moying unless she had something to do.
Although her attitude was still very arrogant, at least she would talk to Qu Moying occasionally and gave Qu Moying some good advice, so that Qu Moying could not find a reason to leave for a while and simply stayed there.
She didn't mention anything here, but Qu Qiuyan seemed very anxious. She had come to Qianyueju several times and hinted that she wanted to see Nanny Yan. Qu Moying didn't stop her and asked someone to invite Nanny Yan directly. Unfortunately, Nanny Yan no longer paid any attention to Qu Qiuyan. Every time she went to invite her, she said she was not feeling well.
As for the others, it’s just inconvenient to meet you.
After Qu Qiuyan came here a few times, she never came again. It was a rare quiet place here for Qu Moying.
On this day, after Qu Moying reported to the lady dowager, she took Yuchun to the street. The carriage stopped at a bookstore, which was one of the largest bookstores in the city. When Ji Hanyue was here, she would often come to have a look. After her rebirth, she had not been here once. She had already invited Aunt Xiang.
The bookstore has two rooms, and there are several small rooms on the second floor. In the past, some people would sit there and read books, but they had to pay for tea, which was not cheap. Therefore, many people would rather sit outside than sit in the small rooms.
Reading is about feeling at ease, but you don’t necessarily need to drink tea.
Qu Moying walked into a private room as if he knew the place well. A waiter from the bookstore brought him tea. Yuchun paid for the tea, stepped out of the door, and waited for Aunt Xiang at the stairs.
When Aunt Xiang came, she did not come alone, she also brought the second young master of the Ji family, now the prince of the Ji family, Ji Yuanhai.
Yuchun hurriedly led people to the private room.
After the few people met, they sat down as host and guest.
Ji Yuanhai still looked like a child, but his behavior seemed calm. He first explained to Qu Moying, "Fourth Miss Qu, Grandmother didn't allow Aunt Xiang to go out alone. She only let me go after I followed her out. Do you need me to leave first and let Aunt Xiang talk to Fourth Miss Qu?"
"No problem! I was just looking for you." Qu Moying smiled and shook her head. Her eyes fell on the little boy. Her eyes were slightly dark red under her veil.
Ji Yuanhai looks a bit like his father. Looking at his features, I can vaguely see some of his father's features.
"Looking for me?" Ji Yuanhai was stunned for a moment, subconsciously looked up and asked in surprise. Although he looked much calmer, he was still a half-grown child after all, and looked at Qu Moying in confusion.
"Prince, have you been okay these past few days?" Qu Moying asked with a smile, suppressing her emotions. She really wanted to talk to Ji Yuanhai directly, but because of the difference between men and women, and the fact that the two of them didn't have any direct relationship,
It was really inconvenient, so I thought of asking Aunt Xiang to pass on the message, but I didn't expect Ji Yuanhai to come out directly.
"What does Fourth Miss Qu mean?" Ji Yuanhai frowned.
Qu Moying said calmly, "Did the Second Branch of the Ji Mansion just let you go?"
Although Ji Yuanhai is the illegitimate son of the second wife, he is currently the adopted son of the first wife. From this point of view, when he meets Ji Yongan and Xiao in the future, he only needs to call them second uncle and second aunt, and no longer call them father and stepmother as before.
"How can it be good? The Second Madam and the Dowager Madam have never looked at the Crown Prince well." Aunt Xiang interjected and sighed. She was just a concubine and was restricted in every way in the Ji Mansion. Although Ji Yuanhai had the title of Crown Prince, he was still a child, and was previously the illegitimate son of the second wife.
Now he has risen above the second wife's eldest son. Except for Ji Yongan who has a relatively good look in the second wife's eyes, the others all look disgusting when they see them.
"Two days ago, the eldest son found an excuse to beat up the prince."
"What's the reason?" Qu Moying raised the corners of his lips slightly.
"What other reason could there be? Of course it's because of practicing martial arts. It's said that the Lord is a great hero, so how could the Prince do nothing? When I went to see, the Prince was pinned down and beaten badly." Aunt Xiang said angrily.
One is already an adult and the other is still a child. With both sides suppressing each other, there is no chance of winning. Aunt Xiang was very angry at the time, but there was nothing she could do. She could only help Ji Yuanhai back with heartache and have someone apply medicine on him. Fortunately, Ji Yuanxing did not dare to be too presumptuous and did not hit him in the face. Otherwise, he would not be able to see anyone until today.
"Don't worry, Auntie. I will practice martial arts well in the future and I will definitely be able to defeat you." Seeing Auntie Xiang wiping her tears with a handkerchief sadly, Ji Yuanhai hurriedly comforted her.
"How long?" Qu Moying asked leisurely.
"What?" Ji Yuanhai looked at Qu Moying in confusion, not understanding what she meant.
"I'm asking how long it will take for you to defeat Ji Yuanxing, or how long it will take for you to be able to take charge?" Qu Moying raised his eyes and asked, leaning back on the chair.
How long will it take before you can be the head of the family
Ji Yuanhai was stumped for a moment. Ji Yuanxing had wanted to inherit the family business since he was a child, so he started practicing martial arts at an early age. Unlike him, an unappreciated bastard, it would take at least four or five years to defeat him. By then, he would be stronger, and with more diligent training, he might be able to succeed.
As for continuing the title of Earl Ling'an, there are too many variables involved. Ji Yuanhai has been enlightened in the past few days. It turns out that after inheriting the position of the crown prince, the succession to the title in the future is not so easy. If it weren't for Aunt Xiang explaining it to him, he would have thought he had won now.
If he could not inherit the title, then everything he had now would seem in vain, not to mention being the head of the household. There were so many elders in the mansion, and he was originally just a bastard's son from the second wife's family, and Concubine Xiang had no say.
Time, he needs some time, but now he thinks that he may not have that much time to wait, and for a moment his head drooped in sadness.
Aunt Xiang at the side also lowered her head and let out a long sigh. The current situation seemed to have won the first step, but in fact, Aunt Xiang was also very confused. She was overwhelmed with grief for a moment and her eyes became red.
She has to do this not only this time, but also the life and death of the third young lady is unknown.
"Madam Xiang's position is really not high." Seeing both of them react like this, Qu Moying slowly reminded them.