"Miss Gu?" A man's voice inquired.
Gu Yan was startled and quickly curtsied, "Greetings, Your Highness, the Second Prince!"
"Does Miss Gu find it dull in the hall?" Xiao Shiyu seemed concerned for Gu Yan.
"How could that be? This subject merely has a weak tolerance for alcohol and wished to sober up!"
Gu Yan didn't follow Xiao Shiyu's words. How could she say she was bored at a banquet hosted by the Emperor?
"How about I have a palace maid prepare a bowl of sobering soup for Miss Gu?" Xiao Shiyu presented himself as a gentle and courteous gentleman.
"No need for Your Highness to trouble yourself. This subject has already sobered up a great deal after a bit of fresh air!" Gu Yan subtly refused.
What a joke! If Xiao Shiyu's words spread, outsiders would think she, Gu Yan, had no manners and lacked decorum at the banquet.
Gu Yan curtsied to the Second Prince. "It's cold at night, and this subject was just about to head back!"
"Then let's go together!" Xiao Shiyu clearly wanted to walk with Gu Yan.
It seemed Gu Yan couldn't refuse.
The Second Prince was obviously trying to flirt with her!
But the Emperor had just said he would find her a marriage within the capital. If she turned around and went back to the palace with the Second Prince, the Emperor might worry that she was trying to seduce him?
The Second Prince really had no sense at all, sticking to her like a stubborn plaster!
She had to think of a way...
Just as she was frowning, a servant boy quietly ran over and whispered something in the Second Prince's ear.
The Second Prince looked displeased, but quickly composed himself. "Miss Gu, you go ahead. I suddenly remembered I have something to do, I'll be back later!"
He turned and hurried away.
Gu Yan was a little puzzled, but it was excellent that this person could leave on his own. It saved her the trouble of figuring out how to get rid of him!
Gu Yan walked casually when she met a young lady from an official family.
"Are you Gu Yan?" the person asked rudely.
"I've just arrived in the capital, may I ask how this young lady is addressed?"
Gu Yan had always been meticulous in her actions. She wouldn't offend someone whose identity she didn't know.
"I am the daughter of Duke Chen, Chen Rongrong!" The newcomer proudly announced her name.
It was true that the Chen family held significant power in the capital, and the current Consort Li was Duke Chen's younger sister.
Gu Yan spoke, "So it's Miss Chen! Before coming to the capital, I heard Miss Chen was both beautiful and talented. Seeing you today, the rumors are indeed true."
Chen Rongrong's expression softened slightly.
Gu Yan smiled inwardly. It seemed she was a woman without much guile. Just a few compliments, and her expression immediately changed.
"I asked you, did you see the Second Prince just now?" Chen Rongrong asked.
"No, I did not." Gu Yan replied.
Chen Rongrong didn't bother with any pleasantries and left, full of anger.
"Strange, I clearly saw my cousin's attendant come this way just now..."
After they were out of earshot, Gu Yan couldn't help but laugh, "It seems the Second Prince is deliberately avoiding Miss Chen!"
Baizhi asked, "Then why didn't you tell Miss Chen just now, Miss?"
"The Second Prince left in such a hurry. If we had told Miss Chen, wouldn't we have annoyed the Second Prince and needlessly made an enemy of ourselves?"
Gu Yan explained.
This maid of hers really didn't have a clue.
"Oh? It seems Miss Gu is quite adept at reading people's minds?" A lazy voice drifted over.
The Crown Prince, seated in a wheelchair, appeared.
Gu Yan recognized the person and felt annoyed. She had thought no one was around and dared to say those words; it seemed she had been careless!
"Gu Yan greets Your Highness, the Crown Prince!"
Gu Yan then secretly sized up the Crown Prince. She hadn't paid much attention in the hall since everyone was seated. She now noticed the Crown Prince was indeed in a wheelchair.
However, she had already partially detoxified him. Logically, he should be able to stand up, shouldn't he?
Could it be that the Crown Prince was feigning weakness?
"How is it that I find Miss Gu somewhat familiar?"
Gu Yan's heart leaped. Could the Crown Prince recognize her and want to kill her to silence her?
That night, she and Baizhi had rushed a distance. They hadn't disguised themselves, so could he have recognized her by chance?
"Others say I resemble my father the most in my features. Perhaps that's the reason!" Gu Yan's mind raced, finding a reasonable explanation.
"May I ask where Miss Gu was last night?" The Crown Prince's oppressive voice cut through the air.
This was a disaster!
"This subject traveled day and night with her parents to reach the capital. We happened to stay overnight in Wanyi City!" Gu Yan replied firmly.
"Is that so? I was also in Wanyi City last night! What a coincidence!"
Xiao Chengze stared at Gu Yan, not missing the slightest expression on her face.
"It is this subject's honor to share a city with Your Highness," Gu Yan responded neither humbly nor proudly.
"Then, would it also be an honor for Miss Gu to reside in the Imperial Palace with me in the future?"
"Indeed, it would be an extreme honor! With such a special honor, this subject relies entirely on His Majesty's grace!" Gu Yan's words were flawless.
The Crown Prince stared at the poised Gu Yan before him, suddenly struck by a strange feeling. Could it be that the person who'd stripped him in the cave last night wasn't her?
But he'd been half-conscious at the time. He shouldn't have been mistaken!
For the first time, he doubted himself.
"The banquet is almost over. Isn't Miss Gu planning to return?"
The guard pushed the Crown Prince towards the hall.
Gu Yan could only follow silently.
These princes really were a headache.
She'd just sent off the Second Prince, and now the Crown Prince was here!
As they approached the hall doors, the Crown Prince signaled his guards to stop.
"I still want to enjoy the cold breeze outside. Miss Gu, you don't need to bother with me!"
"Yes!" Gu Yan was just figuring out how to find an excuse when she heard the Crown Prince's words.
She hurried into the hall, fearing the Crown Prince might change his mind.
Based on her intuition, this Crown Prince was much more difficult to deal with than the Second Prince!
Sure enough, not long after she sat down, the Emperor left the banquet, taking Consort Li with him to rest.
Seeing the Emperor had left, the Empress also departed.
The remaining officials either left or dispersed. Without the opportunity to perform in front of His Majesty, their interest waned.
General Gu's family was arranged to stay in Xiangfu Palace.
This palace wasn't far from the Crown Prince's East Palace. Both its location and furnishings made it a decent residence within the palace.
Every year when they returned to the capital, they would stay here, a gesture of the Emperor's favor.
But the delay in granting them a residence in the capital likely meant the Emperor didn't want them to form connections with influential officials!
I wonder how they could connect with influential officials in the next few days?
In the past, the Gu family was only permitted to stay in the capital until the fifth day of the first month.
Counting the days, they only had about seven or eight days in the capital. It was truly a lot of trouble, the Emperor had really thought this through.
Even in these few days, they didn't dare to dismiss the palace staff, as some of them were certainly spies sent by the Emperor.
"It's still early days, so it's hard to tell much. Be careful while you're in the capital!" Madam Gu cautioned.
"I will, Mother!"
"However, I discovered a big secret today!" Gu Yan said mysteriously.
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