vstars Chapter 471 Condescension
Chapter 471 Condescension
Before the two of them could reach the council hall, a young eunuch came quickly and blocked their way.
The young eunuch bowed and saluted: "Your Highness Prince Yi, Your Highness Prince Duan invites you on behalf of Concubine Yi."
Why did the wording change again?
The idea of Prince Duan inviting Concubine Yi was probably made up by that old bastard Gu Yan, Duke of Xu. Concubine Yi and Prince Duan were just pawns in his hands.
Zhou Chang put his hands into the sleeves of his wide robe and narrowed his eyes.
The skinny monkey knew something was wrong, and quickly tugged at her sleeve secretly: "Prince, before you leave, Mr. Zhong can remind you to keep your composure. This is the imperial palace, not our Prince Yi's mansion."
"Hmm..." Zhou Chang was so frustrated that he wanted to explode, but when the words came to his lips, he could only ask, "Brother Prince Duan? Is his leg healed? Can he enter the palace?"
The young eunuch bowed his head and said, "I dare not speak lightly, but Prince Yi will definitely be able to see Prince Duan if he goes there."
After hearing these words, Prince Duan actually entered the palace.
If that was the case, she really wanted to see it with her own eyes.
"Okay, lead the way." Zhou Chang went to Jianing Palace again.
Entering the Jianing Palace again was indeed different from the last time.
Duke Gu Yan of Xu State came to the palace gate first and invited Zhou Chang in.
Imperial Concubine Yi, Gu, was already sitting high behind a pearl curtain in the main hall, so Zhou Chang also went up to greet her.
Concubine Yi asked someone to open the pearl curtain, which showed her great affinity and friendliness.
"Where is Brother Duan Prince? Didn't they say that he also entered the palace?" Zhou Chang still sat in the upper left seat as last time.
This time, without avoiding others, the skinny guy stood behind her.
Concubine Yi, Gu, sat at the head of the table, and her voice was dignified when she spoke: "Rui'er has come to the palace, but he is not well yet, and has difficulty moving. He is resting in the back hall."
This was the first time that Zhou Chang, as Prince Yi, had come into such close contact with her, and he could see her more clearly than ever before.
Concubine Yi, Gu, had just celebrated her sixtieth birthday, but her face had only fine lines and no wrinkles. She wore a gorgeous crimson gown embroidered with a phoenix and gold thread, and a peony gown, and a nine-headed phoenix hairpin on her head, an attire that only the empress could wear.
She has been in charge of the six palaces for many years, and there is no one to put pressure on her. She is like a de facto empress. Emperor Lin turns a blind eye to her clothes and no one else is willing to say anything.
"In that case, it's my turn to visit my royal brother." Zhou Chang just sat down and was about to stand up again.
"No need..." Suddenly a haughty voice came.
Zhou Chang knew it was Prince Duan without any hesitation.
"Gululu..." As the words fell, a wooden wheelchair was pushed out by the palace servants.
Prince Duan was sitting in a wheelchair, still wearing a purple and gold robe, and his eyes were still on top of his head.
Zhou Chang stood up and went to meet him, trying to be as friendly as possible. He stared at Prince Duan's legs and asked, "Brother Prince Duan, your legs, is this real...?"
Prince Duan Fengrui looked slightly thinner and his face was pale. His eagle eyes were still habitually turned upwards, as if he was looking at people with his chin.
Unfortunately, now that he was sitting in a wheelchair, the height was not enough anyway, so he just snorted coldly and raised his hand to signal the palace servants to push him to the side of his uncle, Duke Gu Yan of Xiguo.
Concubine Yi Gu probably didn't expect Prince Duan to show up so soon: "Rui'er, why did you come out?"
No matter how graceful, elegant and dignified she is, she will put aside all her dignity when she cares about her son.
"Mother, I'm fine..." Prince Duan didn't even look at his mother. He waved his hands impatiently, but had to stare at Zhou Chang.
"You..." Concubine Yi, Gu, spoke with a unique doting tone.
Zhou Chang felt bored, so he retreated and sat down again. When he looked up again, he found it interesting.
The three people in front of me are really a family.
Prince Duan and Duke Gu Yan of Lu have almost identical eyes.
Compared with her brother and son, Concubine Yi Gu's eyes can't be said to be exactly the same, but they can be said to be 80% similar, just less sinister and more feminine, soft and graceful.
With three people and three pairs of eagle eyes, she really has entered a "bird's nest".
The furnishings in the Jianing Palace were all the same as those in the Jingming Palace banquet, in an arty style. Sitting on the low couch was almost the same as sitting on the ground.
This was not a problem in itself, and Zhou Chang had long been accustomed to it.
But now when I sat down again, I found new problems.
Prince Duan was sitting in a wheelchair, which meant he had regained his "high ground". He poked Zhou Chang with his chin and asked, "Are you satisfied with the position of the Prime Minister?"
From Zhou Chang's perspective, he thought that Prince Duan was talking to the beams of the house, so he didn't need to be polite: "I don't even know what the title of 'Taizai Mushou' is."
"You don't even appreciate such a lucrative position. Your uncle's kindness is really wasted." Prince Duan looked disdainful again.
It seems that the leg injury did not dampen Prince Duan's fighting spirit, which Zhou Chang admired, but these words sounded uncomfortable, although it still had the familiar old taste.
"A lucrative position?" Zhou Chang really didn't understand.
Prince Duan was delighted to look down at Zhou Chang, his chin thrust forward: "The head of the Taizai's office is in charge of the Jin Cao Si, which is in charge of the taxes of the whole country. Isn't this a lucrative job?"
"It's just a decoration." Zhou Chang gave a look that said, "Do you think I'm stupid?"
The Jin Cao Si only had the power to create various names, but did not have the function of directly collecting taxes. All tax money still passed through the Ministry of Revenue.
Prince Duan looked like he was in a state of annoyance: "This position is above the Jincaosi of the Taizai's staff and below the Taifu. You have always liked money, and this is a position that deals with money. Now that you have such a title, with your 'intelligence', how much do you want to make? Are you worried about not being able to come up with a title?"
Zhou Chang understood now that they had fabricated an official position, had no ties to anyone, and gave it to Prince Yi as a "benefit", and even wanted Prince Yi to be "grateful".
However, such a stupid idea might have been thought up by Prince Duan himself.
Thinking of this, Zhou Chang couldn't help but look at Prince Duan twice more. He admired Prince Duan very much. Even at this point, he could still maintain his previous arrogance and self-confidence. He was not an ordinary person.
Just based on Prince Duan's attitude, Zhou Chang wanted to fight back.
Sitting on the upper right opposite, Duke Gu Yan, who had never spoken, suddenly coughed lightly: "Ahem..., Your Highness Prince Duan's health has not yet recovered, it is rare for him to come out and reminisce with his brothers."
This was like a reminder, and Prince Duan's chin was somewhat restrained, and he forced out a smile: "Ninth brother, my health is indeed not as good as before, but to show my sincerity, I still came out to see you in person."
Is Prince Duan trying to show goodwill?
Why did he even seem to be granting favors when he showed kindness?
However, based on Prince Duan's original temper, he was indeed unwilling to even look at Prince Yi. But if he said that his "condescending" behavior today could gain Prince Yi a bit of friendliness, that was absolutely impossible.