Do you know: I am the crown prince

Chapter 19 Crown Princess

The next morning, after Zhao Xing finished practicing martial arts with Gu Yan, he took the handkerchief handed over by Amber, wiped his face, and said, "Lord Gu."

"I'm here." Gu Yankai bowed.

"I have something I need Zhong Huai's help with, and I need him to go on a long journey to Yangzhou," said Zhao Xing.

When Gu Yankai heard about Yangzhou, his eyes moved slightly. He glanced at Gu Tingye from the corner of his eyes and said, "It is his honor to be able to serve His Highness. However, my son is still young and may not be thorough. I am afraid that he will miss His Highness' important event."

"Marquis Gu is too modest. Although Zhong Huai is still young, he has been taught by Marquis Gu since he was a child and has a calm personality. I trust him to do things, but I am afraid that Marquis Gu will be reluctant to part with his son." Zhao Xing said with a smile.

"Your Highness values ​​my son. It is an honor for the Gu family to have him as your son. I am so happy that I can't express it in words."

Gu Yankai didn't know how Gu Tingye persuaded Zhao Xing to speak for him, but Zhao Xing had already said that he wanted Gu Tingye to go to Yangzhou to help him with things, so even though he was reluctant, he had no choice but to agree.

"You must be careful to do what His Highness asks you to do. Otherwise, even if His Highness is magnanimous and forgives you, your father will not forgive you!" Gu Yankai looked at Gu Tingye and said in a deep voice.

"Don't worry, father. I will definitely do what Your Highness has asked me to do." Gu Tingye said lightly.

"hehe."

Zhao Xing smiled and said, "Lord Gu, there is no need to do this. It is just a small matter. Zhong Huai, since Lord Gu has agreed, you should go back today, get ready, and set off as soon as possible."

"Yes!" Gu Tingye bowed.

After seeing Zhao Xing off, the father and son walked out of the palace. Neither of them spoke a word along the way.

After leaving the palace, the two got on the carriage. Gu Yankai was silent for a while and said, "Why did His Highness send you to Yangzhou?"

Hearing this, Gu Tingye looked at his father and asked, "Dad, you seem to be very reluctant for me to go to Yangzhou?"

In the past, Gu Tingye had the idea of ​​visiting his grandfather, but Gu Yankai did not allow it.

At that time, Gu Tingye just thought that he was young and his father was worried about him.

But now he is already twelve years old, and in a few months he will be thirteen.

At this age, most people in ordinary society would have already married.

He thought that if he asked Xiao Qin to help persuade his father, his father would agree.

Who knew that my father would still refuse.

During this time, Gu Tingye was also wondering why his father refused?
He had never thought deeply about this issue before.

Now thinking about it carefully, Gu Tingye found many problems.

Even if his grandfather hated the Gu family because of his mother's death, his father, as a son-in-law, should at least go and visit his grandfather, right?
Even if the distance is far or you are busy with official duties, it is always okay to send someone to deliver a gift during the holidays.

However, none of these happened. Gu Tingye even suddenly discovered that the entire Gu family could not even find any trace of his mother's existence.

Considering that his father had never allowed him to go to Yangzhou to visit his grandfather, Gu Tingye came to a conclusion that he was unwilling to believe - something must have happened that year.

This is the case with many things. If you don't think deeply about it, you won't find any problems. Once you feel something is wrong, there are doubts everywhere.

Gu Tingye quickly thought of a very important question. His father was a marquis. Even though he had not inherited the title when he married his mother, why would a legitimate son of a marquis marry a woman from a merchant family?

Gu Tingye wanted to clarify these doubts, but he couldn't find the answers at the Gu family, which made him more determined to go to Yangzhou to find the answers.

"you…"

Gu Yankai glared at Gu Tingye and shouted, "Is that how you talk to your father?"

"Dad, your words are a bit too serious. I just feel it's a little strange. It seems that Dad is particularly reluctant to let me go to Yangzhou to visit my grandfather. Why is that?" Gu Tingye asked, looking into his father's eyes.

Gu Yankai turned his head away unnaturally and said, "Why would I not want you to go? Your mother died of complications during childbirth. Your grandfather only has your mother as a daughter and cannot accept this. He blames me for not taking good care of your mother and thinks that if it weren't for giving birth, your mother wouldn't have died, so he hates you too. I have been paying attention to your grandfather's situation over the years. He is old. If he sees you, what if he gets angry and something bad happens? Is that what you want to see?"

"Of course I don't want to see it. Don't worry, father. I'm going to Yangzhou to do things for Your Highness. I will see my grandfather from afar and won't disturb him." Gu Tingye said. Gu Yankai heaved a sigh of relief when he heard this. Although he was still a little worried, he couldn't stop it now.

Next, the carriage fell silent again. The father and son had different expressions and neither spoke.

When the father and son returned home, Xiao Qin saw that Gu Tingye had also returned and asked him about it with a bit of surprise.

Upon learning that Gu Tingye was going to Yangzhou to work for the prince, Xiao Qin was both happy and a little sad.

After what Mother Du said, Xiao Qin was happy to let Gu Tingye go to Yangzhou.

But she didn't believe that the prince had any business that would require Gu Tingye to go to Yangzhou.

It must be that Gu Tingye asked the prince for help, and the prince found such an excuse to help Gu Tingye.

This shows that Gu Tingye is highly trusted and valued by the prince, and his words carry weight in front of the prince, otherwise how could he convince the prince to lie for him.

Considering how much the prince values ​​Gu Tingye, does her son still have a chance to inherit the title?

Xiao Qin was also somewhat relieved that Gu Tingye's trip to Yangzhou to learn the "truth" was a good opportunity for her.

If the father and son turn against each other, Gu Tingye will be branded as unfilial. Even if the prince values ​​him, how can a person who lacks filial piety inherit the title?

Thinking of this, Xiao Qin happily went to pack Gu Tingye's luggage.

……

In ancient times, there were not morning court sessions every day. The frequency of morning court sessions was determined according to the country's situation at the time and whether the emperor was diligent or not.

Whether Zhu Yuanzhang was the most powerful emperor in history is still controversial, but he was definitely the most hardworking emperor.

During his reign, not only were morning court sessions held every day, but there were also noon and evening court sessions.

Although the current emperor is also very hardworking, he is still far behind Zhu Yuanzhang.

The Song Dynasty now has a morning session every five days.

After telling Zhao Xing that he would be enthroned as the crown prince, the emperor announced the enthronement of the crown prince at the morning court a few days later.

He ordered the Ministry of Rites to prepare for the enthronement ceremony and the Imperial Astronomical Observatory to select an auspicious day.

Naturally, no one among the civil and military officials objected. What a joke! The emperor only has this one son. Wouldn't it be embarrassing for him if he objected?

Thus, the matter of enthroning the crown prince was decided.

In addition, the emperor also announced that the daughter of the Duke of England would be the Crown Princess, and that the marriage would be held at a later date after she reached the age of 15.

As the morning court ended, the news spread.

In fact, there had been rumors before that the emperor intended to let the prince marry the daughter of the Duke of England.

Even this news was not considered a rumor. In order to appease the military generals and lords, not only were they given high salaries, but there was also an unwritten rule that the queen would be chosen from among the lords.

For example, the current queen is from the Duke of Wei's mansion. The official family has only one son, and Zhao Xing's principal wife will only be chosen from among the nobles.

Among all the lords of the Song Dynasty today, there are almost no ones whose status and power can be comparable to that of the Duke of England. The daughter of the Duke of England is of similar age to Zhao Xing. Whether in terms of family background or other aspects, the daughter of the Duke of England is the most likely candidate.

But until it is announced, nothing is known.

Now that the emperor has really announced it, after the court was dismissed, many people rushed to visit the Duke of England’s mansion.

Thanks to Mingyueyinggui for the monthly ticket support.

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(End of this chapter)