The Righteousness of Heaven 025 Let You Choose

  The king looked at Gu Ling sitting in the pavilion admiring the snow and paused for a moment before slowly walking over.

  Seeing him coming over, Gu Qiu hastily stepped forward and saluted: "Your humble servant pays respects to Your Highness."

  Gu Ling, who was admiring the snow, also hurried over: "Gu Ling has seen King Wang."

  Prince Huai's face was tinged with displeasure: "I didn't say that we are sworn brothers, in this Prince Huai's mansion, there is no need to be polite and address each other as 'Your Highness', calling each other 'brother' is also reasonable."

  Gu Ling lowered his head, and Prince Hua couldn't see his expression, but he heard him laugh and say: "Yes, Gu Ling has seen his brother-in-law."

  The king withdrew his gaze and seemed to unintentionally fall on Gu Qiu, sizing him up from head to toe with a faint smile: "He's quite clever, how old is he?"

  "Replying to Your Highness, I am Guo Qiu, and this year I have turned fifteen."

  "Ah, take good care of your young master, if there's anything just look for Little Li." Generally speaking, Gu Ling's performance made him very satisfied. The fact that the Gu family could raise such an excellent descendant as Gu Ling was enough to show the Gu family's vitality.

  Gu Qiu's head hung even lower: "Yes." He wouldn't think that the prince would ask him questions out of nowhere, presumably the prince knew about the name he had mentioned when he introduced himself, which was why he specifically asked him, fortunately the young master thought of this taboo in time.

  Huai Wang took a step forward and walked into the pavilion. Gu Ling did not follow him, but instead stood shoulder to shoulder with Huai Wang.

  The king looked at him with a glance, his eyes flashing slightly, but just smiled and said: "The winter in the north of the capital is snowy, which is quite different from the climate of the distant west. I remember that the book says that although it is also cold in the two places in the distant west in winter, it rarely snows, right?"

  He nodded, looking at the beautiful scenery in the Wangfu being covered with white: "Yes, it rarely snows in the Far West. In my impression, I was nine years old when it last snowed in the Far West. At first, I was fascinated by the snowy scene and thought that the most beautiful scenery in the world was nothing more than this. But this time on my way to the capital, almost every day I saw a snowy scene as white as the sky, which opened my eyes and made me feel ashamed. Only then did I realize that the ancient saying 'reading ten thousand volumes is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles' is indeed true."

  The king coughed lightly several times, and Gu Ling hastily ordered Xiaozu to pull down the curtain, but was stopped by King Huai.

  A faint worry floated between her eyebrows: "This outer courtyard is cold, Brother's body..."

  The king held a silk handkerchief to his lips with one hand and gently raised the other, stopping Gu Ling's words. After a long while, he put away the handkerchief and said calmly, "It doesn't matter, I'm used to it, don't worry."

  "This time in the capital, Gu Ling brought several flavors of medicine from a distant western region to treat heart and lung problems. He has already given them to Quan Shu to pass on to Li Zongguan. Brother-in-law might as well try it out, it should have some inhibitory effect."

  "Xiao Lizi had told Ben Wang about this before. Those medicinal materials used to treat my stubborn illness are indeed a waste, it's a bit of a pity."

  "Brother, there's no need to belittle yourself, your body can definitely be cured."

  The king coughed lightly a few times, smiled and sat down on the thick soft brocade, his tone seemingly casual yet somehow deliberate: "As soon as winter arrives in the north of the capital, it's snowy and windy. You've come from afar in the west, I suppose you're not used to the climate here, but at the end of the year when it's cold, after this snow, it will be spring again in a few days."

  Gu Ling smiled: "Brother, don't worry about me. Although the climate in Jingbei and Yuexi is quite different, I believe I can adapt to this harsh weather. In my opinion, the snowflakes all over the sky don't make people feel cold, but instead make them feel that the snowy scene is extremely clear and transparent. Looking far into the distance, although you can't see the beautiful scenery covered by the white snow, there's a different kind of beauty in it."

  The king nodded and didn't make another sound. Gu Ling personally poured a cup of clear wine: "Try some, older cousin."

  The king took it and lightly sent it to his pale lips, slightly puckered a small mouth, just touched the tip of his tongue and put it down, looking at the snowy scenery around him, smiled: "Gu Ling has elegant interest, unfortunately this view is missing one thing, Little Li."

  Xiao Lizi stepped forward and said: "Your Highness."

  "Have someone move those two snow plum trees outside the study over here."

  King Huai looked at Gu Ling: "It's rare for you to have such a elegant interest, those few snow plums can only show their elegance here, if they were placed in my palace, it would be a waste of them."

  "Since you're so kind, I'll humbly accept. Thank you, Brother."

  "You and I are on familiar terms, I am only a few years older than you, and I consider that there is no distance between us. It's rare to have someone like you, who can accompany me in talking about snow and scenery."

  Gu Ling narrowed his eyes: "This time Gu Ling came to the capital, apart from awaiting summons by imperial decree, Grandfather also had another matter for Gu Ling to convey to Brother-in-law."

  King Hui's expression changed slightly: "Oh?"

  Gu Ling looked up at him: "Brother-in-law is already of age, it's reasonable and emotional that he should get married and start a family. There are thirteen suitable girls in the Gu family clan, if brother-in-law is willing, he can choose any one of them."

  The king was taken aback, waving his hand repeatedly: "This matter has been troubling the outer grandfather, and although Huan Tian is of marriageable age, he has no intention of marrying. You write to inform the outer grandfather that all the eligible daughters in our family will choose good husbands, there's no need to consider this king."

  Gu Ling hesitated: "This... Grandfather also said that if Brother Biao looks down on the Gu family girl, let Gu Ling ask Brother Biao whether he will petition the Emperor to select a princess from among the imperial consorts in the capital?"

  The king's face was pale and thin, he lightly waved his hand to signal Gu Ling to sit down, then said in a light tone: "This crippled prince of mine, no one knows how long I can live, why bother adding unnecessary troubles, this matter, doesn't need to be mentioned again."

  Two people were talking, and Xiao Li had already brought two plum blossom trees from the study courtyard.

  Two snow plum trees stand still in the cold wind, the snow plum and snowy scenery reflect each other, a different landscape appears before one's eyes.

  Looking at these two snow plums, a hint of surprise flashed in Gu Ling's eyes, and he got up to take a closer look: "Pure white with a touch of pink, reflecting the snow, breathtakingly beautiful"

  The king smiled, just about to respond, when he saw Xiaoshenzi hurrying over from the long corridor, respectfully saying: "I beg to report to Your Majesty, there is someone from the palace who has come to announce that Gongzi is entering the palace."

  Gu Ling's eyes flickered as he watched Xue Mei, and with a smile, he turned around and said: "Let me appreciate these two snow plums later, Brother."

  The king nodded slightly, but his words were directed at Little Li: "Little Li, the young master is visiting the capital for the first time and is unfamiliar with the people and things in the palace. You will accompany him on this trip to the palace."

  "Yes, Your Highness."

  Xiao Lizi respectfully accepted the order and then said to Gu Ling: "Young Master, please!"

  Gu Ling slightly cupped his hands: "Thanks, Brother Biao."

  ……

  Outside the East Palace Gate, Gu Ling got off his carriage and looked at the Dong Tian Men in front of him, which was still majestic and magnificent despite being covered in snow. A calm and gentle smile appeared on his handsome face as he followed the eunuchs who were on their way to deliver an imperial edict to the Crown Prince's residence into the palace with a composed and unruffled demeanor.

  As soon as they entered the palace, they saw a line of people approaching from afar. Little Li raised an eyebrow and took a step forward, whispering: "Young Master, it's the Second Prince."

  Gu Ling nodded slightly imperceptibly.

  "We have seen the Second Prince." The whole group stopped in their tracks, waiting for the Second Prince to go first.

  The second prince's footsteps stopped, his eyes flashed a hint of surprise on Gu Ling's face before stopping at the small eunuch in front of him, asking: "Xiao Douzi, who is this?"

  "This is Gu Ling, the young master of the Far West Marquis Manor, here to pay his respects to the Second Prince."

  "Is that the Far West Marquis? You're Prince Huai's cousin?" The Second Prince raised an eyebrow in surprise, looking at Gu Ling with a hint of turmoil in his heart. The Far West Marquis had considerable influence in the distant western regions, so why would the Emperor summon him to the capital?

  Gu Ling bowed his head respectfully and cupped his hands: "Replying to the Second Prince, yes."

  "The Second Prince's eyes sparkled: 'Xiao Douzi, since it is the Emperor's summons, why not hurry and bring Lord Gu to the Shengyang Palace?'"

  "Yes, I see you off, Your Highness, Second Prince." Little Bean said respectfully.

  Digression

  I don't know what's wrong, but the power went out early this morning and didn't come back on until after 6pm tonight. Sorry about that, everyone!