The Challenge of a Farmhouse Son-in-Law
Chapter 1076 - 1070: Invited into the Palace by the Empress

Chapter 1076: Chapter 1070: Invited into the Palace by the Empress

Gui Yunxi was grooming a horse when he noticed Xiang Chun in such haste, a rare sight. He asked, "What’s the matter? The Crown Prince should have gone to Sanqing Temple by now."

Sanqing Temple? Fortunately, it’s not far.

Xiang Chun hurriedly said, "Stop grooming the horse, hurry to Sanqing Temple and find the Crown Prince. Our Crown Princess has been summoned into the palace by the Empress."

Gui Yunxi was shocked and quickly led out a fast horse with strong legs, heading for Sanqing Temple outside the city.

Everyone close to Gu Youyou knew to guard against three things: fire, theft, and the Empress!

...

Gu Youyou entered the palace, finding Lin Qianqing and Huang Family, the wife of Jin Tingyu, already there.

Lin Qianqing seemed much thinner. Due to the need to avoid impropriety and because Gu Youyou had been so busy lately that her feet scarcely touched the ground, it had been a long time since she last saw Qianqing.

The look of Qianqing’s wan and haggard face suggested she had encountered some trouble recently, wearing her down completely.

Upon seeing Gu Youyou, she managed a faint smile.

The other lady, King Jin’s wife, looked even more unwell compared to Qianqing. It was said that she had depleted her health giving birth, and had been ill and not recovered since.

Her sickly appearance now was probably also due to the Empress, who had forcibly summoned her into the palace.

"Pay respects to Mother Empress!"

This phrase "Mother Empress" disgusted Gu Youyou for a long time.

"No need for formalities, offer a seat to the wife of the Crown Prince!"

The Empress’s smile was the same as when Gu Youyou first saw her.

Her makeup and noble appearance exuded a charitable charm, and coupled with her just-right smile, it was entirely unimaginable that she could be a person of malice.

"Today, I’ve invited you here to inquire about the Princes’ daily lives. Though they are Princes, they are also sons of this palace and the Emperor. As parents, we all hope our children have good lives. They’ve grown up and no longer share confidences with Mother Empress, I think it’d be easier for women to talk about these things, so I called you over to have a chat."

Gu Youyou’s mouth twitched fiercely, thinking that this act must be tiring for her, but she endured and just listened.

"Youyou, you are the eldest sister-in-law, you speak first."

Speak? This puzzled Gu Youyou; she really didn’t know what to say.

The Empress said considerately, "You need not be nervous, just talk about what the Crown Prince usually does, whether he’s the only one attending to his needs, or if he lacks people to serve him."

Gu Youyou had an epiphany, tasting the hidden meaning behind the Empress’s words.

Lack of servants?

You might as well say outright that he lacks intimate companionship.

On this matter, Gu Youyou adopted a resolute stance of resistance. If you want to force concubines on Jin Zijin, you can forget it right now.

Gu Youyou said, "The Crown Prince is different from King Jin and Prince Qin. He was born into the Dao Family, practicing purity and having few desires, and he enjoys tranquility. You cannot guess his preferences with the mindset of ordinary people.

He likes to read books when he’s free, mainly Daoist scriptures, which I presume most women wouldn’t understand. Fortunately, I also have my own affairs to attend to, and I won’t bother him too often either."

The Empress frowned slightly and said, "You mean to say that the Crown Prince is pure and disinterested and dislikes being attended to."

Gu Youyou replied, "Exactly."

The Empress’s gaze turned colder, thinking to herself: Don’t think that I don’t know, how can someone practicing purity spend every night in your quarters?

Today she was determined to introduce several women into the Crown Prince Residence; she couldn’t just let it go.

The Empress said, "His disposition favoring purity and disinterest should change; it is not conducive to carrying on the lineage. Youyou, you have been frail yourself, and I never wished for you to marry into the Crown Prince Residence. It’s not that you’re not good, but I feared that with your frailty, you cannot continue the bloodline.