Chapter 42 - 42 Choice
42 Choice
Gu Yanfei’s words were shocking, and the surroundings were instantly in an uproar.
The ancestors of the British Monarchy followed the Great Ancestor’s uprising and made countless contributions. Hence, the title of duke they were conferred to was hereditary.
Ever since Emperor Taizu, the British Grand Duke had always been favored by the Emperor. In comparison, the Dingyuan Marquis Household was now in decline, and this marriage was originally a way to improve their social status.
Moreover, the British Crown Prince, Fang Mingfeng, was a famous young talent in the capital. From his background, talent, appearance, and temperament, he was the ultimate husband in the hearts of countless young ladies in the capital. But now, he was actually despised by an orphan daughter of a marquis who had lost both her parents!
Everyone’s expressions immediately became very subtle.
Gu Yanfei stared at Empress Dowager Yuan, who was sitting on the armchair, and continued unhurriedly, “Empress Dowager Yuan, Gu Yunrong and the British Crown Prince, Fang Mingfeng, are childhood sweethearts who cherish each other…”
“No.” Unable to sit by and watch Gu Yanfei spout nonsense, Gu Yunrong corrected her righteously. “This engagement was set by my grandfather when he was alive. It should be returned to its rightful owner.”
“Rong Rong, to me, you’re one in a million…” Gu Yanfei said to Gu Yunrong with a smile, her eyes and eyebrows unchanged.
Gu Yunrong’s eyes widened as Fang Mingfeng’s deep and hoarse voice sounded in her ears again.
There was silence and the others looked even more puzzled.
Who would have thought that the dignified British Crown Prince would one day become a hot potato to be pushed around?
Gu Yanfei did not intend to argue with Gu Yunrong. She turned to Empress Dowager Yuan and said, “Empress Dowager Yuan, there was a good show at the Moon Pavilion in Prince Jing’s Mansion just now. I wonder if you have heard of it?”
Gu Yanfei’s eyes bloomed and she smiled as if she was chatting idly.
Her words made everyone’s expressions change several times. They looked at each other and whispered about the incident at the Moon Pavilion.
Emperor Taizu of this dynasty was a rather legendary figure.
The former dynasty was harsh on taxes, and the people were struggling to survive. Emperor Taizu was originally a small constable of the previous dynasty. One day, all the black dragons in his house suddenly descended to the world, shaking the sky with their roars.
Emperor Taizu rose up from this and countless righteous men came to submit to him. In less than three years, he overthrew the previous dynasty and established the State of Jing in the north of the river 50 years ago.
After Emperor Taizu ascended to the throne, he encouraged fertility and abandoned widowhood and chastity. He forced women to abandon the custom of wrapping their small feet and even encouraged freedom of marriage.
However, this dynasty had only been around for 50 years, and the legacy of the previous dynasty was still more or less there. Even though they usually talked about being gentlemen, the matter of the Moon Pavilion was still a little out of line.
In particular, many people had seen with their own eyes that Gu Yunrong’s clothes were disheveled.
A middle-aged servant with a pale face and no beard took a few steps forward silently. He leaned over and whispered to Empress Dowager Yuan about the matter of the Moon Pavilion.
Empress Dowager Yuan’s expression did not change, but her pupils constricted uncontrollably. She had looked down on Gu Yunrong’s family in the past, and now, she looked down on her even more.
What worried the Empress Dowager Yuan was that if she forcefully objected and separated the two of them, it would probably affect the relationship between her and her son.
Now, Gu Yanfei’s words gave her a chance.
It was inconvenient for her to make a move, but others could… Fang Mingfeng was clearly the most suitable candidate at this stage.
If Gu Yunrong married Fang Mingfeng, her son could not snatch his wife, right?
Thump thump thump!
At this thought, Empress Dowager Yuan’s heart raced. She had to admit that she was tempted by this idea.
When she looked at Gu Yanfei again, her eyes turned cold and she frowned slightly.
She was not a fool and naturally knew that Gu Yanfei had deliberately mentioned this in front of her.
This was both coercion and exploitation!
Gu Yanfei really looked down on Fang Mingfeng and wanted to use him to get rid of this engagement.
Although this girl was indeed a little bold, Empress Dowager Yuan hated to be swayed by others. It could be said that Gu Yanfei had completely violated her taboo.
Gu Yanfei and Empress Dowager Yuan looked at each other with clear eyes and confident smiles.
The golden light that filled the sky shone gently on her through the half-green and half-yellow branches, forming a mottled light and shadow. It made her fair skin look almost watery. Her bearing was high and dignified, as if everything was under her control.
Gu Yanfei knew very well that regardless of whether Gu Yunrong was the legitimate daughter of the Marquis Mansion, with her family background, she was not enough to become the legitimate consort of the Kang Wang.
In her previous life, after the incident at the Moon Pavilion, because no one else saw it, Kang Wang was able to distort the truth and claim that Gu Yunrong had saved his life. In order to hide the truth, Empress Dowager Yuan had no choice but to decree a marriage and stop everyone from talking.
In fact, was Empress Dowager Yuan really satisfied with Gu Yunrong?!
Not necessarily.
Therefore, in this life, Gu Yanfei personally gave the “choice” to Empress Dowager Yuan.
There was a moment of silence and the air gradually froze.
After a moment, Empress Dowager Yuan gracefully stroked her sleeve and broke the silence. “If you’re the third daughter of the Gu family, you’re about to reach marriageable age, right? Since you’re already engaged, you should get married early so that you can continue to have children for your husband’s family.”
“Mother!”
Chu You’s expression changed as if lightning had struck him. His mind was in chaos.
Gu Yunrong looked at Empress Dowager Yuan in disbelief. Her eyes widened and she almost used all her strength to stop herself from trembling.
“Thank you, Empress Dowager Yuan.” Gu Yanfei bowed elegantly to Empress Dowager Yuan.
With the Empress Dowager’s golden words, the person who was engaged to Fang Mingfeng would be Gu Yunrong.
It was a done deal.
As for whether Gu Yunrong would marry Fang Mingfeng or Kang Wang in the future, it had nothing to do with her.
Gu Yunrong was the daughter of luck and was protected by the Heaven’s Will of this small world. It was as if she was blessed with the protection of swords and armors. Gu Yanfei had never planned to fight such a person head-on.
Empress Dowager Yuan was able to become the Empress Dowager because she had a phoenix life in this small world.
Instead of sticking to brute courage, she might as well borrow the Empress Dowager’s strength to fight.
Empress Dowager Yuan ignored her son’s gloomy expression and continued to say to Gu Yunrong, “Third Miss Gu, when you marry Crown Prince Fang, the Yuan family will provide more dowry for you.”
It was a great honor for a woman to get the Empress Dowager’s dowry, but in this situation, it became a kind of irony.
Many people present looked at Gu Yunrong with sympathy, and some of the noble ladies’ eyes lit up with hope. They had thought that the position of Princess Consort Kang would probably belong to Gu Yunrong. Unexpectedly, in just 10 minutes, things had changed.
“Heaven and earth are heartless. They treat all things as dogs,” Gu Yunrong said slowly and clearly, her back straight.
There was no color in her face. A gust of wind blew and messed up the hair at her temples, making her look even more fragile, slender, and tenacious.
“Boom.”
A muffled thunder sounded in the clear sky.