Chapter 64
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
Chapter 64:
Li Chunzhou leaned on the window, chin resting in her hands, looking down at the lively crowd.
When she saw the luxurious and ostentatious carriage, she raised her eyebrows, knowing that the person she was waiting for had arrived.
Second Prince slowly got off the magnificent carriage. Through a corner of the curtain, one could see thick embroidered cushions inside the carriage. The guards who had been riding ahead to clear the way silently followed their master after he got off the carriage.
Second Prince stood tall, composed, walking with confident steps in his embroidered shoes. Each step was taken calmly and leisurely.
When the crowd saw Second Prince alight from the carriage, they immediately made way, putting on a flattering smile.
Throughout the whole process, including the carriage, guards, and fancy clothes, everything showed the grandeur and nobility of the royal family. However, this nobility seemed out of place in front of a small building, making it seem absurd.
The guests around, who seemed to show respect on the surface, were actually criticizing the Second Prince for his careless behavior. The Second Prince and Li Chunzhou didn’t care.
As soon as the Second Prince entered the hall, Li Chunzhou rushed down the stairs and into his arms like a graceful butterfly.
Liang Changfeng adjusted the ring on his finger, and his long, pale hand gently rested on Li Chunzhou’s waist.
When the door to the elegant room closed slowly, Li Chunzhou found herself embraced tightly by the Second Prince, causing discomfort due to her tender thighs that were sore from the previous night. She tried to discreetly adjust her position under the heavy skirt to ease the itching sensation.
Not knowing what had happened the night before, the Second Prince playfully lifted the person on his lap like playing with a child.
The friction on Li Chunzhou’s thighs caused pain and itchiness, making her reflexively tense her toes. Just as she was about to struggle, the Second Prince held her firmly. His tone was not harsh, and there was even a hint of affectionate indulgence as he said, "You’re becoming more and more unruly, no manners."
Startled by his hold, Li Chunzhou took a sharp breath, biting her lower lip. Tears welled up in her eyes from the physical discomfort. To hide her emotions, she buried her head in Liang Changfeng’s shoulder and gripped his clothing tightly.
The Second Prince thought Li Chunzhou was just being shy. Though a bit surprised, he patiently played along with her act, behaving like a flirtatious rogue teasing a proper lady.
He used one finger to lift Li Chunzhou’s chin and made her look towards him. His slender Danfeng eyes scanned her hazy eyes and especially red full lips. With a slight movement in his eyes, he tilted his head to kiss Li Chunzhou on the lips.
Just as he leaned in, Li Chunzhou blocked him with her hand and looked into Liang Changfeng’s eyes, saying softly, "Second Master, the person who will take me today is not decided yet. Lady Chun is not yours now, Second Master can’t kiss…"
The Second Prince’s eyes filled with a stronger smile as he gazed down at her face that was both welcoming and resisting. With a voice audible only to the two of them, he ambiguously whispered, "… Who dares, other than me?"
Li Chunzhou lowered her head again, pretending to be shy, "But I am still nervous. Second Master, give me a few seconds to prepare…"
"Okay," Liang Changfeng put one arm around her waist and the other hand on Li Chunzhou’s thigh, holding her gently. He casually leaned in towards her ear and began counting slowly, "Ten, nine, eight, seven…"
When Liang Changfeng counted to "five," Li Chunzhou swiftly jumped off his lap and ran out the door without looking back.
Since they wanted to play the cat and mouse game, they decided to make it more convincing.
Liang Changfeng’s bent finger rested on his face, maintaining a calm expression on the surface but showing a hint of interest in his eyes. When Li Chunzhou reached the door, he suddenly stood up and hugged her waist, chuckling softly, "Where are you going?"
Li Chunzhou was lifted and spun around half a circle, finding it amusing. She laughed joyfully, and Liang Changfeng looked down at her brilliant smile, his own smile becoming more genuine.
"Will you come back with me tonight?" The Second Prince whispered in Li Chunzhou’s ear, kissing her cheek from behind. His tone was questioning, but he didn’t leave her any room to refuse.
"Okay." Li Chunzhou rubbed her cheek against the Second Prince’s cool face like a little cat or dog, innocently saying.
Seeing her quick agreement, Liang Changfeng couldn’t help raising an eyebrow slightly.
Li Chunzhou smiled, but in her heart she thought, "Starting tonight, the current emperor will fall ill and won’t get up. I don’t believe you can ignore your seriously ill father and find time to sleep with me."
With a confident heart, Li Chunzhou became more bold and provocative in front of the Second Prince, acting like a fox trying to seduce, becoming more daring.
Liang Changfeng liked her proud little appearance, so he gazed at Li Chunzhou intently.
The two of them were about to kiss, their lips almost touching, when an impatient knocking sounded at the door.
The Second Prince impatiently asked, his tongue grazing over his teeth, "What is it? Speak."
Jian Yi’s voice came from outside, "My lord, Prime Minister Gu wishes to speak with you."
The Second Prince looked a bit surprised, tapped the table with his fingers, and casually said, "Then just bring the old man in directly."
"He said…" Jian Yi seemed quite hesitant, "He wants to talk to you two alone."
Li Chunzhou listened to this and immediately looked at the Second Prince, pouting sadly, "You’re not letting me listen too?"
Liang Changfeng gently touched her delicate chin, not saying anything.
Li Chunzhou glanced around, her eyes lighting up when she saw behind the screen, and said, "Can I hide behind the screen… to listen? Please let me hear, okay? Pretty please, Second Master…"
Liang Changfeng stayed silent for a moment, looking at Li Chunzhou’s bright eyes, and eventually agreed.
Li Chunzhou cheered, happily ran behind the screen, walking back and forth, and asked joyfully, "Can Second Master see me from outside? Definitely not, right!"
Seeing her so happy, the Second Prince’s last trace of hesitation disappeared. In his deep voice with a smile, he said, "Lady Chun, hide well… If Gu Chenxin finds you, you’ll get scolded."
Li Chunzhou peeked out half of her head, "How can that be?! Second Master would never scold me!"
Liang Changfeng smiled but didn’t say anything.
＊＊＊
Soon, Jian Yi brought Prime Minister Gu into the room. His guards followed him, helping Prime Minister Gu with a chair before quietly leaving and guarding outside the room.
Li Chunzhou carefully watched Prime Minister Gu from behind the screen. Anyone living in Shengjing would have heard of the name "Gu Chenxin".
The Gu family’s status in Shengjing City was not just about power. The current emperor was incompetent, and most of the country’s affairs were handled by Prime Minister Gu. Just a word from Gu Chenxin could cause a stir in Shengjing City.
In the eyes of some radical young scholars, Prime Minister Gu was seen as a stubborn figure clinging to old ways and a major obstacle to new political reforms. To the emperor in Daliang, Prime Minister Gu was a trusted advisor, aiding in navigating through turbulent times. To other ministers in the court, Prime Minister Gu was seen as a strong and influential figure who had the emperor’s ear for over twenty years. To the people of Shengjing, Prime Minister Gu was known as a humble official with a deep love for his wife.
Despite having gone through many lifetimes, this was Li Chunzhou’s first time meeting Gu Chenxin. She peeked out and quietly observed him.
Contrary to Li Chunzhou’s expectations, Prime Minister Gu did not exude an aura of power and authority. At first glance, he appeared to be just an ordinary old man, even a bit frail. As Li Chunzhou looked him up and down, she started to believe the rumors that "Prime Minister Gu had devoted all his energy to Daliang, to the point of losing his ability to have children".
Prime Minister Gu and the Second Prince exchanged cold pleasantries. Despite having watched the Second Prince grow up, their relationship was not close. Otherwise, Prime Minister Gu would not have neglected the Second Prince, his legitimate son, and instead focused on building influence for the eldest prince in the court.
From Li Chunzhou’s viewpoint, she could only see Gu Chenxin’s side profile, cold, sharp, and distant. But then, he let out a gentle sigh, revealing a hint of weariness, which Li Chunzhou then noticed, seeing the sprinkle of white hair at his temple.
Prime Minister Gu carefully chose his words and said, "Your Highness is known for being benevolent and kind. In a time of peace and prosperity, you would surely be a wise ruler… But in the current precarious state of Daliang, Your Highness… lacks the skills needed."
Before the enemy breached the northwest defense line, Prime Minister Gu always favored the eldest prince as the heir to the throne. Compared to his two younger brothers, Liang Changyu appeared better at listening to different opinions, making wise decisions, and not easily succumbing to temptations and distractions, steering the wealthy and powerful country towards a better future.
Furthermore, the eldest prince’s character was gentle, magnanimous, open-minded, and adept at embracing various opinions and suggestions. Only through the united efforts of rulers and subjects, caring for the people, and implementing benevolent governance, can the hearts of the people be won over, ensuring the prosperity of Daliang for generations to come.
As for Liang Changfeng, Prime Minister Gu had observed from his early years that the Second Prince’s character contained a hint of stubbornness and ruthlessness. Although it seemed controlled under the late Emperor’s influence, Liang Changfeng’s childhood disguise was still too inexperienced to deceive Prime Minister Gu’s watchful eyes.
A character like the Second Prince, if crowned king and left without anyone to restrain him, would turn into a tyrant – domineering, cruel, greedy, suspicious, causing severe harm and destruction to the country and its people.
However, this temperament can also be a double-edged sword, or rather, the sense of dominance over the world that all great rulers in history possessed. He had a ruthless and decisive nature that neither his father nor brothers had. Prime Minister Gu had noticed this three years ago during negotiations with enemy troops when he observed the Second Prince – if talking nicely didn’t work, he would resort to force, and if that failed, he would eliminate the threat entirely.
Liang Changfeng’s outward recklessness was genuine, as was his intolerable arrogance.
In times of turmoil, Daliang needed a ruler like this.
After hearing Gu Chenxin’s words, the Second Prince just smirked and coldly said, "Why does Prime Minister Gu think I would take on this mess…?"
Li Chunzhou sneered behind the screen, thinking to herself that if he wasn’t like this, he wouldn’t be the Liang Changfeng he is now.