As he had expected, Jin Ziyuan’s expression changed instantly when he heard the three words "third prince’s consort."
"That is the fifth prince’s concubine, from whom did you hear ’third prince’s consort’?" he said coldly.
The look in his eyes was as if it could freeze someone solid.
Gu Youyou spoke directly, "It’s said this matter is an Imperial Family secret, but no matter how secret, things always leak out; you can’t wrap fire with paper. If I’m not mistaken, your father is the third prince, and she is your mother?"
"No, she does not deserve to be a mother; she is nothing more than a lowly concubine, a plaything for men."
Jin Ziyuan was furious, veins on his forehead bulging as he clenched his fists, seemingly struggling mightily to contain something.
Gu Youyou, seeing his demeanor, felt a little intimidated and took a step back, but softly urged.
"Since that’s the case, why care so much? You survived, you should live well. Your identity is sensitive right now; if people discover you’re still alive, it will be dangerous. The third prince took you to hide in those deep mountains, I think his original intention was also for you to survive well."
"What do you know? Someone who should not have survived yet continues to live, that taste of a life worse than death..." Jin Ziyuan took a deep breath, unable to continue, and instead looked up at the sky.
This sorrowful story, even as an outsider Gu Youyou only had a rough idea yet felt indignant; what more for Jin Ziyuan himself.
No matter the woman’s difficulties, whether clinging to life out of fear or bearing humiliation and heavy burdens, with her husband and son ending up like that, yet she lives extravagantly — that’s abnormal.
"So, what do you want to do? Kill her? Patricide doesn’t sound good, and it’s not worth it for you to exchange your life for hers; think about what your father did for you." Perhaps coming to Beijing to ask about the false snow lotus was a pretense, but to follow the madam might be the real reason.
Jin Ziyuan looked at Gu Youyou and sneered, saying, "Of course, I’m not foolish enough to trade life for life. I still have so many important things to do; you think too much."
"What important things?" Gu Youyou had a bad premonition.
"You’re asking too many questions," Jin Ziyuan said.
He snorted coldly, walked past Gu Youyou, and quickly disappeared into the crowd outside the alley.
This man really is, Gu Youyou mused: does he still want to achieve what his father failed to do back then?
So many years have passed, if one could say that the Emperor’s throne was unstable back then, giving the third prince an opportunity, now it’s quite different.
Wouldn’t trying to shake the Emperor’s throne be an impossible fantasy, like striking stone with an egg?
Gu Youyou shook her head and left the alley.
The weather was getting warmer, and Jisheng Hall was about to open in Beijing.
The once-a-year Plum Blossom Festival had arrived, and Gu Youyou did not want to go, but unable to resist Lin Qianqing’s persistent persuasion, she agreed to accompany her.
The grandmother kept instructing, "Daya, your cousin is not in good health, make sure not to stay out too long."
"We know, Grandmother."
"Xiang Chun, take enough charcoal and thick blankets, and if anything happens, let Dachunzi come back immediately to inform us."
"Youyou, you’re a doctor yourself, remember not to overexert yourself, don’t end up like last time; it frightened everyone."
"Maybe I shouldn’t go, Grandmother."
"That won’t do," the old lady said: "You’re already twenty, look around and see how many girls of twenty are still unmarried? It was excusable when you were sick, but now that you are well, you need to get your lifelong matters settled quickly.
It’s not just the ladies who’ll appreciate the plum blossoms; the young masters from various houses will be there too. If there’s someone you like, come tell me, and I’ll have your uncle arrange it."