Chapter 293: Chapter 177 Prince Bao_2 Chapter 293: Chapter 177 Prince Bao_2 Zhou Mu saw her looking all mysterious, and couldn’t help but reach out again to pull her into his arms.
Used to Zhou Mu’s frequent hugging and cuddling, Gu Changsheng didn’t struggle this time. She lifted her head in Zhou Mu’s embrace, her face filled with curiosity.
Stripping a Dragon Robe, smashing the Qiankun Hall, that takes some gall!
Bigger than his, Gu Changsheng’s!
Under Gu Changsheng’s intense gaze, Zhou Mu slowly nodded and replied, “He dares!”
“Whoa!” Gu Changsheng gasped, her phoenix eyes wide with astonishment, “He really dares, huh? Quite the bold one! Speaking of which, the Old Emperor does seem a bit daft. He’s found me displeasing and has bothered me quite a few times. If you ask me, letting Zhou Zongbao strip his Dragon Robe and smash his Qiankun Hall wouldn’t be such a bad idea…”
Hearing this, an exasperated smile flashed across Zhou Mu’s face as he affectionately flicked her noble nose, “Forget about such windfalls. If someone stripped the old man’s Dragon Robe, there’d be no one to sit on the Dragon Throne!”
“How is that possible!” Gu Changsheng’s eyes widened. “I think Prince Liang fancies that seat quite a bit!”
Zhou Mu shook his head. “Prince Liang is petty and vengeful. If he were to sit on that throne, your troubles would only multiply.”
Gu Changsheng nodded in agreement at once. “Then let’s leave the Old Emperor to sit there in peace.”
At least for now, it seemed the Emperor couldn’t do much to Zhou Mu.
Zhou Mu acknowledged this with a nod and began twirling a strand of Gu Changsheng’s hair around his finger.
“By the way, I heard you call him Prince Bao. Who exactly is he?” Gu Changsheng’s curiosity piqued, and she pressed Zhou Mu for the full scoop.
Zhou Mu turned to pour a cup of tea, brought it over to her and said, “Zhou Zongbao, courtesy name Hetian, bestowed the title of First-Class Companion Prince, and the naming title: Bao.”
Gu Changsheng’s eyes flew open. “That’s it?”
Are you kidding me? That’s all you’re going to tell me?
Zhou Mu touched his nose, a hint of discomfort on his face; he reluctantly continued, “Born to luxury, he has a penchant for beauties. From the age of ten, he began teasing palace maids. At fifteen, he expanded the Prince’s Mansion at considerable expense to build the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, determined to attract all the beauties of the world. Arrogant and free-spirited, he holds sway over others–one beneath tens of thousands. Thus, the daughters of Capital City officials fear him like a tiger, avoid him like a venomous snake. Starting at twenty, he began traveling the various countries under the pretense of admiring beauties, amassing a cloud of beauties within four years. In all Four Kingdoms, he alone carried the notorious reputation as a profligate who could change the colors of people’s faces with his lust.”
“Yikes! I couldn’t tell; he’s already twenty-four. He seems about your age,” Gu Changsheng said, squinting her eyes and tapping Zhou Mu’s perpetually cool cheek.
Zhou Mu frowned slightly. “How could I command the army if I were like him?”
Gu Changsheng quickly nodded in agreement. “But what’s with him and Han Qiu? He likes to collect beauties, yet I feel like he has a special affection for Han Qiu.”
“It’s more than just a little!” Zhou Mu cut her off. “Han Qiu is that palace maid Hetian used to tease back in the day.”
“En?” Gu Changsheng looked puzzled. “Isn’t Han Qiu from a General’s family? How did she become a palace maid?”
“Fourteen years ago, when Han Jingye was first appointed as a High-ranking Official and became a first-rank military officer due to his wife’s connections, he had only one daughter–Han Qiu. The Han family mother and daughter entered the palace to receive their titles. Han Qiu got lost in the back garden and happened to run into Hetian.”
“And then what?” Gu Changsheng was all ears.
These two knew each other since they were little! Could this be considered childhood sweethearts?
“Then Hetian, mistaking Han Qiu for a palace maid, found her appealing and took her back to his Fulu Palace.”
“A General’s family’s young girl vanished in the palace, searched for half a month to no avail. The Emperor ordered the news to be suppressed, planning to label Han Qiu’s disappearance as a sudden fatal sickness. But Han Jingye, being a man of integrity and deeply fond of his daughter, made a scene in the Golden Hall. Just then, Hetian came to the Golden Hall with little Han Qiu, declaring his intention to marry her, which caused the Emperor, already troubled by Han Jingye’s uproar, to deny his request. The Emperor let Han Jingye take Han Qiu away, with disparaging remarks about her.”
“So Zhou Zongbao just gave up?” Gu Changsheng’s eyes popped with disbelief. What a twist-filled tale!
“Hetian is too stubborn to let things go. He caused a ruckus in the Golden Hall right then and there, throwing a tantrum and exhausting all his ploys. The Emperor, who only lost face once, hardened his heart to confine him in the Deep Palace–a confinement that lasted five years, until Hetian left the palace and built his mansion at fifteen. Only then did his cold war with the Emperor end.”
Gu Changsheng suddenly realized and nodded. “So that’s why Zhou Zongbao’s turned out ? Arrogant and profligate, fond of beauties…”
“In actuality, the Emperor was in a difficult position back then. One reason was the urgency created by Han Jingye’s persistence; another was that the Han family had risen through military service and lacked an established legacy. Even taking Han Qiu as a concubine was a stretch, let alone marrying her as a principal wife. The Zhou Family Clan would never agree.” Zhou Mu, who rarely spoke so much, massaged his temples.
“Yikes!” Gu Changsheng’s eyes went wide again. “Zhou Zongbao is really favored then. A High-ranking Official’s daughter is barely good enough to be his concubine? Is his status even more valuable than yours?”
Zhou Mu’s eyes showed a trace of unease, but he still nodded. “Indeed, his status is slightly more valuable than mine…”
Gu Changsheng was taken aback upon hearing this. Zhou Mu’s status was already extremely distinguished, and yet Zhou Zongbao’s was even higher!
Filled with curiosity, Gu Changsheng nagged Zhou Mu for details, but no matter how persistently she badgered him, Zhou Mu kept his lips sealed tightly, refusing to say more.
“Hmph! If you won’t tell me, can’t I ask someone else?” Gu Changsheng turned away, indignant.
“It’s no use asking around. People only know of Hetian’s reputation for frivolity; anything more has been silenced by the Imperial Clan.” Zhou Mu looked at her with amusement. “Just wait until you see him again, then you’ll find out.”