The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 421

Chapter 421: 212 Entering the Palace (Second More)_2

Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, he turned around. In the darkness, his seemingly murky eyes held a sharpness and acuity unrivalled by the young: “Do you have someone you like?”

Prince An paused, “Why does my grandfather say so?”

Prime Minister Zhuang said, “You’re not young anymore. Your aunt believes it’s time to arrange a marriage for you.”

Prince An’s eyes slightly trembled: “I am not even of age yet, why the rush?”

A man of Zhan Country comes of age at twenty. Only then he’s considered an adult, and most elite families arrange marriages after this age.

Prime Minister Zhuang declared, “We’re not asking you to get married right now, just start looking. Originally, we planned to seek a match with Princess Hui for you, but due to her unfortunate circumstances, your aunt has set aside this idea. If there’s a girl you admire, who is of equal social standing, embodying grace and beauty, inform your aunt.”

The figure of a maid carrying a basket across her back flashed across Prince An’s mind, but he maintained his composure saying, “There isn’t one.”

Prime Minister Zhuang turned and left the room.

Prince An sighed softly.

A match of equal social standing?

The Marquis of Ding An’s residence seemed neutral, yet just like the Marquis of Xuanping, the old Marquis acted as the left and right arm of the emperor. She and he would never match socially.

As for appearance.

He didn’t care about her appearance, but his aunt would never allow him to marry a girl who had both a flawed face and a previous marriage.

“Heh,” Prince An chuckled mockingly, “Why should they bother asking me?”

—

While the whole Capital City was engrossed in the enormous impact brought by the Apricot List, Gu Jinyu at the Ministry of Justice had no access to any news from the outside world.

She was trapped in the interrogation room, unable to eat or sleep well.

The Emperor seemed to have made up his mind to break her will. No one was allowed to force a confession out of her, but neither would they pay her any attention.

She was utterly alone and was slowly losing her strength to keep going.

She hadn’t bathed for many days. Unlike Gu Jiao, who’d grown up in the countryside and could go for half a month without a bath, she loved cleanliness!

Fortunately, Madam Qi, a close aide of Lady Shu, arrived.

Upon seeing Madam Qi, Gu Jinyu instantly broke down in tears.

“There, there, Miss County, please stop crying or it will upset the lady,” Madam Qi wanted to comfort her by hugging her, but was put off by Gu Jinyu’s smell.

Madam Qi cleared her throat, ended up standing next to Gu Jinyu, and handed her a clean handkerchief.

Gratefully receiving the handkerchief, Gu Jinyu sobbed, “Thank you, Madam, for coming to see me.”

Madam Qi asked, “The Lady asked me to find out what really happened. Did you really break the Jade Seal or… did you do something else to anger the Emperor?”

Upon hearing these words, Gu Jinyu’s eyes flickered. “Did the lady… hear some rumors?”

Madam Qi came to clarify the matter, “There are rumors in the palace that the bellows was not your invention, but someone else’s.”

“Someone else… who?” Gu Jinyu cautiously asked.

Madam Qi pondered, “I don’t know. The rumor doesn’t specify who it is.”

Gu Jinyu lowered her head guiltily.

Who started this rumor? The Emperor or the old blacksmith and carpenter? Didn’t all three of them know about that girl?

Gu Jinyu didn’t understand what was going on. She collected herself, and then asked, “So, does the lady believe it?”

Madam Qi retorted, “Can the lady believe it?”

Gu Jinyu heaved a sigh of relief. At least, her efforts over these years were not in vain.