Traveling through ancient times: starting with live streaming

Chapter 475: Golden Hairpin Gift

September 29th, late autumn.

"The endless fallen leaves rustle down, the endless Yangtze River rolls in, I am often a guest in the sad autumn of thousands of miles, and I am alone on the stage with a hundred years of illness."

Zhou Chang stood in front of the back window of the study, looking at the colorful chrysanthemums and red leaves in the yard. Somehow, he thought of these lines of poetry by Du Fu.

After returning to Prince Yi's Mansion from Jianing Palace half a month ago, he developed a high fever that night.

Doctor Meng came to see me and said that since the beginning of autumn, the temperature difference between day and night is large, and I caught a cold and got anxious, so he prescribed some medicine to treat it.

Zhou Chang had a high fever for several days, during which time her consciousness was in and out of sleep, or it could be said that she was not conscious at all most of the time. Instead, Prince Yi's consciousness took the dominant position again, but unfortunately he was also in a daze, and from time to time he spoke some nonsense that no one could understand.

After the fever subsided, Zhou Chang's consciousness gradually recovered, but under the influence of Prince Yi's consciousness, he was listless all day and was unwilling to speak or talk to anyone.

Ever since Gu Yan suggested replacing Princess Yi, for some reason, I felt uneasy even when I thought of Yuan Qi.

Therefore, during her illness, she insisted on living in the bedroom separated from the study, and she firmly disagreed with Yuan Qi's request to come and take care of her.

Only the skinny monkey stayed by his side and asked, "My Lord, are you upset about the princess?"

"No." Zhou Chang denied decisively.

By then her fever had subsided and she was conscious, but she felt weak all over and was unwilling to get out of bed.

"Isn't it? Then why is the prince so anxious?" The skinny monkey was standing aside, pouring the chicken soup that Zhou Chang was unwilling to drink into his own mouth.

Zhou Chang had a headache: "Am I anxious? What am I anxious about?"

"Doctor Meng said that your illness is caused by anger. Yesterday, Aunt Jing pulled me aside and asked if the prince had encountered any trouble outside." The skinny monkey picked out the ginseng slices under the soup bowl and chewed them.

Zhou Chang was startled: "How did you answer?"

"How else can I answer? I don't know..." The skinny monkey licked his greasy lips, "But my lord, you didn't consummate your marriage with the princess, and you're not a real couple. Even if you really change someone..."

"Don't talk nonsense, you answered very well," Zhou Chang stopped Shou Hou from saying anything else, "You should answer like this to anyone who asks you in the future. As for what was said in Jianing Palace that day... just pretend you didn't hear it."

"Okay..." The skinny monkey agreed, cleaned up the dishes and left.

Another two days passed, and Zhou Chang finally explained the situation in Jianing Palace to Zhong Yu.

After listening to this, Zhong Yu continued with the standard opening, repeatedly saying "Not appropriate, not appropriate..."

As for what is wrong?

Of course, nothing is right.

Later, when Zhou Chang went to Yuan Qi for a meal, he seemed to casually remind him that it would be better to go out less in the next few days, and if there was anything, it would be best to let the managers and stewards of the Yuan family come to the mansion to report.

Prince Yi's Mansion was put into lockdown to prevent Concubine Yi and others from causing trouble behind the scenes and taking advantage of the situation.

In the current situation, Zhou Chang has no intention to engage in the "live streaming and selling goods" business, nor does he have any idea to solve the problems for Prince Yi.

"Your Highness, the Duke's Mansion has sent an invitation and some gifts." Zhou Chang was just feeling melancholy when Duofu and Duobao came in with some gifts.

The children were growing noticeably, and Duofu and Duobao were much taller than when she first met them.

"Bring it here." Zhou Chang turned around and sat behind the table.

Duofu handed over an invitation with both hands, and Duobao placed a long black lacquered wooden box on the table.

Zhou Chang first opened the invitation and took a look at it.

Duke Gu Yan of Xu State invited people to host a "Chrysanthemum and Crab Banquet" three days later.

Prince Yi was specially invited to attend.

In his previous life, Zhou Chang loved seafood the most, but he had no interest in river crabs and even thought they were unpalatable, so he was not interested in them.

And the best time to eat river crabs is around the Mid-Autumn Festival in August.

Yuan Qi had cooked river crabs twice before, around the Mid-Autumn Festival. Although Zhou Chang caught up with them both times, they tasted just so-so.

Isn't it a bit late to organize this "Chrysanthemum and Crab Feast" now?

Zhou Chang put down the invitation and opened the black lacquered wooden box, inside which was a golden hairpin as bright as clouds and mist.

"Ding, the customer has placed an order for a gold hairpin in the pattern of rising clouds and mist." The viewpoint system immediately placed the order.

Zhou Chang pretended not to hear, but he already had a bad feeling in his heart, so he casually ordered: "Go and ask Mr. Zhong to come over."

"Yes..." Duofu and Duobao responded and went together.

Zhou Chang weighed the golden hairpin in his hand. It felt quite heavy, and the carvings of clouds and colorful clouds were also intricately crafted. It looked to be of very high quality.

After a while, Zhong Yu came quickly.

Zhou Chang invited him to sit down, then showed the invitation and the gold hairpin to Zhong Yu.

After seeing this, Zhong Yu frowned again and asked, "Does Your Majesty know the purpose of this golden hairpin?"

Zhou Chang guessed most of it in his mind, but shook his head.

Zhong Yu frowned and put the hairpin back into the brocade box, but still held the invitation in his hand: "It is clearly written here."

"Huh?" Zhou Chang was an illiterate in front of Zhong Yu.

Zhong Yu pointed to a line of words and read: "'In autumn, geese fly south in pairs, chrysanthemums bloom in pairs and crabs grow fat'. This is an obvious hint."

"Uh..." Zhou Chang had only seen the three words "Chrysanthemum and Crab Feast" at first, and thought the previous long words were just ancient people's courtesy, but even so, he had guessed it a little.

Now that Zhong Yu had verified it, she couldn't let go of her worries: "Sir, are you saying this is a blind date?"

Zhong Yu nodded: "If the prince had not mentioned the last time he entered the palace, I might not be sure, but the connection between the two is certain. Otherwise, why did Duke Xu send a gold hairpin for no reason after sending the invitation? It is obvious that he was afraid that Your Highness would not go or refuse, so he simply prepared all the gifts for Your Highness."

"Which woman does he want me to give the gold hairpin to?" Zhou Chang looked at the gold hairpin again and didn't even want to touch it.

Zhong Yu asked back, "What is your Majesty going to do?"

"Is it okay not to go?" Zhou Chang didn't know what to do.

"Not right, not right," Zhong Yu just shook his head, "Not going means not only rejecting the arrangement, but also rejecting cooperation."

"Just refuse, what can they do to me?" Zhou Chang was also dissatisfied.

Zhong Yu was able to hold his temper after all: "Your Highness, have you forgotten what we said last time? You have already accepted the previous overtures and expressed your willingness to cooperate. So whatever happens next is just to strengthen control."

"Am I going to be led by the nose like this from now on?" Zhou Chang was unwilling.

"This may just be a test..." Zhong Yu stroked his beard and deduced a new possibility.

"What test?" Zhou Chang closed the lid of the wooden box containing the golden hairpin.

Zhong Yu solemnly said: "Since they want to win them over, they will naturally want to see how much sincerity you can show, Your Majesty."

Zhou Chang immediately understood: "If I go, I am sincere, and if I don't go, I am not sincere?"

"It may be that if you go, it will be easier to control, but if you don't go, it will be harder to control," Zhong Yu added.

Zhou Chang didn't want to think about it any further: "So whether I go or not, I can't get rid of it?"

Zhong Yu nodded, and even thought about the distant future: "This is just the beginning. If the prince is weak and can be bullied, they will certainly become more aggressive. Even if the prince resists strongly, as long as he does not completely turn against him, they can continue to use tricks until he surrenders. The reason why the Gu family chose the prince is the result of many considerations, and they must have made preparations, so they are not afraid that the prince will regret it in the future."

There was a "pop..." sound.

Zhou Chang slammed the box containing the gold hairpin on the table. "So, from the beginning I had no choice. I have long been someone's meal and possession. I still think I am smart, jumping up and down and thinking about it over and over again. But I am just a clown, at the mercy of others."

"Alas..." Zhong Yu had no way to refute this statement and could only sigh, "What I just said was just speculation. Your Majesty, don't be discouraged. After all, the other party still needs to rely on you to succeed, and your Majesty is not completely powerless to fight back."

"How can I fight back?" Zhou Chang felt that he was powerless.

Zhong Yuyun shook his head, his expression solemn: "It's too early to say these things now. Given the current situation, the prince can only move on. As for the princess..."

"No..." Zhou Chang's attitude towards Yuan Qi's matter was very clear, "I will not compromise on this matter. This matter is only known between you and me. There is no need to bother her anymore."

Zhong Yu did not object: "Well, since the prince has made up his mind, we will just act according to circumstances."