Gu Qing entered the palace and paid his respects to the Divine Emperor before the grand court assembly. He merely bowed from afar in the hall and exchanged a few words, without even getting a clear look at the Divine Emperor's face.
Then the Duke of Lu took him to the consort's chambers.
Seeing the smile on Gu Qing's face, Consort Hu recalled his cutting words that night several years ago. Her expression grew somewhat awkward, and she found that smile utterly hateful.
Naturally, Gu Qing had no idea what she was thinking. His smile remained as he exchanged a few pleasantries with her.
As they spoke, a matron led in an exquisitely lovely little boy, as if carved from pink jade. He was none other than the second imperial prince, Jing Yao.
The Divine Emperor's blood flowed through Jing Yao's veins, and he also possessed the heritage of the Fox Demon Clan. Naturally, he was extraordinarily intelligent.
Though only three, he was already better at reading faces than many adults. More remarkably, he seemed to possess an instinct for sensing other people's emotions.
A few nights earlier, he had sensed that his mother, who ordinarily feared neither heaven nor earth, held that Green Mountain Immortal Master named Jing Jiu in great awe, so he had behaved very obediently. Hearing that the Immortal Master named Gu Qing would become his teacher today, he felt some resistance. He also clearly sensed his mother's considerable dislike for this man, so naturally he behaved differently.
Jing Yao stood where he was, staring wide-eyed at Gu Qing. He looked very curious but showed no intention of stepping forward to bow.
Gu Qing watched him quietly, likewise showing no intention of stepping forward to bow.
The old matron felt rather displeased at the sight. *Even