Lady Lü's fingers rubbed back and forth on the edge of the table, and she wrung out the handkerchief into a crease.
She originally only wanted to use the banquet to give Gu Moran a warning.
No sooner had the defenses of Anyang been handed over than Gu Moran arrived with a group of women. They didn't seem to be there for a meal; they seemed more like they were there to establish rules for the Prince An's Residence.
Having been married into the royal family for many years, she holds the inner accounts of the Prince An's Residence and has the support of the Lü Family. Even when facing Gu Moli, she dares to say a few harsh words.
But today is different.
Gu Moli spoke softly, yet every word seemed to land squarely on her.
"Why aren't you eating, sister-in-law?" Gu Moli picked up a piece of fish with her chopsticks and put it in her bowl. "There are too many bones in this fish, it's troublesome to pick them out. These servants don't seem to have any sense of taste. Sister-in-law is in a delicate condition now, so it's best not to lift a finger to avoid tiring yourself out."
Lady Lü forced a smile, "The princess is so considerate."
"Of course," Gu Moli looked up at her, "After all, the child in your belly is precious."
Lady Lü's laughter stopped.
The two maids sitting behind her exchanged a glance, then quickly lowered their heads and stepped forward to help Lady Lü remove the fish bones.
Lin Qingdai, too lazy to get involved in the dispute, picked up the teapot and refilled Gu Moli's water.
Shen Ling'er reached out and replaced the bowl of warm soup for Prince An's Consort.
"If the Princess is feeling unwell, it's best to avoid getting upset. During pregnancy, blood and qi are unstable, and symptoms such as chest tightness, dizziness, and abdominal pain should be taken seriously."
Lady Lü understood the hint in her words and forced a smile, saying, "Thank you for your concern."
Gu Mochen leaned back in the rattan chair and took a sip of the soup.
The soup has gone cold.
He put down his bowl, looked at the women at the table chatting amongst themselves, raised his eyelids slightly, and then lowered them back to the table.
He sighed with relief that he had only married one woman, otherwise they would have been so noisy.
Gu Moran sat to his right, leaning back in her chair, and didn't say a word.
Holding a peanut in my hand, I slowly rubbed off the skin with my fingertips.
The argument at the table had nothing to do with him.
Prince An's Consort's words were unpleasant, so Gu Moli naturally retaliated.
The fact that others were willing to chime in showed that they didn't take Lady Lü seriously.
Halfway through peeling the peanut skin, the Eye of Detection" opened, and pale red words appeared before my eyes.
[ Lady Lü ]
[Status: Pregnant]
[Current Emotion: Extreme Anxiety]
[Related person for the unborn child: Zhou Huaili ]
[Objective: To help the Gu Clan produce their eldest grandson, so that after Prince An's death, the eldest son can petition to inherit the throne, and the court will appoint him as the heir apparent.]
Gu Moran's fingers paused.
Peanut crumbs are scattered on the table.
He looked up at Lady Lü.
She sat very steadily, with her back straight and a smile on her face.
Only the right hand is pressed against the abdomen, the fingertips slowly tightening through the fabric.
Gu Moran shifted her gaze to Zhou Huaili.
[ Zhou Huaili's recent core plan: At midnight, taking advantage of the chaos during the defense handover, open the secret vault in the western suburbs of Anyang, take 30,000 taels of gold, and send it to the Lady Lü family.]
[Current Status: Forced to betray Prince An by Lady Lü's threat of using her unborn child, and unable to escape.]
Gu Moran put a peanut in his mouth and bit it twice.
The meal at Prince An's Residence was even more lively than he had anticipated.
The second brother lay beside him, looking sickly. The princess in the manor was pregnant, but the child was related to the strategist beside her.
The strategist wanted to help her send 30,000 taels of gold back to her parents' home, but he had to wait until tonight when the defense was handed over to make his move.
The people of Prince An's Residence are quite shrewd.
Unfortunately, the abacus beads landed right in front of him.
Gu Moran raised his hand and peeled another peanut.
Gu Moli glanced at him.
"Brother, if you're going to eat peanuts, just eat them. Don't make a mess of the shells."
Gu Moran chuckled, "Oh dear, my good sister, you're really meddling in other people's business."
"I'm learning how to manage a household from Sister-in-law Lü Family."
Lady Lü's expression changed again.
Zhou Huaili stood beside him, setting out the dishes. His expression was fairly composed, though he shifted the position of his spoon twice.
Lady Lü saw it.
A flicker of urgency crossed her eyes.
Her mother's letter had already been delivered to her. The Lü Family was too ambitious, trying to acquire several grain merchants, but instead, they were tricked by the grain merchants. Once the money was cut off in one place, it would be cut off everywhere else.
With 30,000 taels of gold given away, the Lü Family can survive this year, and the unborn child will have something to rely on.
Tonight's events absolutely cannot go wrong.
"I feel a tightness in my chest."
Lady Lü pressed herself against the edge of the table and stood up. "Please enjoy your meal, everyone. I'll go back to my room to rest now."
Gu Moli also put down her chopsticks.
"Is your sister-in-law leaving?"
Lady Lü stopped. "Is there anything else, Princess?"
"It's nothing," Gu Moli looked up at her. "I just heard that pregnant women's appetites change, and there happen to be some pickled plums on the table. Since you're not feeling well, why don't you take a few home?"
Upon hearing this...
Gu Moran readily picked up the serving chopsticks on the table, took a wrinkled pickled plum from the dish, and placed it on the bone plate in front of Lady Lü.
The green plum touched the porcelain plate with a crisp sound.
"Your Majesty's appetite has been poor lately," he said, looking at Lady Lü. "Eat more sour foods; consider it my early congratulations on the upcoming birth of your son."
Lady Lü stood still, her palms resting on the edge of the table.
Gu Moran continued, "Second Brother will need some time to recover. But it's alright, there are always people in the Prince An's Residence who can take care of him."
Lady Lü's throat moved.
Gu Moran picked up the teacup and blew on it to cool it down.
" Master Zhou is very capable."
The silver chopsticks in Zhou Huaili's hand fell to the ground.
With a clang.
Lady Lü turned to look at him.
The two people's eyes met across a table, and neither of them could look away immediately.
Gu Moran placed the teacup back on the table.
" Master Zhou, your sister-in-law is pregnant. As the advisor in the household, you should take good care of her. You'll be responsible for all the affairs, big and small, within and outside the Prince An's Residence from now on."
Zhou Huaili's expression gradually changed.
Why does Prince Yi speak with such veiled barbs and sarcastic remarks?
Does he know something?
Lady Lü's body went limp, and she slumped back down.
She knocked over the teacup beside her, and the tea spilled down the edge of the table, soaking her skirt.
Gu Moli rested her chin on her hand, looking at the water stain.
"Sister-in-law, why did you sit back down again?"
Lady Lü shook her head.
"I'm just a little dizzy."
Her hand was pressed against her abdomen, her fingertips numb with cold.
Gu Moran looked at her, his tone still calm.
"I have a few more words to say."
Zhou Huaili bent down to pick up the silver chopsticks, but when his fingers touched the chopsticks, he couldn't pick them up even twice.
Lin Qingdai looked up at him.
He had no choice but to withdraw his hand and stand up straight.
"Your Highness, please give your orders."
"Before midnight, all grain registers and treasury keys within Anyang City must be delivered to the front hall," Gu Moran. "In particular, the secret treasury in the western suburbs must also be opened, and the three hundred garrison troops will be replaced by the Yi Prefecture Army. Master Zhou, you will personally lead the team to handle this."
Zhou Huaili's Adam's apple bobbed.
"The secret vault in the western suburbs has remained untouched for many years..."
Gu Moran peeled the last peanut and placed it in his palm.
"Then it's time to make a move. Tonight, I will personally inspect the treasury."
Lady Lü suddenly looked up.
Gu Moran looked at her. "Why is your face so pale, Sister-in-law? Your health is precious, you should go back and rest early. Don't wander around."
To outsiders, this was merely a gesture of concern.
When these words reached Lady Lü's ears, it was as if a door latch had already been fastened.
She looked at Gu Moran, her lips parted slightly.
"Your Highness..."
Is there anything else?
"I..."
Lady Lü pressed her hand against her abdomen, swallowing back the words that were about to come out.
Gu Moran picked up his teacup.
"Go back to your room if there's nothing else."
Lady Lü stared at him for a long time before finally taking the help of the old woman to stand up.
She stopped in her tracks as she reached the door.
"Your Highness Prince Yi." She didn't turn around. " Anyang is the fiefdom of the Prince An's Residence's residence. Shouldn't Your Highness consult the Prince An before inspecting the treasury?"
Gu Moran looked at Gu Mochen in the rattan chair.
"Second brother, may I investigate?"
Gu Mochen kept his eyes closed.
After a moment, he nodded.
"We must wipe out these Japanese pirate traitors!"
Lady Lü's shoulders swayed, and she almost lost her balance.