jdhmnovel Chapter 160 The Villainous Female Supporting Character's Mind Was Read 15
Chapter 160 The Villainous Female Supporting Character's Mind Was Read 15
On the way back, the carriage swayed and rocked, making everyone drowsy.
Sitting in the car, Gu Yanli was wide awake, glancing frequently at Lin Shuwan, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.
"What is it? Just say it." Lin Shuwan, who had been pretending to sleep with her eyes closed, opened them.
"You, hiss—"
Startled, Gu Yanli jumped up, his head hitting the wooden planks of the carriage.
"Uh, are you alright?" Lin Shuwan was also taken aback by this sudden turn of events.
(That startled me; why are you being so loud?)
Gu Yanli rubbed his head and said, "It's nothing, you weren't asleep?"
"How can I possibly sleep with you staring at me like that?" Seeing that he was alright, Lin Shuwan crossed her arms and said, "Hurry up, just say what you have to say, don't beat around the bush."
Gu Yanli put down his hand that was rubbing his head: "Oh, I, well, I wanted to ask, what do you think of the Fifth Prince?"
"What opinion?" Lin Shuwan looked puzzled.
“That’s right, that’s right…” Gu Yanli’s mind went blank for a moment, and he couldn’t think of the right words.
Lin Shuwan waited for a long time without getting a reply, and said impatiently, "What is it? Stop babbling and be direct!"
"It's about whether or not I have romantic feelings for him," Gu Yanli said bluntly, having nothing better to do.
These words startled Zhi Qiu, who was standing to the side, causing her to stare straight at him.
He knew that his words were somewhat inappropriate; what gentleman would so directly ask a young woman her opinion of other men?
But the words have already been spoken, and there's no going back.
Anyway, he had already lost all face in front of Lin Shuwan, so she probably didn't think he was a gentleman at all.
During this period, he also gained an understanding of the current political situation.
As the emperor grew older, his sons came of age one after another.
Beneath the seemingly calm surface of the imperial court, undercurrents were surging.
The eldest prince is the most popular candidate to be the heir apparent.
Since the Empress had no children, it was indeed natural for the eldest prince to be the son of the Imperial Concubine.
However, the eldest prince was of mediocre talent and could only be considered average in handling government affairs, not outstanding.
The second prince's fondness for refined pursuits and his fascination with nature are another matter.
The third prince is a pragmatist with good abilities, but unfortunately, he is vindictive.
If he were to ascend the throne, I fear no one in the court would dare to offer him advice.
The fourth prince's maternal grandfather had been the Crown Prince's tutor, and therefore he was highly respected by the emperor. The fourth prince was also the most favored among all the princes.
As for the Fifth Prince, he is gentle, but he only takes on trivial and insignificant tasks, and his abilities remain to be seen.
The other princes are still too young to be mentioned.
Of the five princes, only the fifth prince's mother was of low status.
Although he and the favored third princess were born of the same mother, he lacked the support of his maternal family. If he wanted to compete with the other princes, he would need a princess consort with a distinguished family background.
In retrospect, it seems that he chose the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion behind Lin Shuwan.
Although the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was feared by the emperor, military power was indeed firmly in the hands of Lin Shuwan's father.
This alone makes Lin Shuwan a highly coveted prize that everyone wants a piece of.
However, if Lin Shuwan really marries a prince, the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion will be forced to take sides.
It remains unclear who will ascend the throne in the future, and what their attitude will be towards the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion after their ascension.
But the one sitting in the seat of power now will definitely be even more wary of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.
At that time, the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion will be in a dilemma.
This matter can be resolved at present, depending on Lin Shuwan's attitude.
"What if there is romantic love between a man and a woman, and what if there isn't?" Lin Shuwan asked slowly, keeping everyone in suspense.
(Oh my god, is Xiao Anzi jealous?)
(Tsk tsk tsk, he really loves me to death. Seeing that I have such an excellent and considerate older brother by my side makes him feel pressured.)
(And who made me so beautiful, generous, intelligent, quick-witted, elegant, noble, dignified, and proper...?)
(Pressure is good; it can be a greater motivation to continue studying.)
(Who knows, he might actually bring me back a new top scholar who achieves the highest score in the imperial examination.)
(Then I'll have even more to brag about.)
(Ha ha ha ha……)
After hearing these sentiments so many times, Gu Yanli was able to automatically filter out some useless boasts and select the content he wanted.
Just treat him as an older brother.
Given her fighting prowess, if she truly refused, no one could force her in the slightest.
Gu Yanli secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and automatically ignored the secret joy that flashed through his heart when he heard Lin Shuwan's thoughts.
He didn't really want to get involved in this matter.
However, the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion had indeed done him a favor, and if this really caused trouble, he could not ignore it.
Moreover, the fifth prince is clearly not a good man. If Lin Shuwan really marries someone with ulterior motives, his conscience won't allow it.
He was just asking out of conscience.
"Hey, why aren't you asking anymore?" Lin Shuwan urged when Gu Yanli didn't reply for a long time.
"No need, An doesn't want to know anymore." Gu Yanli leaned back and closed his eyes.
"You!" Lin Shuwan turned her head to the other side in anger and closed her eyes, trying to avoid seeing it. "Tch, if you don't want to ask, I don't want to say either."
(Damn it, he got me.)
(I shouldn't have said that extra sentence.)
(It makes me seem like I'm rushing to answer.)
(Oh, I see.)
(This tactic is a feigned retreat to advance, a strategy of feigning weakness to lure the enemy into a trap.)
(First, pose a question, then pretend you don't care, thus getting my attention.)
(Hmph, does he think I'd fall for that?)
(I never would!)
(But no, I'm still so angry.)
Gu Yanli smiled slightly and gently rubbed his ear.
This sparrow is indeed being a bit too noisy.
"Hey, hey, stop the car—" Lin Shuwan suddenly called out.
The coachman pulled the reins just in time, and the carriage moved a little further before stopping right in front of Fuyuanzhai.
"I want some pastries, go buy some," Lin Shuwan said imperiously, arms crossed.
Just as Zhi Qiu, who was sitting to the side, was about to get up, Lin Shuwan stopped her: "No, Xiao Anzi, you go buy it."
"Whoever wants to eat it can buy it," Gu Yanli said with his eyes closed.
"Are you going or not?"
"Don't go."
"Okay, I'll add a running lap tomorrow—"
"Wait! I'm going." Gu Yanli suddenly opened his eyes, stood up heavily, and jumped off the carriage.
(Hmph, Grandpa always said that you have to vent your anger in time to avoid harming your body.)
(I definitely feel much better now.)
Damn it, couldn't they have come up with a different threat?!
Gu Yanli, who had reached the back of the line, let out a vicious sigh.
[Lin Shuwan: It's not about having many recruits, but about having those who can be used.]
Fortunately, he returned relatively early today, and the line wasn't too long, so Gu Yanli managed to buy the last one.
When they returned to the carriage, Lin Shuwan had already fallen asleep, breathing with her mouth slightly open.
He handed the pastries to Zhi Qiu, and his anger from earlier dissipated.
He lowered his head and chuckled self-deprecatingly, truly embodying the saying, "One is influenced by one's company."
Spending so much time with Lin Shuwan has made him more childish.