Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 510 - 346 Prince Jing Mansion

Lu Chen poured a bowl of tea for Gu Chengyu, then began drinking it himself. The driver was maneuvering the carriage very smoothly; the tea inside the carriage didn’t spill at all.

Gu Chengyu received the tea but didn’t drink it. Shouldn’t they at least mention where they were going? Looking at Lu Chen’s demeanor, it seemed they were headed somewhere unusual.

"Brother Lu, where are we headed? It’s courteous to give a heads up." Gu Chengyu looked at Lu Chen and spoke earnestly.

Lu Chen put down his tea bowl and smiled, "You’ll know when you arrive. That lyric of yours has entirely fascinated my good friend; he’s been delving into it for days. I’ve invited you over today; you two certainly have much to discuss."

Gu Chengyu was somewhat surprised; wasn’t Lu Chen’s good friend the Fourth Prince? Could he be taking him to the Fourth Prince Mansion? No wonder he had him take the Marquis Mansion’s carriage. With the Imperial Examination approaching, being seen entering and leaving the Fourth Prince Mansion would certainly stir up trouble.

Now that he knew who it was, his curiosity waned. He picked up the tea bowl on the table and took a sip. Just earlier, he had smelled the tea’s fragrance. Such a rich aroma that even someone like him, used to drinking fine tea, couldn’t resist taking a sip.

Seeing Gu Chengyu not inquiring further, Lu Chen knew Gu Chengyu had likely figured it out. In this Capital, what secret could there be?

Watching Gu Chengyu holding and fiddling with the tea bowl with those slender, white hands, Lu Chen couldn’t help but wonder why a man’s hands could look so lovely. The skin was also as fair as jade; why did it look so much like a woman’s?

Thinking this in his heart, Lu Chen blurted out, "Could you be a woman?"

Gu Chengyu just took a sip of tea and almost spat it out. He thought if someone had said that to him in his past life, he’d definitely beat them up. But now he was truly a man. Was Lu Chen blind?

Gu Chengyu placed the tea bowl on the small table in exasperation and gave Lu Chen a sidelong glance, "What makes you say such a thing? Do I look like a woman?"

He was fourteen this year, but he wasn’t short; he was already as tall as he’d been in his past life, about one meter seventy-five. In the Dayan Dynasty, he hadn’t seen women this tall, and even among men, it wasn’t common.

Lu Chen also felt that his question was rather foolish. Gu Chengyu was indeed a man, yet his looks were so feminine. If not for those sword-like eyebrows, it would indeed be a woman’s face! Especially those captivating eyes and the small red mole between his brows.

Lu Chen thought Gu Chengyu seemed a bit upset and quickly apologized, "Ahem! Just teasing, no harm intended."

Gu Chengyu ignored him and lifted the curtain to look at the scenery outside. The carriage was gradually moving into the East City. The places they passed grew increasingly quiet, and the estates were vast, much larger than the ones Gu Chengyu had seen, even larger than those five-courtyard mansions.

Those mansions were deep, but here the estates had their neighboring houses connected, expanding horizontally as well.

It seemed they had already reached the East City. This area housed high-ranking officials or Princes and Princesses who had established residences.

These estates took up vast tracts of land. It was said that the Grand Secretary Xia Qing resided in this area. Gu Chengyu found it strange; why did his teacher live in the North City? That estate was bestowed by the Emperor; why wasn’t it awarded in the East City? Perhaps the properties in the East City were more coveted?

Passing that estate, the carriage continued forward. Only then did Gu Chengyu realize that not every estate was so large. Some were similar to those in the North City, though the large estates were indeed fewer.

After observing for a while, Gu Chengyu felt a bit tired. Why hadn’t they arrived yet? The East City was indeed vast, but this also indirectly indicated that the Fourth Prince Mansion was likely at the edge of the East City.

Considering the Fourth Prince’s lack of favor, this was quite typical. Moreover, with his frail health, it was justifiable under the guise of resting peacefully.

The stillness in the carriage prompted Lu Chen to start talking to Gu Chengyu about the Fourth Prince.

"His health isn’t good; he’s been recuperating quietly in the mansion. There aren’t many servants; he sent most of them back to the Imperial Palace. Only personal attendants and a few cleaners remain. The mansion is quite serene, yet it’s rather peaceful."

Not caring if Gu Chengyu was listening, Lu Chen continued on his own, "When you meet him, you’ll know. His intellect and strategy are second to none, limited only by his health."

The Fourth Prince never hid anything in front of him, and he, in turn, kept no secrets from him. Naturally, they never discussed the Eldest Prince or his elder brother’s matters. The Fourth Prince never asked, and he tacitly never mentioned it.

In Lu Chen’s heart, this was surely a friendship free of benefits. Yet Gu Chengyu was certain the Fourth Prince wasn’t a simple person.

Whether or not he was using Lu Chen was unknown, after all. Gu Chengyu didn’t know how the two interacted; perhaps they truly never spoke of courtly matters?

The carriage came to a halt, and Gu Chengyu hastily looked outside. With a quick glance, he saw the plaque on the mansion, inscribed with the words "Prince Jing Mansion."

The current Emperor had delayed appointing a Crown Prince or bestowing princely titles, causing much courtly gossip. Despite the Princes reaching adulthood and setting up residences, they remained without princely titles, residing as such, which was quite awkward.

However, the Emperor remained obstinate; no matter how much dissent the courtiers presented, it was in vain.

The carriage only paused for a moment before swiftly moving forward. Gu Chengyu knew that no matter how unfavorable the Fourth Prince’s position was, the Prince Jing Mansion couldn’t be small. If the carriage didn’t drive inside, it would take a stick of incense’s time to walk to the flower hall of the outer court.

The carriage traveled for about half a stick of incense’s time more. Gu Chengyu calculated; they probably weren’t heading to the outer court but the inner court. Since Prince Jing had not married, there were likely only a few concubines or mistresses, not even a concubine recorded on a jade plaque.

Gu Chengyu felt that Prince Jing’s situation was such that joining an ordinary commoner family might have been better. He even felt a bit of sympathy for Prince Jing.

The Fourth Prince had conducted the coming-of-age ceremony two years ago, and should now be addressed as Prince Jing. However, the Emperor considered Prince Jing’s health inadequate, opting to keep him in the Capital for a few more years until his health improved before assigning him a fief.

Gu Chengyu felt that these years could perhaps be interminably long, yet this might align perfectly with Prince Jing’s wishes.

Gu Chengyu had earlier caught wind that after the Imperial Examination, the Crown Prince might be appointed. Why might it happen? Because the courtiers were already inflamed. Originally, upon the Princes coming of age, a Crown Prince should be appointed, and other Princes should be titled and dispatched to their fiefs.

They had waited many years; the Emperor wasn’t young anymore, and they couldn’t afford to wait longer. Even Grand Secretary Xia Qing had submitted a memorial. The Emperor probably couldn’t withstand the avalanche of memorials from the courtiers this time.

The Capital was on the verge of transformation!

Once the carriage stopped, Gu Chengyu cast aside the myriad thoughts in his mind; they had arrived.

"Servant Xiao Chengzi greets Mr. Lu." Lu Chen was already a frequent visitor to Prince Jing Mansion. Xiao Chengzi assumed the person in the carriage was Lu Chen. Who else but Lu Chen could have been allowed in directly by the gate guards?